There is no doubt about it, fall is here!  The days are getting shorter and there is a newfound crispness to the morning air.  Here in Chicago, the winds are blowing and the leaves are falling.  Fond memories of apple picking, pumpkin carving and caramel apple eating are awakened.  A broad smile comes across my face.  What about this time of year makes you smile?

Recently I read an article in the New York Times that discussed research on how the brain functions when outdoors and away from technology.  The study indicates that when away from our devices such as a cell phone and computer, our brains are given an opportunity to rest.  This “rest” improves are attention, memory and learning.  Ever feel “brain dead” after a day staring at your computer screen?  Take a day (or part of a day) to commune with nature and see how it affects your brain.

To take a break from everything, I join my father and his friends three days a week to walk at the Chicago Botanic Garden during the summer and fall months.  Every time I am there in the midst of gorgeous foliage, beautiful swans & ducks (even saw a Blue Heron the other day!) and the sounds of mother nature, my spirit and brain get rejuvenated.  There is always something new to see or notice and little hidden corners that few probably realize exist.  For example, there is a statue of a little girl with an otter at her feet.  She is holding a bowl.  Once a week, we see that someone has left the bud of a small pink rose.  Is it a loved one or someone who just has a meaningful connection to the statue?  We’ll never know yet I find it heartwarming nonetheless.  Are there any little rituals you do that warm your heart?

Many people view the fall season as a season of dread because it means winter is soon to arrive.  In Chicago, that pretty much means bitter cold, ice & snow and hibernation.  I choose to view fall as one of the more gorgeous events that Mother Nature puts on for us.  For me, this is a time to meditate, fill my soul and become recharged so that I can give more of myself to others.  What does the fall season mean for you?

With the Jewish High Holy Days complete, I am refreshed for the New Year. Typically I use this time to reflect on my previous year; did I meet my goals, what exciting things happened and did anything unexpectedly prevent me from moving forward. This year, I spent time reflecting on my accomplishments, health and searching out long lost dear friends with whom I lost contact many years ago yet continue to often think about.

Thanks to LinkedIn, I found one friend who I knew from work in AZ. I haven’t seen her in over 17 years. From an internet search, I found a friend from grade school who I haven’t seen in over 30 years. And, Facebook afforded me the opportunity to reconnect with an old high school friend – it had been over 2 years since our last conversation. The excitement I felt from reconnecting with these women was overwhelming. I actually cried tears of joy and feel so blessed to have them back in my life.

When a friendship is true, years and distance don’t sever it. With a simple phone call, it is as if time never slipped away. So if you have long lost childhood friends with whom you were tightly connected, don’t be afraid to reach out. After all, one of my 25 Insider Secrets Everyone Over 40 Should Know is to surround yourself with good friends.

If you want to know more Insider Secrets, go to my website at www.appelbaumwellness.com and sign up for my FREE ezine.  The report is a special gift from me to you!  Live in wellness now.

When you are trying to achieve wellness goals that seem daunting, how would it feel if you had a team behind you? Imagine you have the support of experts championing you to your personal victory. When you don’t know which tactic is best, your team can teach you what you need to know to make informed decisions. When you stumble, your team can help pick you up and get you going again. Sound great? So how do you put this team together?

Start with one professional you know and ask for referrals from that person as well as from trusted friends. For example, I put together my team by starting with my Integrative Medicine physician. From there he referred me to an Exercise Physiologist and Nutritionist. I found a new Internist through friends. Prior to that, I already had an excellent Neurologist, Chiropractor and Life Coach. Although I am the one doing all the work, my team is always behind me cheering me on as well as helping me to recognize the value of my life’s journey. Life is not a race to be won or lost; it is a marathon that takes dedication, occasional tweaking and a desire to bring your wellness potential to its pinnacle. So who is on your team? If you don’t have one yet, who will you turn to for assistance?

Since when did the term “diet” become synonymous with eating so as to lose weight? The origin of the word “diet” is way of living.  So eating a proper diet doesn’t necessarily mean consuming foods that constitute a low calorie regiment of food. Eating a proper diet literally means eating right for life as a way of living.  How many of you out there think this way?  I never did until about 10 years ago.  I used to go on and off weight loss “diets” as often as the wind would shift direction.  I tried them all!  If one diet didn’t prove successful, I tried another.  The main objective was to be thin.  Guess what?  I was never really fat.  It was my own self perception that I fought continually.  In my mind if I was thinner I would be better in some way – prettier, more successful, better liked, etc.  As I’ve matured, I’ve done a lot of emotional inner work on myself and have realized that thinner does not equate to better.  I can achieve anything I want, diet or not.  But that’s for another story on why seeking out coaching, an accountability champion/partner, is so helpful.

The entire time I was dieting to become thin it never dawned on me to be concerned with my overall health.  I had no idea what my blood pressure was or my cholesterol levels were.  No one ever mentioned Vitamin D, calcium, or monitoring inflammation levels. At best, I was told to take a multivitamin; which I must admit I bought and then let hang out in my medicine cabinet untouched.  A lot of good that did me.  So from the time I was sixteen until I was about 39, I went on & off diets like a yo-yo; focusing on what I couldn’t eat and always feeling hungry.  I’m guessing many of you can relate to this.  Thankfully I was very healthy and I credit that to my DNA. Thanks Mom & Dad! :)

The gist of what I’m saying is that I went through my teens, 20s and 30s interpreting the word “diet” as if it was a 4-letter word; filled with negativity and challenges that always resulted in my failure.  It was in my 40s that I realized one has to eat right for life; focusing on the positive and nutritious benefits of food while generally live healthfully all the time.  We have to do our best every day.  If we mess up by over-eating, it’s okay.  Just be a little more careful the next day.  Cumulatively, if you do all the right things for yourself, you will be healthy.  As I’ve said before, this life you’re living is not a dress rehearsal!  This is it, whatever you choose to make of it.  Do you want to nurture your mind-body-spirit or spend the rest of your life ‘dieting?’

With my 30^th High School Reunion coming up next month, I wanted to take a moment to consider what it means to people as they age. What comes to mind when you think of getting older? Do you hear the clock ticking faster or slower? What does it feel like when you hit a “big” birthday? Is time slipping away or is it plentiful? Do you feel regret, fear, and anxiety or excitement, anticipation and joy?

To many people, concerns about their health are foremost in their thoughts when they contemplate their aging. The notion that life can change abruptly within seconds becomes more readily apparent as many around us are diagnosed with life-threatening diseases, have traumatic accidents or simply find themselves not living the good quality of life they had envisioned for themselves. Life is tenuous and precious.  When we experience upsetting events it tends to wake us up to that reality. 

What would happen if you faced each birthday with a plan for your year ahead? What if this plan included setting intentions and goals that focused on your overall wellness? How would it feel to have visual images that you could focus on every day to remind you of the goals you set forth for yourself? Using the power of intention, choice and visualization, you can create the life you want through techniques such as creating a vision board for the year ahead and/or a business plan for your personal wellness.

The goal of Appelbaum Wellness LLC is to help ‘wake you up’ to your life sooner rather than later so you learn to live in the moment, enjoy life on your terms and do your best to be as healthy as possible throughout your life.  We want you to Thrive in forward Movement hence we’ve coined the term Thrivement.  Check out upcoming issues of our ezine at www.appelbaumwellness.com for more information on Thrivement.