Grace and good health

I hope you are navigating this Omicron wave of COIVD with grace and good health. I have been frustrated by the lack of any 'right' choices. Every decision I make seems to have a lot of associated risks and few benefits. It is hard to move forward and know what is best for my family and my community.

Each day has felt like a week lately; with rapid extremes of weather, political change, community sentiment and mood. I remind myself to stay present, to just take one step at a time, to make simple, practical changes that support my own health and mental well being, so I can continue to support others.

This week that included wearing an N95 mask in public indoor spaces, a daily dose of vitamin C, taking regular breaks from the news and media, making appointments with my osteopath, my psychologist and my support network of friends and family. And swimming in my friend's saltwater pool.
 

Tending your health at home

I had a strong immune reaction to my most recent vaccination, with several days of aching swollen lymph nodes in my armpit, neck and throat. I appreciated the very practical advice in this article to alternate arms when having multiple injections within a short time period.

I used gentle massage and arm movement to stimulate lymph flow, rested in more upright positions for a few nights and took Chinese herbs to relieve congestion. Drinking plenty of water helped flush out my lymphatic system too.

I found this post, how to manage COVID-19 symptoms at home, very practical if/when needed. I hope it is helpful for you too.

Lunar New Year

The year of the Tiger begins today, 1 February 2022. We have just left the year of the Ox - a time of hard work, concrete action, and steadiness. Traditional wisdom says we are transitioning into a year of dynamic movement, original ideas and restructure (maybe with some agitation and instability). Sounds accurate so far. Wishing you health and happiness for the new year!

Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell

"Hamnet is a novel inspired by the son of a famous playwright. It is a story of the bond between twins, and of a marriage pushed to the brink by grief."

If you like historical fiction where the history is what happens in the apple drying storeroom, a fateful absence on laundry day, the movement of a flea from a ship boy's neck-kerchief to a box of glass beads in Stratford. And the fiction is the stitching of a child's shroud, the weaving of a bridal crown, the planting of a garden, a birth in the woods, then you will love this book.

The way this book threads together families, seasons, relationships, and the bendable nature of time and love is achingly beautiful. I was left with such a tender heart after loving and grieving and searching for the purpose of life alongside the characters. It is up there with my favourite books of all time.

Yours Faithfully,

Emily