These are my labors of love and I hope that you enjoy them:
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I grew up watching shows such as Punky Brewster and Who's the Boss. I wanted to be an actress/ entertainer and my attitude was, "if she can do it, I can do it!"
In high school I took acting classes and was an extra in this docudrama film starring Molly Ringwald (Fatal Love). Out of about 200 people in an auditorium scene, the camera man kept zooming in on me! I was 16. I was living in California at the time and my acting class was in Hollywood. Ironically, I now live in Hollywood FL.
My parents discouraged me from pursuing acting and modeling because they felt the odds were against me and that I needed to have a stable career as a back up plan. I went to University, was pre-med and in 1998, before moving to Washington State for graduate school, I spent a year living in St Thomas, USVI and became...
My first gig after grad school was as an acupuncturist on a cruiseship. I wrote this bookabout the nearly 2 years that I traveled around the world on a paid vacation. It was an incredible experience that I documented with photos.
I moved to South Florida in 2006 and got a few talent agents but the only opportunities in this local market are for commercials, music videos and the like. In the meantime, I have written and produced 3 rap songs and 6 meditations available on itunes, spotify, Amazon and other outlets.
My dream is to be on the BIG SCREEN-
To move people with meaningful creative work.
I figure, if Gal Gadot can become Wonder Woman all the way from Israel, what's stopping me?!?
I'm like the female version of Mark Wahlberg. Remember Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch?
A Jill of All Trades, if you will.
WHY ME?
I have a very unique look with a youthful face and white hair. I am in great shape and can do all kinds of sports and physical activities because of my physical fitness and agility. I am versatile and can look like a number of various ethnicities so people always find me very relatable. I have lots of life experiences* to draw a wide variety of emotions from. I am looking for opportunities to inspire people, tell interesting (true) stories, and to make people feel like they are not alone. I have the ability to cultivate a sense of connection and bonding through the essence of my big heart and humanity.
*I was a single mother for 9 years so I especially would like to star in a film to "normalize" the struggle and stigma that single mom families face. I want to empower mothers and people from so-called "broken" homes with a sense of ease and peace by showing them the light at the end of the tunnel. My story is one of triumph over obstacles and rising to overcome challenges (such as representing myself in child support court and being victorious).
My daughter and I recently went on a 7 day 6 night adventure
vacation in Costa Rica
to celebrate her 12th birthday.I found a GREAT deal on Travel Zoo with a company called Travel by
Jen and their sister excursions company Jet Set Vacations (who booked all
our fabulous excursions). My travel consultant was Sue Dibenedetto and
she was fabulous from beginning to end.I
am a seasoned traveler and usually don’t have so many questions and concerns
but traveling during the pandemic was something new to me and I had a lot of unknowns.Sue was very patient and kind with me.Even though I often messaged her after hours
(not expecting to hear back until the next business day) she was always quick
to respond and address all of my concerns.She made me feel like a VIP and I really appreciate the level of care
and service that she provided.When I
moved around my excursion dates because of the Sabbath, she was not bothered,
annoyed, or anything, she just wanted to make sure our vacation was the best it
could be and that we were happy with everything as we wanted it.She went above and beyond expectations and I
really value her for that.She didn’t
just want to sell me the package and upgrades and go on to the next client, she
wanted to make sure that we were satisfied with every aspect of our vacation. The
entire experience with her has been great and I highly recommend her to my
family and friends!I hope to plan a
trip to Iceland
next year with her!
I want to share my pandemic travel experience so that others
may benefit from all the things I learned and utilize the information contained
here for their benefit.It’s always best
to learn from other people’s experiences than to have to go through the same
issues. Hopefully these tips can help someone to have a more amazing trip!
GETTING THERE
The flight from South Florida
was seamless. On the way there we flew nonstop but unfortunately American
Airlines cancelled the flights we had originally wanted so not only did we
arrive later in the day,* but our return flight also had a short layover. Not
ideal, but considering the circumstances with the pandemic, it’s understandable
that there is less tourism and therefore some flights are cancelled. I’m not
sure if it’s because of the virus, but there were no movie screens on the
chairs in front of us, we were expected to bring our own devices and watch
movies from them.We did not know
this.These are all minor
adjustments.
One thing that I wish I knew or asked is that Fort Lauderdale airport (which is closer to where
we live than Miami) also has direct flights to Costa Rica.
For some reason I associated that airport with domestic flights and Miami with international,
but that’s not always the case. It might be with certain countries like Israel but it’s
not the rule.Knowing this in advance
would have saved our commute time to and from the airport but it’s not a big
deal in the grand picture.
Arriving later in the day was problematic/inconvenient and I
will explain why when I get to that part of the story.
I want to mention that we returned from our trip prior to
January 26, 2021.This is important
because currently* international travel requirements have changed and in order
to reenter the USA,
you need to have a negative covid test done within a certain time frame
of your departure. This is something that a person should check with their
travel agent and with the appropriate authorities because I have a friend who
was stuck in Columbia
for 2 extra days for this reason!
RENTAL CAR
Our package deal included a Hyundai with Adobe rental
car.The airport in Costa Rica is
very small, so the rental car agencies are offsite.Our shuttle driver waited for us outside the
airport with a sign and he had our name on his list. Everything was well
organized and marked. We waited a little
for other tourists to arrive but ended up driving to the rental car location
with just one other person after about 20 minutes or so of waiting
outside.The shuttle bus could probably
seat 10 people or so. The drive to the rental car agency was not long.
If I had known that some of my drives would be up and down
some very steep mountains and even one restaurant that we drove to, we
drove about a mile on an unpaved road, I would have paid extra to get a more
rugged car such as a jeep (4 x 4), truck, or at least a 6 cylinder car!A 4 cylinder car has no power going uphill
and Costa Rica
is a very hilly country.Especially the
first 3 days of our trip!Although the
car was automatic transmission, luckily it also had a manual option which I
used in the mountains.Downshifting
while going downhill is important so that you don’t wear the brakes out and the
car slows itself down based on the gear you are in. When going up steep mountain roads, putting the car in a low gear gives more power and makes it easier to accelerate. THANK GOD none of our
driving on the more dangerous roads happened in the rain.Driving uphill in the rain in a weak car is
recipe for disaster (slipping backwards, no traction on wheels, losing control
of the vehicle, getting stuck or crashing!).Been there, done that and it’s scary.Not something I’d want to put my 12 year old daughter through!
The travel agency was very upfront and disclosed that
although the car rental was included in the package, the mandatory rental car
insurance was not included and would be collected at the time of picking up the
vehicle.We were informed in advance
that it could cost $15 or more per day. Upon arriving to pick up the car, they
presented the $15 per day option and the more expensive option (with better
coverage).The more expensive option had
a $150 refundable deposit and the cheaper insurance had a $700 deposit.The funds were returned after the vehicle
inspection upon return.Of course we
were to return it with a full tank of gas to avoid additional fees and also not
excessively dirty to avoid cleaning fees.
Also, although there are MANY cell phone towers all over the
country, there were remote areas that we had no reception and no wifi means no
GPS and no GPS means you gotta DIY.The
thing is that the highways and streets barely have any signs so it’s very hard
to figure out where you are going.Driving
at night is a challenge because some (many) of the roads have no lights AND the
highways are often just 2 lanes (one in each direction) without a center
divider so when you drive at night the other side’s headlights are in your eyes
and it is hard to see!This is why
arriving at 1pm instead of 11am was problematic. It took us time to get the
rental car and by the time we were on the road, we did end up having to drive to
our hotel at night in the dark on country streets with potholes which was scary
because if we got a flat there was no one around to help.We did have a spare tire in the trunk but
there are no street lights so trying to change a tire in the dark would be very
stressful.I’d recommend making sure
you have a flashlight in the car, flares, etc. Thank goodness we didn’t
have to use any of that.
Another thing we discovered later on in the trip is that
other people that we met on an excursion, also booked through travel by Jen,
were offered a hotspot wifi device from the rental car agency for only
$5 per day (this ensures internet availability anywhere you are).This would have been great to have!I assume we weren’t given that option because
either the person forgot, or they ran out of devices (they were all in use).We would have loved having it and I would
recommend anyone traveling to Costa Rica to get one because many hotels,
restaurants etc don’t have great internet service and sometimes none at all
(especially while driving)!
NOTE: I have T-mobile but the other tourist in our shuttle had ATT and said he had no internet. So make sure to call your provider before the trip to make sure you have an international plan! Also alert your credit card company of your dates of travel so that they don't block your card because it seems like fraudulent charges.
HOTEL 1 Linda Vista Del Norte
The first hotel that we stayed at was quite a trek from the
airport.Although it was only ~87 miles,
after getting out of the city and into the country, the windy mountain roads
were rather treacherous to drive as described above. Since some areas had to be
navigated rather slowly and cautiously (30 mph), the drive took much longer
than anticipated.
The hotel was lovely. The view from our room, balcony,
restaurant, and pool of the lake and dormant volcano (Arenal) was phenomenal
and overall we really enjoyed our stay there. The infinity pool was
picturesque; the complimentary breakfast was delicious and filling: fruit, 2
eggs, toast, rice/beans, plantains, coffee/tea or juice.The staff was friendly and helpful.
There were a few items that I would just mention as a
heads-up to travelers. Although being immersed in nature, I was fully expecting
to dealing with a lot of bugs while on excursions, and we came prepared with a
natural bug spray and 4 insect repellant bracelets, we were a bit (no pun
intended) taken by surprise to find critters inside our hotel room.Apparently, many hotels in CR do not have
screens so if you open a window or balcony door you might be inviting unwanted
guests. So when we got to our room at about 7pm and were greeted by a pink lizard,
my daughter was less than happy about it.We heard crickets and other nature sounds. There were some bugs such as
spiders and other things in our room.I
had a sealed zip lock bag with cookies that I brought for my daughter, and
overnight some tiny water ants found their way inside the bag.
The first night, my daughter wore a short sleeve shirt to bed
and left her arm above the covers. In the morning we noticed that her arm was
full of at least 5 red bug bites. Luckily they did not swell or welt up.In hindsight, I should have brought my
topical benadryl stick.If you
are prone to allergic reactions and have an epi-pen I would recommend
bringing it because we were in remote places, very far from a hospital or even
a drug store.Things are not open 24
hours and medical attention may not be as easily accessible as we are accustomed
to in the states.So it’s best to be
prepared with a small first aid kit. We did bring Neosporin and bandaids
and other items.
Although the hotel was lovely, it’s only rated 3 stars
because of the lack of amenities.For
example, our room did not have a refrigerator.We also didn’t have many other standard amenities such as a(n
alarm) clock, phone, blow drier, etc.There
was no bible in the dresser, not that I missed it. The absence of a phone was a
real bummer because every time we needed to speak with the receptionist we had
to leave our building and walk over to another building and since it rains a
lot there (even though we came after rainy season was supposed to have
ended) it meant getting wet (they did not provide an umbrella), so not being
able to pick up a phone and ask for towels or other things was a little
inconvenient. This area has a lot of low clouds and precipitation.There are also rain forest regions in the
country.Bring an umbrella.I should have packed rain ponchos!
The room itself was very nice.The bathrooms were newly remodeled, modern
and pretty.They did provide some nice
toiletries.
Even though we were in a remote area, there were some
restaurants that delivered food which we were very grateful for.The hotel restaurant was only open for
breakfast, unfortunately.
Note the haziness
COVID MEASURES
I do want to mention that at the hotel, restaurants and
virtually everywhere we went, masks were required, social distancing was
practiced and we had our temperature taken and we were asked to either wash our
hand or sanitize upon entrance.They
took the matter very seriously for both locals and tourists. They had mask
signs (reminders) and Plexiglas everywhere, just like in America.
Because of covid, there was no daily room service.Meaning, they did not enter our habitation to
make the beds, take the trash or clean up.I put the trash bags outside our door and they magically
disappeared.I had to get fresh towels
when we needed them.Another minor
adjustment.
SLOTH TOUR
Those adorable super slow creatures are abundant in CR!I was grateful that my travel company set us
up with an authentic guide who took us to a nearby forest to see these cool
creatures in their natural habitat.He
was very educational and told us that the sloth parks kidnap the sloths and
bring them to these zoo-like parks away from their natural habitat and since
they eat from 5 different trees, they might not get all of the variety of
nutrients that they need in their new environment and suffer health
consequences because of it.So I was
happy to support this local nature guide who took us on a little nature hike
where we also saw many varieties of colorful birds, a monkey, and ants in
action.
At first I was a little concerned about the tour company
because they called my hotel the night before and changed our meeting location
last minute.Then the receptionist tried
calling him back for me and the number didn’t work.When we met him, he had an unmarked personal
car and no uniform.We drove behind him
and followed his car with him and his wife to the trail. She dropped him off
and the other 2 guys on the tour took him back to the drop off location after the
excursion was over.So the fact that
things were changing and not official/professional looking seemed a bit
concerning at first—being in a developing country and not knowing where this
guy was taking us seemed a bit strange and off putting in the beginning, but it
was ultimately very nice, albeit not what we were used to.I don’t think I would have trusted it had it
not been set up by the travel agency, but in the end I was glad we did his
excursion because it was more authentic.We saw 2 sloths but they were high in trees so it was hard to get a good
photo.
ZIP-LINING & RAPPELLING
The meeting point was listed as a hotel but the excursion
office was actually located across the street at Go Adventure near the
mini-market.The excursion company was
fantastic.The staff was wonderful and
the trips were very fun and very well done.We did 10 zip lines and the view was beautiful.We saw monkeys in the trees near us and sheep
in the distance.Afterwards the rappel
was from 50 meters by a river.After
that, we had a nice cultural crash course from the native indigenous Maleku
people. It was brief but covered a lot of grounds including the huts they live
in, their unique language, how they stoke the indoor fire to keep bugs out of
their homes, the clothing made from tree bark, their use of analgesic plant
medicine, their art work and handmade drums and use of masks with animals
painted on to represent various things.We got to sample a refreshing drink they made from corn, sugar cane, and
pineapple. It was a very well-rounded experience and we rode in an open safari
type of vehicle with 2 long benches that was being pulled by a tractor.On our drive we spotted a large black snake.There is no shortage of wildlife in CR!
On this excursion there were 2 other groups of 2 (6 people
total not counting the crew).
I highly recommend this tour company and both excursions we
did with them (see below)!They also
offer many other options such as horse back riding, ATV and river rafting.
GIVING BACK
Upon my return to the USA, I donated online to a local
orphanage.
Go Adventure was also contracted for this fun
experience.We were on the river for
about 45 minutes or so.The water was
pretty shallow, you could definitely stand in it without a problem and we were each in our own tube. My daughter and I and a group of 6 from Maine were the only
people on the tour.We wore masks
whenever we were not in the water. Also the open air vehicle was very spacious
so we weren’t really near anyone.
They had at least 5 crew members there for us: receptionist,
driver, 2 guides, photographer.We made
sure to show them our appreciation and gratitude.
This tour also included a little presentation by the Maleku
man and another woman this time.It is
presumed that some people don’t do more than 1 tour with this excursion company
so they get to have this cool cultural experience.
The tour company had their own photographer on the
excursions and a photo package for your group was only $20.He also took short videos and mailed us a
link within 24 hours to download our memories.This was a great deal and we made sure to tip him for the wonderful
service!
COMMUTING
Our stay was divided into 2 parts.The first part was near La Fortuna in the
North by the Arenal volcano and lake and the second half was in Manuel Antonio,
in the South by the beach, for two completely different but magnificent vibes!The drive from the first hotel to the second
hotel took around 5 hours and because we doubled up on excursions on Sunday
(because we did nothing but rest and relax on Saturday) it means that we left
later in the afternoon and since sunset was around 5:30pm, once again we had to
drive in the dark streets. This time however, we did all the mountain-side
driving in the daylight (thank goodness) and the flat, coastal driving was at
night.It’s a shame we didn’t get to see
the beautiful ocean view because it was so dark but we had to make sacrifices
in order to observe the Sabbath and I didn’t want to miss out on doing fun
activities, so this was our compromise and my choice.I am happy with the way that everything
worked out.I wouldn’t have changed a
thing.
We did have to drive 3 hours to the airport on our way back
home but the drive was pretty easy compared to the other 2 drives which had
high elevations and colorful terrain shall we call it.LOL.
HOTEL 2 Si Como
No Wildlife Refuge Resort
This hotel was absolutely fabulous and had all the trimmings
(I was very glad that we came here second and not first)! The room was huge. I’d
call it a suite. We had a wonderful view of the ocean from our room and
balcony.We got lucky and our room was
adjacent to the lobby and by our car, a really great and convenient location.The room had a phone, laundry service,
ironing board (not that I iron), refrigerator, and even a sturdy umbrella!Their restaurant was open for all meals and
even did room service (for the food). The shower had a lovely underwater scene
stained glass window.The bathroom window
had a screen! The room service was daily and we enjoyed the pampering of having
our beds made, complete with towel sculptures—such a nice touch!
There is a complimentary butterfly garden across the street
(which unfortunately looked very depleted, like some tourists may have stolen
the exhibits inside the museum).Getting
there involved a nice little nature hike (just a few minutes).
They have a movie theater where we saw a private screening
of the movie of our choice, Mulan.
The complimentary breakfast options were like gourmet dining
paired with fresh exotic juices and again a gorgeous view.5 white-faced monkeys came to the open
balcony style restaurant while we were eating breakfast on our first morning
there and provided a show for us.One of
them stole the container full of sugar packets and was eating them over our
heads on the glass roof.These playful
sugar addicted thieves were like celebrities and we watched them make their
escape, jumping into the nearby trees and disappearing into the thick of the
wilderness.It was delightful and
unforgettable!LOL.What a thrill.
The hotel had an adult and a kid’s swimming pool.The kid’s pool had a really fun and very fast
slide which both of us loved (really fun), little waterfall and shallow area for
little kids as well as stools that connected to the bar of the restaurant so
you could order from the bar while sitting in the pool, which we did! I ordered
a virgin strawberry daiquiri for my daughter which she really liked.In general, we had really good food during
the entire trip.The bartender spoiled
us with strawberry infused water while we were at the pool.I think because the number of travelers is so
low due to the pandemic, they made an extra effort to be even more attentive to
us because they rely on tips to supplement their income. I was very mindful of
this, more than ever, and made an effort to be more generous than usual. So make sure to put tips in your travel budget!
Unfortunately neither of the two jacuzzis were in service.But I LOVED the music that they played at the
pool bar, all my favorite salsa, bachata, and merengue and the bartender/DJ
even took my request. LOL. When we were at the pool, there was only 1 other family
there with 2 girls so it was pretty quiet and we saw an iguana tanning on the
sun deck. I highly recommend
this resort!
WEATHER
The weather in Manuel Antonio (location of the second hotel) was sunny and pleasant, whereas, during the first part of our trip (and I
think it is characteristic of the location we were in) it was more overcast,
on/off light rain and not as much sun and clear skies as the second part of our
trip.In fact, you could rarely see the
peak of the volcano because it was usually covered by clouds.It was just an interesting contrast to
observe the weather differences in the 2 locations.Definitely bring a light raincoat or umbrella
if you go.I had a long sleeve zipper up
rash guard type of top that I ended up making good use out of.Also having light long sleeves is good to limit
skin exposure for bug bites.
OTHER NEARBY ATTRACTIONS
There was a zip-line (roller) coaster very close to our hotel
for only $12 that looked very fun with an option to sit or be suspended in a
standing position for the ride, but unfortunately it was closed (probably due
to the pandemic). We would’ve done it otherwise.
El Avion (Airplane restaurant) located inside Hotel Casa Verde is a must see.We were actually supposed to stay at this
hotel but we upgraded to our hotel.This
restaurant has a lovely view of the Pacific Ocean
but the really unique thing about it is that you can eat inside Ollie North’s
Iran Contra C-123 which is a huge airplane.It’s very cool and the hotel grounds are quite special. Highly
recommended!
Ronny’s Place is a restaurant located off of the
beaten path (almost hidden) and we never would have known about it had it not
been recommended to us by our friendly local tour guide!It was a beautiful place to catch the sunset and
dinner.They served me a pina colada
inside a gutted pineapple which was as delicious as it was beautiful.Good thing a lady at a nearby table had one
or I likely would not have ordered it!This is the place that I mentioned we had to drive off road (on little
rocks) to get to.Highly recommended!
Perfection
KAYAK TOUR
Iguana tours offers an early morning or early evening
mangrove tour (depending on high tide times).Since I am not a morning person (except when on vacation LOL) I opted
for the late tour, not realizing that it would be pitch dark!This outfitter picked us up from our hotel,
unlike the others that we drove to the meeting location or office.During the dark drive, I was having second
thoughts and wanted to cancel the tour because I was a little scared!Good thing I conquered my fear and went
through with it because it was amazing and magical!
When we got to the launching site, I was pleasantly
overwhelmed by the blissfully intoxicating aroma of the Ylang Ylang trees.This was a familiar smell to me because in my
childhood home, we had a gardenia bush and the flowers smell very similar
(unlike the ylang ylang essential oil smell which I don’t really care
for).The smell was calming and just
heavenly.They gave us some nice local
refreshments before we launched (drinks, fruit, cookies) and then we received a
life vest and our equipment.
It was just the guide, my daughter and I so we got lots of
personalized attention.Our guide took
pictures on his phone and sent them to us right afterwards.He was very nice and friendly and taught us
about the area we were in and the wildlife found there.We wore flashlights that strapped to our
heads so we could spot birds, bats, frogs, a snake, raccoons, an iguana, crabs, and of
course lots of bugs as we glided effortlessly over the waters.One of the most beautiful things was the
countless stars that were so bright on this clear night that we could even see
a few constellations, and I’m not even good with constellations.We also got an additional unexpected surprise
that our tour included dinner afterwards.Yay!LOL. They wanted to give us
chicken but because we keep kosher, I asked for a vegetarian meal so they gave us
salad, rice/beans, plantains and cooked veggies.It was very good and much appreciated.
CATAMARAN TOUR --> BOATING MANGROVE NATURE TOUR
My daughter and I were the only ones signed up for the
catamaran tour and because fuel is expensive, they had to cancel it.They were very accommodating, however, and we
ended up taking a boat tour in the bay (instead of the ocean) on a smaller
vessel with a captain and a nature guide.This private tour also included snacks and breakfast.We had a lovely time and were able to cover
much more grounds than in the kayak since we were in a motorized boat.We spotted lots of different wildlife
including anteaters, flying fish, birds, iguana, monkeys and more.
TABACON
This was the only excursion that I booked
directly myself and we did not utilize the travel agency to secure.I had been there in 2006 when I worked on a
cruise ship, and I was excited to bring my daughter there.It was actually the thing I was most looking
forward to on this trip and it was the biggest disappointment.I booked it in advance to secure our tickets.
However, due to unforeseen circumstances, we could not come on the scheduled
day and I wanted to reschedule for another day.When I arrived the following day, they would not honor our tickets.The prices are astronomical.They charged me $170 for 2 people with a meal
and would not refund or reschedule.I
was so upset by this matter that I am currently disputing it with my credit
card company.It’s not like they were at
capacity.They could accommodate 30
people and we toured the property and saw only 3 people in the hot springs!There were only 2 other groups of 2 or 3 people walking around the
grounds and only one couple eating in the very large restaurant.They could have easily granted us access but
they denied us entry and asked me to pay again!This is unconscionable. I know these are hard times but it doesn’t give
you the right to rip people off.There
are plenty of other hot springs
in the area, and even a FREE hot spring down the road (walking distance).Had I not paid in advance, I could have just
paid to enter when I got there and not lost my money.As of the time I am writing this blog, 3
weeks after our trip, I am waiting to hear back from my credit card company as
to the outcome of the dispute.I did not
cancel my reservation, I only needed to change the date and they did not say
anything about rescheduling in their cancellation policy.I would highly recommend boycotting this
place at all costs!The customer service
was deplorable!
The volcano Arenal is behind the clouds
SUMMARY
Overall everything about our trip was well coordinated, well planned, and beautifully executed from start to finish. The only bad experience we had was not through the tour agency. All the staff were friendly and we had a really great time! Thank you to everyone involved in the experience!
We are certainly living in interesting times, aren't we?
Let's talk about how to cope with all the things happening today.
Many countries around the world including Italy, China, Peru and others have been on lock down (quarantine) for 2-4 weeks in order to prevent the spread of the Corona Virus and it is likely that we will be next. This practice has been successful in stopping the spread of CV. The only places people are allowed to go during lock down are supermarkets, gas stations, and the pharmacy.
Until then, since most of us are still working and in public places, we must strengthen our immune system. 1,000 mg of Vitamin C taken 3 times per day between meals is great to boost the immune system. Other things to boost the immune system include: zinc 30 mg per day, garlic (1 clove per day), fresh grated ginger, raw onions, mushroom extracts, fresh fruits, berries, nuts and vegetables, bone broth etc. It is important to get good sleep, fresh air, and 15 minutes of direct sunlight without sunscreen for the natural vitamin D synthesis in the skin which had been used to treat other viral epidemics in the past.
In times of crisis we see humanity at its best and at its worse. While some people do things such as looting during a riot, others step up and donate resources, time, and services. Nike and other retailers are giving their employees paid leave to prevent or curtail the spread of the virus. And some NBA players are donating money to pay for arena staff who will be out of work for at least 1 month due to arena closures. These types of stories, where people and businesses are going above and beyond their call of duty, are something to inspire and uplift us amid such uncertain and potentially stressful times.
What to do if you are stuck at home? Use this time as an opportunity for growth, self improvement, and relationship bolstering. Here are some ideas:
1. Share a healthy meal with a family member. Many of us skip meals, eat on the run, or just don't have organized eating habits. This is the time to slow down and eat consciously and deliberately and together. Since grocery stores are still open (perhaps with limited hours), you can still find a lot of the ingredients for various recipes, and if not you can improvise! A delicious breakfast I ate with my daughter who is homeschooling today is an acai bowl. I use a basic recipe and make substitutions such as almond milk instead of apple juice and I add a scoop of plain protein powder to offset all the fructose (natural sugar). This is not something we can usually do on a weekday (it's more of a Sunday treat) so we can cherish the chance to break out of the normal routine and make the morning special with a delicious and nutritious meal. A healthy meal is a great line of defense and spending quality time with a loved one is priceless. Maybe add a gratitude prayer before and/or after the meal. Use the extra time to explore a few new recipes for dishes you haven't made yet but would like to try.
2. Exercise. The gyms might be closed but don't let that stunt your creativity! Get your favorite playlist and have a dance party, dust off that old cardio equipment or workout DVDs that you never use and get your money's worth. There are a plethora of free yoga, qi gong, tai chi, belly dancing and other exercise videos on youtube that you can watch and do in your living room. You can do jumping jacks, burpees, sit ups, plank, squats, lunges, push ups and much more without needing much space at all.
3. Meditation and/or prayer or journaling. This is a great time to introspect. Give another meaning to "going inside." Ask yourself important questions about your goals and dreams and plans and be still and welcome the answers that come to you. There are so many things we put on the back burner because we "don't have time." Guess what, now we have time! What a blessing! Time is the most precious commodity of them all. Let's utilize it positively and create healthy habits to take beyond the lock down! Start a gratitude journal and count all your daily blessings.
4. Household projects. Here is an opportunity to clear your clutter. Organize your closets, shelves, drawers, basement, attic, yard/garden. Our space is important for the way we function. Getting rid of things that we no longer use or need is very liberating on many levels. Looking around at an organized and clean home is a wonderful feeling.
5. Personal Growth. We have access to so many wonderful educational tools. Read books, watch Ted Talks on any subject that interests you, watch (Netflix) documentaries such as What the Health, The Game Changers, Forks over Knives, Super size me, The business of cancer, The business of being born, vaccine-nation, and others. There are audible books, study the bible or review other texts to improve your job performance.
6. Crafts. You may have a special skill that you don't have time to cultivate such as painting, piano, sewing, poetry or creating a photo album book of your favorite digital photos. This is a time to pick up creative projects and perhaps even discover a hidden talent. You can create a vision board, draw, sing, write a short story.
7. Plan ahead. You can do research for a blog article, make changes to your website, come up with a new advertisement or campaign for work. Many events (industrial and social) had to be canceled because of the social distancing recommendations. Start looking into replacement or substitute events, races, and gatherings.
8. Self care. Light a candle and take a hot bath with epsom salts, baking soda and your favorite essential oils. An oatmeal bath can be quite luxurious too (1 cup in pantyhose with a knot) . Cleanse, exfoliate, and moisturize your skin and use your favorite facial mask. Listen to relaxation music, binaural beats, or a guided meditation. Take care of your nails and your hair. Exchange massages with a family member. Enjoy aroma therapy in the form of an essential oil diffuser, incense, or scented candles. Use a Himalayan rock salt lamp for the benefits of the negative ions. Remember self care is not selfish. Self care is self preservation. When we are calm and peaceful we can make better decisions and enjoy life more. It benefits us and those we love.
9. Think positive thoughts. We are bombarded by negative messages in the media so we need to be mindful about what we are ingesting mentally. Positive affirmations such as, "this too shall pass" or "one day at a time" can help us to get through challenging times by staying present and positive and not letting ourselves become overwhelmed by all the potentially anxiety-provoking things happening around us.
10. Stay hydrated. Drink lots of alkaline or spring water or herbal tea. Dehydration makes us susceptible to illness and fatigue. Drinking 8 glasses of 16 ounces will help our bodies to flush out impurities, and keep us healthy. Cold infusions with berries, oranges, lemon, mint, ginger, or cucumbers can be very refreshing and provide added benefits.
11. Play games with family members. Such as xbox/nintendo/PS4/wii, cards, charades, board games, hangman, connect four and more. Or watch a movie/show together. Spending time with family members is a luxury we often miss out on even though we may live under the same roof. Having a game night or special family time can be a nice way to improve relationships.
12. Breathe. One of the best ways to change your mood, attitude, or state of mind is to change your breath. There are many different breath meditations in yoga involving, for example, breathing in one nostril and exhaling out the other one to relax the body and mind and promote wellbeing. There are also various counting breath-work techniques such as the 4-7-8 breathing technique, also known as “relaxing breath.” It involves breathing in for 4 seconds, holding the breath for 7 seconds, and exhaling for 8 seconds. This breathing pattern aims to reduce anxiety or help people get to sleep. Experiment and explore with different breathing meditations and find one that resonates with you. Breath classes can be transformational. Most of us do not realize that we are breathing shallow in our chest due to stress and not fully engaging our diaphragm and expanding our rib-cage with deep abdominal breathing.
13. Laugh. Laughter is the best medicine. There is actually a case of someone who laughed his cancer into remission. Watch some stand up on Amazon Prime, rent a funny movie, don’t take things so seriously. Yes we need to be careful and cautious but we also need to enjoy our lives and have fun!
In summary, we need to get back to the basics in order not only to maintain and preserve our health and sanity, but these same preservational activities and exercises for epidemic crisis survival are also paramount to our ability to thrive in life without any looming threats to our existence. If distancing ourselves from others means getting more in touch with ourselves, maybe it’s not such a bad thing after-all! It is my hope that we step back, reflect, and inject our lives with new found zest and meaning and purpose and energy to do great things. We were created for greatness. Now is our time to stop, look, and remember what we are here for!
Many blessings of complete health, wellness, and vitality.
Today I read an article that claimed that happy people are more likely to succeed because they put in more effort and have more confidence. This is interesting and it certainly follows the law of attraction but doesn't it sound like a bunch of confounding variables? Did they succeed because they were happy or was it actually the effort and the confidence that made them succeed? Being happy regardless of circumstances is in itself a tremendous success and accomplishment. I would argue, however, that it was the other factors and not the positive mental attitude--although I am a big proponent of positivity, not just for financial success but for health and wellbeing too. No one likes a negative Nancy and there are so many benefits from being happy and positive. But happiness alone cannot determine whether a person will be successful or not. There are certain habits, rituals or practices that anyone can do (happy or not) that do seem to foster and engender the cultivation (or possibility) of success and this link has some solid insights, suggestions and observations that I believe are worthwhile to adopt. But there are no guarantees in life. Napolean Hill was onto something big when he said, "Think and Grow Rich" There is much truth to that and yet I feel that there is much more at play. What about fate and destiny and luck or karma? Could these factors be involved in determining success? We all know of starving talented artists, comedians, singers etc who have the skills to be on the big screen making millions but they remain undiscovered waitresses and bartenders and computer technicians singing karaoke and playing in front of small audiences in dive coffee shops. Why? They have the confidence to perform and share their gifts, they have agents, but they didn't get the big opportunity to shine. Does that make them unsuccessful? Are you only successful if you are famous or make lots of money? Or does small scale success count? Can't sad or angry people also use their negative emotions to fuel their success, drive them to work hard and achieve their goals? I would argue that any emotion can be used as passion and fuel to achieve success if it motivates a person to pursue their passion. The key factor is the ACTIONS that the person makes despite of their feeling happy, sad or mad. Let's look at the real world. Some of the greatest artists, politicians, inventors, and business men in the world were frustrated, depressed and/or mentally ill. This article lists 50 famous people who were/are depressed and achieved tremendous accolades in their respective fields. Many achieved unparalleled fame, fortune and productivity. Clearly depression can be debilitating and life-threatening for some but it does not stop other people from fulfilling their dreams and aspirations. Would country music or the Blues exist without sadness? People have made fortunes on those careers. What about Van Gough who chopped his own ear off. Or Mike Tyson who bit a man's ear off, and Woody Allen who could talk your ear off? Was it happiness or something else that was responsible for their achievements? How about successful angry people? Would Heavy Metal music exist without anger? Would Eminem be famous if it weren't for expressing his rage in rap music? Would Alanis Moressette even have a career in music if it weren't for the frustration and anger she channeled in her songs that many people could relate to? What about boxers and other athletes who use their anger (towards bad parents, upbringing, lack, and life) to power their athletic prowess? All emotions serve a purpose and when people are authentic with their feelings, other people can relate to that and that is powerful, inspiring, moving, unifying, and reassuring. People seek connection and they find it through music and art and sports. They want to feel like they are not alone with their struggles and challenges in life. So what do successful depressed, angry and happy people have in common? I would say that these people all used their strong and powerful emotions to drive them forward in life. But emotions are not enough. It has to be coupled with action, effort, confidence, drive, and determination. All these people had a huge desire to express, share, or transform what it was inside of them into whatever their vision was. Oprah Winfrey and Tony Robbins were driven by the poverty of their upbringing to create a better future for themselves. In my humble opinion, you don't have to be happy to be successful, you have to desire success, envision success, and create success. This can be done in any emotive state. Robin Williams, Michael Jackson, and many other superstar celebrities were depressed and society would define them as having had successful careers. But did they succeed in the game of life? Were they successful in God's eyes? What does the fame and fortune mean if you can't be around to enjoy it? So this brings me to another interesting discussion... WHAT IS SUCCESS? How do we define it or measure it? Most of us equate success with money. If you are rich, you are successful. Steve Jobs was a successful business man but was he a successful person? Did he win in life? The articles that I read about him online said that he was a horrible person and employer and father. He denied his own children paternity! He embarrassed and humiliated his employees in interviews and treated people like garbage. Is this what we consider success? There are articles online that explain why rich people are jerks and that having money brings out the worst in people. So is having money and being a despicable person the measure of success? What about poor teachers and preachers or house wives who raise good ethical children who are generous with their time and helping others? Are they not successful because they don't have money or fame? What about the rich lawyer who made his fortune by twisting facts in court and letting rapists, murders and child abusers off the hook to become repeat offenders? Is he successful? What about the real estate tycoon who made his fortune stepping on others, committing adultery and having an attitude of entitlement and superiority, vanity and arrogance. Do you crave his success and all that comes with it? It is a package deal after all. We live in a world of illusion and mixed up values. We live in a society that defines success as having lots of money and a lavish lifestyle of excess, fortune and fame. We all want it despite that we have already seen what it could do to us. Many people sell their souls to the devil to get these things. They lie, cheat, steal, do drugs, prostitution and other evil things for the Almighty dollar and to impress others. I would argue that raising good quality human beings with strong morals and ethics and values is a greater accomplishment than making lots of money. I used to be down on myself for not being where I imagined I would be financially at this age. That's because for a long time I equated success with making money and acquiring wealth. But I see that money can't buy happiness and there are somethings in life that are more valuable than paper. An empathic patient of mine helped me to shift my perspective many years ago. He sensed that I was down and he asked me about it. I told him I was sad because I was not yet "successful." He said that I helped a lot of people to improve their health and wellbeing and had a positive impact on their lives and that I was already successful because of that. I never thought of it that way but I liked his perspective (positive reframe) and it helped me to not be so hard on myself for not achieving my financial goals. I did put in all the effort and devotion and hard work that I had to my practice but it wasn't enough and despite my good intentions and vision and plans it seems like maybe it wasn't Gods Will. Could there be another explanation? Maybe there was a lesson in humility and acceptance and gratitude in having a modest income and being content with it. I had so many expectations about education and prosperity that didn't turn out to be true. I was miseducated and misinformed about how to make money because I did all the right things but I still wasn't getting "there." So I would say that happiness isn't enough and maybe isn't even even truly necessary at all. Many people succeeded with anger and sadness. There's so many factors and facets to success. I have come to redefine success. Success isn't money and money isn't success. I think someone who is happy with what they have is successful. We all know rich miserable people and I don't think they are winning in life. I think winning in life is learning, growing, sharing, giving, serving, helping, connecting, smiling, living (not existing) and following your heart wherever it takes you, whether fortune and fame is in your cards or not, you can be successful at any level as long as you are authentic, true to yourself, and act with integrity. Money doesn't define people. Success should be measured in smiles not dollars. How many people can you make smile today? How many people will be better off for having known or met you? The little old lady who rescues animals is successful. Foster parents who love and take care of abused and neglected children are successful. Preachers in poor neighborhoods who make people feel closer to God are successful. Social workers who struggle with bills while helping people get on their feet are successful. The school psychologist who instill confidence in bullied children is successful. The firefighter who saves lives and who rents his apartment and has an old car is successful. The substitute teacher who makes students love learning is successful. The lawyer who takes pro bono cases fighting for justice but hasn't paid off his student loans is successful. The medical assistant who instills hope in patients and has defaulted on her mortgage is successful. The clown who brought joy at your kid's birthday party who lives with his mom is successful. The man who lives in his parents basement pursuing his dream to be a musician is successful. The special education teacher, the senior care provider and all the others who provide services with love and care and genuineness are not wealthy but they are successful. None of the people in the list above drive fancy cars, live in big homes, make lots of money or get any kind of recognition. But they are all making a difference in this world. And THAT is how I chose to define success.
