We hope that everyone will
come down to Pathfinder Produce, our tasteful, festive market, this week, now
at two locations -- Edmeston, at Pathfinder Village’s Commons Building,
on Thursdays, from 1 to 5 p.m., and in Morris at the United Methodist Church Hall,
17 Church Street, Morris, on Fridays from 1 to 4 p.m.
I have a few dates to
share of upcoming Pathfinder events that you may also enjoy: The Sidney
Community Band will perform a free concert at Pathfinder Gym this Sunday,
December 4, at 3:30 p.m.. And the
Resident Holiday Show and Tree Lighting – our annual tradition -- is set for
Thursday, December 8, starting at the Pathfinder Gym at 7 p.m. All are welcome to
these fun and festive gatherings!
And as a special holiday
treat, Chef Matt Grady of Stagecoach Coffee, Cooperstown, will be cooking up
some great veggie & fruit powered treats at the Morris Market on Friday,
December 16. We can’t wait to see what Matt has in store for us! We hope to share more about some of Matt’s
recipes next week.
****
As the
old Johnny Mathis song says, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” with
decorating, shopping, coordinating deliveries, family visits, and community
events. Although the holidays are a special time of year, it’s also a time when
your stress levels may go up. Here are a few ways to lower your anxiety
levels, so that you may enjoy the holidays to the fullest:
Yoga: The other week I
took my first-ever yoga class, and absolutely loved it. It was a
low-stress workout that focused on gentle stretching, working different
muscles, and deep breathing. After I was done, I felt refreshed, and it
wasn’t that difficult physically. Not everyone can get to a scheduled
yoga class easily, but there are lots of great YouTube videos on beginning yoga that can
show you how to breathe properly and run through a simple series of positions
that will help you feel more relaxed.
Turn off Facebook: As much as I’m addicted
to Facebook, and love to reconnect with friends and loved ones, I need to “put
down the phone” at night and give it a break. Articles on sleep indicate that
you shouldn’t use a screen for at least 30 minutes before you try to nod off
(the blue light emitted by LED screens affects your circadian clock by waking you up at the
wrong time); I’d add that if there are posters or groups that get under your
skin, unfollow them for a while. Also, accentuate the positive, as negative thoughts tend
to snowball and lead to more negative thoughts and behaviors.
Play Outside: Try to get outside
for some fresh air every day. I recently enjoyed a staycation, and took
opportunities to go for walks every day in my woods (except for when we got 18”
of snow). It was great! I could go at my own pace, and got to enjoy
things that I normally don’t get to see … red squirrels, blue jays, cardinals,
chickadees, Red-tailed hawks and a decent sized Barred Owl in flight.
Pick up a book: Many of us get out
of the habit of reading for pleasure, especially as we have such busy lives.
But research from the University of
Sussex, UK (2009) indicates that reading, even for as little as six minutes a day, can reduce your
stress levels by about two-thirds, resulting in lowered heart rates and relaxed
muscles. Researchers contend that people need to concentrate while reading, and
the intentional distraction of the literary world is enough to set aside daily
cares and worries enough to help your muscles and heart. Of course, you need to
select something you enjoy and will not add to stress -- no news digests!
Focus on eating well: Try to get your
five a day in the fruits and veggie department, and limit quantities of those
luscious holiday sweets and tempting dishes. Avoid as many sugary drinks as
possible, and try to imbibe non-alcoholic beverages, like seltzers, to cut back
on unnecessary calories when attending gatherings. This list of healthy foods can also help your stress
levels.
Until
next time, relax, eat and be well!
Lori
