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My Journey to 10,000 Steps a Day

August 1, 2024October 7, 2024by Carol MurphyLeave a Comment

The Why

I ran into an old friend of mine a few days ago. I hadn’t seen her in years, and we hugged each other in excitement. We began catching up with each other by sharing stories about the last time that we saw each other, and we also discussed a few other topics. Then she asked me what I’ve been up to lately. The first thing that came to mind for me was how I have been relentlessly taking care of myself over the past few years. So, my immediate response was “Oh, I’ve just been taking care of myself… you know…healing and trying to be as healthy as I possibly can,” (In my highest and best “Hey girl, How are you?” voice). I might have lied just a tiny bit. I didn’t tell the whole truth, because we were in a store shopping and I just didn’t feel comfortable holding her “hostage”, so to speak, to tell her all about my journey. Maybe she’ll read this one day, but perhaps not – either is okay. I am also a very private person, so my telling this story even now isn’t easy for me, but I’m hoping that it might be able to help someone else. The truth is, I am absolutely enamored with taking care of myself!

In November 2020, I became ill suddenly. I mysteriously dropped 30 lbs. in one month, at what equated to losing 1 to 1 and 1/2 lbs. per day. I cannot even begin to put into words how frightening this was for me (and my family).

I could barely walk, and I could not drive. I was hospitalized and still found myself visiting the emergency room many times thereafter. Each time, I was undergoing major testing and then being sent home with my physicians being baffled at what was going on with me. I say baffled because I had three specialists in three different specialties, in addition to my regular physician, all of whom were unable to identify a specific cause for what I was experiencing health wise. They were also unable to pinpoint why I was having an adverse reaction to the medication that they prescribed me. It was bad. It was so bad that none of the specialists or my physician believed what I was telling them about what I was experiencing. I suppose perhaps that my experience was so unusual that maybe they thought that I was not telling the truth. I don’t know. Still, I don’t want to say that I was being gaslit, but that is what was, in all actuality, what seemed to be occurring. This is going to sound ridiculously crazy, but I even received phone calls from hospital personnel who I had never been introduced to in person, who were desperately trying to convince me to “just take the medicine” despite the fact that it was causing me to have a serious adverse reaction.

I could not believe what was happening. Neither could my spouse as he listened to these calls with me while they were on speakerphone. This was a very frustrating time for me, especially having been raised by a mother who worked in medicine in a professional capacity all of her adult life, and taught me a lot about taking care of my health. I, myself, also once worked in the healthcare field for some time, so believe me when I say that I have nothing against healthcare or the medical field. The frustration that I felt led me to seriously consider what I would do if and when I got better. In fact, it became my sole motivation to get better. I knew, however, that once I healed, God willing, I was going to have to make changes in my life; mainly because I did not want to ever have to experience what I was experiencing at that time – ever again.

Fast forward to February 2021. I began trying to walk as a way for me to take the initiative in my own health and well-being. I needed to get back into life, off the couch and out of the bed. I wasn’t my usual self. Every day was just a day in which I wondered if I would make it to the next one. I was just trying to focus on healing in private.

I stopped taking prescription medication, (because it made me feel worse than when I wasn’t taking it), changed physicians, and began seeing a holistic health practitioner and a holistic nutritionist on the side. It was a bit pricey, but that would end up being one of the best decisions and investments that I have ever made for myself, and in myself.

During that time I learned quite a bit about nutrition, herbs and spices, vitamins, minerals and I even learned ways to heal and care for my vagus nerve, sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system. I was also already enrolled in yoga teacher training, but had to postpone my certification final because of my health at that time. Since I could barely walk, that also meant that I could not practice yoga asana either. Heck, there were moments that I could barely stand. Yet, there were aspects of yoga that I kept up with because they were the only things that I could do, (with regard to yoga), that helped me a great deal. Those things are meditation, mudras, chakra sound healing, ayurveda and pranayama. I credit my general knowledge of those aspects of yoga with being a formidable part of my wellness journey.

Please note that I am not advising anyone to utilize any of these same methods to help heal themselves because I am not a physician, nor am I providing medical advice. I am just sharing what worked for me, and my personal story of healing because it is relative to my personal journey of why I started walking 10,000 steps a day. As a caveat, I would advise anyone who might be considering trying anything that I mention in this post to please consult with your physician before doing so.

Moreover, please note that there are many additional points and details about my condition, and the situation that I experienced that I have decided to leave out of this post, and not share here for reasons related to privacy. This is something that you should also take into consideration before trying anything in this post without consulting your physician.

Baby Steps

As wonderful as all of these healing modalities were for me, they are not in alignment with the topic of this blog post. What I really want to place my focus on, and share with you is the subject of walking. More specifically – my dedication to walking 10,000 steps a day as a daily routine, and how you can start a similar walking regimen like this of your own.

Walking is so underrated. It is an exercise that is low-impact, but good for your heart and circulation. It is a weight-bearing exercise that is also as good for your lungs, as it is for your heart. It can help to lower your blood pressure and high cholesterol levels, improve your balance and coordination, strengthen bones and muscles, reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and high stress levels, help you lose weight and improve overall energy.

When I started my commitment to walking, I made a promise to myself to just walk at least 500 steps a day. It was hard for me at first because walking was very difficult for me to maintain without having my health condition flare up. However, I figured that I had nothing to lose, and everything to gain if I just pushed through it and began by taking baby steps.

Those 500 steps were some of the slowest steps that I have ever taken in my life, but lucky for me – I had nothing but time. It didn’t matter that my steps were slow. The only thing that mattered was that I was trying, and not sitting on my behind doing nothing but wasting away. I was determined to get back to my old self, or something even better.

After successfully achieving those 500 steps for a while, it would be two weeks later that I would begin my move to walking 1,000 steps a day. My steps continued to steadily increase each month – slowly, but surely. By March 2021 my average steps per day were up to 2,300, and by the end of summer that year I was walking 4,200 steps a day.

Today my steps per day average anywhere between 10,000 and 13,000 steps, depending upon how much time I am able to dedicate to my daily steps due to work or other tasks.

How You Can Implement A Similar Walking Practice Into Your Daily Schedule

Walking 10,000 steps a day can be quite challenging to achieve. Especially if you lead a busy life, or have a lot of other responsibilities. Making 10,000 steps a day a priority in your daily schedule takes a great deal of motivation and dedication – even a little bit of encouragement on some days – but I promise you that if you prioritize walking 10,000 steps a day, and put it in your calendar or to-do list, or better yet just make it a daily habit that you do before you start your day, after you eat dinner, or any other time that works with your schedule, and do it every day; you will find that it won’t be very long before it becomes a habit.

Try committing to it for 21 – 30 days to start. Then just keep it up. Personally, I am so used to getting my 10,000 steps in daily now because I started by making it a part of my daily morning routine right after brushing my teeth, washing my face, showering, getting dressed for the day, practicing yoga and eating breakfast. I have been doing this so long that it actually feels strange whenever I don’t start my day in this order.

You might be wondering if it is okay to take a day off from walking. My answer to that is a resounding, “Yes!” Breaks are very important if you are to sustain your 10,000 steps a day as a daily practice. It may also be good for your body to take a day off from walking. However, I have to admit that when first I started walking, I didn’t take any days off – but it was a lot easier for me to do that at that time since my daily step average back then hadn’t yet quite reached 10,000.

Nowadays, my body will let me know that walking 10,000 steps for 7 days straight deserves at least one day off, and my knees, calves, thighs and back usually appreciate it when I do take a break. However, there aren’t very many weeks in which I actually take a day off if I can help it. I will sometimes do somewhere between 1,500 – 5,000 steps in lieu of doing zero steps on my off days, unless I feel as though my body and mind really need the full break.

Another question that I often get asked is, “What do you do on days in which there is inclement weather?” Well, my response to that question is that I walk indoors. So, there is no excuse for me not to get my steps in. In instances when I am not able to walk outdoors, I will walk the whole perimeter of my home indoors, (Yes, you read that correctly, I will walk the whole perimeter of my home). This could also be done on a treadmill if you have one. Unfortunately for me, I gave mine to Good Will a couple of years ago, but as you can see, that hasn’t stopped me from my personal commitment to completing my daily steps. I really meant it when I said that I am enamored with taking care of myself.

It used to take me 5 hours or more to complete 10,000 steps a day. Now it takes me about 2 – 3 hours if I walk non-stop, but sometimes when I am pressed for time, and have work to do, I will break my walk into sections where I will complete the first 5,000 steps early in the day, and then finish the final 5,000 steps or more later the same day at a time when it’s more convenient for me. I just make sure to complete those final 5,000 steps before 11:59 pm. You can also try breaking the steps up into 3 parts or 4 parts even. I have found that breaking the steps down into more manageable step amounts can be really helpful in remaining dedicated to getting 10,000 steps in a day. If this is something that interests you then I highly recommend that you give it a try – after consulting your physician.

In Closing

So, as you can see making a commitment to walk 10,000 steps a day can be easy. All it takes is a little serious interest in wanting to complete 10,000 steps a day, and maybe, (as in my case), a great big wake-up call.

I am not saying that walking 10,000 steps a day cured me. What I can say for sure, however, is that it didn’t hurt me in any way and contributed to my feeling healthier than I have in decades.

Lastly, if you have any other tips for getting 10,000 steps in a day, or if you are starting your own 10,000 steps a day practice, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to comment in the comments section or message me from the contact page.

Thank you for reading.

Until the next time…

Take care and be well.

Carol

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13 Activities To Do For Earth Day

April 22, 2021April 22, 2021by Carol MurphyLeave a Comment

Happy Earth Day 2021!

I hope that you were able to get outside today to enjoy a little bit of our beautiful planet’s natural offerings. I was lucky enough to be able to enjoy a short hike today, which as you may already know, I love doing. I am glad that the weather is warming up and that, albeit slow, we’re all moving toward doing our best to get Covid-19 under control so that we can all get back to our definition of “normal living.”

Going outside to enjoy nature is just one of the things that I do to celebrate Earth Day each year; and I’ve compiled a list of 13 of my favorite Earth Day activities to share with you. These are also great everyday selfcare activities to do during any time of the year as well. Enjoy!

Visit a state or national park (physically or virtually).
Go hiking.
Do a little earthing or forest bathing.
Go for a walk in your neighborhood (solo, with someone, or walk your dog.)
Watch a sunrise or sunset.
Make a herbal face mask or hand scrub instead of buying one.
Take a bath instead of showering to save water.
Turn off your electronic devices for the day to save energy, and digitally detox at the same time.
Enjoy plant based meals all day.
Repot your plants that need it, divide those that have extra growth and start new plants and give them to family and friends as gifts.
Cut flowers from your garden or buy them to bring nature’s beauty into your home space – just because.
Make your own herbal tea with fresh herbs and plants such as chamomile, hibiscus, ginger, or peppermint.
Meditate, do your yoga practice or any other exercise outdoors in the fresh air and sunshine.

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You Can’t Always Get What You Want

March 17, 2021March 16, 2021by Carol MurphyLeave a Comment

Life is generally good, right? I think that most people would agree that life, even with it’s disappointments, is okay. In fact, more often than not, it can be pretty amazing.

Today might be filled with happiness, joy and excitement; while tomorrow “could” bring sadness or pain – and that’s okay. It’s okay because living isn’t about having everything work out for the best all of the time, as much as it’s about being able to make it through the rough times; and to do so with a healthy mind frame and not allowing our disappointments to define us.

We expect too much sometimes, I think. We also tend to become complacent in our ability to not let our egos get the best of us. It’s easy to believe that things will always be the way that they are – especially when things are going great. Of course, this may not be true for everyone.

Well, 2020 should have taught us a thing or two. It should have reminded us of our lack of control. The control that we tend to thing that we have, when truthfully any semblance of control that we thing we have is actually quite minor.

We should always be open to “other” possibilities. Why? Because that is what helps us transition better when thing do not go our way. At any time, even the healthiest person can suddenly become chronically ill. Or, that well-to-do friend of yours that you thought was so blessed and fortunate can suddenly lose everything. Or that job that you thought that you would retire with could suddenly go out of business.

When disappointments happen they can leave us feeling sad, angry or regretful that we couldn’t have done more to prevent whatever happened from happening. The key though is not to ruminate over disappointments when they occur. As difficult as that might be – just don’t do it. Please don’t do it, unless you’re looking for more disappointment.

We have to be willing to accept the life that we have been given, regardless of whether or not we approve of the outcome. You have to just keep moving forward.

Now, there may be disappointing situations that call for you to contest or dispute, because there are many things in life that we must fight for – but I am not talking about those type of disappointments. I am talking about the ones that we absolutely cannot control.

When life throws a little disappointment your way you don’t have to forget what happened, (you need to remember as that will be connected to your personal growth), but you do have to learn to accept life’s disappointments.

Once you learn to that, then you can conquer anything. When faced with something disappointing I like to remember the phrase “God doesn’t give us anything that we cannot handle.” It always helps me to keep things in perspective. So, if you’re experiencing something less than favorable and you feel that the sky has fallen – try remembering that phrase and see how that works for you. Also, stay strong, keep the faith and know in your heart and soul that all will be well in the end. All you have to do is learn to accept whatever is making you feel that way or, if you are able to change the situation – change it. All else is madness and who wants that?

Thank you for reading.

Until the next post.

Take care and be well.

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New Year, New Outlook

March 3, 2021March 2, 2021by Carol MurphyLeave a Comment

Happy 2021! I hope you are well. My goodness! It has been a few months since my last post and I have missed Salubrity and Soul, all the tasks that come with blogging and… you! If I could have avoided my absence I surely would have done just that, please know that it was justifiable. Without over-sharing, let’s just say that I needed to take some time off to care for myself, spend time with my family and recuperate from the year that was 2020. Truthfully, my decision to take a break from Salubrity and Soul, (and other things as well), was highly influenced by my physician. I had to either eliminate or reduce anything that I was doing in my life that could induce stress or that contributed to a sedentary lifestyle. Unfortunately for me, blogging happened to be in that category. Now I am moving into the second quarter of this year cautiously, carefully, but fervently.

“A candle that has been blown out provides no light. Let selfcare be your fuel, and watch yourself glow brightly again once the flame has been re-lit.
– Salubrity + Soul

I must say, it feels good to be heading into the new year with a sense of calm, peacefulness, hope and healing.

I’ll close with a few words that reflect something that crossed my mind several times over during the last four months, which is that we always have a choice in the way that we decide to frame our personal narrative when faced with something unexpected. Moreover, we always have a choice when it comes to our view of how good or bad things really are; and whether or not we want to accept some responsibility in whatever it is that we’re experiencing.

We can grab the reigns of our life, hold on tight, and be the heroine, (or hero), but the choice is always only ours. In order to overcome anything, the decision to keep showing up over and over again is what is most important.

I want to remind anyone who may be experiencing a rough time and who may be feeling as though they need a break that it is okay to rest. It’s okay to go where you’ll find peace and the opportunity to restore your energy and health because that is exactly what you’ll need to remain in your power. Think balance. You don’t have to completely stop what you’re doing, because we should always be moving in ways that empower us in good ways, and that allow us to function and be the very best version of ourselves as much as possible – unabashedly. But, never forget to care for yourself. Nothing is more important than you. Nothing. Remember that.

Thanks for reading.

Until the next post.

Take care and be well.

Blessings.

– Carol

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How I Fell In Love With Yoga

September 7, 2020September 7, 2020by Carol MurphyLeave a Comment

My yoga journey began in 2013. It started with an exercise video that included several ashtanga based yoga sequences that were designed to build strength and increase flexibility. I truly enjoyed those yoga sequences, and remember performing them with so much ease. Later, I attended classes at a yoga studio and at a fitness center. My interest in yoga eventually waned with each passing year, and I began pursuing other interests; such as hiking. I know now, in retrospect, that those ashtanga asanas weren’t designed for anyone just beginning a yoga practice. So, when I look back at that time I feel extremely fortunate for that experience.

It wasn’t until the end 2019 that I would rediscover yoga, and learn that I didn’t know as much about it as I thought I did. Never, in a million years did I ever expect to be as intrigued with yoga as I am today; after making the decision to pick it up again and deepen my practice. My decision to do so arose from my intent to find a way to manage the grief that I was feeling after losing my son. That led me to begin taking courses that would help me learn about the foundations and fundamentals of yoga . It turns out that was one of the best decisions that I have ever made for myself.

There was a time when I once thought that yoga only consisted of performing complex asanas (poses), maintaining a “certain look”, or living a specific way. For some, it may be just that, but that is not all that it is. Yoga is so much more.

Besides asanas (poses), yoga is also comprised of meditation and pranayama (breathing). In fact, the word yoga means “to yoke” or join together in Sanskrit. Moreover, according to Pantanjali, the father of yoga, it is about mastering the stillness of the mind, understanding the nature of reality and the true nature of self.

The asanas (poses) are actually just one part of what makes yoga… well…yoga. They are the part that assists in the creation of strength, flexibility and balance. The other components of yoga are related to mental focus, personal and spiritual ethics, and using the breath as a life force. All of which, once practiced daily help increase resilience, compassion and a connection to your higher self and source.

A lot has changed for me personally since 2013 including my levels of physical activity and flexibility. But thankfully, yoga is very forgiving. It doesn’t demand perfection. It only asks that you continue to show up on your mat daily, and when you do show up, that you meet yourself wherever you are, and create space for where you are trying to go. I love that so much.

Thank you for reading.

Until the next post..

Please take care.

References:

Satchidananda, Swami, Sri. (2018). The Yoga Sutras of Pantanjali . Integral Yoga Publications.

Easwaran, Eknath. (2007). The Bhagavad Gita. Nilgiri Press.

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How Are You Doing? A Message of Hope and Solidarity.

March 30, 2020March 29, 2020by Carol Murphy4 Comments

As we have all been affected in one way or another by the coronavirus, (COVID-19), as it is known as a novel disease; and as a virus by the name SARS-CoV-2 I just wanted to take a moment to check in on you and say that I hope that you are doing well. I hope that your loved ones, too, are doing well. If it happens that you are not doing well or someone that you know is not, or has not fared well as a result of of this pandemic my heart goes out to you and please know that even though you may not know it, there are people who are thinking of you and praying for you every day. I am one of those people. What we are experiencing right now is heavy to bear, but it is something that we will overcome.

I would like to remind you of the importance of being present – especially when life may seem to be unraveling at the seams. Let me share with you a quote by R. Wayne Willis, author of Hope Notes which says, “To grow some hope, take a hope-full step. That first step is the most difficult.” There are times in our lives when cultivating hope can be a hard thing do, but in reality we should never really expect it to be something that will happen overnight. Some things need time. So take it day by day if you need to. Keep the faith and know that we will all get through this together.

If there is anything even the slightest bit positive about what we are now forced to endure, it the opportunity to come together as one as we work through our concerns, fears, losses and patiently await resolve.

As always, thank you for reading.

Until the next post…

Please take care.

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On Meditating

January 30, 2020by Carol MurphyLeave a Comment

Meditation is one of those things that, when thought of, is often considered to be something that is rather easy to do. Yet, some people may find that once they get into position, (which is usually some variation of the lotus position, but can be just about any position that you find comfortable), they tend to have difficulty maintaining their posture, maintaining a still mind or both.

I used to be one of those people, until I attended a yoga class, one of which meditation was a part of; and I quickly discovered that it’s actually quite common to lose focus while meditating. It was my instructor who, ever so graciously, helped to put my mind at ease and made me feel less uncomfortable about my ability to meditate – and to do so in a way that I could actually benefit and grow in my meditation practice.

I learned that meditation doesn’t have to feel as initially intimidating as it often does for many. Nor does it require that you clear your mind of your thoughts. Instead, it is more important that you learn to work with the thoughts that come through your mind. Why should you do this? Well, because your thoughts are likely going to keep coming. So, in lieu of fighting your thoughts, it would be better to accept that they are there and say to yourself, (mentally, of course, especially if you are meditating in a class with others), “I am in control of my thoughts” and then simply practice controlling them.

One way to do this is to continue to relax, close your eyes, try stilling your mind, (you can do it!), and then pretend that your thoughts are on imaginary clouds. Place your thoughts on clouds that are floating by, in your mind while your eyes are closed, and while maintaining your focus on the task of meditating. Lastly, observe each thought as they float away – far away.

Another similar option would be to put your thoughts in imaginary balloons and observe each thought as they are being released into a sunset filled sky and then – just let go.

I have tried both methods and they have worked well for me. I found that they keep me from being distracted by any thoughts or concerns of the day to where it makes getting through a complete meditation session much easier and without feeling as thought I am clearly focused one minute; and then losing my concentration the next.

So, it is considered acceptable if you find that you have to keep trying again and again to maintain your focus while meditating until you are able to get to a point where your mind no longer feels the need to wander. With a regular meditation practice you will likely find yourself becoming less of a meditation amateur just like I did.

One of my favorite things about yoga and meditation is the philosophy behind the practice; and how they offer so much in way of self-compassion. My holistic living journey over the past several months has been quite the eye-opener and I am excited to see where else it takes me. Thank you for reading.

Until the next post…

With love. Take Care.

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What is Holistic Living?

November 6, 2019November 6, 2019by Carol Murphy2 Comments

When you think of holistic living, you may conjure up thoughts of consuming “green juice”, using herbs to heal ailments or improve nutrition, creating natural beauty products out of resources made in nature, or some form of complementary medicine such as acupuncture.

Although those things definitely fit into the scope of living holistically, they are a small part of what it means to live a holistic lifestyle.

Holistic living is a philosophy that requires an understanding that all parts of the body, or self, are interconnected and should be considered when taking care of one’s complete health and wellness.

Moreover, on a more basic and common level of understanding what it means to live holistically, it simply means living your life in balance with your mind, body, soul, (and I always like to include heart as well.)

There is no specific way to live holistically, but, one important aspect of doing so consists of living in tune with nature and using natural products, elements, and food, etc., keeping your thoughts and emotions as positively open and healthy as possible – and doing it all collectively as a way to heal or maintain health, wellness and well-being.

I hope this post gives you at least a hint or an idea of what it means to live a holistic lifestyle. Stay tuned for a few ideas on ways to live a holistic lifestyle.

Until the next post…

Thank you for reading.

Take care,

Carol

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A Pest-Free Yard + Home

September 20, 2019September 18, 2019by Carol MurphyLeave a Comment

” A flower blossoms for it’s own joy.”
– Oscar Wilde

Do you enjoy gardening? I do. I just wish that I could do a lot more of it. Thankfully, I am discovering that the older that I get, the more time I seem to have for it which is a definite plus. I suppose eventually I’ll be able to garden on days other than the weekends at some point at this rate. Little by little, day by day, right?

I love gardening because it is so relaxing. I also enjoy the reward of caring for something and watching it grow into something wonderful and beautiful.

If you don’t garden you might be surprised to learn that it is a very physical activity, so much so that I consider it a form of exercise. Digging holes, bending and squatting to pull weeds, clipping and cutting, and when you are propagating several plants at one time it can be somewhat labor intensive. So, it’s a good way of getting exercise if you aren’t into exercising…well, sort of.

I love the way that annuals and perennials add character and color to my yard during the spring, summer and fall months. I also love it when the plants and flowers that I plant attract butterflies, ladybugs and birds – especially butterflies and hummingbirds. However, I am less enthused when my yard attracts a lot of bees, flies, snails or other bugs. Not because I don’t like bugs, but because I would rather not get bitten or stung by any insects, and it can be very frustrating when they eat the leaves of my plants and open them up to disease and eventually plant loss.

One way that I try to combat insects, and their sometimes vicious little bites, are by planting plants that have the ability to repel and ward off certain insects. Some of the plants that can be quite useful for keeping mosquitoes at bay include mint, basil, lavender, lemongrass and chrysanthemums and marigolds. I like to keep at least two planters filled with bright, beautiful marigolds and chrysanthemums by my front door during the second half of summer through the fall season, and I am also sure that is something that our guests likely appreciate when they stop by to visit as well.

The marigolds and chrysanthemums are beautiful to look at and add that curb appeal to the front yard, but lately I have been thinking about adding some olfactory benefits to my front yard as well.

I really love the smell of lemongrass and lavender and would love to add both to my front yard. The tricky part is finding a good spot in my yard, or in a pot on the porch, that doesn’t take anything away from the aesthetics of the yard design. I’ll figure it out at some point and I will be sure to post and share that with you when I do so you can have an idea of how to incorporate it in your yard should that be something that interests you.

I was gifted a mint plant last year and I kept it indoors for several months so that it could serve as a natural indoor repellent, and a natural herb to use for cooking that was handy and within reach while cooking. As a child my mother used to grow mint in our backyard and the refreshing scent is something that I will always associate with home. The scent is light, but still delightful and can be very comforting.

The mint plant that I received eventually outgrew the pot that it was in, and I felt that it was time to move it outdoors. I also wanted to see if it would actually grow outside, and it grew very well outdoors – although I decided to keep it in a larger pot instead of planting it in the ground because after conducting a little research, I learned that they tend to spread if planted in the ground and given a lot of room to grow. This was just my personal preference because I need all of the extra planting space that I can get because I am also currently working on creating a memorial garden, and unfortunately, mint isn’t on that garden’s planting list.

During the winter and into spring when we get a lot of rain on the west coast we tend to get a lot of snail activity where I live which is, more often than not a bad situation for many of my plants and flowers. Lucky for me though, not too long ago, I was informed by a neighbor that the fennel plant is a great plant to use in your garden if you want to get rid of snails. That was great news for me being that I usually use Corry’s Slug and Snail Killer, and have been looking for something more natural to use for our snail problem. I can’t wait to try that option later this year.

I can’t end this post without mentioning my favorite flowers – petunias! I absolutely adore petunias, and they way that they add so much flair to a yard during the spring and summer.

The pest-free benefit of petunias is that they are supposed to be good at keep aphids away. (You know, those pesky little critters that are known to invade your lovely rose bushes and delicate indoor plants.) Petunias are my go to flowers once the weather begins to warm up after winter, and I am ready to add a pop of color to my yard. If the petunias still happen to get aphids I then turn to using safe soap based insecticidal solutions to get rid of them.

Even with the likelihood of getting garden pests, I still enjoy this hobby and I appreciate the joy that it instills within me.

If you have any other ideas for getting rid of garden pests, please comment as I would love to hear your ideas! Love and light to you!

Thank you for reading.

Until the next post…

Take care + be well

“When your hands in the dirt, ready to care for a living thing, that is a time when your cares melt away.”
– Salubrity + Soul

Authenticity, bloggingfundamentals, empowerment, encouragement, featured, Health, Inspiration, Life, Personal Development, Personal Growth, selfcare, Uncategorized, Wellbeing, Wellness

Contentment

September 18, 2019September 7, 2020by Carol MurphyLeave a Comment

Hello and Happy September! In my last post I made a reference about how it is impossible for everyone to do something big or great. Well, I received a little feedback from some of my readers regarding that post and how it appears to denote a defeatist tone and may come off as uninspiring.

Before I go on, I would like to first apologize to anyone who may have found the content in that post offensive or otherwise. Secondly, I would like to say that I can see how the perspective in that post may have seemed counterproductive with regard to maintaining a postive outlook on life, or how it may have come of as being pessimistic. However, that is not the kind of message that I was trying to convey.

“Having compassion starts and ends with having compassion for all those unwanted parts of ourselves.” – Pema Chodron

The main focus on that post was actually about practicing self-compassion, acceptance and more important…contentment. It was not intented, in any way, to share any likeness with self-pity or lacking.

It came from a place of understanding that is more modest than egocentric.

It also came from a place that engenders a less acquisitive perspective towards the achievement of goals and aspirations; while still celebrating one’s achievements, goals and aspirations…whatever those achievements goals and aspirations may be.

“I only seem negative to the fortunate. That is because I show the less fortunate that they aren’t less fortunate after all.” – Criss Jami

In short, that blog post was meant to inspire, encourage – but most of all empower. It was created to support those who may need to feel good about the way that they are choosing to show up and contribute to society, especially if to them – it may not seem like it is “enough”.

It’s no secret that some of us will become very well known and some of us will not. Most of us will not. Some of us will earn PhD’s and some of us will not. Some of us will form corporations. Some of us will not. Then there is the consideration of whether or not we actually want to take on a bigger responsibility and role. Sometimes it’s hard to understand and accept that others aren’t interested in the same things that we are interested in; and that doesn’t mean that something is wrong with them. We forget that as connected as we are, we still, as a society value individuality. It’s our differences that make us beautiful and more important…interesting. Just strive every day to be good at what it is that you do!

It doesn’t matter what you choose to do, or how you choose to do it. The only thing that really matters is that you are trying to do something good – and that you’re not causing anyone any harm while doing so. If you are bringing something good into this universe of ours, then you are doing plenty! No matter how big or small. Besides… I am sure we can all agree that doing something is better than not doing anything at all when it comes to trying to make the world a better place… A more interesting and special place. Love and light to you!

Thanks for reading!

Until the next post…

Take care + be well.