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Beautiful Things Healthy Activities Healthy Living

Winter Escape

In response to some questions on essential oils I use … it varies and changes but generally for winter (& actually throughout the year:), I tend to gravitate towards … woodsy forest and greenery (rather than floral) scents to combat the general respiratory discomforts many suffer from. You can’t do pranayama if you are congested!

So one of the choice oils to select may be Eucalyptus (I blend in other oils but the base is this), beneficial for sinus problems, asthma, bronchitis, catarrh, coughs, sore throat and mouth infections. It is anti-infectious, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-catarrh, and expectorant. Some higher grade is well suited for long term use for chronic respiratory conditions, even for viral or bacteria infections.

Here are the indications: (if used topically, dilute with carrier oils) Assists arthritis, muscle aches, pains, injuries, sprains, and inflammations (especially rheumatoid arthritis), influenza, cold, fever (best for viral or bacterial infections), headaches, nervous exhaustion, neuralgia, and sciatica. Of course seek medical/professional help for relentless discomfort that does not let up but… I would try the non-invasive, natural remedy first and see. Since I purchase so much of this, I am currently in process of becoming a distributor? for one of the scent brands I trust – and it’s so weird, I really love the brand name, yes, the name itself. Will share once I get approved.

I do use many scents besides Eucalyptus of course, rose and lavender are most popular but I also like more exotic or less known scents. Maybe I will use them depending on the mood. Have a lovely week!

Categories
Beautiful Rituals

Jet Lag recovery

sleepescapesme

It’s pretty obvious I have a jet lag as I somehow got mixed up thinking tonight is a full moon evening whereas it turned out to be already past – was on Wednesday the 4th… this is what happens when you travel between time zones and lose one night (or two nights?) of sleep. And that Wednesday was the auspicious New Year (first day of Spring – ironic – snowing) celebration in Japan where we celebrated with special feast – how did I manage to forget that? Maybe I just wanted to selfishly do a lunar salutation as my mind was swirling and had nothing prepared but an updated playlist. Day and night flipped and so has my mind. And of course on a night like this, ladies night out at Ginji…showing up an hour late but graciously given a seat at the table – highly recommend their plum wine with seaweed and tofu salad:) Hope I can sleep through the night tonight. Just saw this on FB:

legendsays
I only pray that it’s in good positive thoughts and dreams only … my only salvation as I count sheep, cows jumping over moon, sushi on boats, butterflies, trees, lotus petals, roses, dolphins in the ocean … what else? I think I think too much:) ha ha ha.

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Beautiful People

Learning from the wise…

I mentioned how I felt drained from my latest visit to Tokyo but my hometown is usually energizing … this exception is due to some key family members I hold dear were in one way or another deteriorating in general health. Some activities just sucks energy out of you and drains you whereas some activities gives you more energy – I try to calibrate a balance but there was a lot of the former – the negative energy – this time to offset and overcome. The toughest was a visit to the hospital where my aunt was undergoing chemotherapy. Met up in the hospital waiting room… After my aunt came out of her treatment and my cousin’s stop at the pharmacy for her medications, 3 of us had lunch afterwards in area of Tokyo called Azabu Ju-ban I remember from time when I was small at a restaurant we used to frequent.

Not fun to see someone once so vibrant and full of life so weakened BUT I am glad I visited. Besides, it’s been some time since someone expressed so much joy to see me (we need to adopt a puppy again for THAT feeling). It’s not depressing – it’s how it is, I told myself. No one lives forever and all things change – nothing is permanent. It was as though she was teaching me a lesson in life. I only wish I had been giving more of me; giving more of my time and energy…Imagine, she treated us for lunch. Even in her weakened state, she was still the giving one – I felt powerless and grateful at the same time.

Some people are fair weather friends and just-for-fun relationships – just temporary superficial friends – that’s alright – but some relationships are for keeps whether in rain or shine, whether in fair weather or rainy or even stormy. Life is about that – Nothing else really matters – it’s not number of years you live; not number of breaths you take but… it’s about enriching experiences and relationships, that are meaningful. In the end, that’s all you take with you.