|
|
December 2009 Volume 2, Issue 12
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Greetings!
|
Sistahs of all faiths embrace the end of the year with reverence. It is a time of self-reflection, of family, of forgiveness, of closure and new beginnings.
This year is especially meaningful due to the historic strides we've made as a nation, completing the first year of a beautiful Black family--the Obamas--as the standard bearers for this country. Blessings be to them!
This is also another year of sorrow, as the lives of more sistahs have been touched and taken by violence and disease. Blessings be to them as well.
Holding the two extremes of celebration and mourning in our hearts has been the burden of Black women for generations. And I know how tense, and demanding, and exhilarating, and devastating that can be. What is coming to be known more each day is the physical toll these stresses inflict on the health of Black women.
So rather than add to the stress by buying a lot of stuff we can't afford, I ask that we defy the materialistic impulse of the holiday season and instead give ourselves and each other more meaningful, special gifts--the gifts of love, prayer, and appreciation.
Reach out to that sistahfriend you've lost touch with, those family members at war overseas or in the penitentiary. Your voice and prayers are a salve that no swipe of your credit card can match.
Reach into yourself, forgive your failings, extoll your successes and anoint yourself with self-love.
Giving of yourself--to yourself and others--is the best gift you can give to anyone on your holiday list. Sharing, caring, and being yourself. That is what it means to be WHOLE.
Happy Holidays!
|
|
 |
| Quick Links |
WHOLE is a monthly sistah self-care newsletter. Have you missed our other issues? Don't worry! They're waiting for you in our Archive.  WHOLE is brought to you by WeSpeakLoudly, a women's health education firm offering publications, programs, and consulting on improving health outcomes for African American women and girls. To learn more, visit our website. Looking for quick wellness tips? Visit our blog WHOLE Express! WHOLE, WHOLE Express, and WeSpeakLoudly are registered trademarks Copyright 2009 Jacci Thompson-Dodd, MA, MSSS All rights reserved ISSN#: 1946-1631 |
|
|
5 Tips for a Healthier Holiday
|
This time of year is filled with merriment of all descriptions, usually with food and adult beverages as the centerpieces. Feels great going in, but when January hits and you step on the scale, a whole lot of new pounds have followed you into the new year! Break the traditional holiday over-indulgence with these five tips: - Eat before you eat! When you're invited to a holiday party where you know you'll come face-to-face with all the creamy, cheesy, rich, sugary dishes of the season, preempt the urge to splurge by eating healthily before you go. A sensible salad or protein-rich entree will fill you up with the good stuff, so you can eat less of--or avoid--the bad.
- Drink festive and alcohol-free! Holiday parties and entertaining usually means stocking up on wines and spirits. Why not make it a safe and sane season by going alcohol free? There are plenty of festive sparkling beverages full of cheer, and the only buzz you have to worry about is the excitement of friends and family gathering and enjoying each other. Want a spicy holiday recipe? Try our WHOLE Pomegranate Cocktail! You'll find the recipe at our blog WHOLE Express.
- Put exercise in the mix! With all the heavy eating and lounging during the holidays, you can easily put on the pounds. While you might not feel like doing a full gym workout, a brisk walk can do wonders! Extend your celebration outdoors with a group walk after your holiday meal. You'll refresh your spirits, clear your minds, and your bodies will thank you.
- Sleep! With all the demand of work, school, family, and community, rarely do we get the eight hours of sleep our bodies need to be healthy. Make it a point during the more leisurely holiday break to catch up on your sleep. Getting adequate, quality sleep can contribute greatly to improving your health and stabilizing your life.
- Give thanks! Prayer and meditation are certainly important fixtures for our daily lives. Be sure that you maintain these spirit-nourishing practices during the holiday blizzard of activities. And take one step further. Take a moment to write thank you notes to the special people in your life. More than just zipping out a quick e-mail, actually sit down, take pen in hand and write the old school way. Saying thank you in this manner is becoming a lost art. But taking time out to show appreciation is a sure-fire way to enhance the health of your relationships as well as your soul.
|
WHOLE Bush Tea: Good Taste for a Good Cause
|
 I've been a tea aficionado for years. It's not just about the taste, but also the calming, soothing experience fine tea always delivers. With this in mind, I created my own special tea blend called "WHOLE Bush Tea," and I'm proud to report its getting rave reviews!
I recognize there are plenty of teas that can deliver good taste and the whole mellow tea vibe. But not one of them can help young Black women reduce their risk of breast cancer.
WHOLE Bush Tea can!
No, I'm not claiming any miracle, medicinal properties in the tea itself. Rather, it is the commitment behind WHOLE Bush Tea that makes it different from all the rest.
A portion of the proceeds from every sale of WHOLE Bush Tea will help fund a new breast health education program called "YES! Young Empowered SistahsTM" designed to help young Black women ages 15-35 learn to reduce their risk of breast cancer.
WeSpeakLoudly has a wealth of information about the unique challenges breast cancer poses for young Black women. On our website you'll find Fact Sheets on Triple Negative Breast Cancer and Inflammatory Breast Cancer, the two devastating diseases that are especially aggressive in young Black women. We've also prepared a new Fact Sheet on Breast Self-Exam. I invite you to the "Resources" page on the WeSpeakLoudly website to find these Fact Sheets and our other breast health tools.
Your purchase of WHOLE Bush Tea will spread double the holiday cheer by giving a soothing gift to those on your holiday list and helping us reach young women through your generosity.
BUY NOW!
|
WHOLE Self-Care Inspiration: Peace
|
 Well, we've come to the end of an especially difficult year. And with the holiday ads bombarding us from all sides, there's one thing that our souls are crying out for--Peace!
Certainly disengaging from the media madness helps. But Peace is not merely the absence of chaos. It's more. It's a lush, nourishing rhythm that pulsates from your core. It's a well-spring of release and renewal and relaxation specially concocted just for you.
Be still for just one moment. Close your eyes. Listen to your heartbeat. Breathe deeply. Chill. The inner workings of your body are a miracle, powerful beyond measure. Inside you. Inside this moment is where your own special brand of Peace is created. It's all about tapping your Loving Energy within.
You can produce a constant flow of Peace. You can alter your recipe for Peace as your life demands. You can change the sound of the Peace "song" playing in your life. You can tap Peace any time you choose. Peace is always on standby, awaiting your call.
The operative word is YOU. Peace is never far away, as long as you remember that you are the PEACEmaker. Unearth your flow of Peace, now! You deserve it!
Self-love is the mother of Peace--it knows no bounds. Ashe!
|
Pears! The Stars of Winter!
|
It's winter time, and the fresh fruit offerings of the season are less varied--but no less luscious! Pears are at their peak now, with wonderful varieties and selections widely available. We give pears as gifts every holiday season. Nothing can beat the instant gratification of biting into a juicy, sweet pear! Want to add to your pear repertoire? I've got just the ticket-- Winter Pear Crisp! Pair your pears with dried cranberries, and you have the quintessential holiday dessert! It's sweet, but not too sweet. It's WHOLEsome, too, with oatmeal and flaxseeds. What's not to like?! Word to the wise: make a big batch! This Crisp makes a "fantabulous" breakfast, too. Just heat and eat! And you can drizzle it with yogurt for a tangy morning boost. Enjoy! Winter Pear CrispIngredients:8 large, firm pears (about 3-4 pounds) D'Anjou are my favorite  1 cup unsweetened dried cranberries 1 1/2 cups whole oatmeal 1 1/2 cups light brown sugar 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup ground ginger snap cookies (about 12-14 small cookies) 1 stick unsalted butter, softened at room temperature 2 tablespoons pear nectar 1/2 tsp corn starch 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp golden flaxseeds 1/3 tsp ground allspice 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg Preparation:- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter the inside of a 2-quart glass baking dish.
- Peel, core, and slice pears into thick wedges. Place them in a large bowl.
- Add cranberries to the pears and sprinkle with 1/2 cup brown sugar. Gently toss to combine.
- Mix pear nectar and corn starch (a thickening agent) and drizzle over fruit. Allow mixture to rest for about 5 minutes so the flavors and thickening can mingle. Place macerated fruit in the buttered backing dish.
- For the crumb topping, combine remaining brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, flaxseeds, oatmeal, and the softened butter in a large bowl. With clean hands, squeeze all the topping ingredients together until well combined. The crumb topping nuggets should be the size of peas when you are done.
- Sprinkle crumb mixture evenly on top of the pears and cranberries. Bake for 30-40 minutes, until the top is browned and crisp, and the juices are bubbly.
Makes six servings.
|
|
|
Each month we have more and more people join the WHOLE community, and it has been an honor to share 2009 with you. As this year draws to a close, we send wishes of health and healing to each one of you. Here's hoping that you'll help extend the good cheer to your family, friends, and colleagues by sharing WHOLE with them. Stay tuned for a power-packed agenda of more health-promoting issues of WHOLE in the New Year. Happy Holidays to all!
Sincerely,
|
|
Jacci Thompson-Dodd
WeSpeakLoudly
|
|
|
|
|
|
