While 2020 has been challenging in many ways, it's also been a forced "time-out" which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I started the year wanting to focus on the idea of food and how it impacts my weight but the universe had other plans. Weight work turned into grief work which blossomed into mindfulness work and has continued with learning the science of what makes me a "category of one." I must say it has truly been a fascinating year.

This page holds a personal journey and some of the resources I've used to search for deeper meaning, finding internal joy, and learning how to "let that shit go."

BOOKS

• Brain Powered Weight Loss, Eliza Kingsford,

• Tiny Habits, BJ Fogg PhD

• Visualization for Weight Loss, Jon Gabriel

• Wishes Fulfilled, Dr. Wayne Dyer

• Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics, Dan Harris and Jeff Warren

• Ask and It Is Given, Esther and Jerry Hicks

• Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself, Dr. Joe Dispenza

• You Were Born Rich, Bob Proctor (look for a used copy)

• The Hidden Messages in Water, Masaru Emoto

People

• Eliza Kingsford

• Jon Mitchell

• Frank Castellano

SCIENCE

• Elisa/ACT LRA Test

  • With this test, I learned that things like FD&C Blue 1 and Xylene were burdening my immune system. I also discovered that my body doesn't particularly care for: D&C Violet #2, cow dairy products, garbanzo beans, olive products, corn sugar, grapeseed oil, and 1,2 Dichlorobenzene.

  • A quick look around the house revealed a ton of products that contained Blue 1 (toothpaste, skin toner, hand sanitizer, dish soap, laundry soap, fabric softener, etc.).

• Genova Diagnostics NutrEval FMV Test

  • With this test, I learned that, for the most part, my body as a whole is pretty happy. Most vitamins were present and accounted for (except a few). My gut didn't have anything weird going on. Instead of throwing the kitchen sink (via a multivitamin) at myself, I learned to target only what my body needs.

  • I was already taking an Omega-3 supplement, but my levels were still low so I switched to something different.

  • I was taking a multivitamin that contained copper and learned that my copper levels were twice what they should be. Not that the vitamin was causing this but now I know that my body doesn't need copper supplementation.

  • My vitamin B markers (Folate, Riboflavin, 6, 12) needed some help so I added a B vitamin supplement (methyl-guard plus).

  • And my magnesium and potassium needed a little supplementation so I bought a Soda Stream and now consume a little bubbly Mag/Pot elixir on occasion.

APPS

• Meditation/Visualization/Mindfulness

  • Headspace

  • Envision Meditation

  • Calm

  • Sleepiest