Vera Gassner, MA, MFT, SEP

Let’s reimagine breakfast. This morning glazed red onions with sweet potatoes was my choice; garlic powder was the only seasoning. If I had time to cut up 3-5 cloves of garlic, it would have been more ideal. Let us think about correlation between nutrition and mental health at every meal.

Sometimes a salad is too good to leave any bits of it. We are what we eat. See if you can limit amounts of protein to help the planet, plus sugar levels in our bodies. The pancreas has difficulty processing too much protein. Latest research addresses links between diabetes and Alzheimer’s. The link between the gut and the brain affects our mental health. May every color of the rainbow veggies, seeds and legumes find their way onto your plate and excite your palate! Blessings!

Just about a year ago... so much has happened. May All Be Safe!

May the beauty and sound of this waterfall cool this time of transition into the holidays, and the new year.

In messy times try messy comfort food. Throw in your favorite spices. Make it as mild or spicy as you like it. So much in life is about choices, small, insignificant, big or overwhelmingly life changing. May the choices of the electorate build bridges to unite ALL people!

Let hearty food to ground you this morning. When so much is uncertain don’t let your brain run on empty.

Sardines have been with me for a lifetime. Most people are disgusted by this incredible source of omega 3 fatty acids. I overdid it with an egg salad a few days back, by eating way too much of it; eggs are great, however, a source of omega 6s, which fan the flames of pain in arthritis. Please research sources of anti inflammatory foods. Inflammation is a culprit in many health issues. There’s a correlation between nutrition and mental health. Food is medicine. Food can be very grounding when dealing with crises. Eat well!

Food is medicine. Food can be mindful, thoughtful, mindless or somewhere in between. Food is love. In all about love, bell hooks, offers a proactive new ethic for a people and a society bereft with lovelessness.

In times of grief, I go to my resources, nature, art work I’ve done in the past, being with my pets, friends and family. I grieve with extended family a tragic loss of a little boy hit by a car this week, while I grieve simultaneously multitudes of losses... May His Memory Be A Blessing!

Please play with your food. Consider open faced sandwiches. I grew up in Poland. As a child, I spent countless hours mama spent making food beautiful when extended family and friends would gather. Mindfully, focus on colors, patterns and textures. Any possible way you can get yourself out of your ‘overthinking brain’ you will release some stress. Blessings!

Combined leftover sardines with tuna, avocado, mayo, olives and jalapeños. The onions and pickles for an added kick. The watermelon, my first this year welcomed the promise of summer. May All Be Safe!

Please play with your food and remember to enjoy the sunshine...often!

The joy and the freedom of the outdoors

Apparently, snails like the catnip I planted for my cats. Let’s see if one of Trader Joe’s cheapest beers can solve my snail problem. Do get outside on this beautiful holiday weekend. Mask and gloves are necessary attire for the next few weeks. Be safe! Be well! Share your bounty with others when you can; social distancing engaged... Blessings!

I just participated in a Somatic Experiencing webinar. At the end we were invited to raise our hand if we would be willing to join in on video so we could see each other doing the 'voo' exercise. This was a profound awareness of the pain isolation brings. We are pack animals. We need to see each other. We need to be seen. The tears which surfaced were profoundly cleansing. Thank you!

Eating especially healthy during this turbulent time of isolation is a must. Raw garlic is in one of the photos; this is how I boost my immunity several times a week. Dr. Weil eats multiple cloves per day. Please limit checking in with the news to morning and early evening/definitely not before going to sleep. I force myself to watch beautiful nature shows on Netflix like Moving Art. The calming music is also very grounding and immensely soothing.

As we stay at home during this health crisis, we have an opportunity to do some Spring cleaning within our psyche, stretch awareness of what has been, what is, embrace deep appreciation for resilience, of life experiences, of the capacity to ground, calm our senses with things we enjoy doing, music we love to surround ourselves with in healing the sadness, or express joy. May this crisis be an opportunity to sense our roots growing freely in the muck of mystery, as we burst in imagination of endless possibilities, watching the Earth wake up with beautiful display of buds and blooms. Honor your SELF! Grieve the losses. Witness the fear. Invite pendulation. The islands of safety, glimpses of healing, within reach of mindfully observing...