The Balancing Act

As I am still on the post high from my trip to Tuscany and coming back to reality, I have been exploring the concept of “balance.” And here is a news flash – it is hard and I am not doing the greatest job. I set out to improve my health, wellness, sense of adventure, prosperity and I have realized that juggling all these balls, a few are dropping. Good news though… it’s been a productive year full of new experiences, better eating, changing my fitness routine, interesting work, spirituality and then incredible amount of time sitting on my ass and watch YouTube (guilty pleasure). If anyone would take a peek at my playlist – I would be mortified. As my content includes tarot card readers, mediums, fashion, health and travel tips. I have very eclectic interests and revealing my You Tube history seems very vulnerable and exposing my dark side – haha.

Speaking about my health front, it has been moving forward as I continue to follow the nutritarian lifestyle – nutritionally dense eating with moderate calories. The focus revolves around (GBOMBS) greens, beans, onions, mushrooms, berries and seeds/nuts. It has been tough trying to toe the line and socialize which I am working on at the moment. I intentionally made an agreement with myself that I would enjoy the food of Italy and I do not regret it. Well I do a little as I finally got on the scale and my freedom (as well as a few previous months) showed weight moving to the north direction. I am on track now but definitely paying for some of my sins.

On an interesting note, I took a functional health test (online 100 blood panel with clinical note analysis – which is really interesting). Most of my blood work was in range with the exception of the thyroid, heart and autoimmune needing some help still. Although. I was very happy to see that my biological age came in at “46 years old” (which is exactly my age – just kidding). I did have some stuff that surprised me that I must work on. It is always something… and I did get a small scolding from my endocrinologist who rechecked my thyroid and it was totally fine. She suggested testing for no reason may cause more problems than it solves – and I think she is correct. However, that did not stop me from buying a glucose monitor to measure my body’s response to various foods. So ….. guess what raised my glucose scores and it was not food???? It was the multiple calls with customer service from Sears Home Repairs – stress rates went nuts – public service announcement – do not use them as it will raise your insulin level – yikes.

Back to exercise, I grew up in the era prioritizing cardio, going hard, burning calories and of course, it is all wrong for us post menopause women. Doesn’t that figure, now I am trying to lift heavy weights, sprint and high intensity training which are all the areas I cannot stand (well I am now starting to secretly enjoy). On top of doing the right thing, you second guess the experts and try to exercise the old way and incorporate the new direction which turns into a sabotage mentality. So if I follow modern protocol, I feel guilty not putting in the cardio hours and when I do the traditional workout I feel bad that I am not doing the optimal workout for myself. I have noticed that I am stronger and my endurance is better. I have been jumping a lot too and enjoy a good rope spurt well to try to strengthen the bones. I am getting overwhelmed even writing about all this stuff. Oy….

Then comes spirituality and trying to improve my practice which involves discipline around getting quiet, meditating and tapping into my inner being. We have been studying our shadow. In common speak, getting in tune with those things that trigger or annoy you. I am a girl that likes light and love – I DON’T WANT TO WORK ON THE SHADOW – but I must. Therefore, lots of nightmares and sitting with it. I actually feel a little forward movement although there have been a few sleepless nights of strange and wacked-out dreams. I guess it is the price you pay to ascend spirituality.

As we head into the last quarter of 2025 (can you believe it) , I feel that I have knocked off a lot this year and am proud of myself. Maybe not totally proud – I mean I ate myself through Tuscany, Rome and a few incidents in Michigan. In defense of me, I had to go for it ( the best food and hot chocolate). Even if my pants are a slight bit snugger (it’s going to be an oversized clothes situation for a good month). I guess it is time to hunker down and put my focus on healthy living and you know what – I am looking forward to doing it. I actually did miss a big green salad, beans and all my usual menu items. That is progress right?

Putting my armor on and then my bathing suit

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(Disclaimer – I am complaining and questioning the meaning of life and is only the beginning of this post then we move into sunshine, puppies, and flowers.)

In recent months, I am finding life to be more confusing than ever. The more I know, the less I have confidence that I know. This has really messed up my psyche. I suppose I never really cared much about politics, it just did not resonate with my daily life and quite honestly all the fear that each party’s side brought to the table never really materialized. However, it is impossible not to notice the blatant hatred towards one another. There are many people who possess one hardline issue and that is it. They fail to see the complexity of maneuvering broader polarizing forces that are at odds with one another on multiple matters.

When I have an honest conversation with my daughter, she and her friends question why we would bring children into this world and the general lack of hope for our future. This is really sad and as a parent, it is hard to come up with compelling reasons to challenge her thoughts. I do believe we all have more in common than we think, however, we are blinded by proving each other wrong and promoting behaviors that do not honor the most basic codes of humanity. Some of these shared values are love, truthfulness, fairness, freedom, unity, tolerance, responsibility and respect for life and I know we can all get around these priorities. As a child, when I learned about the Holocaust, I could never understand how neighbors and the population turned on one another, shipped the un-want-ables (Jews, Disabled, Minorities) off to concentration camps. People stripped of their possessions, dignity, rights based on jealousy and hatred and then left to suffer and be slaughtered. I now realize that the German population was probably afraid to speak up and they went along with what happened maybe not knowing all the details. Today I sit in the United States and I am scared to voice my doubts and concerns for the first time in my life. Our country is literally setting up concentration camps and making a joke of how those escape will be eaten by alligators. We are doing things I would never guess in a million years that I would see in the United States of America. We are seeing overt hatred for everyone – it does not matter if you are Jewish, Black, Woman, Hispanic, Gay, Trans, Democrat, Maga, Liberal, Republicans, Rich or Poor. We are damaging our alliances with the rest of the world, we are dismantling the core foundation of democracy in the US by challenging the systems that were developed for balance and semblance. Maybe I am an idealist, maybe I am being dramatic (don’t think so), I want to be proud and stand side by side with my friends, neighbors, community, country, the world and try to make it better for everyone. I want our children to be full of promise and optimism, not doubting the future. I want them to feel they can make a meaningful difference in a better environment that is based on shared values that I know we all possess. I think it is time for our generation to step out the way we are not acting like the role models our children deserve. We can do better and motivate our future.

Moving to the happy portion and wellness

Sorry for the deep rant, but I needed to get that off my chest, all of that supports the importance of being true to your center. As part of my reset, I went to visit my dear friend Laura for the long 4^th of July weekend. It had been a few years since we had seen each other and it was nice to do very little together. Basically, the schedule was wake up ( I took advantage of the softest most comfy bed), eating a leisurely healthy breakfast of fruit and oats, some general kibitzing and then off to the pool. The weather was perfect as I was able to disconnect and had no thoughts on my mind (not even that stuff from the top of this blog😊). I floated in heaven, in a trans-like state listening to jazz and just thinking – I could get very used to this lifestyle. We would then decide after hours (who even knows how long as time did not exist for me), that maybe we should think about dinner. Laura and Frank (her fabulous husband) are vegans (lifelong for Laura) and have really perfected the art of yummy meals. I shared with her that I started this great garden that was next level for me. She then took me to hers, which looked like a farm to table garden with the most beautiful greenery I ever saw. I felt embarrassed how I went on about mine after seeing this one – a scene from Martha Stewart’s home. Her dill – was the most gorgeous dill I ever saw. Mine looks like a small dried out tree with little growth ☹. Anyhow, she would run out to the garden, cut some that provided that extra oomph to the flavor of our meals. Not only was this experience relaxing for the body, but it was also restorative for my brain and heart. Having a friend that is like a soul sister that is just on the same page, impressive, smart, ambitious and kind is just the best Zen moment. It helped me to recalibrate and head back to life in Michigan. Also, a nice shout out to Frank, who was so hospitable and took me in his bad ass Mercedes convertible down the hilly side roads of Pennsylvania into the Amish community. We went to farm stands and bought the most delicious vegetables for his special green bean soup which was a family tradition handed down from his mom growing up in Yugoslavia. We ended the long weekend, with my signature chakra cleaning for both of them (the least I could do). Hopefully this was the jolt of energy they needed to carry on without me for the rest of the week – haha.

As I was flying back home, I felt so grateful that I have established lifelong friendships with some very interesting people. They raise my spirit, ease my mind and help me truly get back to what matters most. Nothing is more fulfilling when you are on the same frequency as someone else and it is a synchronicity that motivates you and makes you glad to be alive. It was just the medicine this girl needed to get back into the grind we call life.

Thanks to Laura and Frank for being so warm and running the best resort/spa, a girl could ask for (and the price was right too😊). Peace and love everyone, and I truly mean that – we have one chance in this lifetime to do right – lets do it!

Birthday Nuggets of Wisdom

Last week I turned the big “59” and had exciting plans to shovel mulch and redo my garden beds. I woke up on a misty winter morning (seriously the coldest birthday I can remember), I was ready to receive a big dump of mulch and dirt from a bulk distributor. I thought performing physical labor in mother nature was just what the doctor ordered. I planned on working hard and being happy knowing I accomplished my landscaping project by the end of the day. Unfortunately, as I anxiously awaited my delivery, the company called and said they were postponing the order due to the weather. It made sense of course and therefore left me with no birthday plans requiring me to pivot. I ended up having a nice day feeling the love from friends and family and decided to just chill, workout, THINK and be grateful for all the blessings in my life. However, I did have to exert some extra energy to actually shower and change from ratty garden clothes to something more appropriate for a non-mulch day.

59 is a big number (I guess not as major as “60”, but kind of up there). I think everyone feels like their inside maturity is a good 30 years younger but when I look in the mirror, there is definitely an older face looking back at me. No amount of creams, hair products, or make-up, really can minimize that I am “like” a senior person physically. Then there is the contrast of my inside self that still cracks up over silly things like weird bodily noises, embarrassing antics and social faux pas of mine that happen on a daily basis. No matter how old I get, I will always be an awkward nerdy teenager who is never cool enough or care to be (I think just using the word cool shows how uncool I am😊). On any given day, I come home from running errands, etc. to see that I have food on my face, something in my teeth, there are times I even put my pants on backwards (been called out a few times – Adidas leggings do it to me all the time.) In my defense they have a tag inside the front of the pant which throws me off and then the logo is on my ass. I mean this is old people stuff that I used to roll my eyes at when I was young.

Ok, time to get to the point, with all those goofy things, there are a few areas that I am super proud of. I am glad that I have not lost my curiosity to improve myself and learn new topics that expand my horizon. I have really been exploring in no particular order, AI and blending it into my work (staying current), nutrition, health and fitness, spirituality and healing, mindless you tube content like fashion, amazon dupes, home/design shows, pet psychic and tarot card reading. It is eclectic assortment of viewing and also very interesting. So it has occurred to me for the first time that I have reached the point that I know you can never know enough, but I have wisdom of life and work. I have been through some major experiences and I have a point of view that has been acquired within my 59 years. I have become quite aware that we need to stop and take stock of our life. Pat yourself on the back for your wins, loses, heartache and laughter. With each day you keep moving forward and look back with generally appreciative thoughts about the good and bad times of the past. So you ask, what do I know with all the wisdom I have acquired, here is a rather long list of what I know for sure (I did start out describing it as brief and it is not😊):

Laugh everyday … even when you do not feel like it – find something there are endless opportunities.
Spend as much time out in nature – really tune into the harmony of the world – trees, birds, sky, grass, small animals (RUN… if you see anything large and scary).
Love your kids (and other people’s too) and mean it. Acknowledge their contributions to this world, good decisions, learning moments and their mere existence.
Trust your gut feelings – and take quiet time to reflect – many answers are shared with you when you are still. If something feels “yucky” it is and remove yourself from the situation.
Treat your body like a temple, eat quality real food (not processed) – it is like fueling your car. Need the right nutrients to be self-optimized.
Align yourself with people who raise the vibration – cut the negativity out of your life.
Focus on sleep – it has gotten a hell of a lot harder as we age and it is mandatory – it cleans your brain and builds wellness.
Be kind and good – take the extra effort to do something nice for someone without recognition.
Do not overconsume (still working on this one) – cheap clothing, unnecessary stuff just hurts the planet and our feng-shui.
Consider putting a low maintenance plant in your room – I am noticing air quality is better for restful sleep and Zen moments (and water “said” plant too😊).
Be generous and show people you care (still working on this one too). Put good karma out there – it comes back to you tenfold.
Try to be a role model to your kids and the next generation – break ancestral patterns handed down (try to be a better parent than the ones you had, reverse bad habits that have been passed down thru your lineage).
Challenge yourself and grow – take on a new hobby, interest – something that pushes you out of your comfort zone (still working on this too).
Love animals and treat them well – they are more than pets – they deserve time and attention – the bond is so gratifying.
Do not lose your soul and spirit to your employer. Be who you are and if you don’t fit in – go somewhere that honors you and your contributions (learned this one way too late).
Find your “people’ who accept you unconditionally and are easy to have a good relationship with. If it is hard to get a conversation going, you are being judged etc.. They are not your “ people. “
Be grateful for the small and big stuff. There is a ton of crap going on – focus on where you can make difference.
Listen to acoustic guitar (no singing) so relaxing and creates a great creative writing atmosphere.
Stay out of politics, it is an illusion and right now a no-win situation. We should honor the 10 commandments and be the best people we can – stop with all this noise that serves no one.
Magnifying mirrors will be your best friend – be sure to use it daily to catch anything that can really freak you out (us gals know what we are talking about).
Too much of anything is not a good thing. Try to grow old in a healthy way – Botox, supplements, cosmetic surgery etc.. generally look unnatural– rock what you have.
All beauty and hair products are hype – nothing really works – get the drug store stuff with the least amount of chemicals. I never received noticeable results from anything – it is a branding gimmick. Healthy eating, exercise, sleep and water is the key to youthful appearances.
Just take one day at a time, when we think out too far it just makes us anxious, and our worst fears generally do not materialize.
Love your home and make it a warm and enjoyable space for yourself and others.
Meditate, stretch, jump, lift weights and practice balance so you don’t become frail, and fall– it is amazing how fast that goes and high stats on people dying shortly after.
Do not take yourself too seriously … a sense of humor is critical. Recognize you are a small microcosm in this universe.

These are some of the lessons I learned in my vast life of 59 years that I feel compelled to share. I hope you find any of these helpful or at a minimum a fun read as they were random and the only ones, I could think of during this time crunch to get the blog out – ha-ha. I can honestly say that I am happy where I have landed and will work every year to make myself, my friends/family and the world better. As the wise Risa says … You do you!!! Peace and Love.

2024 – It Is A Wrap…

A year ago, I started this blog to share my health and wellness journey, and it is hard to believe that we are about four hours away from the New Year. I wrote this publicly to hold myself accountable by blasting it to the world. And in true Risa fashion, I have waited to the very last minute to complete my final post for the year. Yes, I am that person, who measures my performance with numbers and tasks – cannot take the HR out of this girl…. It is a blessing and a curse – ha-ha. Well, upon reflection, this has truly been a year of growth for me in mind, body, and spirit. I wish I could say financially as well, but I leaned heavy into self-transformation. Obviously, I need to pull back in 2025 and join the real working world again to fund this excursion – anyways… It is not cheap to be on a spiritual journey… but that is topic for another time and place. So, let us just say I am rich in experience in 2024 and actually feel I needed it (time well spent).

I really jumped in headfirst, learning and implementing actions to improve my wellness such as gaining a better relationship with food and not just stuffing my mouth with mindless eating and sweet addiction. I schooled myself in nutrition and thinking of food as fuel and medicine opposed to comfort. This reframe has helped me immensely and I have officially broken up with sugar, salt, oil and processed food. Good-bye bread, pizza, cheese, fake meat, and seafood, we are over! HELLO romaine, broccoli, beans, nuts, tofu, cauliflower, cabbage and berries. My new favorite friends who make me feel a hell of a lot better and have alleviated cravings and adopt satiation (who knew?). People ask me, how can I do it and honestly, the first few weeks were a little rough, now my taste buds have changed the other stuff is not even appealing. Food in packaging, boxes, plastic, cans – scare me – I am definitely a produce girl now 😊.

Another topic, my digestion…. It was a big oy when I started this blog. I was bloated, my stomach hurt, things just did not seem right (will try not to be graphic – but it was gross – my body was sending out a SOS – save our stomach). These are times I do not miss. Now things are just in flow and balanced. Gut health is real and so is the connection to brain functionality. I feel like I am performing at a higher level intellectually and it is showing up in all aspects of my life – including work $$$$. Moral to this story, do not let your brain go to shit (literally 😊). You are what you eat… and you can get higher billable rates when you are sharper. Thank you natural fiber and all you do.

A shout out to Cely, Shannon, Vanessa (others too) and her studio CelyFit (now accepting new members for 2025 – so fun!!!) Being in a community setting and dancing, lifting weights and yoga has been a game changer. Experiencing joy and happiness by pushing yourself is rewarding. Learning choreography, gaining some new moves for that one moment when you hit the dance floor at a wedding, bat mitzvah or random bar situation could be invaluable. One of my goals this year was strength training which was, may I say something I dreaded, has actually turned into an activity I look forward to. Continuing to feel stronger, see muscles define and improve balance is completely motivating and also makes you feel like a bad ass. I mean, I could probably chase down criminals and hold my own. Well, that may be a bit dramatic but I like the results both inside and out. 2025 – is going to be about the six pack, as I have an undefined 2 -3 pack”ish”. My arms, shoulders, legs are looking somewhat good for my age but always opportunities to tighten.

I took on the goal of improving my sleep and that is still a work in progress. I have definitely adopted better sleep habits and hygiene. I invested in great bedding, eye mask and a bedtime routine. The area that helped me the most was my Oura ring which kept me honest (damn it – you cannot outsmart technology) and the biggest thing was stopping eating at least 5 hours before I went to bed. When you are still digesting your food… it makes for some terrifying dreams and sleepless nights (at least for me – and I am sure you too). I discovered day naps, and I find them to be a great pick-me up which refreshes me. Although, I have been taking them less as I continue to eat better… go figure!

I have never been a deeply religious person however, I have found a sense of purpose, depth, and stability with spirituality. When I say that, it is understood that we are all connected, we are light, part of source and there is a bigger universe out there. We are here on earth to gain human experiences otherwise known as life lessons. This construct works for me and helps me stay grounded and content with my life. I am less stressed, try not to sweat the small stuff and try to do better and be better. I have found a community of like-minded people who have been a great support system as we learn and grow together. I have tapped into my gifts in energy work and using my intuition to guide myself and others on this life journey. I suppose whatever faith, religion, or belief system you have, serves the same purpose. Having an institution to anchor yourself into is a powerful way to gain your footing to move forward and grow.

My relationships are “everything” to me and I am really grateful for all the people in my life. I feel very blessed to have an amazing extended family (those that I am really related to and others that I feel aligned with). Being a mother to my beautiful Isabelle is a gift and it is my calling to be here for her. However, I never thought I would learn as much from her too. I cherish our time together and thankfully we have had a lot this year. I also loved my time with Ella (my sweet pug). There is something so magical about the bond with your pet, especially a dog who served me well and needed to be supported as she aged. Our walks and quiet time on the couch were some of the deepest moments that I take away from our relationship. I miss her immensely but know she was tired, and it is my moment to get out and explore the world.

Last but not least, being the measurement gal I am, seeing the positive results on the scale, in my bloodwork, energy level and yes hair growth, I am really reinvigorated. I feel younger, vibrant, and more ambitious. As I reflect about this year, I am enormously proud that I achieved my goals, especially overcoming the power of food over me. I have exceeded what I set out to do. I know the journey never ends as I enter into maintaining weight while growing muscle mass. This one was a toughie for me and I DID IT!!! There were definitely highs and lows this year, it has been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster but overall, I am really happy and satisfied as I close out 2024. Wishing everyone a happy and healthy new year. I look forward to continuing to blog and keep you updated on my boring life. I want to travel, expand my horizons, continue the health journey, and even help others to realize their goals too…. That is a wrap for this year. Thank you for reading and supporting me as I overly share to friends and strangers around the world. 😊

Where is my blanket?

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Hello again and happy June. I know everyone has been anxiously awaiting my monthly blog on the topic of wellness. I am extremely excited about this one – which is … drum roll please…….SLEEP. I have always loved to do it and find as I get older, it does not love me like I love it. My relationship with sleep has been complicated over the years but I am optimistic that we will be back to where we used to be… at least I hope 😊. Just to refresh everyone’s memory (including my own), I started writing about my journey to health and wellness that I embarked on over a year ago and am still uncovering each and every day. I thought discussing components of that lead us down the healthy path made a ton of sense. So… I have explored eating (always a fan favorite and very confusing), exercise, relationships with others and the last being a sense of purpose. With summer upon us nothing is a better follow-up than snoozy time which is more of a palatable goal to improve.

When I was young, I had no problem sleeping and looked forward to my bedtime. Oh, those days when nothing was significant enough on my mind that I could just succumb to rest. I remember saying, I wish I could be a professional sleeper. Had I chosen that path as a career, I would have been fired and unemployed at about 35 years of age. I long for the days of being a blank slate again, shallow, not a deep thinker to enjoy REM (rapid eye movement) – ha-ha. As I have become a serial pod cast/audio book listener I am noticing sleep is having its moment. Research has been conducted in this area and there is a strong link between good sleep improving our brain performance, mood, and health. It recharges our cognitive abilities and alertness. And it really makes sense, we are like electronic devices and the OG needs to be recharged. Our battery life is limited and a daily plug in is required.

Several years back, my good friend Laura introduced me to the Oura Ring. She is always an early adopter and keeps me informed on the “must” have technology. I had not heard of it but her endorsement was good enough for me. I quickly bought the ring and membership (it is not cheap as I find with my dear friend’s recommendations usually – she has expensive taste). It is a band you wear on your first finger otherwise known as your “forefinger” (had to look that up). It has a bunch of sensors in it and has a vast number of capabilities to measure variables of sleep. I also learned just recently that Oura employees can monitor other things too. There was some functionality that was not working on my ring and when I sent in a complaint, they fired back that my hands are colder than normal and I should consider wearing gloves (not a practical solution for me especially in the summer 😊). You know what they say – cold hands, warm heart, ok maybe that is not a thing but it is hard to be told you have frosty appendages . Anyways, back to the storyline, Oura has gamified sleep and simplified it by breaking it down into categories such as readiness, sleep, activity, and resilience. A future feature being introduced is cardio health/ age (coming soon – although I had a sneak peek and I am -1 year from my actual age.) My heart is pumping like a 57 year old – not totally inspiring but everything is an opportunity 😊.

Every morning, I wake up and quickly look at my scores – similar to anticipation of the new Connections hint. I wait as the screen calculates my data to inform me on sleep quality– I mean you would think I could figure out based on how I feel but noooo…. I must let an app tell me – kind of lame. I instantly scroll through the results like total sleep, efficiency, REM, and breathing regularity. The last one I especially pay attention to as I have caught myself in an open mouth snore that sounds a little like sleep apnea – yikes. It is a horrifying revelation and knocks me down to the reality that I am an old person. Breathing regularity is my biggest opportunity to improve and I am committed to moving out of the good category to optimal. I hope this is feasible in the near future. Now in regard to the readiness category, I typically have higher scores as it reflects your resting heart rate and recovery from the proceeding day. However, if I choose to exercise or do other naughty things close to bedtime the night before – it messes up my next day score. I have weighed my options and actions knowing that my ratings will plummet. This is a real Sophie’s choice (not really ) – pay now or pay later as they say. I am little embarrassed by this but need to be honest with my people.

In the quest to improve my sleep, I have incorporated day naps which was something in the past that I would NEVER do. I was actually very judgy of people who did. I have completely changed my tune and I love them now. I take a 30 minute nap with my favorite side kick pug, Ella, a few times a week. I especially like using the Calm app and tune into the take a nap series. I am instantly whisked away by the soothing voice of the narrator to different settings like enjoying a siesta in Mexico, refreshing nap on the couch or painting with Bob Ross. It starts out with a relaxing opener; nature sounds and then finally being awoken by birds chirping – it is really nice. It is just the right amount of time and I can honestly say I am recharged and ready to go. It also registers on my Oura Ring and improves my sleep score which is an added bonus and keeps me in the game (my competitive side coming out😊).

For all the positives I have mentioned previously, there are negative aspects you need to be cautious of with the Oura Community. I was in a meeting with a group of colleagues who also wear the ring. I was not feeling all that great as I did not sleep well the night before. I was asked in the meeting what my sleep score was. When I mentioned 70 which is low for me, I received an unsympathetic response and an obvious eye roll. I WAS A VICTIM OF SLEEP SHAMING and it did not feel fabulous. Well, I guess there is always a downside to joining the Oura cult. Overall, it is fun seeing others wearing the ring and sharing their experiences too.

Well back to the big wrap-up. I have been working hard to improve the quality of my sleep which has been a bit of a yoyo ride. I have been making progress doing the generic advice given. That is powering down devices about an hour before bed, writing to-do lists so you do not worry about things during the night, eliminating food close to bedtime that gives me indigestion (that is tomato products or anything heavy). Also, I have been using nice lotion, making sure my bed is made well, temperature is cool and it is dark in the room and I have I have a humidifier with aromatherapy. As I lay out this ritual, it is quite involved – did not consciously realize how much work it takes to set the stage – but worth it. A good night’s sleep helps me think and operate better. I am sharper, more efficient with workouts and daily tasks. I am. re focused, strategic, feel younger and vibrant. For so many years, sleep was considered for the weak and functioning on minimal sleep was a badge of honor. Let me just say, it is so out of style and not good for your health, performance, your family, or employer. Making sleep a priority helps you excel at what you do, just ask Arianna Huffington, Jeff Bezos, Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Lopez, and Albert Einstein (kind of dead). I strive to be part of this crew mentioned. Ok. time for me to power down and get ready for bed – sweet dreams to everyone 😊. P.S. – not a paid sponsor for Oura or Calm – but open to it if offered 😊