As I sit down to write this post, I find that I’m grappling with the message I want to convey. I want it to be just right. I want it to be positive and upbeat because we all know that there is a paucity of that right now. Times are hard for everyone this year. We’ve all experienced loss, uncertainty, illness. The loss of our regular lives can leave us feeling ungrounded and untethered, which makes us feel even more sad, anxious and despondent. I have experienced all of these emotions in the past six months, often in the same day.
SOUL Food Salon and SOULFUL Insights are intended to be resources to support better health and wellness. As I have lived out this intention during these uncertain times, I have discovered the tremendous support I receive from my practice of daily journaling. Every evening, I take time to reflect on the day and its ebbs and flows. I write down what I am grateful for and ask myself where I have found peace, enjoyment and inspiration. And, honestly, some days I struggle to come up with answers to those questions.
My daily journaling practice has gifted me with glimmers of hope. Through it, I’ve discovered a number of silver linings, including
More time…
Time to slow down
Time to reflect
Time with my family that I ordinarily would not have had
Time to cook with each of my kids
Time for more frequent communication with friends and family members, many of whom live in other states in different time zones
Time to pursue my interest in photography
Do you notice a theme?
TIME! Many of us have been given a new gift of time, perhaps the most precious gift of all. We now have the time to be more present. Time to be more patient. Time to show interest in others and to be kind. Time to reflect. Time to notice what we had previously taken for granted. Time to appreciate those freedoms even more.
With all of this newfound time, it is also okay to just “be” and live without creating expectations for yourself. Savor the moments by relaxing with a new book, tapping into your creativity or just being present. Share a long and warm hug with those in your home.
As I review my journal entries, I can see that I have highlighted my sense of purpose. It’s interesting that when I consider the days when I felt most unsettled, they are the same days that lacked purpose. I am so fortunate to have found my sense of purpose through my work with SOUL Food Salon and this wonderful community. It has helped me feel grounded. I continue to cook, post healthy recipes on social media and actively communicate with my audience. That work—and all of you—truly nourish and ground me.
What has been grounding for you?
We are all walking a new path or experiencing a new normal. Perhaps, it’s one of uncertainty and struggle. Or perhaps it’s one of personal discovery and growth. Allow for all of this. Welcome it while also respecting your need for grief, fear, relief and joy.
I hope you will continue to join me on this journey. We are in this together. Let’s stay strong, healthy and supportive of one another.
Here’s to a positive and uplifting new season.
Jeanne Rosner, MD
Jeanne Rosner is a board-certified anesthesiologist who practiced pediatric anesthesia at Stanford Medical Center for nearly 20 years. In 2011, she began teaching nutrition classes in her son’s 5th-grade science class. It was an “aha” moment for her. She realized that learning and teaching about nutrition, health and wellness in her community was her destiny.
Since retiring from anesthesia, she has been a nutrition educator at local middle and high schools throughout the Bay Area. She teaches students about the importance of eating food closest to the source, making good food choices and eating in a balanced and moderate way.
Jeanne started SOUL (seasonal, organic, unprocessed, local) Food Salon in 2014. SOUL Food Salon’s mission is to educate and empower people to be healthier. She holds events (salons) at which experts in the health and wellness community share their knowledge on how to lead a healthier life.
Instagram: @soulfoodsalon