nourishment

My very good friend’s birthday was last weekend, and to celebrate, she invited a few of her close girlfriends out to dinner this past Monday night in NYC.  I really wanted to be there, but it was a particularly hard night for me to go out.  I already had plans to be in the city during the afternoon, but I wanted to come home to the suburbs to put my daughter to bed before going back to the city for dinner.  My husband was not able to get home from work on time for me to make the 6:30pm train, so my mother in law had to come over to babysit my daughter for the hour in between me leaving and him getting home. Despite the scheduling and babysitting issues, I managed to go.  It was such a lovely night.  We had a few glasses of wine.  I was able to catch up with my awesome friends.  The food was delicious.  I came home happy and fulfilled at the end of the night.  This was an evening that nourished my soul. I believe that feeding one’s soul is more important than food when it comes to health.  If you are unhappy, these feelings will remain in your body and affect your well-being. I am pretty good when it comes to doing the things that I need to be happy.  My list is long, and I am so blessed that many of these things are a part of my regular routine: being out with my husband, just the two of us; spending time with my girlfriends; moving my body every day; watching dance live; feeling sunshine on my face; putting my daughter to sleep so that I can kiss her little forehead and wish her sweet dreams; spending time near the ocean, being with family… these are some of the things that nourish me and contribute in a positive way to my overall health.  I make them priorities in my life.  Girls nights, movement classes and date nights are all scheduled. I encourage people to acknowledge what makes them happy.  It can be so difficult in this busy world to make yourself a priority, but perhaps you can do these things once a day, twice a week, once a week – whatever can be managed.  Nourishing your soul is simply another way to promote a happy heart and a healthy body.