Desert Health News - January-February 2025

www.creativelifeworkshops.com Another year. We made it! Every new year, we are hopeful that our most promising ideas await and our best lives are yet to come. We reflect on the past year's joys, triumphs, heartbreaks and disappointments and look forward to the following chapters of our lives, hoping to gain more insight and experience as we move closer to becoming the people we strive to be. We navigate our lives as if we are tending to a flower garden. We plant seeds and watch them grow, watering themwhen the soil is dry and offering them shade from the sun. Some flowers don’t make it, others flourish, but we are grateful for the process and the beauty we have helped create. I began planting seeds in my metaphorical garden as a child. My first love was the joy I found in reading books, imagining worlds I hoped to explore. It was magic. Equally, I loved art — the colors, themovement of the paint on paper, and the absolute pleasure I found in expressing myself. As I grew older, my love of learning, teaching and curiosity about the world grew. You’re never too young to plant seeds and discover what brings magic to your life, and you don’t have to be an artist to do so. We are all born creative, and there is no better time than childhood to develop self-expression and curiosity. Can you remember what you found magical as a child? Did you love music or dance, or look to the stars hoping to be an astronaut? Then, somewhere along your journey, did you put what you thought were fanciful notions to bed? Often, my adult students tell me they have forgotten these “childish” dreams and pursued other goals, but deep in their hearts, they feel those childhood passions were the seeds of their gardens. I remind them that while I believe one is never too young to plant a garden, it is essential to remember that one is never too old. No matter our age, we can always find new things to learn, create and explore. Perhaps revisit a childhood passion. Take a class online or preferably with others. As human beings, we feel better when we connect. Take a walk in nature. We are more creative outdoors, and our minds are more open to new ideas. Why not tend to your garden this year? Develop a mission statement to guide you and point you in the direction you want to take. Below is mine from years ago. I am still planting seeds, hoping new flowers will grow for many years to come. “Like an explosion of stars across the sky, like splattered paint, I keep moving and leaning into the creative process. I hope to inspire, create and continue learning from others, dazzle with colors, smile at whimsy, and always fall head over heels in love with art.” Judy Nemer Sklar is an expressive arts facilitator, artist, writer and owner of Creative Life Workshops for Health and Wellness. She can be reached at (760) 902.5467 or judy@judynemersklar.com . www.DesertHealthNews.com January/February 2025 Natural Options The Valley ' s Leading Resource for Health and Wellness 12 Exploring art and creativity is encouraged at every age. www.coppermoonrising.com Alison Mullins SPEAKER | WRITER | TEACHER | COACH Merging the 8 pillars of health & wellness with the 8 limbs of yoga to create holistic offerings Life/Health Coaching Motivational Speaking Yoga and Sound Healing PRIVATE AND CORPORATE ENGAGEMENTS w.coppermoonrising.co m alison@coppermoonrising.com 760.485.3433 Non-invasive therapy for Neuropathy and Chronic Pain from diabetes, trauma, chemo and more Non-Invasive • No Drugs • No Surgery! Cutting-edge electrical signaling treatment uses a special pneumonic electrical system with suction cups placed on the skin to regenerate nerves by increasing blood flow. Call us today to determine if your pain can be successfully treated. (760) 766-7200 1492 N. Palm Canyon Drive • Palm Springs Physician managed therapy covered by Medicare, PPOs and other insurances. “There has been a substantial difference in the feeling in my feet – for the better! Less numbness, tingling and burning!” — Bob H. Hope for a better quality of life Enhance personal wellness through creative explorations using art methods and materials, creative writing, painting, memoir, storytelling, music, meditation and mindfulness. Professional Artist • Writer Expressive Arts Facilitator (760) 902-5467 C reative Life Workshops Judy Nemer Sklar Join us! For scheduled workshops , visit c reativ lifeworksho . Presented by When we think of nourishment, we tend to think of only food. What about nourishing the rest of ourselves? While we all try to eat healthy, make the right choices and stay balanced, we can falter from time to time and find ourselves trying to get back on track. Many of us set New Year’s resolutions to this very ideal: “This year, I’m going to be healthier!” As you set your resolution, I challenge you to look beyond your plate as nourishment goes far beyond what you put in your mouth. Food can be packed with nutrients that fuel and energize us, but so can other elements in our lives — our jobs, relationships, spiritual and emotional enrichment, physical activity, and what we read, watch and listen to. All of these things can either be superfoods, leaving us full, rich and ready for more, or junk foods, making us feel good in the moment but leaving us empty or depleted soon after. Joy is a huge component of a nourished life. When you look at your life now, do you feel joy? Does your day-to-day schedule with lists and obligations make you feel happy? If the answer is no, you could easily surmise that your life is not fully nourished. However, if you flip that script to view obligatory acts as choices, you may begin to adopt a different perspective. Just as we choose what we eat, we can choose nourishment fromall of life’s offerings. We can choose to read books and publications that feed our souls and our minds, listen to podcasts about living a purposeful life, or watch documentaries on growing our own food to maximize the nutritional offerings on our table. When we shift our thinking to see opportunities instead of obligations, activities become more nourishing and less depleting. Let me share some simple examples. When paying bills, be grateful for that which you are buying and your ability to pay. If you are a parent to young children, use every opportunity to connect with them. When making their lunch, have them make yours with little input. I guarantee joy will meet your heart when you open the lunch to whatever your child has prepared. If you have aging parents, engage them in meaningful conversation about their childhood rather than only asking how they feel or if they took their meds. Try not to focus the conversation on whether they are doing what you think is best for them. You’ll be surprised what you both learn and may have a much more enjoyable time. Looking deeper, are there areas in your life that may require action to change perspective? Perhaps a job or career change is in order, or a friendship has run its course. Maybe you need to deepen your education to further your career or seek professional guidance regarding a relationship. While these things may feel scary, they can also provide great nourishment as you make choices for the direction of your life. Much like choosing berries over pie for dessert, you are in control of what you put on your plate of life. When your plate is full with nourishment, you awaken light and are ready to begin each day with excitement and anticipation. Believing you are worthy of such a life, and understanding where you may be lacking, is the first step to having a full plate with joy as the main dish. Alison Mullins is a certified holistic life and health coach, yoga therapist, sound healer and founder of Coppermoon Rising. She can be reached at alison@coppermoonrising.com or www.coppermoonrising.com. Nourishment: Beyond the End of Your Fork By Alison Mullins, MS, CHHC, IAYT Planting Seeds and Chasing Dreams By Judy Nemer Sklar