It goes without saying that these have been emotionally taxing weeks. I have had so much to say and yet have been speechless, I have felt so many emotions and yet have been numb to emotion. I have had what feels like my heart broken into pieces with compassion for my fellow humans and also have lost complete faith in humanity. I feel that in the midst of all this devastation, perhaps there is no place for what we do here.

And yet a small voice nudges me towards what I have always known to be true. That caring for ourselves and our bodies is a form of advocacy, that valuing our health and wellbeing is a show of gratitude, a declaration of how precious and sacred life is, and to acknowledge these truths, setting the intention to do our very damn best for ourselves, a form of defiance.

And so it is in this vein that I release this week’s episode. I recorded it last month after I saw Dan Buettner’s Netflix series “Live to 100” and think actually it is appropriate right now. Because the very things that are keeping me afloat like connection, community, and true nourishment are what Dan shares to be the essential ingredients to long life. You can hear the full episode here.

I would also like to bring your attention to the episode I did with an extraordinary physician, Dr. Katie Deming. She is an integrative oncologist who has a tremendous amount of experience treating patients as a radiation oncologist, creating products that serve these patients, including an undergarment that was featured on the runway at Fashion Week, and after what she describes to be something like a near-death experience, has now dedicated herself to the practice of holistic oncology. Dr. Deming explains how emotional regulation is important in disease prevention and in optimizing response to treatment. It is a beautiful way to marry western convention with spiritual understanding and healing. You can listen to this soulful conversation here.

Remember, that caring for yourself includes choosing and giving yourself permission to just be. If you are walking around like a zombie right now, I trust that a small voice will nudge you towards what you know to be true as well.

Stay well out there my friends.