March is a transition month. We begin to anticipate spring (despite the 8 inches of first fresh powder that nature decided to dump on us February 28th and then the additional 3-6 inches of wet snow March 3rd!). In warm places, like near our foundations, small crocus have already started to sprout. Inside our home, an orchid displays all of its specialness on our plant wall. We anticipate the warmer weather, being outside without layers of clothing, boots, heavy coats, mittens and hats. We look forward to friends and family around the barbecue. We think about cleaning out our closets, opening the windows and freshening up our houses.
March is also a time when we may want to do some of that internal clean up that we have been putting off all winter. Through the doldrums of winter, we can let our self care slip a bit. March is a full month, 31 days, where we can set some new habits and get our own selves ready for the next season.
March is also the time when here at the farm, we anticipate opening our Farm Store again. We have been busy all winter, planning the farm beds, practicing new bakes and making new products. Our dining room table is full of new product awaiting labeling. We begin to plan the new spring Farm Store window (sneak preview: Mushroom theme!) and we begin to anticipate the socialization and community that comes with opening our store.
With all of that anticipation, I found myself exhausted these past few weeks. Not just tired, bone tired. Can’t do anything tired. Last Sunday, after a walk with my friend, I found myself untucking my made bed, climbing in and taking a nap. For those of you who know me, that is highly unlike me. I never take naps. I probably should take more. I have read studies that discuss naps preventing cardiovascular health and extending life, but I still have hardly ever been able to lie down in the middle of the day and fall asleep (Kenny, my grammatical expert- I used that phrase correctly, right?). More on sleep later, its so important to health that it deserves an entire month of blogging- suffice to say, I have never, I repeat, NEVER been a good sleeper, especially in the middle of the day!
So, I guess I need to rest more. I am renewing all the activities I do to take care of myself this month. I will be holding myself to taking breaks when my body feels like stopping. I will be holding myself to meditating everyday. I will be getting ready for the busy part of our Farming year by really taking the time for me this month.
So, this particular blog is short and sweet. The plan for the rest of March in blogging is about how community impacts your health. Friendships and feelings of belonging are so important to how you show up in the world and the health your body feels. Even eating a meal with your family or friends is healthier than eating at your desk in front of your computer. Your gut and its health are vital to your overall health. Your gut and your brain are highly connected. When you are in parasympathetic mode (relaxed, rest and digest mode) your gastrointestinal (GI) functions are enhanced. When you are stressed and your sympathetic neurons are activated, you may feel butterflies in your stomach, have vacation constipation or diarrhea from anxiety- the enteric nervous system is reacting to an emotion (your stressed state) and your GI functions will be inhibited. The resources, energy, blood circulation and secretions that your body needs are not as available when you are in flight or fight mode or stressed. Hence, the tummy symptoms. The connection to community is clear. When you feel safe your body will function optimally. When you control for chronic stress your gut microorganisms do their job more effectively, transmit neurotransmitters and the two way communication between your brain and gut can functions appropriately to provide you with optimal health.
Short and sweet. Taking a break for a little bit. See you back here next weekend for more about community, friendships and family and how those social interactions help us maintain and increase our health. And how does this connect with our little Farm Store? A whole lot! Community is so important, especially after the last few years we have had. Being able to provide for a safe, comfortable, friendly place for folks to gather, eat together and socialize was a way for us to help to heal our community. We are looking forward to opening day as much as our community is!
Books I am currently Reading:
The life changing magic of tidying up, Marie Kondo,
Smarter not Harder, Dave Asprey
Finding the Mother Tree, Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest, Suzanne Simard