Please accept my apologies for my lateness with this month’s mental and spiritual wellness post, but I have been very busy in a lot of areas in my life. (Stay tuned! Good news is coming!)

I can’t believe we’re almost in mid-June. Six months has come upon us so quickly hasn’t it? The weather is getting much warmer, students are graduating from college, brides are walking down the aisle and people are planning their summer vacations. June is a usually a frantic, yet happy month so I wanted to give you some jade stones to reflect on.

Jade is a gorgeous blueish green precious stone, which also comes in shades of white, grey, black, yellow, and orange and in delicate violet tones that is often used to make jewelry. Some believe that jade can heal certain ailments of the loins and kidneys and that overall it has mystical, magical powers which can bring blessings and good fortune to all who wear it. Most importantly for writers and other artists, jade is also known to stimulate creativity and mental agility as well as having a balancing and harmonising effect.

Being that at this time we are usually feeling more happy as summer is approaching, I wanted to celebrate the beauty of the jade stone and present some ways to maximize these glorious feelings. Even in joyous times there are challenges and the best way to get through them is with a strong relaxed center. Here are some ways to sink softly into summer:

1. Beautify Your Body: When we look good we feel good so as we move away from the harsh winds of winter, it’s best to tune up our overworked and often times ashy (yes, I said ashy!) bodies. Whether it’s joining a gym or walking around the track at your local park a few days a week, getting your body into shape will benefit you in more than physical ways. Doing Yoga or Pilate’s will help with core strengthening and conditioning and can also help you relax. Along with staying fit, pampering your body can work wonders to relieve emotional stress. Getting manicures and pedicures is a wonderful way to reward your body. The power of touch is spiritual and there is nothing better than sinking your feet into hot soapy water while someone expertly trims and paints those toenails and lotions up your legs. This is good for you too guys. They don’t call them MANicures for nothing!
2. Massage Your Mind: Our brains may be the most overworked parts of our bodies. Before we take a step, lift our arms or say a word, our gray and white matter are working overtime to process the applications. Sometimes we need to wind the mind down and relax it in order to preserve its lifelong power. Reading is a great way to massage the mind. Some may reason that the brain may actually work harder while reading, but I tend to think it glides rather than working. When you read one of your favorite novels or a travel magazine notice how your breathing changes and your body reclines as you step outside of your own existence and into someone elses. Listening to and creating music can also help the mind melt into a calm and relaxed state.
3. Smooth Out Your Spirit: Life quite simply can bring you down. Arguments with friends, lovers and others can make you feel out of sorts, angry, misunderstood, unappreciated and just plain sad. Who really wants to be unhappy anytime and especially when the sun is shining and the birds are chirping? Uggh! No fun! Our spirits can be lifted in an instant if we choose how to react to difficult situations. It’s just that simple. We can choose to dwell on drama and wallow in regret and bad outcomes but what good will that do? A short serentity prayer after a hurtful exchange with a loved one or a bad boss can be so helpful. Learning to accept the things you can’t change and having the ability to refocus your mental energy will add years to your life!

There are many other ways to soothe your soul in bad times: Walking, writing or reading poetry, helping an elderly neighbor with their shopping, baking a gluten free cake, petting a puppy, caring for a cat or taking the first step to achieve a dream can be heart, mind and spirit enhancers!

Our lives will never be perfect, but we can always find jade stones among the ruins if we look hard enough. Anyway, a jewel is just a polished rock! Have a Jolly month of June!

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