Stepping Into the New Year

As I sit here strolling, well to be honest running through all off social media, seeing everyone’s new year themes and waiting to see where I am guided...I put the phone down and walk away, for this is not a path to healing.

Outside a dog and a sheep run about as I pick a path to venture through nature. They are at play, doing what makes their hearts and souls happy. They run because it feels good, they stop when they are tired, they eat when they are hungry and seek out each other when in need of companionship.They miss each other when separated, and are joyful when reunited. They give themselves the best of their day, and the best that they can to each other. It’s good to be a dog and a sheep.

I then realize that the answer has already been given in my inability to find one. All of this pushing forward right now is totally counter intuitive to me at this time. This is a time of “hibernation” reflection, and finding our path for this year. It is not something quickly put together in the week in between winter holidays and the first of January. It is done day by day, moment by moment.

Change is what we are seeking at this time of year. Being HONEST about what is working for our highest good and what is a temporary and what must be let go of... What are our obstacles? What do we have for tools? What can we learn? How much love and compassion can we give ourselves before and during these processes? For there will not be change if we cannot give ourselves love or compassion.

Right now in the middle of the holiday season many are focused on giving and not having enough to give, loved ones and ones who are not there, happy memories and horrific moments that defined us. We have managed to externalize and keep ourselves busy to the point of exhaustion.

What makes us think that we can make ourselves anew or at least the perfect plan to for the new year in this state? No, please do not do this to yourself.

Stop, and allow yourself time. Time to enjoy, time to explore what your needs are and time to approach things honestly with yourself. Remember, just like healing, time is cyclical, the months of the year, the phases of the moon, the revolving of the sun. This also means healing and needed changes happen in cycles too. There is no failure in needing additional cycles for healing, you just need more healing at a deeper level.

Let’s take this first step into the new year together. I’m right beside you as you tell yourself “I love you and I will work at a pace that my body can handle. I will work with my mind to speak lovingly to my self. I will find what brings my soul joy.”

All My Best,

Dr. Nicole

Holiday Self-Care

Just a few little notes to self this week about keeping things real and for your highest good. This time of year, festive and happy are what comes to mind for many but unfortunately, that is not always realistic. Whether you are with family, friends or just find this time of year difficult to navigate:

1. Self-care comes first! Remember why you are on your healing journey, this will help in the decisions and reactions you make and have while with others.

2. Use past interactions with others as a reference for what you can expect with them this year.

3. Keep your expectations of others realistic. It is the season of goodness and light, but that does not always guarantee a happy, positive attitude with anyone. People are who they are.

4. Know your boundaries, be vocal about them, and keep them. If they are not respected you have the ability to remove yourself from the conversation and/or location.

5. If you find that you are in a place that is harmful or overwhelming to you, your healing, your mental state or are just in continuous discomfort, leave. Have a plan in place beforehand, then you will have this option at your disposal if needed. Pre-planning means you will not have to make decisions about “how” when you will most likely already be overwhelmed. You have the right to protect yourself.

6. Don’t go it alone. Plan to have friends on stand-by or even go with you.

Slow down. Really think through whether or not you want to go where you are invited. Sometimes it just has to do with your energy level. Saying no is okay (even if you’d like to go, remember self-care first!) No is a boundary. A necessary boundary. It is a boundary of self-care. There is a limit to what you allow yourself to give or others to freely take, without taxing or doing harm to yourself.

Lastly, you can always do your own thing! Make new traditions for celebrating during the holiday season. Or choose to do something different entirely.

Please take care of yourself this season, and may blessings be upon you.

Happy Solstice Everyone! Here’s to bringing in the light!

Dr. Nicole

Living in Nature's Rhythm

My little tree is up, the warm lights are twinkling. They are the only lights on in the house as dusk arrives this afternoon. There is a quiet calm in my home, little pitter-patterings of feet are about and a dog snoozing at my feet. Other than that there is no noise. Outside I can see the outline of the trees where they meet the shore. The cow, sheep, and chickens have already retired to their beds, and though maybe not asleep, they are having their own moment of quiet.

This is how the autumn and winter months are naturally. Quiet, slow, and getting darker, giving the world a rest from the busy year of growth and harvest. As I take this moment of quiet for myself, I am well aware of the opposition to society’s norms during this season.

Rest and quiet are so important for us. Yet most of us find ourselves incapable of doing so. We need the time to recuperate from the daily stressors of life, and yes, it takes these seasons to do it. We are part of nature and have been created to live within it. I invite you to take moments for yourself, to change some of the words and ideas that we are used to associating with this time of year; like dark and depressing to quiet, relaxing, rejuvenating and belonging to nature. I also invite you to actually make time to relax. Light a candle, make yourself tea, linger on quiet moments as long as possible, and do what feeds your soul.

This afternoon, I just sat and took a few breaths and took a moment “to be” a part of my home its surroundings, with my animals and nature. I am a part of this, I have the ability to stop and enjoy all that it entails. Please, allow yourself to become a part of your blessings. This is also the spirit of the season.

All My Best,

Dr. Nicole

Thank You For Walking with Me

As I celebrated last week with family, and furry friends, I found myself resonating with every word and act of gratitude that I encountered. My heart felt full and happy as I looked around myself as I counted my blessings as well.

Lester’s boundless energy spreading joy everywhere he zips. The love of a little lamb learning to use imperfect feet, perfectly, and loving all that he is finding in this world. The warmth of the sun and the beauty of the coast that I have been blessed to call home, make our daily walks some of the most joyous moments of my life. These moments have been made possible through Babs, who stayed with me an additional year and a half. Babs waited and stayed with me until she knew I was in Lester’s capable paws. This is a gift that humbles me to my core.

I am surrounded by animals that have to made their way to me and wildlife that has agreed to share their space with me. My gratitude for this knows no bounds, for this is what heals me and allows me to pursue the work that I agreed to do here in this turbulent world.

And my work! Yes, I love my work, and I am grateful for the calling that I have been been able to answer by wearing many different hats. I never imagined answering the call to walk with other people down their healing paths for a time would be so fulfilling and such a lesson in humanity. The love, strength, compassion, and joy that I have been able to witness people achieve fills my heart as well.

So, thank you asking me to walk with you on your path, sharing your authentic selves, your struggles and your successes. This is what makes all the difference, to my heart and to the call that I have answered.

All My Best to You,

Dr. Nicole

Give the Gift of a Moment to Yourself

When was the last time you took a moment for yourself? When was the last time you stopped and listened to what your internal needs are?

Not, what am I going to put on, in and around myself. Not, selecting supplements, foods, exercising, or dressing for the day’s requirements.

A moment to say hello to yourself, to check in with yourself, to love yourself for your own sake, for your own soul.

This does not take a meditation practice, an enormous amount of time, or need the eloquence of the perfect mantra.

It just takes positive intention, honesty, and a moment. Just take a moment to be completely honest with yourself. It is harder than you think, so allow yourself to sit for a minute and ask what your true needs are at this time.

Just a hey, you’re important, you’re worthy, you’re loved.

Find a spot you feel you feel comfortable with yourself for 5-10, can be inside or outside, even right where you are when you remember, oh yes, time for me!

Take a few deep breaths and visualize your healthiest, most vibrant self and give yourself the love and joy of that moment. Repeat as needed. Repeat again as needed. Remember it only takes a moment to give yourself, a little self-love, reassurance and an internal high five!! High five is a good way to remind yourself, YOU ARE DOING THIS!!

All My Best,

Dr. Nicole

Spreading Love

We all go through many chapters of our lives, not knowing what the next one will bring. My life has always been an adventure, and I am not sure each day what the next one will bring. I shared my story of Babs and how she changed my life in so many ways. Babs bravely crossed The Rainbow Bridge, on a full moon on the fall equinox, she went peacefully in our home surrounded by all she loved.

When Babs came into my life, my entire world changed, she was so full of love, so full of life and showed me how to look deep into my soul. She also showed me how expansive love and compassion coming from the heart can be. While her physical presence is gone, she truly is in every cell of my being. I have struggled, I struggled with the being her caregiver and the physical and emotional let down since her passing.

I am now trying to rebuild my life, in a way that honors mine, and hers in all the ways she taught me to do. I have not felt the greatest, in the moments after her passing, I felt relief at the same time loss. In the couple of months since she has left, as many of us who lose our loved ones, I have felt grief, sadness, anger, loss, and loneliness. It has been a great challeng that all of us are faced with many times in our lives with our loved ones.

In this process, I am learning who I am again, I am treating my body better, I am listening to spirit when it speaks. I am getting out in nature, I am connecting deeply with my grief, I am working on rebuilding myself. I am just trying to love myself.

Earlier this Spring, Babs was pretty adamant we needed to find another dog. I vaguely listened. I just was not ready, but I looked periodically at various rescue sights, etc... but nothing felt right. One rainy afternoon, as she and I were laying around, I came across one little dog that seemed like he was the one. I remember emailing and asking numerous questions, about this little 5-month-old puppy, and I spent a couple of weeks looking at pictures, but I still needed a sign. So, I woke up one morning and sent a message and asked the dog’s birthday..... she responded, there I sat, in a puddle of tears, it was the same as Babs’ and my birthday. I had received my sign.

Lester, he came to our home, and instantly fit right in. While he was young, he was beyond respectful of Babs, and he loved her dearly. He looked up to her with pure love and gently navigated around her during the last months of her life. Lester has brought so much joy into our home and around the farm.

A little over a month ago, we were asked if we would like a sheep that has some trouble with his feet, I thought Rosie would probably enjoy some company in the barn. We then welcomed Randy to the farm. In the past month, my life has become filled with joy, my heart is filled with love, and I have endless smiles to share. Lester and Randy have become BEST FRIENDS, days are filled with endless play, laughter, and love. The two of them have gotten me back into nature, let me cry when I need to cry and remind me every day the lessons Babs taught me about having a loving heart. I miss her every day, but as the days pass, and I am allowing myself to be sad when I need too, I feel her energy around me more and more. I am reconnecting with myself with the lessons she taught me and keeping my heart open to continue to love every moment.

This brings me to something she left for all of us. Lester and Randy share her Love and Joy for life in a way that I can not put into words, but pictures can say a thousand words. Lester, Randy, and I have started an Instagram account, we, I can share with you some simple joys in life, that so easily get covered up by the everyday stress in our lives. We can be found @flyinglester_romingrandy #spreadinglove #spreadingloveandjoy

I have learned it is okay to cry, it is okay to be broken, it is okay to take time to rebuild yourself and it is okay to take all the time you need. Please remember that we all have our own stresses, our own losses and it was told to me to bring us all together to remember at the end of the day, all we have is Love, Pure Love. Hope this finds each and every one of you, no matter where you are, in a place to open your hearts and love yourself and puts a little joy in your life.

All My Best,

Dr. Nicole

Eating for the Season

Foods that are in season nourish our bodies with the nutrients that we need for the weather and temperature of the season that we are currently in. Seasonal foods generally have the best flavors and best nutrition, especially when purchased locally. In return, you get to support small businesses, cut out the middle man, be more environmentally conscious, and know where your food comes from.

If you need an idea of what type of produce is available in your area, a visit to your local farmers market will give you a wealth of information of what produce is available to you each season.

As we (in the norther hemisphere) enter autumn, we need to add some warmth to our cooling foods, spices can assist you with this. Some of these spices are: cinnamon, clove, cardamon, cumin, ginger, fennel, and mustard seed. These spices can assist in with keeping your sinuses from drying out. This assists your immune system in defending you from colds and flu.

Remember, in every season to keep hydrated! Cool, dry weather makes your body need hydration just as much as the summer sun.

All My Best!

Dr. Nicole

Keeping Warm

It’s getting cooler here in the Northern Hemisphere. After a really hot summer, it’s nice to be outside again. As we move forward in the year, the cooler the weather gets, and we are not always prepared for this change in temperature and how the temperature affects our bodies to its core. So, when you have gone out and come back in chilly, what’s the best thing to do to get warm and help support our body’s immune systems?

First, dress warmly, in layers if possible. You can always take off a layer or two if the day warms up and you get hot. When the body is detoxing, it is always cooler because it is working so hard to heal. So, staying warm helps keep the body core up.

When coming in from cooler weather, tea is always a good way to warm the body. Ginger, cinnamon, chaga, and turmeric teas are some of the best to heat back up with.

Also, a warm Epsom salt foot bath will help as well. Try some ginger oil which helps moves the lymphatic fluid and lavender oil which will help relax the system. This will assist with detox and getting movement going on in the body to assist in warming itself at the same time.

So, pull out all of your woolen goods, get cozy and enjoy the beautiful autumn temperatures and scenery. Be present in the moment, life is short.

All My Best,

Dr. Nicole

Preparing for Autumn

With the change of seasons, the needs of our bodies change as well. As we are now going well into Autumn (and Spring in the Southern Hemisphere), here is a list of supplements that can assist you with the changes in temperature, being indoors more, and the colds and allergies of the season:

Elderberry

Vitamin C

Zinc

Astragalus

Silver

Thieves Oil

Garlic

These are the items that I use to help with my immune system and energy level during this time of the year.

Don’t forget to keep yourself hydrated during this time of year! You still need help to cleanse your body and keep up with its need to process everything for your highest good.

If you feel that you need more assistance than these supplements are giving or want to go over the right amount for you, you are more than welcome to make a 15-minute supplement appointment with me.

All My Best,

Dr. Nicole

Having a Heart

Life is a journey that has amazing highs and lows upon its path. As we travel, each of us carry our strengths, wounds, and badges of courage.  The stories that have been created from our experiences are filled with endless moments of heart filling joy, to the complete collapse of heartbreak.  I do not usually share too much about myself, as my days are filled with my work of helping others, but lessons are learned and things are forever changing.  Over the years I too have made choices that make me feel the emotions that run the gambit of the human experience. There is not one single experience that I have walked away from, and not learned something more of myself...this is one of those stories.

Six years ago, I was in the process of looking for a dog to adopt. I had recently lost my old guy and his companionship.  I had been looking on and off at dogs, and one day out of the blue I found a little cocker spaniel that had just been turned into a rescue in the Georgia.  I immediately knew, “she was the one”. I did not waste a single minute getting my information submitted for adoption.

After 3 long weeks of waiting the day arrived to pick up this little angel. The day of waiting was spent being a tourist in southern Maine.  While wondering the Kennebunkport beach, where coincidentally enough Barbara “Babs” Bush was walking her dogs. I stopped to chat with her briefly and petted her dogs, it was oddly a pivotal point in the day.

Two hours later, I was waiting to meet the transport van to meet this little angel that needed a home.  There she was scared and frightened. With my eyes full of tears, I scooped her up, took the pile of papers that was offered and headed off home to Downeast Maine. Little did I know of the changes that were about to take place in my life.

About the time I hit a toll booth I realized I didn’t have a single dollar in my car to pay the toll.  I found .52 cents, so I figured that I will just have to tell them this is what I have. I was already crying when I pulled up to the window at the toll booth and the man said, “Have a great day, the car in front of you paid your $1 toll!”  I never forgot that, and I could not pay it forward that day, but every time I have traveled through that toll booth, I always pay an extra $1 because of that day.

Upon arriving home, I was tired, with a tired little dog in my arms. I sorted through the pile of papers that I was given.  What I discovered is that this little dog had a good life, been extremely loved and was just sad owner circumstances that led to her being surrendered.  I was reading through 4 years of previous history when I came across her birthday... This little dog and I share the SAME birthday. My heart burst, tears ran down my face, my entire world changed in that moment, and the little dog that became known as Babs, and changed my entire outlook on life.

Babs and I have had many crazy adventures. She became my constant companion, my heart and my life was full. We walked, we hiked, kayaked, and played in the snow.  She took care of me and I cared for her. As life goes, you never know what the future holds, and changes take place. Babs started slowing down, but you could still feel the love come from her. She greeted patients at my office, and spread her love and joy all around, she just makes your heart smile.

A few years ago Babs was diagnosed with an enlarged heart due to congestive heart failure. My heart was broken, but I knew that the dog that loves so much would have a huge heart, but this was devastating.  I of course, looked at every possibility of “fixing” it, “treating” it. I tried to allow myself the ability to trust his as part of my life lessons.

Little did I know it would be one of the toughest, and most rewarding chapters in my life.  I consulted many vets, natural vets, holistic vets, hours on the internet, chinese healers, the list was endless. After much research and really listening to my heart, I opted to treat Babs as holistically and as naturally as possible. Over the past year and a half, I have had little sleep, many hours of worrying, many nights crying, making poor health choices for myself, complete exhaustion at times, but to this day, Babs is still here, doing her thing.  She is slow, she still is the presence of pure love.

So, why is this all so important? How did this little dog save my life?  In the past two years, I have felt lost, lonely, and scared. I have had to dig deep in my well to get through some days, while still continuing my healing practice.  What I have learned about my own heart, by taking such good care of hers? I learned that it is okay to be vulnerable and weak, it is okay to admit when I am sad, and it is okay to withdraw to spend time for healing myself.

A part of many journeys we take in life is getting lost, and I have from time to time. However, I get up every day and give Babs a snuggle and let her know how much she is loved. During this process I realized in caring for loved ones, it is easy to neglect ourselves and we can very easily feel empty, EMPTY AND LOST.  It can be hard to let others fill our cup, realizing what is being offered to us, what is available to assist us, and having the courage to ask for it. This chapter of my life, while it’s been really tough, it has truly been the most fulfilling it because while taking care of Babs’ heart, I started caring for mine too.  I don’t necessarily mean that I have everything totally worked out for myself, but I have started taking care of those emotions that are so easy to bury and ignore. My journey is moving forward again! Thank you Babs for allowing me to love you so deeply, so freely, thank you for loving me so genuinely, that I have remembered to love myself again.  I did not realize I had gotten lost, but because of you and your amazing heart, I can truly love myself again. The day I rescued you, the moment I found out we shared the same birthday, you really rescued me.

During your journey, you will get lost, get scared and when this occurs remember to breathe.   A lot of prayer a lot of blind faith can move mountains. In helping others along the way be open and listen to your heart, it is truly talking to you, it is giving you a view into your own heart and how to love yourself.  In loving yourself, you will find your authentic self and unleash your true potential. It is in our hearts, not our minds, where divine energy resides. Heart energy expands and can be felt by those all around you when you allow yourself to experience self love.