Prevention: Find Your Calm – Even at the Checkout!

I’ve just started my 2023 Vision Board as I mentioned HERE. While I was standing in line at the grocery store, I perused the magazine rack for something that might inspire me… and I actually found quite a few things. But this was the first! Prevention’s Find Your Calm.

After putting things away at home, I sat down with tea and this 96-page tactile reminder that the internet doesn’t take the place of holding something beautiful in your hands and taking your sweet time reading, pondering, and moving on.

I can remember – back in the days of the pre-2000s – looking forward to the little magazine (about the size of a TV Guide – is that still a thing?) coming to my home in the mail once a month. I was always trying to find ways to get healthy (read: less fat). Those little magazines were filled with natural cures and (what some may have called woo-woo) stuff. Honestly, some of it was *almost* unbelievable. Drink vinegar? Are you shrooming?

Turns out… yes, possibly… and no, probably. The thing is, they had a point. Or two. Or a hundred.

*Ahem*

Like with most of my reviews, I don’t want to give too much away because I want you to go buy it… read it… implement it. Or… maybe… just enjoy it.

Gone are the days of newsprint quality paper with bleeding color and smears. (That was one thing I did not like about the early magazine!)

But also, gone are the days of it costing $4.

You win some, you lose some.

Totally *worth* the extra money though!

The setup is easy to navigate, and the fonts and colors are easy to read. There are beautiful, peaceful photos throughout. It’s larger than average print, too, which my half-blind eyes appreciate!

Some takeaways:

• thnx4.org – “Developed by UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center to act as an electronic storehouse of positivity.” That’s all I’m gonna say about it because – once again – I want you to do some legwork. Let’s just say it’s a community where the negative stuff won’t fly. (pg 15)
• “You’re not alone if you find mindfulness irksome or difficult. In one study, 67% of men and 25% of women chose to administer painful electric shocks to themselves rather than try to cope with being left alone with their thoughts.” (pg 27)
• “Meditation helps fight premature aging.” (pg 46)
• “In reality, meditation can be done anywhere, including while standing or walking.” (pg 56)
• “Carve out time for gentle stretching every day.” (pg 64) This section has large photographs of an average-sized person doing each stretch indicated.
• “You have more control over your emotions than you think.” (pg 71)
• Included in a section of affirmations: “It is safe to show up and be seen.” (pg 81)
• “… negativity is your brain is trying to keep you safe by preparing for problems ahead.” (pg 86)
• AND MY FAVORITE is found on pg 90: “Don’t build self-esteem — work on self-compassion.”

So, there you have some of the quotes and things that reached out to me!

This is a fantastic resource and although my original idea was to cut things out and put them on my vision board… I may instead just write quotes or affirmations based on what I’ve seen and read. I think I might want to come back to this!

Inspiration can come from anywhere, my friends, even the checkout at the market!