New Year's Evolutions- Create the life you want by starting where you are.

Making a list of New Year’s resolutions and then not following through on them is a running joke in our culture. Yet each year we pull out a blank sheet of paper and do it anyway. Why? Because the energy of a fresh start feels so good. It’s hopeful and full of promise.

Even if in the back of our minds we know that the year ahead will most likely look like the year that just passed. Maybe a few things will change- or maybe sudden changes may upend everything, but rarely is that by our own design. In general we’re doing great if we can maintain our balance as life hands us challenge after challenge.

This year I decided to tweak the resolution game a bit and make New Year’s evolutions instead.

A resolution is something that you’re resolved to do. The word evokes discipline, hard work and determination (three things that human brains are hard wired to avoid like the plague).

Evolution indicates a slower more gradual process. Becoming a different version of yourself. This is the goal of resolutions anyways- to have a happier, more peaceful and fulfilled life. So what if you don’t need to lose 20lbs or travel the world to get there? What if all you need to do is take the life you currently have and slowly learn to just enjoy it more?

In my training as a life coach over the past two years I learned a couple of key concepts that helped me immensely.

First: Don’t fight reality.

Expecting to wake up on January 1st with a sudden influx of will power you’ve lacked every year up to this point is probably not likely.

You are still you. The world is still full of challenges and time constraints. The good news is- most of we think is “reality” is just a set of beliefs in our heads- so you can change it, but only if you start in with your mind.

Second: Your thoughts determine the quality of your emotional state.

You can look in the mirror and see the most beautiful person in the world and be brimming with pride or look in the mirror and be bitterly disappointed and overwhelmed by feelings of failure. The only difference is in what you’re thinking, which in turn affects how you feel, which affects your actions (and by extension your relationships, choices, and your life in general).

Change your thoughts = change your life.

Go the gym with the the thought that you are fat and out of shape = you’ll end up proving the thought true by giving up. This is what 95% of us do. It’s why resolutions don’t work for most of us. You can’t create a solution from the same thoughts and emotions that created the problem.

Now that we know why Resolutions don’t often work- here are some very easy and enjoyable 2023 Evolutions that really do work.

They are quick, free and backed up by real data showing they have created positive changes for thousands of people.

Try one or all of them out and you will be looking at investing about 15 minutes or less of your time.

1. High Five Yourself in the mirror each morning. Author and speaker Mel Robbins has done lots of research on this one and across thousands of people of all ages and walks of life has shown that the simple act of looking yourself in the eyes in the mirror and giving yourself a high five everyday makes you feel better about yourself and boosts dopamine in your brain. It creates a feeling of self love even if you are feeling down. Takes less than 5 seconds to do and it works! Try it and see. It may feel silly at first but if you do it daily you will notice a shift in how you are feeling about yourself.

2. Create a list of 10 things you really want for yourself this year and write them down as if you already have them. For example : I have my dream job of being a photographer. I weigh 150lbs. I drive a Mercedes. I am traveling Italy with a gorgeous romantic partner. After you write them down circle the one that will have the biggest positive impact on your life. It will jump out at you. Then let the other stuff go. Just focus on making more space in your life for that one thing that will move the needle. Trust that the other stuff will follow. This act relieves your brain from overwhelm and will give you a surprising amount of clarity on what you really want. Takes less than 5 minutes.

3. Text (or call) a friend once a week. Let them know you’re thinking about them. Research shows that connection to others is one of the biggest creators of happiness. Too often as adults we lose touch with our friends as we get wrapped up in our busy lives. Just sending a text a little poem or thought about why you appreciate them not only will make you feel good- it will make them feel loved and connected too. Studies also show that an 8 minute phone call is enough connection to fire up all the happy chemicals in your brain so set a timer and pick up the phone- you can build lasting friendships in under 10 minutes.

4. 5 minutes of morning peace. Set a timer and start taking 5 minutes in the morning for yourself. During this time you can sit quietly and watch birds, practice breathing deeply, do a gratitude journal or simply close your eyes and enjoy the silence. Taking a tiny bit of space to set up your peace for the day. As you make a habit of cultivating a feeling of inner peace (vs. rapid fire thoughts and rushing around) you will find you want more of it.

5. 5 minutes of evening reflection. Set a timer and before you go to sleep close your eyes and do a review of your day. What felt good about the day? What do you want more of. What didn’t you like during the day/want less of? You don’t have to change anything in your life or even write it down, but this gentle review practice builds a new level of awareness. You may be surprised by what made you happiest. Add a little gratitude practice in here and you really will boost your brain’s happy chemicals.

I hope these little New Year’s Evolutions inspire you to find peace, connection and happiness in tiny pockets throughout your day. As we evolve slowly to become more calm, other areas in our lives will naturally start to improve. You may find that you lose weight without even trying because you aren’t reaching for a bag of cookies to soothe your stress as often. You may find that a trip to Italy wasn’t as important as the need to create more fun in general by going on coffee dates with friends or visiting art museums.

Whatever you discover let it be a gentle process of being nicer to yourself rather than looking “improve and be more productive”. Take naps. Take time for tea. Take your days off seriously and everything else less seriously.

Happy New Year!

If you love this post and you plan on trying some of the tips out let me know in the comments below!

xoxo

Ginger

This old chestnut- a tale of broken heartedness

On my walk the other day I noticed there were a scattering of chestnuts on the ground.

Some had been driven over by cars and their green spiny shells were cracked wide open

Inside the nut gleamed like polished wood- a beautiful jewel of a thing.

I pondered that I hadn’t even known there was a chestnut growing on the edge of this road.

Looking up I could see it wasn’t very large but it was there. A survivor of the blight that took out so many of it’s relatives across the country.

I picked up the nut and the spikey heart shaped shell carefully and took them home. It felt connected to me somehow, as if it had a message. (I was in the middle of separating from my husband at the time).

After a week of walking past it on my kitchen table, this little story came out of it.

Don’t worry about the broken hearts.

I protected them as long as I could.

Finally I let them go.

They were taken, smashed, eaten. Many will rot on the road.

Do not grieve for the broken hearts for it’s their destiny to fall.

They are meant to be given away- potential seeds of the future.

Keeping little squirrels fat and happy.

Don’t mistake this for a tragic end.

For the tree above grows wide and her roots run deep. She scatters the earth with her heart shaped thorny seeds and hopes that someone will break them open.

There are more than enough. Season after season there will be more.

Breaking hearts all over the road. Vulnerable. Abundant. Destined to grow.

8 ancient practices for staying healthy and happy in the Fall

A Song For Autumn

In the deep fall
don’t you imagine the leaves think how
comfortable it will be to touch
the earth instead of the
nothingness of air and the endless
freshets of wind? And don’t you think
the trees themselves, especially those with mossy,
warm caves, begin to think

of the birds that will come — six, a dozen — to sleep
inside their bodies? And don’t you hear
the goldenrod whispering goodbye,
the everlasting being crowned with the first
tuffets of snow? The pond
vanishes, and the white field over which
the fox runs so quickly brings out
its blue shadows. And the wind pumps its
bellows. And at evening especially,
the piled firewood shifts a little,
longing to be on its way.

~ Mary Oliver

Your Health and the Seasons

One of the biggest changes that affect life on planet Earth is the changing of the seasons. Trees dropping their leaves, birds migrating thousands of miles, bears going into hibernation- when it comes to fall lots of change is taking place all around us. The world over, even from ancient times, wise people understood that adjusting their daily habits with the seasons was a key to staying healthy.

These days with life in constant hustle mode, we forgot that our bodies have seasons. When we move through the year ignoring our changing nature, feelings of disconnection, anxiety and exhaustion can set in. Sound familiar? Read on!

Knowing your element

In India the practice of yoga and ayurvedic medicine goes back thousands of years. In this practice every person is considered to be a combination of five essential elements (fire, water, earth, air, and space).

The combination of energies you were born with make up your constitution or doṣha. Those with more fire are classified as Pitta. Those with more water and earth are Kapha. And those who contain more air and space are Vāta. While each of the doṣhas are present in everyone's makeup, one or two are likely be more predominant.

Your doṣha does not change – but the world around you does, and these outside changes affect your ability to stay balanced. For example, as summer temperatures rise, Pittas can overheat. When the ground freezes in winter, and Kaphas may lose motivation to leave the house.

And right now, as the fall winds begin to blow, Vātas can find themselves feeling scattered and anxious. Everyone is a combination of all three doṣhas. So no matter how much Vāta you have, that part of you is bound to become a bit aggravated as fall unfolds.

Autumn and the winds of change

Vāta is a Sanskrit word that means wind. It’s energy is cool dry, light, a bit brittle, and constantly changing and moving. Just like fall. That’s why Autumn is known as Vāta season.

When in balance, Vāta is light and full of vitality. But to much movement leads to not enough rest.

Too much change leads to not enough stability. Too much excitement turns to anxiety, and a head always in the clouds loses touch with it’s roots.

To stay balanced in the fall, our bodies need more downward energy. We need the weight of water and the grounding of earth.

Element of Metal and the Lungs

According to ancient Chinese medicine, fall is the beginning of the yin (inward going) cycle when daylight lasts less than twelve hours. It’s a time associated with the element of Metal, which governs organization, communication, the mind, setting limits, and protecting boundaries.

During the summer, which is ruled by Fire, we feel expansive as we travel and play outdoors. Fall, on the other hand, is a time of preparing for the winter ahead. It’s yin energy calls you to be more introverted and reflective.

In Chinese medicine the lungs and large intestine are the internal organs related to Fall and the Metal element. Lungs are associated with the emotion of letting go. The process of changing seasons can be difficult for people who love summer. They find it hard to give up the long days of sunlight, warm temperatures, and open windows. Others look forward to fall and the coziness of going inside.

The lungs control the circulation of the Wei-Qi, which is the defensive Qi (energy) that protects you from the invasion of flu and colds. A weakness in the lungs can lead to a weakness in the Wei-Qi, making a person prone to frequent colds.

The list below is a combination of recommended practices from both Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese healing systems to help you keep your Qi Strong and Doshas balanced as we transition through fall into winter.

Eight Ancient Wellness Practices For Fall

Tip #1: Slow down

The days are getting shorter and the nights grow longer. Rather than try and maintain the high energy of summer – now is the time to slow down and savor doing less. Capitalism is a system that really hates the idea of rest. In America we feel the pressure to keep doing more and going strong in order to be seen as successful and mentally healthy. But in truth it’s the constant demands on our time that drains our batteries and leaves us feeling depleted and depressed. In fall, the season of letting go, it’s even more important to release commitments that no longer serve you. In your physical practices, this may mean less yoga postures with longer breaths. Taking walks instead of running or exploring practices like Qi Gong or Tai Chi.

Tip #2: Build strong roots

In times of great change we can strangely become resistant to structure, but its then more than ever structure is helpful. It's all too easy to get swept away by shifting nature of fall so developing a strong grounded routine for your day will help keep you rooted in health and feeling stable. Try and develop a pattern to your fall days. Eat at the same times, wake up and go to bed on a schedule, and put less things on your calendar overall. Doing less with more focus and calm is the perfect way to balance your energy and a much more efficient way to live overall. You will find that practicing focus within a solid daily routine yields stronger more rooted results than running around trying to multi-task.

Tip #3: Eat nourishing and warm

When it comes to deciding what to eat, use the fall harvest as your menu. Foods that are in season – root vegetables, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and squash – are all foods that are sweet, heavier, smooth, and more dense. (those pumpkin chai cravings are for a reason!) These are earthy water Kapha qualities and will help soothe the overabundant airy Vāta energy. Other foods include nuts, brown rice, oats, bananas, and ghee. Avoid cold foods that produce phlegm and stress out the lungs like ice cream or dairy products and eat more lung supporting warmer foods like garlic, onions and mustards.

Tip #4 Use Herbs & Chai Spice

Herbs and spices that are warming are at the top the list to soothe fall energy. Some Indian herbs are helpful are adaptogens like Ashwagandhā, Tulsi and Śhatāvari. Other herbs and spices that are grounding and warm include tumeric, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, clove and fennel. There’s a reason why chai spices pop up in fall drinks, pastries and stews this time of year.

Tip #5: Care for your lungs

Lung is considered by Chinese medicine to be a tender organ. This is because the lung is the uppermost organ in the body and especially susceptible to wind and cold. Dressing warmly around your neck, face and chest is recommended to protect from cold fall wind.

The nose is the opening to the lungs. One way you can prevent colds by keeping your nose and sinuses clean and clear with a netti pot with some sea salt.

If you suffer from runny noses or lung problems, getting acupuncture in the fall is very helpful for preventing infections and strengthening your resilience to colds and flu.

Tip #6: Maintain warmth 

Drink warm tea, take warm baths. Wrap warm scarves around your neck and nose to protect your lungs on cold windy days. Staying warm is key to feeling well in the fall season and keeping your immune system strong. Saunas and steams are particularly good to treat yourself to in this season- especially if you tend to get cold easily.

Tip #7: Settle in

Fall energy tends to be scattered and moving in nature like the wind. Taking time bring your focus in will help you feel more at ease. Journaling is one way. Every morning, I sit and handwrite a few pages. It helps me empty my mind and start the day fresh. But more important for this time of year, journaling helps take ideas and thoughts out of space and put them tangible form on paper. Other ways to settle the mind may be to take a technology break from information overload. Turn off your screens after 7pm and read or do relaxing yoga instead. Playing music, making art or meditating is very helpful to settling energy of the mind for fall.

Tip #8 Go to Bed

The nights are returning earlier now and will last longer. Tune into the call for more sleep and give yourself as much rest as you need. Don’t force yourself to stay up if you’re tired. Make your bedroom a cozy den to hibernate in and go to bed early. Waking up early is also beneficial in the fall. See what it feels like to go to bed when it gets dark and wake at first light. Get a dream journal and see if you can write down your dreams in the early morning before they fade away. Fall is the season of dreams, visions and revelations. Things you have been processing all year are now coming into focus. Don’t let that harvest slip through your fingers. Give yourself time to tune in to your intuitive side which often reveals itself in the language of dreams.

I hope this list gives you some inspiration into taking excellent care of yourself this season. If you love fall as much as I do- this list is your permission to dive even deeper into the covers with a good book and hot cup of tea.

Happy Equinox!

xoxo

Ginger

Making Iced Tea Concentrate

Iced tea is easy to make by the glass or by the pitcher, and there are almost endless flavor combinations to try.

The easiest way to make iced tea is to brew a strong iced tea concentrate, which you then pour over ice cubes and add additional water as needed.

Basic Recipe for Quick Brew Iced Tea Concentrate (use 50/50 with ice or cold water)

4 cups water (32 oz), heated according to the type of tea you are brewing

3 full tablespoons loose leaf tea (any kind is fine)

1 quart mason jar or other airtight container

Sweetener, optional

Directions:

1. Bring water to the appropriate temperature in kettle or on stove-top. For black tea and herbal you can use boiling water. For green teas, oolongs or whites use just below boiling)
   

2. Pour hot water over loose tea and allow it to steep for at least 3-4 minutes. The longer it steeps the more concentrated it will be but should steep no longer than 4-5 minutes for green and whites and no longer than 5-7 minutes for blacks and herbals. You may also use a large tea bag, basket infuser in which to steep the tea leaves.
   

3. Strain off tea leaves and discard and allow concentrate to cool in an airtight container and refrigerate. Refrigerated concentrate will keep for about a week.
   

4. To make tea, use 1 parts tea to 1 parts water or ice, for a stronger tea, add more concentrate and less water. Add sweetener or fruit to taste, mix and enjoy!
   

5. Alternatively, you can use the tea concentrate immediately by filling a pitcher with at least twice the capacity of the concentrate with ice cubes and then pour the hot concentrate over the ice. Doing this will simultaneously cool the tea and dilute the concentrate.

For a fun twist try adding chopped berries, stone fruits, herbs or spices to the tea while it’s steeping for fun flavor combinations.

If southern style sweet tea is your preference add ½ - 1 cup sugar to the hot concentrate after the leaves have been strained and stir until dissolved. Squeeze the juice from two lemons and add to the concentrated tea if desired.  

If you want to make a stronger concentrate just add more tea to less water. The basic recipe is one heaping teaspoon per 1 cup of water. The recipe above doubles that amount for a concentrate you can dilute 50% with ice or water.

To make a half gallon jar of concentrate that will make a gallon of tea use 1/4 cup of tea to

8 cups of water.

A Sunshine Sipper Hot Summer Days!

Sunshine Sipper is our hibiscus mint herbal blend which is fantastic for hot days. Hibiscus is naturally hydrating and helps lower blood pressure. Mint is cooling for the body. Combined they are the best drink to enjoy when the weather gets hot. Much better for you than energy drinks with added sugar and flavorings- and more economical too. This tea is great as is but with added coconut water it becomes a super hydration cocktail that tastes lightly sweet and tropical.

Try it and let me know what you think in the comments below!

• Brew a concentrate of Sunshine Sipper communitea herbal blend (see instructions above).

• Fill a 16 oz glass half full with ice and pour in half of the Sunshine Sipper concentrate.

• Then fill the rest with coconut water (or green tea iced tea is nice if you want caffeine)

• Add a squeeze of lime (or other citrus like orange or lemon)

• A handful of fresh berries such as raspberry or blueberry (optional but delicious)

How to make Instagram worthy ice tea for your summer parties!

Stay hydrated this summer in style!

Making your own iced tea is easy and healthier than buying sweetened ice teas in bottles. (not to mention more affordable!)

One way to elevate with your iced tea this summer to “Instagram” worthy is to create your own custom iced tea cubes!

Making your own fancy ice cubes ticks many boxes:

• It keeps your tea from getting watered down as the ice melts. (tea melting into tea=perfect tea!)

• It also allows you to play with adding fresh flavor to your glass with fruit, herbs and edible flowers

• It turns your glass or iced tea pitcher a work of drinkable art that will wow your friends and followers.

• It works in just about any drink. These artful cubes are great for iced tea but also are good for plain ol’ water, lemonade, cocktails- you name it!

They take almost no time to make, yet they totally elevate your sipping experience! (plus they make for a pretty fabulous instagram moment!)

Plus you can get creative with the add-ins! I usually opt for raspberries, mint, lemons, limes or strawberries! But you could easily add in anything else that would complement your beverage.

Edible flowers are a gorgeous addition if you have some growing in your garden. (roses, pansies, violets, borage, calendula, chamomile, lavender, mallow flowers etc.)

Start by making your favorite North Fork 53 Communitea blend:

For added pizazz I recommend using our tea blends that brew up naturally in bright colors like:

• Purple Reign (purple)

• Blue Enchantmint (blue- will change to purple as they melt if you add citrus to the drink)

• Sunshine Sipper (red)

Gather up some of your favorite fruits, herbs and flowers- for example:

• 12 Raspberries or blueberries

• 1 handful fresh Mint

• 1 lemon cut into small wedges

• 1 lime cut into small wedges

• 3-4 strawberries cut into slices

• Fresh fennel springs

• Edible flowers or petals

• Peaches cut into small chunks

Instructions 

• Arrange 5 ice cube trays on a clean surface.

• Pour Iced Tea blend into ice cube trays, filling up each cavity about ¾ of the way, and then add in the raspberries, mint leaves, tiny pieces of lemon, lime or strawberry slices.

• Freeze overnight.

• Once frozen, remove and use to serve in iced tea, water, lemonade or cocktails!

It’s so simple but trust me your guests (or instagram followers) will ooh and ahh!

If you have popsicle molds these also make for beautiful popsicles!

Just add your favorite sweetener to the ice tea mix before pouring it into the molds.

Happy Summer Sipping!

Tag @northfork53 in your instagram iced tea photos for us to share!