Danette May's Lotus Journal - April 2020

April 2020

‘Small Hinges Move Big Doors’

INSTALLING THE ‘HINGES’ IN YOUR LIFE AND FINDING YOUR ‘WHYDENTIT Y’

One of the most profound questions I often hear is also very simple: How?

How do I lead a healthier life? How do I live a more joyful life? How do I live a more meaningful life, a more impactful life? How do I make a difference? How do I move forward? How do I reinvent my reality? How do I live the life I want? The beautiful part of this question is that you are recognizing your soul’s need for a change. You’re answering a call your soul has sent you, a call that only you can do something about. You have the power to change your behaviors, your thoughts, and your reactions to influence the change your soul is craving. You cannot control so many things in this world, and you can’t focus on remedying these external pieces if you ever hope to grow. You are the writer, the painter, the creator of your destiny. You hold the brush, the pen, the clay. The world may throw dirt on your creation. It can stomp on the life you’ve created, smash it against the wall, and attempt to destroy the pen strokes, the vibrant colors, and the shapes of your life. But you decide how to pick up the pieces and put it back together again. You decide how to use that dirt. Only you can write the next chapter. It all starts with you and choosing a beginning.

I know practicing this is easier said than done — believe me.

One of my favorite phrases is “Small hinges open big doors,” and after the death of my son, Hap, I relied on those small, mighty hinges. There was nothing I wanted more than to stay in my bed. It was safe, it was warm, and it beckoned me back into my cloud of hurt and pain. It was my ship as I sailed through the storm, but I soon realized I was stuck. My house was a mess, my life was chaos, and my bed was no longer where I belonged. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 ...

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I know you can do this, too, sister. It’s daunting; thoughts of failure often distort our truth. So, take a deep breath and start with these steps. The First Step

–Danette May We’re here for you, sister. You can take that first step, and I’ll be cheering for you with every step. I begin this part in the process by writing down 1–3 things I can start doing to live each day toward my new goals. I visualize them every day. I work toward them. I focus on my “whydentity” and the actions I need to take to get there. I take these small steps, and as they evolve into bigger steps, I find my “whydentity” coming to fruition. It’s never easy. You may struggle. You may wonder if it’s worth it. You may want to give up, push forward with a life or direction that doesn’t entirely feel like it’s yours. But the years since I first laced up those shoes after losing Hap and the weeks I spent refining, changing, rewriting, and reshaping my “whydentity” have been worth it. It’s vital that you are honest with yourself and your soul, not with what the world expects of you. Dig into the essence of your being and visualize the life you want to create for yourself. The Third Step It’s finally time to take action. After reflection and planning, you have to take that first tangible step in your journey. You have to actually live it — feel your soul come alive — to know it’s working. This first step can be one of the hardest. It’s important to be radically honest with yourself, with the motivation of falling in love with yourself and pushing your soul forward. Your flaws, your faults, your outbursts are part of you today. They are not worthy of punishing yourself over; they are worth your attention, your dedication, and your adjustment for that next leg of your journey. The Second Step In what is perhaps an easier step in this journey, you must cultivate the life of your dreams to identify what your dreams truly are! What would be your “dream identity”? What do you want out of the relationships in your life? What do you need from your relationship with yourself? Why do you value these? Is this truly what you want?

The reason behind who you are and the life you create is

just as important as your why, and before you can even begin a clean slate, a new chapter, a new slab, you have to discover your why. What pushes you forward? What’s at the center

of your soul’s calling? Your belief system is who you are. Your principles, your truths, and your vision statements are your “whydentity.”

When I need to reassess my “whydentity,” I start by being radically honest with what’s governing my day. From the time I wake up to the time I close my eyes that night, I spend moments in quiet reflection, wondering how I’m showing up for the world around me. What does my body language say? How does my attitude shift and grow? What am I eating? How am I moving? Then, I look at the patterns surrounding those feelings. Who was I with when I felt my mind crumbling? How do my family or friends play a role in this? What prompted jubilation, and what did I shy away from? What and whom do I need to surround myself with, and are there pieces that need to be removed? And one day, I put on my shoes and my bed was silent. I wasn’t being pulled back into the dark vessel. My body needed to move. I needed this small hinge to move the very big door I was about to walk through.

But one day, it got easier. I knew there was more to life than my

bed; I had to do more for my daughter Sarah, for Hap, for myself. I committed to getting up at least a few times each day to do something outside of my bedroom. I would lace up my tennis shoes and walk to the mailbox. It was a small victory, but it was my victory. Gradually, I made it a few paces down the sidewalk. Soon, I was around the block. And one day, I put on my shoes, and my bed was silent. I wasn’t being pulled back into the dark vessel. My body needed to move. I needed this small hinge to move the very big door I was about to walk through. These were the first steps I took toward the life I have today. It’s a life full of radical self-love, passionate relationships, and powerful soul calling. It’s a life my bed almost stole from me, but my mind pushed me into it. It wasn’t easy, and sometimes there are low points even today that beckon me back down. But every day, I make the decision to not listen to those calls, to write my own story, to paint my truth, to sculpt the life that my “whydentity” and soul speak.

Danette May’s Lotus Journal

Ingredients

Directions 1. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Toss in radishes, asparagus,

In last month’s Lotus Journal, Danette reminded us that one of her favorite ways to stay connected to nature is by eating it. Leafy greens and other dark green vegetables bring us closer to nature at a cellular level, so this month, let’s celebrate Earth Day by whipping up this gorgeous, nutrient- dense salad packed with spring vegetables and herbs.

• 1 cup radishes, halved

• 1 cup asparagus, cut into pieces

and snap peas. Cook for 3 minutes, then drain and immerse the vegetables in a bowl of ice water. After 2 minutes in ice water, drain vegetables.

• 8 ounces sugar snap peas

• 2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, divided

2. Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil in a small pan over medium heat. When the oil is hot but not smoking, remove it from heat and stir in lemon zest, salt, and pepper. 3. Toss arugula, parsley, and mint with the rest of the olive oil, lemon juice, and more salt and pepper. Then, add the radish mixture and drizzle the whole thing with the olive oil and lemon zest mix from Step 2. Top with the walnuts and enjoy! Makes 4 Servings

• 1 teaspoon lemon zest

• Salt and pepper, to taste

• 2 cups baby arugula

• 2 cups fresh parsley

• 1 cup fresh mint, torn into pieces

• 5 teaspoons lemon juice

• 1/4 cup raw, unsalted walnut pieces

Inspired by CookingLight.com

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Did you know that there are over 2.5 million acres of garlic in cultivation worldwide? It’s no wonder: Garlic boasts a fascinating history, has unparalleled potential health benefits, and is used in cuisines throughout the world. Plus, it’s tasty! National Garlic Day is April 19, so here are some facts about one of our favorite healing foods. History

often be combated with a little bit of lemon juice, but if you’d rather savor the flavor, your secret is safe with us! Because we truly believe in the power of garlic, you can find almost 50 recipes using it on FitRise.com. All you have to do is search the word “garlic” in the meal plan library and choose something that looks delicious, like our latest garlicky recipe, “I AM a Catch Casserole.”

promote healthy hair and skin, and fight fungus and bacteria. The best way to take advantage of these potential benefits is by eating it raw, but if you can’t deal with the lingering stinky breath, following proper cooking methods can still yield healthy results. How-Tos When buying garlic, avoid shriveled or soft bulbs. Its shelf life is roughly eight weeks if the skin is unbroken and around two weeks for individual cloves. Garlic works well in recipes that call for its relatives, like onions, shallots, and leeks. When cooking with garlic, the finer you mince and mash, the more flavor you’ll get. You should also let your garlic rest between chopping and cooking, and add it to the pan near the end of the recipe to better preserve its nutrients and flavor. Garlic breath can

Humans have been using garlic for over 5,000 years. It originated in Central Asia, but its nutritional and remedial benefits made it popular in recipes and medicine. Its pungent aroma was thought to ward off evil, and ancient Greek warriors ate it to instill strength and courage. Egyptians worshiped the plant and even used it as local currency. Health Throughout history, garlic has been used to treat wounds, cure asthma, combat diseases, and even fight gangrene. Today, its recognized health benefits are a little more practical but no less astounding. Garlic contains vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that may boost immunity, reduce inflammation, lower cholesterol,

Danette May’s Lotus Journal

Are You Sharing the Love This Spring?

4. She cares for the planet through Earth Echo.

When we think of spring, we think of a little green sprout poking up through the soil, unfurling its leaves, and stretching up to the sun. Every day, that little sprout’s reach grows, so we thought it only made sense to chat with Danette about her own reach this spring. Every day, Danette does these five things to pay her love, light, and positivity forward.

Earth Echo, the superfood and supplement company Danette pioneered, pays it forward by offering healthy products that are kind to the Earth and to our bodies. (Check them out at EarthEchoFoods.com.) 5. She asks, “How can I serve globally?”

1. She sets up her energy with love and gratitude.

Last, but certainly not least, Danette asks herself how she can be her best self for the sisterhood and her online

When Danette wakes up, she lists three things she’s grateful for to create positive energy. “My energy affects everyone’s energy in this home, but ultimately, each individual person’s energy affects everyone collectively around the globe,” she says. 2. She asks, “Whom can I serve today?”

community. “I’m trying to take care of the women in the community, show up for them, and create content for them every single day,” she says.

You might have noticed that Danette doesn’t only focus on

volunteering in her local community — instead, she emphasizes paying it forward in her home and on a global scale. This is a conscious choice for her at this point in her life.

While journaling, Danette chooses someone to help each day. “It might be an employee, and I’ll compliment that employee, or it might be my daughter, and I’ll take her out for a hot chocolate and a walk around the lake,” Danette says. Sometimes, she even chooses a stranger. 3. She picks up trash with her family.

“I think it’s important for people to give themselves grace because you can’t always show up for everyone

at all times and through every avenue,” she says. Right now, Danette’s family and the sisterhood are getting her love and light. Who is getting yours?

When Danette, Craig, and their girls walk into nature, they always pick up litter and throw it away. This is their way of making the Earth a cleaner, happier place.

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S IMP L E WAYS YOU CAN HONOR AND PROTECT OUR WOR LD

T hrowing a rock into a lake might not appear at first to make a big impact on the water. But if you continue watching, you will see ripples — the waves that expand with each passing second, rocking the vegetation, tossing the boats, and disrupting the calm complacency of the water. Our influence on the Earth is like the rock in the lake. For years, we have been carelessly tossing toxic rocks by polluting our air, littering our oceans, melting our icecaps, and suffocating our animals. We’ve endangered our Mother Earth. But I believe those rocks we toss into Mother Earth’s lake don’t have to be toxic. They can be powerful. We can create ripples that make profound progress toward healing our Earth and, ultimately, ourselves. By working together, focusing on the greater good, and creating a beautiful impact, we can foster a deeper connection with our life source.

no greater healer than Mother Earth. She is our founder, providing us with foods that allow us to live, act, learn, and love at our highest vibration and tap into our fullest potential. She gives us amazing plants and foods that stimulate healing, and Craig and I knew these products should be available to everyone. We all deserve to fulfill our highest potential by fueling our bodies with these foods. But it had to be done in a way that no longer stole from our Earth. For so long, we took, we damaged, and we destroyed. The time has come for us to stop pillaging the Earth, digging up the land that supplies us with life, building big-box stores in its place, and taking from Her purely for our own selfish desires. That’s how we created Earth Echo, a supplement and superfood resource dedicated to providing the most organic,

There’s no greater healer thanMother Earth. She is our founder, providing us with foods that allow us to live, act, learn, and love at our highest vibration and tap into our fullest potential.

When Craig and I set out to create a supplement and superfood company that would provide the dense, healing foods Mother Earth grows for us, we knew we had to do so while protecting the very being supplying them to us in the first place. There’s

Danette May’s Lotus Journal

1. Recycling

sustainable, biodiverse foods in an eco- conscious platform. It’s a business with Mother Earth as the CEO. For example, we rely on organic, local-to-Peru farmers to produce Cocao Bliss that’s been baked in the sun rather than packed with preservatives. Our packaging is continually improving. We produce healthy and healing probiotics and collagen peptides. Our products are safe, healthful, and whole. Beyond Earth Echo In honor of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day this April, I want to share two ways my family and I honor our Earth Mother outside of Earth Echo. These are small ways my family has tried to do our part to protect our Earth, but I won’t even pretend that we are perfect! We make mistakes, and there’s certainly more we could do to make a bigger impact. The time has come for us to stop pillaging the Earth, digging up the land that supplies us with life, building big-box stores in its place, and taking fromHer purely for our own selfish desires.

The simple act of separating waste into trash and recyclables has a profound impact. In one bin, we toss out items that can break down into soil and won’t harm our life source. In the other bin, we toss items that are destined for a new life. We throw in plastic, glass, cardboard, and more in hopes that

those products will be used for new products so we don’t have to make new materials. It’s so easy to do, and we feel great doing it.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, recycling reduces pollution, creates new jobs, produces common household products like newspapers and drinking containers, and conserves our Earth’s most precious materials, including water and trees. Choosing to recycle a material rather than tossing it in a dump is a simple act of love to our Mother Earth. Imagine what would happen if we all recycled. The waves of our change would cover the whole planet. ( Pro Tip: Check with your local municipality for accepted recyclable items, programs for recycling, or bins for your materials.) 2. Reusing Our family actively works to reduce our consumption of one-time-use and nonrecyclable materials, too. We’re nowhere near perfect, but we still try to do our best every day. That’s all Mother Earth expects of us. We don’t have to strive for perfection; we just have to do our part to help Her. Our family has been turning to reusable metal or paper straws and has converted to safe, multiuse food containers. I encourage you to try and do the same with your family. Try bringing a reusable bag with you to the

–Danette May into the lake. Together, we can make profound ripples that turn into waves. The least we can do is honor Her, even if we only toss the smallest pebbles of health I’m honored to do my part and run a business focused on sustaining our Earth and its healing foods. It’s time for us to put Mother Earth first. She deserves our fiercest protection and our dedication to preservation. She gives us the foods to heal, to grow, and to sustain. She connects us to a greater sense of being. She’s diverse, powerful, and beautiful. grocery store. (As a bonus, these bags are often much nicer looking than the paper bags from the store. Isn’t that fun?) Opt for metal straws and reusable water bottles. Use old shirts as rags rather than using paper towels and compost your food scraps to feed your garden and give back to the Earth. These simple swaps and multiuse habits are powerful ways to protect our bodies from the harmful chemicals that are found in dangerously made nonreusable materials while protecting our planet through mindful consumption and reuse.

Yet, the very fact that we are trying and making small changes in our habits can create big waves. Think about what would happen if we all recycled, if we were all conscious of how we commuted. These little habits can drastically change our Earth and preserve its healing abilities for future generations.

Join us by making these little changes to your lifestyle.

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3 Natural Ways to Heal Sore Muscles TRICKS TO KEEP YOU MOVING WHILE YOU RECOVER Essential Oil Rubs

Moving every day is essential to our overall health — it cleans out the cobwebs of the soul and heals us from the inside out. However, sometimes when we push ourselves a bit harder than usual or try new exercises, movement can come with a cost: sore muscles. Sore muscles can be a sign you’ve overdone it, but more often, they’re just a natural part of an active lifestyle. If your muscles are sore, that means you’re using them. Still, no one enjoys the pain and discomfort sore muscles bring, and they can sap your energy, making it hard to stay motivated and keep up your daily healing movements. If you’re struggling with sore muscles, try one of these three natural ways to speed up the healing process. Epsom Salts Baths Baths are one of Danette’s favorite self-care strategies. Sinking into a tub of hot water is great for relaxation, but you can take your bath up a notch by adding Epsom salts. INSP IRAT ION 8

According to multiple studies, certain types of essential oils can reduce inflammation and encourage blood flow. A 2010 study published in the Journal of Lipid Research, for example, found that thyme, clove, rose, eucalyptus, fennel, and bergamot oils had anti-inflammatory properties. Try massaging diluted versions of these oils directly onto sore areas or diffusing them in your home. Anti-Inflammatory Foods Food is nature’s medicine, and it can help sore muscles heal! When you’re sore, incorporate anti-inflammatory foods like apple cider vinegar, ginger, turmeric, and garlic into your meals to ease your pain. Last but not least, remember not to become a couch potato just because you’re sore. Be gentle with yourself but keep moving. Try doing yoga, taking a long walk, or having a stretch to keep your body warm.

According to Dr. Naoki Umeda of Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Integrative Medicine, in just 15 minutes, the magnesium and other beneficial ingredients in Epsom salts will stabilize your mood, relax your muscles, and relieve pain and inflammation.

Danette May’s Lotus Journal

THE SECRET TO A HEALTHY GUT 3 Ways to Add More Probiotics to Your Diet I f you want to improve your digestion, boost your immune system, and lose weight, one of the most effective ways is to add more fermented foods to your diet. Fermentation is the process of converting carbohydrates into alcohols or organic acids, and it and keep them in easy reach at home. When you do, adding these tasty, probiotic-rich foods to your salads, stir-fries, and sandwiches will become a habit. Make your own pickled veggies.

happens to food when microorganisms get to work in an environment without air. The process produces probiotics — the “good bacteria” that keep our gut healthy. That all sounds pretty sciency, but really it’s a fancy way to describe how foods like pickles, sauerkraut, and kombucha are made. When you eat those foods, they balance out the bad bacteria in your gut. Dozens of studies spell out the benefits of adding probiotics to your plate, including one published in the British Journal of Nutrition, which found that over the course of three months, women taking probiotics lost 50% more weight than women taking a placebo. With that in mind, here are three quick and easy ways to add more probiotics to your diet. Shop the condiment aisle. Add fermented products like pickles, kimchi, pickled peppers, and sauerkraut to your shopping cart next time you’re at the grocery store

Making pickled vegetables takes just a few minutes, but you can reap the benefits for weeks. Simply cut up your favorite vegetables, put them in Mason jars with herbs and spices, and seal them up with a mixture of hot water, vinegar, salt, and coconut sugar. You can find hundreds of great pickled vegetable recipes online. Try Earth Echo 50 Billion Probiotic. If you’re worried you aren’t getting enough fermented foods or want to give your gut an extra boost, you can’t go wrong with Earth Echo 50 Billion Probiotic. This product is packed with 12 powerful probiotic strains that reduce your bloat, tame your cravings, increase your energy and immune health, speed up your metabolism, and even improve your mood. Head to EarthEchoFoods.com to learn more and start healing your gut.

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The Messy Truth About Memory IS YOUR BRAIN TRICKING YOU INTO FEELING BAD?

A pril is here, so there’s a good chance you’ve already fallen victim to an April Fools’ prank (or pulled one). On April 1, we all keep an eye out for practical jokes from our families, friends, and coworkers — but one place we never think to look for pranks is our own heads. That’s right: Your brain could be playing an April Fools’ joke on you. Our brains are complicated, and scientists are still just starting to unravel them, but one thing we know for sure is that they’re great at playing tricks. You might have heard about some of these, like how our brains convince us that there’s a bigger difference between $1.99 and $2 than there actually is. But you might not know that when it comes to choosing between good memories and bad ones, our brains tend to favor the bad ones. This can trick us into having a negative mindset even when great things are happening on our journeys. Studies suggest we’re more likely to remember negative experiences than positive ones, according to The Washington Post. Laura Carstensen, a Stanford psychology professor, even told the Post that we notice negative things more often than positive ones. This isn’t because our brains hate us. It’s because they want to protect us. A snake in the grass is more likely to hurt us than a sunset, so our minds notice the snake. Later,

our minds remember the snake instead of the sunset because it doesn’t want us to wander back into the snake’s vicinity. Unfortunately, our brains stick to this pattern even when we’re not in physical danger. That means you’re more likely to remember the one piece of cake you had last week than all of the delicious, healing foods you ate at every other meal, and you’re more likely to notice your eye wrinkles than the fact that you’re slimmer and happier.

If you feel yourself slipping into a negative, self-critical rut, try to take a mental step back and consciously notice the positive. If your brain is whispering that you aren’t enough, it’s playing a lousy April Fools’ prank. Remember how far you’ve come, and if that fails, turn to the sisterhood. We can help you see the truth: You’re strong, you’re powerful, and you’re loved.

S U B S C R I B E T O MY Y O U T U B E S E R I E S ‘THE DANETTE MAY SHOW’

Looking for more inspiration and behind-the- scenes peeks into Danette’s life and mission?

Be sure to catch the brand-new “The Danette May Show,” where Danette and her guests share candid insights on how to live your best life and show up as the fullest expression of yourself. Subscribe now so you don’t miss a single episode. YouTube.com/danettemay

Danette May’s Lotus Journal

GREEN TIP OF THE MONTH Make Your Own All-Purpose Cleaner

Here’s a quick three-step guide, courtesy of The Kitchn. Try it out when your current products are gone, and your family and the planet will thank you. 1. As you eat citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and grapefruits, add the peels to the Mason jar. When it’s at least halfway full, pour in enough white vinegar to cover all of the peels. Screw the lid onto the jar, then let it sit in a dark place for about two weeks to infuse. 2. After the liquid is infused, strain out the peels by pouring the mixture through the sieve, capturing the liquid in the bowl. 3. Pour the liquid into your empty spray bottle. You now have a safe, effective homemade cleaner that smells delicious!

How many cleaning products do you have under your sink? Odds are you have a bunch of different sprays to keep your home clean and tidy. These products are probably great at cleaning, but according to the Environmental Protection Agency, many of them aren’t good for your health. Touching and breathing them in can irritate your eyes, skin, and lungs, and they can also pollute the Earth and water when they go into a landfill or down the drain. So, what’s a health-conscious, eco- friendly woman to do? Well, you can make your own natural, all-purpose cleaner using just two simple ingredients: citrus peels and white vinegar. Apart from those two things, all you’ll need is a large Mason jar with a lid, a fine mesh sieve, a big bowl, and an empty spray bottle.

Your Path to Radical Self-Love

Premium Coaching A small, intimate group with direct coaching from Danette and a handful of experts she loves and trusts to serve our tribe well. Annual Fit Rise 365 Membership The same benefits as a monthly Fit Rise 365 mem- bers, PLUS exclusive product discounts and digital ac- cess to The Rise live event video library. You’ll also save at least $151 per year over the monthly membership rate. Monthly Fit Rise 365 Membership A full suite of resources to help you live your healthiest life, including a members-only portal with hundreds of recipes, workouts, and meditations, plus access to the Fit Rise 365 Facebook group. Lotus Journal A gorgeous, exclusive monthly printed newsletter full of health and wellness stories, plus peeks at Danette’s life behind the scenes.

LOTUS JOURNAL

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This content is not a substitute for direct, personal, professional medical care and diagnosis. None of the diet plans or exercises (including products and services) mentioned by Mindful Health LLC or from Danette May should be performed or otherwise used without clearance from your physician or health care provider. The information contained within is not intended to provide specific physical or mental health advice, or any other advice whatsoever, for any individual or company and should not be relied upon in that regard. We are not medical professionals and nothing herein should be misconstrued to mean otherwise.

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The Secret to a Healthy Gut

Evolving Into Your ‘Whydentity’

5 Ways Danette Pays It Forward

The Messy Truth About Memory

Mama Earth’s Spring Salad

Celebrate Mother Earth

Let’s Celebrate National Garlic Day!

3 Natural Ways to Heal Sore Muscles

Green Tip of the Month

Danette May’s Lotus Journal

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