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  • Home
    • About Me >
      • My Story
      • My Training
      • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Healing
    • Private Consults
    • Group Programs and Workshops >
      • 7-Day Gut Reboot!
      • SmartStart
      • Guts to Heal
    • Gift Certificates
    • Access to Supplements
  • Fermenting
    • Fermented Foodies!
    • Home Visits
  • Retreats
  • Resources
    • Guides
    • Beat the Bloat NOW
    • Delicious Broth Recipes!
    • Links
  • Contact

What Keeps Us SOOOO Busy?

22/10/2019

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​How many of you have heard , or said, this?
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​“Oh my! I haven’t seen you in forever! How ARE you? What have you been up to?”


<Pregnant pause while person opens and closes mouth several times trying to find their reply>

 “Oh you know, this and that. I’ve just been so BUSY” 
And maybe they even stutter as they try to tell you how or what they’ve been up to (they may even seem amazed themselves) but without a doubt, they’ve been sooooo busy.

It makes me think: What keeps us sooooo busy?

Yes, we have jobs and families, projects and activities – but why does it seem like so much, all the time?

You probably know the answer: “Too much I have to do... Even more that I WANT to do!”

I think our minds can spend a lot of time in the latter while we are trying to do the former… thus that feeling of being scattered and maybe an unhappy, unsatisfied feeling too.
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I think the frantic pace of our modern lifestyles has robbed us of two essential gifts: 
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1. Presence – being attentive to the moment.

2. Peace - the sacredness of rest and quiet.
Not that long ago, it was standard practice to have a day off every week for physical and spiritual rest(oration). And, for most people, work days had their boundaries too – ending at a specific time, and not overflowing too often into the rest of their life via cell, text, email, etc.

But those days are gone.

So HOW DO WE TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES when life is so busy??!

What if we started by prioritizing what is most important for our well-being?
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  1. Make time for rest.
  2. Make time for fun and connection with loved ones.
  3. Make time for work and service.
  4. Make time for pursuits.

Looks pretty simple, right? 

And yet, not…. because if you are caretaker, it can be very difficult to put #1 and #2 first. 

However, we need to think of these two steps as our FUEL so that we can do #3 to the BEST OF OUR ABILITY! Otherwise we will suck at service and we will be tired, grumpy and depressed (and usually sick) because we are neglecting what inspires us.

It took me a full mental, emotional and physical breakdown at the age of 33 before I finally learned to listen to my body and take care of myself so that I could not only fulfill my responsibilities, but also have energy for life itself!
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We don't need to wait until illness or disease strikes to wake us up. 

LISTEN to your friends and family describing their busy-ness. SEE how our culture is steeped in the need to keep busy. NOTICE how it robs us of presence and peace.

And if you truly care about others, take action for yourself now.

Take ... 
no MAKE... some time this very day - to be present with your self, to take stock of what your LIFE is full of, and decide whether or not you need to make some changes. 
Because the time is now. It always has been! 
There is no better moment that this one,
and no more powerful moment than the quiet one
​where you stop, listen, and heed of what you already know:

Slow down. Take time for YOU. 
It will benefit your gut, your health, your life and those that you love and serve.
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A Secret Ritual that was Undermining My Best Self

15/10/2019

1 Comment

 
Today I'm celebrating 30 days without booze!

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Even though I'm not really a big drinker, I have grown to love my wine at the end of the day (sometimes a few hours earlier! )
 
My days start around 5:30AM as I put in a full day of work, plus homeschool my kids, and run the house - like a lot of women, I know.  
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​But strangely, on the eve of my birthday, when I was feeling so much else starting to shift (I blame it all on my haircut, lol)  I looked at my glass of wine and said, "Ick...
 
I am not drinking for fun anymore, I'm drinking 'cuz I NEED to. I'm drinking to CHILL OUT. But its just makes me DULL OUT. I don't want to be dulled down anymore!"
There was a quiet voice in me to stop drinking. I chalked it up to birthday/new year drama, but somehow this was different. The decision was known and made in a second - I just wasn’t sure about how committed I’d be the next day... so I didn’t tell anyone in case I failed! ​
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The feeling I get from being outside with my happy dogs is invigorating.
Disappointingly, I didn’t really notice any difference the first week.

​I drank kombucha instead of wine and it was okay. It didn’t really help me unwind though so I added another walk to my afternoon instead. (So pretty in the fall, too!)

I also started to say NO to more work or activities. ​I realized that if I’m already doing a lot, doing more would definitely bring on a need to drink to relax.
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But half way through my second week…. There. A light came on that I didn’t know it had been out!

Clarity of thought.

A feeling of groundedness yet a little more bounce in my step.

Definitely more stamina for the day.

And, interestingly, emotionally I got very clear on my boundaries – both in parenting and my relationships. 

​IT IS LIKE A STRENGTH has returned that I didn’t know I had! And guess what? I’m definitely not looking for that glass of DULL at night because I don’t want it!

 
Sure there are days are crazy no matter how much positive thinking voodoo you practice. Maybe then, occasionally, a drink is good. But everyday? Who was I kidding? That is a crutch.
 
I’m not saying that I’m never going to drink again, cuz to be honest, I like it... BUT – as a solution to unwind everyday? NO. As a way to soften the pain of how I didn’t stand up for myself today? NO. As a way to deal with isolation and loneliness? NO.
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For me, this little exercise has taught me that the solution to a stressful day is not what I do at the END OF THE DAY but how I SPEND MY DAY and the CHOICES I make throughout. 

And THAT brings on a peace that doesn’t require lubricant to undo.

 
So if any of you have been thinking about losing the booze, or you’re curious about that quiet voice that is whispering some kind of (maybe scary) instruction… give it a listen!

​It may just (wonder-fully) surprise you! 
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Have you ever give up booze or something else for a while and been surprised at what you learned? I'd love to hear about your experiences!
1 Comment
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    Author

    Hi, I'm Katanne - Nutritionist and Gut Health Specialist. My talent and passion is helping busy people like you to finally enjoy food and life again!! By resolving painful and annoying digestive issues,  we then have energy and enthusiam for our life and being the best version of ourself!
    ​As a busy, do-too-much, everyone-else-comes-first type of person, I learned the hard way that this kind of stress compromises both gut and health. It took ten years to perfect a healing approach that is less about food and more about how we live with our stress.... stress that impacts our digestion, and stress that we often bring on ourselves. We all need efficient and effective solutions that we can integrate into our busy lives, so let me find you some simple solutions to bring enjoyment back to your eating and living!

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It Takes Guts Nutrition
Katanne Belisle RHN​
Gut Health Specialist
Whitehorse, YT, CAN

What Clients Are Saying

 "I was plagued by a myriad of digestive and inflammatory issues and after months of discomfort I was fortunate enough to meet Katanne.  Her insight, intuition, knowledge and caring attention has made it possible for me to heal and thrive with a new understanding of the food I eat.  I am now healthier, happier and have more energy than I have had in quite some time. "  ~ Steve T. 
"Katanne gives well balanced information versed in first hand experience and research. After seeing various health professionals over the years, doing my own research, trials and tribulations, I can (say) that this is the real deal, and that what she provides people is a holistic, realistic approach to healing oneself through food"  ~ Elizabeth G.

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Photos used under Creative Commons from Theo Crazzolara, Stephen Pearson, shixart1985