February is heart awareness month, as heart disease is the leading chronic disease across both genders.  When I think of heart disease, I think of both physical and mental-emotional parameters.  Lifestyle and nutrition are incredibly important, the heart needs movement and nutrients to function optimally.  Heart dis-ease means just that – the heart is not at ease.  This extrapolates to our emotions and environment.  If we are subjected to a stressful environment, we put our heart at dis-ease.  If we are lonely, isolated, heart-broken, abandoned, abused, etc. then our heart is already at a baseline of disorder (or dis-ease) which can be expressed as dysrhythmia or arrhythmia, a common risk factor of heart disease.  Hence both aspects have to be taken into account – how the heart feels and how the heart thinks.

February is also known for being the month of love (also heart related).  We tend to focus our love on others but not ourselves.  Maybe it’s because we are martyrs, mothers, self sacrificers, or deep down believe that we are unworthy (hence we focus our love intensely on others rather than ourselves).  This month lets show our self and our heart, inside and out, some well deserved love.   I am embarking on a 14 day self care journey and hopefully you can join me on that journey.  I’m basing my self care projects on the 4 basics – food, air/movement, water and sleep and am implementing 1 health basic a day to help restore my heart, mind and soul.  Below is my self care journey.  Hopefully you can join me and implement your own #selfcarejourney.  Your heart will thank you for it.