women

Insights from my latest creative endeavor

Bardees, , , Leave a comment

I am writing this post feeling lighter than usual as I finally shipped my latest podcast episode out to the world about women’s productivity according to the 4 seasons of the menstrual cycle. I insisted on publishing it on a Saturday at 9:30 PM, which was too late in the day for anybody to listen, because it was time for this labor of love to take a life of its own and for people to experience it. I, on the other hand, needed to free the space this episode was renting inside me, for a new endeavor and a new week of possibilities.

The creative process behind this episode was very interesting.

I kept wondering why I was not starting, and the answer was the script. Reading, writing and editing the script took 70% of the effort put into this episode. I haven’t recently tracked time I spent working on an episode, but a quick math showed I spent at least 20 hours of hard work on this one. I edited the script too many times that I stopped counting. I recorded 40 minutes and deleted them all at one point. I felt I could study the subject for 2 more months and still not be ready to talk about it, but I persisted and reminded myself that what I learned about it thus far was good enough to be shared.

Hitting “Publish” on this one felt like a sweet relief. I am now ready to move on to the next project.

Indebted to the amazing book Period Power by Maisie Hill for all the knowledge I gained and used in preparing this episode.

Insights from my latest creative endeavor

Seed Cycling

Bardees, , Leave a comment

I have shared the below recipe with more women than I can remember since I first read it in the eye-opening book Period Power by Maisie Hill which demystified the impact of hormones on my body and helped me honor it and respect its power. This is the seed cycling recipe to manage our hormones during the menstrual cycle. It helped me regulate my own cycle and minimize some physical and emotional symptoms I have before every period and also improve the health of my hair and the strength and length of my nails. Share this with all the women you know and start now.

“In the follicular phase of your cycle (days 1–14 of a 28-day cycle), or from new moon to full moon if you’re not currently menstruating, eat 2–4 tbsps of both ground flax seeds and pumpkin seeds per day to gently and naturally increase oestrogen levels. Pumpkin seeds are high in zinc which supports progesterone production and release in the second phase of your cycle.

In the luteal phase of your cycle (days 15–28), or from full moon to dark moon, eat 2–4 tbsps of both sesame seeds and sunflower seeds per day. The zinc in sesame seeds and the vitamin E in sunflower seeds both help stimulate the production of progesterone. The lignans in sesame seeds help to block excess oestrogen, and sunflower seeds provide selenium which assists the liver in its detoxification role and improve overall hormonal health.”

“Buy whole organic seeds and use a coffee or spice grinder to get a powder which you can add to porridge, soups, salads and smoothies. Or just eat them whole if you prefer. You can grind enough for the week ahead and store them in the freezer. Stay clear of pre-ground seeds as they oxidise rapidly and go rancid. You might experience a change in your cycle within the first month of seed cycling, but it usually takes 3–4 cycles to see a noticeable difference because that’s how long it takes for a follicle to mature and be released at ovulation.”

Source: Period Power: Harness Your Hormones and Get Your Cycle Working For You by Maisie Hill

Seed Cycling

It Takes A Village

Bardees, Leave a comment

In her book, Girl Stop Apologizing, Rachel Hollis shares the details of the help she gets to be able run her successful business, such as her nanny, personal trainer, parents and so on. She encourages women to share those details too to motivate others to pursue their own goals. Because, if we pretend we’re doing it all alone then we’re not sharing the whole story. Especially women, yes we can raise a family, have a 9-5 job and achieve our personal ambitions, but with help. Anything else is a recipe for burnout.

I want to acknowledge that I get a lot of help, my parents’ helper comes and cleans my house every week, my amazing in-laws take care of my kids and their online schooling and meals while I’m at work, my parents watch my kids while I run errands, my husband takes the kids out so I can record my podcast and puts them to bed while I’m shooting videos among many other forms of support. I’m blessed to have them by my side. This is only my immediate family and I still have a long list to thank, like friends who provide huge emotional support to me in my ups and downs. You get the idea. It takes a village and I don’t take it for granted.

What about you? Who is helping you now? Who could be helping you to have more time and space? Could you and a friend do that for each other? Figuring this out is so important and the sooner you do the better.

It Takes A Village

Permission to Shine Granted

Bardees, , Leave a comment

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

This amazing quote, written by Marianne Williamson and frequently attributed to Nelson Mandela, has been a source of inspiration for me many more times that I can count. It’s been used in movies at pivotal moments, like Coach Carter and Akeelah and The Bee (both starring Samuel L. Jackson, so I think it’s personal for him).

Continue reading “Permission to Shine Granted” →
Permission to Shine Granted