MIND, BODY, SPIRIT

from Lake Norman Woman Magazine September 2022

Thai Peanut Ramen Noodle Salad

BETTER ME … BETTER YOU … BETTER WORLD MIND body spirit

By mixing the ingredients of attitude and action, we can change the flavor of our own lives. Learn to nurture your body and soul to lead a more balanced life.

HOW TO IMPROVE THE MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT AS A FAMILY

AS A MOM OF FIVE CHILDREN AND A DOG, life can be hectic. With my school-aged children being heavily involved in activities, I frequently feel like I am an Uber driver with no tips! Regardless, being a mother is my greatest blessing. I am an avid believer that it is difficult to care for someone else if you don’t take care of yourself first. I am intentional about doing things that allow me to set a good example—such as praying, aiming for a certain goal, reading, going for walks, selfcare, and watching movies. I started a Mother Dreamer Movement Facebook page to encourage mothers to pursue their dreams while raising productive children. As I share the following tips, know that I have personally applied them to my own life first:

FAMILY MEETING: Each week, we meet and exchange knowledge we’ve gained, which might be a source of inspiration to someone in our family who hasn’t yet used it. The most knowledgeable individual in an area will offer pointers to the rest of us. For example: Ivan, my 21-year-old that attends UNC Charlotte, eats a set amount of protein daily to maintain his 100-pound weight loss (no surgery). He uses certain substitutes (Greek yogurt instead of sour cream) that taste similar with significantly lower calories. Ivan shares photographs of his weekly meals and will even prepare some for us to try. He gives advice on what we should put in our meals and which lowcalorie sauces are the greatest. We pay close attention to his recommendations in that area. EXERCISE TOGETHER: We all go to the gym and also enjoy hiking, fishing, and biking together when possible. On September 24th at 8:00 a.m. we will host a 5k Walk in honor of my son Gabriel who passed away unexpectedly at the age of 12. Our foundation raises awareness about bullying and heart defects (Gabesheartfoundation.org).

PRAY TOGETHER: My daughter is intentional in leading this effort. She spends time in prayer and studying God’s word faithfully. She makes a point of inviting each family member to join her in her closing prayer. When those family prayers are said, everyone experiences a significant change in their day. ASK FOR HELP: I don’t give it a second thought, nor do I feel guilty when I need to ask for help. My mom will step in and help me with no questions asked. My adult sons are good about investigating the different alternatives before asking, and/or taking, my advice. FAMILY DATE: We’re all busy people, so we want to unwind as a family. Every Marvel film that comes out is required viewing for our family. This is a custom that we all anticipate mentally and put on our calendars. w

Kim Jacobs, The Balance Doctor, is the Managing Director for eWomen Network - Charlotte. She teaches people how to start their own talk show (Kimjacobsconsulting. com). Founder of The Mother Dreamer Movement and onair personality for 14 years (PBS and The Word Network 3 Seasons), she currently hosts The Kim Jacobs Show. Connect with Kim at ewomennetwork. com/charlotte or Kimjacobs@ ewomennetwork.com.