Updates from Leah Negrin

"I don't know how my story will end, but nowhere in my text will it ever read....I gave up."

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I love this quote. There have been times in my life when I gave up. But I learned that giving up isn't always a bad thing. There are some things you start doing, thinking they'll get you where you want to be, and you realize (sometimes halfway through) that it just isn't right. The path you started out on, isn't the right one for you, at least not at that moment. I had to learn forgiveness whenever this would happen, it wasn't that I was a failure or couldn't achieve things, but that this simply wasn't right for me.

Dictionary.com defines a goal as-"the result or achievement toward which effort is directed". Yup. I've outlined my goals for this year, the next five years and the next ten. It's big, scary and exciting all at the same time.

What are some goals that you're never planning on giving up on? That your dream, visions and determination all tie so deep into that it would be inconceivable to give up?👇

Happy New Years!

As we all know it's been quite the year. No matter what you think of it of what perceived 'side' of things you might be sitting on; it's been a strange one. But there also have been magical events too-weddings of close friends, my own engagement, beautiful babies born and more. I am always one to look at the bright side of things, and when I find myself unable to do that, I zone out for a little while before I pick back up. But I digress, there are so many things that I could chat about and share knowledge around on this first day of 2021 but I'm choosing to look at traditions.

Whenever I hear the word tradition, I automatically go straight to wanting to sing it Fiddler on the Roof style but often refrain depending upon my audience 🤣. This year I have created a few new traditions and for New Years Eve that is no exception. There is a Spanish tradition known as las doce uvas de la suerta (the 12 lucky grapes) which says that eating 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight (one for each chime of the clock) will bring good luck in the coming year. The 12 also symbolizes each month of the Gregorian calendar year.

So I decided in addition to my champagne toast at midnight I would add in this wonderful grape tradition-since WAY back my ancestors were in Spain, might as well toast to them! 😀🥂

Do you have any fun or meaningful New Years Eve traditions that you rock?! 🎉

Well I normally don't dive into the pumpkin spice latte land (or should I say argument) because frankly, I do what I do and others can do what they do, but this year I felt the need to consume some actual pumpkin spice, not the artificial crap but the actual spices in a beautiful tea latte.  

The biggest reason I never jumped on the PSL train would definitely be the ingredients that are in a typical pumpkin spice latte. They vary depending upon where you purchase this drink but a few of the less than desirable ingredients from a Starbucks include Natural Flavors, Potassium Sorbate, Carageenan, Potassium Sorbate, and Sulfiting Agents. (There are more but wanted to keep it fairly short)

Natural Flavors: Natural flavors are almost the exact same thing as artificial flavors (I know this made me sad too). These are made from things that do occur in nature (animals, plants etc.) but they also can include solvents, emulsifiers, preservatives, and other additives which can make up to 80% of the formula.

Carageenan: This one has been talked about for awhile now with a lot of back and forth regarding the health impacts of consuming it. Some evidence suggests that carrageenan can cause inflammation, gastrointestinal ulcerations, and further damage to your digestive system.

Sulfiting agents: There six of these that are used in food production in this country (let's note how Starbucks doesn't actually tell us which ones are this 'drink'); sulfur dioxide, sodium and potassium metabisulfite, sodium and potassium bisulfite and sodium sulfite. These have been banned by the FDA for use on fruits and veggies that are meant to be consumed raw. Many people have reactions to the the sulfites in wine but this can happen in any other processed foods that you might be consuming.

Potassium Sorbate: This is a synthetically produced salt and is a widely used preservative in food, some personal care products and drinks. This is another one that there has been much back and forth with. With large amounts (more than is technically allowed in food) of this it has been shown in animal studies to cause reproductive and developmental toxicity.

So instead of buying it, I'm on the hunt for a recipe to make my own! If you have one please share! 🍂

👉Guys. it's Monday. Ya know, in case you weren't sure.

I make it a point to start the week with a positive attitude, does it always come naturally? no. But it does always come. Whether that's first thing in the morning and I'm raring to go and start my week or it's more in the afternoon/evening when I've got my week planned out and have actually started working on things in a practical, more aligned way.

During my meditation this morning, my app asked me, 'how do I want to feel this week?' What a beautiful way to start a Monday! Not just with, 'What do I want to accomplish this week?', no it's deeper than that. As I've come to continue to realize (and at this point in my life need constant reminders about), accomplishing things doesn't always make me feel good. It's more about feeling grounded and in alignment with my life and the side effect ends up being accomplishment (thanks Lexi!)

What's one (or more!) word that describes how you want to feel this week?

ps. I want to feel inspired this week🙏