Hello dear ones, it’s especially easy to fall victim to the myth of the perfect woman during the holidays…baking cookies, finding a special gift for everyone in your life, hosting parties, decorating the home, all the while carrying on with your normal hectic routine.

When I was a young, working mother with one infant, a wise woman gave me this piece of advice regarding my holiday celebrations: “Pick one thing and do it well every year.” Keeping in touch with friends and family is important to me, and I really enjoy being creative, so I chose to make a tradition of sending a family photo Christmas card each year. Yes, I still buy gifts for friends and do many other things to celebrate the holidays, but the pressure is off and I don’t strive for perfection in any area…not even in my holiday card making!

Here are seven tips for a more peaceful, joyous holiday season:
shutterstock_230963404-merry-christmas

Minimize the junk! Don’t buy things you don’t need or that will only bring brief entertainment and no lasting value and joy to your life.
Focus on others in need. Instead of buying gifts for all the adults in your family, consider giving a group gift to Compassion International, a non-profit organization dedicated to caring for children living in extreme poverty around the world.
Stay healthy! Don’t sacrifice your sleep or overindulge in sugar. Choose the most nutritious food options that are available to you at any given time. Hydrate and eat before you go to holiday parties to avoid gaining extra pounds this year.
De-stress with some alone time. Bundle up and take a quiet walk or enjoy a soothing, warm bath with lavender essential oil and Epsom salts.
Boost resilience. Consider adding an adaptogenic herbal tea (e.g. Holy Basil) to your daily routine to increase your body’s resilience during stressful times. If you have any underlying medical conditions or are taking any prescription medications, be sure to consult your physician or natural health practitioner prior to taking herbs.
Reach out for help if you need it! The holidays can be particularly difficult if you have suffered a loss (e.g. divorce, death of a loved one, bankruptcy) or if you are feeling lonely or isolated. If you are experiencing grief, depression, anxiety or suicidal thoughts, please don’t suffer in silence. Call your doctor, counselor, pastor, trusted friend or loved one. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline which provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress at 1-800-273-8255.
Remember the reason for the season:)

Photo of painting entitled “Adoration of the Child” by Gherarado Delle Notti; oil on canvas 1619-1620 circa

Wishing you and your family a peaceful holiday season and a Merry Christmas!

Sincerely,

Cynthia Libert, M.D.

9. August, 2023.

I'm very thankful… I have come through a long period of time where I dealt with daily headaches and generally feeling bad. As a result of the few changes I have already made, I am headache free! Plus generally feeling better over all with more energy. M.M.

3. January, 2023.

I am 75 years old. I am so grateful to have found Dr. Libert when I was so run out of help from all other docs. She first treated me for SIBO. She showed me a way of eating that really helped, and most importantly, I love the food that helps me. I lost all that mid body and belly fat, I now have regular bowel movements, every day. What more could I ask for? She has introduced me to so many other truly helpful products and treatments so that I do not just have be satisfied with "getting old", and I can have a very positive outlook today and everyday for the rest of my life. G.B.

My experience with Dr. Libert has been nothing short of amazing. She listened to me and my health concerns in the most caring way possible. She spent time discussing and reviewing treatment options, which I could tell were well researched. I also admire that she took an evidence based approach, yet considered the most natural means of improving my health versus just recommending medication. I could tell she is passionate about her work and I truly appreciate her care. I also had a wonderful experience with her receptionist, Jan. She was incredibly easy to work with and always had a personal touch. I highly recommend Caring for the Body. Thank you for caring so well for me! C.Q.

I have been a patient of Caring for the Body for about 3 and a half months now, and I have seen a lot of doctors over the past 15 years searching for the root cause of my chronic illness. I have never met a team so organized and attentive to detail! I finally feel like I have someone on my side working with me as a team instead of just going through the motions of their job duties. Due to the complicated nature of chronic illness, a lot can be lost in translation or just the shear amount of information/history that needs to be conveyed. Dr. Libert truly has a gift for communication and worked diligently during discovery to ensure that she understood my individual case by repeating my story, symptoms, and previous treatments periodically to ensure nothing was accidentally omitted or misconstrued. From there you can expect a follow up phone call in a few days from Jan to review the Dr.'s notes so everyone is on the same page going forward and to address any questions that may have arose since the visit. Jan has been an absolute saint as a go between between myself and the Dr. and makes this line of communication feel seamless and natural. From prompt return calls and messages, to above and beyond follow through, impeccable communication, compassion and eagerness to understand my individual case, I cannot speak highly enough this practice! Jan and Dr. Libert are truly on a mission to help people and it shows in so many ways! C.C.

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