Prescriptions for Healthy Living

I'm an early-rise person. I make my bed. I do the small things that set me up to succeed throughout the day. That first small win tells the rest of the day who's in charge.

Keys in my pocket. Phone in my pocket. Purse in a certain spot. Briefcase or attaché ready. A notebook and a day runner or a calendar to keep track. Always a pen on me. Knowing where things are is a form of peace.

Clothes ready. Clothes laid out. Wrinkle-free — not necessarily ironed, but I do iron if they need it. Future-me thanks past-me every single morning.

I prepare my medications the night before. They're set out, waiting for me — morning or night, whenever I'm supposed to take them. I take them consistently because it keeps me mentally focused, emotionally consistent, disciplined, and regulated. Am I perfect? No. Am I always emotionally regulated? No. Do my problems go away? No. But I'm not batshit crazy either — excuse the expression. I'm well-prepared.

I brush my teeth in the morning. I brush my teeth at night. Sometimes with toothpaste, sometimes with coconut oil. Both count.

I eat protein. Do I eat my vegetables like I'm supposed to? No. But I love Oreo cookies — that's my honey badger persona. Cereal, ice cream, milk, cheese, sandwiches, kale salad, cottage cheese. Those are my staples. LOL. Progress over perfection.

I exercise every day passively because I work on a farm. I stretch at home. I dance. Gardening is exercise whether you realize it or not. Find some form of movement that is fun — that you will actually want to do.

I brush my teeth with it sometimes. I do dry brushing on my skin. I put coconut oil on my skin and in my hair. It's antimicrobial and antibacterial. Simple, cheap, and it works.

Learn the medicinal benefits of what's already in your kitchen. Garlic is a natural antibiotic and a natural blood purifier. That's important to know. Your spice cabinet is a pharmacy if you'll read the labels.

When I'm gardening, I like to know how foods and plants are useful in many ways. Canna lilies are a survival food — people don't look at them as food. I do. There are many plants on my property that people don't see as food. I do. That's how I move from survival mode to stability: I know what's around me, and I know what will feed me.

There were times when I was homeless that I made friends with many trees on people's property — low-hanging fruit that hung off the property line, free fruit and nuts and herbs. I would just be so thankful, so grateful. Grapefruit, kumquats, pecans, rosemary, blueberries, blackberries, lettuces — free food throughout the day. Gratitude is a prescription too.