August is Happiness Month!

 In Mental Health Wellness and Stress

Hi NJSNA and Healthy Nurse Healthy Nation members,

I am honored to be a contributor of the HNHN emails and to be on the journey to wellness, mindfulness and exercise blissfulness along with hundreds of other nurses in New Jersey. Do you remember this video? The NJSNA kick-off HNHN-NJ pledge celebration? Look how far we have come please view the video below.

August Celebrations, what day will make you the happiest?

August 1-31 Healthy Nurse Healthy Nation, Month of Happiness

August 1st: National Girlfriends Day.

August 5th: International Beer Day.

August 5th: National Underwear Day.

August 6th: National Fresh Breath Day.

August 8th: National Dollar Day.

August 9th: Book Lover’s Day.

August 10th: Lazy Day.

August 11th: Presidential Joke Day.

August 14th: Hug your Boss Day.

August 21st: National Senior Citizens Day.

I am a certified Laughter Yoga instructor and this upcoming ANA webinar tickled my fancy!  On August 16, 2017 @ 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EDT | 1.0 CE.  A Therapeutic Laughter: Creating a Mirthful Environment with speaker Debbie Harbinson, MHI, BSN, RN, CNOR, HNB-BC. It’s free to ANA members. The registration deadline is August 15. So, register today before it is too late,  http://offers.wherenurseslearn.org/navigate-nursing-landing-page-nonmembers/#utm_source=Realmagnet&utm_medium=EM1&utm_campaign=Navigate_Nursing_Webinar_H2_2017-AugNM..

I usually have an aversion to warm soups in the summer time I made an exception with this recipe from a Taste of Home “Summer Squash Soup.” It was tasty and easy.  Suggestions, I did not have leeks so I omitted them, I substituted dried thyme for fresh and I used organic vegetable stock, https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/yellow-squash-soup. Also, my all-time favorite cold summer soup is Gazpacho. While looking for a cold soup recipe to take to a July 4th party I came across a Watermelon Gazpacho soup recipe instead. The soup was a hit! I loved the mixture of flavors with the watermelon it was refreshing on a hot summer day. http://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/249005/watermelon-gazpacho/

Mother Nature is truly spectacular. We must much appreciate the natural beauty that surrounds us on a daily basis. My flower garden brings me a sense of peace, joy and happiness.  Early one morning I walked down to the garden at dawn only to find to my surprise a bumble bee sleeping on a while lily!  The colors were a brilliant contrast and I was so happy to catch a bumble bee sleeping. Did you know? “Antidepressant Microbes In Soil: How Dirt Makes You Happy”. The Gardening websites states, “soil in our garden has microbes who act as antidepressants without the side effects.” http://discovermagazine.com/2007/jul/raw-data-is-dirt-the-new-prozac.

Happy Day,

Sandy Foley and the Healthy Nurse, Nation-NJ Team 

24/7 Crisis Hotline for Impaired Nurses - 1-800-662-0108