• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Amy Hoogervorst

Integrative Health and Wellness Coach

  • WHAT IS HEALTH COACHING?
  • ABOUT AMY
  • SERVICES
  • BLOG
    • FAITH AND SPIRITUALITY
    • MIND-BODY CONNECTION
    • MOVEMENT, EXERCISE AND REST
    • NUTRITION
    • PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
    • PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
    • RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNICATION
  • GET STARTED
    • SCHEDULE A FREE CALL
    • ACCESS FREE RESOURCES
    • VIEW ARCHIVED VIDEOS

Dec 5, 2017
PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT· SELF CARE

What I Learned in Fall of 2017

what i learned in fall 2017

Did you blink? Are you like me, wondering where the past few months went?

Before going headlong into winter (and the holidays!), I continue to take a cue from writer Emily P. Freeman, who encourages her readers to “pause to reflect on the past season before we move ahead into the future.”

I enjoyed reflecting on Summer 2017 so much that I wanted to do it again for September, October and November.

So, a bit late, here are 3 Things I Learned in Fall 2017, in no particular order.

1. Writing Every Day Brings Me Joy

If you subscribe to my blog post updates, I filled your inbox during October with my “31 Days to a Healthier You” series. Thank you so much for your graciousness in allowing that. I hope you’ve been able to go back and catch up on the posts if you didn’t have time to read every day. I loved researching the different topics and writing for you.

Really, I learned so much during October, just by writing those articles. So at least 31 things I learned within this one thing!

You may not know that I graduated from college with a degree in journalism and I worked as a reporter for newspapers in the Southeast for several years. But my love of writing began long before then – at least by 5th grade. When it seemed that my dreams of becoming the next Nancy Drew, detective and subject of exciting adventures, might not come to fruition, I turned to writing about others’ exciting adventures. And sometimes interviewing detectives.

But when my sons were little, I put my professional writing career on hold. I wrote as a freelancer for a while, then began selling scrapbooking supplies and teaching people how to capture their family stories through photo books. And I loved all those different roles.

In the past couple of years, though, I’ve yearned to return to my writing. Two years ago, I started this website and blog. It’s evolved as I have learned more about myself and tried to discern what I’m called to do in the days and years ahead, as my children leave the nest and I wonder, “What’s Next?!”

31 steps to a healthier you

I learned in October just how much I still loved writing every day. And now my challenge – which I will be discussing with my own coach – is to figure out how to incorporate writing consistently into my life alongside other competing interests and priorities.

2. Creating a Formal Meditation Practice Takes Practice

While I’ve known about mindfulness meditation for a number of years, my health coach training really underscored the value of creating a formal practice around this. I see the benefits it has in re-centering me so that I can focus and show up non-judgmentally and with a fresh mind, not only to my clients but also in my personal relationships.

I’ve found that when I practice mindfulness, I’m more kind and compassionate to others and to myself. I am more grateful. And that I’m less likely to jump to conclusions.

But it’s a habit that I’m still trying to develop every day. So for 2018, I’ve registered for a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course at Duke Integrative Medicine. And I’m using apps such as Headspace and Stop, Breathe, and Think to help me practice every day.

3. This Safari Chicken Recipe Enters the Rotation

Always on the lookout for new recipes that meet multiple dietary needs and taste buds in our family, I discovered this Safari Chicken recipe. It uses two new spices from the Saveur spice line that Youngevity launched this fall. (Disclosure – I’m also an associate for Youngevity.)

You can play around with this recipe using any Moroccan and Mediterranean spices you have in your pantry already, but if you want to try the Saveur Foods spices, which are 100% gluten free, or research other delicious recipes using these new spices, here’s a resource for you.

And now, for that recipe:

Safari Chicken

Combine 2 T. Safari Rub and 1 pound of boneless chicken; cook together in 2 T. butter for about 10 minutes. Remove from pan.

In those pan juices, add 1/2 teaspoon Tagine Spice and a pinch of Cinnamon Blend Spice. Mix together, and add 1/2 c. chicken broth, 1-2 T. of red or yellow lentils (look for resealable bag in frozen foods, or use canned and rinse them well). Also add 1-2 T. unsulphured golden raisins, unsulphured dried apricots, fresh dates, or fruits of your choosing.

Mix together with the chicken, and serve over a bed of rice or cauliflower rice.

You can add slivered almonds on top or in with the warmed fruit mixture.

Serve with hummus, fresh vegetables, or bread.

what i learned fall 2017, new recipes

Now it’s your turn. What did you learn this fall? Comment below, or join my free, private “Faith and Sweat” Facebook group, where we can have a larger conversation.

Thanks for stopping by! I’m Amy Hoogervorst, an integrative health coach offering grace and space for a healthier you. I’d love to hear from you and get to know you better. If you’re new here and don’t want to miss a thing, be sure to CLICK HERE to subscribe to the newsletter and updates. 

Tweet
Share
Pin

Don’t Miss out

Join our newsletter to get all the latest!

Previous Post: « Is it Self-Care, or Is it Stewardship?
Next Post: For Focus, Choose One Word for 2018 »

Primary Sidebar

MEET AMY

Hi! I'm Amy Hoogervorst, a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, integrative health coach, and creative entrepreneur offering grace and space for a healthier you. Read More…

Latest on the Blog

A Bredesen ReCODE coach helps people concerned about or living with cognitive decline implement lifestyle changes that are part of the Bredesen protocol. Colorful image depicts a brain with many synapses and activity

Recently I trained as a Bredesen ReCODE Coach, adding to my professional knowledge base and credentials as I look to help anyone concerned about their brain health. But my desire to prevent and reverse cognitive decline goes beyond a professional achievement. It’s deeply personal, too. About five years ago, someone close to me received a […]

Let’s Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Latest on Instagram

Wait. Pause. Notice. Be still. That's the message Wait. Pause. Notice. Be still.

That's the message I got this afternoon, when I looked up and noticed I'd been sitting in my parked car in front of this bush for a full five minutes. And I hadn't seen it.

I was absorbed by something else. My mind elsewhere, making a list and checking it twice, so to speak. And when I looked up, the beauty of this holly took my breath away. The way the light was hitting the leaves and berries at that moment, I had to get out of my car and snap a pic.

Almost immediately, I felt my shoulders relax, my heart open, my mind clear, even if only for a moment.

'Tis the season. For the hustle and bustle. Life on the hamster wheel. Automatic pilot. The checking off of lists. But that doesn't have to be the only way.

What's helped you - wait, pause, notice, be still - lately?

#gratefulforapause #breathe #graceandspaceforahealthieryou 
#mindfulawareness #pause #nature #notice #lifepractice #spiritualpractice #bestill #integrativehealthcoach
Been a while since we've done this together ... Wo Been a while since we've done this together ... Women's Wellness Walk in the Woods, this Saturday morning - who's interested? Send me a DM if you're in central NC - Durham, Chapel Hill area - and would like to get outside this weekend and explore an area trail in a small group. Nothing strenuous, and nothing boring. 😁 

#graceandspaceforahealthieryou #integrativehealthcoach #letsgo #wellnesswalk #getoutside #autumninnc #chapelhill #durhamnc #durm #trailwalk #freshair #movement #physicalactivity
"There are steps we can all take now to prevent th "There are steps we can all take now to prevent the cognitive decline that experts have long believed unavoidable and irreversible."
-Dale Bredesen, M.D.

If you're a subscriber to my Well Check e-letter, in your inbox this morning, you'll see this quote and a way to learn a bit more about why I trained this year as a certified Bredesen ReCODE health coach (and what that means.)

To subscribe, visit the link in my bio or amyhoogervorst.com/subscribe; I'll be sharing more about brain health in upcoming emails and articles.

September is World Alzheimer's Month, and this past Wednesday marked World Alzheimer's Day -  making this the perfect time to share both this update and my professional and personal desire to help make Alzheimer's a rare disease.

#quotes #worldalzheimersmonth2022 #worldalzheimersday #lifestylechange #bredesenprotocol #brainhealth #cognition #thewellcheck #graceandspaceforahealthieryou #integrativehealthcoach #nutrition #exercise #sleep #stress #detox #braintraining #supplements
Before the autumnal equinox at 9:03 pm, I've been Before the autumnal equinox at 9:03 pm, I've been taking a look back at some of the beautiful moments of my summer, 2022. Here's a tiny, tiny sliver. There will never be another season quite like this one.

#summer2022 #pause #reflect #snapshots #noticethelittlethings #spiritualpractice #gratitude #graceandspaceforahealthieryou #stressrelief #integrativehealthcoach #mindbodysoul #attention #intention
Follow on Instagram

Tags

accountability anxiety best self books challenge choices coaching dreams exercise faith faith and sweat fitness friends goals grace and space for a healthier you habits health health coaching healthy eating healthy food healthy lifestyle holidays inflammation memories mindfulness mindset movement nutrition perseverance personal growth PhotoOrganize Me photos recipes resources rest self-care sleep social media stewardship stories stress sugar wellness what i learned Youngevity
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • DISCLOSURES
  • CONTACT
© 2023 Amy Hoogervorst - All Rights Reserved

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

Amy Hoogervorst
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.