Category Archive

A little while ago, a friend asked for help in a way that really impressed me. She reached out to me and another friend, explaining a difficult situation she was dealing with and simply asking whether we wouldn’t mind checking in on her from time to time in the coming weeks. It was proactive, straightforward,…

The post Weekend Reading, 1.26.19 appeared first on The Full Helping.

I didn’t use to be much of a procrastinator, but unfortunately it’s a tendency that seems to creep up on me more and more with each passing year. It’s probably a good thing in some ways: back when I was doing my post-bacc, I was so overcommitted in so many directions that I actually couldn’t…

The post Weekend Reading, 1.19.20 appeared first on The Full Helping.

Along with so many others around the world, I had Australia, its people, and its wild animals in my heart this week. At first, when I’d only heard of the fires and seen a few headlines, I thought to myself how frightening it must be. It was only as I saw images—images of fire burning,…

The post Weekend Reading, 1.12.20 appeared first on The Full Helping.

We’re less than a week into the new year, but five days is usually enough for me to have at least an inkling about how my intentions are panning out. So far, my actions feel mostly aligned with the intentions I’ve had for 2020. Those are: To take more responsibility for my happiness (less blaming,…

The post Weekend Reading, 1.5.20 appeared first on The Full Helping.

I’m sure I say this every single year, but I’m amazed that this one is about to be over. 2019 flew by. Technically speaking, a lot happened this year. I finished ten years of grad school, wrapped up my internship, and became a dietitian, all of which are important milestones that I worked hard for….

The post Weekend Reading, 12.29.19 appeared first on The Full Helping.

It was a spectacular week of recipe fails around here, which is why I haven’t had anything to post. Not just recipes that needed fine tuning, mind you, but real duds. It was frustrating. Needless to say, I reacted by bearing down and retesting everything, which only resulted in repeated failures. Finally, I decided to…

The post Weekend Reading, 12.7.19 appeared first on The Full Helping.

In addition to being the first day of the month, it’s also the first day of Advent. I grew up observing the Advent season at home. My holiday celebration is different now that I’m older and on my own, but I do still try to keep Advent in my heart and soul throughout December, regardless…

The post Weekend Reading, 12.1.19 appeared first on The Full Helping.

I’m writing this post as I make my way home from a faraway place. I’ll be sharing more about the trip next weekend. For now, I’ll say that this experience has made me grateful on two fronts: grateful for the opportunity to leave home and explore a different part of the world, and grateful to…

The post Weekend Reading, 11.24.19 appeared first on The Full Helping.

This week, I tried a new exercise: each night before bed, I made a quick list of the things that had given me happiness that day. It was surprisingly illuminating. I’ve done gratitude journaling before, but this was different. Whereas the list of things that I’m grateful for is usually long and unchanging (family, friends,…

The post Weekend Reading, 11.17.19 appeared first on The Full Helping.

There are a lot of things that should have gotten more of my attention than they did this past week. What got most of my attention instead was my bread baking. A set of new loaves every morning. Bread baking has been a part of my life since the spring of 2017, when I was…

The post Weekend Reading, 11.10.19 appeared first on The Full Helping.

Do you ever have a week of complete absentmindedness? I sure did. I’ve been misplacing everything this week, from earrings to a hat to (somehow) the top of my burr coffee grinder. Most hilariously, I couldn’t find my keys in my own apartment for an entire 24 hours. Good thing I had a spare set…

The post Weekend Reading, 11.3.19 appeared first on The Full Helping.

A couple of days ago one of my yoga teachers messaged me to say that she missed seeing me in class. No pressure, she assured me, but she and the other members of that class (it’s a tight-knit weekend group) missed seeing my face. I hadn’t been going to that class as regularly as usual:…

The post Weekend Reading, 10.27.19 appeared first on The Full Helping.

Since my internship wrapped up, I’ve slowly had an opportunity to reconnect with friends, acquaintances, readers, and clients. People have been very kind about wishing me well as I move into a new chapter. Many folks have shared memories of their own intense experiences or periods of professional training. A few people have mentioned to…

The post Weekend Reading, 10.20.19 appeared first on The Full Helping.

Since my internship wrapped up, I’ve slowly had an opportunity to reconnect with friends, acquaintances, readers, and clients. People have been very kind about wishing me well as I move into a new chapter. Many folks have shared memories of their own intense experiences or periods of professional training. A few people have mentioned to…

The post Weekend Reading, 10.20.19 appeared first on The Full Helping.

I was at a kirtan at my home yoga studio last night, and while I always love being there, it was different this time, because the close friend and teacher whom I usually go with has moved to another city. A couple mantras in, it felt lovely but not the same without him. I texted…

The post Weekend Reading, 10.13.19 appeared first on The Full Helping.

This fall is all about fresh starts for me. In the past week, I’ve been feeling the excitement that comes with that more than ever. I’m so glad to be relaunching my nutrition counseling practice and enjoying the work as it comes in. I’m still in disbelief when I wake up each morning and realize…

The post Weekend Reading, 10.6.19 appeared first on The Full Helping.

It’s been about two weeks since I took the RD exam. I’ve been easing back into things very gradually, giving myself time to appreciate the closing of one chapter and the start of another. This was the first weekend in a very, very long time in which I not only didn’t work, but didn’t feel…

The post Weekend Reading, 9.29.19 appeared first on The Full Helping.

In the summer of 2010, I signed up for Nutrition I at Hunter College. I was twenty-eight, a professional book editor who hadn’t taken a science class since high school. Uncharacteristically for me—I’m usually very decisive—I couldn’t decide between a future in medicine, dietetics, or mental health. But I knew that I wanted to make…

The post Weekend Reading, 9.22.19 appeared first on The Full Helping.

I’ve been on an academic calendar for so long that September always feels like the start of a new year, whether it is or isn’t. I guess a traditional view of the seasons would be that spring is a time of rebirth, winter and fall a time of death, or endings, but I can’t help…

The post Weekend Reading, 9.15.19 appeared first on The Full Helping.

When you’re studying for a big test, which I am, you spend a lot of time thinking about focus. You have to: concentration and focus are huge parts of test preparation. No amount of study hours matter unless the quality of one’s attention and immersion is strong, a distinction that’s sometimes summed up as studying…

The post Weekend Reading, 9.8.19 appeared first on The Full Helping.

I’ve been thinking a lot about taking responsibility lately. For the past few weeks, the process of slowly and patiently taking care of my responsibilities—academic, personal, business, financial, and the tiny tasks and duties associated with everyday living—have been a big part of staying healthy and engaged as I weather a patch of depression. It’s…

The post Weekend Reading, 8.2.19 appeared first on The Full Helping.

I’m in the same mode I was a week ago when I wrote my Sunday post: taking care of business, little by little. There are things that feel weighty indeed, but I’m doing my best to look after what needs my attention regardless. That includes studying for the RD exam; it took me some time…

The post Weekend Reading, 8.25.19 appeared first on The Full Helping.

I’ve been thinking a lot this week about the tug-of-war between knowing when to persist with something and when to let go. Years ago, I wrote a post about not getting into med school. When I was writing it, I thought that I was telling a story of failure, of things not going the way…

The post Weekend Reading, 8.18.19 appeared first on The Full Helping.

In the last few days, New York has transitioned from hot, muggy weather to a cool, dry, and breezy climate that portends September and October to come. Everywhere I go, people are talking about it. I think we all feel grateful for the tiny glimpse of fall, even if no one is ready for the…

The post Weekend Reading, 8.11.19 appeared first on The Full Helping.

In the last few days, New York has transitioned from hot, muggy weather to a cool, dry, and breezy climate that portends September and October to come. Everywhere I go, people are talking about it. I think we all feel grateful for the tiny glimpse of fall, even if no one is ready for the…

The post Weekend Reading, 8.11.19 appeared first on The Full Helping.

I’ve had a chance to reflect on my internship experience in the last two weeks, and what stands out to me is how much of my own “stuff” I’ve been able to let go of, or work on. I’ve gotten better at taking care of myself. I’ve become firmer and clearer with boundaries. I’m communicating…

The post Weekend Reading, 8.4.19 appeared first on The Full Helping.

Just about a year ago, I was a month away from beginning my dietetic internship. I knew that my everyday life was about to change, but the whole thing felt so far away and abstract. It had been a long time since I’d worked in clinical environments, to say nothing of working with/for other people….

The post Weekend Reading, 7.28.19 appeared first on The Full Helping.

This year has been more extroverted than I’m used to, but also more solitary. On the one hand, I’ve been in busy workplace environments each day, constantly exposed to new colleagues and new patients. This is a far cry from the quiet, work-from-home life that I’ve been living as a self-employed graduate student for the…

The post Weekend Reading, 7.14.19 appeared first on The Full Helping.

It’s interesting, what gets unearthed during stressful times. It was a long week, in spite of the July 4th holiday, thanks to my internship wrapping up and my mom’s knee replacement surgery. She’s doing really well, but these moments are fraught and trying for everyone. I haven’t exactly been a picture of equanimity or grace…

The post Weekend Reading, 7.7.19 appeared first on The Full Helping.

Years ago, a yoga teacher of mine said something in class that sounded obvious, but wasn’t: “when it can be easy, let it be easy.” I’ve mentioned her words on the blog before, so in the spirit of the quotation I won’t overanalyze it. But I will tell you that her advice has helped to…

The post Weekend Reading, 6.30.19 appeared first on The Full Helping.

Lately I feel as if most of my Sunday reflections are inspired by, or a paraphrase of something that someone else has told me. I’m short on words lately, so I’m more than happy to take inspiration from others. Last Sunday, I wrote about a case of the Sunday Scaries and the good advice that…

The post Weekend Reading, 6.23.19 appeared first on The Full Helping.

For a few weekends in a row, I’ve written this post in a reflective, calm state, posted it early in the day, and spent the remainder of my Sunday doing what needs doing. Not today: the Sunday Scaries swooped in this morning, and in spite of planning some nice stuff in the afternoon (including seeing…

The post Weekend Reading, 6.16.19 appeared first on The Full Helping.

It’s been a lovely couple days of taking my own advice. In Friday’s post—the responses to which I’m so grateful for—I mentioned the importance of learning how to relax, and then practicing relaxation whenever possible. Last weekend, I wrote about not trying too hard all the time. Or, in the words of one of my…

The post Weekend Reading, 6.9.19 appeared first on The Full Helping.

I can’t believe it’s already June—it seems as though last August was only yesterday, and I was staring down the long road of the dietetic internship. Everyone assured me that the year would fly by, and in the aggregate it has, though some of the rotations have felt endless. My current rotation is one of…

The post Weekend Reading, 6.2.19 appeared first on The Full Helping.

This past week in yoga, my teacher quoted a verse from a poem by Rumi. Some of you might know it already; the title of the poem is “On A Day”: When the wind is perfect The sail just needs to open and the world is full of beauty. Today is such a day. I…

The post (Long) Weekend Reading, 5.27.19 appeared first on The Full Helping.