Volume 06 May 2020
Opening the Doors in 2021

In this issue:
  1. CONSIDER enhancing life with:
  • Curiosity - it's powerful
  • Smiles - to tune into appreciation
  • Breath - for perspective
  1. "I Dreamed Of You, the story of an egg donor baby", released
  2. Practice updates
lori@lorimetz.net
2020, what a year!
On a personal level, I hope the world is on a path to health. We have all been impacted in some way, be it
mentally, physically, financially.
I hope we can use 2021 to make changes and open doors, bringing each of us closer to what we're looking for.
I hope we use 2021 to continue to recognize kindness and joy, both within each of us and as a whole.
Consider 3 things
they're always at hand, and
able to help open those doors.
Curiosity is powerful. "For children and adults alike, curiosity has been linked with psychological, emotional, social, and even health" (benefits of curiosity) Curiosity can open doors we never thought possible
  1. When we get curious, we can look at something almost as if it is three dimensional. Really look at it. Try and pay attention to the details. Imagine a child looking at a toy for the first time. The intention they give is to try to figure out the joy when they do (fingers crossed, if you are the one giving it).
  2. Curiosity is powerful. When something is bothering you, try looking at it as if it is outside of yourself as if it is an object. You may find new insights and answers to the issue you're examining.
  3. We all have different ways of looking at something, many times the same things. We have different experiences, different goals, and different concerns. It can be a wonderful thing.
  4. Curiosity can bring us together. When meeting someone new, it's always lovely, interesting, or even fascinating to learn about who they are, if we allow ourselves the opportunity to do so. Even if you hear something that evokes a strong reaction, try to stay with an open mind and conversation to gain understanding. This does not mean you have to agree. It only means you are allowing yourself the opportunity to understand the other's perspective. IN ESSENCE CURIOSITY & COMMUICATION GO HAND & HAND,
  5. These two words: curiosity and communication, go hand and hand. They can assist you in finding balance, understanding, compassion, and compromise.
  6. Two powerful words, and I find myself chatting about so much. Perspective is curiosity. Can you consider the correlation?

Curiosity can open so many doors if we allow ourselves that "innocent" and non-judgmental joy of examination

Smiles, tuning into them can open doors to happiness and improved well-being in all realms of life. Often people discuss gratitude, yet understanding how to find it and what good it will do is not always clear. I want to try and break this concept down for you a bit, so that it can be easier to recognize. And please keep in mind that one of the essential components to recognize is the joyous impact smiles/gratitude has on our mind & body (the impact on the brain & body), a connection studied since the 1700s.
  1. I use the word smile because I find it an easy way to turn into when we are happy about something, find joy or comfort, and can't that be gratitude?
  2. When we acknowledge smiles, we can take in joy, happiness, and positivity.
  3. When we look towards and focus on the positive, we can change our perspective, outlook and find more happiness. This does not mean we can't be sad, but it can help us feel less down sooner.
  4. The practice can improve our mental and physical health, our relationships, and receptiveness to the world.
  5. And if we look at a smile, just a smile that we give or receive, we feel warmth, or simply good.

The practice of tuning into your smiles, the practice of gratitude improves our mental and physical health and leaves us open to the world.

Breathing. Have you ever asked yourself why so many will say "take a breath", or becoming a bit popular today, "take a beat" or the dreaded "just relax". I'd like to take a moment to look at some of the reasons.
  1. Our breath is always with us, so we don't have to find something to assist.
  2. When we take a slow deep breath, our central nervous system will calm. Please keep in mind that if you take an aggressive breath, it may not have as much impact. A sharp or aggressive breath does not achieve the same results. I always suggest starting with the 3-second box breath (3 seconds in through your nose, 3-second hold, and 3.5 second exhale through your month). I tend to choose this one since everyone has 12 seconds...and if you feel you don't, may I suggest just doing it once. The power of this recognizes how you think (mind & body) after the breath. Take that time as an opportunity to rethink, reevaluate and consider asking yourself what's happing to cause this need, what was triggered, how you would have liked to react, what you would have hoped in the situation, your plan a next time?
  3. Consider taking a moment to pause, to breathe, and the health benefits physically & mentally. It is shown to improve memory, emotional health, and blood pressure (breath benefits Forbes).
  4. If we turn our attention to our breath when stressed, it can help us focus, and we are more likely to follow through on our plans—the steps to take on the path to opening that door

Please, this year, try to give yourself 12 seconds a day.
These little pauses can help you be clear, positive and give you some perspective, especially when you're feeling stressed or overwhelmed.
I DREAMED OF YOU,
the story of an egg donor baby
spanish
english
mandarin
I am thrilled to announced that my book, "I Dreamed of You, the story of an egg donor baby" was officially released in November! Inspired by the work I do with so many on this journey, it was written to assists the mom in embracing all of the love, caring, nurturing, and desire she gave to her child from contemplation to birth and beyond. It also provides a place for the mom to tell her story.
It takes so much love to describe how a child came to be, and this is a love story.

LIFE discusses ways of coping with life, the emphasis on moving forward and enjoying.
I would like to thank everyone for listening! LIFE is moving towards 2000 downloads and to me that means topics you want to hear about are being discussed. Please let me know if there is a specific topic you'd like to learn about and i'll do my best.

newest conversations include:

most recent lectures:
  • The Donor Egg Journey, a talk by Lori Metz, LCSW, CCM, BC-TMH,
  • Resolve's Virtual Advocacy Day
  • Mind, body, and soul – connection through your fertility journey (during COVID-19)
  • Resolve.org Webinar: Trying to Conceive during COVID19

all available on a YouTube too!
a special thank you:
I have always wanted to have a day of nurturing and self care for those on a fertility journey. Thank you Lancôme and Marie Barokas for partnering, being creative and making this self care event happen. Marie and I met almost a year ago. I shared with her what I do and she told me about her desire to help people through self care, and the company's mission being about inner beauty and happiness. We planned on offering an in person half day self care event in the store. I called Dara Godfrey, RD who was excited to join and we were set to go, until COVID entered our lives, and like most events in life, it was put on hold. Then one day the phone rang and the desire for this to come to fruition allowed us the opportunity to have a virtual self care event. Make up artist Alex Sanchez joined in on the conservation and provided an intimate group of attendees skin care instruction. It was truly a special treat. Thank you Marie for helping to make this happen.
I encourage everyone to take time to care for themselves, in their own way as we move towards 2021.
We are always told we have to care for ourselves before we can care for others,
please try to incorporate this practice into your life.
(for more information on the benefits & practice of self care please follow me on Instagram @lori.mm)
If there is something you would like to hear about please reach and let me know.
Tele-Mental-Health for
Individuals, Couples and
Support Groups continue.
as reminder I'm board certified in tele-mental-health since 2018
Fertility Groups on-line
  • Parents of born through donor egg, sperm, embryo & surrogacy
  • Intended parents of children being born through donor egg, sperm, embryo & surrogacy.
  • Fertility support group forming in January
for more information please contact lori at lori@lorimetz.net or 917.655.9776