My 13 year old came home from school one day frustrated. Over the kitchen table he told me of his troubles but I was miles away. My mind raced between thoughts of my three children, husband and career.

Last month I was in the city of my birth, New Orleans, Louisiana. Everywhere were preparations for Mardi Gras celebrations, which included many decadent and delicious foods like "king cakes", pralines and bananas Foster. I was reminded of my youth and the purpose of Fat Tuesday: to have one last fling before lent commences the next day.

Each moment bears a unique opportunity to connect with ourselves and our world. Even as the Kleenex mountains rise and bedside elixirs accumulate, we can invite peace into the moment.

Sickness offers ample opportunity for mindfulness practice; we’re faced with impermanence (the fleeting nature of health highlighted), forced to let go of plans, expectations, ego… and reminded how grateful we are for our beautiful, functioning bodies.

I invited a dear friend of mine, Susan Guillory, to contribute a blog on mindful eating. Susan is a mover and shaker in the whole foods movement. In the 1970s, she co-founded Bread & Circus, a whole foods market chain in the Boston area with her former husband, Anthony Harnett. The Bread & Circus stores were later acquired by Whole Foods. In conjunction with the stores Susan taught healthy cooking for 22 years.

Lilian

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‘Tis the season of gatherings and gifts. Amidst pervasive consumer propaganda and busy schedules, it’s easy to forget the most precious gift in the universe: our loving attention. Below I’ve excerpted a passage from Thay’s book, True Love, on the practice of spending quality time with loved ones. Shared smiles, warm hugs and honest conversations will remain with us always, long after stylish sweaters and interesting gadgets are discarded.

Cold and flew season has crept up again! It’s time we get back to the basics that support a healthy immune system. Most of us don’t have mom in tow to remind us of the essentials, and when life gets busy, it’s easy to forget just how important practical prevention is….until we’re lying in bed sniffling.

Enjoy this list of familiar favorites, with a mindful twist, for staving off the common cold.