Do you find yourself wishing life was different? Getting stuck ruminating on these thoughts can lead to regrets, resentment, and envy of others. Daydreaming on the other hand can be positive, and I believe it's where change begins to happen. We often daydream about future events, people we want to attract into our lives, or things we desire. Often this moves us to setting intentions, goals, and eventually an action plan to achieve these dreams. Daydreaming is about future possibilities. It is about hope.

"Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7

We have all experienced suffering and pain. This is a universal truth. But whether physical or mental, it is our perception that separates us. After the initial shock, grief, or trauma, there are those who will tell you there came a moment when they understood it was their opportunity for change, growth, and improvement. And then there are those who continue to live in their suffering and pain, reminding others and themselves of their greatest disappointments.

"The universe doesn't give you what you ask for with your thoughts; it gives you what you demand with your actions." Dr. Steve Maraboli

Here's another universal truth – we have control of what we think about. We can take responsibility for our thoughts and seek help for change. Or, we can continue to sit in our sh*t and blame others or make excuses.

Is there hope for the hopeless? There is no guarantee that anything I say or that you read in a book or on the internet will change your situation, but what I have found to help me change my perspective is prayer. If you're ready to stop the pity-party, start with a simple prayer. Begin by asking God to bring peace to your storms, to guard "your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7).

Be still and allow time and space in your day for gratitude, and then give yourself permission to daydream of how life can be. Goals, plans, and daily intentions will come to you and, in time, and with faith, you'll be given what you search for.

Seek Truth, Trust God, Believe, and Walk in Faith.

In this special presentation, Dr. Milton Bastidas joins us to discuss the history of vaccines along with the pros and cons of vaccination. This is important both for the Coronavirus vaccine they are developing as well as the flu shot that is coming.

​Your purpose is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice.
We have a responsibility to others to pass on the lessons we have learned.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year – spending quality time with family and friends, gift giving and receiving, and holiday parties. As the busy holiday season rolls in, the champagne is uncorked and the wine begins to flow. But how much do you know about the beverages you are consuming? Did you know that conventional wines can contain up to 76 additives that are NOT required to be listed on the label?! Curious how you can know if your wine is safe and clean-crafted?

This month we heard what dietitian Amy Rawls and wine consultant Tressy Garcia had to say about the toxic ingredients that could be hiding in your bottle, and what makes Scout & Cellar® a unique and great choice for a healthy, safe wine option. We also collected donations for the US Marine Reserves Toys for Tots program.

Guest speaker Tressy Garcia is a Senior Director with Scout & Cellar® Wine Consultants. She has been married for 10 years, has four kids, works full time as a project manager for a high tech company, and loves to volunteer on the PTA board at school and teach CCE classes. But although her plate is full, her most rewarding job has been spreading the word about Clean-Crafted Wine™ as a wine consultant for the last year.

Co-presenter Amy Rawls, MS, RD, LD, is a board certified registered dietitian, certified INFMT therapist, and therapeutic lifestyle healthcare practitioner. She obtained her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Dietetics from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, with a dietetic residency performed through Lamar University.

While the holiday season is often full of family and tradition, it can also be stressful with expectations around trying to make people happy, or even that life is “perfect” when so many people find themselves alone. This month, we heard how nutrtional therapist Jennifer Doctorovich uses personality types, foods that support the adrenals, and stress management techniques like journaling, grounding, yoga, affirmations, and mindfulness to keep emotionally and physically healthy so that the holidays can be enjoyable again.

In this talk, using a blend of science and spirituality, we explored how the root element is what keeps your mind, body, and spirit in alignment so you can create healthy boundaries and stay connected to your body. Plus we learned why stress contributes to a depressed immune system and can lead to a host of autoimmune diseases and even cancer.

Jennifer Doctorovich, NTP, CFSP, began her career in New York as a classically trained actress, where she worked professionally for nearly 30 years. Now as a Certified Nutritional Therapist and functional medicine practitioner in Houston, Texas, her focus is digestive health, hormone balance, blood sugar, gut restoration, and chronic fatigue. Jennifer’s concentration comes from her fitness background which includes nutrition for athletes and performers as well as type A personalities. As a Certified Food & Spirit Practitioner, she has blended her skills as a group fitness instructor, nutrition expert, and emotional healer to focus on past history of trauma and nourishing the creative spirit in each of us.

Breast cancer is the second most common kind of cancer in women. About 1 in 8 women born today in the US will get breast cancer at some point. But did you know that about 80 percent of all breast cancers are estrogen receptor-positive, in which cancer growth is fueled by estrogen? In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we invited OBGYN and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) expert Dr. Tamyra Comeaux to lead a discussion of natural options and healthy alternatives for age-related hormone decline.

This month we heard what Dr. Comeaux has to say about how you can treat hormone imbalances naturally with proper diet and supplementation. This was a chance to get our questions answered by an expert on Women’s Health

Tamyra Comeaux, MD, NMD, is the “woman’s doctor” specializing in gynecology with emphasis on well-woman care, family planning, menopause, hormones, and sexual disorders. Dr. Comeaux’s medical and surgical training is well complemented by her holistic approach to women’s health care. She received her medical degree from Morehouse School of Medicine and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center Hospital and Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital.

Whether you are suffering from physical, emotional, or spiritual imbalances, Visceral Manipulation Therapy can be the missing piece of the puzzle to better health care. Increasing proprioception, which allows for organs to communicate with each other at a cellular level, yields benefits in pain mitigation, improved sleep, harmonizing of nutritional imbalances that are mechanical-metabolic in origin, men’s health, women’s health, pediatrics, seniors, and the release unresolved emotions or traumas.

This month we heard how Visceral Manipulation Therapy has changed the lives of millions around the world. Guest speaker Michael Fortier is a specialist in this adjunctive manual therapy and believes each person he sees in his private practice is truly unique, utilizing many “lenses” to get to the root of what is imbalanced to help restore balance and flow.

Michael Fortier is a Holistic Health Specialist, Licensed Massage Therapist, Licensed Aesthetician, Certified Food Healing Nutrition Coach, Certified Tai Chi / Qigong / Breath Practice Leader, Certified Postural Alignment Specialist, and Certified Fascial Movement KT (Kinesio) Taping Specialist over the last 20 years in the Woodlands, TX, with extensive training in Visceral Manipulation Therapy, Neural Manipulation Therapy, Lymphatic Drainage Therapy, Brain Curriculum, Craniosacral Therapy, Pediatric Principles, Acupuncture Principles, and other Osteopathic Manual Therapies. He has been a guest speaker and facilitator at Nursing Conferences and Mindfulness Retreats both locally and nationally.

Lyme disease is one of the fastest-growing infectious diseases in the United States, and millions of people worldwide suffer from its shapeshifting symptoms. In fact, it is becoming so popular that some doctors have started referring to it as the new AIDS epidemic. But despite the growing prevalence of Lyme disease, there are very few practitioners—integrative or otherwise—who understand how to detect it, diagnose it, and address its insidious symptoms and the co-infections at their roots.

This month we heard what Dr. Michael Turcotte has to say about his years of success as a holisticic practitioner helping hundreds of patients suffering with Lyme disease. Dr. Turcotte shared his revolutionary approach to healing and recovering from acute and chronic Lyme as an autoimmune disease through a uniquely holistic approach to boosting our innate ability to fight for our health and heal from deep within.

Michael Turcotte, DP.S.c, NCTDP, is a Doctor of Pastoral Sciences & Natural Medicine and a National Certified Therapist & Drugless Practitioner who has worked with Lyme disease patients in Connecticut for over two decades. With a deep and broad investigation of his numerous clinical cases on Lyme disease, he brings to us a powerful collective fivefold perspective that can be found nowhere else. These five commonly overlooked factors for treating Lyme disease may collectively be the key to stopping unneeded suffering for Lyme disease patients and lead to a comprehensive solution to restored heath for patients dealing with this painful and confusing affliction.

Would you like to feel truly healthy again? Have you been told you would have to live with your unhealthy condition forever? Dr. Elena Morreale believes you don’t have to feel sick, and you don’t have to feel old. In her practice, she measures the energetic properties of your body’s electrical pathways to find out which are balanced, stressed, or weakened. Oriental Medical Doctors have used these bioelectric pathways known as meridians for centuries to both diagnose and treat conditions. Until recently, Western medicine did not believe they existed. But now we have the bigger picture necessary to help the body restore itself to an optimal state of health.

This month we learned how Dr. Morreale treats the underlying cause of diseases, not just the symptoms, using testing methods that rely on the energy pathways of the body, both nerve and meridian. Plus we heard patient success stories!

Elena M. Morreale, DC, DABCI, DACBN, is a Doctor of Chiropractic specializing in internal medicine and nutrition. She is a skilled holistic practitioner with advanced EAV/EDS training in Bioenergetics which represents a new science able to generate greater diagnostic and treatment precision. With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Morreale has combined chiropractic care, nutritional supplementation, laboratory analysis, and homeopathy for a complete holistic health care practice. Her main goal is to find the underlying cause of your problem and to tailor an individual treatment plan. She focuses on helping people to heal themselves and regain their health, as it is a reward like no other.

Is chronic pain stealing away the joy from your life? Are you frustrated with trying to manage your pain and ready to finally take your life back? Carol Mafrige understands firsthand the frustration of searching for answers after personally struggling with debilitating fatigue and headaches for years. After many conventional and alternative approaches failed, she finally resolved her health issues by implementing a functional approach. She is now dedicated to serving families in their pursuit of vibrant health and wellness for a lifetime.

This month we heard how her innovative Brain Camp program helps client who are dealing with chronic pain as well as those struggling with ADHD issues. We learned why Carol’s holistic approach includes individualized counseling on nutrition, lifestyle, and testing. And how an active, pain-free life can be restored, even if all else has failed.

Carole Mafrige, FDN-P, is a certified Functional Diagnostic Nutrition® Practitioner. She founded Functional Health Associates with a simple, but powerful philosophy: address the root cause instead of chasing symptoms. Based on advances in Functional Neurology, her Brain Camp program addresses the overly sensitive nervous system involved in the pain response along with fatigue, mood, and coordination issues that often accompany pain. The results are increased focus, cognition, and confidence. Best of all, her protocols are completely natural and drug-free. Visit www.FunctionalHealthAssociates.com to learn about the free consultation.

Ladies, have you asked yourself, “I wonder if it is my hormones…” but not sure what that might really mean? Maybe you’re wondering why you can’t seem to lose weight like you used to, or why your body shape has changed. Are you experiencing signs of menopause? Hot flashes, restlessness, depression or fatigue?

If you are like many women, you’ve had your bloodwork done to check your hormones but have no idea what it all means. And you have a lot of questions! Maybe you're not sure you want to start hormones, but you might if you knew more about the benefits. Is there something more natural you could do to put it off a little longer? And what about our daughters? Their menstrual cycle may be all over the place, is that normal? Is there something other than birth control pills for that?

At this month's special "Ladies Night" meeting for women, Dr. Tamyra Comeaux took us through lab results, teaching us what they mean, what we can do to improve them, our symptoms, and our outlook for healthy living and aging. Dr. Comeaux went over a couple of individual labs, and attendees were encouraged to bring their lab own results with them to relate this information to theirs and ask questions.

Tamyra Comeaux, MD, NMD, is the “woman’s doctor” specializing in gynecology with emphasis on well-woman care, family planning, menopause, hormones, and sexual disorders. Dr. Comeaux’s medical and surgical training is well complemented by her holistic approach to women’s health care. She received her medical degree from Morehouse School of Medicine and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center Hospital and Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital.