GRATITUDE IS GOOD MEDICINE

by Madiha Saeed

Stress, work and family routines can trap us in a pattern of negative thinking that feeds on itself and creates stress and unhappiness. With our internal and external worlds being bombarded these days with negativity, being optimistic is more important now than ever before.

Gratitude is not just a feel-good word. It is an emotion expressing appreciation for what one has—a universal concept in nearly all of the world’s spiritual traditions. Practicing gratitude daily is proven to have actual physiological consequences. It helps lower inflammatory markers, influences epigenetics, improves the immune system and even helps the heart, adding years to life.

Optimism has been found to correlate positively with life satisfaction and self-esteem. “Heartfelt” emotions like gratitude, love and caring produce coherent brain waves radiating to every cell of the body, as shown by technology that measures changes in heart rhythm variation and coherence.

Our subconscious governs 90 percent of our thoughts and actions. It shapes our every behavior. But the subconscious mind is nothing other than neural pathways that have been established in the brain as a result of past beliefs and conditioning. Our subconscious does no thinking of its own, but rather relies on our perception of the world around us, interpreting verbal and nonverbal cues.

When we consciously turn negativity to positivity from the inside-out, the neural pathway associated with negativity will take time to come down fully, so it is critical to practice gratitude regularly. Upon waking in the morning, say 10 things that you are grateful for. Keep a gratitude journal. Put sticky notes all over the house with gratitude messages—on photos, light fixtures, fans, exercise equipment—to create a zone of subliminal positivity.

Remember that our perspective can reflect either our pain or our power. That choice is in our hands. Know what you are grateful for each day.

Madiha Saeed, M.D., ABIHM, is the bestselling author of The Holistic RX, an international speaker, founder of HolisticMomMD.com and director of education for KnoWEwell.

Crêpes & Croissants Local Cuisine with a French Twist

by Odell Williams

Located in the heart of beautiful downtown Columbia, on Sumter Street, is Crêpes & Croissants, a very popular eatery specializing in sweet and savory French crêpes as well as other cultural specialties. Established in 2012 by French native and master crêpe maker Laurent Prescelti, Crêpes & Croissants has become a restaurant of choice for countless residents in the Midlands looking for unique and delicious food at budget-friendly prices. Since its opening, Prescelti’s passion to provide a wonderful dining experience underscored by great food and complemented by a pleasurable atmosphere has culminated in a one-of-a-kind breakfast and lunch opportunity not to be missed.

While dining, customers can enjoy a culinary trip to France as they take in the beautiful and ambient atmosphere meticulously crafted by Prescelti. The facility is modern yet very French, with reminiscent photos of Paris accompanied by French music. “I wanted to bring the ‘savoir faire’ of France with all of its storied, magical and enticing qualities to the South to provide local restaurant-goers the perfect opportunity to experience many of the wonderful dishes and treats from my country,” recounts Prescelti.

Crêpes & Croissants’ menu selection is vast and impressive, featuring a wide variety of favorites. The savory croissant sandwiches are filled with an array of fillings—even chocolate! And Prescelti’s signature macaroons and in-house French pastries are sure to tickle the taste buds, keeping customers coming back for more. In addition, there is a wide range of downhome Southern and local favorites to enjoy.

The restaurant also offers catering for parties, events and countless other activities, such as tailgating, birthday celebrations, weddings and more. From small get-togethers to large gatherings, Crêpes & Croissants can meet the culinary need and demand with excellent food matched by uncommonly good service.

Adds Prescelti: “Whether dining in, or grabbing something delicious to go, Crêpes & Croissants is ready to meet the need. Come visit with us, or impress your party and delight your guests by hiring your very own personal chef to serve savory or sweet delicious crêpes. We'll take you on a culinary trip to France without leaving Columbia!”

Crêpes & Croissants is located at 1465 Sumter St., in Columbia. For more information, call 803-462-4779, email ColaCrepes@gmail.com or visit CrepesEtCroissants.com. See ad, page 16.