January 2024 Recap

Since I've decided to take a break from instagram and go "off the grid" this year per my co-star horoscope recommendations, I've found myself wanting a place to reflect, remember and share key moments and updates in my life... and what better place than getting back to my blog. 
I'm also still in the process of figuring out exactly how I want to leverage the internet and social media to still create a living for myself... so with that in mind, this month's recap is brought to you by Fly By Jing. I did return to Instagram in order to make a post about this product because it was one of the requirements from the awesome influencer company that I've been working with. And truth be told, I'm actually writing this post in March because I'm gonna post my next "sponsored blog" for February with another new product that I got to try. All very meta, but I'm here for it! Hopefully you are too.
So what all did January entail for me? Keep reading to find out...

1. Week 1: My 2024 year started off nice and slow. Most notably, it was my first year not working as a pharmacist during "hell week." I spent time reflecting on 2023 and making the decision to actually go off grid with a pinned IG post. 
2. Week 2: I had my 5th rolfing session (it's been the best bodywork process ever, even after 10 years of chiropractic and massage). I taught a lecture on functional and integrative medicine for U. Maryland college of pharmacy class. I also lead my first cacao ceremony with some new friends I've made here in Dayton; it was so powerful and I'm grateful to be learning more about this very accessible and under-appreciated medicine.
3. Week 3: I took a weeklong class by Amanita Dreamer called Dosing Amanita Muscaria and What to Expect, I had been feeling called to work with this legal psychoactive mushroom ever since I went to the MAPS conference in June 2023 and learned about right relation with indigenous cultures and began to question how i could find my own medicine that related to my cultural heritage and roots. Reading Food of the Gods also piqued my interest in it. The class was amazing and I highly recommend it. 
   I met up with a local reiki practitioner who runs Mystic Life in Xenia to talk about ways I could get more involved there in sharing some of the gifts and services I have been cultivating, like Bioenergetics and Human Design. 
   We closed out the week with lunch at Cooper's Hawk and Bill's Donuts to celebrate my father in law's birthday, then came home and had a call with our new CPA and tax preparer. Finance and taxes has been an energy leak in my own business since starting my LLC in 2020, and I am so happy to finally have found the right person to help ensure that we are on track to scale FMPhA in 2024.
4. Week 4: I went a clothing swap and loaded up on fun new digs to wear to our retreat, had our intro call that night for the attendees, and followed it up with a members forum for the Psychedelic Pharmacists Association (these are some of my favorite people!) I flew to Panama City for 3 days to see my best friend and hair stylist Charlotte. We shaved the sides of my head and it was epic. I even got to model some cute outfits for Nilsa's boutique that's now in the salon! I had an awesome call with the social media team from MN Nice Ethnobotancials where I've been sourcing my Amanita; they are an awesome company so check them out and use code DRLAUREN for 10% off your order. I closed out the week flying out to San Jose, CA to meet up with my dad and get ready for the Lions vs. 49ers game!
5. My last week of January kicked off with the 2023 NFC Championship Game with my dad, my brother and his wife, and their friends. We tailgated in the parking lot of an Indian restaurant before walking in (it was wild; those fans know how to party) and watched an amazing game, even though we let the W slip through our fingers 31-34. It was still a once in a lifetime experience (although hopefully not! there's always next year!) I flew back home Monday through Austin (love that Airport).
   I closed out the month on a bunch of calls with independent pharmacists talking about medication induced nutrient depletions for a project that I'm working on. I watched a webinar on inflammation that is going to turn into an amazing partnership. And I closed out the month meeting up with a local Dayton healer who I've been admiring and looking up to from afar; we had a beautiful, deep conversation.

After reflecting on January and writing all of this, I do feel like it makes me appreciate social media for the ease of use in sharing photos and videos. Uploading photos to a blog is way more tedious... so for now, words will suffice. 
But I also realized that as I pulled all of these events from reviewing my calendar, there was a lot that happened which was not "on my schedule." Instead, those reflections were noted in my journal.

• I did a 21 day manifesting challenge with Gabby Bernstein
• I did weekly cacao ceremonies with Ora Cacao
• I learned about my blood glucose as I wore my Libre 3 devices from Theia Health
• I set my word of the year: Collaboration
• We watched Eternal Sunshine for the Spotless Mind and ate chicken 'n dumplings
• I continued developing my relationship with various fungi and plant medicines / ethnobotanicals. 

Overall, January was beautiful, and I'm so excited for February... and my birthday! See you next month!