This time instead of a podcast guest,  I  am going to  talk  about my own situation. I have not even tried to book any more podcast guests. My body and my mind have been telling me that I need to take a break and it is time for me  to  listen.

When I started this podcast a year ago, I was in the middle of writing a book about my best friend Leslie who died suddenly. I wanted to know if there was something I could have done to help save Leslie. This is what started me on the journey of writing the book. 

The book is with my editor now. At this point I am not even sure that I have the energy to take it across the finish line. Where my  first book, Take Back Your Outside Mindset, just poured out of me, this book  about the death of my best friend was harder to write. I kept wanting to check in with Leslie to see what she thought. And Leslie would tell us.  She had no trouble expressing her opinions  - and her clear assessment of the situation. 

I can’t wait to talk to you about Leslie, what she was like, why her death was such a shock, and what I knew as a  nurse at the time she died.  If you knew Leslie, you would know that she would have a great and entertaining story to tell you of what happened to her. And one thing I  know for sure is that while she was telling her side of things, she’d expect me to be there giving the medical/nursing/health administration inside scoop of how the health care system really  works. 

So that is what I try to do this in the book. I do what Leslie would have expected me to  do -- become a nursing detective on  why she died like she did. The detective tools that I end up using are heart rate and heart rate variability to help me to figure out why Leslie died so suddenly – when she was fine two days before she died. 

I combine  these two tools with rock solid green space research to discover the culprits and silent assailants on  Leslie’s two day road trip. Ultimately this book is about your heart, and the world the surrounds your heart – and how to protect your heart to make sure what happened to Leslie does not happen to you. 

I know if  Leslie were here right now,  she would tell me to take my own  advice.  If she were still here she would tell me to take a break - step away for a while – “be good to yourself.” she’d say something like “if you want my story to help others, you better  put the oxygen mask on yourself  first.”

Verla Fortier's transcript of this episode visit   treesmendus.com.
Verla Fortier's  book and workbook: Take Back Your Outside Mindset: Live Longer, Prevent Dementia, and Control Your Chronic Illness

For peer reviewed research on how your time spent in green space can change your mindset, balance your nervous system and your heart rate please go to verlafortier.substack.com and check out my books Take Back Your Outside Mindset: Live Longer, Stress Less, and Control Your Chronic Illness and Optimize Your Heart Rate: Balance Your Mind and Body With Green Space