Aloha!

Aloha from Hawaii! I am writing you from an absolutely beautiful place, that is even more phenomenal than I had ever imagined, when I was young.  More importantly, I never dreamed, as a child, that I could possibly have such an experience in my lifetime.  When I was growing up, we never traveled very far at all.  It seems the furthest destinations  may have been our trips to the local lakes for swimming, and that was typically within an hour away.  Little did I know then, that God had plans for me, that would involve traveling to many places within the U.S. and out-of-country, as well.  And as I celebrate another birthday in my mid-50′s, I honestly feel that the journey is just beginning.

There have been countless pleasant twists and turns, not without challenges, that have introduced me to many wonderful people that have enriched my life.  Sometimes that has meant that I have learned something that I had not expected to learn, or gone places I never thought I’d go, or have been given opportunities to serve that have been extremely gratifying beyond words.

Of course, as you read this, it is true that I may not know your present set of circumstances.  I may not know the circumstances of your past.  And I certainly cannot pretend to know what your future will look like.  But I do know this:  that there is such potential humming under the surface of what we see when we look in the mirror, and it is just waiting for us to  connect with it, claim it, and choose to use it.  It is always there, but it is not always just the right time to actually see it in a tangible form.  But do not let that fool you or stop you from pursuing your dreams and goals. It may very well be that you are one rejection away from the “yes” that you are waiting to hear, and you may never know, if you choose not to press on.  It may be that the ultimate manifestation of the dream you carry inside, is trying to take on a totally different appearance than what you have imagined, but it cannot happen, if you do not allow it. I know I bring up this theme often, but it is probably one of those we need to be reminded of most often, if we are to reach our goals, and see our dreams come true.

Now, the tricky part comes in when we forget that what is happening in our physical body, and what is happening in our relationships, and the choices that we are making to create our daily habits, are all interconnected, and impacting the ultimate outcome.  So, in simpler terms, what does that mean?    It means that  it is important to keep a clear picture before us, of that which we are trying to create, not only carefully choosing the components, but arranging them is such a way to create a balance .

Questions you may find yourself asking in your process:  How big is it?  How small is it?  What colors might it contain? What energy does it carry? What is its purpose, and how does that purpose affect me and those I care about?  And the only way to answer truthfully is from the heart—not the head. You must be willing to go there.  Bottom line.

There are many questions for us to ask ourselves as we set out to redesign our lives, but just approach it with a good, healthy attitude as well as gratitude.  Take a deep breath and let  it to happen.  Let it be a fun and adventurous experience, rather than a dreaded experience, that you are afraid to face.  Change is normal.  Change is good.  And change is how we get from point A to point B.  It’s pretty simple.  We tend to try extremely  hard to make things much more difficult than they have to be.  Do you agree?

So, just a reminder to simplify every step as much as you can, and you will soon feel how much more possible it all becomes.

I never saw Hawaii coming, but here it is—as real as it gets. So, don’t give up on what your heart is telling you.  Be good to your heart and to your truth.

See you soon, on the mainland.

Mahalo!

Back to the Basics

I thought it might be time to go back to our roots now—the roots of our health journey.   One cannot over-emphasize the importance of the BASICS.  Right?  The basics of anything equate to the foundation of that structure, and it is critical to analyze and re-analyze  its strength or weakness, when we want to have a successful on-going growth and maintenance.

   Obviously, when we are noticing some weak points, fractures or holes, we will want to address those as soon as possible.  The sooner we do that, the sooner we can get back to continuing on our way.  But if we ignore those problems, then it can mean trouble down the road, and it could mean big trouble.  I am wondering if sometimes we might even realize it, but for whatever reason, we just ignore it.  Maybe you are too busy to think about it in this moment, so you will just consider handling it later, when you are not so busy.  But does that time ever really come?  Most of us are constantly busy these days, so then it never really gets addressed; it just goes to the bottom of the “to-do” list.  Or, maybe you think it will just go away, and so you go back to what you were doing, and hope for the best.  Whatever your reason is for ignoring the signs that you need to pause, re-group and strengthen what you have right now, before going on, I encourage you to take a deep breath and take a good look.  The body can and will last and re-build, when treated well.  That requires some attention, care, and using what works to get the job done—to reach your health goals. 

By this point, I am guessing and hoping that since we started on this journey together, that you have  developed a sharper health awareness and are eager to learn and do more to achieve better and better health.  WONDERFUL!   And Congratulations!  That is exactly what we have been shooting for.  But today’s message is just a reminder to check in with yourself intermittently, and maybe have a little checklist that you laminate and carry with you, to remind yourself of some of those all-important basics to remember, just to keep things flowing nicely. Next time you have, for example, some change going on in your body, and it gets you wondering, ” Why am I feeling this way, when I am taking everything that I am taking? I didn’t feel this way last week.”  It’s time to pull out the list of basics, either literally or just in  your mind, and just check in.  Are you covering all the basics or are you missing something  in a certain area?  As a help to you, I encourage you to review some of my first posts for support with that task.

Just remember, the basics are your foundation, and when some of them fall out of place or get weak, then nothing else is going to work optimally either.  So, think of what you want to use as a reminder system for this, and hang on to it  like it is your life-line, because it could make a huge difference in the results that you are getting.

Best of luck.  I’m rooting for you.

ON TOP OF YOUR GAME

Do you wake up some mornings and get into motion, without much feeling attached ?  I think we probably all have our days, at one point or another.  And if you ask someone over 50, they will probably admit that those days come more and more frequently.  After all, you’ve been on the treadmill of life for many years already, at that point, working hard to fulfill your many obligations, and hoping you can stay glued together.  Does this ring a bell at all?

Take a moment now and  ask yourself how this week is going?  Is it totally high speed, with no pit stops (or very few), and do you just wish that you had a moment to catch that all-important healthy breath, and slow things down?  I cannot tell you that every person’s situation can be changed easily or even changed at all.  Only you can decide.  But it really is up to  you, and thank goodness, for the moment, we still have some rights and freedoms to choose what we would like our lives to look like.

Are you still with me?  But here comes the challenge…Okay.  You’ve dared to pause, and you have taken the risk to even consider that you may have options.  Now, what will  you do about it?  I repeat, it is a challenge and a risk involved, but the reality is you can stay where you are, and know that you made that choice, or you can at least begin to build something beautiful, one piece at a time.  Granted, some people are more creative than others, by nature, and some are more bold, more intuitive, more something, something, something.  Right?  But please do not allow the concern about what  you lack to stop  your process.  We are all made to be unique,  with certain strong areas, and some ”not-so-strong” areas.  And, now it’s time to allow others to fill in the gaps, and help mold the clay of your life into something  fulfilled and complete.  I cannot stress enough—-you are not alone.  There are many people out there, who are eager and prepared to serve.

After observing people for a very long time, I have seen how difficult it can be  for some to simply “allow” others in, instead of feeling as though you have failed, when  you seem unable to do it all on your own.  Do you think that maybe we came into this world incomplete, so that we would need each other,  to therefore give us relationships, which become the reason for existing?  Just thought I’d pose that question.

So, when  you are feeling less than “on top of your game”, just take a minute to pull that burden down off of your shoulders, inspect what is in that heavy pack of yours, and think creatively and open-mindedly if there just might be another way.  It does not make  you a lesser person, of lesser character,  for doing so.  Quite the opposite.  It gives you a deeper sense of meaning, value and “completeness” that you may otherwise miss out on, simply because you were afraid to go there.

Do not fear change.  Look it in the face, stand tall and choose.  You CAN do this.

Wanna Be?

Of all the times—at this point in the history of the world—when there is so much that is up in the air and so much that is uncertain, you would think that I would feel a sense of helplessness and insecurity.  But I cannot help but have such a strong feeling that this is a great time of opportunity, in which all things are possible.  Think about it. If nothinig is defined, then it must be that the boundaries are wide open for unlimited possibilities.  The slates are being wiped clean, and we are being handed the chalk and the chance to go for it.  ALL things are possible, if you believe.  Believe in a better world, believe in yourself—that you were born to do something amazing, believe in love and its true power when put into true practice on all levels.  See, it all comes back to basics.  It always comes back to basics.  The basics have always been and will always be, no matter what the surface stuff looks like.  Right?

Let’s take  fresh perspectives, dig out those hidden ideas that you thought were of no value, attach a new energy to all of it and get busy with a joy, a newfound faith, and an unlimited sense of all things being possible.  Really practice that every day, at least in small increments, and watch a new picture begin to unfold before your eyes.  Just don’t limit yourself.  You are worth so much more.  And don’t forget the people who love you are worth so much more, because remember that the choices you make in every area of your own life, WILL impact your children, your mate, your co-workers, friends and neighbors—everyone who sees or hears you in daily life.

For far too long, we, as a people, have operated in a mode based on  structures or molds that someone, somewhere along the way, has determined in their own mind, was the “one and only” correct one.  And then, everyone just followed suit, and fell into the molds, because they thought they had to, either because someone pressured them or they just didn’t know any other way.  Sadly, this has made individuals feel incompetent, odd or just not “good enough,” or unworthy. And how many lives, how many relationships, have been damaged or unfulfilled, and opportunities unclaimed because we were not up to someone else’s expectations?

Well, today is the day, that begins the rest of your life.  Today you can change what was not right.  At least, you can begin to take some steps. Right?  You cannot do it all at once, and you wouldn’t want to.  That could be an unhealthy approach. 

Begin with an assessment.  Spend time in thought, meditation, contemplation, and prayer. Where do  you want to be, what do you want to become before your life is through on this planet?  Then, think of an action plan.  Know that you can amend that as you go.  Always remember, you cannot get somewhere, if you do not even know where  you want to go.  And THEN, you cannot get there, if you do not choose a road upon which to travel.  There are various routes to take in life.  Pick one. Don’t allow yourself to sit on the fence too long.  Life is short and you will want to load up on its goodness in all its forms.

Just claim it! Be it! Do it! Whatever it is…Not out of greed or to prove anything to anyone, but instead because you are worth it and because it is in you to do so. 

Blessings on your way.

Sunny Side Up?

I was just cutting into a watermelon this morning, and experienced a flood of memories as the big knife cut through that beautiful fruit—similar to one of many, that I loved so much as a child.  I remember countless great times in the wonderful Midwest, at that time of year, when our gardens spilled over with such colorful abundance of good health. Wait! Let me amend that just a bit, because what I really intend to say is “spilled over with such abundance of ‘opportunity’ for good health.”  Just because the gifts are right in front of us, it does not necessarily mean that it’s a “Done Deal”.  Right?

It is but half-meaningful if we only think about something, but either forget to act on it, choose not to act on it at all, or simply procrastinate due to a multitude of possible reasons.  I am not referring strictly to food and diet, but all aspects of our health.  Make yourself a list of the components that make up your days, and look  at those factors that you realize you have some control over.  See how your decisions, regarding each one of those, can make or break, or at least play a part in, determining the outcome.  And then evaluate your perspectives and attitudes that shape those decisions.

If you could create the world you really want, I am guessing that  your heart would be happy.  Right?  If you want to feel “happy,” then dare to create happy.  Whether you eat your eggs sunny-side-up or scrambled, I challenge you to view your world ”sunny-side-up” as much as possible.  Just imagine that you are baking a cake.  I’m sure you would agree that the ingredients you put into that cake batter, absolutely will determine what kind of cake you are going to have.  Does that make sense? So, if we are in agreement, try to bear in mind, in ALL that you do, that everything that goes into your activites each day, will determine the results when all is said and done, and it is time to “cut the cake.”

Do  you prefer “sunny-side-up”?

I do.

POWER POINTS: #2 Balance

OHHHHH, this is a biggie.  Here is an area, from my observation, where I see many of us struggle.  The saddest part is that most people seem so unaware of this concept on a conscious level.  Would you agree?  Their subconscious is screaming the idea at the individual, while  on the surface, there is so much chaos and pressure that makes one scramble around expending energy, getting exhausted and still, after doing so, not even attaining the true quality of life for which the heart so desperately yearns.  So, it appears we have a dilemma. Do we?

First, I think it might be a good idea to realize just how critical balance really is to quality of life.  When you drive yourself and drive yourself til you are exhausted, even if the people or projects that are the recipients of   your energy are deserving, you are throwing yourself out of balance in more ways than initially meet the eye.  Your body gets out of balance in various ways (which is another topic for another day), and then your relationships are affected, your work loses quality,  and as far as play–forget about it–there is none.  And then that affects your health even more, and there you have it–a cycle.

The key here might be PREVENTION. The same holds alot of power when it comes to the Food topic as well, as I think you will see later on.

So, for now, you may want to give that some thought. Be aware of your status on this subject, and again being visual,  as I am, one technique I find that works is to draw pictures on paper that are indicative of the areas of  your life that are requiring your energy, in order to get a clearer view of what your life looks like now in this regard. Then draw a picture of how it could look if you made a few adjustments.  The goal is to design something feasible that is at least a good starting point, that can be changed and then changed again, if need be, til you find some harmony—-some ease to take the place of the dis-ease that you may be currently creating.

Get creative, use color, cut and paste, have fun and be like a kid that is full of wonder and enthusiasm.  Why not?  The world is full of possibilities. Knock down those walls of limitations and get out of the ruts.  Don’t let them rule your path.  Create a new path.  One with joy and peace and harmony–you know, those words we don’t seem to  hear  much of  outside of the Christmas holiday season.  Life is short.  Make it sweet.

POWER POINTS: #3 Prevention

Since change is in the air just about every which-way you turn, this might be the perfect time to take a moment to pause and take a fresh look at your approach to your future.  I am hoping that you will think “smart” and do it from the standpoint of  PREVENTION, whenever  and wherever that is applicable.  If you assess the quality of the various areas of your life, are there areas where, if  you were given the chance to make different choices, the outcomes might be  improved simply by thinking, planning, and acting PREVENTATIVELY  in some way?  You may be surprised at the results of that assessment.

Let’s pick the area of physical health.  I have struggled  much with many different areas of my health for so many years, and in the course of studying how to correct or improve these certain conditions, I learned about  amazingly simple solutions.  And I found myself thinking over and over multiple times, “If only someone had told me…,” or “If only I had known that one little thing,…”  So,  we can begin with first getting educated the best we can about the things we need to address, and then become pro-active with the creating of the future we want to have.  The most prominent observation for me has been that people do not seem to take their physical health seriously enough until they are in some serious PAIN or have some real FEAR about what is going to happen to them next. Have you noticed that about yourself and others?

But I will be honest with you, just learning the facts or forming our opinions is only a part of the equation.  And beginning to apply what we learn and putting  it to use is all fine and good.  However, what happened for me was that it was so easy to let  the good habits  slide,  once I seemed to be feeling a little better (or alot better).  It’s easy to return to the old habits, and before you know it, you lose ground and are back to square one.  You will have your own journey, and have to make your own mistakes in order to learn the lessons, but hopefully you now can go into it a little more prepared, and therefore have a bit more success.  Hopefully, alot more success. So, what I’d like you to take away from this is to know ahead of time, that once you make some positive changes, they need to become  “habits” that become a part of you, if you are going to have long-term success. Realize that what put you where you were before can put you there again, if you repeat the same actions that created those results.  Make sense?

So, do  your best to think PREVENTION, PREVENTION, PREVENTION whenever and wherever you can, and you will see how much more smoothly things will go, and what  better quality of life you will have.  As long as we still have some freedoms of choice, do take advantage of that gift  and be blessed.

POWER POINTS: #4 Food

Ah, my favorite subject.  Is it yours also?  It is mine for a few reasons.  Of course, the obvious is that I love to eat delicious food.  Who doesn’t?  Another is that I am an artist, so I thoroughly enjoy the presentation of food, even if it is strictly for my own eyes to see.  I have always loved color, in general, and when you eat healthy,  you will see alot more vibrant  color, because of the living, nutrient-dense foods that you will choose.  The other important reason I am intrigued by the food subject is because I have struggled so much with food and its affects on my body, and had no choice but to enter into a deep relationship with it, committing to understanding it for the sake of my own survival.  Now, think about it: compare what I’ve just described to a relationship with another person, with the challenges one is confronted with in trying to create and  maintain a healthy connection.  It’s the commitment to weather the storms, learn from the mistakes, and grow deeper in the bonds that tie the two of you together.  Obviously, since food is something we must have, we must get an understanding of how we work together  (or not), and just as there are certain types of people and personalities we mesh with and those we do not, the same holds true with food.    Then, knowing this, once you commit to building something wonderful, the payout becomes priceless, and it will have been worth every ounce of energy you’ve invested.

It really is quite clear, and equally quite simple—but not easy, by any stretch.

There are different body types, different lifestyles and different perspectives and attitudes.  So, as you can imagine, it is really not safe to say that one size fits all.  See what I am saying?

Here is a tool you may want to utilize as  you begin this endeavor.  Some people think it is hogwash, but all I know is that in my case, it made more sense that anything else had in a very long time.  There is a book that delves into different body types and directs you to which foods are best for each type, so that you can provide the correct ultimate fuel for your body.  Until I read this, I was ingesting foods that one would commonly consider very healthy foods, but they were wreaking alot of havoc for me, and  when I was able to put two and two together—Wow!  It really became crystal clear, made so much sense,  and changed the course of things.  Thank goodness. What a lifesaver, because I was on a downhill train travelling at high speed, about to crash.

What is the book?  It’s called EAT RIGHT 4 YOUR TYPE by Peter D’ Adamo.  Local public libraries typically have it, so you can check it out, and then decide if you’d like to purchase your own copy.  Again, you  will have your own unique experience.  I can only speak from my own, and for me, it truly was a turning point.  It is very gratifying for  me now to think that I might help slow down  someone else’s train, so to speak, and set them on track to better health and a better life.

You can expect to hear more from me on the food subject ongoing, because there are countless aspects to cover, that I feel could make a difference in the success of achieving better health.  Again, I do not claim to be the expert.  I only want to give you “food for thought,” that you might do your own  due diligence in honor of the beautiful creation that you are.

POWER POINTS: #5 Communication

What does the word “communication” bring to your mind?  I ask you to ponder that for a moment.

Do you think that there’s a possibility that we may not give communication enough genuine consideration or honor?  Is it likely that we take it for granted and assume that it is just “there” acting as it should, doing what it is meant to do?  Or do we treat it delicately, with full attention to its condition, and honor it  as the glorious gift that we have been given?

As I have attempted to approach this subject, I have been surprised at how challenging it has been.  I thought this would be the easiest topic in the world for me, since I am all about language and communication in its many forms.  But ah, again, awareness on still another level.  It just confirmed how delicate this entity actually is.  Wow!  It has so many levels.  Let’s explore some.

Think about the times when you are in relationships with the opposite sex ( and the fact that we just used the word “opposite” might already begin to stir up a challenge).  Understanding someone who is your opposite, on any  level, means you have to try to see, think and feel from their perspective rather than your own.  That means using energy, sensitivity, time, as well as willingness to stretch outside of your comfort zone.  Are we willing?  Do we have it “in us”?  It does come down to choice, as far as the willing part goes.  Doesn’t it?  And as far as whether or not we have it in us, that’s an entirely different aspect of our being.  That’s all about our personal journey–our personal growth, self-discovery.

Okay.  I have only mentioned one type of a relationship; that being one with the opposite sex. However, there are certainly many other types of relationships to which the  “opposite”  factor can and does apply.  Right?  Can you think of some?

Now, let’s take a peek at another area wherein communication plays a role.  How about your body? Your body is   an amazing work of art that is very intricate and complex.  Yet, it seems to have been so perfectly designed, that if you think about it,  isn’t it absolutely fascinating how the mind and body communicate, in what appears to be, without effort? Now, this brings us back to the importance of “balance”,  as I had discussed in a previous posting.  Your body is created to communicate between its many systems in an attempt to create a beautiful balance or harmony, in order  to  survive and continue functioning. That is what our relationships need as well–good, clear, on-going communication in order to survive and thrive.  And one is as equally  important as the other.  You may want to give that some thought, through the eyes of your own life experiences.

Once again, referencing “balance”, here is where we get right down to it.  When your relationships are out of balance because of poor communication, it negatively affects your physical health, and when your physical being is out of balance due to the physical lines not being open, clear and operating as they should, then that has a negative impact on your relationships.  When you don’t feel well, it puts a strain on your attempt to maintain a free-flowing harmonious connection with those around you.  We all know what that feels like.  Not good.

And here we step back to where I emphasized the importance of Prevention.  If you know now to be aware of how one aspect of your life affects the other, and that there is no denying that such a connection exists, then  you can be better armed to do what you need to do from a preventative perspective to create the results you desire in your life.

I hope the pieces of the puzzle, so to speak, may be falling into place for you a little bit more clearly as we go along, and that you are seeing a glimmer of light in that darkness,  that you may have found yourself existing in as of late.

I’ve just been giving you food for thought in our visits during the past weeks.  But coming soon, I am excited to say, I will be offering you lots of good, valuable and practical tips and resources.  Hopefully, they will help you get proactive in re-designing your life.  Every breath we take is so very precious.  Let’s make each one matter.

POWER POINTS: # 6 Gentleness

“Out of the mouths of babes”.  Ever heard that? I’m guessing you have.   I want to share with you a recent experience I had that was very amazing.  I was struggling a bit with being patient with God’s timing for my projects.  I have, after all, been working at these things for a good 20 years now.  So, in my mind and heart, it gets tough sometimes to have to wait for things to unfold at the pace that I would like.  It’s not that I doubt that things will manifest, it’s just waiting, waiting, and more waiting.  Sound at all familiar? Anyway,back to the story:  I watch my grandbaby every day from 7:00a.m. til 5:00p.m. and have for almost 2 years now.  Of course, as babies go through the many stages of development and changes in routines, there have been days when I’ve had a bit more free time to do some work on my projects, and then times when I’ve had very little free time.  And if you’ve ever cared for little ones, as you are in those moments, it can sometimes feel like time is standing still and the days can be soooooooo long.

Well, I was at a point last year for a while there, where I was struggling with having the patience to be in the “Now” rather than “wishing” I could be doing more with my projects, since they were so huge on my priority list.  But a very wise friend of mine saved the day.  We were talking on the phone, and I was expressing my genuine frustration that I was experiencing. I was a bit embarrassed and ashamed.   I did not want her to think that I didn’t love the baby and want to be with her, because I certainly was very happy and grateful for the opportunity to care for this child.  My friend, being a mother and grandmother herself, could relate and totally understood.  She said to me that day, before we hung up the phone, “Just listen to the baby and let her tell you.”  I didn’t question it, said “O.K,” thanked her and said good-bye.  Later, I thought to myself, “What did she mean by that?  That was an odd thing to say. This baby can’t talk yet.”   Then, I didn’t really think about it too hard any more, but instead just acted on it.  I let go completely of any thoughts about the how, the why, the details of it all—just released it and tuned in 100% to the baby.  I gave her my full and undivided attention after that, determined to be the best grandma I could possibly be, looking right into her face and into her eyes frequently throughout the days that followed.

I kid you not, in no time at all, there was such an incredible peace that came over me, that was almost magical,  and it was not temporary.  It really lasted for several weeks, maybe months.  Then, later on when I did start to feel that uneasiness trying to sneak back in, I quickly  recalled what my friend had suggested.  I  applied it immediately, and again, it worked the same way.  How beautiful!! Beautiful for several reasons:  1)SIMPLICITY (again)!  2)It was in releasing and relaxing that the answer came, not in hard work or any other attempted solution.  Sooooo, the challenge or the struggle was in the “letting go” more than anything else. It just goes to shows that we make things  much harder than they have to be.  3(The most precious one) In getting my need met and my life enriched by this experience, this child received the maximum love and attention that she deserved.  Now, two lives have been made better simply by my act of  “letting go”. I will always be extremely grateful for those words of wisdom from my friend that day.  It changed the course and quality of my life.  It really did.

Once again, the solutions are almost always simple, but rarely easy.  That is why we need each other. That is the essence of life: different personalities, strong and weak points, meshing together to fill in each others gaps,  and in the process weaving this amazing fabric that we call our lives.

The next time you feel the harshness of the world coming at you, and possibly surrounding you, remember to reach out and touch the world in gentleness.  Peace will wash over you, and you will never be the same.  And it doesn’t have to be with a child.  It could be with an elderly person, who is becoming “child-like” in their old age, or any person with special needs of any nature.  We each have something to give, and there is someone out there who is in need of our gifts.  Give freely from your heart,  and truly, you will be blessed.

POWER POINTS: #7 Passion

Tell me, if I asked you at this moment in your life, if you can relate to or connect with the word “passion”, what would your response be?  Are you wondering at this point in your journey if you have ever “really” tasted the sweet wine?  Or have you felt all along that it is just for  “the other guy” and not for you?  Do you wonder what in the heck “passion” even is?

We would likely discover that there are  many ways to define passion, and I am not here to tell you that any one is more correct or better than another.  I’ll tell you what I am thinking right now.  It seems to me that passion doesn’t have to mean “high energy” or that there’s always a party going on.  It can be a quiet stream running deep inside of your being—something that your soul connects with, that no one can take away from you, because it is running so deep.  I think that the passion is  “your” seed, and only yours, in your soul, and that the special gifts, talents, skills and life experiences are the things that feed, water and develop that seed once you put them to use.  What do you think?  Maybe you could comment on that.

What I would like to do is to encourage you to “allow” it into your life, if indeed, you feel it is missing.  If you are someone who feels that void, I hope  you will, at this juncture, consider devoting a little attention to the discovery of that which could put the “life” back into your life, to make you get excited about getting out of bed in the morning.  When we are operating on auto-pilot, just going through the same motions day in and day out, with nothing that lights up our hearts, we are merely existing rather than living.  We’re just surviving instead of thriving.  Life is too short and way too precious to find yourself  “missing it”.

Life is oozing with possibilities for us, if we can just stop and feel it whirling around us.  It is there, and it comes in many shapes, sizes, colors and forms.  It is there in the familiar as much as along the un-tread pathways. Be excited about the familiar, loving what you have and do, so that you can have and do what you love.  Work with what God has given you,making it the best you can make it, and the payoff will always be good.  Be grateful in the small things,  as well as the big things.  Make it a habit just like brushing your teeth, and before you know it, you’ll feel more life surging through your veins.  Don’t just take my word for it.  Live it. Do it. You’ll see.  But then, don’t leave it there; now share it.  That’s when the real beauty happens.

And then, there is the unfamiliar, which we could view as threatening, intimidating, foreboding OR as an adventure, with many treasures that we cannot even imagine, simply because it is unfamiliar. How will we come to know it if we never approach it? Here’s where a little (or alot) of faith comes in.  Faith in yourself and the source of love that created you.  You were created as a unique and special person with gifts and talents and a curiosity and a free will. Gosh, when  you roll that up into a package, that’s pretty awesome!  Don’t you think? Now, what are you going to do with that package?

Here, I am excited to tell you of a resource that I have found and would like you to take advantage of for yourself or anyone you know, who may be interested.  There is a woman named Valerie Young with a business called Changing Course.  She is inspiring, to say the least,  to listen to.  She is the most vibrant, amazing business woman, who has enough life within her to equal a whole bunch of us put together. Her website is www.ChangingCourse.com.  If you get the chance to discover her, you will see that she has a unique way of helping people to make money doing what they love.  She is not a life coach, she admits.  She is very different with what she does.  Please do check her out for yourself.  And please don’t delay, again for someone else’s sake, if not for your own.  If you get the chance to hear her speak, possibly on a teleclass or conference call, you’ll really appreciate her even more than if  you just read her writings.

If you get the opportunity to surround yourself with positive, uplifting people and resources, take advantage whenever possible.  It really works to help keep a person motivated and engaged in life.   Don’t feel like you have to carry the weight alone, that  you have to figure it all out on your own.  The sooner  you release that and just step into the flow, you will see that everything we need is right here—we just have to claim it. Embrace it!

You deserve it.

SPRING TO LIFE

Spring is definitely in the air these days, or at least it’s teasing us by bobbing in and out.  And I believe many people see  Spring as a new beginning, and with that comes a new spark, a new energy, and usually a fresh attitude or perspective.

With many family members and friends of mine having  passed on rather recently, how refreshing it is to be surrounded by “natural” reminders carrying the message that life goes on, in spite of our pain, and that there are seasons and cycles in all areas of life.  It is the natural course of things.  Knowing that there are seasons and cycles helps one to see,  in trying times, that not only “this too shall pass”, but that it might be wise to soak in all the good things, big and small, that exist around us,because any piece of it can be suddenly removed at any time.  Can it not?  So, this makes it increasingly important to be ever grateful for that which we could very easily take for granted.

One of the best ways I know of to find that gratitude, when it’s just not quite making an appearance, is to seek out opportunities to put one’s self in the presence of someone else’s struggles, even in a virtual sense, which can impact your heart and mind in a way that never leaves you.  It can carry you to a  higher level of appreciation for what you already have, AND prompt you to become more actively engaged in giving to someone else’s situation, because it is in those moments, your cup will be filled up.  I truly believe that it is in the giving that we receive.

You may be thinking, “I can’t possibly give any more than I already do; I’m already spread too thin as it is.”  The challenge I pose is NOT to do “more” but instead to do “different”, because if you don’t do “different”, you will get the “same” results.  Won’t you?

You can do this.  Yes, you can.  It does require some thought and it requires some time and space to enable those thoughts.  Just remember these 3 words: PAUSE, PRIORITIZE, & PLUCK. Keep the picture of your life slim & trim, without excess and you won’t believe how great that feels, just like when you drop excess pounds, especially around your midsection, particularly when it comes to bending and twisting which we do plenty of on the path of life.  So, it helps to lighten the load, making you more flexible—both with our bodies and with our lives as a whole.  After all, it is Spring cleaning time!

Take it from someone who has been there and done it the wrong way.  If your plate is too full, and you don’t remove something from it, and you push yourself too far, you will pay a hefty price.  If  you take on more than you can reasonably handle, you could find  yourself spending years, major focus and effort, and a great deal of money to try to recover.  Trust me, there  is a better approach.

Think prevention and  plan ahead whenever possible to budget your time and energy, and get the most bang for  your buck, so to speak, for your energy expended.  And don’t forget that the icing on this cake is flexibility and the fact that you get in the do mode rather than merely the think mode.

If you are not moving, then you are stagnant.

It is, of course, your choice.

GRIEVING

I know I had mentioned previously that I have lost many loved ones in the past couple of years.  That list includes both of my parents, just 2 years apart.  I was fortunate to be with them in the final stretch, helping to meet their needs.  And such a privilege it was!  Of course, I think of them often.  I was very close to both of them, but I had much more time with Mom,  and we also had alot of common interests to share.  And I find myself, more and more as time goes on, saying things that she would say, and doing things that she would do—right down to the smallest detail.

It is interesting how connected people can be, even after one passes on.  A part of them had become embedded in me, even more deeply than I even knew, which makes me smile inside every time I think about it.  It seems as if they are right here with me.  They are here loving me still and maybe protecting and even guiding my steps a bit.  I think, though, that part of the smile is because I have a hunch, that I am being given the chance to honor them even more, as I see how they keep showing up as an actual part of who I am.  So that makes them woven right into what I present to the world.  I love it!!

Grieving, as I’m sure you probably know, also shows up in other areas of our lives.  And one of those is when we have to physically relocate, for one reason or another.  It can stir up a multitude of emotions, and sometimes they come at different stages of the process.

I have already lived through a few “major” moves in my time (along with countless smaller ones), that have drawn out a great deal of emotion and thought.  One of those emotions being grief, because every move involved loss.  It wasn’t easy to let go of things and even more difficult to let go of the people, who were dear to me.  Yes, we could still keep in touch, but it’s just not quite the same as being there.  Then, there’s the fear of the unknown that could choke you, if you let it.  Right?  (All those what-ifs)  And of course, there is that element of frustration that wiggles its way into the picture, when things don’t go the way we had planned.

But everything is a Trade-off, if you really think about it.  It seems like there is no denying it, just like you can’t deny the fact that you can’t travel north, if you are obviously travelling south.  There will be ups, and there will be downs.  However, we have choices.  We have tools.  We have memories.  And most importantly, we have each other.  Don’t be afraid to reach out.  If you are genuine and pure of heart, people will  reach back.  They really will, because we all need to be needed.  Don’t deny yourself and someone out there, who will be honored by you choosing them and meeting their need, as well.

Peace will come, if you allow it.

LIGHTENING THE LOAD AND LETTING GO

In my last entry, I touched on “letting go” of things in the process of re-locating.  There are obviously other times when we are required to let go.  In my life, when I have had to let go of “stuff”, I would have to say that those were some of the most liberating experiences.  I will admit,  at first, it was sometimes uncomfortable and sometimes downright painful.  But each time, eventually there followed a feeling of freedom—like a breath of fresh air.  Sometimes, there was excitement too, because I knew, or at least sensed, that something else— new, different, or interesting— could be just around the corner. And I believe, that when you hold this kind of  perspective and mind-set, you can just about expect good things, because that is the reality you create.  And to be honest with you, if you practice it enough times, then before you know it, “stuff” becomes less and less and less important.  And the sense of freedom that ensues——-well, let’s just say, it will have been worth the exercises you did to get you there.

Soooo, have you really taken a long look at  your closets lately?  Is it too overwhelming?  Let’s think optimistically here.  If you can, find a day when you can open up the windows, put on “your” favorite music,  have plenty of refreshing tea on hand, roll up your sleeves and take a deep  breath.  It may seem intimidating, but if you approach it with having done what you could, to create the most favorable work environment, you’ll be just fine.  If you can go into it, as if  you are going to create something new, that you can feel good about, it does help.  And, it helps even more if  you decide in advance, that your intention is to find any  gems you might have hidden in there, that you could donate  to shelters  or other organizations.  They might really be in need of what you have.  Sometimes, things that are small and/or insignificant to us, could be of great value to someone else.  It’s gratifying and encouraging that your efforts are actually heading toward a good cause, and not just off into la-la land somewhere, with no meaningful purpose.

Yes, Spring is a time for not only opening up our windows and our closets, but our minds and our hearts, as well.  Grabbing on to a fresh perspective about our bodies, our health, our lives as we are living them, can be quite an adventure.  I see this time of year, from my observation, as potentially the most productive time, for those wanting to make significant changes.  The New Year’s Resolutions that get tossed around in January, seem to find their way “nowhere” pretty quickly. Did you ever notice that?   For  those living in areas that are not the sunshine states, it’s quite normal for people to just curl up under the blankets on cold, gloomy days while waiting for the bloom of Spring to come upon us.  So, I hope you are not beating  yourself up over the fact that you just spent a few months under the blankets, not accomplishing the things you had hoped to accomplish, because life, remember, is full of cycles and seasons, and there is a time and purpose for everything.  There is a time for resting, for shedding the old, for budding into new, and so on and so on.  We simply cannot go at high speed on the same track 24/7, 365 days, without consequences.  Can we?

A very popular goal at this time of  year is —can  you guess—WEIGHT LOSS.  There are many, many products that are being waved in front of us between January and this time of the year.  Some work.  Some do not.  Some have side effects.  Some are temporary.  Some work for your neighbor but not for you, and so it goes.  Just about any health newsletter written by any natural health  practitioner will quickly encourage you, on this subject, to think first about getting your body’s pH balanced, as a top priority. This is huge.  And if you really want to just be healthy, in general, the same seems to apply.  So, I would like to encourage you to always be thinking health first, then focus on actual weight loss, after that, if you even still need to. You just may not, if you address the health goals really well,  to begin with.

I can say that from all my years of hearing other people speak about their personal experiences with attempts at either getting healthy, or at weight loss specifically, if it isn’t easy to do, or if it tastes “different” from what they are used to, they want no part of it.  That is understandable, and that is always your choice.  But if you shop around enough, and if you are serious enough, you will find that you can make the healthy changes you desire to make.  I want to mention that I came across something easy that does taste pleasant, in the form of a tea–no bitterness, just refreshing.  It is made from 5 herbs, some I would bet  you have already heard of along the way.  It wasn’t necessarily designed for weight loss, but more so as a cleansing, alkalizing tea.  But my goodness,  people are getting such great weight loss results.  Personally, I haven’t needed to lose weight in general–just in spots.  I can say that it is working for that purpose for me, as well as helping me to sleep so deeply.  I love that part, because I hadn’t been getting such good sleep in recent months.  I enjoy mine as a night- cap, and I drink it cold, right before bed.

It’s just  one of the little gems I have found, which I have been very anxious to share with you.  I will give you the website to go  to.  It is:  www.holyteadecision.com.  I hope that you can benefit from and enjoy this tea, as much as I have.  The website will show you a list of benefits people are getting from the product.  Always remember, every body is different, in how it responds to things.  You may experience certain results, and your spouse or friend may notice different results.  All we can do is try.  Right? And whenever you introduce something new into your life, it is wise to pay attention to the details of your body, your health, all aspects, before the introduction, then during and after-the-fact.  The sooner you and your self get acquainted, the better. After all,  you’re going to be together for the rest of  your life.

CONTEST #1

It’s time to have a little fun.  Here is where I will begin one type of contest that will actually be an on-going one, but within it will be separate contests with definite start and stop dates.  It’s pretty simple.  As I continue to write from this point on, I will be inserting randomly, here and there, the words “spy guy” followed by a single word.  Your job is to continue to read the entries, find the “spy guy” words, keep them written down somewhere where you won’t lose them, until you think they come together finally in a complete sentence.  E-mail me at Redesigninghealth@yahoo.com, when you think you have the sentence completed.  Tell me,of course, what you believe the sentence is.  Leave me your name and your mailing address, so that I can send you your prize, if your answer is correct. You will see the value of this prize, as soon as you open it.  It is something that can save you a great deal of money on groceries, dining out and more, which I am  quite certain you can appreciate, with the economy being what it is, at this time.  If  you decide you’d like to bless someone else with this gift, you may certainly do so.  In fact, if you do make that choice, let me know, and I will send you another one, to thank you for your generosity toward someone else.  Sound good?  Just understand, it can only be used once per household.

Another way to include others, of course, is to encourage them to read the blog regularly, so they can have a little  fun too,  while they gain some support, encouragement, and helpful ideas. They can themselves, then, e-mail me the same way, and have a chance to get this gift for themselves, as well as for a friend, just as I had explained it to you a moment ago. So, feel free to invite others to the blog, whether they want to enter into the contest or not.

I will also make an addition to the “About me and my mission” page regarding this contest, but will direct people here for the details.  If you still have any questions at this point, e-mail me with those questions, and I will respond as promptly as I can.

I look forward  to the weeks and months ahead, sharing with you and your friends.  I  hope we have a long, healthy relationship together, where we do our part to make this world a better place, in any way that we can.  I would like you to be thinking about who you know, that would like to host a Motivational Health Awareness Seminar in their church, home, clubhouse, or office, so that we can scatter good seeds of hope and awareness, with motivational support and practical resources.  I will also offer a thank-you gift to the host/hostess as well as all attendees.  The Seminars are free.  Please let me know if you know someone who would like to schedule with me.  I am only doing seminars  locally in Maryland through August 2009.  And then, I will be re-locating to Arizona, where I will be conducting seminars from that point on for the following year.  I will be resurrecting this invitation once again in a future blog entry, but feel free to contact me anytime now, if you are interested.  I can schedule for weekday evenings, except for Wednesdays, and also on Saturdays, any time.

Let the contest begin——————–

Do you see it coming?

Many of you who know me, already know that I have dealt with a nasty systemic candida problem in the past.  It is what set me on this  path of health discovery, that has taken me to so many interesting places.  I am going to encourage everyone to find a few moments to research something called “Candida Albicans” (or simply Candida), because there’s a good chance that someone you know deals with this to some degree. It doesn’t surprise me that more and more  people seem to be talking about it.  You’ll understand why I say that, when you know what it’s all about.  I first realized I had something serious about 13 years ago, when an onslaught of  symptoms  hit me all at once, like a bulldozer, and I never saw it coming.  I knew I had dealt with lots of colds and flu, when I was young.  I knew when I got older that digestive issues continued to worsen.   But it seemed like almost overnight, I went into a tailspin with more symptoms than I could even count—symptoms of all kinds. I felt like I was falling apart at the seams.   I suppose I actually was; it was very serious at that point.  What made it even  more difficult, to be honest, was that on the outside, I looked as if nothing was wrong, while inside, I was a total disaster—barely able to function normally; just hanging on by a thread.

I am going to share my story with you, so that if it can help  you or someone you know to avoid finding  yourself in such a severe situation, then I feel an  obligation to do this.

I was a single mother of 3 daughters, trying to wear all the hats, and be a Wonder Woman who could prove that I could do this thing and do it well.  Eventually, I nearly drove myself into the ground, experiencing “adrenal exhaustion”.  I felt like I was  having a complete physical breakdown.  And it all made sense, after examining how I was living.  You may relate to this, if you are a single mom or dad, just doing what you have to do.  Right?

Some of the symptoms that showed up:   Canker sores in my mouth 3 or 4 at a time, that lasted and lasted.  When they did go away, others took their place.  So my mouth was constantly sore, which made it difficult to eat much.  Not only was my mouth  sore from the canker sores, but my gums were extremely tender, the tongue was swollen often (because of reacting to foods or chemicals), and the roof of my mouth and my throat were so raw and dry, that it would bring me to tears in the middle of the night.  I was very thirsty.  My gums were receding.  When I stood up, I would often tend to lose my balance very noticeably.  My nerves were so bad, that I was very short-tempered, which was not my  nature.  I even felt suicidal at moments, which was so way out there for me.  My hair was falling out.  I had “irritable bowels”, where one minute you are feeling constipated and then the very next, you run to the bathroom (which turns out, from what I understand, is a sign of constipation, even though it appears to be the opposite).  I was very gassy no matter what I ate or drank.  So, being in any clothing that was in the least bit constricting, which basically was nearly everything (while trying to dress normally to be in public at all), was painful.   My glands would almost always swell and throb after eating.  My ears itched inside almost constantly.  My PMS symptoms were off the charts.  My skin was dry and losing tone horribly.  I had an itch in my back that could not be scratched and soothed from the outside, and so there was no way to stop that itch, when it showed up.  I could not think clearly, focus, or remember things.  My vision was extremely blurry.  I was droopy and sleepy and was losing  strength.

As I first learned what might have been the cause—an overgrowth of yeast throughout my body— I was relieved to at least have a starting point to work from, to rid myself of this monster.   Little did I know, I had such a long and frustrating and challenging road ahead.  It was difficult to go to work, but of course, I had to.  It was tough to stay focused on responsibilities and obligations, but I had to try.  I didn’t  have much money, and whenever I did make a little more, I had to keep putting it back into trying to improve my health, if I was still going to take care of the kids properly.  And it was tough to get support from family and friends, when they really had no idea what was really going on, and even if they knew, they still  didn’t know how to help, because I didn’t know what to suggest that they do.

I spoke with a few other people who had had similar symptoms and found out that they had gone to doctors of conventional medicine, and went through  nightmares due to misdiagnoses.  And one of them was even married to a doctor.  So, I decided to go the natural route.  Well, I didn’t have any medical insurance anyway.  So, I proceeded to do what I could on my own.

The main objective here is to create enough awareness on this subject, that you might be able to relate to this for yourself or someone  you know, and then find some answers to your questions.  Please do research the subject a little or alot, depending on your situation.  But the most important thing is to get ahead of it, and try not to let it get so out of control, because I still today have to be very careful about so many things, because, due to ignorance, I allowed my condition to become so advanced.

Thanks for reading and passing this on.  I have an excellent resource for you to turn to now, if you decide  you need consultation and assistance in turning things around, and this applies to other conditions—like serious addictions—as well.  Her name is Jo-anne Rohn-Cook, a natural health consultant.  She is located in Colorado.  I had heard her speaking on a radio program, and she truly was the first glimmer of hope for me.  She was the first one to make sense of it all.  I spoke with her by phone.  She turned my situation around and set me on the road to healing.  She doesn’t charge for her consultation time, and she has support materials to send, if you are interested.  I just gave her a call to confirm that she is still there at the following toll-free number, and  yes, she is.  It is: 1-800-957-4852.  Or go to her website:  www.joannerohncook.com.

Best of luck to you and  yours.  Hopefully, with an education about what causes it and aggravates it, you can use the information  preventatively to make a difference for someone.

P.S.  I opted not to start the contest til next time, because of the seriousness of this post.

MODERATION

With all the talk that goes on these days about something being good for you one minute, and then before  you know it, it’s suddenly bad for you—well, it can make  your head spin.  It can be frustrating, especially for those of us with more sensitive systems to begin with.  I used to really be not-too-happy about the fact that I was sensitive to so many things, but tried to see how to use each situation to my advantage.  The answer was  actually quite obvious, and it’s still not what we might think of as the ultimate, but that answer is:  to take all those responses as clues.  All of the times when my body is trying to communicate that something is not quite right, I have another opportunity to learn a lesson, that I can apply in the future to improve my health a little bit more.  And it is, of course, good to try to avoid the destructive, but then it gets many times better, when you take it up another notch to do something constructive. It does require focus and quieting yourself in order to tune-in.  And here is where keeping a journal is an excellent idea.  Assess where your body and overall health is on any given day, write down what  you have eaten and when, also what you drank and when, and what forms of movement did  your body partake in, as well as type, amount and time of day.  What stress factors  were in the picture, and maybe when?  How much sleep did  you get, and what were the actual sleeping hours?

Regardless of your answers to these questions, one thing that I think might apply across the board, is that Moderation can be a very good friend to have.  So, if you are just now beginning to consider making some positive changes, a good place to start is to simply adopt Moderation (whose brother you’ve already met—Balance); then go from there. This way,you can accomplish something worthwhile, as you are contemplating the next steps in your strategy.  (Spy Guy: Clean)

Back to the questions and answers from your assessment. You may seriously want to do some journaling for awhile, keep your documentation, and later (hopefully), you will consider getting a consultation by phone or in-person with a natural health practitioner, and you can bring it  along to share with this professional.  It can be a great snapshot of you to catapult you much further along on the road to the results  you seek.  And whether a person chooses to go the conventional route or the natural route for assistance with health issues, doesn’t it just make sense to know what to tell the professional,when they ask what  you’ve been experiencing?

So, as you go forward on  your new health journey, and you are trying new products, concepts, habits, or whatever the case, try to do so with a positive attitude and perspective.  By that, I mean, when something appears to be taking longer than  you thought it would to give you results, or if something seems to be giving you negative results, realize and accept that it is all part of the learning process. And don’t be like me, and make the same mistake over and over and over before  you finally get it.  Save  yourself alot of pain, agony and/or frustration, and take what you learn and use it sooner as opposed to later.  You only have one body.  Respect it.  Love it.  Trust it to tell you what it needs.  The body can and will heal itself if given the right tools to do the job.  It is an amazing thing to witness.  I have seen that truth at work on the good side of it, when I did right by myself, and then on the bad side of it, when I did wrong.  You really do have a choice.  Lots of choices.  Every day.  We are complex beings, with many facets.

As much as the body can heal itself (again, if the conditions are right), the body can and will fail you, if you don’t give it the right tools—-every day, not just every once in a  while.  The sad part is that I have witnessed countless people going about their daily routines, acting as if they are invincible, and that nothing is wrong or could go wrong with their bodies/their health, til one day, they are suddenly shocked to find they have a serious condition.  Do  you think that maybe there was a lead-in time, of sorts, to get to the status of  “serious”?  I would think so.   I would think that there is a cumulative effect going on, over time, that is a number of repeated actions, to build up to something on a more serious level.  What do you think?

I would bet that the term “investments” is probably not one you expected to show up at this moment, while discussing health.  However, it is a perfect time and place for it. One of the most important investments you will ever make  is in your very own health right now, because without your health—–Well, you complete the sentence.  And always bear in  mind that  you can choose to pay now for good health or you will have to pay later in a worse kind of way.  Which will you choose?

Remember, moderation is a good starting point, and that applies to more than just your physical being.  (Spy Guy: air)   Do a thorough (as best you can) assessment of  your overall health picture, taking into account all the areas that make up “you”, document what you observe, seek out a health practitioner to work with you, and be accountable.  It is your body you’re moving about in every day, so  you are at the wheel, making all the decisions.  Do your best to make them wise decisions.  What’s important is that you try.

SIMPLE MATHEMATICS

We could go on and on all day long about the details of what we “could” do to improve our health, but I’ll tell you, as I see it, after years of conscientiously observing and trying to figure it all out, there seems to be two main tasks at hand:  Addition and Subtraction.  Do I have you wondering what in the world I could possibly mean by that one?

Last night, I was in conversation with someone about a person he and I both care about, who has had some serious challenges going on with her body for a while now.  Well, there was a bit of good news  from him regarding her condition.  In the midst of that, I was reminded how there are basically always two main jobs we need to do.  First, and I do mean first, we need to Subtract.  We have things in our bodies and in our lives that are of a negative nature, or at least, are acting as a negative for us.  The first thing is to recognize them, obviously, and then the second is to remove them from the picture.  This is along the same lines of content in previous writings I have done, but I am just going to present this in a fresh way, to help some who may not have gotten it before, with maybe a couple of new points too.

Let’s start with the Body—where you live everyday, no matter what other environment you may find yourself in.  We live in a world right now that is  LOADED with all sorts of toxins.  There is so much current literature on this subject, and if you have  not spent any time reading about it, it may very well be time.  This is HUGE.  This is one where ignorance is absolutely not bliss.  Entering into that realm of info could really change things for  you for the better, by getting the awareness, so please do devote some time to it, especially if you have little ones that you care about.  They are counting on you to give them a healthy world to live in.  The number of toxins we are bombarded with daily has been  rapidly ever-increasing, but there really is hope.  It takes commitment and everyone doing their part, but there are ways that already exist, and more solutions coming on the scene regularly, as more people are seeing the light.  Do what you can to contribute to turning this situation around for your own sake, for your children’s sake, and for our planet—It is home to  us all.  We might as well work as a team.  Right?

(Spy Guy: and)  Sorry, I got off onto the bigger picture, but let’s get back to YOU and your body and your immediate environment.  I am guessing that you have been hearing about non-toxic cleaners, and maybe you have already invested in some.  I hope so.  You will find as you research this subject more, that the toxins are also in all of your personal care products—the things you are putting on your skin, hair, nails, and in  your mouth.  The sooner  you can switch to healthier, non-toxic brands, the safer and healthier you will become.  Remember when I spoke before about cumulative effects making us sick eventually?  Hopefully, I have your attention here.  This is a simple adjustment you can make to SUBTRACT some of the negatives, plug in some positives, and position yourself to not only feel better in the short term, but know that you are not tearing down your body and it’s many systems over time with things that are working to your detriment.  (Spy Guy: water) You can find your healthier alternatives in the health stores, or let me know if that’s just not convenient for you,  and I can connect  you with a couple of good product lines from excellent companies, that you can choose from and have the option to shop from  home.  You can e-mail me at Redesigninghealth@yahoo.com.

Another way to Subtract negatives is to do a cleanse.  There are different cleanses that one can do, depending on what your goal is.  You could do a whole body cleanse, a  liver cleanse, a digestive cleanse, a parasite cleanse,  and I believe there are even others to consider.    I have previously mentioned  a good herbal product that you may want to try, that has done great things for me.  It has been known to help with different areas of cleansing.  Go to www.holyteadecision.com.  It will really break it down for  you there.  The idea is to clean out your “house”,  so that you can function much better on various levels.  Your body will thank you in many ways.  The important  point I want to make is that I  don’t want to see  you invest money in expensive vitamin supplements, that will not do their job, if you haven’t created an optimum environment for them to be able to do so.  Clean house first, then invite the guests.

And please  realize that if  you want that better job or better clothes or companions or anything else, you have to remove what is currently residing in those positions.  Subtract.

Now, you can do your ADDITION.  Once the stage has been set and the space has been made and the attitude is right, embrace the abundance.  Now, you can have fun re-designing your life.  There really are so many options available to us these days.  The problem isn’t so much that people don’t know their options, although that is a big problem; I believe it’s more so that people don’t even know that there are problems that they can do something about.  And that is why I am here.  Not to tell you what is wrong with you or to tell you what you need to do, but to create the awareness, get you thinking and hopefully, move you to take action and to be accountable.   Days go by quickly and cannot be re-captured once they are gone.

I never was good at math in school.  It was definitely not my strong area.  So, if I can figure out this simple math, you probably can too.  But, as I have said before,  the answers are almost always so simple, but rarely easy to execute.  So,  you can expect challenge to arise, but you can always conquer if your convictions are strong enough, if your goals are honorable, and your eyes are set on how the fulfillment of your desires ultimately brings about good for more than just yourself.

If you need someone to talk to, don’t hesitate to contact me.  I will share what I can to encourage you and connect  you with others who can, as well.

YOUR Health Identity

It has been a few days now since I have posted anything new.  Life is full of detours.  Isn’t it?  But it’s all good.  It’s all exciting.  Even when we  have a bit of fear put into us, or a bit of frustration because things are not moving the way we had hoped, in the timing we had hoped for—there are opportunities.  Wow!  Life is so FULL of opportunities.  We just have to have our senses sharpened so we don’t miss them…Like when you have to detour down a different road that you don’t normally travel, because of construction or whatever other reason, and you find something on that road that you are awed by, or excited to find— or just the fact that it may be another route that you can use to get where you want to go, but you never knew it was an option; it’s all good.  We are already squeezed into so much routine in our lives, and routine is a good thing, but we also need variety.  Don’t we?  It’s very healthy.  We can either choose it or wait for life to just put us somewhere unexpectedly.  Our job is always to  keep open to possibilities that we might embrace and enjoy and/or learn something from.  It happens that I have been blessed with more solutions to some of my problems, in this interim since I last wrote to you, and now I am inspired all over again to share more and more with everyone I can.  So, hopefully, we both benefit in the weeks and months ahead,  from my many detours, both past and future.

I have found over recent years that there have come to be many, many wonderful health products at our disposal from which to choose.  Some are as “old as the hills”, while others are based on new findings.  How exciting that is!  There is something for everyone, and there seems to be something for all stages of life.  If you are feeling ready to move in the direction of natural health, as I have indicated before, you can relax and be assured that there are many people working in that field who welcome the opportunity to serve you with their  knowledge, experience, expertise and resources.  The beauty of this world of natural alternatives as opposed to drug therapies is that you do not  have to deal with those nasty, negative side effects.  What you do have to be prepared for, however— and make sure you grasp this— is the “healing crisis”.  Your body is going to be working hard to re-balance itself as you begin to clean it out and feed it the finer fuel that it has been starving for, and you will feel some detox symptoms that may be uncomfortable for a bit. Those symptoms may include a headache, sleepiness, skin rash or itch, change in bowel movements, emotional sensitivity, different body odors, and maybe others.  But just think of it this way: it’s better to feel some of the associated discomforts on the road to optimal health, than to be traveling down a road full of increasingly  severe pains, discomforts, hopelessness and other issues that together equal very poor quality of life.  (Spy Guy: can)  I admit that I have experienced many years of detox symptoms on this roller coaster of life, and believe me, there were many times when I have thought to myself, “Isn’t it over yet?  Isn’t my body cleaned out by now?”  But I was an example of someone with a very, very toxic body— for various reasons.   And because we do not live in a perfect world, I had many challenges  that kept me from maintaining the better levels  once I had reached them; hence, the ongoing roller coaster.  And one of those “constant” challenges was simply being human.  It is easy to be hard on yourself too when you realize you “messed up”, but doing so only hinders progress.  Also, realize that when you do ” clean yourself up” from years of exposure to toxins of possibly many types, your body has been beat up by all of that,  and it may take some time to re-build, but just know that it is possible. Remember, I did reference roller coaster, not downhill slide.

Now,  you are probably looking for some practical tools right about now.  I have been very anxious to tell you about something I learned about a couple of months ago.  It is called “Oil Pulling”.  I could tell after the first couple of times that I applied this, that it was indeed doing some good.  It is a means of detoxifying yourself by way of the oral cavity, using an oil you would find in a kitchen cabinet.  I  have read different takes on this, so I am going to simply ask you to Google it and decide for yourself.   Good, good stuff.

Here is another hot tip shared by a massage therapist friend, when I told him I was feeling extra toxic during a particular time, a while back.  I have already told some of  you about this one.  (Spy Guy:  do)  Take an old rolling pin, set it on the floor (rug or carpet—not slippery surface), and put one foot on it with as much weight as you can, while steadying yourself by holding onto a dresser or something like that.  Roll your foot very slowly toe to heel and back a few times, applying as much of your full weight as you can safely do, without losing your balance.   When you come across a tender spot, focus on that spot more, hopefully til the tenderness subsides.  Do not do it for more than a minute on each foot.  Trust me,  because I didn’t know that and did it for a couple of minutes, and I stirred things up too much and got all bloated and felt very “yucky”—like even more toxic.  So, that’s what I have been doing right before bed and even sometimes in the “afternoon lull”.  When I do it, I sleep better and awaken more refreshed and ready to go.  I’m guessing it works like foot reflexology, but it is so quick and easy.  And, when I am having specific issues, and I use the rolling pin, I can feel instantly (not exaggerating), that there is relief or a positive change taking place.  It’s absolutely awesome!  I leave the pin on my pillow, so that when I get ready to get into the bed, I’ll clearly be reminded to use it before retiring.  And in my case, this has worked for aching kidneys, liver and gallbladder trouble, stomach problems, headaches, backaches, and overall “yuck”.  But that’s me and my story.  I hope it can help you even a little, because obviously, it’s something inexpensive to try.  Right?  You can get an old pin at thrift stores or yard sales.

Now, after this, I will be giving you more and more resources, but before I do, I want to set the stage this way.  Many of you are looking for the least expensive solutions, while there are some of  you who want only the best and will pay any price for answers.  There are some who want nothing to do with companies that require autoship in order to get a decent price.  There are some who prefer auto-ship, because they are so busy and have so many other things to remember to do, that once they know they really like a product,   they don’t want there to be a lapse in getting the product.  There are some who only want pills, some only want drinks, and some only want topical things.  Some only want things that taste like candy, some don’t care what it tastes like, as long as the product does the job.  Some don’t trust anybody and some are open to  listening to whomever.  Some want more broad-spectrum generalized products, and some  want to get very specific to aim right at the problem area.   There are many types of people with different perspectives, values, habits, budgets, circumstances, etc…So, keep in mind that I will just be sharing with you various possibilities that run the gamut, and it will be up to you to research them, check them out, try them on for size, and take it from there.  Okay?

So-o-o, give it some thought, do a little self-assessment in these various areas, and determine “your health identity”  between now and when we meet again.  This way, you’ll be ready to shoot right out of the gate.

See you next time.

Beyond Reason

Before I go too far, I want to just take a moment to thank everyone very much for all the wonderful feedback you have given to me, and for all of the terrific support and encouragement.  It does mean a great deal to a person, whether they feel they have finally figured out what they want to do when they grow up, or whether they are still searching, to get encouraging words from the people around them.  For me, it feeds into the desire that is already there to serve and to make a difference, and fans the flame.    And that is so important.

Today, I want to finally dig in to my overflowing “treasure chest” of goodies and get you really moving on  your way.  First, I would like to address those of you who would like to try some nutritional supplements from reputable companies, and be able to shop from home, without having to go on an auto- ship.  One that I have found that is located  in Arizona, that has been around for many years, offers some unique products,  putting a great deal of emphasis on quality and customer service.  They do not require an  auto-ship but have just decided to offer it, by request, to those who would like something shipped automatically every month.  They have different kinds of sales and specials going all the time.  They try to offer a good amount of education along with offering products.  They have a product expert on staff during the day to answer questions and concerns.  They are wonderful, professional people who really do make you feel like you and your needs are #1.  Go to www.HealthyHabitsWeb.com.  If you like what you see and decide to place an order, they will ask for a code at that time.  It is used for tracking purposes.  Key in 484826.  They don’t charge an arm and a leg for shipping either, which these days is also very refreshing.  So, I hope you enjoy shopping with them, as much as I have.  They will allow you to purchase at a huge discount if  you want to pay a small  semi-annual fee to become a “Preferred Customer”, so that you can get products much, much cheaper.  So-o-o worth it.  They’ll take good care of you.

I want to now tell  you about something very awesome.  I first was exposed to it in Arizona years ago.  It is called a Migun massage bed.  I have a friend in Michigan now who sells them, and I like to refer people to her, to help her build her business.  Anyway, it is a bed that is not the full size of a twin bed (maybe half as wide, I am guessing here), and you lie down on your back on it.  It has a mechanism that moves in different patterns, while using far-infrared heat to balance the body.  Anything that I have come across over the years that is meant to “balance” is always big for me, because there are so many factors working daily to throw us off, in many ways.   So, when I tried it, I was encouraged to use it every day for a week, to get the cumulative benefit, and I kid  you not,  it was phenomenal.  (Spy Guy: wonders)  My vision had  been quickly worsening at that particular time, and after my 6th day of using the bed, my vision was so clear when I walked out of that place!  It hasn’t stayed that way, because again, many factors  continued to aggravate my health in general on top of not having access to the bed anymore.  The beds had been set up in a store, strictly for people to try with the idea that they might fall in love with the product and  eventually buy.  Well, I  had to re-locate to Michigan and then shortly after I left, the store re-located to California. (But my daughter bought a bed from them before they left.  Yessss.)  Then in Michigan, I found and made friends with a nice person there, who sells them.   Her website is www.migunbodysense.com.  Take a look.

I want to encourage you to s-t-r-e-t-c-h, if it is your desire to grow, because the two are kin to one another.  Are they not?   It may mean then, going beyond reason, beyond our comprehension, beyond the norm, beyond conventional.  I just don’t know how one can find, if you don’t genuinely seek.  Every day is a new chance to find what we seek.  It is up to you to determine your own level of desire.  No one else can do that for you.

SUPPORT

We have had such beautiful  walking weather the past few mornings here!  There are many different plants in bloom and everything is so clean and green.  I even started to see the cute little bunnies that I love so much.  I saw the tiniest one scurrying to get in the tall grass,  when he saw me coming toward him on the trail.   I couldn’t help but smile at that one.   It is so invigorating and inspiring to just walk and take it all in, and breathe deeply so as not to miss one iota of it.  Part of the thought process going on at those moments has to do with the fact that the hot weather is edging its way in, and I try on some level, to soak in all the “good stuff” and  store it up.  I  prefer the lower temperatures myself.  But it’s all good.  Each season has its definite good points.  One that I like about summer in the East and Midwest is the sky still being at least somewhat light even after 9:00 p.m.  You can have more outdoor play time at the end of the workday.  But sometimes, it’s easy to get carried away, and not want to stick with certain  regimens that are ultimately the healthier things to stick to as much as possible, while still having some fun and allowing for spontaneity.  Balance. Balance. Balance.  It really does pay off in the long run.

I  hope you have something that you benefit from, the way I do from walking on the trail each morning and evening.  I have read countless times about how walking is one of the very best forms of exercise, and that seems to apply to just about anyone.  And when the weather is conducive to walking outdoors, as opposed to indoors on a treadmill or in a shopping mall, you have the wonderful added benefit of connecting with the other forms of life that enrich our world, as well as the awesome beauty of the sky itself, that can seem to speak volumes, at times.   (Spy Guy: for)  Whatever it is that empowers you, balances you, energizes you, calms or soothes your soul—-please make time for it.  It is a huge element in the necessary support that you can provide  to yourself when you don’t seem to be getting it from anyone else.  You will do yourself such good by feeding your soul, and balancing your body and your emotions, because remember, all of the parts affect the whole.  And the sooner you can discover what does that for you, the sooner you will strengthen yourself and be able to move forward to meet your goals and fulfill your dreams.

When I reference the parts affecting “the whole”, I mean all the parts of  you affecting the whole you, and also the parts of your family making up the whole family, and the parts of the community making up the whole community, and the parts of our country making up the climate of our country.  But we cannot be overwhelmed by the big picture, as we try to be conscious of it.  Rather, it just breaks down to each person focusing on being and doing the best they can, and encouraging and “supporting” others as we practice self-support.  And in the process, we move together toward a “higher” level of  consciousness, and a world full of goodness. It is a team effort.  Isn’t it?  It takes creating a sense of family amongst us all, raising each other up as we strengthen ourselves, and what goes around, comes “right back at ‘cha”.

I wanted to just take a moment on this Memorial Day weekend to say how grateful I am for all of those who have sacrificed their lives for others, in order to keep our country safe.  And beyond the battlefields of wars with other nations, our world is full of other battlefields that exist within our communities and in our homes and workplaces.  BUT there are heroes there too.  My hat is off to all of them, who sacrifice a part of themselves, just so that someone else may have a shot at a better quality of life—even if it is only for a moment.  How honorable that is.

Support is critical within ourselves as well as outside of ourselves.  Isn’t it?  Again, I hope you find gratitude in your heart to fuel your life, and then overflow onto others, as  you  become more and more full of the wonder and splendor of all that life really  holds on so many levels.  (Spy Guy: a)

If you are  looking for a general support group or want some one-on-one time, if  you are feeling a sense of aloneness (whether you are alone,  or are around plenty of people but just feel alone), leave me your name and contact info at my e-mail:  Redesigninghealth@yahoo.com.  Everyone should have someone.  With all the  people in the world, there is no reason that anyone should ever truly feel alone.  We each were made with an element of  “specialness”, that comes alive when combined with relationships.  Otherwise, it sits dormant, and life is too short to waste.

Natural non-toxic products

As I have mentioned before, it is very important that we take a good look at the many chemicals that we are surrounded with on a daily basis.  There are those found in our personal care products  that go directly on our skin, those that we put on our hair, those with even put in our mouths, and those we breathe. We  clean our homes, our dishes, baby’s toys, pet dishes,  our grills and everything else you can think of around the house with dangerous chemicals, unless you have made the switch to healthier, non-toxic cleaners.  In case you didn’t know, there are  great product lines that you can order from home, that come from companies with good reputations.

Oprah has featured some products  on her show several times, highlighting her favorites—one being the Shaklee Basic H.  I personally like it for the fact that it  has no smell and of course, no chemicals.  I have been in the cleaning business on and off, full and part-time, over the years, and it is has been  great for me to use while working.  Also, it is nice to able to offer something  safe to clients  who are chemically sensitive, and who have a tendency to react to many different things.  It is very concentrated, so you can make it stretch a long way.  And, because it is a concentrate, you can control how much you would like to use at a time.  I have a good friend who can help you with their products.  She is at www.shaklee.net/js_healthier_choices. The company offers some great solutions to many of your cleaning, laundry, personal care and health concerns.

I realize that you can buy all sorts of cleaners at the dollar stores and other stores, where you may shop for cleaning and everyday household products.  It is understandable that everyone is trying to stretch their dollars as far as they can these days.  However, do not let the price of a bottle of one of  the Shaklee products  deceive and deter you, because you’ll want to understand that it is a concentrate.  When you do a comparison to popular commercial brands, you can actually save money using Shaklee, and live healthier at the same time.  Consider that a bottle of their Basic-G, a natural germicide product, which is effective against more than 44 types of bacteria, fungi, and viruses, is equal to hundreds of bottles of the leading competitors.  So give it a look, and get educated.  Then, do consider giving them a try.

It saddens  me that so many  people are in such ill health these days, and they don’t seem to realize the significance of this particular factor—exposure to toxins.  This is part of the reason that I was moved to do this blog—to create some awareness on this topic, as well as others.  It frustrates me that people, who feel that they have no health problems, blow off the seriousness of this subject, thinking it carries no weight for them and their situations.  (Spy Guy: body).  But we are all exposed to countless different toxins, coming at us from many directions.  Some are obvious and some are not-so-obvious.  Some we can control and some we cannot.  The important thing to think about is this: individually, they may seem harmless or at least, not a big deal.  But it is collectively and cumulatively over time, that the real problem occurs.  And that end result can manifest in surprising ways.  Isn’t it wise to stay ahead of the game the best you can, think and act preventatively, and control those elements that you can control?

There is hope.  There are solutions.  There are  tools.  There is support.  It comes down to decision.  Decide to make the changes, re-design your life to bring joy, health and fulfillment to the days you share with the people you love.   And do it now.   Don’t wait.  Life is calling.

TIMING

Is there something that you  have been wondering about whether or not you should get involved in, or is there a project idea that you have had for some time and just haven’t felt like acting on it yet, or is there a word or phrase that keeps popping up lately and has you curious to know more?  I personally have rather recently had something posed to me by two different people around the same time, a few months ago.  I just didn’t connect with it at that time, and so I blew it off.  Well, a couple of months later, the subject came up again, and something magical happened inside.  I can’t really find the appropriate words to describe it (if there even are any), but I just knew it was the right time.  It was crystal clear.  I didn’t hesitate for even a moment.  I simply said “Okay.  I’m ready for this.  Let’s do it.”  That something I refer to was starting this blog.  That’s how it is, when  you begin to walk your true path.  Timing. Trusting  your instincts.  Not hesitating at all when you know it’s the right thing.  You don’t have to understand it nor do you have to be able to explain it.  You just have to feel it with every fiber of your being, and then step out.  Act.

I am so glad that I made the decision, because it was that vehicle I had been waiting for for such a long, long, long time.  You may be thinking,  “What’s the big deal?  It’s just a blog.”  Some of you, who have known me a while, know that the thought of  sitting at a computer for any length of time was something I fought for as far back as I can remember.  I have always been very restless sitting for any real length of time.  Plus, I was afraid of computers, because it all seemed way too overwhelming for me to grasp.  Also, because of being as ill as I was for so long,  combined  with going through pre-menopause, I really struggled with many physical, mental and emotional challenges that seemed to get in the way of learning.  I  only recently spent any considerable time on a computer, just to do e-mail, and then jumped right into this, more or less.  So, there has clearly been a force at work to bring me to this moment.  There is no doubt in my mind about that.  And I am so-o-o grateful.  But what has happened is that all the other components were aligning at the same time, so it just fit, and seemed to make it easy to accept as being “right”.

I have also already shared with some of you a bit of prose that I had written some time ago, but for those who are new, I want to take this time to share the message:  It is called “KEEPING TIME”: ” Life is such a beautiful symphony when we just allow the artist, God, to orchestrate in what He, the Creator of the masterpiece, determines to be the perfect timing.  Each of us is an instrument in position to be played.  Tune yourself daily.  It is your duty to learn your role in the overall production.  Be patient.  Be alert and watchful, so as not to miss your cues when they appear—audibly, visibly, internally.  AND—don’t worry; God keeps perfect time.”

So, don’t worry if something about “right now” isn’t feeling just right for you, in regards to anything—it may be that it is not the best time for it.  Trust your gut.  Seriously.  I cannot wait to tell you another cool story about something that has just recently happened, that will be another shining example of this “timing” thing.  Hopefully, I can share that soon.  (Spy Guy: Believe)

Here, I’d like to throw something out there to you from what may seem like left field.  But you know, it actually fits quite well with the timing subject.  Hopefully, you’ll see what I mean.  If you have not already heard about something called Prepaid Legal, I want you just to consider taking a peek at what this company offers.  It gives me such peace of mind to have them in my hip pocket for a very affordable monthly price.  I have an attorney on retainer, so that if there is ever cause to need one, it’s a done deal—just a phone call away.  I know you may think, “I don’t need that.  I don’t have any legal challenges right now, and certainly not on a monthly basis.  And heaven knows, I have enough other deductions every month; I can’t afford another one—especially if I don’t even need that product.”  Am I right?  Did I read your mind?   Do yourself a favor, and just take a few minutes to go to www.prepaidlegal.com/hub/smithc87.  My very good friend, Cheryl, will help you from there.  I have used my membership a few times already.  It’s kind of like any insurance that you have, that you don’t use every day, but you want to have in position, should the need arise.  Same mentality really, but go to the website to really get enlightened.  You may be surprised at what you had not thought of, and will be glad to have found out more about the subject.   Hopefully, you won’t need the membership, but hopefully you will have it, in case you do.  It could mean the difference between life going along smoothly and a majorly disturbing life event.  And as with all things, think of who you know who might benefit as much or more than you yourself.  Then pass it on.

Funny thing about timing— you just don’t know when it’s going to do what it does.

A Sweet Encounter Gone Sour

At the end of last summer I found an awesome yellow watermelon that was just as sweet as could be—I really felt like I was eating candy.   I ate alot of this melon, thinking I would use it as a cleanse, since I had done that before, and all was fine.  But I had not done it with yellow watermelon, so I don’t know if it was just because it was a yellow melon this time around  instead of red, or if something else was different.  But I could not believe how quickly after finishing the melon, that I started to have several unusual and uncomfortable symptoms:  intense joint and back pain and ache, unbelievable fatigue—like I had never before experienced, an irritability that I couldn’t seem to shake, a weak heart, difficulty taking in a full breath of air, and the strangest one—my teeth felt so on edge, particularly if I ate anything that wasn’t totally soft.  I thought, “What in the world is happening?”  It just so happened that I had a book that a very generous friend had loaned to me, which I had just skimmed through, not too long prior to this incident.  I recalled having noticed something in there that was relative to my experience.  So, I got out the book, and amazingly, I went almost directly to that part of the book that defined exactly what I had just experienced.  Unbelievable!  Talk about Timing and Purpose.

The book is called The Acid-Alkaline Diet for Optimum Health by Christopher Vasey, N.D.  He indicates that some people have trouble metabolizing fruit acids, and that if you wonder if you are one of them, that there’s a way to test yourself.  If you just eat alot of your favorite fruit when it’s in season, you should experience these certain symptoms in a relatively short period of time.  Well,  that’s exactly what happened to me, only I wasn’t trying to test myself.  (Spy Guy: in)  ( I had this story in my mind, because  someone in the family just brought home the first watermelon of the season the other day. )  I will NEVER forget that whole dreadful experience, which took months to get over, when it came to certain symptoms.  You may want to get the book I mentioned, just to get a little more educated about the different classifications of foods. It’s easy reading, and it’s just a great book to have in your library to return to every so often, along with the pH Miracle by Dr. Robert Young.   They may seem to have some conflicting information, however, so you may have to just try them out, and see what really makes sense for your body.  Interesting reading, to say the least.

Hopefully, you will have a wonderful summer full of good, healthy eating, enjoying the great fresh produce from your local farmer’s markets.  Remember that the deeper and brighter those oranges, reds, purples, yellows and greens, the more nutritional value you’re going to get.  And the more you can do raw, the more nutrients you will get from each fruit or vegetable.  Heat will destroy the natural, necessary enzymes that are in those foods, as well.  If you are heating foods, I encourage you to take a digestive enzyme supplement to help your body to break down your carbs, proteins, and fats, and help your body absorb the nutrients.  After all, we are not just what we eat, but what we assimilate.  And if your digestive tract is compromised due to a condition, such as candida or any other, you can feed yourself all of the best,  fresh, organic produce and you will still struggle to improve your health to the degree that you seek.  Your  digestive system may just need some extra TLC, healing and support before you get where you want to be, when it comes to fully absorbing and assimilating. Be patient.  Be consistent and persistent.  You’ll get there.  Don’t give up.  It’s a journey and a process, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.  Take advantage of some of the other articles I have posted to find support tools and resources.

It can be very difficult to be the only one in the household who has digestive challenges, and to have to be so cautious about what goes into your mouth.  People around you just don’t “get” what you’re going through; they cannot relate, since it hasn’t happened to them.  They may think you are a hypochondriac or that you are exaggerating the severity of things or that “it’s all in your head.”  So, it is good if you can be connected to someone who can relate to your struggles, even if they may not necessarily have anything to offer but true understanding.  That’s big,  when you would otherwise feel “alone” in your situation.

(Spy Guy: the) Hopefully, you do have someone  you can talk to, but if not, feel free to e-mail me at Redesigninghealth@yahoo.  Again, enjoy that wonderful fresh produce that is in season, but just remember to be alert to  your body’s signals as you go along.  Too much of a good thing can quickly make a sweet encounter go sour.

Getting Centered

HOLY BASIL!!!  What an incredible little gem I found.  Remember when I told you some of the symptoms I experienced after eating that melon were what seemed like a weak heart and inability to fill my lungs with a full breath of air?  Those symptoms lingered for quite some time after the incident.  Well, eventually, I found a CD that I had acquired at some point in the past, listened to it, and an answer was revealed.  There was a woman doctor being interviewed on the benefits of the herb called Holy Basil.  I had not heard of this herb prior to this.  As I listened to her, some  of the things she mentioned sounded pertinent to my situation, and so I thought I would give it a try.  Not only did it address the two symptoms that I had mentioned, but it also gave me energy and a beautiful mental clarity that was such a breath of fresh air, after having dealt with years of mental fog, inability to focus on tasks, and poor memory.  I started to have memories just popping into my head out of nowhere—memories of all sorts of things from distant past.  Needless to say, I was very, very excited about that.  But what I also experienced, and continue to (since I continue to take it), is a wonderful balanced feeling as well.

She highly recommended the New Chapter brand of Holy Basil.  She said it was superior.  I had already been familiar with this company and the quality of their products—-TOP NOTCH! (Spy Guy: tremendous)   But to get the best price, I would suggest going to iHerb.com.  If you would like $5.00 off  your first order of this or any of their many, various brand-name products listed there, give them this code:  LAM 497.

This same doctor spoke of how  doctors have helped people successfully,  with even severe depression, and that the results came very quickly.  So, whether you are feeling just a little off-center or have more severe issues, you may want to give this product a whirl.  I buy the one that happens to also say “Supercritical” on the label.  It has to do with their extraction method they use with their products, which supposedly is what makes them work as well as they do.  The label on my bottle here in front of me also says, “Supports healthy cortisol, blood sugar, and insulin metabolism; protects healthy cells from radiation damage; and elevates spirit.  Also, the description on the back also says that in Ayurvedic medicine, it is considered the “Mother Medicine of Nature”.  I think that says alot.  Don’t you?

I also want to add a reminder to take walks outdoors, spending time alone with nature whenever possible, and learn and practice some form of meditation.  These things are not going to cost you any money and they bring such treasure to both the mind and the soul.  You’ll see.  But you have to really surrender to it.  Don’t resist as you go through the motions.  Our bodies need refreshment on a regular basis, and if we are ALWAYS  thinking about the next task on our to-do list, there is no room for that hiatus—however big or small and in whatever form you should choose.

Life holds so much opportunity, adventure, joy and fulfillment—if we can just allow it and give it an opening to enter in.

SUMMER SMARTS

Summer seems to bring its own vocabulary.  Does it not?  This might be where a teacher or a party hostess asks the children to make a list of all the words that come to mind, when they think of summer vacation.  But something tells me that there’s a very important word that they would not think to put on the list.  And that’s okay, because as parents and grandparents, it is one of our many jobs to think about this word, and then ensure that it is put into practice.  That word is PREVENTION.

Sadly, I have known of too many cases of a good time being cut short, because of something bad happening, due to lack of forethought or planning.  I imagine that you campers out there are quite familiar with a typical first-aid kit.  Right?  I am going to challenge you now to ‘think outside of the (first-aid) box’.  Are you with me?

Our bodies can become over-heated on long, hot days in the summer sun.  Tempers may tend to overheat, as well.  In planning ahead, there are some basic elements to assess, which could help keep things a bit more mellow.  Here are some:  the environment, body fuels, skin types, ages of individuals, health conditions, time of day, clothing fabric, frame of mind, and group dynamics.

I will elaborate a little on some of these points to jump-start your process of consideration.  First, environment: Is there sufficient shade and shelter available if the need should arise?  Body Fuel—both food and drink:  It is critical to have access to plenty of pure drinking water to stay hydrated properly. Try not to just assume there will be the water that you are going to need.  Take control of this one;  it’s too important.  I suffered heat exhaustion twice, and I happen to already be a very big water-drinker.  So, you just have to be ahead of it.  Keep sugar consumption at a minimum and consider the source of sweeteners you may be using.  Avoid harmful sugar substitutes.  If you are unfamiliar with  your options, please take a minute to check with the health food stores.  You do have some options that are safe.  (Spy Guy: power)  Include plenty of fibrous foods.  Plan for eating smaller portions frequently, rather than one big meal at the end of the day right before retiring.  This is especially important if you have been playing hard and are ravenous and have a tendency to over-indulge.  Your body needs to rest, not digest, when you are sleeping.  If you slack here, you pay in upset stomachs, toxic build-up that leads to multiple issues, and just plain grumpy people.  Clothing: Try to choose clothing that ‘breathes.”  Cotton is good.  (There is even organic cotton to choose from, as well.)  100% polyester is absolutely not the right choice.  The body must be free to perspire to cool itself.

A tip for you:  If you were not already aware, there are neck scarves designed to chill  before use, that you will use around your neck to help regulate your temperature.  I learned of them, while living in Arizona.  Wonderful.  One site you can go to is www.coolbandanas.com.  But  you could also google “cooling neck wraps”.  The other thing you can do, if you do get overheated, is to put an ice pack or a baggie with ice on the base of the neck. That’s where  the paramedics told me to put it, when I suffered heat exhaustion.  It is the point of temperature regulation, I guess.

Do what you can to avoid additives, colorings  and preservatives.  Be just as  conscious of what  you apply  topically as you are of what you ingest through the mouth.  Your skin will be drinking in whatever you apply, as it eventually makes its way into your bloodstream.  The chemicals in many commercial products can wreak havoc, especially in those of us who tend to be more chemically sensitive.  Again, visit your local health stores.  Invest some time in studying your healthy options in bug repellents, sunscreens, lip balms, first-aid products, etc…Avoid  chemical perfumes that attract bees, and add to your toxic build-up.  (There are essential oils in the health store that are put into roll-on perfumes, for your pleasure and convenience.)

Simply think moderation and balance across the board.  Everyone will be much better for it.

Final words:  Ponder. Plan. Prepare.  If you invest a little time to do these things, the payoff will be priceless.  Have an awesome summer experience this and every year to come.

PSEUDO-FOODS, “SUPERBUGS”, AUTISM, EMF

I know some of you are ready for more  of the practical solutions.  Here we go.  I am going to give you a quick glimpse at a variety of topics today.

If you have ever wondered about what exactly fills the shelves of the supermarket in all the areas that are not in the “Health Food Section”, you may want to pick up a copy of the book called The Crazy Makers—How the Food Industry Is Destroying Our Brains and Harming Our Children.  It is by Carol Simontacchi, who “takes a hard, shattering look at how the pseudo-foods being promoted today—from infant formulas to supposedly health-conscious packaged meals–can, in fact, physically erode our brains,” (taken from the inside cover).   It will give you “food” for thought, that could very well change your food-buying habits from this point on.  Let me know what you think.

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Many people are wondering how we are going to address  “the issue of the emergence of antibiotic-resistant superbugs along with the growing ineffectiveness of many antibiotics.” Have you looked into Colloidal Silver yet in your travels? I will tell you up front that it seems to be  a controversial topic. You will find opinions that cover a broad spectrum.  But if you can settle on the right product that you are comfortable with, it could  provide a viable solution to  concerns that you may have, regarding keeping ourselves clean  internally and safe from the “bad bugs”–or pathogens.    I have a friend who can discuss the subject with you and offer the best options for your consideration.  She can connect you with the only silver proven through patent testing to be  non-toxic, to be able to kill pathogens such as MRSA, and is FDA approved. Her site is www.mynsp.com/be-healthy.  Her name is Carla.  She offers a wealth of information to you, and is very excited to share what she has.

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I normally do not give you too many subjects in one post, but today I feel like I should kind of catch up a bit, since I have had my hands  busy elsewhere lately, with a different  “summer schedule”, so I hope you don’t mind. (Spy Guy: of)

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Have  you heard of the Body Ecology Diet  yet?  There is a wonderful website I would love to send you to if you know  anyone dealing with Autism, or a yeast problem.  Yes, the two can be connected.  Donna Gates will tie it together for you at www.BodyEcology.com.  She is such a gentle, caring person who can bring enlightenment and a viable solution to the mystery of Autism.  Please send anyone you know,  who might be looking for answers on this subject, to her website.  You could really change someone’s life.  If you are in Maryland, your local coach is Cindi Callanan at 410-771-4994.

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You may be aware of something called EMF—Electro-Magnetic Frequencies—and some of the solutions that have been offered to help shield you from them.  Well, I found something this past year that I get the feeling is not all that well-known.  It is called tachyonization.  If you have an interest in energy, and/or would like to know more about this “tachyon” thing, go to www.tachyon-partners.com/marijanet.  This company educates people and offers products to help balance your body using a technology that seems to be in a class of its own.  Very interesting.  (Spy Guy: love)

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Thanks for checking in with me.  Hope you found some good info today.  Do pass it on, if you think of anyone who might benefit.  Hope you are having a good start to your summer vacation.  Keep the balance and keep your cool.

Mind Your Mind

Is your mind going wild these days with over-stimulation?  There are many sights and sounds all vying for our attention.  And then we subject ourselves to even more,  because in an attempt to seek  education,  solutions or entertainment, we get “hooked” by some bit of bait that wants to draw us to more.   And we go for the bait.  Next thing we know, we find ourselves somewhere miles away from where we originally intended to go.  Sometimes that is okay, because it is true that one connection can lead to another that ultimately does help us find what we are seeking.  It really can take a series of steps in some cases.  Then, in other cases, we pause, look at ourselves  and think,  “What am I  doing?  I should be doing…”  or “Oh my gosh, what time is it?  I need to…”  There are always forces at work inside of us, and outside of us.  Are there not?  We only have, however, so many hours and so many days.  It is up to us to decide how we will fill them.

The mind, as I am sure you know, is very powerful.  I am not here to tell you something you do not already know.  But I just thought it might be helpful to have a gentle reminder to pay attention to your mind and what is “coming and going”, and that you do have some say-so in that.

When it comes to health, I have wrestled with the mental influence so much, because I have always had a very, very active mind, even before computers and all the sensationalism that exists in advertising and entertainment.  Then, as there has come to be more and more activity in those areas, there has developed even more of a struggle to keep some kind of moderation and control, to see to it  that I am not overwhelmed.  The over-stimulation, at least for me, always makes me more irritable, less patient, mentally drained, and physically weaker.  It may not affect you that way, but just in case it does, again, just wanted to encourage you to remember to pay attention to that area of your life.   Because, as I talked about before, on the subject of maintaining balance, every aspect of your being has at least some impact on the others—you can’t run from that.  It just is that way.  Again, if you can prove differently, I definitely want to hear from you about it.

One of the best tools for calming body and mind and restoring health,  that has become absolutely priceless in my life, is meditation.  I spoke of this before too, but cannot say enough about how valuable it is.  I happen to practice a form called TM, which stands for Transcendental Meditation, but I guess there are many forms from which to choose.  I have  witnessed “on-the-spot” results from it every time I use it.  Amazing!  And a great thing about it is that it is free, except for a little bit of time, but it is time that is extremely well-spent.  It provides many benefits—much more than just relaxation.   If there was going to be room for only one new habit to be incorporated into your life, I would strongly recommend that this be it.

Did you ever notice, when you are dealing with a health issue of whatever magnitude, that when you are with friends, doing something fun, that you seem to forget about your problem or at least, it seems less severe.  Is it the chemical changes that take place within you that actually lessen the discomfort, or is it a distraction that puts your mind and your energies into a different place temporarily?  And then, the party’s over and you go home, back to your routine, and suddenly, the problem seems to intensify all over again.  Is it in your mind or is it what actually happens?  I cannot tell you the answer, but I  do know that when I have the awareness about the situation, and realize that at least part of it could  be that I am creating it with my thoughts, it  is amazing how things can be changed—at least, to some degree—with how we mentally approach and handle situations.

So, being aware of that which is right here within us, and how we can make or break situations by using what we have, is huge. When your thinking is foggy, due to whatever reason, it tends to make things more challenging, that’s for sure.  When you assess your overall picture, and can reach the goal of a more balanced body and life, your thinking will be clearer and your decision-making more on-the-mark.

Focusing on general balance is a good first step, and then break it down from there, as needed.  Remember that one of the most important fundamentals is to get the  ” bad guys” out and the “good guys” in, striving for a better pH in the gut and in the body.  Get the “bad habits” out and the “good habits” in.  Re-read some of my previous messages for more.

Mind your mind, pay attention to what’s going in and out, strive for the good, budget your time and use it wisely with new healthier habits, and find a support person or group.  What goes into the mind is just as important as what goes into the mouth.  And what goes into the mouth is going to affect what comes out of the mind.

LIQUID LIFE

Don’t know if you’ve been hearing the buzz about this yet, but if not, I feel an obligation to inform you about it.  There is something called Kangen Water that has such potential to make a positive difference in how you look and feel.  It tastes awesome and it, to me, is unlike any other water I have yet tasted, and I have tried many, while  looking for the best-tasting and healthiest one that I could use.  I am a big water-drinker and have been for a long time.   And since I have learned just how important healthy water really is for many, many reasons, it is always in the forefront of my mind.  I hope you will take the time to check out this website:  www.kangenspring.com.   My friend, Boel Stoddard, will help guide you to a new perspective and possibly a new life, if you find yourself getting seriously interested.  Don’t delay.  Water is so critical, especially the right kind of water.  And if you have never really given much thought to this subject before, I think you are in for an eye-opener.

An important thing to keep in mind about water is not to wait til you feel thirsty.  Once you feel thirsty, you are really in need.  Our bodies require much more than we tend to feel inclined to drink, so it does come down to awareness and developing a new habit.  And usually we don’t take on something until we really grasp the significance of it.  Do you find that to be true with you and people you know?  That is why it is going to be important and possibly necessary for you to get the education you’ll need to create a strong enough motivation,  in order to discipline yourself to meet your genuine requirement.  So, I hope you will value my nudging for your sake and for your children.  We,  as the adults, get educated, before we are motivated to give the next generation the proper education that they will need to not only survive, but to thrive.

Drink Up!!!!!

UPDATE

Just wanted to update you on my status.  I am in the beginning stages of preparing to relocate to Arizona to welcome a new grandbaby in the Fall.  I wouldn’t have to get on it just yet, but my daughter and her husband are relocating overseas and are preparing to sell their home.  So, I have to contribute to the project, sorting and packing up my things as much as I can, so the house will be ready to show soon.  Next month, I will be more free, for a couple of reasons to post more on this blog.

Then, when I get settled in Arizona and adjust to a new environment, a new baby, and getting re-acquainted with the other grandkids that will be in the house, it is my intention to move forward with some of my projects.  I am very excited about the opportunities to accomplish things in the local communities there.  Since I lived there before, I have friends there still and know the lay of the land, so I should be able to get going relatively quickly.

Packing things up is always challenging, particularly in a situation like this, where you have to decide exactly what you think you’ll need for the next couple of months and what can be boxed up and sent to storage.  Luckily, I don’t have alot of possessions to worry about.

Are you currently in the midst of some changes going on in your life?  Maybe one of your children is going off to college, loss of a loved one, or someone you love is suffering and you feel helpless to bring them relief?  If you are, my heart goes out to you and I encourage you to do what you can to take care of you and maintaining your balance, beginning with remembering to breathe  correctly.  Seriously.  It is such a simple thing, but when we do not do it, we can quickly feel the repercussions.  And then, of course, trailing right behind that is exercise, including good stretching, to release the pent-up tension and anxiety that locks itself into the body and stays there, slowly causing trouble, til you let it out of the confinement of your muscles, joints, or wherever you may be holding it hostage.  Are you relating to what I am saying?

The other biggie is not getting the proper restful sleep.  I don’t know about you, but I have really come to require that the room be totally dark for me to stay in a sound sleep.  I have to stretch, breathe, and do a bit of self- massage to prepare for bed, as well as drink a little relaxing tea.  A  soak in a bath with mineral salts is a huge help.  But I will also mention, that being menopausal, I have to keep my hormones balanced—absolutely.  That plays a big role.  And on that note, I did learn by not doing, that if I don’t get some good physical workout during the day,  it will throw me off hormonally.  You might bear that in mind.  I cannot speak for the guys, but that just may apply to you, as well.  At the very least, if you have a special lady in your life, that you would like to help with that info, please do pass it on.

I know it all sounds so “no-brainer”, but are you doing the things that you know you need to do?  Remember, it’s the small, simple things that hold alot of power, and can make or break situations in life.  It’s your body and your life (or that of someone you love), so what will you do with the freedoms  of choice that you do have?  Be accountable.  Know that you cannot repeat today.  Once it is gone, it is gone.  Yes, we are always hopeful for another tomorrow, but never count on it.  Make this day count.  Make it the best you can make it.  It’s a beautiful thing!

UNCLAIMED JOYS

When I have taken my grandbaby for walks, I have found it so interesting that she pauses when she comes to a slight rise in the cement of the sidewalk, as she says with a little music in her tiny voice,”UP the hill,” then after that,  an immediate “DOWN the hill.”  To us, as adults, we wouldn’t even notice the rise and fall of something that is so barely noticeable.  But as all of the world is so fresh and new to her at this point, each little thing is noteworthy, as well as worthy of a little passion.

How many little things might we have overlooked and missed out on, simply because of either being stuck in a rut, causing us to move about robotically, or because we have been wounded in the battles of life, making us a bit numb around the edges?  Pause for a moment,  and look at what your day, your routine, your life is looking like right about now.  Do you feel the passion you once did about the smell of the fresh clover or the burst of sunshine that each dandelion brings as it opens in the morning?  What about the dance of the squirrels as they put on a show outside of your window as you eat your lunch?  Maybe you don’t live where you get to experience these things, and instead you get the wide expanse of horizon that displays the most awesome splash of oranges,yellows, reds and maybe even a bit of  violet interwoven as you witness the sunset on the water.  Or instead, you are blessed to witness the mountain peaks firmly but oh so gently, tucking the sunset behind them, to tell you that it is time to wind down for the day,  to treat your body and mind to another night of restorative rest in order to greet a fresh new day tomorrow.

Whatever your situation might be, I hope you have not grown too numb to the multiple signs of hope and life and love that surround you every day.  We have our plates so full, that sometimes it can take everything we have just to get through another day.  Finding some pleasure or sense of satisfaction can seem like merely an unrealistic dream.  It’s tough to hold on during those stormy times that tend to drain the life right out of you.  But there really is a rainbow after a storm.  There really are beautiful butterflies that bust out of those funny-looking cocoons.  There really are tears of joy after tears of labor pains.  We can do this thing called life, if we decide that we can do it together as a team, and that we never have to do it alone.  The real value presents itself as we project outward to the world the goodness that was planted within each of us when we were born.  We each have value.  We each have a contribution to make.  Not a single one of us is a perfect being, but together we come to create a masterpiece on this canvas of life we are given.

On the other end of the spectrum, be careful not to try to squeeze every last ounce of life out of your day, to the point where you lose quality in an effort to increase quantity.  More isn’t always better.  Is it?

Let us practice looking for hope and passion in the little “unclaimed joys” as we are gifted with each new day, so that when we come upon the bigger bumps in our paths,we will better- equipped, maybe more conditioned, to deal with the struggles and to maximize the joy.  A good goal to adopt could be:  Live Fully & Without Regret.

Request for Book Entry Submissions

I trust my gut on just about everything.  Almost always it seems to be the case, too,  that when I feel the strongest in my gut about something,  it tends to conflicts with what most would consider sensible.  However,  I have learned to trust my gut, and it really has paid off in a big way time and time again.   The reason I mention this is because I am, as I have indicated,  preparing to re-locate relatively soon—within the next couple of months.  With that fact in mind, one would think I wouldn’t be compelled to take on a project in the meantime.  However, I feel that today is the day to put out the request for submissions of entries for the book I have for some time been considering writing.  Here we go————-!!!  I hope you will join me on this ride.

Let me define what exactly I am looking for.

If you know an elderly person, be it relative or friend, whose life you particularly have admired and respected, or an elderly person to whom you would like to give an opportunity to  share something with the world–someone who would not take it upon themselves to do it on their own—then please help me in honoring those special individuals,  by including their story in a book that I am going to be writing very soon.

There will be a simple list of questions or an outline that you will be using, as you conduct a casual, personal interview with them for this purpose.  They, of course, will have given you permission, in advance, to do so.  I will provide you with what you will need to have in hand and in mind for both the initial invitation, as well as the actual interview.

Today is the first time that I am making this request, officially.  I am quite certain that I will be continuing to put out the request over the course of many months, in hopes of receiving a sufficient number of entries.  If you, at any point on this journey, feel in your soul that you should respond, in order to bless the life of a special someone, please contact me by e-mail at Redesigninghealth@yahoo.com.  Please double-check your contact information.  If for any reason, you do not hear back from me within a few days, please try again.  We all know that things can go awry in the world of technology.  Also, please pass on this request to your friends.

One of the saddest things that I have witnessed is an elderly person who has given so much of themselves in the course of their lifetime, yet who indicates  in their voice, or shows  with their eyes, that they wonder if their life even mattered—if they really made any difference by being here.  I imagine you know what I’m talking about.  You’ve probably witnessed it in someone you have known over the years.  In fact, I wonder if maybe we see it every day in the eyes of a good percentage of the elderly, and just never give it much thought.

As  you consider interviewing someone, please bear in mind the mental, emotional, and physical condition of the person you are interviewing.  As much as  your intentions are good, it may be better to just pass on this experience, if it seems that it would be too stressful or taxing for the individual.  True, this project is meant to bless and enrich your life, as well, but we do want to be sensitive to the situation at hand.

I am very excited to get going on this project.  It has been near and dear to my heart for many years.  I  will be very honored to receive your submissions,  and I appreciate tremendously your contribution to something that is intended to be much more than just a collection of nice stories.  It is going to enrich the lives of the readers with wisdom and beauty that cannot be found anywhere other than in the harvest of lives well-lived.

Healthy Pets

I do not want to go any further without passing on to you some information about an incredible company in Michigan that focuses on the health and well-being of your “companion animals”.  The company is Wysong.  I went to their facility in Midland, Michigan and was very impressed with many aspects of how they operate and what they have to offer.  They care very much about the purity and overall quality of what your animals are consuming.  They have proven, for almost 30 years,  leadership in natural foods.  It is a family business that uses the most natural and wholesome ingredients including organics, free-range, nutraceuticals and whole foods with no non-nutritional additives.

What I really like is that their products are researched and developed by on-site doctorate level health and nutrition professionals, not marketers and business opportunists.  Their best product is education, and they really do have such wonderful materials that are enough without being too much or over your head.  It really is so important for people to have an understanding about each of their products to fully appreciate what goes into the product, what it is designed to do, and how their products are unique.  They also offer special packaging to protect nutritional value, and also use highly concentrated nutrition, so that a little goes a long way.  They even incorporate their unique Wysong Oxherphol antioxidants to preserve essential fatty acids, as well as natural protection against food-borne pathogens and toxins.

Lastly, there is a wide  array of formulas and flavors offered to allow for variety, which is not only nice but actually critical for animals and people.

This same company offers products for both human and animal health—to use for prevention and cases of illness, as well.  The prices are reasonable too for what you are getting for your money.

Check them out at www.wysong.net.  You can most definitely be assured of  quality, if that is what you seek.   And if you care about your dog, cat, ferret, or horse, you will want to invest a little into giving them the best nutritionally, just as you hopefully would do for yourself and your family.

Hope this helps you animal lovers out there.

Maintaining Balance

It has been coming up pretty strongly for me that it is time to have a refresher in BALANCE.  Way back in the beginning, I laid the foundation and now it is time to look at maintaining that beautiful creature.  Have you possibly forgotten by now what it even looked like?  Or didn’t you quite make it to the point of actually seeing it?

I cannot help but make reference again to my sweet little Grandbaby, Kayla, who is so good at keeping me “in touch” with life’s messages.  At her age, she is very eager to learn about everything, and is so open to it, that I can barely keep up.  But the energy produced in those moments is so electric, one can’t help but be drawn in and affected in a good way.  She keeps me awake to the delicate and priceless quality of the very breaths we breathe, and that we must be careful not take any of it for granted.  We all know that there are no guarantees that we will even be breathing come tomorrow.  Right?

Are you finding that your zest for life has packed its bags and moved out?  It’s time to invite it back.  It is so easy to lose that zest when you allow yourself to invest too much of your time and energy into one or two areas of your life, while neglecting the other areas that require some attention too.  I know, you’re saying, “But I can’t help it.  I have to …., because I have a deadline.”  or “But I’ve got to get this done.  I have to stay with it.”  I do understand completely. I have been there many times and said such things.  And we really “do what we have to do” with the best of intentions.  And you may reach the set goal, but how are you treating yourself in the meantime?  Everything has a price.  It’s true.  But all I ask is that you really honestly examine the situation at hand to determine if the true price you are paying is worth it.  I am not saying it never is, but if you really did weigh it all out, there may be a better approach.  Just keep that in mind, because your health—in all respects, including relationships—is very precious.  Once you damage any of it, it can take much work and investment to try to repair.  And there’s nothing wrong with work, but why expend energy or spend money (whatever the case may be) needlessly, to say nothing of the emotional and/or mental wear and tear that may be involved? Repairing is no fun, when you know you could have avoided the problem in the first place.

So, put on your preventive- maintenance cap and LOOK AHEAD before you invest your time and energy, just as you hopefully do with your financial decisions.  Keep your values and  priorities at the forefront of your mind, and they will guide you in the right direction.

Peace.

ZIPPER STUCK?

Wha-a-at?

I would just about bet that at one time or another you have experienced a loose thread, or a piece of fabric, getting caught in the way of the zipper you were trying to run up its track, and then the free-gliding movement came to a quick halt.  Sound familiar? It’s frustrating because one or more things have resulted.  One might be that you are “trapped” in bondage in an article of clothing from which you cannot escape, if things remained unchanged, or you might already be running late for an important appointment,  and you don’t have time to be in bondage.  Or possibly, you “lose it” because you just know that your favorite dress, or whatever it is, is destined for the trash can—or you are faced with paying more than you want to pay to have a  professional seamstress repair the zipper.  Oh, the struggles we have!

Who would think that something so simple and free-flowing could cause us such grief?

Have you found yourself running into glitches? Snags? Mountains?  I am sure you have.  That’s life.  Isn’t it?  You can either get sucked into the under-current and be pulled under, never to be seen again (or at least, not for a good while), or you can stop, breathe, get your balance, and keep going.  I know, you probably don’t want one more person trying to make it sound all that easy.  It can be a real challenge to re-group and get back on track, but there are some things to keep in mind that might help.

Whether we are talking zippers getting stuck, glitches,snags, or any other challenge, of baseline importance is keeping yourself nutritionally balanced, hormonally balanced, well-rested, spiritually fed, and nurtured by healthy, supportive relationships with laughter and appreciation—basic stuff that makes a difference in your stress response.   Drink lots of pure alkaline water, breathe clean air when possible, get exercise regularly, and have a purpose.

If you don’t know yet what your gifts are and what your purpose is, it really should become a high priority, because when you figure that out, WOW, it changes everything for the better.  The snags will still come, but you really don’t  pay them much mind or energy, because you are excitedly driven to jump back on that track to complete your mission  and fulfill your purpose on this planet. And if you have made an attempt to discover your purpose and have felt beaten up by the journey, the re-entry will be based upon the adoption of a new mindset—a new attitude—that says, “Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, is going to keep me from what God has made me to do. “  I just read something that kind of deflected away from the well-intentioned words of encouragement: “you can do whatever you make up your mind to do”.  The author instead liked to encourage people to remember that you can do whatever God created you to do.  SPOT ON!

Let me leave  you with this: if your zipper gets stuck, and you are tested, life is trying to say, “How willing are you to get back on track, then open wide for all that is out there waiting for you?”

HERB TIME

I wanted to pass along to you some good info on some of the herbs that I have been using over the years, along with a compilation of bits I have gathered, that tout their “possible” benefits.  Maybe some of these will sound familiar.

I want to start with FENUGREEK. It can act as a laxative, lubricate the intestines, reduce fever, help lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels, help asthma and sinus problems by reducing mucous, promote lactation in nursing mothers, help with lung disorders, good for the eyes and acts as an anti-inflammatory.  I just love this.  I buy it in whole seed form from the local herb shop, and make a tea in the mornings. I have not tried it at night, but I would bet it could be really helpful to me at that time.  I think I’ll try that next.

Don’t forget that wonderful Holy Basil I already told you about.  Amazing!

Did you know GARLIC  is an herb? This is another one of those foods that has so much value to it.  (But it’s not all that expensive, which is great!)   The builders of the pyramids supposedly ate garlic daily for endurance and strength.

Garlic is known to lower blood pressure, reduce risk of blood clots and heart attacks, and lower serum cholesterol. It aids in digestion, is a potent immune system stimulant and a natural antibiotic.   According to the Prescription for Nutritional Healing, “When garlic is consumed, the enzyme allinase, which converts alliin to allicin, is released.  Allicin has an antibiotic effect; it exerts an anti-bacterial effect estimated to be equivalent to 1 percent of that of penicillin.  Because of its antibiotic properties, garlic was used to treat wounds and infections and to prevent gangrene during World War I.”  This wonderful food also carries anti-fungal properties and therefore is effective against athlete’s foot, systemic candidiasis (a yeast overgrowth), yeast vaginitis, and often helps with fever blisters.  And to be honest, I could write another whole paragraph on it.  So, you may want to look it up, when you can, to get the rest of the scoop.

I just wouldn’t be without my garlic, simply because it is so multi-functional, if you will, and is very inexpensive in comparison to so many other alternatives one might use to address these many different areas of concern.

Here is another one that doesn’t normally make  its way into the spotlight, but gosh, it is one of those little gems, that I am so glad I found.  It is BILBERRY.  I also buy this one in the whole berry form, and then make it into a tea in the mornings.  Again, I will share what I found in the Prescription for Nutritional Healing:  “Acts as an antioxidant, diuretic, and urinary tract antiseptic.  Keeps blood vessels flexible, allowing increased blood flow.  Helps control insulin levels and strengthen connective tissue.  Supports and strengthens collagen structures, inhibits the growth of bacteria, and has anti-aging and anticarcinogenic effects.  Useful for  hypoglycemia, inflammation, stress, anxiety, night blindness, and cataracts.  May help halt or prevent macular degeneration.”  Whew!!!  How impressive is that?

Of course, I could go on and on, because there are so many to know about, but I do not want to overwhelm you.  Just wanted to get you thinking about how wonderfully nature often does provide the answers we seek, to be found  right in the very foods/herbs that you can grow right at home or get at the local herb shop for just a couple of dollars.  Thought you might want to have some hope that there are safe and reasonably-priced solutions right within your reach.  If you do not have a local herb shop, you can find them on-line, I would think.  I just personally haven’t had the need to search for them yet, but I would encourage you to take advantage of that option, if needed.

Enjoy and be healthy!

RICHNESS

Oh, what a morning  for appreciating life! The extra activity on the bike trail has been indicative that it is a popular opinion.  It would almost be sinful to miss out on the richness  of all of the many sweet fragrances of the earth that just scream out to be noticed.  But beautifully controlled by nature, their screams are so pleasantly gentle and soothing on this September morning.  There were bikers, walkers, joggers, and what seemed to be possibly a child-care provider, marching her little ones, who were all spaced so evenly, one behind the other, as to be safer by walking along the edge, to allow bikers to pass them by.  There are rules out there, and most people seem to abide by them, which does make for an even more pleasant experience.  It would be so nice to be able to bottle all the positive things about such an experience, to then have the beauty of later popping the cork on that bottle, whenever we so desired, to re-live them and feel those endorphins once again.

I was very fortunate to have grown up in  a set of circumstances that constantly created these types of experiences, so I can always draw upon the wonderful memories, that keep me believing that we can have the positive feelings to offset the negatives in our lives, if we only believe and open up to all of the possible ways to find them.  True, we are each unique, different from one another in what makes the heart soar.  But you were made to soar.  God makes no trash; no waste.  People do.  And whether you  believe that you  can live and breathe  in a beautiful and better world, or if you do not, either way— you will.  I’m sure you have heard it before.  You create the richness of your own life—or not.  Which do you prefer to have happen?

You can sit and look at the hands of the clock move to the next minute, the next hour, and feel more and more empty for what you have not yet completed or achieved, or you can snatch that next moment, that next hour, and make it as rich as you possibly can.  And sometimes, that might even mean, honoring your body with that much-needed nap on a Sunday afternoon to make up for another decision you had made prior, that may not have been the healthiest.  But again, do not beat yourself up over the choices, which in retrospect, you wish you could do-over differently.  Do not waste that precious energy.  Turn right around, instead, and put it right into something positive and wonderful for this moment, this day, this you.

We cannot re-live the past, but we can certainly enjoy the reflections of it. And we cannot figure out the future, but we can know that we are in a place of rightness in the moments we have, as we have them.  And only you can determine what that “rightness” might be for you.  Love yourself.  Really.  I know you’ve heard that before, and it may have hit you as just some flowery  words, that might mean something to someone else. But trust  your need for fulfillment, for gratification.  And when you listen to that which you are  feeling called to be and do,  your spirit will tell you, if you will tune  out the noise the best you can, when you can, and find your richness trying to ooze right up to the surface.  It’s in there.

When you were born, you came with certain genes and chromosomes,  and were set into an environment or set of conditions, in which you had no choice.  And for some of you,  that was pleasant, and for some of you, very unpleasant.  But now, you determine what  your life is going to look like by your habits.  Who you are and become is a composite of your daily thoughts and habits.  Do you agree?  If so, take charge of the moments, in which lie all of those individual thoughts and habits, and begin to paint the picture of the person you desire to become and the life you ultimately wish to have.

One huge tip:   By including giving from the heart, from your true joy, you will be milestones ahead.

LIFE DEFINITELY GOES ON

Wow! I cannot believe that I am finally sitting down to post something new.  Whew!  It’s been a long time coming.  I finally feel like I am settled in with my new living situation here in Arizona.  I felt almost immediately healthier coming into a dry climate, as compared to what I have been living in during the past nearly- six years.  It was clearly very sad to leave the rich green of the Midwest and the East, however, there are also positives about being where I am.  It is very important that we sharpen our skill of deriving  the good from our circumstances, no matter what they might be.  This really holds true when you stop and think  for a moment, now and then, of the negative conditions of which your life COULD consist.  Look at those who DO  live in very miserable circumstances, and doesn’t it make you oh- so- grateful for the life that you have? I am extremely blessed in more ways than I can list, and I just want to encourage others to believe that there is beauty all around you also, in many “tucked away” cracks and crevices. Just keep yourself open  daily to what it might look, sound, feel or smell like.  And suddenly, your life becomes very filled-up and overflowing! I wish you well in all of your comings and goings until we meet here again.  I’ll be back on track with my writing beginning with my next entry.  Thanks for your patience in this interim.  It’s great to be back!

WHAT DO YOU OWN?

If you really did an honest evaluation of your life, making a list of the things you own, what would that list look like?  Here’s another challenge.  Make a list of the things that own you.  What would that look like?  Do you like what you see? Allow  yourself to be totally honest with yourself.  Knowing that no one else has to see the lists, dig deep inside and tell it like it is, as you possibly even physically look at yourself in the mirror while you do it. (Almost as if you were communicating with someone outside of yourself) Realize that the entries on these lists can be intangibles as well as tangibles.

I have probably expressed to you before that in my situation, I have let go of  things, in small and also larger amounts over time, as I have gone through recent changes with work and family.  It was difficult but at the same time, in all honesty, very freeing. It has been almost like going through a long birth canal, only to come out on this other side, feeling like a fresh, new being.  So, of course, that has been exhilarating and refreshing.  I will admit, that it has also been a little frightening at times.  But through it all, I tried to maintain a strong faith and trust in that which I did and do know, rather than to dwell on the unknown and the fleeting, inconsistent components of the picture.  I challenge you to do the same, as you take steps on your journey to a healthier, more balanced life.

Be in touch, as you go along, with all aspects of your being.  Feel your feelings (again honestly), possibly journaling, if you are comfortable with that.  Fully experience on all levels, the conditions of which your life currently exitsts.  Are you happy with the picture?  Are you content?  Are you excited? Pleased? Gratified? At peace?  Think of various adjectives like these, and then prioritize them, to see what motivates you.  Why do you do the things you do?  Why do you make the choices that you make that ultimately create the picture of “your life”?

So, figure out what is the “driver” of your life, and then figure out the “passengers” or “riders” in the vehicle on this journey.  Most importantly, remember that it is your life, and that by making the healthiest choices, you make it possible to leave this world smiling, knowing that your life was well-lived.

PRODUCTS & RESOURCES

Alrighty then! Are we ready to get past just the talking and get on with the movin’ & shakin’?  Talk is fine, but words with no action don’t get us too far.

Here is a list that I have compiled, representing websites of some GREAT  companies with FANTASTIC  products. I present this  to you now, as if it were an oasis in the desert.  I have done this to bring hope to you, with the awareness that there are possible solutions to the various problems we are faced with today.  Yes, there are many, many companies from which to shop, however, I wanted to help you past that initial question of “Where do I begin?”  These  companies offer some unique little gems, that I have found to be outstanding in producing results,while also providing variety, so that there is something for everyone.  And everyone is different, so different solutions work for different people, and maybe even at different times.

Let the action begin!  But in all the excitement, please do remember, and this is very, very important: approach slowly and do not try to take it all on at once.  Take your time, and make notes about your body’s responses on all levels, if you can.  It can become difficult to tell what is working to your benefit, and what is not, if you have more than one new product experience at a time.  I know all about being anxious to alleviate issues, and to get back to feeling fantastic, but patience is truly a virtue in this case.  And being still and observant, as much as possible, will keep you from getting overly frustrated, if things happen not to move along as quickly as you would like.  Another thing to bear in mind: it probably took a good amount of time, in many cases, to reach the  point of having  “symptoms” of a problem.  Therefore, do not expect complete  results immediately.  And if you should happen to have near- immediate results, celebrate in gratitude, and then bless others by passing on the “goodness”.  That will make your celebration even greater!  Will it not?

Here we go:

1) HTE

www.chidvd.com/redesign          *Machines of different types to clear blockages, energize and balance the body. People are seeing effects very quickly with these.  One side benefit is that it  may alleviate some of your other, not-so-productive monthly expenditures you have had, in efforts to address existing problems.  Free 14-day trial of any machine.  Experience results for yourself.

2)Natures’s 1st

www.natures1st.com/id?=2530                *Over a dozen specialty products, including a De-aging Product, and a dynamic liquid multi-vitamin/mineral for those who don’t like to, or are unable to, swallow pills or capsules.  Also, a great income opportunity that is not multi-level-marketing. Be in profit- sharing  mode with it by tomorrow, potentially.

3)Healthy Habits                                         

www.HealthyHabitsWeb.com                      *When you get ready to make a purchase, you will need this code: 484826.  This is a great family-owned company that offers a super VIP Program, that rewards you for your purchases.  Unique tools,  in a separate category from NUTRITIONAL  supplements—- odds are,  you have not yet heard about some of these:  IonPod, Ion Skin Wand, Ion Shield, Netti Pot, and more.  You’ll just have to see for yourself.  AND, superb quality supplements are offered, as well. You do NOT have to be on autoship to take advantage of their good prices.  Remember the code: 484826

4)Young Living

www.youngliving.com                     *A very close-to-nature approach to helping the body.  Essential oils of the finest quality, along with unique delivery- system products, such as roll-ons, food bars (full of the best of the best ingredients) and more.  Check them out. Very practical and, of course, pleasant.  Use this # when ordering: 1139314. ( Powerful things often come in small packages.)

5)Holy Tea   

www.wholewellnessclub.com/decide                              * A powerhouse of ingredients that provide multiple benefits to the body, while creating a beautiful side effect of alkalizing the body, which allows it to also shed unwanted, unhealthy fat. Take some time to really acquaint yourself with, and appreciate,  the ingredient list.  The same company also offers:  www.peakenzymes.com/decide    Amazing!

6)Lifewave

www.lifewave.com/redesigninghealth                               *Patches used for balancing the body.  Nothing enters the pores of the skin.  New technology that people are buzzing about.  Most exciting for many people is the one to relieve pain, even long-time pain, no matter what the cause.  Several types available.

7)Tachyon

www.planet-tachyon.com/mjl                                           *Products of wide variety, that you might never have imagined, to help offset the negative effects of all the many, many EMFs–Electro-magnetic Frequencies, that we are being bombarded with, from cell phone, computers, microwaves and more, which throw our bodies out of balance in a disturbing way.

8)Kangen Water

www.kangenspring.com *Water machines at varying price ranges.  Designed to not only clean up the water that you are consuming, but much, much more. If you only make one change to your health regimen, let this be it.  Here is an  opportunity to make dramatic health changes, simply by changing the “source” of something you consume every day.  And hopefully, it will encourage you to simply drink more water, which,  in and of itself, is a step in the right direction.

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Just a few options to get you started.  Hopefully, you will get enlightened, educated, inspired and moved to take action. You have the right and the choice to take some control of your health.  Start today.  Do not delay.

More to come…

(Feel free to e-mail me with questions :  redesigninghealth@yahoo.com.)

Freedom Unabashed

It is almost the 4th of July, as I sit and write this.  I just felt so strongly that I should mention how grateful I am to ALL of the people, those deceased and those living, who have contributed to enabling us  to have the freedoms that we do here in the USA.  I served in the military, but not during wartime. And just in the time that I was wearing the uniform, I felt such a pride in our country and was thrilled to be representing it.  That was over 30 years ago, but I always carried a special place in my memories wrapped around that whole experience and what it felt like to belong to the USAF.  Since then, my youngest daughter has joined, spent several years and made me very proud of her contributions.  Now, she has chosen to devote her amazing blend of qualities to family and home.  And I am, once again, so proud.  And I am also proud of my other daughters too. 

No matter what our calling, no matter where we live, and the people who walk in and out of our lives, I believe it is so important to be the best we can be in the roles we play.  Many changes have occurred in our country, in our homes and within us as individuals over the decades.  Some people, you might say many, have lost faith and hope in all of these things lately, and are wondering if our world will ever be the same.  I cannot pretend to know any more than the next person what the future is bringing.  But, I will say that I believe we have a hand in it.  I will add to that, that I see it as never being the same, and why would it be, when the world is in constant motion and change.  WE are in constant motion and change; or at least our being is trying to be that way.  Sometimes, maybe much of the time, we resist and then there may be those times when we don’t.  Can you relate?

I think if you reflected on  your past, you would probably have a few ah-ha moments, as you perused your memory bank in search of those times when you didn’t resist so much.  You were happier then, weren’t you?

I know it seems like I am always talking about being fluid, and accepting, not resisting.  Maybe that is the big message I am meant to bring to the world. I don’t know.  But as I look around at people struggling, grasping for a sense of peace and freedom, I want to whisper in their ear, ” Let go and breathe.  You are in this moment, no other, and believe that everything is moving toward something wonderful, IF you let it.” 

We DO still have some freedom.  In that knowing, choose.  Choose the life you want, by deciding in this moment to make it the best moment you know how, and let it go. THAT’S FREEDOM.  It is not shy.  It is out there right in front of you, parading back and forth, waiting for you to say yes to it in your very spirit, and own that.  Once you do, it permeates the rest of your being, and watch every aspect of who you are take an upward turn.  And you CAN not only get through another day, but create a brand,new beautiful day like none you have created before it.  And that alone is worth singing about.

Breathe

The heat has hit!  We are regularly over 100 degrees now, even at 10:00 at night.  If you live in a place, where you have never experienced that, you may want to stay where you are.  That is, if you really don’t like it hot.  I don’t like it hot, actually, however, there are many reasons why I am here in the desert once again.  And aside from the heat, it’s all good.  I have a chance to spend time with 4 of my 6 grandchildren, and hopefully provide them with little nuggets of wisdom, while laughing together about non-sensical things. Gotta have it!  Also, I am enjoying the opportunity to be with 2 of my daughters, sharing and caring on an everyday level.    And then, I also get to be with one of my brothers, who I enjoy, and also, with whom I look forward to very soon sharing some aspects of business.

And with all of the fun and work that goes on, I tend to forget to simply breathe.  Are you like that too?  I have, all of my life, been probably the world’s worst breather.  When I lived where it was cold, I would curl my body inward to stay warm, and never seemed to expand my lungs or diaphragm fully.  And when I’ve lived in the heat, I found myself feeling as if the heat was just taking my breathe right away, and then I would breathe in a very shallow fashion.  Can you relate?  And then, if you were to throw in the elements of stress, be it from slippery roads in the Midwest, or heavy traffic here in the valley, gosh, it all contributes to not getting that ultimate flood of oxygen throughout the body.  Is that important to you?  Well, you might want to think about it, and just be aware of your breathing habits, and become a little more focused on breathing fully, to optimize your health and your performance.  And by “performance”, I refer to any type of physical or mental activity at all. 

It’s so easy to overlook this simple little habit, because we’re still here and still alive.  Right?  And who would have thought about giving much focus to something  we believe just happens naturally.  But if you seriously are seeking better and better health, you may want to be conscious of the seemingly “little”  things, which in reality, are actually very often, the “big” things.   This can be said about many areas of life, if you really thought about it.  Don’t you agree?

I am certain that the time in my life when conscious breathing paid off in the most impactful way, was during natural childbirth.  Without having that controlled breathing, it very well could have been a less-pleasant experience.  I can say that, because there were times during the sencond birth in which I lost my grip a little, and the difference in my overall response was dramatic.  And many of you ladies can relate to that.  But for those readers who do not have a similar memory to recall as a reminder, simply start from this moment to develop a new habit, and base it on a positive experience.  One suggestion might be to try a yoga class or view a DVD, where breathing is a huge part of the practice.  Another suggestion:  There is a woman named Rashelle Haines, who sells DVDs on a breathing technique that does amazing things for the body and overall health.  (Even people who are wheel-chair-bound can benefit greatly.) Try going to www.LifeLift.net  or www.OxygenLift.net.  I believe she may still have a product geared for children too. That is very good to know, since our children need to benefit just as much, developing a good habit that can carry them through life.  Hopefully, these suggestions will be enough to get you on your way. 

Regardless of how you begin, do begin.  Life is waiting.  Let’s live it fully!

Dare to Deviate

Today is the day that I lovingly dare you to deviate from your daily routine, and throw into the mix something brand new, or even something you have not had or done in quite some time.  You may find yourself amazed afterward, at just how refreshing it can feel to do so.  Realize too, it does not have to be earth-shaking; it can be very subtle.  You may not even have to make extra time for it, because in such a case, you are merely changing  how, when, or where you are spending your time.  Hmmm.  Hadn’t thought of that.  Right? 

Now, it may be that what you choose does require a few extra moments of time,  or once you get going, you may just realize how healthy it feels and spontaneously choose to “make a day of it.”  Regardless, the key here is to have no guilt about it.  Otherwise, it changes the outcome completely.  Doesn’t it?  So, what had the potential to be a plus, quickly turns into a negative.  It is true, you are faced with or “do or do not” decision, but the pay-off can be tremendous, if you will allow yourself some flex time one day a week (or whatever frequency you prefer).  Point being–DO allow.

Remember that all aspects of our being are inter-connected, and it does us good to remember that, when we are  faced with decisions, because it can make a huge difference. The more enlivened your spirit is, the healthier your approach to life, the more physically fit you will find yourself becoming. And when you feel vibrant, it quickly becomes apparent that everything  flows along much more smoothly.

So, go out there and simply have a “different” experience now and again, which can increase your desire to experience more fully the world that surrounds you—learning, growing, stretching and developing. And all of that combined moves us closer and closer to “becoming”—to reaching our fulfillment as a human being.  Does that resonate with you?  I hope so.

I believe that there is something within each and every one of us that is our “reason” to “BE”, as much as it is our basic fuel that keeps us going into another day, another month, another year.  But as I’m sure you know, time is an interesting thing, that can either slip right past us unnoticed, or we can engage more fully,  and completely change the quality of the picture.  You DO have a hand in it.

Let’s make the view from where we sit be the most spectacular view that we possibly can!

FLOSS?

I am sure I have you wondering on this one.  Right?  Today is about trying something new.  Do you ever find yourself stuck in a rut with the products that you use?  And here I refer to any products used for any purpose.  My story is that I was so sure that I wouldn’t like a certain kind of floss, and so I totally avoided ever even trying it.  I had my reasons.  I just thought it wouldn’t be effective for me.  And flossing, for me, is really important, as I believe it should be for everyone.  But my message today is not about the importance of flossing.  It is about pausing in your routine and rituals, and stepping out in either big or small ways.  Even if it is for a one-time shot at something, or if it is something that may become a new venture or new habit.  What a concept, eh?

You may feel like what is the big deal here, Mary?  What is this really all about?

Recall the importance here, if you will, the power that lies in the “seemingly simple” things that we do every day, and the choices that we make that dictate those actions. Do you realize the power that you possess?  By trying a new floss, that memorable day, I actually found something that turned out to be priceless for me.  I won’t get into the details, but point being, that I was so glad that I did it.  And of course, this is not the only incident that I could mention, because there were many similar experiences.  Can you recall any of your own?  If so, did it not feel good to have taken that side-step, to try something different, when you realize the good outcome was so worth it?  And the amazing/funny thing is that the doing and not doing, changing or not changing, are but a breath apart, because the thought precedes the action, and we all know how quickly a thought can come and go.

So, be on your toes, and be prepared to try a sudden turn, take a side-step, and see what awaits you.  You won’t know unless you go.  The best life could be a breath away.

LISTEN, LEARN, & LIVE

“Listen, Learn, Live” is what I have recently added to the back of my calling cards that I hand to people, when I want them to take a look at my blog.   And even if they never did get around to checking out the blog, and if they simply read those 3 words, hopefully they’ll get the message  I bring, in  encapsulated form.  If you are looking for some powerful, to- the- point, action words that everyone can relate to and execute, these might be what you are seeking.

How can they be so profound? As I have tried to emphasize in the past, many of the most powerful  things in life are the most simple.  (I did not say easy.)  This is why people still struggle so much; they are straining to see the solutions, and are looking everywhere “out there”,  only to overlook what may already be right there in close proximity to them.

Let’s talk about “LISTEN”.  Whenever you are attempting to listen well  to something in particular, do you agree that ideally you would want to rid your listening zone of distracting sounds, that might interfere?  It might be a loud television or stereo, or maybe other electronics that are in your ear non-stop.   It could even be the unceasing voices of negative people, with whom you live and work, that are always coming at you. Maybe you have well-meaning people in your life, who seem to be constantly telling you how to live your days and your life.

Whatever it is, it is time to step away from it, and find the quiet space and time that is critical to your health and happiness.  It could be a few minutes each day or it could be once a week.  Find what works for you.  But just do it.  Why?  You need to be able to listen to your own body and your spirit. Otherwise you cannot hear your body’s messages that it gives you, as to what it needs and when.  And you cannot connect with your spirit, that guides your direction, your path.   You need to be able to listen and observe nature as it speaks to you, in volumes, with its many valuable lessons.  And last, but not least, how can you hear—truly hear—the communications, on any level, of the ones near and dear to you, who simply want a beautiful fulfilled relationship with you?

Now, in that quiet space and time, however long or short, the next step is to observe and absorb the lessons that are coming at you.  Some may be applicable for the moment, and some may apply to the rest of your life.  You will know.  But ONLY if you do listen, and practice listening.  It does require some practice; developing a new habit.  The sooner it becomes second nature to you, the easier things will flow and the richer your life will become.  So, in other words, learn this habit and learn from these experiences.

And lastly, take what you learn and apply it to your life.  Live out those lessons you have learned.Weave newer, healthier tidbits into your life, every day, every week, every month, and see how your life can gradually be transformed into something better and better, as you live out the rest of your life.

Are you “under the influence”?

Happy February!  I hope you had a pleasant Valentine’s Day, making someone’s day just a little bit better, with a sign of your love, in some way or another.  There are countless ways in which we can make someone’s day a little (or alot) better every day of the year, if we just pause, look and listen.  Right?  There is so much need to be met in our world, and the solutions begin with each of us.  Seemingly- small acts of kindness can have a huge impact on someone, and all it takes is simply that—a small act of kindness.

Are you feeling the love?  Are you spilling over yet, onto others? Whether the “love” that is “in the air” on Valentine’s Day has affected you or not, maybe you can bring it about now, and every day, by starting here, today,  with yourself. 

Have you felt the pressure of other people—whether at work, home, extended family, or friends—directly or indirectly trying to tell you what you “should do” or “need to do” in order to make your life better?  Have you lived under the umbrella of influence from the perspectives, views and interests of other people for far too long?  By posing these questions, it is not my intention to disrupt the flow of your life, or to tell you that where you have “come from” is a bad set of principles or values.  It is merely my intention to lift you up out of the fog, in which  you may be finding yourself at the moment.  So, if you are in such a place, where you are feeling a little lost or confused, which could be stifling your growth,  it may be time to take a stand, and start fresh.  I am here to tell you that it is okay and that you are not alone—not today or any other day. 

I am also here to tell you that I am personally  not the solution, I do not necessarily have the answers, but I will say that I am here to encourage you and to connect you with possiblities, so that you can see the light of hope.  And from that hope, be more ready and willing to learn of some fresh, new ideas or be reminded of things from of old, that you may have forgotten, that might be worth a minute or two of your consideration, in order to hopefully  bring you closer and closer to the better life you seek. 

I am currently working on the launch of an internet-based talk show, called “Redesigning Health”.  It will be a series intended to create a “trail of hope,” by way of an endless stream of diverse individuals sharing the unique gifts they feel called to share, in an attempt to improve the quality of your life.  I will keep you posted on that, and let  you know when it is up and running, so that you and yours can benefit at any time.  The shows will be Archived. 

Also, in the meantime, just a reminder that I am available to do personal support and/or motivational health coaching—confidential face-to-face or phone (if  you are not in the Phoenix Valley). If you have questions or comments, you may either leave it here, or you may email me at redesigninghealth@yahoo.com.

Together we can make great, positive  changes to our world.  And it all begins with giving, and the giving begins with giving to yourself.  You CANNOT serve or spill over, from an empty cup.  Can you?

“Good-for-the-soul” Stuff

When  is the last time  you did something that  you knew was really, really good for your well-being, because it made you warm and fuzzy from your core, all the way out, til the point of  spilling over?  I hope it was recently.  If not, then maybe, after this, you will make it a serious goal to engage in such an activity.

  I’ll bet you can relate to having found yourself in a set of circumstances, regardless of how you arrived there, that seemed to be sucking the life right out of you.  You might have been going through whatever motions, that you have felt obligated to go through, and your feeling of meeting those obligations is the only thing in the scenario that even slightly resembled a “right and good” feeling.  But everything else about what makes you YOU, at your best, has somehow managed to disappear from sight, a little bit at a time.  You know the course you are on is not feeling so perfect, but you hang in there and give it your best, until one day, you realize how far you are away from the real YOU.  And the awareness of that triggers a fight or flight type of response, that kicks in some adrenalin.  You find yourself jumping to your feet, firmly choosing to take strong action to change the course of things before it is too late; before you lose yourself altogether.   And you feel willing to accept the consequences of  your decision to act, regardless, because it feels so “critical” to your survival.  But I am not just talking about surviving.  I am referring to THRIVING.  There is a notable difference.  Might you agree with that?

If  you want to thrive, rather than just survive, and I am going to assume that you do, I hope you will give some serious consideration to what it might require to create that reality.  I am here with one suggestion today, that might be of some help.  Think about those moments in your life when you felt like you could soar.  Or what about the moments that you experienced just such incredible peace, that no words could describe it.  Think about the times when you felt a pulsating love, either from someone else, or that you gifted to yourself, by loving someone else unselfishly and/or without limitation, and were blessed for doing it.

I went walking yesterday, making a point of walking on the dirt rather than the concrete, to allow myself to feel more connected to the earth and its healing energy.  I walked where there was also plenty of green—trees of various types and hills of green grass on the golf course—which warmed my soul with a renewed sense of hope and healing for myself, the people I love, and for the planet of which we are a part.

If you can find something, anything, that makes your heart and soul feel some kind of warmth and healing, either because of a fond memory, or just because of the pure beauty you are having the opportunity to witness, go after it!  Do it now! Don’t put it off.  And then do it again, or do something else that creates that pleasure for  you.  You are worth it, and you need it, and it is waiting for  you.  Dare to spend that alone- time with a purpose, even if the purpose is no purpose at all.

Go have an experience!

Higher Grade Fuel?

When you go to the pump with your car to re-fuel, do you hesitate to put in the higher- grade fuel, because you are trying to save money?  Or are you the type that wouldn’t hesitate to go for the “best” for your vehicle, no matter what?  What about you and your body? How do you see things when it comes to your own body?  Do you, by some chance,  find that you treat your car better than you treat yourself?  

That which we consume every day— be it food, drink, or energy/vibration—is fuel for our days and for our lives.  We can go about robotically, going through motions that seem to be sufficient to meet our fuel needs, because, after all, we are still “going about”.  Are we not?  ( Yes, unless you have passed on, of course.)  Or, maybe by now, with the shift beginning to occur in our world towards making  healthier food  choices, you have  decided to get on the train, on a different track, and have begun to improve your dietary habits.  If so, that’s great! Hopefully, you will continue in that direction, becoming increasingly aware, that every time you put something into your body, it determines the quality of your being.  And the quality of  your “being” determines the quality of your work, your relationships and the general quality of your entire life.  So, it’s no small thing.  Is it?

What about your work?  Your career choice?  With the state of the economy, it is very easy for us to hang on to whatever source of income that we currently have, even if it is over-working us, making us have less time for our relationships and our own health, in all regards, and  making us a miserable mess.  What to do?   I am not the career counselor that you yearn for, though I know that there are life coaches that can help you with that.  I only hope to encourage you that life is full of choices and options, and that sometimes  you have to dig deep and sometimes you have to be, first, willing to let go of what it is that you hope to replace.  It is an absolute that you listen to the deepest depths of your heart, and get to know who you really are, and what you feel called to be and do in this world, and then begin on that journey.  Yes, one small step at a time.  It can be done.  But it does require support of someone, whether it is someone who is already in your life, or a new someone who is a professional coach or therapist, or maybe even just placing yourself in some new environments, making some new acquaintances, with interesting conversations.  Go places and do things in different locations, that you do not normally go.  Be around people you have not yet met.  Try new things that can stimulate new interests and creativity. 

We are so much more than we see when we look in the mirror this moment.  There is always room for growth on all levels.  Give and you shall receive.  Knock and it shall be opened.  Wow!  Such power in such simple words.  Don’t you think?

Take these words today, chew on them a bit, and step out there with a fresh perspective and attitude.  Who knows what awaits you out there.  It’s all good, if you choose it to be so.  We can take all of it, find some meaning, contribute a piece of ourselves and create a more beautiful world for us all.  Yes, all of the pieces make up the Whole—ALL of the pieces.  What will your piece look like?