The Impossible Dream~Right In Front Of You
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When it comes to the things we want, there always seems to be an endless list. No matter how many times we get something off that list, we add new things to replace it. In life, this drama of wanting and getting and wanting is all part of the dance. The things we want motivate us to get up and get them. And yet, at the same time, we can torment ourselves with our wanting, especially when we want something we can't have or can't find. It is in cases like these that it might be fruitful to entertain the idea that maybe what you really want is right in front of you.
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Maybe you are using this desire you can't fulfill to distract you from truly engaging the blessings you already have. It may seem like that doesn't make sense, yet we do it all the time. It may be easier to see in other people than to see it in ourselves. We have all heard our friends wishing they were more this or less that, and looking at them we see clearly that they are everything they are wishing they were. We know people who have wonderful partners and yet envy you yours. We wish we could give these people a look at their situations from our perspective so that they could see that what they want really is right in front of them.
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Take a moment today to consider the many things you are holding in the palm of your hand and how you might best play with them.
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Peace be the journey ~j

If it frustrates you that they don't allow laptops on a Ferris wheel, you may be a workaholic. ~Dr. Donald E. Wetmore

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Yes, this his how I am feeling these days! Now I actually have a point here on this today. If you are slammed with work and life is also happening around you (family, pets, training etc.) Don't deprive yourself of nourishment throughout the day.

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Be prepared, whether you work from home or an office...enjoy some on the go foods. Stay as far away from the vending machine or gas station excito-toxin fest mart as possible.

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Breakfast

Egg wraps with veggies for breakfast, smoothies. Have some water 8oz.

AM Snack

Make sure you are prepared with some snacks. You may be hammering away on the computer, but you can surely sit back for a minute or two to think and chew, chew, chew a small apple, some yogurt with a little granola. Have some water 8 oz.

Lunch

Don't skip lunch...this is sooooo easy to do, time has a magic speed up button during the lunch hours. Frer-range turkey sandwich on whole grain bread, a small side of soup or salad. Take those precious few minutes to step back from your work to eat. You will replenish your thinking power with a few delicious morsels. Have some water 8 oz.

PM Snack

Harboiled egg or cheese with some pear or berries. Easy to pack, keep in a fridge or cooler. Have some water 8 oz.

Dinner

Still at work. It is really time to take a much needed break. Step out of the office and breath. Balance a portion of meat, poultry or fish with a beautiful and satisfying salad, maybe a side of cous cous. If you are fortunate to be home. Relax and replenish. Have some water 8 oz. If you are cooking, make it simple. Having ingredients on hand makes all the difference to prepare a stress free meal at home. If someone else is cooking, hug them, a lot and smile.

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Okay! We made it through with a few ideas. Again, being prepared is the ticket. We want to keep that blood sugar balanced throughout the day so you are making level headed decisions and thinking clearly. Less stress surrounding meals makes the process of digestion much much easiery for your body. If you are in training...well, the performance zone is a whole different block of time to be prepared for. More on this gig later :-)

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Taking a deep breath...and go! ~j

"Chaos"...

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"as a new plant breaks the ground with great difficulty...so must we sometimes push against difficulty in bringing forth out dreams. "

Good Om today! Enjoy ~j

Know Your Food: Eating Close To The Earth

The food we eat is a multidimensional aspect of our lives. Food provides us with the energy that enables us to grow and prosper. Yet it can be, and frequently is, much, much more. Our food can be an experience in and of itself if we allow it to be. The dishes we remember from childhood offer unmatched comfort. The act of preparing meals can be an art form of the highest caliber. And the nourishment we derive from this fare promotes wellness within us.

But many of us, distracted by daily affairs, forget that the profound pleasures of eating go beyond simple sustenance. We eat foods that are convenient or we eat unconsciously, snacking on whatever happens to be on hand. To understand the true value of food and the impact it can have on our lives, we should acknowledge and honor it by eating close to the earth. If you have ever shelled and eaten garden-grown peas or bitten into a sun-warmed apple freshly plucked from its tree, you likely understand that there is a marked difference between these foods and those that are processed and stacked on supermarket shelves. Food recently picked contains more of its original life force and thus has a greater store of energy and nutrients. You can ensure you are eating close to the earth-and enjoying the many benefits of doing so-by shopping at a local farmers market and getting to know the individuals who grow your food. If you make the experience of shopping in this way enjoyable, you will be more apt to reject more convenient canned, packaged, and frozen foods in favor of the real delight you feel while browsing stalls of fresh foods nourished by the same soil you can find in your own backyard. You will soon learn what foods are in season in your area and how to prepare them.As you savor the vivid flavors of juicy ripe fruits and the hearty crunch of unprocessed vegetables, you can also take pleasure in the fact that, by eating close to the earth, you are supporting farmers in your region, connecting with your local ecosystem, discouraging those who would waste precious fossil fuels by carting produce cross-country, and helping to preserve healthy culinary traditions that have existed for centuries.

"We don't see things as they are. We see them as we are." -- Anais Nin

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As we walk along the path of life...it is often about our perception. When our perspective changes, so do things in our lives.

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Take a moment today to consider your perspective on the type of foods you eat. Are they nourishing to your body and soul? Do they provide enjoyment and enhance quality of life? Do you see them as life giving? Are they just fuel or only satisfy immediate hunger?

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All important things to ponder for a moment today. Food is acutally very simple, not easy, but simple. Eat foods that are in their closest to natural state. Fresh, local grown, organic when possible. It is also important that you are eating enough quality calories to sustain healthy metabolic function and wellness. The right balance of macronutrients for your lifestyle will make all the difference!

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Be well! ~j

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living.

I want to know what you ache for,

and

if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

~Oriah Mountain Dreamer

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Hi gang! Things have been very busy here. First of the year always brings an onslaught of resolutions and those willing to take the next step in creating healthier lifestyles. Have you decided if that applies to you as well?? Remember...one step at a time, no matter what your choices. Make them yours, make them stick!

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I came across this quote from the book The Invitation by Oriah Mountain Dreamer. She wrote a series of them a number of years ago and they spoke to me in a way that very few authors have. Since I only have a minute today, I will share the link with you and encourage you to reach deeply inside as you go through your day Peace :-) ~j

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http://www.oriahmountaindreamer.com/

Your brain has an in-built mechanism for finding patterns you've programmed because of where you've put your attention. Solutions, innovations, and success come not from greater intelligence or creativity but from what we notice because of where we point those attributes. ~David Allen

What you put ON your body is just as important as what you put IN your body. If you are taking care to eat very consciously to improve health and wellbeing, then you will want to be looking at the personal hygiene products that you are using as well. Some people don't realize that the shampoos, lotions and toothpaste that they use are full of chemical detergents and carcinogens. Making a small change to your choice of product line will go a long way in assisting your body in having to try to eliminate them.

Please consider taking this survey to help shape the standard that is labeled ORGANIC for the future. Organic is becoming modernized and the meaning is become less clear for mainstream America. Big business always seems to blur the line and expand the grey area on definition.

As a consumer, it is your right to be informed so that you can make the best possible choice for you and your family. There are no wrong choices, only uninformed ones :-) ~j

ALERT: Take this Survey to Help Sculpt Organic Standards for Personal Care Products

This was quite refreshing! Enjoy ~j

I BELIEVE by Brian Tracy

I believe every person has within themselves inexhaustible reserves of potential they have never even come close to realizing. Definately my favorite! :-)

I believe each person has far more intelligence than they have ever used.

I believe each person is more creative than he or she has ever imagined.

I believe the greatest achievements of your life lie ahead of you.

I believe the happiest moments of your life are yet to come.

I believe the greatest successes you will ever attain are still waiting for you on the road ahead.

And, I believe through learning and application of what you learn, you can solve any problem, overcome any obstacle and achieve any goal that you can set for yourself.

"Digestion, of all the bodily functions, is the one which exercises the greatest influence on the mental state of an individual."Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (1755-1826)

di·ges·tion (dī-jĕs'chən, dĭ-) n.
Physiology.

1. The process by which food is converted into substances that can be absorbed and assimilated by the body. It is accomplished in the alimentary canal by the mechanical and enzymatic breakdown of foods into simpler chemical compounds.

Digestion occurs at the multicellular, cellular, and sub-cellular levels. This process takes place in the digestive system, gastrointestinal tract, or alimentary canal. It is the process of metabolism whereby a biological entity processes a substance, in order to chemically and mechanically convert the substance into nutrients. When you eat, you are eating to nourish or fuel your body. Healthly choices will feed you at the cellular level. Otherwise, choices that are not healthy or contain chemicals, additives and other forms or non-foods, the body will not recognize and now needs to figure out how to process them until they can be eliminated or stored in the cellular structure (usually in fat cells).

Digestion is usually divided into mechanical manipulation (CHEWING) and chemical action. It is a multi-stage process. It is separated into five separate processes:

1) Ingestion: Placing food into the mouth. Here is where our choice makes the difference.

2) Mechanical digestion: Mastication, the use of teeth to tear and crush food, and churning of the stomach. OMG! This is one of the most important things that we should be doing to improve or maintain health...how well do you chew your foods?

3) Chemical digestion: Addition of chemicals (acid, bile, enzymes, and water) to break down complex molecules into simple structures. This is a completely natural process, however, many people have reduced levels of these natural chemicals and will suffer with indigestion or begin supplementing to assist the body in its effort.

4) Absorption: Movement of nutrients from the digestive system to the circulatory and lymphatic capillaries through osmosis, active transport, and diffusion. Here is where intestinal health is so important. If the small intestine is compromised, nutrients will not be able to get through the mucosal lining and malnutrition may occur.

5) Elimination: Removal of undigested materials from the digestive tract. How many ads have you seen for relief of constipation or loose stools? When elimination is off, you can either be autointoxicating or nutrients are moving too fast through the system to be absorbed. You should be concerned.

Underlying the process is muscle movement throughout the system, swallowing and peristalsis (the movement of the bollus or now broken down food through the system). It is a beautiful dance of conscious and unconscious functions.

Just a brief overview here. Please take away at least this one thing. The importance of chewing your foods. Some people start with chewing 10 times before swallowing. If you can...stretch it to 20+ times. Foods should almost be chewed until they are liquid.

Since we are starting with new beginnings, why not start with improved chewing?! It is a conscious effort that makes the difference. ~j

The beginning is the most important part of any work. ~Plato

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I am quite short on time these days, but want to check in real quick!

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The beginning of anything that you do...starts with you. Whether you are fully committed or just testing the waters. You make the choices, you accept the excuses, you are the one who thinks the thoughts and performs the actions.

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It is pretty cool that it is all about you. Bless yourself so that you can bless others in your life. ~j

"One of the greatest discoveries a man makes, one of his great surprises, is to find he can do what he was afraid he couldn't do." ~ Henry Ford

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Some of us go right for the new year resolutions and make plans for the life that we would like to see. Others find that making and breaking those resolutions a tradition. Others yet, feel that resolutions can be equally as important when made throughout the year rather than as part of a collective hype. So, you may fall into one of those areas. If so, keep in mind why you want to make a change. What is the desired outcome? And just as important, how you will plan to do it. A plan is really your guide to getting to the outcome. It can be your support when you are ready to throw in the towel. A plan is also adjustable, because as you trek down the path of you hearts desire, life happens and not always the way that you planned it!

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When it comes to chaning your diet, it can always be a little uncomfortable. So take it a step at at time. Often times I recommend taking a look at what you are eating today. Then determine if you can make healthier choices or improve the quality of the foods that you are eating.

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For example: A hamburger...is it commercial beef or grass-fed? Is the bun white bread or whole grain? etc. Then we can take another step and look at how you are combining your foods. Do you really need that bun? Maybe sauteed mushrooms over the burger with a beautiful salad of fresh greens. Delicious, satisfying, easier for the body to process.

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Improving your eating habits is certainly in the top ten and for many reasons. People want to lose weight, feel better, more energy and on and on. It is possible and once you make choices to put the best available nutrients into this incredible carbon based machine we have been given, the quality of your life will certainly increase. Removing the clogging and draining types of foods alone is a tremendous effort.

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Choose health! Choose your life! ~j

What a way to start out the year! ~j

Despite a September survey found that 64% of Americans are repulsed by the idea of eating food from cloned animals, the FDA announced this week that milk, eggs and meat from cloned animals will soon be allowed on the market.

Ignoring a number of disturbing studies suggesting potential human health hazards, Stephen F. Sundlof, director of the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine said "that meat and milk from cattle, swine and goat clones is as safe to eat as the food we eat every day." Consumer, food safety, and animal welfare groups have condemned the announcement, pointing out that animal cloning is inherently unpredictable and hazardous, and that the practice of cloning has led to a high number of cruel and painful deformities in the experimental animals' offspring.

Full story...Approval of Cloned Food Leaves Consumers Unprotected , Despite Lack of Science and Strong Public Concern, FDA Expected to OK Food From Cloned Animals

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves.

The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day."

~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Live simply; love extravagantly! ~j

Celebrate the happiness that friends are always giving, make every day a holiday and celebrate just living! ~Amanda Bradley

It's time to Celebrate!

'It’s interesting to think of what it would mean to us if we let ourselves wear our nicest clothes and eat off the good china on a daily basis. We might be sending ourselves the message that every day we are alive is a special day and a cause for celebration, and that we are worth it. There is something uplifting about treating ourselves to the finest of what we have. It is as if we rise to the occasion when we wear our best clothes and set the table beautifully, as if for a very special guest. We are more mindful of where we place things, what we are eating, and who is with us. Using the good china, and eating in the dining room might be an invitation to be more conscious of the beauty and grace inherent in our everyday lives.'

With joyful anticipation of your great celebration! ~j

The belly has no ears. ~ Plutarch
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Hi gang! I have definately been preoccupied with this time away! Now, I am hearing A LOT about over eating, over drinking and just plain desire for the holidays to be over so people can go back to healthier choices.
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This is good news, people want to be making healthier choices! Intention YEAH!
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Now, just a moment for a little note today. If you are feeling a little over extended in the belly. Consider some cleansing foods. Very simple, easy to digest and help get you back on track for at least feeling good.
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Smoothies and Green Smoothies...you just can't go wrong here. fresh fruits, greens and the chewing has already been done for you. You can enjoy two of these a day (w/green preferably)for a few days and eat a light meal (sensible portion size).

Water...stay hydrated. Especially if you are enjoying a little extra 'cheer' with your meals. Can't stress this enough. On average, one should consume half their body weight in water per day. Herbal teas are a nice compliment here as well. Mineral rich, tasty...

Soups...these can be so nourishing! Again, easy to digest. Broths, fresh vegetable soups, raw soups if you have a vitamix type blender. They just give you a chance to use energy for cleansing out the yuck by being easy to digest and assimilate.

Just a little tip that I once received regarding holiday cheer...Source Naturals has a little herbal gem called Hangover Formula. Now, I am not a big drinker, so this came in handy for me a few years back when I found myself with an extra glass of wine, or two? It contains herbs that assist the body in the detox process and absorb toxins throughout the evening, or whatever time you may indulge.

Okay! Have to run. Hope you are finding time to breath and enjoy this time before the year becomes new again!

In hope ~j

A Zen proverb states that no snowflake ever falls in the wrong spot.

Whether you celebrate the snow by tossing snowballs, or losing yourself in the meditative serenity of the silently drifting flakes, take a moment to contemplate how much like the snow each of us is.

We are born pure, but later take on the footprints of those we encounter. Akin to each snowflake, we are unique, and yet we function as part of a larger whole—forever in the right spot at the right time. And like the snow itself, our lives and the roles we play are impermanent, yet imminently valuable.

"Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love."~Hamilton Wright Mabie

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Sending wishes of a holiday filled with family, friends, love and joy! May you share laughter and memories to treasure together. Merry Christmas! Blessings! ~j

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ps. Oh yeah! And delicious morsels prepared to compliment those moments that will live on in your mind for many years to come. However you define your family, the love that Jesus shares brings you just a little closer during Christmas time, whether just for a glimmer of a moment or for a lifetime.

Just a little note: While we certainly find ourselves heated in the moment as often happens during the holiday season, it is okay to laugh! Anyone ever still enjoy Mary Poppins?? Well, Uncle Albert sure had it down...I love to laugh...ha ha ha ha...long and loud and clear! To offset some of the craziness, rushing and striving for perfection...give a little giggle, if that is all you can muster. Emotions are real and while we don't need to knock someone down, we sure do need to move on. Long lines, traffic, family 'concerns' are always a part of the package. But, it is the package that contains the jems in our lives as well.

Food contributes to this...too much sugar, alcohol and other forbidden foods are widely celebrated. If you feel the tempation, enjoy, just be sure to remember moderation as well as keeping that blood sugar balanced. It will go a long way in the enjoyment of you indulgence. Merry merry~j

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Do you ever feel like doing this to someone?
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However, in the spirit of the upcoming holiday, peace, love and goodwill to all men...I don't recommend it. It sure is funny though! hee hee hee ~j

Write while the heat is in you. The writer who postpones the recording of his thoughts uses an iron which has cooled to burn a hole with. He cannot inflame the minds of his audience. ~Henry David Thoreau

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Thanks for bearing with me during this burst of global warming. I think that Henry is right...it just comes out a little more heated in the intesity of the moment!

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My intention is to encourage you to think. Ask yourself some hard questions, or some easy ones. Sometimes we can be so distracted. Ever feel like your eyes are wide shut? Don't forget the world that revolves around your world. Good, bad or indifferent, it's all ours!

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I mean the world is full of fascinating things. I often feel like a kid who just realized that the world is the coolest place...in the world! Some people care, some don't, that's just life. I am not here to convince you. Just share those things that touch my world from time to time. We have advanced technologically so much in the last 100 years. I often wonder what we will find ahead. I enjoy many of the simple things, with some of those luxuries of our time as well. As long as you are living with passion or finding the joy of living, then keep embracing it, no one else can live your perfect life.

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Anyway, we are moving back to foods, whew! Start with food hangovers tomorrow??

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Deep fresh breath and sigh~ Good hike today in the forest! ~j

Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans,
I hope you get your dreams,
Just go ahead, let your hair down.

You're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow.
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Okay my lurking girlfriends, I am thinking of you today! Miss you so much and thanks for always being there for me, near or far. I am off food police duty and enjoying the moment toasting you with a glass of wine, a little Corinne and wishing you all the best that life has to offer. Life is good. Cheers! ~j