"Thanksgiving Day is the one day that is purely American. O'Henry said, It is a time to appreciate our differences, to celebrate them. A season to see anew the diverse landscape that is America, to give thanks for it's spirit and remember it in song." (Thanksgiving of American Folk Hymns)
Isn't wonderful to have one day where everyone comes together and celebrate having friends, family and all the many wonderful things we have been given? It doesn't matter your race, religion, or creed. Thanksgiving Day is a day for everyone to join hands and lift up our voices in thanks.
I have much to be thankful for. I have been blessed with a wonderful husband, two beautiful children I had the privilege of bringing into this world, three lovable, laughable dogs, a home, two cars and a job that my husband loves and pays him well. I am thankful for all of the people I have come in contact with through out my life. Each person has had an impact on my life. And whether the impact was negative or positive I learned something from each one. I am thankful for all of the trials I have been given and for the growth that comes from each one. I am grateful for the opportunity to go to school, to be able to acquire as much knowledge as possible while here on this earth. I am grateful to live in a country that has so much freedom and is filled with endless possibilities. I am thankful for every single solidier that has layed down his or her life since the beginning of our nation to further the cause of freedom. I am thankful for our differences as human beings. I am thankful for the opportunity to live, to breathe, to have a body. I am thankful to God for giving me all of these wondrous blessings. He certainly didn't have to give these things to me but He has and I am eternally grateful.
Let us all give thanks for the blessings big and small in our lives. And after the turkey, pie, friends and family have gone let's continue to celebrate and give thanks in our hearts day after day. Everyday you awake and find you have breathe in your chest is a day to be thankful for.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Heal Thy Body, Heal Thy Mind
The body and mind work hand in hand. When your mind is tired or unwell your body feels it. When our bodies are sick and aching our mind shares the symptoms. So if one is healthy and happy the other will follow.
It is our job to keep to keep our bodies and minds as happy and healthy as possible. No one can do it for us. We are responsible for the condition of our bodies and our minds. We need to fill our bodies with healthy foods, plenty of oxygen, get plenty of exercise and rest. We must also fill our minds with knowledge and learn as much as we can. We have to "exercise" our brains everyday or like our bodies they will become weak.
We must also take care of our spirit. We must take time to relax, to sharpen the saw and reinvigorate. We must take time to worship and become spiritually centered. It is vital for us to take care of ourselves. There are many things that wear and tear on our body, mind, and spirit. We have to make sure to help ourselves or we will find that we are too tired, sad, anxious, off balance and weary to go through our daily tasks.
I have been trying to take better care of myself. I need to be in the best shape possible in body and mind to be able to take care of my family and myself. By just changing a few behaviors and habbits I am becoming a healthier and happier person.
I have started working out 6 days a week. It is amazing the change that brings into someone's life. I have so much more energy!! Not to mention that I am slowly becoming happier with the way my body looks. I have lost 8 inches and 5 lbs in the past 2 weeks. :) I love the workout I am doing. It fits my personality and is really fun! Working out helps me to burn away more than calories and fat. It helps me deal with the stress of the day. I am a much happier person when I workout and I have the energy to get through the day. I wish I could get every person to start a workout plan. Some people say that they are to out of shape to do a serious workout. That is SO wrong. It is never to late to start. Some people believe that simply because they are thin they don't need to workout. This is also very wrong. Thin people can be more unhealthy than a larger person. They can even have a higher fat percentage. So big or small everyone needs to get some activity in their day. Whether it is for weight-loss or not. Take a walk, ride your bike, start a class at the gym, just get active!
Food is another important part of how our bodies and minds feel. I have started cutting out how much red meat I eat and eating more fish and veggies. I have fallen in love with Tilapia. We don't get much fresh seafood here but they sell the most delicious frozen tilapia steaks here. I just put some lemon slices, cumin and pepper on them and through them in the oven. Yummy! I have alot more energy and my body seems to be more immune to the colds this season. I guess all of those vegetables have really helped! :) I have even gotten my husband and Emma on the healthy bandwagon. Matthew has given up sugary drinks for herbal teas and Emma will sit down and eat a whole plate of eggplant Parmesan. She also has developed a love for squashes and couscous. Now I just have to work on cutting down on the sugar. I am doing pretty good. So much refined sugar in a diet isn't good at all. Do you know that if people would give up drinking soda (each can is about 10.2 teaspoons of sugar...try eating that straight) they would lose 15.6 pounds in a year, roughly speaking. Imagine that! Refined sugar can cause tooth decay, obesity,hypoglycemia, diabetes and raw nerves which can lead to arthritis and osteoporosis. There are many other problems it can cause on top of these. It may taste good but it really isn't all that great. By cutting it out or down to a very small amount we are doing our bodies and minds a big favor.
It is amazing to me that by simply starting to eat healthy and workout how much better I feel. I am happy, I feel healthy and I have energy to spare even after staying up all night with a baby. I am trying to take care of my body and my mind. Rest and doing things that relax me help to keep my mind at ease, which in turn relaxes my body. It's amazing how it all works together isn't it? So do something good for your body today. Take a body inventory and see how you are feeling today. Then change something in your life to make it better. Go for a run, get rid of all of that Halloween candy that is calling to you, grill instead of fry, or try some relaxation techniques. You will be amazed that by healing your body, you will help heal and restore your mind. Take care of yourself and live well, you only get one body.
It is our job to keep to keep our bodies and minds as happy and healthy as possible. No one can do it for us. We are responsible for the condition of our bodies and our minds. We need to fill our bodies with healthy foods, plenty of oxygen, get plenty of exercise and rest. We must also fill our minds with knowledge and learn as much as we can. We have to "exercise" our brains everyday or like our bodies they will become weak.
We must also take care of our spirit. We must take time to relax, to sharpen the saw and reinvigorate. We must take time to worship and become spiritually centered. It is vital for us to take care of ourselves. There are many things that wear and tear on our body, mind, and spirit. We have to make sure to help ourselves or we will find that we are too tired, sad, anxious, off balance and weary to go through our daily tasks.
I have been trying to take better care of myself. I need to be in the best shape possible in body and mind to be able to take care of my family and myself. By just changing a few behaviors and habbits I am becoming a healthier and happier person.
I have started working out 6 days a week. It is amazing the change that brings into someone's life. I have so much more energy!! Not to mention that I am slowly becoming happier with the way my body looks. I have lost 8 inches and 5 lbs in the past 2 weeks. :) I love the workout I am doing. It fits my personality and is really fun! Working out helps me to burn away more than calories and fat. It helps me deal with the stress of the day. I am a much happier person when I workout and I have the energy to get through the day. I wish I could get every person to start a workout plan. Some people say that they are to out of shape to do a serious workout. That is SO wrong. It is never to late to start. Some people believe that simply because they are thin they don't need to workout. This is also very wrong. Thin people can be more unhealthy than a larger person. They can even have a higher fat percentage. So big or small everyone needs to get some activity in their day. Whether it is for weight-loss or not. Take a walk, ride your bike, start a class at the gym, just get active!
Food is another important part of how our bodies and minds feel. I have started cutting out how much red meat I eat and eating more fish and veggies. I have fallen in love with Tilapia. We don't get much fresh seafood here but they sell the most delicious frozen tilapia steaks here. I just put some lemon slices, cumin and pepper on them and through them in the oven. Yummy! I have alot more energy and my body seems to be more immune to the colds this season. I guess all of those vegetables have really helped! :) I have even gotten my husband and Emma on the healthy bandwagon. Matthew has given up sugary drinks for herbal teas and Emma will sit down and eat a whole plate of eggplant Parmesan. She also has developed a love for squashes and couscous. Now I just have to work on cutting down on the sugar. I am doing pretty good. So much refined sugar in a diet isn't good at all. Do you know that if people would give up drinking soda (each can is about 10.2 teaspoons of sugar...try eating that straight) they would lose 15.6 pounds in a year, roughly speaking. Imagine that! Refined sugar can cause tooth decay, obesity,hypoglycemia, diabetes and raw nerves which can lead to arthritis and osteoporosis. There are many other problems it can cause on top of these. It may taste good but it really isn't all that great. By cutting it out or down to a very small amount we are doing our bodies and minds a big favor.
It is amazing to me that by simply starting to eat healthy and workout how much better I feel. I am happy, I feel healthy and I have energy to spare even after staying up all night with a baby. I am trying to take care of my body and my mind. Rest and doing things that relax me help to keep my mind at ease, which in turn relaxes my body. It's amazing how it all works together isn't it? So do something good for your body today. Take a body inventory and see how you are feeling today. Then change something in your life to make it better. Go for a run, get rid of all of that Halloween candy that is calling to you, grill instead of fry, or try some relaxation techniques. You will be amazed that by healing your body, you will help heal and restore your mind. Take care of yourself and live well, you only get one body.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Happy Hour
Everyday I have Happy Hour. No, I am not slinging back a few with friends to ease a hard day (although there are days where the idea sounds pretty good. My Happy Hour is one precious hour out of my busy day that is entirely for me. It's not shared with the kids or my husband and when I'm in my Happy Hour, I am doing something I enjoy. It helps to relax me and unwind any tension and stress. I love my Happy Hour. So many of us get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life and forgot to sit back and enjoy life for a while. Have a Happy Hour! To create a "Happy Hour" for ourselves we don't need to become inebriated, there are millions of inventive things we can do to make ourselves happy. The point of a Happy Hour is to carve out one hour in the day to do something that makes you happy.
I have listed some ideas that I always enjoy. I'd love to know what you do. What do you do that makes you happy? It can be anything at all, the point is to take one hour out of the day and let your hair down!
Listen to some good music. The words of a song put it best "Girls put your records on, tell me your favorite song. You go ahead let your hair down." There is nothing in this world like happy, uplifting music. So turn up the radio and sing! Which leads me to my next idea....
Dance!! Shake it! I love to dance whether it's around my house or out with a group of people. Dance has always been a huge part of my life. I was in dance as a very young child and my interest in it continued into when I was older. My siblings and I used to turn the music up and dance like crazy while our parents were out. I began taking bellydance and I fell in love. Now I do it everyday. Dance and music go hand in hand. It's a way for the soul to express it's self. Let the music just take you away and let go.
Play with a child or pet. Children are able to retreat into their own little made up worlds when they want to get away from their life stressors. As we grow old we often forget how to play. We becomes to busy, to mature for such things. Sitting down with a child or even a playful puppy or kitten and just playing for a while is sure to put a smile on your face. Tea partys, tug-o-war, even a game of peek-a-boo does wonders for the soul. If you honestly don't know how to play it's okay. Children and animals alike are very patient and eager teachers.
Pamper yourself. Yes I know what you are thinking. I'm to busy, money is too tight ect... Now I didn't say that you needed to book flight to the Cayman Islands for a week long spa resort vacation. No matter how tight money is or how little time in the day we have there is always a way to pamper yourself. Take a bubble bath, sit down with friends or your daughters and give each other make-overs, manicures or a pedi. Try wearing your hair differently one day or even grab an at home hair dye and switch up the color if you are feeling brave. Go for a long walk in a park by yourself. Take a nap! Buy yourself something nice, big or little. Maybe a necklace you've been wanting or a new piece of clothing or even a piece of chocolate. (Hey, they have proven that 3 oz. of dark chocolate a day helps to keep your heart healthy so it's technically not cheating on your diet.) The point is to do something for yourself that you normally don't.
Workout! Most of us dread that word but put some fun into it and you will find that it is the most delightful part of your day. For me, it's doing kickboxing and dance. For other people it may be swimming or even running. Tennis, yoga, whatever floats your boat. Just do something you love and then enjoy the endorphine release that you get from it. That is a true happy hour! :)
Write. Take time to write in a journal, post on a blog, reconnect with friends and family by writing them a letter. No one ever writes letters anymore. We are all to "advanced" for that. So get in touch with this lost art. The people you write will love you for it.
Have a girl's night. Before Ammon was born I had girl's nights at my house and over at friends. Sometimes we would go out, other times we would just stay in. Once he is a little older you can rest assured that I will be picking this practice back up. It's so nice to have a night to connect with friends, as women and just let loose. We have gone on until 2 in the morning at times. If your husband doesn't seem to sure of the idea of a bunch of women in the house for hours on end, just offer him a "man's night". Matthew loved it! He and his friends got to play video games and eat pizza all night. It was a win-win for everyone. So get the girls together and have a blast, watching movies, eating out, playing games or just having some good girl talk!
Today I want everyone to have a "Happy Hour" and everyday after. Treat yourself good. If you aren't happy then it will be hard to make everyone else happy. Friends, boyfriends, husbands, kids and other family members don't want to be around a grumpy butt. So go and find your happy! :)
I have listed some ideas that I always enjoy. I'd love to know what you do. What do you do that makes you happy? It can be anything at all, the point is to take one hour out of the day and let your hair down!
Listen to some good music. The words of a song put it best "Girls put your records on, tell me your favorite song. You go ahead let your hair down." There is nothing in this world like happy, uplifting music. So turn up the radio and sing! Which leads me to my next idea....
Dance!! Shake it! I love to dance whether it's around my house or out with a group of people. Dance has always been a huge part of my life. I was in dance as a very young child and my interest in it continued into when I was older. My siblings and I used to turn the music up and dance like crazy while our parents were out. I began taking bellydance and I fell in love. Now I do it everyday. Dance and music go hand in hand. It's a way for the soul to express it's self. Let the music just take you away and let go.
Play with a child or pet. Children are able to retreat into their own little made up worlds when they want to get away from their life stressors. As we grow old we often forget how to play. We becomes to busy, to mature for such things. Sitting down with a child or even a playful puppy or kitten and just playing for a while is sure to put a smile on your face. Tea partys, tug-o-war, even a game of peek-a-boo does wonders for the soul. If you honestly don't know how to play it's okay. Children and animals alike are very patient and eager teachers.
Pamper yourself. Yes I know what you are thinking. I'm to busy, money is too tight ect... Now I didn't say that you needed to book flight to the Cayman Islands for a week long spa resort vacation. No matter how tight money is or how little time in the day we have there is always a way to pamper yourself. Take a bubble bath, sit down with friends or your daughters and give each other make-overs, manicures or a pedi. Try wearing your hair differently one day or even grab an at home hair dye and switch up the color if you are feeling brave. Go for a long walk in a park by yourself. Take a nap! Buy yourself something nice, big or little. Maybe a necklace you've been wanting or a new piece of clothing or even a piece of chocolate. (Hey, they have proven that 3 oz. of dark chocolate a day helps to keep your heart healthy so it's technically not cheating on your diet.) The point is to do something for yourself that you normally don't.
Workout! Most of us dread that word but put some fun into it and you will find that it is the most delightful part of your day. For me, it's doing kickboxing and dance. For other people it may be swimming or even running. Tennis, yoga, whatever floats your boat. Just do something you love and then enjoy the endorphine release that you get from it. That is a true happy hour! :)
Write. Take time to write in a journal, post on a blog, reconnect with friends and family by writing them a letter. No one ever writes letters anymore. We are all to "advanced" for that. So get in touch with this lost art. The people you write will love you for it.
Have a girl's night. Before Ammon was born I had girl's nights at my house and over at friends. Sometimes we would go out, other times we would just stay in. Once he is a little older you can rest assured that I will be picking this practice back up. It's so nice to have a night to connect with friends, as women and just let loose. We have gone on until 2 in the morning at times. If your husband doesn't seem to sure of the idea of a bunch of women in the house for hours on end, just offer him a "man's night". Matthew loved it! He and his friends got to play video games and eat pizza all night. It was a win-win for everyone. So get the girls together and have a blast, watching movies, eating out, playing games or just having some good girl talk!
Today I want everyone to have a "Happy Hour" and everyday after. Treat yourself good. If you aren't happy then it will be hard to make everyone else happy. Friends, boyfriends, husbands, kids and other family members don't want to be around a grumpy butt. So go and find your happy! :)
Monday, October 26, 2009
The Goddess Within
Namaste
Such a beautiful word and when translated into English it becomes a beautiful phrase. Roughly translated it mean " We greet the God within you". What a wonderful wayto greet someone. To greet a total stranger and acknowledge the great worth within that person. To see the god/goddess in that person. How that must make the other person feel! There are many other beautiful and poetic meanings to this saying.
"I honor the Spirit in you which is also in me." -- attributed to author Kabir Chopra
"I honor the place in you in which the entire Universe dwells, I honor the place in you which is of Love, of Integrity, of Wisdom and of Peace. When you are in that place in you, and I am in that place in me, we are One."
"I salute the God within you."
"Your spirit and my spirit are ONE." -- attributed to Lilias Folan's shared teachings from her journeys to India.[citation needed]
"That which is of the Divine in me greets that which is of the Divine in you."
"The Divinity within me perceives and adores the Divinity within you."
"All that is best and highest in me greets/salutes all that is best and highest in you."
"I greet the God within."
Such beautiful words to say to a person. I think often times we as women forget that we are Goddess. That whether your are the CEO of a major company, a stay at home mother, or a college student, inside we are all the same. We are all divine and we need to embrace that divine spirit within ourselves and help the women in our lives see it too. That is why I have designed this blog to help us as women reconnect with ourselves. I will be talking about ways to help ourselves physically, mentally, and spiritually. We give so much to our families, communities and friends that we often overlook what we need to be giving ourselves. So let's start today! Today I want you to look in the mirror and remind yourself that you are a Goddess. Find one thing today that makes you feel like a Goddess and do it! Whether it's tackling a project you've been dying to do, dancing to music, trying a new class at the gym, getting your hair done, painting your nails with your daughter, or writing poetry. Find something that you love to do and do it! You will be amazed at how you feel.
Namaste :)
Such a beautiful word and when translated into English it becomes a beautiful phrase. Roughly translated it mean " We greet the God within you". What a wonderful wayto greet someone. To greet a total stranger and acknowledge the great worth within that person. To see the god/goddess in that person. How that must make the other person feel! There are many other beautiful and poetic meanings to this saying.
"I honor the Spirit in you which is also in me." -- attributed to author Kabir Chopra
"I honor the place in you in which the entire Universe dwells, I honor the place in you which is of Love, of Integrity, of Wisdom and of Peace. When you are in that place in you, and I am in that place in me, we are One."
"I salute the God within you."
"Your spirit and my spirit are ONE." -- attributed to Lilias Folan's shared teachings from her journeys to India.[citation needed]
"That which is of the Divine in me greets that which is of the Divine in you."
"The Divinity within me perceives and adores the Divinity within you."
"All that is best and highest in me greets/salutes all that is best and highest in you."
"I greet the God within."
Such beautiful words to say to a person. I think often times we as women forget that we are Goddess. That whether your are the CEO of a major company, a stay at home mother, or a college student, inside we are all the same. We are all divine and we need to embrace that divine spirit within ourselves and help the women in our lives see it too. That is why I have designed this blog to help us as women reconnect with ourselves. I will be talking about ways to help ourselves physically, mentally, and spiritually. We give so much to our families, communities and friends that we often overlook what we need to be giving ourselves. So let's start today! Today I want you to look in the mirror and remind yourself that you are a Goddess. Find one thing today that makes you feel like a Goddess and do it! Whether it's tackling a project you've been dying to do, dancing to music, trying a new class at the gym, getting your hair done, painting your nails with your daughter, or writing poetry. Find something that you love to do and do it! You will be amazed at how you feel.
Namaste :)
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