Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Excerpts from THE FOUR AGREEMENTS-#35

Whatever life takes away from you, let it go!
When you surrender and let go of the past, you allow yourself to be fully alive in this present moment.
Letting go of the past allows you to enjoy the dream that is happening right now.

Thoughts On Happiness

"The pursuit of happiness is a most ridiculous phrase: if you pursue happiness you'll never find it."

C.P. Snow



"Happiness is a choice."

Anonymous




"If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.
If you want to be happy, practice compassion."

Tenzin Gyatso

Stand Your Ground

Stand your ground.
There is a way of doing that without having to be
combative.

There is a way of hanging on to your true self,
and demonstrating it, without resorting to aggression.
But giving up or giving in is not the way.

Thoughts Make The World

We are what we think.
All that we are arises with our thoughts.
With our thoughts we make the world.


Buddha

Sleep On It

Got a lot on your plate over the next few days? Sleep on it. A good night’s rest helps us remember and carry out upcoming tasks.

According to a small study in the journal Psychological Science, students who slept after thinking about things they had to do were more likely to accomplish them the next day, compared to those who were supposed to carry out the tasks before going to bed.
The researchers believe that during sleep, the brain processes and stores recently learned information, so that we’re able to recall it better when we wake up.
So if you have the choice of getting everything done before going to bed, and waiting until tomorrow to finish your to-dos, you may be better off getting some shut-eye first.

60 Things To Be Thankful For---#31-40

31. Rainbows – For a beautiful sight to look forward to after rain.

32. Oxygen - For making life possible.

33. The earth – For creating the environment for life to begin.

34. Mother nature - For covering our world in beauty.

35. Animals – For adding to the diversity of life.

36. Internet - For connecting you and me despite the physical space between us.

37. Transport - For making it easier to commute from one place to another.

38. Mobile phones – For making it easy to stay in touch with others.

39. Computers – For making our lives more effective and efficient.

40. Technology – For making impossible things possible.

Monday, August 30, 2010

Keep On Walking

“If we are facing in the right direction, all we have to do is keep on walking.”


One of the hardest things in life is knowing what’s right for you. You can drive yourself crazy trying to find it–the right work, the right goals, the right purpose, the right partner.

The truth is there is no right. At any time you can decide to change directions, and that’s a completely valid choice. You don’t have to define it, defend it, or even understand it. You just need to trust yourself and then find the courage
to walk the path you chose.

If any time it stops feeling right, you can then decide again. And then walk and keep on walking.

Catching Them

When you are mindful of the process of thought itself,
you can more readily catch your own lapses of mind,
the inaccuracies in your thinking,
and the self-subverting behaviors that follow.

The Ten Perfections

"I shall seek to develop the perfection of
generosity,
virtue,
doing without,
wisdom,
energy,
forbearance,
truthfulness,
resolution,
love,
serenity."

The Ten Perfections
Buddha

Without Moving An Inch

"Because clarity and enlightenment are within your own nature,
they are regained without moving an inch."

Lao Tzu

Unwillingness

“If you let go a little, you will have a little peace.
If you let go a lot, you will have a lot of peace.”

Ajahn Chah



It isn’t our regrets, worries, fears, and insecurities that cause us to feel stress and pain.
It’s our unwillingness to let them go.

Meditation and Attention Span

Too distracted to finish reading this tip?
Improve your attention span with regular meditation.


Does your mind constantly flit from one thing to the next? If you have a difficult time staying focused on a single task, meditation may help you improve your attention span.
According to research in the journal Psychological Science, mastering the art of meditation may help improve focus, concentration and your attention span. People who underwent a three-month meditation retreat were periodically subjected to boring but demanding tests that required their full focus. All of the meditators improved over the duration of the meditation retreat.

Friday, August 27, 2010

How Old?

How old would you be
if you didn't know how old you are?

Commitment To Meditation

Consider what kind of commitment you can make to your meditation.
Make an agreement with yourself and stick to it.

Encouragement

"Flatter me, and I may not believe you.
Criticize me, and I may not like you.
Ignore me, and I may not forgive you.
Encourage me, and I will not forget you."


William Arthur Ward

Shaking The World

"In a gentle way,
you can shake the world."

Gandhi

If

If you have only what you need,
you have true wealth.
If you never give up,
you will find a way.
If you stay true to yourself,
you will never be lost.
If you stay alive your whole life,
you've really lived.


Lao Tzu

Actions Rather Than Outcomes

How to embark on a healthier lifestyle: Set goals based on actions rather than outcomes, and track your progress in a diary.

Your doctor just gave you a laundry list of ways to improve your health, but where do you start? Figuring out how to implement and stick with new habits can be tricky. That’s why the American Heart Association is recommending new guidelines to help you get and stay on track.

Setting concrete goals, such as walking for 30 minutes a day, are more effective over the long-term than simply saying you need to walk more. Focusing on your actions instead of the results is also key. If you tell yourself you need to lose 10 pounds, you’re more likely to quit exercising if the scale doesn’t budge. But if your goal is to log two miles every day, you’ll achieve a greater sense of accomplishment. Keep a journal to write down your progress every day, so you can reflect back on how far you’ve come.

60 Things To Be Thankful For---#21-30

21. Fears – So you know your opportunities for growth.

22. Pain – For you to become a stronger person.

23. Sadness – For you to appreciate the spectrum of human emotions.

24. Happiness – For you to soak in the beauty of life.

25. The Sun - For bringing in light and beauty to this world.

26. Sunset – For a beautiful sight to end the day.

27. Moon and Stars - For brightening up our night sky.

28. Sunrise - For a beautiful sight to start the morning.

29. Rain – For cooling you when it gets too warm and for making it comfy to sleep in on weekends.

30. Snow – For making winter even more beautiful.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Intuition

"Intuition will tell the thinking mind where to look next. "

Jonas Salk



"You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition.
What you'll discover will be wonderful.
What you'll discover is yourself."

Alan Alda

Two Kinds Of Worries

"There are two kinds of worries - those you CAN do something about and those you CAN'T.
Don't spend any time on the latter."

Duke Ellington

Define Yourself

"Never be bullied into silence.
Never allow yourself to be made a victim.
Accept no one's definition of your life.
Define yourself."

Harvey Fierstein

Wise Words

Hear what is said,
retain what is important,
speak what is worthy.
Attach to nothing.

BUDDHA

Community Programs

Get involved to stay slim. Community programs that teach healthy eating habits can help prevent weight gain.

Ongoing support groups that teach the importance of a healthy lifestyle can help middle-aged women become more physically active and keep them from gaining weight, according to a study in the British Medical Journal.
The study compared a month-long program that involved hour-long weekly sessions to a one-time lecture. One year later, the first group had lost an average of half a pound, while the latter group gained two pounds on average. The people in the ongoing program also reported more exercise and better cholesterol scores.
To improve your health habits, ask your doctor about local healthy lifestyle programs, or sign up for classes through adult education programs.

60 Things To Be Thankful For---#11-20

11. Your lungs – For letting you breathe so you can live.

12. Your immune system – For fighting viruses that enter your body. For keeping you at the peak of your health so you can do the things you love.

13. Your hands – So you can type on your computer, flip the pages of books, and hold the hands of your loved ones.

14. Your legs - For letting you walk, run, swim, play the sports you love, and curl up in the comfort of your seat.

15. Your mind - For the ability to think, to store memories, and to create new solutions.

16. Your good health – For enabling you to do what you want to do and for what you’re about to do in the future.

17. Your school - For providing an environment conducive to learning and growing.

18. Your teachers – For their dedication and for passing down knowledge to you.

19. Tears – For helping you express your deepest emotions.

20. Disappointment - So you know the things that matter to you most.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Moving

"God's Spirit moves through us and the world at a pace that can never be constricted by any one religious paradigm.
I love that."

Bono

Being Alive

"I don't believe people are looking for the meaning of life as much as they are looking for the experience of being alive."

Joseph Campbell

Disciplined Non-conformists

"The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined non-conformists who are dedicated to justice, peace and brotherhood."

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Tao Translation In Modern Words--#77

Weapons are terrible things.
If you want to get right with Tao, reject weapons.
The Master, knowing all things came from Tao,
recognizes what he has in common with his enemies
and always tries to avoid conflict.

But when there is no other choice,
he uses force reluctantly.
He does so with great restraint,
and never celebrates a victory;
to do so would be to rejoice in killing.

A person who would rejoice in killing
has completely lost touch with Tao.
When you win a war,
you preside over a funeral.
Pay your respects to the dead.

Reflections

"Since everything is a reflection of our minds,
everything can be changed by our minds."

Buddha

No, Not Into Your Hands!

Feel a cough or sneeze coming on? To prevent germ spread, good hygiene now dictates that you should cough and sneeze into your elbow.

You may have been taught that the polite way to cover your cough or sneeze is with your hands, but that method is no longer encouraged.
The more sanitary way is to cough or sneeze into your elbow so that you don’t spread germs that would otherwise end up on your hands.
Germs that cause colds and the flu can linger on surfaces that you touch long enough to infect someone else. Sneezing into a tissue or handkerchief is also still acceptable. And remember to always practice good hand hygiene after sneezing.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

MLK

"We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools."

Martin Luther King, Jr.



"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

Martin Luther King, Jr.


"The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists who are dedicated to justice, peace and brotherhood."

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Excerpts from THE FOUR AGREEMENTS-#34

You do your best when you are enjoying the action or doing it in a way that will not have negative repercussions for you.
You do your best because you WANT to do it,
not because you HAVE to do it.
You do it not because you wish to please the judge, and not because you are trying to please other people.

AFFIRMATIONS 105

I love and care for my body
and it cares for me.

Arising

"We do not truly understand that everything arises from our minds,
that every thought we have is instantly felt throughout the entire universe."

BUDDHA

Prostate Cancer and Broccoli

Prostate cancer in your family? Eat your broccoli. A chemical in the veggie may help your genes to prevent prostate cancer.

Sulforaphane, a chemical found in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables, may help prevent the development of prostate cancer. Here’s how: PTEN is a human gene that helps inhibit prostate cancer growth. This gene can be spontaneously deleted in prostate tissue, making it more susceptible to developing prostate cancer. Sulforaphane interacts with these gene deficient cells to reduce the risk of cancer.

To get the most sulforaphane for your buck, eat your broccoli raw, and chew it well. Broccoli sprouts — broccoli plants that are just a few days old and taste similar to alfalfa sprouts — are an even better source of sulforaphane.

60 Things To Be Thankful For---#1-10

Here are 60 things to be grateful for in our lives:


1. Your parents - For giving birth to you. Because if there is no them, there will not be you.

2. Your family – For being your closest kin in the world.

3. Your friends – For being your companions in life.

4. Sense of sight – For letting you see the colors of life.

5. Sense of hearing - For letting you hear trickle of rain, the voices of your loved ones, and the harmonious chords of music.

6. Sense of touch - For letting you feel the texture of your clothes, the breeze of the wind, the hands of your loved ones.

7. Sense of smell – For letting you smell scented candles, perfumes, and beautiful flowers in your garden.

8. Sense of taste – For letting you savor the sweetness of fruits, the saltiness of seawater, the sourness of pickles, the bitterness of bitter gourd, and the spiciness of chili.

9. Your speech – For giving you the outlet to express yourself.

10. Your heart – For pumping blood to all the parts of your body every second since you were born; for giving you the ability to feel.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Acting As You Believe

"We could change the world tomorrow if all the millions of people around the world acted the way they believe."

Jane Goodall

The Voice

"I think we all have a little voice inside us that will guide us.
If we shut out all the noise and clutter from our lives and listen to that voice, it will tell us the right thing to do."


Christopher Reeve

Bitter Or Better?

“Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future.”

Paul Boese


Sometimes resentment and anger may seem involuntary–like reactions you have to indulge for a length of time to proportionate to how badly you were wronged. It might even feel like your anger is a justified retaliation, and you’d be weak if you let it go.

The irony is that after we’ve been hurt, we choose to continue hurting ourselves. Bitterness never feels good, no matter where it’s rooted.

Psychologists suggest that when other people make mistakes, we tend to assign them character flaws (i.e.: he’s selfish, or she doesn’t care who she hurts) whereas when we make mistakes, we more frequently cite external causes (i.e.: I’ve been overworked, or I haven’t been getting enough sleep.)

It’s almost as though we’re willing to let ourselves off the hook because we have to live with ourselves, but when it comes to other people we’re quick to condemn and slow to forget.

You might not be able to forget what happened yesterday, but you can choose not to let it suffocate today. We all have character flaws and we’re all affected by external causes.

Today if you have a hard time forgiving, ask yourself this question: Do you want to feel bitter or better?

Self Meditation 123

If you stop running and listen closely,
you may hear the voice of your own inner wisdom.


Stop reading or whatever you are doing and imagine that you are going to die in one minute. It brings you into the present moment.
You stop fighting, you stop needing, you stop being concerned with physical comforts, you stop wanting, you stop achieving, and you stop maintaining.

Expired Medications

Every time you clean house, check the medicine cabinet for expired drugs.
Toss out old ones and replace with new.

How often do you clean out your medicine cabinet?
If you’re like most Americans, chances are you don’t do it very often.
Keeping a surplus of expired medications can be dangerous.
A drug’s potency is only guaranteed until its “best if used by” date.
After that, all bets are off.

If you have asthma and need to use your inhaler, or have a heart condition that requires aspirin or nitroglycerin tablets, you could be putting your life at risk.
To play it safe, regularly replace all expired medications that you might need.

Friday, August 20, 2010

Yesterday

"I can't go back to yesterday
because I was a different person then."

Lewis Carroll

Responding To Change

"Change is not easy, but it is simple.
Things will always change.
We don’t have a choice about that.
But we do have a choice about how we respond to change.
It really boils down to this…either we manage change, or it will manage us."


Mac Anderson

Enlightenment and Strength

Understanding others is knowledge,
Understanding oneself is enlightenment.
Conquering others is power,
Conquering oneself is strength.

Lao Tzu

Clinging To The Past

"We all cling to the past,
and because we cling to the past
we become unavailable to the present moment."


Osho

Freedom

"The freedom we are looking for is the freedom to be ourselves, to express ourselves.
But if we look at our lives we will see that most of the time we do things just to please others .
The worst part is that most of us are not even aware that we are not free."

Don Miguel Ruiz

Cooked vs. Raw Veggies

Think all veggies are better for you raw? Not true. Lycopene, found in tomatoes and other carotenoids are more easily absorbed when cooked.

The raw food movement might have you believe that all fruits and vegetables are better for you uncooked. But the truth is, some nutrients are actually better absorbed by the body when they’ve been heated. Lycopene, found predominantly in tomatoes, is more abundant in cooked products, like stewed tomatoes or red sauce. Plus, only certain vitamins are depleted during the cooking process.

Here’s a rule of thumb for getting the most nutrients out of your veggies: Water-soluble vitamins (B complex and C) lose nutrients when they’re cooked, while fat-soluble ones (A, D, E and K) do not. Eating a variety of cooked and raw vegetables is your best bet for getting your full range of nutritional benefits.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Hindrances

Meditate on any hindrance (irritation/aversion, craving/desire, sleepiness, restlessness, doubt) that arises in your practice;
see it arise,
observe its features,
soften and receive it,
let it go.

Actions Speak Loudly

"However many holy words you read, however many you speak,
what good will they do you if you do not act upon them?"

Buddha

Truth and Non-Violence

"Truth and non-violence are no cloistered virtues
but are applicable as much in the forum and the legislatures
as in the market-place."

Gandhi

Essential Mystery

The good man is the teacher of the bad,
And the bad is the material from which the good may learn.
He who does not value the teacher,
Or greatly care for the material,
Is greatly deluded although he may be learned.
Such is the essential mystery.


Lao Tzu

Creating Our Destiny

“We choose our destiny in the way we treat others.”

Wit


The world has a way of mirroring what we put out there. It’s the law of reciprocity–when you’re kind to other people, that kindness comes back to you. Maybe not right away, and maybe not from the person you helped; but planting seeds of generosity goes a long way in shaping a positive tomorrow.

This is why expert networkers recommend you focus on getting to know people, not trying to get something from them. Real, solid relationships involve a natural give and take.

It starts with giving–and it doesn’t need to have physical value. Your simplest gestures are often the strongest–your insights, your time, or your most powerful gift, your attention.

What destiny will you create today?

Cancer Patients and Exercise

Battling cancer? Exercise should be a part of your treatment plan.
To improve your outcome, aim for as much activity as you can.

Cancer patients should ignore the old advice to rest and avoid activity.
The American College of Sports Medicine says not only is exercise during treatment safe, but it may reduce fatigue and improve quality of life, physical functioning and even your outcome.

Growing evidence shows a link between greater physical activity and a lower risk of death among cancer patients.
Be sure to get the go-ahead from your doctors before embarking on an exercise program. Besides screening you for medical issues, they may also be able to recommend customized workout programs based on your ability.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Anchoring

If you can take a moment to settle yourself before the rush of the day begins,
it can act like an anchor,
a reminder that there is silence under the chaos.

Offending

"No one can offend me without my permission."

Gandhi

Coming Into The Present

“You cannot find yourself by going into the past. You can find yourself by coming into the present.”

Eckhart Tolle


There’s something addictive about reliving the past.
We analyze, agonize, judge ourselves and our choices, as if rehashing them will somehow change what happened, or at least change how we feel about it.


We think about it, talk about it, write about it, obsess about it, looking for a sense of understanding and closure.

No matter how much you dwell, you will never find happiness by trying to make sense of yesterday.

True happiness is when you let go of everything in your head that obscures what’s happening in front of you.


Your attention in the moment is your life.
Live it fully today.

RA and Aerobic Exercise

Got RA? Get moving! For people with rheumatoid arthritis, aerobic exercise can lead to better physical functioning and improve joint pain.


Think having rheumatoid arthritis (RA) means exercise is off-limits? Think again. People with RA, an autoimmune disease that attacks the joints, can improve their quality of life and physical ability by engaging in regular cardio-respiratory conditioning, according to a review in the journal Arthritis Care & Research.

The American College of Rheumatology recommends 150 minutes a week of moderate exercise, such as walking, dancing or water aerobics, for people with rheumatoid arthritis.

Created Equal

"We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."


Thomas Jefferson
[Declaration of Independence, and inscribed in the Jefferson Memorial]

Tao Translation In Modern Words--#76

Keep your feet firmly planted
unless you want to fall on your face.
Learn how to pace yourself
if you want to get anywhere.

Don't call attention to yourself
if you want people to notice your work.
Nobody respects people who always have excuses.
Nobody gives credit to people who always take it.
People who hype themselves have nothing else to offer.

Think of being in touch with Tao like eating at a buffet:
Take only what you need.
Save some for everybody else.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Peace Within

"We can never obtain peace in the outer world
until we make peace
within ourselves."

Dalai Lama

Motivation and Habit

"Motivation is what gets you started.
Habit is what keeps you going."


Jim Rohn

Giving It A Rest

When you have nothing to say,
you may as well keep your mouth shut.
The wind and the rain don't go on forever.
If nature knows enough to give it a rest sometimes,
so should you.

The Past

Somebody told you a falsehood if they told you that you
have to live with your past decisions, choices, and
actions.

The past is past and has nothing to do with you.
It has nothing to do with Right Now.

Do not let anything from your past inhibit you in this
Present Moment.

Start over. Start Fresh. Each day.
Just get going. Just do it.
Just say it. With love.
All else will take care of itself.

Coffee and Cholesterol

Coffee that isn’t filtered through paper can raise cholesterol.
If that’s a concern, stay away from French press and espresso drinks.

Don’t let your "morning joe" contribute to high cholesterol.
Two substances in coffee, kahweol and cafestol, elevate cholesterol when consumed.
Luckily, paper filters can keep them out of your brew.
Stick with coffee drinks that have been filtered through paper, and steer clear of boiled, Turkish and French press coffee, as well as drinks made with espresso.

Monday, August 16, 2010

My Birthday TODAY!

Thank you to all of you who have passed along birthday wishes!
I am 51 years old today!
(BUT, I look MUCH younger!)

How Long?

“The greatest obstacle to connecting with our joy is resentment.”

Pema Chodron

Happiness isn’t so much a matter of what is there as it is about removing what’s in the way.
You can’t possibly feel positive emotion when you’re holding onto things that bring you pain.

That’s not to say you can’t go through it.
Life’s hard sometimes, and you’re allowed to hurt.

The question is: How long do you want to feel angry, bitter or resentful?
And more importantly: What you can clear away today so you can connect with your joy?

Self Meditation 122

In deep relaxation mediation,
as you breathe in and out,
become aware of your whole body lying down.

Feel all the areas of your body that are touching the floor or bed you are lying on.
With each out-breath, feel yourself sink deeper and deeper into the surface,
letting go of tension and worries, not holding on to anything.
Send your love and compassion to your whole body.
Feel gratitude for all the cells in your body.

Tao Translation In Modern Words--#75

Learn how to stand still if you want to go places.
Get on your knees if you want to stand tall.
If you want wisdom, empty your mind.
If you want the world, renounce your riches.
Push yourself until you're exhausted,
and then you'll find your strength.

You can go far
if you don't have anything to carry.
The more you acquire,
the less you can really see.

A Child Within

"In every person is hidden
a child who wants to play."

Harvey Ruben

Music Therapy

If someone you love is recovering from a stroke, you might want to consider music therapy to help improve mobility.

Recovering from a stroke can be a long and arduous process, but as long as you continue to challenge yourself, you can still continue to learn. Music therapy, provided by trained therapists, is one way to help improve stroke patients’ movement, according to a Cochrane Review of seven studies. Certain music tempos can stimulate movement and improve walking ability in patients. Research suggests that music therapy may also be useful in helping people recover from other types of brain injury.

Friday, August 13, 2010

Impact

“Every action of our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity.”

Edwin Hubbell Chapin



Life can seem so brief and random. Try as we may to give life meaning, it often seems like there should be something more–like we should be doing more to make our lives matter before time goes on without us.

We get so caught up trying to matter that we forget how much we already do. We get so fixated on changing the world that we forget we shape it every day.

Make no mistake about it: every time you choose to be passionate, mindful, thoughtful, considerate, generous, gracious, fearless or kind you change the world for the better. People notice, people benefit, and whether they remember or not, they are better for it.
Be mindful of the actions that might seem insignificant.

They are the fabric of your legacy.

Conquering

He is strong who conquers others;
He who conquers himself is mighty.

Lao Tzu

Within

"Peace can only come from within.
Do not seek it from outside of yourself.
This only leads to dependence, addiction and attachments."

Dr. W. Crew Lauterbach

Tao Translation In Modern Words--#75

Get rid of sanctity.
People will understand the truth and be more content.

Get rid of morality.
People will respect each other and do what's right.

Get rid of value and profit.
People will not steal if they do not desire.

All-Over Muscle Toning

All-Over Muscle Toning

Nearly everyone knows that cardiovascular exercise burns calories and helps keep you fit and strong, but if you're seeking muscle definition you'll need to do more than just cardio. Many people, women especially, avoid weightlifting because they're afraid they could start looking brawny or bulky. But luckily, there are ways to attain a firm, all-over toned body without looking like you're preparing to enter a bodybuilding competition.

Cardio and Diet
Make sure you fit in regular exercise to keep excess fat away – otherwise you'll never be able to see those toned muscles you've worked so hard for! And eating a well-balanced diet will help you to get all the nutrients you need so your body has all the fuel it needs to power you through your workouts, keeping you energized and strong.

Low weight, High repetitions
When it comes to weightlifting, go for a lower weight and a higher number of repetitions. Four or five sets of 15-20 reps are ideal for all-over muscle toning. Use your own body as resistance. Exercises like yoga and pilates will strengthen and tone every muscle in your body, giving you the long, lean look that comes with an all-over toned body. Exercises like squats, lunges, push-ups, pull-ups, and triceps all work your body using your body's own resistance, so you don't even need a gym!

Stretch
Stretching your body thoroughly before and after every workout will prevent injuries and lengthen your muscles, making it less likely your physique will develop into a group of knotty, bulky muscles.

Boundaries

In the end, all souls must walk their path -- and the
reason they are walking a particular path may not be
clear to us...or even to them at the level of ordinary
human consciousness.

Do what you can to help others, of course. Show
love and caring whenever and wherever you can.
But do not get caught up in someone else's "story"
to the point where you start writing it.

Brown Rice vs. White Rice

Is white rice a daily staple in your house? Swapping out one-third of it with brown rice may lower your risk of diabetes by 16 percent.


By now, I probably don’t have to tell you that white rice is about as good for you as cotton candy. Eating it is almost like mainlining sugar, because that’s exactly what it turns into when it hits your bloodstream. Because of that not-so-lovely quality, eating five servings of white rice a week can raise the risk of type 2 diabetes by nearly 17 percent, according to a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Conversely, eating brown rice or other whole grains instead of white can reduce your risk. If you have a secret love affair with the white stuff, you don’t have to quit it cold turkey. Try adding just a little bit of brown rice to it every day until you’ve become accustomed to it. Using plenty of herbs and spices can also help liven up the flavor.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Danger and Opportunity

"When written in Chinese, the word "crisis" is composed of two characters.
One represents danger and the other represents opportunity."

John F. Kennedy

Repeating History

“Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know.”

Pema Chodron


This can be a hard pill to swallow, but if there’s one constant in your ongoing struggles, it’s you. If you feel like you can’t trust any of your friends, it’s probably more about you than them. If you have persistent trouble holding a job, it’s probably more about you than the jobs you’re pursuing.

Until we acknowledge what needs to be addressed, history will keep repeating itself. Nothing changes until we change.

The good news is that every day is an opportunity to learn, change, and grow. If you wake up breathing, you have a new opportunity to live the life you want.

What do you need to learn from and then let go of today?

Standing Still

"Be not afraid of growing slowly.
Just be afraid of standing still."

Chinese Proverb

Find Them

Find friends
who love the truth.

Beyond The Ego

"If you want to reach a state of bliss,
then go beyond your ego and the internal dialogue.
Make a decision to relinquish the need to control,
the need to be approved,
and the need to judge."


Deepak Chopra

Cyberbullying

Keep your kids safe from bullying by watching out for a growing threat, cyberbullying.
It’s a big issue for kids in middle and high school.

Forget stolen lunch money and punches at recess. Bullying today is more relentless and far-reaching than those schoolyard skirmishes. Today’s trend goes by the name cyberbullying, which involves the use of communication technologies (think cell phones, e-mail, chat rooms and Facebook) to support repeated hostile behavior intended to harm others.

In a 2009 Cox Communications survey, 15 percent of 13- to 18-year-olds said they had been cyberbullied. Other studies show even higher numbers, like a 2006 survey by Harris Interactive that reported that 43 percent of U.S. teens had experienced some form of cyberbullying in the past year. And 25 percent of kids admit to being cyberbullies.

Cyberbullying hurts kids’ self-esteem, causes stress and strain, and can even lead to suicide, as the Phoebe Prince and Megan Meier cases prove. To help kids avoid being cyberbullied, see if they’ll let you take a look at their Facebook page to check if there’s anything there that could be used against them. Ask if they’ve received mean or hurtful messages. Discuss with them how to handle it if they do get cyberbullied. They should let an adult know and save the evidence. If your child is the one doing the cyberbullying, have him read about some of the effects of this kind of behavior. Sometimes kids are trying to be funny or cool and don’t realize the power of their words. Or it could be that the lack of tone of voice in texts and posts leads to misunderstandings.

The key is to help your kids learn how to use technology responsibly, which means not hurting others and protecting themselves from getting hurt.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Suggestions For Living

LIVE WITH INTENTION.
WALK TO THE EDGE.
LISTEN HARD.
PRACTICE WELLNESS.
PLAY WITH ABANDON.
LAUGH.
CHOOSE WITH NO REGRET.
CONTINUE TO LEARN.
APPRECIATE YOUR FRIENDS.
DO WHAT YOU LOVE.
LIVE AS IF THIS IS ALL THERE IS.

Mary Anne Radamacher

AFFIRMATIONS 104

All is well,
right here,
right now.

Truth and Error

"I came to the conclusion long ago,
that all religions were true,
and also that all had some error in them."

Gandhi

Wisdom

"If the causes we create arise from wisdom,
so then will the results."

Buddha

Tao Translation In Modern Words--#74

When a Master takes charge,
hardly anybody notices.

The next best leader is obeyed out of love.
After that, there's the leader obeyed out of fear.
The worst leader is one who is hated.

Trust and respect people.
That's how you earn their trust and respect.
The Masters don't give orders;
they work with everybody else.
When the job's done,
people are amazed at what they accomplished.

Self Meditation 121

Imagine light and nectar filling your body.
Starting from below, visualize that all negativities rise and overflow through the upper openings of the body.
Feel that they no longer exist and that you are completely cleansed and purified, filled with great blissful spiritual energy.

Teaching Kids Healhier Eating

Fight back against unhealthy school lunches: Teach your kids how to eat healthier by getting them involved in making good choices.

Kids who eat school lunches have higher bad cholesterol and consume twice as many fatty meats and sugary drinks, according to a University of Michigan study. No wonder there’s so much support for changing what kids are served in schools nationwide, specifically increasing the number of high-fiber, nutrient-rich, low-fat vegetarian lunch options.

What can you do now to help your kids eat healthier at school? Review the lunch menu together and discuss healthy choices. Try to balance school-bought lunches with bagged lunches. Instead of white bread and high-fat deli meats, choose whole-grain breads (wheat, oat, multigrain) and low-fat tortilla wraps, and lower-fat deli meats, such as turkey. Instead of fried chips and sugary snacks, pack baked chips, air-popped popcorn, soy crisps, veggies and dip, homemade trail mix, or fresh fruit.

The more you involve your kids, the better — not only will they respond to the trust you place in them and appreciate having control over what they eat, you’ll be helping them learn healthy habits that will last a lifetime.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

The Ache For Home

"The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned."

Maya Angelou

Time To Risk

"How can you learn and grow when you never step out and try something new and exciting?
There is never a lack of resources, only a lack of ideas. Without risk, there can be no progress.
All of us only have so much sand left in the hourglass, and one day our sand will run out.
The time to risk is now and the great ones know it."


Steve Siebold

Self Meditation 120

Do a meditation in which you see all beings as enlightened, a world filled with Buddhas.
Every single being you meet is enlightened, except you.
Imagine that everyone is here to teach you.
Whoever you meet is acting as they do solely for your benefit, to provide the teachings and difficulties you need in order to awaken.
Note how this meditation changes your perspective.

Tomorrow

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own."


Jesus Christ

Silence

"Silence is a true friend who never betrays."

Lao Tzu

The Power

"You don't have the power to make life "fair,"
but you do have the power to make life joyful."

Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Hidden Sugar

Trying to cut back on sugar? Watch for hidden sugars in everything from condiments to soups — where it will surprise you!


Sugar is found naturally in many foods, including fruit, dairy products and grains, and eating it in these foods is actually good for you. After all, sugar (sucrose) is an important source of carbohydrate, the body’s primary energy source. But the average American eats about 156 pounds of sugar a year — at least double what health experts recommend — and most of it comes from refined sugar that’s added to processed foods.

Too much sugar can lead to extra weight and health risks. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to spot added sugar in foods. Look at the ingredient list and watch out for sugar’s many “disguises”: anything ending in -ose, high fructose corn syrup, molasses, cane sugar, corn sweetener, raw sugar, syrup, honey or fruit juice concentrates. If you find two or more, especially near the beginning of the list, the product most likely contains a lot of sugar. And don’t be surprised to see sugar pop up in strange places, including mayonnaise, ketchup, tomato sauce, salad dressing, mustard, canned soups, peanut butter, bread, fast food and TV dinners.