Now it is more important than ever to eat locally and shop your local farmer's market and small grocery store.
We all know that our planet needs our help right now, but we often feel unsure about what to do, where to make an effort, and what will really help. The good news is that we can heal the planet on a daily basis simply by buying and eating food that is grown locally. Food that has been transported long distances doesn't contain much life force by the time it gets to your kitchen. Making a commitment to shop, buy, and eat locally is not only a very important part of creating positive change, it can also be delicious fun.
One of the best places to begin the adventure of eating locally is a farmer's market. Stalls brim with fresh fruits and vegetables grown on nearby farms. Not only is this good for the environment, it's good for the farmers since they benefit from selling directly to the consumer. The consumer benefits, too, from the intimate experience of buying food from the hand of the person who grew it. In addition, the food is fresher and more diverse. In supermarkets, particular varieties of fruits and vegetables are favored due to their ability to survive transport to a far destination. Alternately, at a farmer's market, you will find versions of the fruits and vegetables you know that will surprise and delight your senses—green striped heirloom tomatoes, purple cauliflower, white carrots, and edible flowers, just to name a few.
Make an effort to buy as much of your food as possible directly from local farmers. You will become one of a growing number of people eating delicious food to save the planet and having fun doing it.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Perception Is Reality
True self-awareness, plus the ability to choose our perceptions of life, the universe and everything, is the basis of free will. Every situation and scene in front of us has so many possibilities in terms of how we perceive and interpret.
Most of us are now well trained to perceive and focus on the negative, the selfishness in others, and to follow it quickly with accusation and judgement. We forget that what we perceive is what we empower within another and, more importantly what we perceive is what we empower within ourselves in that moment. And what we choose to see is usually what we get.
Your perception is your reality. Your perception is what you project. And what you project is what comes back.
Most of us are now well trained to perceive and focus on the negative, the selfishness in others, and to follow it quickly with accusation and judgement. We forget that what we perceive is what we empower within another and, more importantly what we perceive is what we empower within ourselves in that moment. And what we choose to see is usually what we get.
Your perception is your reality. Your perception is what you project. And what you project is what comes back.
Positive Change
What you think about an event is more important than the event itself.
Better still, while you cannot control the events in your life, you can take charge of your thinking.
Positive thinking and acting is never about ''you'' only.
It profoundly affects the people you directly influence , and changes the world around you. Human beings are the only species on Earth whose inner lives are so powerful that what we think about a situation, how we describe it to ourselves, what meaning we attribute to it or draw from it, matters more than the event itself. And who is doing the thinking, describing and attributing of meaning? You are.
When you look for the best in other people, you create positive change.
When you uphold peace in any small way, you create positive change.
When you stand up for social justice, you create positive change.
When you see your desire for happiness reflected in other people's lives and act more compassionately, you create positive change.
When you look at the world from other people's perspectives, you create positive change.
When you take care of the physical environment, you create positive change.
When you give up a little tension and gain a little humor, you create positive change.
When you refuse to be hurried, you create positive change.
When you give thanks for the gift of existence, you create positive change.
Better still, while you cannot control the events in your life, you can take charge of your thinking.
Positive thinking and acting is never about ''you'' only.
It profoundly affects the people you directly influence , and changes the world around you. Human beings are the only species on Earth whose inner lives are so powerful that what we think about a situation, how we describe it to ourselves, what meaning we attribute to it or draw from it, matters more than the event itself. And who is doing the thinking, describing and attributing of meaning? You are.
When you look for the best in other people, you create positive change.
When you uphold peace in any small way, you create positive change.
When you stand up for social justice, you create positive change.
When you see your desire for happiness reflected in other people's lives and act more compassionately, you create positive change.
When you look at the world from other people's perspectives, you create positive change.
When you take care of the physical environment, you create positive change.
When you give up a little tension and gain a little humor, you create positive change.
When you refuse to be hurried, you create positive change.
When you give thanks for the gift of existence, you create positive change.
Portion-Size Savvy
Be portion-size savvy: Pour a bowl of cereal. Dump into a measuring cup. Compare it to the serving size on the box. Repeat with other food.
Most people are not very good at judging how much food is on their plate. We may think we’re eating a normal-size portion when, in reality, we’re putting back two to three times the recommended amount. Do you know how big your portion sizes are? Try this test. Pour yourself your usual serving of cereal. Now empty your bowl into a measuring cup to see how much you’ve got. How does it compare to the serving size on the box?
“But cereal portions are tiny!” you’re thinking. If a single-cup serving of cereal won’t fill you up, add two tablespoons of ground flaxseed and half a cup of blueberries. The healthy fat in the flaxseed and the fiber of the blueberries will help fill you up. Plus, you’ll get far more nutrients than eating a bowl of cereal alone.
Most people are not very good at judging how much food is on their plate. We may think we’re eating a normal-size portion when, in reality, we’re putting back two to three times the recommended amount. Do you know how big your portion sizes are? Try this test. Pour yourself your usual serving of cereal. Now empty your bowl into a measuring cup to see how much you’ve got. How does it compare to the serving size on the box?
“But cereal portions are tiny!” you’re thinking. If a single-cup serving of cereal won’t fill you up, add two tablespoons of ground flaxseed and half a cup of blueberries. The healthy fat in the flaxseed and the fiber of the blueberries will help fill you up. Plus, you’ll get far more nutrients than eating a bowl of cereal alone.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Inner and Outer Purpose
"Your life's journey has an outer purpose and an inner purpose. Your outer journey may contain a million steps, but your inner journey contains just ONE: the step you are taking right now."
Eckhart Tolle
Eckhart Tolle
My Own Hero
"To go against the dominant thinking of your friends, of most of the people you see every day, is perhaps the most difficult act of heroism you can perform."
Theodore White
Theodore White
Chill
Antagonistic people have thicker arterial walls, a risk factor for heart disease.
Do friends tell you that you’re antagonistic? If you like to dig at people or instigate trouble, it might be wise to dial down the combative behavior. People who are overly aggressive or competitive may be at greater risk of heart attacks or strokes, according to a study in Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association.
As we age, the lining of our arterial walls starts to thicken, which has correlated with a greater risk of heart disease. The more antagonistic a person is, the thicker their arteries tend to be — even at a young age. If you blow your fuse often, consider a course in anger management. Losing weight, quitting smoking and engaging in regular physical activity can be beneficial and decrease the rate of arterial thickening. Physical exercise is also great for stress reduction!
Do friends tell you that you’re antagonistic? If you like to dig at people or instigate trouble, it might be wise to dial down the combative behavior. People who are overly aggressive or competitive may be at greater risk of heart attacks or strokes, according to a study in Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association.
As we age, the lining of our arterial walls starts to thicken, which has correlated with a greater risk of heart disease. The more antagonistic a person is, the thicker their arteries tend to be — even at a young age. If you blow your fuse often, consider a course in anger management. Losing weight, quitting smoking and engaging in regular physical activity can be beneficial and decrease the rate of arterial thickening. Physical exercise is also great for stress reduction!
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