Waking Up With New Intentions

Hello Everyone!

Phew!... It's been WAY TOO LONG! I have no other excuse other than I've been distracted. Although, in this distraction I have been learning a lot. A little about tracking, the planet, and some environmental safety stuff and a LOT about myself. I think mostly these past few weeks have been completely based on self-discovery and digging a lot deeper into the person I was, the person I am, and who I am becoming.

One particular path I've been taking to figure all of this out has been through homeopathy. We have a homeopath at our clinic and he has been amazing in pushing me into a new and improved version of myself. For those of you who don't know what homeopathy is - you basically spend an hour and a half talking. You answer questions, describe why you chose the words you did, describe images of what those words represent to you and from there he prescribes a remedy (or not). A lot of people say that it's a hoax and doesn't work, but I can fully vouch for it's success. I won't get into the scientific details about it now, but I will be sure to make it a blog topic in the really near future. Through all this talking and remedy taking I have done a major 180. Things that consumed me before and I knew were useless, don't even phase me now. Bad habits I had before are leaving me everyday. My selfish ways are quickly dissipating and being replaced with compassion I felt was long lost.

One thing you should know is that I live with a police officer. I completely support this line of work and what it stands for, but I would be lying if I said they didn't see the world in a very skewed view. When you spend every free minute of your life with this character type, you can't help but be influenced. It was the one thing that bothered me all the time. I hated that I would look at people and instantly judge them. Thinking they were losers and criminals. Who am I to judge?! Maybe I'm the loser. In fact, I was; just for judging them. This feeling of losing myself and down to my very core was getting overwhelming, but I would always pass it off as "growing up". I look back on this now and laugh at myself for being so blind. It's because of this way of thinking that our world suffers more and more each day. How many of us our guilty for this? We take one look at somebody and judge them before we can even stop it.

I learned my lesson in a bad way a few weeks back when this lady came in to the clinic. She's a regular patient there and I would purposely pass her off to my colleague every time she came in. I thought she was such a grump and so cold. However, the day before this particular appointment I had had an appointment with my homeopath and made a deal with myself that I would stop passing judgment. (Or at least try). So when she came in I made a point to talk to her and try to get to know one thing about her. WELL! It turns out I'm a jerk. This lady had just lost her daughter 6 months ago and was coming to our clinic as a way to get back out into the world in a healthy environment. She said it was what her daughter would want. She said that in her few months coming to the clinic she had managed to gain the energy to go jogging everyday again, to start socializing with friends from time to time and to simply get dressed in the morning and eat breakfast. Wow!... Still I'm at a loss for words and it makes me tear up (even now). If I had not been so horrible before-hand, I would've known this and done WHATEVER I could to comfort her and make her feel welcome. I was not nice to this lady. I used to ignore her and answer her with the "one word" responses all the time.

Think about it for a second.... How many people have you been rude or cold with and not even taken a second to ask them a question and get to know one little thing about them? What if that person had just lost somebody like this lady? What if they were being abused by their spouse? What if they had a sick family member and just couldn't bare to smile that day and one smile from you could've helped them relax?

I'm not saying any of this to make you feel guilty. I'm saying it to make you think. Next time you see somebody in your office, on the street, wherever.... instead of passing judgment, try smiling. Try imagining that they might be a really nice person and are maybe just too shy to make the first move. Just try.

I want all of you to wake up tomorrow morning with the intention in mind to not judge your fellow humans. To pass them in the street and smile at them when they pass you by. We all have baggage and things that distract us and keep us from smiling and sometimes it's a simple smile that changes everything for us.

Just keep it in mind. :)

Letting Go of Our Limits

We as people, are notorious for setting limits for our life; especially when it comes to relationships. We tell ourselves we won't become too available, we won't let people too close, we won't share our real thoughts, we won't give too much. The list goes on and on.... It's like we've become so afraid of rejection and other people's opinions that it's actually getting in the way of our ability to be compassionate with others and to grow as human beings. Instead of being on a constant upward climb to better ourselves, we are falling face-first down a mountain that just drops us off in darkness.

I spoke with a man today who's sister was diagnosed with terminal cancer and NOW, JUST NOW he is doing anything he can to get close with her and help her any way he can. Yes. Better late than never, but where was he before?? Why wasn't he there for her doing anything he could when she woke up upset or stressed one day?

And friends of mine, who's grandmother just died. They were never close with her, yet when they knew she was going to pass, they all of a sudden were driving 6 hours every weekend to spend time with her.

It seems that when doom is impending on someone's life who we "care" about, we go to great lengths to create a relationship with them. What about when they were healthy? Why didn't we want a relationship then?

I'm guilty of neglecting particular relationships in my life too. We all are; but I realize that in instant anyone in my life, including myself could be gone and I may really regret having not taken the time to get to know them. Sometimes the best way to get to know ourselves is to get to know our relatives. Whether we choose to admit it or not, these people have a vast number of traits that are not only genetically inset in us, but also organically set in us. They are at times, the missing link in some of our most intimate questions about ourselves. Maybe you never understood why everyone else in your family wasn't afraid of something strange, like grass, but maybe your grandmother or great-grandmother was; and maybe it came about from something traumatic that happened in her life involving grass. Those fears can be passed on to you or your children and you wouldn't even know why. This is how connected we are human beings.

The deeper a relationship you create with someone, the more you become connected with them and the people involved in their lives. You all share one common ground - you are sharing your relationship. Which means, you're probably sharing ideas, feelings, interests, etc... However, we have ruined these relationships by setting limits. We are taking away our ability to share true connection with one another by putting up these walls to "protect ourselves".

As I become more open-minded to the idea of the energy we pull from the earth, from others and the energy we give off; I realize we are all very connected and rooted together. Our natural ability to heal ourselves and others is simply opening our hearts and minds to others. To letting people in fully. Not being afraid of the fact that they have an opinion, and although it may be different from yours, this may be the opinion that could make all the difference in your process upward. When we die, we can't take our money and our things, but we can leave an energy in the people we love as well memories and stories that can be passed on forever by simply letting people see who we really are, and by giving all of ourselves to those we care about. AND not just when they have been stricken with bad news, but all the time. Letting those around us know that even on a rainy day, if they're afraid of the wind, that we're there, and there's no limits to our love and support for them.

Don't be afraid to show the people in your life who you are. There's a reason why they love you and have chosen to make you apart of their story. 

It's More Than Just Mind/Body Connection.

It's been a while since I've blogged. Life has been, well...busy.
I've been craving a good writing session, unfortunately my brain has been feeling a little fuzzy and I haven't been able to think of things to write about. I don't like writing about something that I haven't been able to research. There's no point in sharing facts that are untrue, or contain only my bias opinion. However, tonight will because it's a more personal blog if you will. There is always a debatable side to everything, but I have to say my mind is made up on most things when it comes to health, fitness, taking care of our children, our planet, and ourselves. I believe that these are morals that are so deeply inset in a person and it's rare someone will change their opinion completely. One thing I have to say though is that lately I'm feeling a little stuck. I had this major growth-spurt in knowledge in the past 5 months regarding the elimination of toxic chemicals in the home and in our bodies, in preventative medicine and nutrition changes that eliminate inflammation in the body. It was amazing and well received and I dove in head first, but now I'm at a bit of a plateau. I have this crazy desire to learn something amazing and dig deeper, yet I'm not sure where to begin? One thing I would really like to do is re-connect with nature and I think it's going to involve some time outside. I'm not just talking about a little walk in the woods, I'm talking about some good ol' fashion time in the woods with my clothes, my food, and my necessities on my back.

I used to go hiking almost every summer with my dad and we'd bring along my friends and other family members. I feel very fortunate that I could spend my summers in the amazing Canadian Rockies; a place most people only dream of going. We'd have nothing but what we needed to survive and we'd walk to our destination every day and set up camp. The air was clean and fresh, the stars would clutter the sky and sparkle like diamonds, and there were luscious trees everywhere giving off so much oxygen that your lungs would always feel full and clean. Even on the stormiest night in the mountains you would sleep like the dead (I'd say baby, but mine still don't sleep), and you would never hear the sounds of the civilized world. As a kid, I always thought it was fun and I loved going for the adventure; but as I got older I started appreciating it for the fact that I got to go on trips that others couldn't, or weren't brave enough to do, and see glaciers that I knew wouldn't be there when it was time to take my kids, and to spend quality time with my dad learning his tricks for survival, and eating food that was better than any food I've ever tasted before.

Since moving away from beautiful British Columbia, I have to say it's one of the things I miss the most. I miss having the opportunity to go play in the mountains and take awesome trips with my dad and see sights that could bring you to your knees. As I've begun to make new friends here; I'm meeting more and more people who are a little more "granola" if you will. My bosses love the great outdoors and seeing amazing sights and connecting with the earth and a few of my friends are the same (some more extreme than others). This is what pushes me to change and pushes me to open my mind to a new way of thinking. When you have things like the "Rockies" at your fingertips, you almost take it for granted because it's always there; and eventhough it's changing, it's just a car ride away. Now that it's no longer at my finger-tips, I feel the need to preserve it and help keep it alive. I feel the need to take time to go home and do as many trips as possible with my dad to learn his amazing outdoor cooking skills (stew and cheesecake when you have a weight limit to your pack is amazing!) and all his tricks for survival. These are things I consider to be family heirlooms that need to be passed down from generation to generation. I believe that in our technology-ridden world, it will all crash one day and we will be forced to go back to the basic way of living. We will be forced to plant, hunt, and create our manners of taking care of ourselves. We will be forced back to natural resources, tracking, and community based living. I don't think this will happen while I'm alive, but it will happen eventually and I want to know that the things I learned from my dad and he learned from his dad and so on and so forth, will be passed to generations after me. This to me is much more important than family riches that are left behind. This is also why I feel it's very important to surround myself with friends who have this knowledge as well. I have friends back home who grow organically and shop only at the farmer's market on the weekend, and eat within season, and care for their children in a completely organic way. I have friends here who track and hunt their meat, who wear clothes that are made of organic cottons produced in Canada and do "community planting", which means they only plant what that particular eco-system can withstand to help support the other plants and animals surrounding it. Even though these people are spread across the map, I consider them to be my community. These are the people that push me into learning more, opening my mind to more, and doing more. None of which are overnight changes, but a constant work in progress.

I've always been very savvy of my body. I know when something's wrong, even if the numbers say otherwise on the blood tests, I can hear my body telling me what to do and what not to do. I know my limits and how far to push myself. I always trust my "gut-instinct" because this is the connection between mind and body that help us to make important decisions. This is our sub-conscious mind trying to connect with our conscious mind. Whether or not you are religious, this connection is our "devine power" trying to keep us safe and protect us from all kinds of physical, emotional, or environmental harm. I take pride in my ability to have this kind of "relationship" with my body. However, I feel a large piece is missing. I believe there should be a connection between mind, body and earth. I, however, don't know where to start to make it apart of my already thriving relationship. One suggestion that was made to me was attempting to establish a relationship between the different movements you use through your feet as you're moving through the earth. Apparently there's a large number of books on this and courses you can take. (Of course, the technical name has slipped my mind and it's too late to phone and find out what it's called.) There are hundreds of different movements used and for different scenarios. Some for walking on grass, on rocks, in snow, on sand, across a log, through the water, etc... These movements help create awareness within your body as to how you're connecting to the earth. This in turn, creates a relationship between mind, body and earth. This will be a large source of upcoming research for me, at which point I will share more.

I think though, to summarize, there are some major shifts trying to occur with me right now, and I feel like I'm really trying to connect with the absolute basics of life. The very root of where everything begins. This is shaping me into a deeper, more knowledgeable human being and I plan on using all of my resources to the best of my ability. The beauty of it all, is that it's a never-ending challenge and it's constantly adapting, (even if the core of the idea has never changed).

There's No Shortcuts If You're Looking For Long-Term Gain.

I spent a lot of time in my past researching weight-loss. How to do it effectively, how do it quickly, how to do with the best end result, and how to do with as little effort as possible. I always knew that if I had to go to that much work to figure it out it probably wasn't right. Being a competitive boxer however, I had to find ways to drop large amounts of weight quickly. I would get crazy advice from all kinds of people, and had coaches from all over the country give me advice that was really out of their league and super dangerous to give. I did everything from eating boiled chicken, rice and salad everyday for months, to eating only 900 calories a day - keep in mind, I was training 3 times a day and burning thousands of calories. I lived on soup, caffeine pills, jugs and jugs of water and spent a ridiculous amount of time in the sauna spitting into a bucket. For those of you who know nothing of the sport of boxing; it's a sport that is determined on your weight, like being a jockey, MMA fighter, or wrestler. If you don't make weight in boxing, like other combative sports you get your butt kicked. Plain and simple. One thing that I always thought about whilst trying to lose and keep off the weight was that I seemed to struggle to lose the weight at a certain point. I always felt like if I would just have a real meal, I would probably end up dropping more weight. This was an impossible concept to other boxers because the trick was to cut out calories and the weight would come off. However, no one really did the research. I also found it really strange that at a certain point in our prelim weigh-ins at our "road-work" instructors house, I would actually start gaining weight in his sauna. He was perplexed that I would go in at 101 lbs and come out 103. I felt like I knew the answer but chose to never argue it.
Looking back on this now, and having done the research, gotten the education, and spent countless hours training people, I can tell you exactly what happened and exactly what that "gut-instinct" was. Our bodies are incapable of error. They are perfectly designed. I know, you're thinking "but I get sick all the time." Or, "my thyroid doesn't work right", etc... First of all.... (and very briefly for right now) you're doing it to yourself. Genetics may be an underlying factor, but let's face it, if I asked you what you could be doing better, you would be able to think of something right away whether or not you admitted to it out loud. My body chose to hang onto the weight because I was starving it. The low calories, the repetitive diet, the over-training, the lack of sleep, the stress from trying to box at a national level, graduate from high-school and work a part-time job was overload for me. Eventhough mentally I felt like I could handle it, and it was almost a bragging right for me, my body stopped working for me to save itself. It didn't care what I was doing or feeding it, it sucked every nutrient it could get out of that lettuce, every ounce of protein and amino acids to repair my muscles from that chicken and every bit of carbohydrate it could out of the rice to keep me going for the day. Due to the lack of fat in that diet, there wasn't much there to pull from to protect my organs, so I had a lot of strange recurring infections, and kidney problems. Looking back on it all now though, I'm pretty impressed with my body for even being able to survive through that major crisis.

I'd like to point out quickly also, that I'm not bashing any sports that require you to be a certain weight. My heart is and always will be with boxing. I'm just pointing out that the lack of knowledge from myself and the coaches was the problem.

As for gaining weight in the sauna, I simply didn't have the water or nutrients in me to be able to sweat off more weight. So, my body held on to every ounce of water it could and actually started retaining it which is what caused the weight gain. Again, very impressive. I sat in on a course a few years ago with a guy by the name of Christian Limoges. He's a Naturopath who spoke on the subject of an alkaline diet and being "raw vegan". This means he eats nothing that comes from animals, and nothing that is cooked over 180 degrees. He turned me onto the claim that our bodies are incapable of error. He explained that the acidity and toxicity in a can of coke is enough to kill us, but because of our amazing systems, and their ability to filter, our liver can take that poison and turn it into sugar and it will be broken down into fat. The main function for fat is to protect our organs. So that can of poison was turned into sugar, which was turned to fat to protect our organs. Ummm... AMAZING! Keep in mind, the fat it turned into is a problem because of the fact that there are no nutrients in the can of coke and it was made from simple sugars, but it still didn't kill you and your body tried to turn it into something positive.

When we "yo-yo" diet, and cut out nutrients and calories, we are doing long-term damage to our organs, hormones, and our body, soul and mind if you will. This constant back and forth in our weight confuses our bodies and forces them into survival mode. It also makes it really difficult to have any sustainability in our plans to make these changes life-long because inevitably, you're cutting out foods; and as soon as you do that, you start to crave the simple version of it. Cut out sugars from fruit and you'll crave simple sugars like candy and chocolate. Cut out carbs and you'll start to crave bread. There's a reason why we eat with such variety. If you eat the same thing everyday, your body will begin to lack proper nutrients and muscles, organs and your ability to think clearly will be depleted.

I always said if I had to write a book with "the answer" to good weight-loss and fitness it would be world's shortest book.

Weight Loss: Burn off more than you take in; stop eating from a box and eat what the earth has supplied for you.

Fitness: Be active in some way or another everyday; stop sitting on your couch and doing nothing.


VOILA! That would be my book. Because, really guys, it's that easy. You wouldn't have to spend all that time reading food labels if you ate what came from the earth. (Especially if it's organic and free of pesticides) You wouldn't have to slave away at the gym every day if you would just keep active and moving. Walking with your kids counts as physical activity; vacuuming is another, doing laundry, gardening, these things count. You're moving and now you're eating real food with real nutrients, there's no crazy cravings or up and down energy levels and life is going good because you're not getting sick all the time.  This amazing shift in lifestyle would also help eliminate your need for thyroid meds, blood-pressure meds, cholesterol meds, etc... because you wouldn't be poisoning your body with all these "man-made" boxed foods. The problems we are suffering with, are caused by our lifestyles. We take on too much, look for quick-fixes in food, and end up burning out, trying to be convenient with well... everything; and then the only ones who pay the price are us.

Here's an even extra-added bonus; plant your food, and now your doing even better by the planet. All of our problems are cyclical. We pollute our planet, we make food in boxes, we breathe in these toxins from all the plants that make the food in boxes, we consume all these  poisons by eating food that was made in these toxic plants and then we wonder why we're unhealthy and why childhood obesity is on the rise and why there are so many cancers filling the earth. This is why. I will say this over and over again, we are doing this to ourselves.

Stop hitting the bookstores looking for the next "now diet". Understand that people in the "blue zones" of the world (these are areas of the earth where people are the healthiest and live into their hundreds"; plant their food, eat only what is naturally resourced from the land where they live, move all day to keep their environment thriving and sustainable and this gives them real motive to live. It gives them a sense importance. All of these things are important in living a long and healthy life. You can't take shortcuts if you want to sustain good health, but it also doesn't have to be major effort. Park further from the store, take the stairs instead of the elevator, consider chores at your house part of your exercise routine, and eat well. Without proper diet even the best athlete will never get the results they want. Remember, if food companies cut out the fat in something, they have to replace it with something else. If they cut out sugar, it too, has to replaced with something. The alternatives are always unhealthy and usually the same thing that's causing your health problems. Be smart about your food, be smart about what you're doing - don't just sit around; get up and walk, play with your kids, get some fresh air, turn on some music and dance in your kitchen; get more rest, find ways to eliminate the stress in your life and surround yourself with people who are living the same way. It may require more conscious effort in the beginning, but it becomes second nature in no time and the concept is actually sustainable because it's what we were designed to do.

What are we wasting our time worrying for?

I went for coffee with a girlfriend of mine tonight, (you know who you are) :) She had told me when she got in the car that she had a mild "mini-drama" before I had arrived. A momentary lapse if you will, in her ability to think clearly about her life. She had a moment where she hated her clothes, hated the way she looked, basically hated her life. Feeling lost and confused for a short period of time. I know this feeling all to well as I spend most mornings staring at my over-flowing closet of clothes and thinking, "I have nothing to wear." And if I do find something to wear, (and I always do) I look in the mirror, think there's no way I can pull this off today and proceed to try on 10 other outfits before I realize how late it is and go flying out my door, not even aware of what I've put on.

We do this with everything. We pick ourselves apart, we torment ourselves and for what? How many times have we told our kids, our friends, and ourselves, that we're unique, beautiful, and amazing people and then we fall apart, not believing a single word of it. This behaviour is really destructive. I don't if guys feel this way. I know of some growing up who had these moments also, but it really seems to be a woman thing.

As my girlfriend and I discussed this and tied men into the conversation she passed on some information that I was told to take with me for the rest of my life: "Men really don't care". "If you're there, and available, you could be wearing a paper bag and it wouldn't matter." If this is true, why are we tearing ourselves apart constantly? And truly there are so many things that deserve more of our time. If we're really going to worry, why do we worry about useless things? I think part of the issue is we've become way to materialistic. We buy things constantly trying to fill a void that would probably be satisfied by companionship or human contact and in the end feel just as empty as we did before we bought that particular item. I, too, am guilty of this; however, I am so much more fulfilled by human contact and intellectual stimulation. I can thrive off the energy of a great conversation for days, but thrive off the energy of shopping for a few measly minutes.

I've become a wee bit of a nerd in the last few years. Wanting to read everything I see, learn anything I can whenever I can, and talk to anyone who can challenge my brain and educate me at the same time. I have to say, I've been pretty lucky lately in meeting people like that. In meeting these people and learning a plethora of things, I've felt pretty adequate for quite awhile now. I also think that my job plays a huge role in this as I see the value of life on a daily basis. People coming and going all the time with major illnesses and never knowing if that day will be the last time I see them. I know that the lady dying of cancer isn't concerned with her outfit or hair that day; and the man with Alzheimer's, he's not concerned with what people around him think of his ensemble. He's  wondering if he'll wake up tomorrow and recognize his own face. Anytime I start having these momentary lapses I think about these people. It's a nice slap in the face back to reality. I have it so good, probably too good, and with the ability to see both ends of the spectrum, I very quickly appreciate what I have and what I have to offer. One constant on my mind however, is, "Am I living to my full potential?" "If I was gone tomorrow, and could look back on my life would I have been truly happy?" Of course I have two beautiful kids, and a great boyfriend, but am I doing what I want to do? Was I really honest with myself and others around me? I find all too often we hold back on saying things that are on our minds because we're afraid of another person's reaction, but you can be filtered and polite while still saying what you need to say. I also have high morals and expectations, so am I staying true to them or being passive? Again, small concerns and worries to a healthy individual, but as quickly as you can take a breath in, it can be taken away. I want to know that I've stayed true to myself until the very end. Much easier said than done of course. I'm always worried about other people and what they think and am I making them happy and what if they don't like me if I say that, and on and on and on....

One of the best quotes I ever read that my friend had put on his web page for me was: 

"Don't run around trying to heal all of your friends. Do your own mental work and heal yourself. This will do more good for those around you than anything else."

 How true is this? How are we supposed to help anyone else if we can't even help ourselves?! Too many people think they are being selfish by focusing on themselves, but they are actually doing more good than not. I think it's so important to surround yourself with friends who have strengths and knowledge in different areas than you. This way, when one area is weak, you have a network of people around you to help because they are strong that way. I've been really blessed to meet some amazing people in the past few years who not only support me, but challenge me. Some who question what I'm doing when I'm being an idiot, some who fill my brain with great ideas so that I can learn more, some who push me in regards to the impact I'm leaving on the planet, my kids, and my environment, some who question the person I am and who I'm trying to become, etc... These things are great because it forces me to constantly look within and make some really firm decisions, while trying to find ways to improve constantly. I think my life would be empty without these people (and again, you know who you are). I would rather spend time thinking and contemplating, as oppose to worrying and picking myself apart in a self-destructive manner. 

I'm going to add some quotes from my "website page" it's not my website, it's a friend's website with a page attached for me from my 18th birthday. He was there for me through thick and thin and eventhough he was far away, he always challenged me intellectually and I respect and love him for that. We don't talk very often anymore, but when we do, it's like we never skipped a beat. Life happens, and people disappear, but that doesn't mean that they're not as important as they were before. It simply means you're both lost in the whirlwind of it all, and when you come out with a second to breathe, you'll catch up. I hope you like these quotes because they really do fit in with appreciating yourself and the ones you love. 

If you get a chance, check out his website, he's an amazing photographer and has traveled the world a few times. www.brandonelliot.com 

Envelop your family in a circle of love, whether they are living or not. Include your friends, your loved ones, your spouse, everyone from work and your past, and all the people you would like to forgive and don't know how. Affirm that you have wonderful, harmonious relationships with everyone, where there is mutual respect and caring on both sides. Know that you can live with dignity and peace and joy. Let this circle of love envelop the entire planet, and let your heart open so you can have a space within you of unconditional love. You are worth loving. You are beautiful. You are powerful. You open yourself to good.
And so it is! 

Intention

Walk to the edge.
Listen hard.
Live with intention.
Practice wellness.
Continue to learn.
Play with adandon.
Laugh.
Choose with no regret.
Appreciate your friends.
Do what you love.
Live as if this is all there is.

"When we begin to change and work on ourselves, sometimes things get worse before they get better. It is okay if that happens, it's just the beginning of the process. It's untangling old roots. Just flow with it.

"An affirmation is a beginning point. It opens the way. You are saying to your subconscious mind: "I am taking responsibility." "I am aware there is something I can do to change." If you continue to say the affirmation, either you will be ready to let whatever it is go, and the affirmation will become true; or it will open a new avenue to you

"In order to change yourself outside, you must change inside. The moment you are willing to change, it is amazinghow the Universe begins to help you. It brings you what you need."

"When we begin to change and work on ourselves, sometimes things get worse before they get better. It is okay if that happens, it's just the beginning of the process. It's untangling old roots. Just flow with it.

The moment you say affirmations, you are stepping out of the role. You are no longer helpless. You are acknowledging your own power."

 

Good Manners Are Just Hiding on a Dusty Bookshelf

Let me start today's blog, by saying "Don't mind the constant design changes." I'm trying to find what suits me the best right now for this blog. I want the right feel for this blog and everything I write about, and I'm not quite sure I've found the magic combination?

Eventhough I write about health so far 100% of the time, there will be more to it, and I want it to look just right.

Today, like most other days, I of course forgot a lunch when I went to work. This absent-minded act is usually brought on by stumbling out of bed about 20 min later that I would have liked, dealing with an angry or "uber-cuddly" toddler  or infant at around 6:00 am; and then trying to rush out the door after I've changed a diaper or two, gotten a breakfast ready for someone other than myself, put an end to a conflict, and attempted to put on a face and a professional outfit. Not to mention, I then need to take on the quest of driving successfully to work through traffic jams and never ending fender benders in a busy city.

I left the office for a half hour and grabbed lunch at an amazing deli here in town that makes home-made food and gets ravaged by anyone close to it's vicinity on daily basis, and then stopped into my local addiction hot-spot "Starbucks" for my usual "Extra hot, lactaid latte". 

One thing I've noticed since moving here is that people just aren't as friendly as they are in B.C.. You don't get a friendly smile walking down the street, and generally if you smile at someone, you get one of those looks like "Oh no...What does she want?" It's kind of sad really. Mostly just because we as humans have become so afraid of personal connection and kindness that we can't even accept a warm smile from a stranger without feeling as though our space has been invaded and there's a "personal agenda" attached to the gesture. I, too have noticed I am becoming one these straight-faced strangers walking down the street, actually trying to avoid eye contact with anyone in my path and getting all flustered and nervous if it happens by accident. I've gone from a 3 year old girl who wanted to be a teddy bear when she grew, up to a shy adult trying to avoid human contact. I know this isn't my personal preference either. I LOVE talking to people. This is happening because I'm completely influenced by what I see day to day, and like everyone else, I spend more time sending text messages than talking on the phone or talking face to face with anyone I'm actually close to.

Well, today, and this happened so seamlessly I almost missed it; but this lady's cell phone was dead and she was trying to make a call and noticed her phone wasn't going to give her that option, and a young guy, not much older than myself got up very calmly, walked over and gave her his cell phone and said, "Here, is your phone dead? Use mine."
Chivalry is not dead my friends; It's just been misplaced on a dusty bookshelf somewhere. And really...how hard was that? You totally helped that lady out, because let's face it, most businesses won't even let you use their phones anymore and who carries quarters with them?
Karma will definitely be returning the favor to him, and how extremely rewarding for him?! When we do something nice for people we care about, we always feel good about it. It's fulfilling and rewarding in a way that is only possible by doing something nice. So why aren't we doing this all the time?!?! It takes less time to do a good deed than a bad one, and by doing this you're making someone feel great and that is contagious and always passed on. The energy we get from doing good things is such a positive one, while doing bad is negative and only feeds into our already unhealthy lifestyles.

Instead of being a "typical female" and asking "Where have all the nice men gone?", I'm going to say, "Hey! I know you're out there". The days of door opening, pulling out chairs, and acting like a total gentleman are not gone at all. Seeing today's action completely restored my faith in not just men, but mankind. If that guy could do something like that, than why can't I? Why can't you? Where's the harm in being polite? I think people feel like if they do something nice for someone and that person responds in a negative way that it means everyone responds that way and that it means they should too. This is a very destructive up way of thinking. Try the same kind gesture to someone else and see how it goes. Chances are, they'll be really grateful. And just like seeing that guy do something nice today, it will spark an energy in someone else and now you've got multiple people doing multiple good things. it's like that movie "Pay It Forward". What a fantastic concept! I wouldn't feed a meth addict and bring him into my garage to live, and if my son did that, I may ask him where he's miss-placed his brain that day for putting our family at potential risk, but good manners... you can't go wrong with that.

Anyways....food for thought. Try being nice to someone. Give them a smile, let them use a quarter or your phone, and see how you feel when you watch their face light up as they receive the acts of random kindness.

Create yourself a wonderful day... by doing something nice.

My favorite things...

Before I start today's blog, I have to say... I'm baffled by how many people are actually reading this thing. When I originally wanted to start a blog, I was a little skeptical because I knew whatever I put out would be on the world-wide web. This is why, like other blogs, you won't see pictures of the kids, of Phil, and of family outings.
I've gotten a lot of positive feedback with my last few posts, but I want to point out one major thing, and not because someone has pushed me in that direction; I think it's just really important to make it clear.

I work for a doctor, but I am NOT A DOCTOR! I read a lot of information and clinical studies and I give advice to people everyday about the medications they're taking, the tests they're purchasing and the treatment plans they're about to embark on; but it's not my job to choose those plans of action for them. I pass on what I've learned, and any information I give out on a daily basis; because I feel everyone should have access to the information that gets put out there to the general public where I live. We should all be accountable for our health, and do whatever we can to prevent illness in our lives.

I AM, however, a fully certified trainer and nutrition specialist, so any tips, tricks, and knowledge you want in that particular area, I am more than happy to give out.

The emails have been abundant and extremely complimenting, but with a volume of readers, comes some major responsibility. So to be very clear... Always consult with a physician when it comes to matters of your health.

Ok... now that that's done....

Today, I'd like to plug a few of my favorite links.

I've never been the "New Years Resolution" type, but this year I had one. I wanted to filter out all of the chemicals in my house. This meant, I wanted to get rid of any of my products that I use on the kids, on myself, to clean my house, to cook, that contained harmful chemicals like cancer-causing parabens, and things that could cause your skin to melt off or burn and scar. Partly, because I wanted to be more eco-friendly, and because how can any of that be good for my family??
 There's a site my boss gave me to "rate my products"; it works on a scale of 1-10; 1 being lowest obviously, and you can rate any products you use. This was a HUGE eye-opener for me because I thought the products I was using were pretty good. Things like Aveeno and Biotherm... they're supposed to be a better alternative. Same with my favorite hand cream by Ahava from the dead sea. Well, it turns out I was wrong - this happens to me a lot. They definitely weren't the worse things I could be using, but they still had harmful chemicals. This is why my kids were getting out of the tub and still having red blotches on their skin and dry patches on their calves and why Sophia was scratching the snot out of her face and Sebastien would get these big red circles around his eyes; he looked like me after I drink a glass of North-America wine - a racoon!

So here's the first link this morning. http://www.cosmeticdatabase.com/
Check out the products you're using and see what it has to say. Remember if you link to the home portion, you can actually check out house-hold cleaning products, etc...
This link leads into my next link. I used to have the hardest time finding skin care lines. My skin isn't so much sensitive, but choosy. It has to have products that clean it well and then moisturize it like crazy. I found Biotherm 4 years ago and LOVE IT! Unfortunately, skin is the largest ogran in the body and it absorbs EVERYTHING, and I wasn't really a fan of it absorbing dangerous chemicals. So after much research, I switched over to "Kiss My Face". The website it great, because for any of you who look into good products for your skin, it's hard to know if something is really great for people who have dry skin, combination skin, or oily skin; and sometimes the little blurbs about what the product is good for isn't enough. Well "Kiss My Face" has online videos. Sort of a mini tutorial on who would benefit from the product. I'm using the "Pure and Potent" line and my skin has never looked and felt more amazing. Some major bonuses... It's way more cost-effective than other lines, I'm using half of what I would normally use from another line because it goes a long way, AND... it's so pure, I can use it on the kids. It comes in these little tubes and at first I thought "what a rip-off", but those tiny tubes last me just over a month. My favorites are: Jojoba and mint scrub, Ester-C Serum, Ultra-Hydrating Moisturizer, and the Intensive Repair Night Cream. They've got all kinds of products on there from body wash and moisturizer (I love the lavendar wash and the Olive and Shea moisturizier), kids products, makeup, hair products, candles, gift packs, etc....
They have a really great story too, so check out their webpage at: http://www.kissmyface.com/ I absolutely LOVE their line and the best part about it, is I know I'm putting healthy products on my skin, I'm not harming the planet by flushing junk down my drains, and I can use it on my kids. It's a pretty amazing feeling.

Last, but never least...I changed all the products I clean with. The tricky part to switching household cleaning products is that most claim to be "green" and guess what?... they're not. This is another situation where reading the ingredients is HUGE. "Green standards" around the world are all different, and companie can claim something "organic" or "green" but it doesn't necessarily mean it really is. This is another great reason to check your products on the database, especially if you don't know much about how this whole system works. It takes a lot of reading and a lot of talking with the right people to really know and learn what's safe.
Everyone cleans their house (I hope) and buys products to make their appliances, floors, and washrooms sparkle. One thing we don't think about, or at least I didn't think about, was what I was flushing down my pipes. Those harsh chemicals get flushed right back into our drinking water. We also flush antibiotics, drugs, and hormone containing products down our pipes as well. We're all drinking that stuff! We wonder why our daughters are getting their periods at the age of 5, and why our sons are having crazy testosterone-driven outbursts, or even worse, developing female characteristics; or why we're all tired, feeling depressed, and becomming immune to antibiotics - well guess what folks, along with our crappy diets and our overload of stress, we're consuming poisons everyday, and we're killing our planet by doing this.
I've switched everything I clean with to a product called "Nature Clean". This entire line is bio-degradable, and again...kid friendly! You still have to be careful that it doesn't get in eyes or swallowed with the glycerin in it, but it's not going to melt your finger down to the bone. It also doesn't smell! I cleaned, no, better yet, dis-infected my bathroom last weekend and had my fan on and ready to absorb the smell and when I left the room and came back in, it dawned on me that I didn't have heavy, clouded lungs, and my sinuses weren't burning. We breathe in so much crap cleaning in confined spaces and there was nothing. Not one smell. The bleach was oxygenated so it bubbled and sizzled and doesn't wreck clothes, and it cleaned better than any bleach I've ever used.
 One problem I had before when I tried to switch to "green" cleaning products was that it didn't clean very well. Well "Nature Clean" has found the magic combination because my house has never been cleaner. My stove, my counter-tops, my washrooms, everything. It also feels really good to know that I'm cleaning, and my kids can come in the room and hang out. That they're not breathing in harsh chemicals.
The next best part... not expensive. You can buy it from Superstore in the organic section, and it's comparable to everything else, maybe even less expensive. So there's no excuse not to make the switch. It costs the same, it's great for you and the environment, and you're house will never be cleaner. They too, have a skin care line, a kids line, and fun stuff like hand-sanitizer that I use all the time since I'm always around sick people at the clinic. The only downer about the hand-sanitizer, is that it still has alcohol in it, but it's a mere fraction of what's in other products and there's no stinky after smell or drying out of your skin. It actually moisturizes.
Check out their website at: http://www.naturecleanliving.com/

I know people say ALL THE TIME... "We've only got one planet. One person can make a difference", etc.. but it really is true. I care about the planet, I do, but I care more that my kids can live in a clean, toxic free environment, and that I teach them the importance of helping the earth and helping themselves, because I want their kids, and their grand-kids to see this amazing planet, and be able to enjoy it the way I did growing up. I'd hate to see places like the snowy rockies I frequented almost every summer disappear and being ridden with litter and death because we were too ignorant to make a change. I also see cancer everyday! I watch people melting away in front of my eyes all the time. It's devastating! To see people come in with stage 4 breast cancer, stage 4 lung cancer, stage 4 basal cell carcinoma in their nostrils, and beg to have their lives saved so they can see another day. I hear all the time in the most sarcastic way, "Everything causes cancer.." ya maybe, but that's because everything we use is toxic and here's the worst part - We created it! Our need to constantly advance into a world of convenience and no germs is the same thing that is killing us. We have an amazing eco-system and bodies that are incapable of error (and you'll hear me say that a lot) and we are destroying both of them by trying to be smarter than them.
 Use the resources our planet has given us, stop, and just listen to your body for a sec. It's telling you what to do, it's guiding you into health. Stop poisoning yourselves and the water you drink and the food you eat. Stop eating from a box, and cleaning with poisons, and try cooking from scratch and using something as simple as vinegar and baking soda to get rid of smears and stains. Support companies that are doing right by our planet, by making bio-degradable products and using recycled materials to package them.

Live longer, live healtheir, and give the our children's children a chance to do the same.