Like many good people, I try to live a virtuous life. Emphasis on "try". I try and fail, I try and succeed, then fail again. But, I try again. I'm human, imperfect, with fault, with weakness. But, I try again, and again.
I like to remind myself about what "virtuous" means, and these seven words come to mind. They are printed for me, they serve as goals, as ideals, something to strive for.
Purity
Moderation
Kindness
Generosity
Liveliness
Humility
Contentment
In my times of failure, I look at this list, and see my faults and admit them. Then, I try again. If anything, just reading these words, saying and repeating them, helps me sharpen my focus, thoughts, and actions.
I hope these words, goals, and thoughts find you in a good place, and help you in a small way.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
Taking Care of Yourself
What's the first you do you have a spare moment? Well, I guess that depends on your stage in life.
When you're very young, you probably do what you love most, play. And play with whatever, it doesn't take much, does it? A cardboard box is plenty, and your imagination does the rest.
When you're a little older, you probably hang out with friends and do what you love most, play. Cardboard boxes and your imagination aren't enough, those are so passe, boring, and played. We need the coolest, latest stuff, hang out with the cool people, look good, go to the coolest places, do the coolest things.
When you're a lot older, you're done playing, you have no time, you're busy with so many things, can't even afford to have lunch you're so busy, can't even afford to say hello or call or email a single friend, much less your group of friends. Being cool? Forget it, no time. Your vacations, how infrequent they are, are your one chance to have fun again, and you do it for 1 week, then get back to the grind.
Through it all, take care of yourself. Have fun and enjoy life, it's ups and downs, it processes, it's change. But take some time out for yourself. Buy yourself something nice, say hello to an old friend, go for a nice walk and enjoy the sunshine or rain, do something just for you, something you love to do. Pat yourself on the back. Smile. Find a cardboard box, use your imagination, and have fun.
I forget to do this sometimes, I get caught in the vortex that is life. And going to the gym, doing my routine, etc. doesn't count. I'm talking about more than that. I forget many times what is was like to be a kid, to enjoy life to the fullest, with any care in the world, without any need for material things.
Whatever it is that makes you happiest, do that for yourself.
When you're very young, you probably do what you love most, play. And play with whatever, it doesn't take much, does it? A cardboard box is plenty, and your imagination does the rest.
When you're a little older, you probably hang out with friends and do what you love most, play. Cardboard boxes and your imagination aren't enough, those are so passe, boring, and played. We need the coolest, latest stuff, hang out with the cool people, look good, go to the coolest places, do the coolest things.
When you're a lot older, you're done playing, you have no time, you're busy with so many things, can't even afford to have lunch you're so busy, can't even afford to say hello or call or email a single friend, much less your group of friends. Being cool? Forget it, no time. Your vacations, how infrequent they are, are your one chance to have fun again, and you do it for 1 week, then get back to the grind.
Through it all, take care of yourself. Have fun and enjoy life, it's ups and downs, it processes, it's change. But take some time out for yourself. Buy yourself something nice, say hello to an old friend, go for a nice walk and enjoy the sunshine or rain, do something just for you, something you love to do. Pat yourself on the back. Smile. Find a cardboard box, use your imagination, and have fun.
I forget to do this sometimes, I get caught in the vortex that is life. And going to the gym, doing my routine, etc. doesn't count. I'm talking about more than that. I forget many times what is was like to be a kid, to enjoy life to the fullest, with any care in the world, without any need for material things.
Whatever it is that makes you happiest, do that for yourself.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Nutty Green Smoothie
This is my breakfast drink.
4 oz. Organic Acai Juice
4 oz. Organic Carrot Juice
4 oz. Organic Soy Milk
1 banana
Large handfuls of organic dark leafy greens (spinach, kale, etc.)
1/2 cup ice
1/2 cup Organic Frozen Blueberries
1 Tbls Organic Flax Seed
1 small handful of Almond Crunch
In that order, add ingredients to high-speed blender (Blendtec Home, in my case), hit the "Smoothie" button and 25-seconds later...breakfast.
Very filling, very nourishing. Try it by replacing 12 oz. water instead of the juice, for a lower calorie option. I like the blend of greens, sweets, nuttiness, and creaminess. It's really a delicious and refreshing drink, something I look forward to. And it's a good way to "drink your greens". Try giving some to your kids, see if they like the taste, and if it benefits them.
4 oz. Organic Acai Juice
4 oz. Organic Carrot Juice
4 oz. Organic Soy Milk
1 banana
Large handfuls of organic dark leafy greens (spinach, kale, etc.)
1/2 cup ice
1/2 cup Organic Frozen Blueberries
1 Tbls Organic Flax Seed
1 small handful of Almond Crunch
In that order, add ingredients to high-speed blender (Blendtec Home, in my case), hit the "Smoothie" button and 25-seconds later...breakfast.
Very filling, very nourishing. Try it by replacing 12 oz. water instead of the juice, for a lower calorie option. I like the blend of greens, sweets, nuttiness, and creaminess. It's really a delicious and refreshing drink, something I look forward to. And it's a good way to "drink your greens". Try giving some to your kids, see if they like the taste, and if it benefits them.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Meditate
What is that fills your mind these days? Random thoughts? Destructive thoughts? Happy thoughts? Stories? Sadness? Happiness? Peace? Unrest? Or all of them?
I used to meditate regularly when I was young. I was given a book on Meditation by a co-worker of mine, and I was blown away. I really didn't know what I was doing (and still don't) but it did give me a sense of rest, of peace, of calm. And some methodology for doing so. I was coaching basketball at the time, working full time, and very busy, and I thought, had a lot going on in my mind. But, my peace came during meditation (prayer) and it helped me get through many a situation.
As I've gotten older and found other interests, I lost that sense or prayer, that state of peace and meditation. And I'm trying to rediscover it. Today, meditation is written about in too many forms, and can be so complicated. Just perusing the data out there, you get novels on 'how to meditate' and a mass sense of confusion. Heck, you'll lose peace just trying to find the info!
A few things I've picked up. One, if there are thoughts and distractions, let them happen and be a part of your meditation, they don't matter. Two, if you have issues and worry about them, have stories that your mind creates around those problems, and have restless moments thinking about how to escape and solve them, that itself is the root cause of your issue. Let your issue be, and just rest, calm down, and relax. Let your issue be a part of your peace.
Try this website (www.meditationoasis.com) and listen to a few of the podcasts, it's great for people that need some peace during turmoil, and for people that need to get some rest at night. And most of all, it's simple. Just rest, and give yourself a moment.
Be well!
I used to meditate regularly when I was young. I was given a book on Meditation by a co-worker of mine, and I was blown away. I really didn't know what I was doing (and still don't) but it did give me a sense of rest, of peace, of calm. And some methodology for doing so. I was coaching basketball at the time, working full time, and very busy, and I thought, had a lot going on in my mind. But, my peace came during meditation (prayer) and it helped me get through many a situation.
As I've gotten older and found other interests, I lost that sense or prayer, that state of peace and meditation. And I'm trying to rediscover it. Today, meditation is written about in too many forms, and can be so complicated. Just perusing the data out there, you get novels on 'how to meditate' and a mass sense of confusion. Heck, you'll lose peace just trying to find the info!
A few things I've picked up. One, if there are thoughts and distractions, let them happen and be a part of your meditation, they don't matter. Two, if you have issues and worry about them, have stories that your mind creates around those problems, and have restless moments thinking about how to escape and solve them, that itself is the root cause of your issue. Let your issue be, and just rest, calm down, and relax. Let your issue be a part of your peace.
Try this website (www.meditationoasis.com) and listen to a few of the podcasts, it's great for people that need some peace during turmoil, and for people that need to get some rest at night. And most of all, it's simple. Just rest, and give yourself a moment.
Be well!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Yoga Workshop
Just before returning to work after the holidays, I was privileged to participate in a Yoga workshop, 2.5 hours of practice, meditation, and relaxation. Man, that was great! I remember midway through the meditation and relaxation, feeling peace and serenity like I haven't felt in a while, like a baby sleeping, no thoughts, no worries, no issues...just rest, and peace. My teacher passed by me, while I was still, and I felt her hands support my back body, aligning me, and making sure I was at ease. It was a sense of quiet calm that I rarely experience, with such a fast paced lifestyle.
If you've never done yoga before, try it. Either a DVD or a class if you'd like to try. Don't worry about all of the philosophy and depth right away, as many people think it's hokey or weird. I hear you about that. There's a spiritual aspect to Yoga that's difficult to comprehend. Take the benefits, and don't worry about anything else. I think you'll find that it does give you a moment of pause, of peace, of quiet. It's lets your mind rest. And physically, it's tough! You'll probably witness right away how closed your body is, yoga will help open things up, make you more supple, and strengthen your weak spots. It'll make a big difference in the long run, just a little bit at a time.
Namaste.
If you've never done yoga before, try it. Either a DVD or a class if you'd like to try. Don't worry about all of the philosophy and depth right away, as many people think it's hokey or weird. I hear you about that. There's a spiritual aspect to Yoga that's difficult to comprehend. Take the benefits, and don't worry about anything else. I think you'll find that it does give you a moment of pause, of peace, of quiet. It's lets your mind rest. And physically, it's tough! You'll probably witness right away how closed your body is, yoga will help open things up, make you more supple, and strengthen your weak spots. It'll make a big difference in the long run, just a little bit at a time.
Namaste.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Black/White or Grey?
I've been getting a lot of questions from my relatives lately. People have fallen ill, or have friends that aren't well, and have asked me my advice on things. Knowing how I am now, their first reaction is "Should I tell him/her to be vegan?" Umm, I have no idea. I think people confuse my personal opinions and beliefs (and sometimes they are written with a very strong opinion) as gospel for health. And that's just not the case.
Look, I don't pretend to know much, I'm not a doctor, and I'm not comfortable giving medical advice to people that are ill. I can point you to information, implore you to try and educate yourself better, and make more conscious choices, but in the end, it's really up to the individual. I don't look down on anyone who chooses to believe or choose differently than I do, in fact, I respect their choices, even if they are diametrically opposed to my own.
The main reason for this is simply that each person will react differently to change. What works for me, may not work for you or someone else. It doesn't mean I'm any better or worse, just means that we're making choices based on what works for us individually, and that's fine. Now, the thing I want to stress is that so many people, my relatives included, don't make a conscious choice, and are not educated about what choices there are. They simply do what most do, live a normal life here, and sad to say, that has led to less than optimal health and wellness. Years of abuse with no conscious choices take their toll, and that's where I take a stronger stance. No matter how old or young you are, take notice of your health and wellness, make changes and experiment, see what they do for you. If they work, great! If they don't, no worries, try something else.
And by all means, keep your doctor involved. My nephew asked me if they should stop feeding their newborn son milk and bread, and I vehemently said, "No!". Not unless you're armed with enough information, alternatives, and consultation with your doctor to try. If anything, you try it for a few weeks, and observe how your body reacts, if you like how you feel, then maybe, for you, that's your answer.
Even for my immediate family, whatever they choose is okay with me, as long as it's a conscious choice. There's no right or wrong answer (vegan, non-vegan, whatever), just your conscious choice and what works best for you.
For me, being Vegan has been a godsend, probably the greatest gift and choice I've ever done for myself. I'm most proud because my Mother followed my lead, and took care of herself so well these past few months. She gave up diet soda, milk, dairy, meat (not that she's 100% extreme or anything, she just very conscious about what she eats now) and her blood pressure and diabetes issues have literally gone away or improved greatly. So much so, her doctors don't believe that she did it by diet and exercise alone, in just a few months. Her example motivates me to continue, because I want her around for a while.
Look, I don't pretend to know much, I'm not a doctor, and I'm not comfortable giving medical advice to people that are ill. I can point you to information, implore you to try and educate yourself better, and make more conscious choices, but in the end, it's really up to the individual. I don't look down on anyone who chooses to believe or choose differently than I do, in fact, I respect their choices, even if they are diametrically opposed to my own.
The main reason for this is simply that each person will react differently to change. What works for me, may not work for you or someone else. It doesn't mean I'm any better or worse, just means that we're making choices based on what works for us individually, and that's fine. Now, the thing I want to stress is that so many people, my relatives included, don't make a conscious choice, and are not educated about what choices there are. They simply do what most do, live a normal life here, and sad to say, that has led to less than optimal health and wellness. Years of abuse with no conscious choices take their toll, and that's where I take a stronger stance. No matter how old or young you are, take notice of your health and wellness, make changes and experiment, see what they do for you. If they work, great! If they don't, no worries, try something else.
And by all means, keep your doctor involved. My nephew asked me if they should stop feeding their newborn son milk and bread, and I vehemently said, "No!". Not unless you're armed with enough information, alternatives, and consultation with your doctor to try. If anything, you try it for a few weeks, and observe how your body reacts, if you like how you feel, then maybe, for you, that's your answer.
Even for my immediate family, whatever they choose is okay with me, as long as it's a conscious choice. There's no right or wrong answer (vegan, non-vegan, whatever), just your conscious choice and what works best for you.
For me, being Vegan has been a godsend, probably the greatest gift and choice I've ever done for myself. I'm most proud because my Mother followed my lead, and took care of herself so well these past few months. She gave up diet soda, milk, dairy, meat (not that she's 100% extreme or anything, she just very conscious about what she eats now) and her blood pressure and diabetes issues have literally gone away or improved greatly. So much so, her doctors don't believe that she did it by diet and exercise alone, in just a few months. Her example motivates me to continue, because I want her around for a while.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Anxiety
I've always thought of anxiety and panic attacks as something very foreign. On the "mellow" scale, I'm probably off the charts. Nothing really ever bothers me, I really don't worry much about things, dwell on them, lose sleep over anything. Well, that is, until this past month.
For whatever reason, I started to have rapid heart rate, heart palpitations, sweating for no apparent reasons, tingling from my neck to my hands and fingers, and constant and massive worry/anxiety about the most unimportant and trivial issues. Man, for me, this was foreign. I've talked about stress being a component in health that you need to control and address, and I have firsthand experience on how stress due to anxiety can tumble and compromise your health.
It felt like an out-of-body/mind experience, like someone kidnapped me and replaced me with someone else. It was a vicious cycle of stress->emotion->stress->emotion, etc. Words and actions, very unbecoming and unfamiliar, were flying out of my mouth and body like daggers from a soldier. Like I always do, I looked for answers, tried to understand what was happening to me, but in turn that frustrated me as well, and led to more problems.
Urban Meyer, head coach of University of Florida's very successful college football team, has serious anxiety issues, to the point he was going to retire from coaching to focus on his health. That got me thinking I had similar problems. So, I looked up a few books on anxiety and found the following from “Self-Coaching – The Powerful Program to Beat Anxiety and Depression” by Joseph Luciani.
Of course, I had the destructive kind. The key for me was the phrase "disproportionate to the circumstance". Take one very minor issue (one that normally would roll off you, causing very little problems), put that in a vicious cycle of stress and emotion, and there you have my destructive anxiety issues. The key for me was to put the issue that was "disproportionate to the circumstance" to rest early, shut it down, see it for what it was, minor and unnecessary. Then, my symptoms became less, then gone altogether, in a matter of hours literally.
If you have anxiety issues, I feel for you. It's nasty stuff, turns you in Mr. Hyde without you even knowing it, and has untold effects on your health and wellness. I would suggest that you arm yourself with the knowledge and understanding to deal with it, just like you would for food, as I've been talking about in previous blogs. Be conscious of what's happening to you, educate yourself, make changes and observe their effects on your being. But, most of all, take action and do something about it, don't sit there and let it overtake you. You can do it, believe in yourself.
I wish all of you a happy new year, 2010! May the new year bring you peace, health, and happiness!
For whatever reason, I started to have rapid heart rate, heart palpitations, sweating for no apparent reasons, tingling from my neck to my hands and fingers, and constant and massive worry/anxiety about the most unimportant and trivial issues. Man, for me, this was foreign. I've talked about stress being a component in health that you need to control and address, and I have firsthand experience on how stress due to anxiety can tumble and compromise your health.
It felt like an out-of-body/mind experience, like someone kidnapped me and replaced me with someone else. It was a vicious cycle of stress->emotion->stress->emotion, etc. Words and actions, very unbecoming and unfamiliar, were flying out of my mouth and body like daggers from a soldier. Like I always do, I looked for answers, tried to understand what was happening to me, but in turn that frustrated me as well, and led to more problems.
Urban Meyer, head coach of University of Florida's very successful college football team, has serious anxiety issues, to the point he was going to retire from coaching to focus on his health. That got me thinking I had similar problems. So, I looked up a few books on anxiety and found the following from “Self-Coaching – The Powerful Program to Beat Anxiety and Depression” by Joseph Luciani.
“As with depression, I divide anxiety into two general categories: destructive anxiety and natural anxiety…Destructive anxiety is driven by insecurity, disproportionate to the circumstance, always exaggerated, and persistent. Its purpose is to try to control life with an intense flurry of mental gyrations (worrying, ruminating, obsessing, and the like). Natural anxiety, unlike destructive anxiety, is normal, proportionate to the circumstance, not exaggerated, and time limited.”
Of course, I had the destructive kind. The key for me was the phrase "disproportionate to the circumstance". Take one very minor issue (one that normally would roll off you, causing very little problems), put that in a vicious cycle of stress and emotion, and there you have my destructive anxiety issues. The key for me was to put the issue that was "disproportionate to the circumstance" to rest early, shut it down, see it for what it was, minor and unnecessary. Then, my symptoms became less, then gone altogether, in a matter of hours literally.
If you have anxiety issues, I feel for you. It's nasty stuff, turns you in Mr. Hyde without you even knowing it, and has untold effects on your health and wellness. I would suggest that you arm yourself with the knowledge and understanding to deal with it, just like you would for food, as I've been talking about in previous blogs. Be conscious of what's happening to you, educate yourself, make changes and observe their effects on your being. But, most of all, take action and do something about it, don't sit there and let it overtake you. You can do it, believe in yourself.
I wish all of you a happy new year, 2010! May the new year bring you peace, health, and happiness!
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