Archive | June 2014

Bruise my heart

Jun30

Marianne Williamson writes in the Gift of Change “Living in the realm of body identification rather than spirit identification, we are constantly at risk for the experience of loss. We think we lose every time something in the world of form doesn’t unfold the way wish it to……As much as a situation like that can bruise the heart, a higher vision of what really occurred can heal us. “

A few years ago I was close with 2 other girls.  One was making some very unethical decisions around her marriage that only I knew about.  I made it clear I was not happy about the choices she was making.  She turned it all back on me and then started talking to our other friend about the ‘lies” I was creating. In the end, the other friend chose the one making the very unethical choices and the friendship significantly changed if not ended.  Honestly, in the beginning it was hard.  I so wish I could show everyone the facts and prove what was happening.  Then I realized, sometimes God makes really tough decisions for me.  As much as I did not want to lose that friendship, it really wasn’t one to be lost. As we go down this path of becoming more awake and conscious, there will be toxic people in our lives that will consciously or unconsciously chose another path.  I like to think I surround myself with like-minded friends.  So I think this was a blessing God made for me even though my heart was bruised.

love917

 

Let it go….

Jun26

“What you resist, persists,” is one of my favorite quotes.  I have seen it attributed to several people.  So, I am not sure where to pay homage for one of my personal mantras.  Repeating this to myself during frustrating times has been helpful, but it came to a new spin when the Disney movie Frozen came out this year.  Being a mom of little ones, I have seen this movie an watched youtube videos at least a dozen times.  I do really like the movie and really love watching my boys belt out the songs!  Every time the song “Let It Go” comes on, it reminds me of the quote.  When you fight what really is gong on, BAD CRAP happens like freezing the world and people think you perform sorcery.  When you let it go and go with the flow, you can build an amazing ice castle and become the prettiest of the Disney Princesses yet! So, now I just sing the chorus line when things annoy me.  Thanks for getting on the new age train Disney! 🙂

Natural Perfume is a great health choice

Jun24

perfume

Perfume is like torture to me.  My head begins to pound and my sinuses ache almost immediately when I come in close proximity to it.  If a man is wearing a cologne, I can even taste it! I have had to have some uncomfortable conversations with my dad, mother-in-law, and colleagues because it really “stunk” to be around them.  When you start doing research, you will see how toxic the chemicals in perfume are.  They are reported to be skin allergens, respiratory irritants, cancer causing agents, and hormone disrupting chemicals.  So being such a fragrant sensitive and health conscious individual, finding a green and tolerant “perfume” was hard.  Luckily I came across this great company called Auric Blends about a year ago.  They have essential oil blends are are very reasonably priced.  So far I have tried three; the jasmine, rose, and Egyptian goddess with the jasmine my favorite so far.  I really wish they would make a gardenia since that is my favorite aroma, but I am looking at one of the other mixtures since it does have gardenia in it.  Look over all their lovely choices and consider a green choice for you olfactory pleasure!  If your friends are sensitive like me, they will desire and pleasure in your company more!

http://www.auricblends.com

Where has kale and quinoa been my whole life?

Jun22

 

heart-of-veggies

Despite being a pretty healthy eater, after reading Kathy Freston’s book called Quantum Wellness, it made me really start thinking about the things I put in my body.  She recommended avoiding all meat, dairy, gluten, sugar, and alcohol since these foods take an extra toll on bodies to digest and process.  By avoiding them, our bodies get a chance to work on keeping us healthy and repair processes that it may not get to focus on regularly .  So, I decided to use her recommendations to embark upon a “detox diet”.  I searched other information online a found this great link.  She had a lot of the same philosophies as well. Not sure if I would have the willpower, I committed for only 2 days.  I planned some food out and searched for more recipe ideas.  All in all, it was not bad.  I made it 5 days! Yeah me!  The hardest things for me were avoiding cheese and the 5-7 pm time window.  This is where I am usually a little frazzled after bringing kids home from school and switching from work mode to mommy mode.  Needless to say, it is when I usually need some comfort food which is in the sweet department.  Gluten-free pretzels and hummus saved me! After the 5 days, I can’t say I felt really any different but I was super proud of myself and had found some great new foods!  Where has kale and quinoa been my whole life?

http://bitchindietitian.com/

How Grand that Canyon is….

Jun22

Meditation is Not what you think...

My husband and I took a helicopter excursion to the Grand Canyon today. As I watched the Colorado river flow into Lake Meade, it made me think about its similarity with meditation. The river has a significant current and the water looks green and cloudy. Lake Meade is very still and looks clear compared to the river flowing into it. As I viewed these bodies of water, I recalled a description Reverend Ed Bacon had given on meditation like a dirty bowl of water.  He explained that as dirty water sits still over time, the dirt falls to the bottom and the clean water sits on the top. He went on to explain that as one sits in meditation on a regular basis, clarity emerges just as the clean portion of the water does.   For 2 years now, I have been trying to meditate daily.  I do believe it brings clarity and calmness to my life especially when I do it on a regular basis.  Just as I would want to drink the more purified water, I also want healthier thoughts.  Next time I am feeling stressed and anxious, I will think of Lake Meade and try to find some stillness to purify the thoughts .

Row, Row, Row Your Boat….

Jun20

We are all familiar with the famous kid song, “row, row, row your boat gently down the stream merrily, merrily, merrily life is but a dream”, but have we ever really focused on the words.  Last year I went on a 3-day silent Buddhist retreat at a lovely facility on the Hillsborough river.  During my private meditation sessions, a lot of times I found myself sitting in the chairs and watching the current of the river.  I could not help but think of the song and think of life as a water current.  As I watched things float in the water with such ease, I thought about the calmness it created; the effortless ease.  Then boats would come by needing the motor to go against the current or to go faster than it was taking them.  Such an effort was required.  Over the few days, the current changed direction with the wind and such, but the things that floated were not bothered by the change.  I have thought about that with my life.  If I would just allow God’s will to happen, so much effort and wasted energy would be saved.  I would have so much more enjoyment and peace.  I hope to find my row boat, throw away the oars, and merrily float down the current of life.   

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