Considering the Cusp of 2008

In the concluding moments of a year past and the commencement of the new, we have, by way of tradition, devised a plan for betterment of self referred to as the "New Year's Resolution".

Why is it that our first thoughts originate around dedicating a generous effort toward dropping pounds, being more organized, cleaning out the garage, constituting a balanced work life, completing 'in-progress' projects, generating more profit then the year previous etc...

These are all respectable considerations, but are they really worthy of a whole years resolution?

Resolution:

1. The act of resolving or determining upon an action or course of action, method, procedure, etc.
2. The mental state or quality of being resolved or resolute; firmness of purpose.

In my opinion, they are important. All elements contributing to positive growth and healthy living are essential. However, the most important component is too easily swept beneath the rug.

In a book by Randy Pausch, titled, The Last Lecture, he speaks much about living in the present and yet preparing for the future. He was diagnosed in his mid 40's with a deleterious cancer of the pancreas. Though he opted for the most risky and detrimental treatment options his shelf life was set at 3 to 6 months. With 3 young children under the age of 5 and a loving wife, Randy, a lecturer at Carnegie Mellon, was given the opportunity to deliver his Last Lecture.

Instead of grieving for his own loss or becoming self loathing and bitter, Randy Pausch saw an opportunity; an opportunity to extend life, display love and impart wisdom. Pausch was fortunate to have an expiration date in view. He was able to get his affairs in order, and prepare--as best as one can--his family for his departurer. Most of us are not that lucky.

After reading his memoirs, I thought much about how we 'prepare' ourselves for life in a complete dissarray. Why is it that our resolutions for the year are so superficial? Why do we pump out adrenaline at the gym but pay no attention to our hearts' true health? Even the healthiest of men can pass at the drop of a dime if God so chooses...You may have heard it said,"Everyday is a gift, that is why it's called the present". If you knew that by the end of the week you would be no longer, are your affairs in order? What steps would you take? I'm certain they would be chosen deliberately. What words and actions would be delivered? What would your legacy entail?

Maybe this year should be a year of prioritizing. Priorities will ultimately navigate the path on which you travel. Seek out true health and vitality for this years resolution, find a firmness of purpose! All else will fall in to place once faulty priorities are eradicated and proper preparations are instituted. Best to all of you in 2009!

Stay Sharper Longer

As most of you readers know I am currently taking courses toward becoming a Registered Nurse. My most recent endeavor has been Microbiology (and a little Pathophysiology on my own time) which has proven to be quite difficult but extremely intriguing. I can be found numerous evenings sprawled out on the living room floor reading about diseases and their symptoms, certain that I have contracted some virus because lately I have felt fatigue, forgetful, accident prone...I undoubtedly have subcortical dementia!

Well, maybe not quite, but haven't we all experienced times where we feel we are 'Losing our mind', 'Not the sharpest tool in the shed', or 'A few fries short of a happy meal'? Personally speaking, those moments come much more often then I would prefer, or like to admit! I regard those 'brain farts'(excuse my un-ladylike expression) as gracious God-given opportunities to remain humble and level headed. Maybe you don't experience these types of "mental pauses", but for those of us who do I conducted a little research of my own to offer a bit of encouragement and steps for reclaiming your brain.

There are several important areas to consider as you pursue brain health and fitness. First and foremost are the basics that we would all guess-i.e. diet, exercise, and rest.
These are key contributors to the output and functioning capabilities of our trustee noggin.

DIET-

1. Eat a variety of foods. Preparing yourself a rainbow of different foods can help keep your brain healthy for years to come. A varied diet provides numerous vitamins, minerals and nutrients that are needed to keep your brain in top shape.
2. Add blueberries to your menu. Studies have shown that blueberries play an important role in protecting the brain from oxidative stress as well as reducing the effects of brain impairing diseases such as Alzheimer's and Dementia.
   
3. Drink Pomegranate juice, or if you want to add an extra boost of brain juice attempt to open one yourself. Pomegranates have been shown to have extraordinary benefits by providing antioxidants that bind up the body's free radicals(a natural by-product emitted by our cells after the use of oxygen) Free-radicals left unattended lead to most all degenerative diseases, heart disease, cancers and pre-mature aging.
4. Keep hydrated. Be sure to get your daily intake of WATER. Drinking 8 cups of water per day may sound like a lot, but did you know 8 cups is only what's necessary for replacing the amount of fluid you expel during the day? A typical adult loses 1.5Liters of H20 a day through urine output, and another liter will be expended through perspiration, breathing and bowel movements. Water is also responsible for 77% of our brain weight!
5. Incorporate a selection a foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B or Alpha-linolenic acid, which in the body, can become omega-3. These fats are vital to brain health. Our brain uses fatty-acids to build specialized cells which allow you to think and feel. Two-thirds of our brain is fat( so if someone calls you a Fat Head, say thank you kindly) and all cells throughout the body rely on fatty acid to form their cell walls. Excellent dietary sources of these healthy fats are found naturally in Salmon(preferably wild), Flaxseed(or flax seed oil/supplement), Walnuts, green leafy vegetables, and sea vegetables.
6. Eat breakfast. Start your day right by taking the time to care for yourself. It's best to eat larger meals as you start your day and less as it comes to a close. A great food to help you establish a stable blood sugar level and keep you satisfied longer is oatmeal. Steel cut oats may take a little longer to prepare but are preferable to rolled oats. Both, however, provide you the benefit of lowering LDL cholesterol and have shown to offer a significant reduction in cases of heart disease.
7. Dark Chocolate triggers the systems in your brain that pump dopamine. These systems enable us to learn and enhance memory.

FITNESS-

1. Fitness is important for brain health, which is ultimately the foundation of our well-being. To get ideas and more advanced information regarding exercise options, explanations and in depth research it may be to your benefit to visit: www.healthlinkblog.blogspot.com. Much time and diligence has been put in to it's content and it will cover far more then I am able to fit in to this blog. Also This article may peak your interest if you have the time to review it.

• http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article564063.ece

OUT & ABOUT-

1. Take a trip to a museum, or exhibit, register for a class at your church or local community college. In order to keep brain cells growing it is vital that we engage ourselves in new and unfamiliar activities. You may not be aware, but remaining in a redundant and invariable environment actually allows the brain synapses to degenerate . Learning new and challenging activities, and different concepts keep the brain active and encourage the development of new cells. Give an energy boost to your cells by absorbing the new information and relaying it to a friend or colleague. As you recite or write you are holding each idea in mind for the four or five seconds that are needed for the temporary memory to be converted into a permanent one. In other words, the few minutes that it takes for you to review and think about what you are trying to learn is the minimum length of time that neuroscientists believe is necessary to allow thought to go into a lasting, more easily retrievable memory. Grasping a new concept and conveying it to another is shown to be a very effective approach to retain knowledge as well as maintain activity throughout different regions of the brain.
2. Memorize a song or poetry. Focusing on listening to the song will boost the levels of acetylcholine in your brain, improving your memory abilities. The Hippocampus is responsible for retaining short term memory and allowing for new memories to be formed. By memorizing lyrics to a song or part of your favorite book you are actually exercising this region of the brain and again encouraging an increase of blood flow as well as formation of synapses.
3. Humor. Life can throw curve balls at us but we can't let it dissolve our happiness. Smiling and laughter, believe it or not, may mitigate our stress and allow for healthier emotions to be established. Laughter stimulates both sides of the brain to enhance learning. It eases muscle tension and psychological stress, which keeps the brain alert and allows the ability to retain more information. Mood is elevated by striving to find humor in difficult and frustrating situations. Laughing at ourselves and the situation helps reveal that small things are not the earth-shattering events they sometimes seem to be. Looking at a problem from a different perspective can make it seem less formidable and provide opportunities for greater objectivity and insight. Humor also helps us avoid loneliness by connecting with others who are attracted to genuine cheerfulness. And the good feeling that we get when we laugh can remain with us as an internal experience even after the laughter subsides.
4. Socialize. Stay connected with your friends and family. Studies performed on a group of elderly individuals revealed that those who maintained positive social interactions and conversed with others who engaged in mentally stimulating topics/discussions were more likely to have accurate facts and recollection.

R & R-

1. Sleep in. Getting a few extra hours of sleep, if you've stayed up late or have had a demanding day, can help rejuvenate you and improve your mental abilities. Enjoy resting a little bit longer on your weekend mornings. Lack of sleep allows for so many impairments that could easily be evaded if only we would obey our instinct. The immune system and brain function is severely debilitated when proper rest has not been implemented. It is shown that a sleep deprived individual performs equally poor or worse than an individual who is intoxicated!
2. Spirituality is more critical then you may choose to believe when it comes to psychological health. This article expounds on the issue and offers a sundry of studies and results that affirm the relationship between spiritual and mental health. Look in to it:

• http://stress.about.com/od/optimismspirituality/a/22307_God_power.htm

I could expand this blog in to several volumes but I realize you who have followed me this far in to the article are most likely becoming exhausted by some of its redundancy...I wish you well on your highbrow healthy endeavors, and gladly welcome your questions and commentary. Now go out and Reclaim you Brain!

G.I.V.E.

Interesting how quickly we become accustomed to having our amenities at our fingertips. As I am sitting here this morning watching the digital clock click over the minutes before I am due at work, I anxiously await any sign of a good Samaritan willing to lend me a shower. It seems to be a common occurrence that the hot water likes to 'sleep in', here at my humble little apartment complex . I should be thankful that I generally have the convenience of running hot water at the twist of my wrist, but this morning I find myself annoyed. Until it's unavailable I forget to appreciate the blessing it is.

I thought of how I might apply this situation in a more meaningful way as I burn the time hoping for a call. I drew a parallel with relationships---friends, family, co-workers, grocery clerks, gym members etc...How often do we forget to smile, extend a greeting, or even acknowledge those around us. At times I feel as if we all revolve around each other like inanimate objects. There is much life behind each set of eyes if we only took the time to extend the invitation for conversation, offer a compliment, or enjoy a warm embrace. I am guilty of allowing too many people to slip by without acknowledging their existence; it's time to change that. Better to live fully and experience rejection then to live withdrawn and never have the chance to experience true life. How will you make an impact, or leave a legacy if you don't extend yourself? Lets think G.I.V.E for the month of November(or whats left of it).

G.ENUINE--be real
I.NTENTIONAL--live it with purpose, direction, and motive
V.ALUE--seek worth in all life
E.MBRACE--love

Don't wait until it's too late to say the words you wanted to say, or accomplish the goals you dreamed of. Don't wait until people are gone before you remember to appreciate them. If there is unfinished business left between you and another, heal it, make amends. Bitterness only destroys the soul of the one who holds it dear. Gift those around you this holiday season with the attributes of G.I.V.E. it's one present that you won't mind if they return or even 're-gift';)

What Will You Choose?

Your path of Life is a daily choice. What path are you traveling? Is it leading forward to an impending destination or are you wandering the backwoods crossing your fingers you'll happenstance upon a fulfilling future? Do not waste one more day, one more hour, one more minute without observing where you are currently in your spiritual life, emotional being, physical strength, mental health and financial expenditures. The longer we continue traveling the "backwoods" trail(not living with intention and purpose), the further in debt we may become, the deeper in to depression or dissatisfaction we will dive, mental and physical alertness and energy will be squandered and your spirit will be like an empty well.

As I prepared to go to the gym this early Wednesday morning I felt an unusual compulsion to remain at home and study rather then rush out the door. I read over a few emails I had received and then opened my notebook and let the pen begin to write. Before I knew it I had recorded 3 pages of script in response to what I read in Proverbs. This has been the most challenging and yet refreshing thing I have done all week. As I stopped and observed my own Path as of recent...I realized it has been quite a trek through vines and dense foliage as I have become less diligent about discipline in my daily life. Though I thought my laziness was making life lax and enjoyable it actually produced in me a greater anxiety and feeling of despair. Contrary to what our culture preaches, discipline of the body, mind, and soul plays an essential role in the outcome of our future.

I brought these questions to myself this morning as I prayed:
What Path will I chose today?
Am I being complacent or compromising?
What produces Joy and Exuberance in my life?
Am I taking steps toward my desired future?
Do I trust God knows best, and will I submit to Him?

In Proverbs I read these verses which pressed me to look inside and be honest with myself:

Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech:

'How long will you simple ones love your simple ways?
How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you.

But since you rejected me when I called and no one gave heed when I stretched out my hand, since you ignored all my advice and would not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes you---When calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you.

Then they will call to me but I will not answer, they will look for me but will not find me.
Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord, since they would not
Accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled
With the fruit of their schemes. For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and
the complacency of the fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me(Wisdom) will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.'

----If you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as silver and search for it as a hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding."

Stop this moment and think about your life. You have Wisdom available to you; Knowledge that will guide your life to an abundant future; will you tap in to it, will you search after it like a hidden treasure? or will you continue down the wayward path? By choosing wisdom, you are choosing life; and you have the ability to positively effect the lives of everyone around you whether it is revealed to you or not. Don't be the foolish one who puts off his/her future, start today taking steps of preparation. Don't waste this opportunity...take a stand for Exuberant LIFE!

Temptation

A Podcast worth listening to...(approximately 30min in length)

http://livermore.cornerstoneweb.org/avfiles/RLE045-080907_00508.mp3

it can also be found for free on iTunes if you want to put it on an iPod. In the browser search for Cornerstone fellowship and create a free subscription under Steve Madsen.

An Interesting Letter---Only Imperfection is Intolerant of Imperfection

It seems that you need to be a little more big-hearted about the imperfection of other people. I know you can't help but see these imperfections when they come right before your eyes and neither can you prevent involuntary opinions about others from popping into your mind. And nobody will deny that imperfections of others cause us a lot of inconvenience! But it will be enough if you are willing to be patient with imperfections, whether they be serious or not so serious. Do not allow yourself to turn away from people because of their imperfections.

If there is one mark of perfection, it is simply that it can tolerate the imperfections of others. It is able to adjust. It becomes all things to all men. Sometimes we find the most surprising faults in otherwise good people. But we must not be surprised. It is best to let these faults alone and let God deal with them in His time. If we deal with them, we shall end up pulling up the wheat with the tares. I have found that God leaves, even in the most spiritual people, certain weaknesses which seem to be entirely out of place. This is true of all of us. And all of us need to be quick to recognize our own imperfection, letting God deal with them.

As for you, labor to be patient with the weaknesses of other people. You know from experience how bitterly it hurts to be corrected. So work hard to make it less bitter for others. Although I am not saying you correct others too much. That is not your problem. Your problem is that you become cool when you discover faults in other people, and you tend to quit associating with them. So you need to deal with that problem.

I ask you also not to spare me if I need correction. Even if you mention a fault which isn't really there, there will be no harm done. If I find that your correction wounds me, then my irritability simply shows you have touched a sore spot in my life. But if there is no irritability and resentment, then at least you will have done me an excellent kindness in testing my ability to be humble, and in keeping me accustomed to reproof.

self-examination

Have you ever encountered someone completely oblivious to the fact that they, themselves, play the starring role in the drama of their life? It cracks me up listening to these gals gossip and complain about the men in their lives, or their 'friends', the troubles at home, work, school etc... They go on and on telling all the nitty-gritty details of some contentious situation and how they were done injustice etc...all the while creating quite an offense themselves.

Unfortunately in this day and age people rarely tend to turn the magnifying glass around.
'Who wants to do that? I mean acknowledging my role in the situation might mean I actually need to do something about it! Way too much work.'
This is the typical subconscious decision being made when someone begins to make a judgement of another. The normalcy of this way of thinking is frightening! It is no wonder why our relationships grow distant and fail at an ever quickening pace.

To have success in any life circumstance you must be introspective in equal or greater portions as your outward observations. It's the one thing you can always grasp, and though it can be challenging and uncomfortable, it produces the best results when exercised. In a time where the majority seek to have "control" in a very variable world, there is one thing-- an extremely crucial element-- that we ultimately CAN control and that is ourselves. Rather then believing it's your co-workers, that are the issue, maybe its you? Instead of assuming you must be God's gift to all the problematic people in your office, maybe you are actually the drama queen(or king...some of you men...i swear) Instead of believing you are a magnet for all the 'weirdos' . . .take a look in the mirror;)

Now I am not being facetious, but honest. So many of us (i included) are guilty as charged for passing the blame. It's time to stop focusing outwardly and instead realize we, ourselves, have so much we could do to better ourselves. I trust you will see a change in your surroundings by making changes in yourself. Altering your attitude and outlook will ultimately adjust your lens on how you perceive the world. Try it out...if I am wrong then forget i ever said it:)

First Day of School

'First days' are always adventurous, exciting, nerve wracking, and unpredictable. In my case, I have had a roller coaster of all these emotions throughout the past couple weeks; first, relocating to a new area and home, secondly, a new job; thirdly another new job, then quitting an old job; and just yesterday was my first day going back to a brand new school, and not to mention taking public transit...which you guessed it, I am pretty darn new to that as well!

I chose BART to travel to school because it is near my new place and it would be a convenient and less expensive way of transportation--not to mention avoiding the crazy parking situations in Bezerkeley.

To lessen the panic of possibly jumping on a train in the wrong direction I decided to do some homework ahead of time and got myself a BART schedule and map. The map makes it simple enough for a two year old to navigate, yet I still found myself asking the people around me for reassurance regarding what platform I was supposed to transfer on to etc. I was sure that I was going to end up in the wrong place and be late, or even worse, miss my first day of lecture!

As the SFO/Millbrae train made a smooth stop at the platform I jumped on and found a seat. I scanned the car and was pleasantly surprised at how clean it was and how 'safe' the people all appeared to be...this was nothing like the rumors I had heard about BART. I sat back with my iPod in hand and relaxed as the train eased forward...only knocking one elderly, overweight man on top of the woman I had been talking to. (For those of you regular BARTees you must know it can take you by surprise when you aren't positioned in fighting stance) The humor of that situation calmed my anxiety and I was sure that I would successfully find my way to school.

The BART conductor kindly called off every station as we stopped along the way to relieve and reload passengers. Next stop was my place to transfer. So as we slowed to a stop at the MacArthur Station, the conductor explained,

'This is a transfer station, for those of you who wish to continue on to San Francisco/Millbrae please remain seated. For those passengers wishing to travel to Fremont please exit and cross to platform 3. For those passengers heading to Richmond, please exit, go downstairs, and go back up to platform 1'

'SWEET!' I thought to myself,' he made it so easy, 'why did I even worry?!' I sprinted off the train and down the stairs, across the hall and taking steps two at a time back up the other side. Just as I reached the top stair my connecting train arrived. 'This is so my lucky day!!' As I entered the Richmond train...WOW!...that was the only word that came to mind. This was completely different in every way then the last train. I had now entered a shmorgesborg of all ethnicity's and age groups. Though the train car was packed to full capacity and I could hardly see the map, I knew with out a doubt I was heading in the right direction. I don't know what it is(and I don't say this to offend) but I could smell my way to Berkeley. HaHa! I'm not sure why I feared finding my way so much, I should have remembered to simply follow my scent-ses, the hippies, the naturalists, the smarty pants, the guys with no shoes, and the aroma of once every-other-week showerers. These are the fascinating characters that make Berkeley... well Berkeley!

Needless to say, my first day of school was absolutely fantastic! BART, my new school(which actually is brand spankin' new!!and I LOVE it), my professor(she is BOMB), the lecture and area of study(Microbiology...very engaging:)), and my new friends I made in class!! What a splendid first day! Thank you God:)

The Grass is Greener Where You Water It

Just recently, I for the second time made the 'big move' out of my parents nest and out on my own. As I was tediously packing the vast array of clutter that so gracefully furnished my "rest stop" in Castro Valley, I came across much memorabilia from my childhood. My Ma had so generously decided to assist me with such a feat, so together we laughed and were amazed at my knack for hoarding any sort of reminder of my younger years.

Under the bed I revealed ticket stubs and brochures, birthday cards and bank statements, sugar packets and every sort of odd'n'end imaginable from all places visited, missioned, or vacationed. That part was nothing in comparison to what I discovered while rummaging through the closet. As I knelt on the floor to pull out some shoe boxes I noticed a larger box tucked in the corner. I shifted the heavy box closer to myself and carefully untucked the corners to reveal its contents. Inside were two tall stacks of spiral bound notebooks. To you it may seem kooky, but the pages in each of those notebooks were filled from top to bottom, front and back with the manuscript of my life from my younger years until now.

I had forgotten where I placed all these novellas of my day to day thoughts, experiences, crushes, joys, and tears. For fun I flipped open one and began to read what I wrote. Immediately I was derailed from the duties of packing and was rather engulfed in the humorous and heartfelt messages I had so diligently penned day in and day out. As I shared some memories with my Ma, she laughed and reminded me of how I used to always be eager and expectant of what was next to come in life.

'You always were going to be happy, WHEN. . . happened, or WHEN. . . age came, or AFTER. . . was over. THEN you would truly be content', she reminded me,'You have definitely changed a lot since then, in fact I can hardly recall a scenario when you have repeated those phrases'.

The truth is, I was never going to be happy if I couldn't be satisfied with what I had, and who I was in this very moment. A viewpoint in lack of maturity sees the grass always looking greener on the other side; what is not yours(or what you can't have) must be better then what you already possess. When you have no commitment or responsibility to someone or something it's natural to be drawn toward what is eye catching. There are innumerable examples I can think of that easily lead us to covet, such as-cars, boats, electronics, homes, jobs, incomes, spouses, body types, status, clothes, etc... But what gives something that extraordinary value?

When it comes to relationships and marriage, its the time, effort, love and commitment through thick and thin that so tenderly develops such a beautiful union of two people. From an outside perspective it can be easy to say, 'If only my husband was like hers, then I would be satisfied', or 'If only I had a home like that I would be content', ' If only I had a fit body like hers I would be happy','If only I made more money...'

The truth is, you are more then able to have happiness, joy, and contentment no matter where you are or what you don't have if you are willing to nurture that which you DO have. Water your own lawn, so to speak, and reap the benefits of what lies within your picket fence. Find the positive in every situation. Seek ways to serve your friends, family, neighbors etc. Challenge yourself with this question, 'If I died today would I die content? Or is my soul in a tizzy until whatever it is in the future arrives or is completed?' It would be a shame if the latter were true because no one is guaranteed a certain number of days. Would you forfeit the joy that could be yours daily because of the coveting of something you may never attain or accomplish? Only God knows the amount of breaths you will take on his planet; make the most of every one you receive.

My Theory on High Gasoline Prices

Haven't we all become so tired of the monotonous reports in every source of news regarding how much were paying at the pump?! I know I have. It seems that the same facts are being presented all day everyday, but who has an explanation or a solution? Neither objects of useful information have been relayed, but for some reason unbenunced to me, they continue to hit the replay button on the drudgery of pulling into your local Chevron.

Secondly, in the uplifting list of announcements the stoic news anchor has to tell us, is, 'We're fat', 'Oh and don't forget, everything is going up in price and potentially sales tax too!'. How wonderful!

See, the truth is actually quite simple. We have heard, and seen, and felt, for quite sometime now that a major portion of Americans are obese; and truly have had no motivation to change. This posed a considerable problem for health insurance companies because now they are paying out big bills for the deteriorating health of their clients. What better way to "motivate"--(ehhemm...force!) the general obese American population to get their tushes moving then to raise the price of gas and in unison the price of food? Brilliant! This recession or 'slow down' has nothing to do with economy, rather it was the remedy for obesity. Americans were making a lot of money, buying bigger vehicles(multiple too), and eating out more frequently, and as a result gained more weight then anyone knew how to handle. We have all had days where we feel fat, and those days often leave us with a lazy, unmotivated, grumpy attitude...so it's no wonder people weren't up trying to go to the gym and do something about it! Instead money would fix the momentary depression with a double chocolate fudge sundae, or a Deep fried steak with extra onion rings---because they are on the Atkins diet of course;0)-- The best way for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services to get us up and active was to not give us an option.

Statistics have shown a massive decrease in mileage driven once prices reached $4p/g, and as a replacement many people have come to rely on bicycles and tennis shoes to reach their destinations. Also, we are eating more reasonable portion sizes, not only because we now have direct deposit at Exxon, but in addition the rising costs at the supermarket. Dr. Laura says it simply,'Eat less. Move More.' it's the lasting cure for weight-loss.

All-in-all, the government actually knocked out three birds with one stone! Food prices up= assist us with portion control, and Gas prices up= motivate Americans to be active, and lower emissions("global warming") :) how kind of them...

'Do As I Do, Not As I say'

"Do as I do, not as I say"--Wouldn't this arrangement of the popular expression, 'Do as I say, not as I do', be more effective?

For some mysterious reason I have been waking around 4 AM the past few days--It's like the light switch was on, but the light bulb was not lit--thinking about how much I talk. My initial thought was, 'Why the heck am I awake? I would really much rather be sleeping', but as my eyelids would in no way be coerced back to my beauty rest, I sat with the questions now rattling in my mind. I thought to myself, I am always conversing with friends, family, colleagues, etc. offering them my brilliant advice at no expense;0) But these mornings, the only thing that consumed my attention was the never silencing question,'Do I honestly follow my own advice in my daily life?'. It's so simple for me to see clearly when looking at another's life circumstances and troubles, and offer a word of encouragement or a piece of advice...but how clouded is my vision when it comes to my own life? The answer I offer to a friend may in every way be the 'right' thing to do, but if it were my issue, would I follow my own advice?

Needless to say, those flip switch mornings had begun to shed new light on an old truth. I continually heard the phrase ' Do as I do, not as I say', and it puzzled me.

"What does that mean to me? And, why do I keep thinking about that phrase? That's not even how it goes!?"
As I went about my day, I got over the perplexing reasoning behind why I thought of the phrase, but, I kept mulling over what it meant. After much reflection, the current finally reached the light bulb, if you will. It's not the amount of words spoken that shape how people perceive me, but more importantly it's the actions I take. How I make choices, what choices I choose, how I treat other people, how I care for my belongings, how I care for myself, what I do with my free time, how I work...all these things speak volumes, and essentially they can all be done without words.

Today I am challenging myself to replace wordiness with willingness. I want to be more motivated and willing to DO, rather then to SAY. Anyone can talk themselves up, but if there is nothing sustaining the words then it's only so long before they deflate. Many can offer a word of advice, but how many live a life of example? As I contemplated who most inspires me, the people who came to mind were all people of few words but much action. This is my new mission; action before words, and words=actions.

Fear

Fear was something that consumed my life. I'm guessing it had some link to my childhood. Nevertheless, it restricted me from living peacefully and openly. I was fearful of rejection mainly, but other obstacles and challenges also brought up that familiar feeling within me. I felt as a prisoner, and yet the frustrating struggle for freedom was versus myself! Talk about insanity! Oddly enough I have always had an adventurous spirit; one that loved spontaneity and surprise, but the anxiety held me captive. After living most of my young adult life cornered and condensed by fear of the unknown, I decided to disclose this private struggle with a mentor in hopes to find a 'cure'. As I began to pour out my 'poor helpless me' story of all the hopes, dreams, and aspirations I had for life and how I was never going to be able to achieve them, she interrupted me and said;

'What's holding you back?'
Again I continued with my sorrowful saga, entailing the nail-biting fears and anxiety I experienced at even the most trivial tasks. She stopped me and replied,
'Are the dreams and aspirations you shared with me first, truly important to you? Are they really valuable goals for you to achieve?'
'Yes, of course', I answered, a bit curious as to why such an obvious question would need to be answered.
'Well then I guess you'll have to do them afraid,' she said quite matter-of-factly.

That was her final answer? No miracle 12 step program to help me 'free the fear' or 'execute the anxiety'? No, it was as simple as that; if there are things I want to do in this world but I am scared, the only option was, do it afraid. Probably some of the best advice I have ever received. It seemed so elementary, yet it was a concept that had never bothered to cross my mind.

As I have moved into the challenge of 'doing things afraid', I have realized most of them actually present little, if any, discomfort at all. The exhilarating feeling of successfully achieving a goal I have set forth is well worth the effort. Extending myself beyond my 'comfort zone' has never failed to teach me something about my character, my surroundings and other people.

In hindsight, I learned that living in fear was a self-centered way of life. It not only restrained me from reaching my full potential, but it also denied others from becoming a part of my life. When I was "released" from the cords of fear which I perceived to be hindering me from accomplishing my greatest desires, I learned the harder lesson. I realized that once fear and anxiety were no longer my captors, I had no excuse to not press forward.

If you are someone afraid of failure, and that keeps you from accomplishing your dreams, try a new approach and do it afraid...you'll never regret it.

Busy-ness

Living in the Bay Area we are used to life at a break-neck speed. Fast food, fast transportation, high-speed Internet, speed dating, running to pick up the kids, off to practice, dashing to the office; long gone are the days of mid-afternoon coffee breaks where businesses closed to enjoy the company of their fellow employees, and regroup their thoughts. I believe that we have become so accustomed to our busy schedules that we forget to stop and enjoy the moment. When was the last time you truly sat down and enjoyed a meal with family or friends? How about the last time you watched the sunset? When was the last time you played with your children and enjoyed their laughter? when was the last time you showed your spouse you loved them?

Somehow all of these important interactions so easily grace the backdrop of life and the tasks and duties of the daily grind take the main stage. We sometimes take those important things for granted as if there will always be time for them later...but when does 'later' ever truly arrive? Quite the opposite is actually true; work will always remain, laundry hampers will always be full, dust will continually mound on the furniture, toys and shoes will always be found out of place, the garage could always be more organized, but the nurturing you give to your children and the love you give to your spouse will make your home a restful place and bring your heart contentment amidst the unfinished chores.

Ladies, love your husband. Remember how you were when you first caught each others eye, and don't ever lose that. I can only speak from observation, but I stand by my word when I say, don't deprive your husband of the love and respect he needs. Take the time to put yourself together before he walks in the door from a long day at work; do not nag him with a 'honey do' list as his greeting, instead a kiss. Be a joy for him to arrive home to. Don't starve him of intimacy because you have exhausted yourself from a long day...just as much as you might need adoration he needs intimacy. This is why I say, choose your daily duties accordingly; if it's going to make you too tired to be a good wife, then write it on a list to complete another day.

Why do I bring this up? Not because I am married and have the answers, but because of what I have seen and heard from many marriages. I can only speak to women on this subject. Don't put your husband last in line, do not assume he will always be there. If you have chosen wisely he will remain faithful, but his heart will be detached. Why deny the man you once held as your king, your knight in shining armor? His needs should be a priority in your life far above your to-do list. Is not his happiness more important than having an orderly house? Also, doing your part and being a good wife will leave you with a peaceful heart&mind knowing that there is no one else your man would rather come home to.

Love is a multi-dimensional verb. It's being patient, kind, slow to get angry, not quick to judge, not envious or proud, it rejoices with good, and its not selfish. Love is something you give without expectancy of return. It is a gift. So take the challenge with me, try for one day to focus on doing loving actions, words, and/or gestures for those around you. Talk is nice, but love transforms.

4 fitnesses

Being fit physically is a beneficial thing, however to lead a healthy life you must also consider spiritual fitness, emotional fitness and mental fitness. All exist together to create a perfect harmony within us. When one area is lacking all areas experience strain. Unfortunately, in America we tend to emphasize on anything that is pleasing to the eye and steals our attention, rather then the more lasting and genuine development of our character. I have been caught red-handed in this dilemma myself-- pushing myself to work my body harder and longer, eating a restricted diet, shopping for the latest fashions, expending most of my energy on outward appearances. Though I felt exhausted from all the physical labor of keeping my body in submission, I came to realize that physical fitness is truly the easiest of the 4 arenas to achieve. Strengthening my biceps is much easier for me then disciplining my mind. Doing 200 crunches might build me a six pack but it wont build me integrity. I could do squats and lounges until the sun sets but I wont gain salvation.

Why am I bringing this up, you ask? I cant ignore the many circumstances I have encountered that have brought me back to this point. Whether it was working in a nursing facility and witnessing the frail bodies and traveling minds of the elderly, or sharing in the pain over the sudden death of a 'fit as a fiddle', 24 year old co-worker, or seeing how in an instant thousands of lives can vanish as two towers crumble to the ground.

In the Nursing facility I learned that the men who had served our country in the military were by far the most mentally sharp even at age 101! The discipline and focus that they had learned all those years kept them sane. Even though we have technology to help us move at a faster pace, it also acts as a disservice by spoon feeding us answers we once had to search for. I present a challenge, lets commit to not using technological advances for one week. Observe how many times you actually have to use math, pull out a map, or work on your penmanship...I know for me it's embarrassing. There's no denying the expression 'use it or lose it'.

And with the co-worker; he was one who had everything in the world's eye...he was tall, confident, muscular, handsome, appeared to have all things going for him...yet it was only that. Appearance. Not even 24hours had passed since we signed off with each other that night at work, when I received a phone call informing me that he had been pronounced dead due to heart complications in the small hours of the next morning. I don't know if he was prepared for death, but there was no choice. His passing definitely brought me to my senses. Someone I consider to be very wise once told me, " you have never really lived until you have been faced with death". This is where spiritual fitness lends it's hand to stabilize our lives. Death is one thing guaranteed in this life, and its something we all share a commonality in. The only difference between two souls are the choices and beliefs that determine the definition of death in one's life. With faith, death is but an entry in to true life, without faith death is your expiration date. ('Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see'.--Hebrews 11:1, NIV) Without faith your spiritual fitness is famished, which massively interrupts balance in the larger picture.

The Twin Towers falling on 9/11 released enormous out-pours of emotion in our homeland. Love and sympathy and many tears were sent from all states to support those who were lost, and for those who had lost. Cards, flags, pictures, bouquets and all remnants of memorabilia lined the blocks surrounding the devastating mountain of debris, twisted and tangled with brokenness. Emotional fitness can be quite the challenge for both men and women, but I can proudly compliment our nation, that on a day filled with such turmoil and terror Americans expressed emotion in a very refreshing way. Do you remember where you were on that fateful day? Do you remember the weeks, months and even years that came after that tragic day? I cannot forget walking the streets of lower Manhattan just 5 short months after the attack and experiencing the unity of those who lived and worked there day in and day out. Such tragedy for our nation also brought such unity and genuine comradery. The selfish pride that once chimed in America had now been brought to humility. Humility opens the door for relationship, and that was something that impacted me so greatly when I was there. I met top C.E.O.'s and convenience stand workers, firefighters and policemen, men, women, and children, and all were coming together as equals, each seeking and sharing comfort with one another. My lesson on emotional fitness is one I will never be able to overlook.

All in all, my challenge in life everyday is to live in balance, in health, and in love. Moderation is essential for true satisfaction. Though we have much opportunity for instant gratification these days, deprive yourself from it. Be present in everyday, live it being prepared if it's your last, and love the people around you---' act toward others as you would have them act toward you'...I guarantee you the 4 fitnesses will be then in perfect harmony.