follow up on food posts from a few months ago...

KF, AS, JL and VG post meeting

okay peeps, a slightly annoying video diary for you today, my first attempt.  my husband thought it sucked but, as i told him, i'm not hoping for an emmy nom.  but first we'll start with a story...

so awhile back i posted a you tube video that had gone viral in my hometown of winchester, mass, usa.  you may remember it - a TED talk presentation by robyn o'brien.  she schooled us all on the risks associated with artificial growth hormones and other synthetic food additives.  for me, this video was a call to action, and i know it was for countless others.  so a few friends - KF, AS and CZ - banded together to join the cause on an activist level.  we created a group called "FED UP:  a grass roots mission to improve food standards in Massachusetts".  this group is open to anyone who eats food and enjoys being healthy.  (so, yes, that means you!  ;-)

what is our mission?  pretty simple.  clean, safe food.  our typical gross-ery store shelves are oozing with artificial preservatives, synthetic coloring, genetically modified produce and hormone-enriched meat.  there's so much bad stuff out there.  unless we are aware of it, we purchase it b/c we assume that our fda would approve only food that is safe for human consumption.  sadly, this is not the case.  the US government's philosophy is that its citizens are guinea pigs.  then when a consumer grows a malignant tumor as a result of artificial dyes (true story), then they say, "oh, we need to remove this product from the market."  it's just not right.  unless we know what to look for, we are very easily fooled into thinking our food is safe.  example - i just learned that caramel color has ammonia in it.  effing AMMONIA!  it's in coke, cheap maple syrup and tons of other products.  "caramel color" sounds sweet and natural but it's soooooooo not.  who knew??? 

but let's get real - we won't eat a bag of M&Ms then grow 4 extra fingers, but when we spend a lifetime ingesting chemicals, it takes a toll.  i don't want to expire at 84 years old, sucking on a twizzler in my rocker, knowing that if i'd made better choices i could've squeezed out another year or two with my grandbabies.  you know? 

now i'm a pretty smart cookie, but i'll be honest, i didn't know about this until my bestie and fellow FED UP founder KF schooled me a few years ago.  now that i know better i make better choices.  and i'm thinking that if i got through 30-something years of life without knowing that artificial preservatives and dyes and gmos and growth hormones are dangerous, then there are probably lots of other people out there who could use a little food coaching, too.   so please join us in learning and educating.  let's start in our own neighborhoods!  talk about food - share what you know and ask questions.  there's no one more important than Y.O.U. and you know that old saying...  you are what you eat!

***********

the other component of our safe food mission is encouraging our law makers to ban food products that have not been proven safe for human consumption and to demand strictly honest labeling.  this is an enormous undertaking and big food corporations are a bunch of scary mother fuckers.  they're sinking tens of millions of dollars into campaigning against safe food campaigns.  so we've decided to start with a simple request of our massachusetts state government - ban artificial dyes in foods sold in the commonwealth.  manufacturers like kraft already make their mac-n-cheese with natural colors for their european market (there it's colored with turmeric and here in the states it's done with yellow 5 - gross); we are simply asking them to treat their massachusetts consumers with the same respect.  we deserve it.  we can demand it through legislation and we can send a message by not buying their chemical-ridden products.

so the good news is, we took our first step.  we snagged a vis-a-vis with our state rep jason lewis this week and this is the play-by-play.  (roll amateur video diary with a really unattractive launch photo - looks like it's time for someone to look into botox.)

so we go through security and stroll down west wing to jason lewis' office.  there's no a/c in the state house so we're sweating.  but happy.  (note KF's "what the fuck?" non-verbal as she gestures to one of about 14 men's restrooms along the hallway.  finally found one ladies room on the 4th floor.  it's a man's world!  HA!)

the welcome sign in jason's office.

so next we went into his office and had our meeting.  KF slayed it.  she's insanely knowledgeable.   she's a life-long health nut, tree hugger and overall smarty pants who enjoys reading case studies on harmful effects of preservatives as much as i enjoy watching the jersey housewives beat the crap out of each other at their kids' christenings.  AS presented the bill that the state of maryland proposed, a call to ban artificial coloring in public school lunches, which failed to pass but served as a monumental step in bringing food issues to light.  jason seemed pretty impressed with her resume and i think he was pretty stoked that we have AS and CZ, a couple of super brainy (and adorable) lawyer types who've been writing and reading legislation for years. 

so we think rep lewis is game and just might be willing to sponsor this legislation, providing we can come up with ample convincing proof that these dyes can be harmful to ingest.  our next stop is, like AS said, the department of public health (DPH).  she also mentioned that we're looking to connect with interest groups who are also focused on creating this type of legislation - power in numbers.  we're recruiting nutritionists and doctors and HMO reps, neighborhood organizers, passionate private citizens...  the list goes on and on.  the most valuable tool we have is community awareness, so please spread the world if this cause resonates with you.  we need tons and tons of help to make this happen and are calling on the public to help us in this action.  in a few days we'll be posting a list of winchester positions that need to be filled on our facebook page so please keep a look out and sign up!   if you want to start a local campaign in your town, let's do it together!

peace, love, gratitude,

v

gratitude

a totally self-indulgent post tonight but just can't resist...

i'm absolutely oozing with warm fuzzies for the extraordinary women of winchester for whom i am so grateful and with whom i am incredibly blessed to call friends.

i spent the evening dining and cocktailing at my amazing friend and neighbor's housewarming, a gorgeous party to celebrate her new home, brimming with love and warmth.  lots of friends came out to raise a glass.  chatter and laughter filled the rooms, creating a buzzing energy.

glancing around the house, i was struck by the physical beauty of the ladies attending.  one hot mamma after an other.  but even more tantalizing was their collective inner beauty.  genuine, compassionate, bright, sweet, vulnerable, happy, generous, honest...  they wore it on their faces tonight, as they do everyday.  every one of them, in their own unique style.   

these girls (oh, i know the world would have us be called women now, but to us, we'll always be girls) have become my extended family.  they help me care for my kids, they give me hugs when i'm down, they make me dinner when i'm sick, they make  me laugh til i cry, they inspire me to do more than i thought i could do, they teach me how to live a better life, they listen, they share, they love, they trust.  these terrifically genuine and caring women invoke in me a feeling of belonging that i've never felt before.  and i'm grateful.

as i walked home reflecting on the evening, i took a moment to thank the universe for placing me here in this little town and surrounding me with such extraordinary people - people who have filled my life with such joy and peace and goodness.  i looked up at the night sky, illuminated by the light of the big, fat, shiny, happy moon.  it was beautiful.  its glow heightened my senses.  the clicking of my heels on the concrete filled my ears.  the cheering of friends in nearby houses amplified as the bruins skated their way to another stanley cup.  the crisp night air made the skin on my arms tingle.  the smell of mountain laurel filled my nose.  my heart felt light and my eyes opened wide.  my lips stretched into a wide grin.  i had to stop for a minute and take it all in.  i stared at the moon, framed between two huge oak trees, and watched it smile down on me.  i took a picture in my mind, memorizing the feeling of being alone but not lonely.

i planted my life here seven years ago and more than ever i feel the tremendous strength of my growing roots.  i feel alive here.  i feel hopeful.  i feel connected and inspired.  there is nowhere on earth i'd rather be.

i effing love this town. 

peace, love, gratitude,
v

moth

i left a coat outside overnight.  today i brought it back into the house and attempted to hang it up when a very large moth flew out at me, totally freaking me out.  i was gagging, squealing, gyrating, waving my hands around wildly...  all sorts of nonsense.  (honestly, i'm squirming now just writing about it.)  i can't help it.  certain bugs just gross me out.  i'm okay with worms and ants, but spiders and moths send me into a dither.  i don't want them touching me or invading my 18" personal bubble.  blahhhhh!

i hate to kill any living thing.  while mosquitoes, fruit flies, green heads and stink bugs must be stopped at all costs, there are lots of creepy crawlers that are worth stepping around on the sidewalk.  as much as i'm repelled by them, i trap house spiders in cups and toss them outside.  same for mice, bees, and even, on occasion, houseflies.

but when i'm caught off guard and in a frantic state of crazy, my first panicked reaction to an icky critter is total annihilation.  so this morning when i spotted the winged intruder nearby, i immediately tore off my flip-flop and was about to smash him into the wall when i got a good gander at my victim.  the thing's head was enormous.  like, huge.  and not entirely ugly.  i could see his eyes.  kind of peaceful looking.  his wings were brownish white with spots - mildly attractive, i mean, for a disgusting moth.  in my head i thought, this little guy has put a whole lot of time and effort into his life.  from larva to caterpillar to chrysalis to this mildly attractive butterfly knock-off.   at once i could see the miraculousness of his life.  who am i to end it?

as repulsed as i was by him, i just couldn't squash him.  i thought of what PG said yesterday in her story... we have the power, we are all saviors.  so i trapped him gently in a tissue, feeling him beat his wings desperately inside the paper all the way to the porch where i tossed the whole bundle of tissue and flapping insect into the sky.  then i ran back inside the house, slammed the door shut and gagged again.  

here is my plea to the universe:  i will do my best to not kill your nasty insects if you will kindly do your best to keep them out of my house.  and my car.  and my coats.  and away from me in general.  deal?

peace, love, gratitude,
v

that's a moth's face.  again, just looking at it makes me feel like something's crawling up my leg, but it's a very developed face.  i don't think i'd feel good about splattering it with a flip-flop.

little voice

Went to dinner last night with the whole family.  My 6 year old PG was coloring and writing in her workbook Fun Eco Activities while we were waiting for our meals.  One page is titled Tell a Story and is followed by the prompt, "My ideal world is a place where..."  This is what she wrote:

My ideal world is a place where...  every thing is balints and a place to live and crechers geting ectstingct.  we can help the animles and Plants.  we have all the Power in the world with every thing we have.  every thing elts dos not.  we can be save yours to the world and Im a save your.  If we do not tacke car of the erth the erth will fiht back. 

A true product of a Montessori education, PG was inspired by her week at nature camp and the baby bunnies living under a hosta bush in our back yard.  I thought it was beautiful and asked her if I could share it on my blog.  She felts excited and very proud.  Her words come from her heart, which makes me feel excited and proud, too.

Our children want so desperately to live in a place where they are safe and the plants and animals that give them so much joy and comfort are safe.  The little ones today are absolutely passionate about the health of this planet.  It makes me want to work harder to improve the Earth's condition so I can leave it better than I found it.

Our children are pretty amazing teachers.

Peace, love, gratitude,
V

Baby bunnies in our yard.  They're about the size of a peony.  And they're reasons I decided not to treat the grass with chemicals this year... and won't ever again.  A worthy decision!  They're so cute!!! 

Took these photos through my family room window b/c I didn't want to scare the babies.  Seriously, could he be any cuter??? 

a quick thought after yesterday's loooooooong one

We are here for a purpose.  To challenge, to struggle, to fail, to figure shit out, to overcome, to accept, to love, to balance karma, to enlighten, to evolve.  Each action is a process with no beginning and no end.  A state of constant change.  Even the Universe (God) is evolving.  No one and nothing is exempt.  Step up to it.  Embrace it.  Become it.  You will not be disappointed.

Peace, love, gratitude,
V

soul level

I want to start by saying that I asked the main characters involved in the this story if I could share it and they were all for it.  So here goes...

I met my husband at a "Cuban Havana" party on a Friday night in Boston back in 2001.  Out of the corner of my eye I saw this guy (my future husband) bee-lining towards me.  He looked like a mash up of Scott Bakula from Quantum Leap, Mitt Romney and Mr. Big from Sex in the City.  "Big" (as my girlfriends called him and sometimes still do) swooped in from behind and nuzzled his nose in my neck, then got right in my grill with blinkie love eyes.  I thought he was pretty intense, but I love engaging with randoms so I indulged.  He was all smiles and actually really nice.  He had what I call "quiet confidence", which I immediately tested:

Big:  Hi, I'm Big.
Me:  Hi, I'm Vanessa.
Me:  How old are you?
Big:  41.  How old are you?
Me:  25.  You married?
Big:  No.
Me:  Divorced?
Big:  Yes.
Me:  Kids?
Big:  Yes.
Me:  How many?
Big:  One.
Me:  Girl or boy?
Big:  Girl.
Me:  How old?
Big:  8.
Me:  Hm.  Okay, my ride's here!

(The fact that these are the very challenges that hovered over much of our relationship is not lost on me.  But more on that later.)  Before I dashed, Big asked me for my business card, which I politely gave him.

He called my office at 9am Monday and told me he couldn't wait for the weekend to end so he could ring me at work first thing Monday.  (Did I mention he was a little intense?)  I thought he was sweet.  He asked me for dinner and I reluctantly went on the date, figuring I'd see him just the once and go back to being happily single.  Surprisingly not the case.

Thank goodness for Big's tenacity.  Because of it I was able to see that he's a terrific guy.  Relaxed, smart, positive, supportive, a bit of a know-it-all, but generally a goodie.  As his buddies say, he was born with a horse shoe up his ass.  Things just go his way.  I think it's b/c that's exactly what he expects.  You know that book The Secret?  Well, this guy innately has a deep understanding of the Law of Attraction.  An unrelenting optimist.  A team player with a can-do attitude.  A big picture guy with an endless supply of patience.  Just the person I needed in my life.

Eventually I met his family.  First his adorabibble daughter, then his adorable (very preggie) ex-wife and her adorable hubby and several months later his numerous intimidating siblings and parents.  I was 25.  This was a lot for me.  But everyone was nice and my expectations in the relationship were...  well, temporary.

That is until they were permanent.

Big popped the question during a trip to Ireland and the next thing I knew I was setting myself up to be an older man's second wife.  (HUH?????  My poor Mother.)  I occasionally heard mutterings from various people like "trophy wife" and "child bride", which were a little horrific.  Okay, maybe a lot horrific.  Okay, yes, soul-crushing and humiliating and tantrum-inducing and embarrassing and irritating and... need I go on?  It's not fun to be judged and belittled.  I felt like every time we went out people were sizing us up or trying to figure out how we were all connected.  My least favorite question was, "Oh, are you the nanny?"  Mmmmm...  that would be NO. 

In my insecurity and immaturity (Disclaimer: I was immature in an inexperienced way,  not in an irresponsible way; I simply had not the emotional GPS to navigate this particular course in life.), I started freaking out.  Younger woman, second wife, step-mother... this was not the way I'd envisioned my life.

Our engagement was a real struggle for me.  We weren't in a casual, easy relationship anymore.  This was serious now, with serious boundary issues and serious jealousy.  I wouldn't be the first woman he'd see walk down the aisle in white.  We wouldn't enjoy his first honeymoon.  We wouldn't buy a starter home together.  I wouldn't give him his first baby.  We wouldn't share in the naivety of being parents for the first time.  Oh, and I'd have to spend the next decade being called Big's ex's name by accident.  It's tough to be #2. 

Some relationships are doomed to failure, specifically one between a first wife and a second wife.  It's pretty much universally accepted that there's something totally creepy about the first wife and the new wife being chums.  Or so one would think.  But amazingly, #1 and I got along great, at least before the engagement.  When the reality of my permanency set in, so did the conflict.

As much as I wanted everything to be smooth and above-bar, I couldn't get past the suckage of my "secondary" situation.  The Number Two Blues I called them.  I was just emotionally under-equipped to deal.  #1 and I underwent a few years of awkward moments, hurt feelings, disagreements and pissing on each others' feet in attempt to stake claim on our respective territories.  I think we wanted to like each other.  But it's so hard to find peace in a divided family.   How do you share something so sacred?  Start a new family when one already exists?  I can't speak for #1, but, bottom line for me, I felt like an outsider walking into my own marriage and it tore me up. 

Over time, the push and pull between #1 and I neutralized and we were able to bear each others' company again.  The peace was a result of efforts on both parts, hers and mine.  I may be wrong, but from my perspective it seemed that the two of us were exercising some demons - separately together - and the result was an unspoken truce.  Always growing, always evolving.  (Also, I think my having a bunch of babies helped.  Kids were my ultimate distraction from nagging insecurities.)  Eventually, we found a way to share life comfortably in this modern family.  Eventually, we were able to gently talk about the bitterness we each felt.  Eventually, through laughter, honesty, and maybe a few tears, we found a safe place to come together and be friends.  Yep.  Friends.  Friends with the potential to be dear friends.

When I asked #1 if it'd be okay to share our story on my blog, she said she thought it'd be valuable to share how a challenging relationship can function on a high level.  She said, "I think we so often act / act out as we think others expect us to - falling into typical stereotypes.  Any opportunity to break that cycle should be shared." 

*********

So a couple of months ago #1 and I were emailing back and forth and I'm like, "One of these days I want to tell you about a past life regression that I had that involved you."  About 30 seconds later my phone rang.  ;-)  Here's what happened....

I went to Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY last July for a weekend workshop with Dr. Brian Weiss.  He's an Ivy League educated, world renowned psychotherapist who specializes in past life hypnotherapy.  He's been on Oprah a bunch of times and wrote a slew of really inspiring books about past life regression.  He's the balls.  Love him.

During each of his workshop lectures, Dr. Weiss guided the group through a hypnotic regression.  During one of the regressions #1 popped into my head.  My immediate reaction was Oh, I don't want to deal with this old drama now, I'm over this.  But Dr. Weiss said, "Take note of anyone you see.  Acknowledge them.  They're there for a reason."  So that's what I did.  It felt like #1's higher self wanted to connect with mine.  I felt less separation between us.  I let the image ride out and was totally overwhelmed by what I discovered.

Dr. Weiss encouraged us to visualize ourselves wrapped in beautiful light.  I found myself in a bubble of sorts.  The bubble was a womb and I was a fetus.  And I wasn't alone.  #1 was wrapped up with me.  Twins!  We were these tiny little human beings curled together in our mother's womb and we were surrounded by beautiful, loving light.  Dr. Weiss guided us to another place in that life and I found the two of us playing together outside.  We both had long brown hair tied back with ribbons and we were holding hands.  I was consumed by love - by her love.  It was amazing. It was healing.

I had other regressions that weekend which taught me other things, but this particular one induced a radical shift in the way I thought of my relationship with #1.  We have a relationship that is our own, apart from husbands and children.  It is possible that our connection spans lifetimes.  I am here on earth for her as much as I am here for anyone.  We are tethered together in the same way that I am tied to Big, to my BFF, to my sisters and my parents.

This regression helped me to diminish the challenging circumstance of our knowing each other in the here and now and see her has part of my eternal soul family.  We're just playing our roles this time around.  Regardless of what we feel for each other at any given moment on Earth, at a soul level there is nothing but absolute pure and beautiful love.  And if that's the way our perfect souls feel about each other, then why should we waste our time on Earth futzing with all these other emotions?  Why not just skip to the good stuff?

I shared a quote from Dr. Weiss' book Only Love Is Real yesterday:  "Measure time, if you must, in lessons learned, not minutes or hours or years.  You can cure yourself in five minutes if you come to the proper understanding.  Or in fifty years.  It is all the same thing."  I could've spent fifty years singing The Number Two Blues.  Fortunately for me, a weekend trip to Rhinebeck, New York provided me an opportunity to heal in five minutes.  The lesson is all the same.  But if you are open to healing on a higher level, you can sure cut out a lot of bullshit.

Through life's challenges, we are able to truly and deeply understand its goodness - and be grateful for it.  Thank you for one of the biggest lessons of my lifetime, #1.  ;-)  xoxoxoxox

Peace, love, gratitude,
V

tiny shifts

This is part of a series of blog posts called "tiny shifts" - excerpts from books / magazines that I've read that seemed to alter the basic foundations of my thinking.  Enlightenment in action.  If this stirs you, please feel free to share in the comments.

I love the books written by Dr. Brian Weiss.  They're easy to read and brimming with beautiful messages.  In just a couple of lines, he changed the way I thought about who and why I am - and about how to heal myself.  I especially like the first line (bold print).  This particular idea altered my perspective on patience. 

 From Brian Weiss' book "Only Love is Real" (pages 66-67)...


Measure time, if you must, in lessons learned, not minutes or hours or years.  You can cure yourself in five minutes if you come to the proper understanding.  Or in fifty years.  It is all the same thing...  

Thoughts create the illusion of separateness and difference...  See that everything is interconnected and interdependent.  See the unity, not the differences.  See your true self.  See God... 

Healing will occur.  You will begin to use your unused mind.  You will see.  You will understand.  And you will grow wise.  Then there will be peace...

Ask yourself these questions:  What's to lose?  What's the worst that can happen?  Am I content to live the rest of my life this way?  Against the background of death, is this so risky? 

peace, love, gratitude,
v

brian weiss and me

unplug and unwind

life is coming at us rapid fire these day.  everything's fast.  everyone's impatient.  we want immediate gratification.  our families, our bosses our peers expect more from us than ever before.  is it better?  is it worse?  is it healthy?  is it detrimental to our peace?  IS IT WORTH IT?  how do we detox?  do we want to?  even if we don't want to unplug, should we pull it for our own good?

well, i have mixed opinions on this stuff, as, i'm sure, do you.   i've got a love-hate relationship with technology and progress.  so day-to-day, there are some things that i try to do to keep it real and keep the multi-tasking to a minimum.  i've outlined some of them below.  most i practice faithfully, but some are a struggle.  change doesn't happen overnight, but with patience and commitment, you can tame your addiction and return to the living.  here's a reasonable list of things you can do if you are getting swallowed up by your own to-do list.   

take care of Y.O.U.
do everyone else's needs come first?  forget everyone else for just a minute.  if you are sick or tired or dead, how much help are you to everyone else?  zero.  so hydrate.  eat.  sleep.  exercise.  love.  be loved.  thank your strong body for propelling your though this life.  when your basic needs are satisfied, then you can tend to the rest.  

savor your food
this sounds so basic.  savoring your food not only helps you to BE present in the moment, but also aids in digestion and helps in controlling cravings and losing weight.  by chewing, slurping, licking and swallowing with consciousness and intention, you are allowing your mouth to fully and completely experience the food you are eating, thereby satisfying your craving... and your sacral chakra (chakra & awe).  mmmm....  yum.

say no more
saying no to somebody who really really really wants you to say yes is hard.  but possible.  if you find at the end of your day that you feel like a tube of toothpaste getting rolled and squeezed and manipulated to suck out the last drop, something's gotta give.  so let it go.  you will not disappoint anyone.  your life is your own to live - not someone else's to delegate.  this includes your children, your peers and your pet projects.  say no so you can say yes to tranquility.

slow down the pace
think turtle speed.  plan out your day so that you are not racing from point a to point b.  that may mean better prioritizing your tasks or rescheduling appointments so they're spaced better.  what's the rush?  stretch out your activities.  get real.  you can only do so much with your day so change your self-expectations.  most likely the only one putting pressure on you IS YOU.  people will understand that you need to rearrange your calendar - especially since they're probably whacked out on a crammed schedie, too.

under-schedule yourself and your family
if you think you're stressed out trying to get your kids to school, lessons, practice, clubs, appointments...  just think how they feel.  i'm not an expert, but this i know - my kids are happiest when they're playing in the backyard or doing something simple with me.  a 5 year old does not need to be in a scheduled activity every day to be competitive or confident or entertained.  your child will learn more playing freely with friends or shadowing you than he will in a lesson with a relative stranger and a bunch of kids who are being programmed to be "a winner".  there are more important things in life than beating out the competition.  in fact, in the grand scheme of spirituality, competition scores pretty low. 

when you are rushing around and dumping all of your energy into maintaining a busy family schedule, you are most likely not making time to BE present.  if you simply cannot work yourself out of being over-scheduled, try turning off all the electronics while you're in the car.  at least you'll have a little less white noise to contribute to the craziness.   

turn off your mobile
okay, get ready for some tough love.  cell phones are the devil's work.  they're making people insane.  we know it, but we're totally addicted to our gadgets, our apps, our connection.  they call if "crackberry" for a reason.  if you are looking to BE, this is an idea that is important to integrate into your thinking:  you are not on-call. 

what is more important than BEING present at any given moment?  why does a incoming caller's agenda trump yours?  put that phone away - have somebody pry it from your tight white fist if you must.  don't walk around with it all day.  don't play with it while you're hanging out with friends or family.  store it in your locker at school.  turn it off and leave it in your handbag if you're on a date.  if you're worried about your kids at home with the sitter, excuse yourself half way through your event and check for messages.  here's a big one - if you're at a restaurant, do not leave it on the dinner table next to your bread plate.  if you don't want to do it for yourself, do it for your friends and family - leaving that dirty phone on the table while you are enjoying time with others is a social faux pas, it's disrespectful to the company you keep and it serves as a distraction to your ability to BE where you are.

that cell phone is a constant reminder that somebody somewhere else needs you.  while this can be a comforting ego stroke, it is counterproductive to your efforts in BEING present in any particular moment.

tell yourself every day that you deserve good things
when you know that you are worthy of love and goodness, WHICH YOU ARE, you will know that you deserve to be healthy.  health isn't just having bubblegum pink lungs and a heart that beats 80 times a minute.  it's living life at a pace that allows you to find a little peace every day.  

maybe the things i've listed above are not things that you are ready to do, or care to do.  if this is the case, and you are really committed to BEING instead of just living, you need to consciously remove yourself from the chaos that you are fostering.

for an hour or two every day, turn off the tv, put the phone in a drawer, put down the book, get away from any reminders of the stuff you have to do.  be quiet.  if you can, take a hike in the woods, sit in the park or take a walk along the beach.  if you are trapped at home with kiddos, put them to sleep or set them up in their rooms with some toys and a story on tape then go hide in your bedroom.  now listen.  maybe you hear birds or wind or rustling leaves.  maybe you hear silence.  with time and patience, you will begin to hear a very familiar voice - your own saying thank you.

peace, love, gratitude,
v

do one thing

how many things do you do at once?  how many things are you thinking about at any given moment?  what would happen if you focused on just one thing at a time?

example.  you are sitting somewhere reading this blog.  you are also having a snack, parenting, watching TV, cooking dinner, checking your texts, listening to the radio, flipping back and forth to facebook or email or whatever.  just for today, try shutting down.  prioritize.  forget multi-tasking.  give your best self to each activity you do, whether it's driving your car or folding your laundry. 

**you don't need to do it all - and certainly nobody expects you to do it all at once.**

BE in each moment and give yourself to each movement totally and completely. 

if you are with your friends, BE with your friends.  leave your cell phone in your handbag or your pocket.  whatever message is coming in can wait.  don't let your friends feel like somebody's phone call or text is more important than them.

if you are with your kids, BE with your kids.  the emails, the to-do list, the phone calls can wait.  enjoy the beauty of the little people you created and revel in their laughter.  see how welcoming they are to your full attention and love. 

if you are at work, BE at work.  give your best effort to the project at hand and break when you need to nourish your body or give your mind a healthy rest.  take note of how much more productive you are when you dive into your job completely and shut out the riff-raff. 

if you are driving, just drive.  turn off the radio, turn off the phone, feel the steering wheel in your hands, watch the road, enjoy the view.  give your mind a rest.  feel the silence and take a deep breath.  a quiet, warm car is one of my favorite places to be.

notice how different each activity feels and how much better you perform it when you cut out the white noise. 

if you want to take it a step further, take 5 or 10 minutes to sit and BE.  do it now if you can.  turn off the electronics.  stop talking.  stop thinking.  stop analyzing.  stop worrying.  quiet your mind.  plant your feet firmly on the floor.  feel how your body is connected to the earth.  you are exactly where you are supposed to be.   

peace, love, gratitude,
v

short and sweet

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.  Matthew 6:34

How true.