Gift-giving 101
Filed Under Law of Attraction | Leave a Comment
Yesterday I received a lovely gift from someone, and I asked myself, “What is it that makes this gift feel so special?” I quickly realized that it was the spirit in which it was carefully found and given with gratitude and love. It truly inspired me to think of what is important this season: you, my family, and friends.
Everything is energy. That means even the thoughts you have when you are purchasing gifts, driving home in your car, and wrapping gifts, affect the recipient’s heart and soul. Imagine you can affect, uplift and inspire every person who receives a loving gift from you. All it takes is for you to simply appreciate the entire process, allow yourself to feel blessed by the act of making a contribution to another, and feel good about the fact that you have people to love and acknowledge in your life.
“A gift of love, when given, leaves the receiver in a place of gratitude and yearning to pay the feeling forward.”
Jennifer Hough
Abundance 101
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Do you want to be abundant in all ways? Simply want what you already have.
Look around you right now. Do you see everything you are blessed with, or everything you are missing? It actually requires exercising your “I see nothing but blessings around me, or opportunities to be blessed” skills. If you frame your life that way, then you will wake up every morning excited to discover the blessings or the opportunities.
Let’s say you’ve been talking about renovating your house, and now all you see is the ugly color of the wall, and the 60’s shag carpeting… and every time you see it, you cringe. That’s only because your perspective is that it needs to change. Perhaps it’s a blessing that you have a wall to paint and an opportunity to be creative, and a blessing that you have warm carpet beneath you. I could certainly think of worse things!
Another example: maybe you do this about your body, too? Just think: the shape of your body matters so little, compared to what that body has done for you.
So, how abundant are you? I have a challenge for you: generate a feeling of abundance that you can feel in your cells. Look around you, and collect as many examples of your prosperity as you possibly can. See if you can wipe the smile off your face!
Jennifer Hough
Lovable You
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All you need is love! Today (and tomorrow, and tomorrow), remember who you are – magnificent and adored in every way. See if you can cause someone to remember who they are by mirroring back their greatness. Remember:
• You have the ability to smile and change someone’s day.
• You have the ability to speak warm words to someone who needs uplifting.
• You have arms that have held your children, best friends and loving pets.
• You have eyes to see spectacular sunsets and love in another’s eyes.
• You can create anything you desire if you are willing to believe.
• You have the ability to soothe your hurts when you choose.
• You most certainly are capable of receiving some kisses and embraces that would melt a snowman.
Jennifer Hough
Learning to Let Go with Grace
Filed Under Entrepreneurs with a Conscience | Leave a Comment
Letting go gracefully is not something that is second nature to most. Accepting change and allowing change to happen naturally can be a tough, emotionally stressful process. So how do we teach ourselves to let go gracefully?
When most people find themselves in a new chapter in their life or are dealing with an unexpected surprise, they may already have the outcomes figured out, or expect things to go a certain way. Then, when (or if) the situation doesn’t turn out as planned, there is disappointment. This makes it tough to let go.
What we fail to realize is that change is constant and change is inevitable. It’s pretty much impossible to prevent because it’s something that naturally happens.
Before there is even the need for “letting go” (of something or someone), we have to let go of the expectations tied to it. How it will turn out or what it will all look like in the future is unknown, so why bother with creating the outcome? Let yourself be surprised about the what-ifs and just go with the flow. Take hold of opportunities that may arise from the situation and be thankful that you’re learning, growing, and living life… gracefully.
~Amanda~
Fitting In Fitness
Filed Under Fitmom Wellness | Leave a Comment
Today’s busy mom is somewhat of a superhero. She must move faster than the speed of light to keep up with the demands of it all, including being a mother, working, and fitting in the all-important yet often elusive task of managing her own well-being.
While I’m not sure how we actually manage, balance comes by making everything a priority when you are taking care of the needs of many. We often look in awe at those moms who seem to do it all effortlessly. Personally, I think we have all been misled by the image of the superhero mom. People often look at me and say, “Wow! How do you do it?” I’m always blown away by this and wonder if they would be disappointed if they could see what goes on in my home for a day.
The secret to being able to pull it off effortlessly is being willing to drop the ball sometimes and be perfectly okay with that. A balanced life comes with a great deal of effort, planning, and acceptance. The mom who gets up at 5:30 a.m. to run before her family wakes up is making a choice to put her health first. She likely went to bed earlier and doesn’t waste much time on things that don’t feed her in a positive way. On the days it doesn’t work out, she probably accepts it and evaluates how to improve next time – or not.
In my audio motivational seminar called “The Mommy Motivator” I talk a lot about “soul food.” Soul food helps us all weed out the activities that waste time and don’t enrich our life. The shows and information we often get caught up in can feed us not only in a positive way but also in a negative way, exposing us to toxic content like violence and mindless escapism. While many (including myself) will argue that we all need to escape sometimes, I have begun to challenge myself. I try to look at how I spend each minute of every day so I don’t come up with a long list of excuses why I don’t satisfy the areas of my life that will benefit me and everyone around me if I simply place my energy into improving them.
Whether it’s fitness, quality time with loved ones, or planning healthy meals, I encourage everyone to evaluate how much of your life is focused on soul food and begin weeding out the “hole” food.
Stay tuned for our audio CD “The Mommy Motivator”, available in the new year at www.newmom101.com.
Cheers,
Andrea Page
Thermography, Mammography or Ultrasound? Part 3
Filed Under Breast Health | Leave a Comment
ULTRASOUND is another common test. Some points to consider:
• Structural test, can pinpoint the location of suspicious area
• Uses sound waves with moderate contact
• High-frequency sound waves are bounced off the breast tissue and collected as an echo to produce an image
• Able to detect some tumors missed by mammography
• No data available on detecting pre-invasive tumors
• May be affected by hormonal influence due to the menstrual cycle, (i.e. cystic changes)
• All areas of the breast and axillary region can be analyzed
• Good for distinguishing between solid and fluid masses, which helps in investigating an area of concern due to findings from mammography, thermography or physical examination
• Average specificity 66% (34% false positive)
• Average sensitivity 83% (17% of cancers missed)
Next week, I will discuss thermography and its importance in breast health.
Dr. Alex Mostovoy
Who Gets the Credit?
Filed Under Dr. Zoltan Rona (MD) | 1 Comment
One of my breast cancer patients recently visited her oncologist for a routine follow-up examination. The specialist seemed very pleased with her progress, commenting that the patient was healing from her surgery and radiation far better than expected. Elated at this news from the usually grimly serious oncologist, the patient volunteered that she had been seeing a holistic medical doctor, had changed her diet, and was taking several vitamin, mineral and herbal remedies. At this news, the specialist turned noticeably red in the face and blurted out: “If you remain cancer-free, then who gets the credit, him or me?”
ZR: Neither gets the credit. Doctors, whether conventional (allopathic) or holistic (naturopathic), do not heal anybody. It is only the individual who can heal him/herself. If this patient remains cancer-free for the next decade or longer, she has only herself to credit. All the doctors did was to guide the patient’s energy to heal herself. The desire to be healed and the release of any resistance to so doing are the true anatomy of a cure.
Postpartum Depression and Community
Filed Under Mom Talk | 2 Comments
I am passionate about writing and speaking about postpartum depression, and I believe the underbelly of this issue is still not widely acknowledged. In my opinion, this underbelly is predominantly lack of community and support. I am happy to share insight based on my own experiences with this issue. During the holiday season, the pressure and expectations may distract us even more from the things that truly matter. I hope everyone gets the gift of slowing down and reflecting on what is really important.
Motherhood Inspiring Initiative: Lack of Community Can Be Life-Threatening
by Andrea PageIn the paper this week was yet another sad tale of a mother who lost her will to keep struggling; she attempted to kill herself and successfully drowned her children (2 years and 2 months). I know many of you may have the reaction: “I can’t hear any more!” Some may be consumed by the thought of the pain her children or even she went through, and lose sleep tonight. As most of you know I keep my heart wide open when I hear these stories. Yes, I do lose sleep and feel angry and frustrated. I waiver between anger towards the mother and the world around her who missed the events that led up to this moment. Who do we blame? Who do we hold accountable? I think many people know that she needed more support, but ultimately we generally go back to the personal responsibility philosophy of “she made her choices.” Who is really doing the choosing for this woman, and when is this choice truly happening? Let me explain.
About three months ago, when I was struggling with a colicky baby and work, I felt nervous that I could be heading for depression yet again. Knowing my history, I did some stuff:
I tried my hardest to nap during the day (sleep deprivation linked to postpartum depression… go figure).
I looked at my rushed postpartum diet, tried to change it and made sure I was taking my essential fatty acids.
Of course I was exercising.
I also picked up a book I have read numerous times, called Deadly Depression. It is about postpartum depression.
Leni, my children’s caregiver and my great friend, had seen the book lying around and one day she asked me about it. So I explained the book and more about my own experiences with postpartum depression. She was baffled. She said to me that she has heard of this but never in the Philippines, where she is from. I suggested that maybe people just don’t talk about it there. She said no way. In the Philippines when you have a baby, rich or poor, your community rallies around you. You don’t get out of bed for 30 days. People take care of you, and like in the old African proverb, the village raises the child. This is not to say that there are not problems or struggles. But what Leni stood firm on was that when a woman became a mother, she was not alone – no matter what.
So what I think when I read these stories and think of my own, is how we as North Americans have chosen a life of aloneness, which does us a great disservice. We are intolerant of one another; need more and more space; find it harder to live together; need bigger houses. We try to acknowledge our privilege. Sometimes I question whether having a big house hundreds of miles away from our family is privilege. In the pursuit of more, we seem to have less of what matters. It is a vicious cycle for the “have nots” who are driven to madness by messages of “Get more! Have more and then be happy!” while they are often in the midst of losing everything really important.
Regardless, motherhood should not be a solo journey. We all know how challenging it can be, even with all of our so-called ducks in a row. This week ask yourself and the women around you to try even harder to work together to build a community of love and support – not just for each other but even for mothers they don’t know. Ask them to consider and honor the work they put into mothering and caring for themselves. Ponder together what it would be like without any money for food, no partner or friend to pass the baby off to. Imagine a baby that never stops crying, an eviction notice, no diapers and no way out.
Encourage yourself and other women to redefine community daily. Make your grouping of mothers about honesty, about our humanness… instead of a “whose baby is doing what” session. Encourage reaching out to another mom who’s struggling and maybe even, some might say, “doing things wrong”. Offer a helping hand instead of standing in silent judgment.
Like any issue that has us step out of our protective bubble, this is sensitive stuff. I thank you for reading, sharing and trying. Feel free to use my story or share other stories, including your own, to open up lines of communication. A final thought keeps standing out: In the pursuit of more we have less of what matters.
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How Can You Help Create Community?
Share. Your story or someone else’s (with permission) can help a lot. Also share your things. We often hold on to things, thinking we might need them. If you are not using it, give it away to someone who needs it now. When you need it again it WILL come back to you – someway, somehow.
Observe. Be aware of yourself and others. Ask for help or offer it.
Reach out. Same as above, but be specific. Do you know a single mom? Do you have a friend who may need help? Offer to babysit or cook a meal for a mommy friend.
Mentor. We often think we have nothing to offer. There are many groups in the city that support moms in need.
Congregate on important issues. Put your mommy group into action. While you enjoy your weekly coffee, find a collective way to inspire community beyond the limitations of those lucky enough to be in your group. Volunteer together, do monthly food drives, sponsor a family. The list goes on.
Simplify your life and prioritize activities that are purpose-driven. This one is often the most difficult because we can justify almost anything. Create a mission statement that defines your life ideals. Then you can evaluate which practices support this mission and which do not. In the spirit of community we realize we have so much to offer when we stop filling our days with the unnecessary stuff.
Postpartum depression resources
In the U.S. and Canada, call toll-free: 1-866-363-MOOD (6663)
Cheers,
Andrea Page
Upgrade Your Holiday Baking
Filed Under Natural Cooking | Leave a Comment
Last night I made my annual batch of holiday gingerbread cookies. Mmmmmm… and my home still smells warm and spicy! I use an old recipe that my mom always made for me – not a “natural” recipe by any means, but with a few changes, it meets my standards well enough that I feel good about eating and sharing them.
There are always ways to make your favorite recipes more natural. Of course, more natural doesn’t necessarily mean fewer calories, less fat or nutritionally healthier, but choosing ingredients that are less refined and closer to Nature contributes to a more energetic wholeness. It’s all relative! But even organic sweets are still meant to be treats.
Here are some ideas of ingredient substitutions when making your favorite seasonal sweets:
• molasses —> blackstrap molasses (stronger taste but lots more minerals!)
• butter —> organic butter (not margarine! there’s nothing natural about margarine)
• brown sugar —> organic dried sugarcane crystals
• all-purpose flour —> kamut or spelt flour (whole wheat has been hybridized over several decades, and now has more gluten than it originally did – harder to digest!)
• white sugar —> organic sugar crystals… or honey or agave syrup (will make the recipe wetter, so you’ll need more dry flour to bind and might have to adjust baking powder etc. Experiment!)
• maple syrup —> organic dark maple syrup (the darker, the more minerals and flavor)
• cornstarch —> kuzu/kudzu
• artificial vanilla extract —> organic vanilla extract (contains alcohol) or flavor (no alcohol) [also applies to other flavors]
• cocoa —> organic cocoa or carob
• table salt —> sea salt
• refined cooking/baking oils (canola etc.) —> unrefined and refined oils that require refrigeration (some brands to look for at a health food store: Rapunzel, Spectrum, Flora, Omega Nutrition etc.)
Many other ingredients are available in organic versions – like spices, eggs, raisins, oats… and even the vanilla cookie crumbs, coconut and icing sugar I need to make the rum balls that Santa always used to request when he’d deliver on Christmas Eve.
Even after “going natural”, I knew that recipe was a keeper!
If you need an ingredient but can’t for the life of you think of what might be a better choice, you can always ask at your local health food store or poke around online for some ideas. I’m not sure I’ll be able to easily find organic rum for those rum balls…
This is just a starting point to get you thinking about those annual recipes that you know you’ll splurge on. Try upgrading them, even just a little bit…
Happy Holidays!
Rebecca
Optimal Zinc Doses for Anti-Aging
Filed Under Dr. Zoltan Rona (MD) | Leave a Comment
Dear Dr. Rona:
I am considering purchasing a multiple vitamin and mineral supplement containing 40 mg of zinc per capsule. The RDA is 15 mg, whereas this product supplies 40 mg/day. A couple of sources* I have read urge caution that going over the daily allowance may lead to a depressed immune system, poor wound healing, problems with taste and smell, skin problems, and lower healthy (HDL) cholesterol levels. The latter may lead to arterial aging, which seems to counter the “anti-aging” claim made in supplement advertisements.
I would be very interested in understanding why this supplement uses such a high level of zinc and be reassured that it is not a health risk.
* The RealAge Diet (2001: Roizen, MD), and Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy (2001: Willett, MD)
MJ
Dear MJ:
According to the latest pronouncements made by the reputable Food and Nutrition Board, zinc, when used orally, is safe in amounts that do not exceed the tolerable upper intake level (UL) of 40 mg per day. The RDA of 15 mg daily is only enough to prevent deficiency in the average adult and does not take other factors into consideration, such as stress, pollution, diet quality and activity level. One can make many arguments for an intake of 40 mg per day in adults for optimal health. The 15 mg per day level has more to do with deficiency prevention, not anti-aging or optimal health benefits.
There is some concern that doses higher than the UL of 40 mg per day might decrease copper absorption and result in anemia. However, there is some evidence doses of elemental zinc as high as 80 mg daily in combination with 2 mg of copper can be used safely for approximately six years without significant adverse effects. There is not a shred of evidence that doses of 40 mg per day have any deleterious effects.
Zoltan P. Rona, M.D., M.Sc.
Reference
Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine. Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 2002. Available at: www.nap.edu/books/0309072794/html/.
Age-Related Eye Disease Study Research Group. “A randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial of high-dose supplementation with vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, and zinc for age-related macular degeneration and vision loss.” AREDS report no. 8. Arch Ophthalmol 2001;119:1417-36.7304
Dr. Rona
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