bodysoulconnect

Warning! These Words Could Magically Improve Your Week

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:12:43 -0500

Warning! These Words Could Magically Improve Your Week:

You are the story you choose to tell – so start today by choosing better and more magical words that resonate with possibility. You get to tell it like it is – and how you want it to be!

"Earlier this year, Michael Pollan posted a request for reader’s rules about eating. Within days, he..."

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:18:00 -0500

“Earlier this year, Michael Pollan posted a request for reader’s rules about eating. Within days, he had received more than 2,500 responses. Here are some of Pollan’s 20 favorites…”

-

read the rest here - Michael Pollan’s Favorite Dietary Dos and Don’ts

My favorites are:

If you are not hungry enough to eat an apple, then you’re not hungry.

It’s better to pay the grocer than the doctor.

Never eat something that is pretending to be something else (artificial sweeteners, margarine, etc.)

Lots more good stuff in the list and of course, Dr.Mercola’s take on it afterwords. A good read.

Dr. Oz's 25 Greatest Health Tips - AOL Health

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:28:00 -0500

Dr. Oz's 25 Greatest Health Tips - AOL Health:

How sex, dental floss and belly laughs can make a good life great. Best-selling author Mehmet Oz, M. D., explains.

"You are more graceful in stillness than a thousand dancers in motion."

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:05:47 -0400

“You are more graceful
in stillness than a thousand
dancers in motion.”

- Daily Haiku on Love by Tyler Knott Gregson (via tylerknott)

This really fit my mood today so I had to share it here. Hope it inspires someone to turn it all off (including your thoughts) and just BE.

Yndico Is - A Book for Young & Curious Seekers

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:06:08 -0400

When I was a kid in Catholic school, you could say I was a curious seeker, full of questions about who we are, why we’re here, etc. Unfortunately, the only books that made their way to me were bible stories for kids and books about saints. Not very diverse back in the early 80’s.

Fast forward to 2009 and books for kids who are curious about their place in the world are much more interesting and far-reaching conceptually. I was recently given a copy of one such book called Yndico Is written by singer/songwriter/author Sandra Olajide. Here’s the summary:

Yndico accidentally causes a rip in the fabric of time and steps through to a dimension where past, present and future merge simultaneously. Will she find her way guided by the enigmatic Issy, a child from everywhen and the holder of incredible secrets and enormous powers? This bejeweled science fiction will sparkle your senses and ignite your imagination… YNDICO IS will set you free!

First, if I were a kid, I’d be pretty excited to become part of the Yndico-world. The colorful and energetic design, accompanying music, video and blog work together to bring this story to life. What the book lacks in length it makes up for in depth of subject matter - tackling a range of issues while keeping to the central theme.

That said, as an adult, I still like it. I’m hopeful the author has the next book of the series in the works. My one request is that Olajide take more time with the story, in terms of length. While the book is small and manageable, I’d like more detail to fill out the corners of the story. It doesn’t have to be a heavy-weight like Harry Potter, but a little more substance would do the story justice and create a richer, deeper experience.

The book is self-published and you can purchase it directly from the site or from Amazon (Collector’s Edition) .

Here’s a video from the site…

Caption: Yndico’s adventures are intertwined with philosophical and everyday life themes to evoke critical thinking, discussions and dialogue.

A Surprisingly Healthy Breakfast

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:10:52 -0400

Last night I got a sudden burst of energy and made a muffin recipe I’d been eying on Elana’s Pantry. I modified the recipe slightly by using 100% dark chocolate and a little raw honey instead of all agave… creating, in my opinion, a ridiculously decadent and rich treat full of healthy stuff (100% chocolate is GOOD for you). Here’s the list (the links are from Elana):

¼ cup coconut flour
¼ teaspoon celtic sea salt
¼ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 eggs
¼ cup grapeseed oil
¼ cup agave nectar (I used a mix of agave & raw honey)
1 ½ cups grated zucchini (do not pack down when measuring)
½ cup dark chocolate 73% (I used 100%)

Follow the instructions on her site - it’s super simple. The muffins are little, but sometimes great things come in small packages. Oh - have one with some sliced banana and tea..it’s a great combo. Enjoy!

3 Little Books with Big Impact

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:56:00 -0400

I wrote this post for our team blog at Thankfulfor but it feels at home here too. FYI, buying a book from one of the links below helps to support Thankfulfor! Read any of them? Which is your favorite? Any to add to the list?

thankful4:

They sound scary until you see their covers…

Today I want to introduce you to three little books that have big impact. Each of these authors approaches life’s big questions from different angles. Other than their small size what else do they have in common? All are easy reads, are deeper than they appear to be, make great gifts and have the potential to become a bedside favorite. I keep all three nearby so I can just re-read a page now and again.

The Meaning Of Lifeby Bradley Trevor Greive

Don’t let the title fool you into thinking this is some deep, heavy tome that would better serve as a door stop. Quite the opposite, this spunky little book is compiled of gorgeous and humorous animal photos with a few words of poignant commentary at the bottom of each. This is one of those books that makes you think - but forces you to laugh and enjoy the process, leaving the questions echoing in your mind to marinate on. It’s great for adults, teens, kids - anyone with a sense of humor, an appreciation for animals and a desire to challenge your own thoughts around the meaning of life.

Arriving at Your Own Door: 108 Lessons in Mindfulness by Jon Kabat-Zinn

Another little green book, also filled with beautiful nature images, but chock full of excerpts from Kabat-Zinn’s original work Coming to Our Senses: Healing Ourselves and the World Through Mindfulness. Each page has a numbered passage, a nugget of wisdom boiled down to it’s most simple meaning. I’ve savored this book for over a year now and never get tired of flipping it open to a random page, which seems to have an immediate calming effect. It’s also an Oprah favorite (apparently she’s given quite a few as gifts and has them in each bedroom for guests). Here’s one short passage to give you a taste:

#34 Dream Reality

We are caught believing in and living in a dream reality, invested in it emotionally, unwilling and unable to see through it because of our own personal attachment to the dream, especially if it seems a good one.

This Is Water: Some Thoughts, Delivered on a Significant Occasion, about Living a Compassionate Life by David Foster Wallace

Some of you may recognize writer/philosopher David Foster Wallace - this book distills what he believed to be his most important life lessons into a profound and humorous manifesto. I love the simplicity of this book on every level - from the plain white cover with just the title and a tiny goldfish in the bottom right corner, to the layout - just one sentence (short or long) per page. It’s a very quick read but powerfully written in a colloquial style that will challenge you from page 1. The major themes are How do we keep from going through life unconsciously, comfortably entrenched in habit? and How do we remove ourselves from the foreground of our thoughts and achieve compassion? Everyone who has ever been frustrated at the tedium of life after college should read this book.

"Now we’re starting to see that how you behave, how you think, your personal relationships,..."

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:07:00 -0400

““Now we’re starting to see that how you behave, how you think, your personal relationships, social interactions, environment, diet, stress levels, they all modulate the activities of your genes,” he said. “So what you think can change your genes and the structure of your brain.” Our relationship with time also affects our brains and bodies, because if you think you’re running out of time your biological clock speeds up, he says. Connecting with our souls through love, passion, kindness, joy and so on does more than any drug to improve our health, because it “optimizes and up-regulates genes.” Meditating helps with this, he says. - Deepak Chopra”

- Eastern philosopher stresses the biology of happiness - STLtoday.com

I’m going to see him speak tomorrow night - amped about it! Here’s a pic of my last encounter with Mr Chopra!

Loving my lunch today… sometimes simplicity...

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:36:19 -0400

Loving my lunch today… sometimes simplicity rules.

Spinach, hard boiled egg, avocado, cucumber, carrots, olive oil, lemon, grated ginger, dill, ground pepper

Clever idea - and stylish. Time to toss the old, beat-up plastic...

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:30:01 -0400

Clever idea - and stylish. Time to toss the old, beat-up plastic containers for some of these lunch skins.

alohanico:

Lunch Skins are reusable cloth pouches that are made from high quality, moisture-proof German fabric that can even be thrown in the dishwasher.

The food safe, grease-proof, and extremely durable bags come in a variety of colours and are a viable alternative to Ziploc bags, and less space consuming than Tupperware.

[swissmiss]

Productivity During Life Changes

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 20:22:00 -0400

The past two years have been life changing for me - quite literally. Changes in relationship status, home, job - almost every major area, causing me to sometimes feel like an untethered buoy just bobbing in the waves. I’ve had to regularly stop, find my center and my north, just to keep on marching day after day. During this time I learned quite a bit about productivity - or lack thereof - as my focus drifted here and there and hours and days slipped by unnoticed. During extended periods of change and to some extent, crisis, how you think about your time can be very important to how you feel about yourself and how you progress through the days. Here are a few things I’ve learned along the way.

1. If you need it, make time for an escape.
When a major change in your life throws you off-course, dig deep and figure out what you need to take care of yourself. Schedule the time and use it. This will vary from one person to another but during pivotal life changes, it’s critical to ask yourself if you need time away, time with loved ones or just time off. I waited too long, but finally took two weeks off from work, used every frequent flier mile I had to fly to Kauai and rented a small place on a beach by myself. I brought a few books to read - no car, no plan. I stocked the kitchen with healthy food, borrowed a guide book and just let the days take shape, reading a lot, playing in the waves, hiking, staring at the stars and playing with a local cat that wouldn’t leave me alone. I made room for tears, aha moments, new experiences and even made some friends. My details won’t be the same as yours - that’s the point. This was “me” time. Take your “me” time so that when you return, you feel ready to join the human race. Even if you’re not 100%, you’ll have begun the process.

2. Take your time with decisions.
Life changes can really screw with your emotions and decision making capabilities. It’s not a time to make rash decisions - in fact, even the simple ones can seem overwhelming. When decisions needed to be made at work, I found asking my team-members for their thoughts really helped me through. For bigger, personal questions that arise, take some time with them. Before bed, write yourself a note asking for the answer - then go to sleep. When you wake take some quiet time before you even get up, look at the paper and see if an answer comes naturally. Don’t get frustrated if it doesn’t come right away - give yourself time. Wait for those moments of stillness in yourself. Those can be the best times to find the answers.

3. Dial down the noise and get comfortable with quiet.
When life gets tough, it seems like most of us turn up the noise and look for distractions. Don’t do it. One of my best resources during my dark days was Tara Brach’s book Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life with the Heart of a Buddha. Through that book I learned that as uncomfortable as it is, if you create the quiet you need and dive into whatever the major changes in your life are, something remarkable can happen. You can come out on the other side, into the light, feeling lighter, happier (it’s a process - I highly recommend the book to work through it!). Creating some quiet is also key to staying on top of the day to day stuff. The more noise you create, the easier it is to let the little things slip and spin out of control, creating problems you don’t need.

4. Use lists.
I know, not everyone is a list-maker. But if you’re feeling distracted and unfocused, I recommend you get a little notebook or use your computer to create some lists even if it’s just temporary. Note - it will be tempting, but do NOT lump in the big-life stuff with the little daily stuff - that’s just asking for trouble! For myself, I used a small journal-type book next to my bed for the big-life stuff (when should I sell my house, where should I live, etc) - and went in there every night to write questions, answers and wax philosophical. For the daily, tactical stuff, I used a plain Mac TextEdit page and every week wrote, in list form, each day of the week and what I had to do each day. I added items to it each day - and most importantly - I updated it all day long everyday with accomplishments and other things I did. During this time, NOTHING WAS TOO SMALL for this list.

• Ate a healthy breakfast - check
• Took the stairs today instead of the elevator - check
• Worked a full day - check
• Called and took care of an outstanding billing issue - check
• Paid the rent - check
• Took my vitamins - check
• Talked to mom, twice - check, check

Not only did this system helped me get the day-to-day stuff done, but having the record there to look back on was a life saver. During major life-changes, our memories can completely check-out, causing us to lose track of our days, forget to pay bills & even look at the calendar, miss appointments and more. For me, being able to look back at my day or week’s events, no matter how mundane, gave me a sense of accomplishment and a desire to do more.

5. Put some sunshine in your list - literally and figuratively.
I found that on some days, I lived by my list, and could easily forget that the world existed. So, I started adding things to my list such as “walk to the library” and “have lunch outside”. I also added activities I enjoyed to the list. Since I get jazzed about editing photos and posting them, I added things like “redesign photo-blog”, “edit old kauai pictures”, “write blog post” to my list - just one a day or a few per week. For someone else this might be planting flowers, painting, turning on fun music and dancing, going to a concert, hitting baseballs or even cleaning out closets. Whatever floats your boat - force it into your list.

6. Know what you need and take care of yourself.
Changes, good or bad, can affect us in ways we never expected (and the people around us, which is an entirely different post). And as I’ve said, this is when it’s most important that we take care of ourselves from nutrition to exercise and mental health. Having outlets to talk about the changes in your life are hugely important to keeping yourself together day-to-day. Whether it’s a friend, therapist, family member, support group, spiritual advisor or some combination - use your support networks as much as you need. When I did this, some interesting things happened. First, I felt like I was able to talk things through, learn, grow and “get it all out”. All of this made me more able to “find my north” again and get focused. Second, setting up regular time to talk gave me something to look forward to, and knowing I had these outlets allowed me to put my thoughts aside when I needed to get things done. Third, over time, those discussions really opened my eyes and allowed me to appreciate life again! The more I talked about what I was losing, the more I could also begin to see what I still had and what I was gaining. Taking care of myself in that way was nurturing and also made me want to give something back.

These are just a few of the things I learned during my own life transition - I’m sure there are many more we could all share. One final note I’d like to mention is not to underestimate the power of gratitude, no matter what has happened in our lives. Along with my other lists noted above, I kept a gratitude journal. Every night I tried to jot down at least a couple of things I was grateful for, and it always surprised me that I had more than I thought. On any given day I can scan through previous days, and take stock of all the special people and events I’m fortunate enough to encounter in my life. And now that I feel I’ve come out (mostly) the other side, my journal is with me, reminding me to feel grateful for the entire journey. It also inspired me to build a free, online gratitude journal, called Thankfulfor, that anyone can use. If you need a lift, take a look at the public “stream of thanks” and then try to write a few things yourself.

Good luck on your journey.

The Many Uses of Apple Cider Vinegar

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:07:00 -0400

I’ve become a huge fan of Apple Cider Vinegar in recent months. I find it helps my energy level and alleviates my allergies (most of the time). Many people use it for such varied uses as weight control, acid reflux prevention, adding body & shine to their hair, a skin toner and more. Check out this long list of uses written by Yumi Sakugawa. I never knew it was a natural teeth cleaner! If you buy it, make sure you get a raw, unfiltered ACV. I buy BRAGG brand but I’m sure there are others out there too.

10 Green DIY Home, Health and Beauty Tips: The Miracle of Apple Cider Vinegar

by Yumi Sakugawa on Intent.com

Leading a simple life takes discipline from owning only what you...

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:18:24 -0400

Leading a simple life takes discipline from owning only what you need rather than buying everything you want. It involves keeping everything around you simple. Being a simple person seems less stressful than being complex and it shouldn’t take much to be happy: keep it simple. Simply said.

Posted by Thankful Notes at 22:53 Labels: Trait

(via Thankful Notes: Trait # 3: Simplicity)

29 Gifts

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:58:55 -0400

thankful4:

I was very inspired when I watched this video this morning, that arrived in my Ladies Who Launch email. In my mind, this notion of giving is directly related to gratitude. When we are feeling gracious, there’s an inner shift from being self-centered to outwardly focused. And when we are feeling depressed, forcing ourselves to think about who or what we are thankful can take us away from our own concerns and often provides us with what we are missing.

For some people, just thinking daily thoughts of gratitude may be enough. For others, writing a few words down each day helps better channel that energy. For Cami Walker, the best way to channel and express that energy is to give. When Cami was going through a particularly challenging time in her life, she choose to give small gifts to others for 29 days straight, and found that the more she gave, the more she received.

Each day began with a simple question: What can I give today?

Her experiment led to the creation of www.29Gifts.org, a global giving movement with several thousand members in 38 countries. Impressive to say the least. Here’s my favorite quote from her the video interview (above) with Daryn Kagan:

One of the suggestions from my friend was to give away something you feel you’re lacking or that you feel you can’t live without. For me at that time it was money and it hurt some days to go online to find a cause that I wanted to donate to, but I did it. And some days I gave cash to people on the street or would buy lunch for somebody. It was always at moments when I felt that sense of scarcity, I was like, I’m going to give money right now.

At 14 days in, she was astounded by all the great things happening to her, including no longer needing her cane to walk, money coming in again - things were turning around.

I’ve heard similar stories from people who have kept gratitude journals through the years. I’ve also read great stories about giving what you’re lacking (or think you’re lacking) in order to receive it. If you have an interesting story, send it to us at iamthankfulfor@gmail.com.

Cheers!

Living Social: Healthy Deal for DC

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:51:01 -0400

Live in the DC area? Check out this awesome, healthy deal from Living Social.

Harvest Delivered delivers freshly-picked fruits and veggies straight to your door (DC addresses only)! And with today’s deal, you can get 2 weekly deliveries for just $44 - that’s 50% off the regular price!

Details:

* Limit 1 per household
* Delivery to Washington, DC addresses ONLY
* Expires 03/22/2010
* Deal valid for 2 separate weekly deliveries of the “Abundant Harvest” medley only
* Will need to contact Harvest Delivered to schedule your order
* Deliveries are on Wednesdays through November and Sundays December through March

Today’s deal gets you two separate weekly deliveries of the “Abundant Harvest,” an assortment of just-picked, local fruits and veggies in quantities sufficient for 2-3 people to eat for a week. Last weeks delivery, for example, contained green beans, lima beans, leeks, eggplant, broccoli, tomato, cucumbers, cilantro, cantaloupe, and pears. It changes every week because it is only what’s seasonally-available and fresh-picked by local farmers.

Click here if you are interested in checking it out.

(Yes, I already signed up - it’s cheaper than a trip to Whole Foods!)

beautiful photo and words from...

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:20:25 -0400

beautiful photo and words from i-peach-feng-shui…

i-peach-feng-shui:

Healers have discovered that if you sit alone in a room with a pitcher of water you will be less lonely. Why? Perhaps because water holds energy and information?

Happy World Gratitude Day!

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:51:37 -0400

thankful4:

Gratitude is receptivity, the receptivity that acknowledges others’ gifts, others’ love and concern. Each time we express gratitude, we expand our hearts. - Sri Chinmoy

In 1965 the United Nations Meditation Group (begun by Sri Chinmoy, a writer & spiritual leader) created World Gratitude Day. During Thanksgiving dinner at the International East-West Center in Hawaii, attendees pledged to hold a Gratitude Gathering the following September 21st in their home countries. The purpose was to express appreciation to individuals and to groups that have made the world a better place to live - and it became an annual event. (source: holidayinsights.com)

Of course, you don’t have to wait for Gratitude Day each year, but what a nice way to raise awareness of the concept. It’s also a perfect day for us to start raising some awareness about Thankfulfor!

Thank you TechCrunch for featuring Thankfulfor today - great write up Jason.

Also thanks to Anangga Pratama, Orli from go2web20.net, and Jesse Oxford for their kind mentions and links!

So, especially today, what are you thankful for?

Einstein & The Universe

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 16:14:57 -0400

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.
-Albert Einstein

via What are you thankful for today? Thankfulfor.com

I love that quote.. not only because I think it makes us stop and think about the way we go through our daily lives, but because the person who said it, Albert Einstein, is a man most of us know primarily as scientist. But Einstein had many other sides that one can catch glimpses of through some of his quotes. Here are a couple of others to ponder…

“A human being is part of the whole, called by us ‘Universe’; a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest — a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness.

This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and affection for a few persons nearest us.

Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole nature in its beauty.

Nobody is able to achieve this completely but striving for such achievement is, in itself, a part of the liberation and a foundation for inner security.”

“The most beautiful and profound emotion we can experience is the sensation of the mystical. It is the sower of all true science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer wonder and stand rapt in awe, is good as dead.”

Ze Frank’s video on the Health Care Reform debate,...

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:27:00 -0400

Ze Frank’s video on the Health Care Reform debate, arguement, whatever you want to call it. If nothing else, this might give you a little laugh - and laughing is good for your health.

Creative Breakfast

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 11:07:47 -0400

A creative breakfast this morning!

2 boiled eggs sitting in the quarters of an avacado, covered with salsa, all on a whole wheat tortilla. I added a giant basil leaf from my basil plant - that was the perfect touch.

Not in the picture was the smoothie appetizer. The grapes make it very sweet so if you want to take it down a notch, add more greens or maybe some lemon.

a bunch of crisp red seedless grapes
big handful of spinach
small handful of sunflower kernals
water & ice
blended to smooth consistency in the vitamix!