Who says table salt has to be bad for you?

Some use it for eating but did you know you can use it for other things too? Oh yes, read on and see…

Here are 4 things you can do with salt that won’t affect your health

1. Remove stubborn grease stains – Do you have stubborn grease stains in your kitchen? Try sprinkling some salt on the stain, scrubbing with a sponge and watch the stain disappear.
2. No more stinky hands – Remove the smell of garlic or other spices with salt! Moisten some salt with vinegar and rub on hands to remove offensive odors
3. No more icy doorways – Keep a container near your front door, sprinkle on your front steps to avoid and slips and falls.
4. Seal in your tie-dye – After creating your tie-dye masterpiece, combine 2 cups of warm water with 1/3 cup of salt and dip your creation into this mixture. Let sit for 20 minutes and the colors will not run in the wash.

Your annoying alarm rings.  You drag yourself out of your warm and cozy bed.  Not feeling at all rested.  Not really ready to take on the long day ahead, but moving in spite of it all.  You mosey into the bathroom.  Turn on the terribly bright light.  Wipe the sleep from your eyes and gaze into the mirror.  And you wonder.  “What has happened to me?”  “Where in the world did those dark circles under my eyes come from?”  “Good grief, there are bags under those eyes, too!  Geesh.”  My skin is less than youthful.  Wrinkles.  Spots.”  “And, if I don’t get some energy soon, I will never make it as a mom!”  “But, here I go.  Dragging through another day.   Hope I can squeeze in a nap later.”  Blah, blah, blah.

Ever feel this way?  I think we all have at some point.  But, guess what?  It doesn’t have to be this way!  You can feel better and, yes, even look better, no matter your age.  It’s time to give your kidneys some love!

Did I just say “kidneys?”  Yep.  Sure did!

Have you ever really thought about your kidneys?  (Probably not.)  Do you even know where they are in your body?  (They are in your lower back, on either side of your spine.)  Most people don’t give their kidneys a single thought until they have a problem with them.  (Like kidney stones.)  

Well, right here, right now, we are going to talk about how to nourish these amazing organs to improve your overall health!  (Yes, I said “amazing!”)  You will feel better and look better if you pay attention to these little bean-shaped wonders!

Your kidneys distribute energy throughout your body.  If your kidneys are depleted, blocked, or undernourished, your quality of life suffers.  Period.  Kidneys filter out chemicals and electrolytes from the bloodstream and maintain the acid/alkaline balance in your body.  Disease grows in an acidic body, so you want to keep your kidneys healthy so they can help keep your body in an alkaline state.  Kidneys are in charge of releasing toxins from your body.  If they become blocked, then toxins are released through your skin (sometimes known as your “third kidney.”)  So, if you have skin issues, including dark circles under your eyes, skin eruptions, and more, it’s time to love your kidneys.  Ear problems are contributed to blocked/depleted kidneys.  Urinary issues are kidney-related.  Most sleep problems are kidney-related.  See what I mean?  Lots of problems can be directly related to your kidneys!

Overindulging in food and drink causes kidney problems.  Eating too much animal protein, processed flour products, and simple sugars will cause kidney issues.  Yes, this is basically our Standard American Diet (SAD diet).  Cold foods and cold drinks hurt the kidneys.  In fact, if you want to experience kidney stones (she said sarcastically), eat lots of protein, fats, and cold foods!  That’s a guaranteed combination for kidney stones.  You will harm your kidneys if you live against nature (staying up too late and not allowing your kidneys to recharge overnight, in a deep sleep), if you drain yourself of positive energy (stressed out, overwhelmed), and if you fail to nourish yourself properly.

So, what can you do today to begin to really love your kidneys?  First of all, commit to going to bed at a decent hour tonight.  Before 11 pm.  You need to be in a deep sleep by 2-3 am for your kidneys to replenish themselves most effectively, and it takes a few hours for you to get there.  Remember, being in tune with nature is important for your kidneys, and all your organs.   The worst thing for your kidneys is being up in the middle of the night.  Nourish yourself with whole grains (like brown rice or quinoa) and fresh, raw veggies.  Enjoy warm foods like soup and hot tea.  Drink room-temperature water (add lemon for some zing!).  Stop eating three hours before bedtime.  Your body repairs itself during sleep, and your tummy needs to be empty for this process to be efficient!  And, give yourself a kidney massage each day.  Just reach your hands behind your back, and with firm pressure, rub your kidneys for a couple minutes.  They will appreciate the energizing stimulation!

Now, don’t get overwhelmed with all this kidney love!  Just start with a step.  What one thing can you do today to nourish your kidneys?  Go to bed early?  Replace your soda with water today?  Enjoy some warm and hearty brown rice?  Snack on kale chips (Google it…you can make them EASILY, and they are delish!).  Your body will thank you.  

With consistent effort directed towards your kidneys, one morning you will wake up feeling energized!  You will skip to the bathroom, look in the mirror, and say, “Wow!  I actually look GOOD!  Those dark circles are disappearing.  I even look younger!   And, I am ready to tackle the day.  Bring it on!”  

Relationships are a place that we go to give and share.  It is so important that you inspire your child  to fill themselves up with all the goodies:  like love, respect, trust, patience & forgiveness and more, so that they can give and share themselves with others.  If they aren’t continually giving themselves these things, they won’t be able to give these to others on a consistent basis.  You might be reading this and saying, but they are only a child.  By starting at a young age, you are helping them to believe that they are more then enough, before limiting beliefs of their self worth start creeping in.  You are also teaching them to recognize that they are already Shining in different ways!

I recently watched the movie, “The Help.” Actually, I watched it a couple of times, as I really loved it!  I don’t know if you saw it, but in the movie there was a woman named Aibileen who is a maid, a wise, regal woman raising her 17th  child.  She is devoted to the little girl she looks after, though she knows both their hearts may be broken.  She says to the little girl on a regular basis, “You is Kind, You is Smart, You is important!” The little girl continually repeats it back to her.  Near the end of the movie the little girl could recite what she had told her all by herself.  How beautiful is that, for your child to continually hear things like this?  Children are like sponges, and soak up everything that we do and say.

Make up or use affirmations that your child can easily say and start to remember.  By introducing your child to affirmations, it will help them to feel that they are Enough!  Personalize them for each of your children depending on their age, their level of vocabulary and their unique qualities.  Here are some:

I love myself.

I am happy.

I am filled with joy.

I am kind.

I am smart.

I am important.

I am loving and share myself with others.

I am loveable.

I am blessed.

God loves me and I love him.

I am safe.

I love my mom, my dad, my sisters, brothers, etc. {tailor it to them}

I am grateful for _____. {Each day have them name something different}

I can do ______. {If they are learning to tie their shoes, etc. have them repeat, this one}

I am kind to others and they are kind to me.

I am helpful.

I am a good listener.

I am a sharing girl/boy.

I play well with others.

I love eating things that are good for me.

I love my body.

Write each one out on an index card, get the bigger ones.  Write in black magic marker large enough for them to see.  Make a game out of it every morning, by turning them over so that they can’t see which one they are choosing. Then have them say that one and give them examples of how they can be more like that.  As they get older ask them how they can be that way more so.  At the end of the day, before they go to bed, ask them how they were like that in their day.  If the affirmation that they chose was, “I am kind to others and they are kind to me.”  Ask them for examples of this.

If your child is old enough to write them by themselves, have them do so. For a teenager, do yours with them.  That will encourage them to see that you are doing it as well.  It is so important for not only your child or teen to use affirmations and to get into the feeling each of them, but also for you to reaffirm to them the affirmations.  For example, if your child affirms they are kind, look for ways that you see that they are being kind and praise them for it.

In the final analysis it is not what you do for your children but what you have taught them to do for themselves that will make them successful human beings. ~ Ann Landers

One of the biggest fears of human beings is feeling like they are not enough.  Most of us, have experienced for the first time as a child and at different times in our lives.  I remember working really hard for a B+ in Chemistry in high school and my father said, well maybe next time you will get an A.  I felt like I was not enough and went through that during different intervals in my life.  It wasn’t until I realized that I am more then enough over the past decade or so.  The more a child gives themselves love, compassion, patience and forgiveness that they need and deserve, the more they will grow up to feel like they are enough.  It is so important for them to go to the different kinds of relationships in their life being able to give of themselves.  This alleviates, finding themselves in a relationship where they are always feeling empty or not worthy of the other person.  When grow to be their own support system, they won’t have to go to a relationship being needy and a taker.

Not only, is it great to have your child do affirmations, it is important for them to have gratitude.  If you drive your kids to daycare or to school, play a game in the car where everyone takes a turn and says what they are grateful for.  Also, setting an example for them in saying: please, thank you and I am sorry is so vital.  Children are like sponges and soak up everything that we do and say.  Whatever you are teaching your child, you & your spouse should be doing yourselves. How you treat yourself and others is equally as important.  You want to be kind and compassionate to others.  Also, making yourself  a priority rather then an option, sends your child a strong message, that in order to give and share with others, we must first take care of ourselves.  As your child sees you doing so they will be inclined to do the same.  Think of it in this way, whatever you do is going to be modeled!

via 40+ and Fabulous

Most of all, make sure your child is hearing your loving voice. Make them feel that they are special, that you value them. Let them know in your actions, that they are significant in your life. Enjoy them, love them and help them to grow and be the ‘BEST’ that they can be! Trust me, they grow up very quickly. Don’t be afraid to tell your child that you were wrong about something. Letting them know that you aren’t perfect, helps them to realize that they don’t have to be, as well. 

If you’re like most you’re probably wondering what is my honey calling out for. Well, before I tell you let me explain a bit as to why he is asking for the smelly stuff.

Several weeks ago my loving husband was suffering from digestive issues. At first we thought it may have been food poisoning but after 48hours we realized it was something worse. If you have ever experienced food poisoning, you understand how painful it is. Now multiple that pain and discomfort by ten! Yes, he was very uncomfortable with pain and cramping that lasted for weeks! He stuck to only liquids and occasionally had crackers or dry toast. He tried everything along with Chiropractic adjustments which only offered temporary relief. It was then that he called out to me; ‘Honey! Where’s that smelly stuff?’ The smelly stuff he was referring to was my YL Essential Oils. Yes, he was asking for some relief of his discomfort and after trying everything, he resorted to asking for the smelly stuff.

Just recently one of my children was complaining of a scratchy throat. After Chiropractic adjustments and drinking lots of fluids, she also asked me for the smelly stuff. Do you see a pattern here? After applying the smelly stuff on her throat area and placing a drop on her tongue, she began feeling better. And, guess what? She has not complained of a scratchy throat at all!

Now, you’re probably wondering what oils did I use? For my husband who was experiencing digestive issues we started with Peppermint essential oil. We rubbed the oil on the area on his belly as well as his feet and placed a few drops in his water. He felt relief but the discomfort was much more intense and he needed something that was more potent. After seeing only minimal relief, we used Di-Gize, a blend of essential oils that is used for digestive issues. We placed a few drops in a capsule that can be purchased at a local health food store and he was able to sleep and soon after began eating solid foods.

One of my favorite oils

My child who was complaining of a scratchy throat was given Thieves essential oil. This particular oil is one that I diffuse in our house and office. It helps to eliminate germs and makes the enter environment smell divine. There are times that I will diffuse a combination of Thieves, Citrus Fresh and Purification which is a powerful healing and smelling combination.

I’ve used essential oils for years and for all those years my family thought I was a bit kooky. However, these essential oils are of higher quality than I’ve ever used in the past. They are more potent where only a few drops are needed to discover the healing powers they contain. As a doctor of Chiropractic, I am always looking for alternative methods to help my family and patients. Along with natural foods, physical activity, and adjustments, the essential oils have now become part of our daily lives. If you’d like to learn more about YL Essential Oils contact me, I’ll be glad to share my many experiences with them.

At one time or another we have all caught ourselves staring.  We will stare at someone that looks different, someone who might be handicap or maybe even someone who is missing a limb.  And I will be honest I was guilty of this until 10 years ago when my daughter came into this world missing her left hand due to Amniotic Band Syndrome. From that day forward, I’ve never stared because I know how it feels to be on the other end of the stare.

 
I have also told my daughter that people stare because they don’t understand or they have not been taught that we are all different in one way or another, it’s just that some of our differences are more noticeable than others.  And I never really truly understood what I was teaching her until recently.

My daughter and I were at a museum and we were walking around and a little girl noticed her hand and ran over to her dad and started asking questions and staring.  The dad tried to pull the little girl away.   I watched as my daughter’s face went from a frown to a smile, she stode up straight as could be and walked over to the little girl and her dad and said to the dad, “It is ok.  I was born this way and if she wants to ask questions I would rather her do that than stare.”  My jaw hit the floor.  The dad said. “I am so sorry.”  My daughter said, “Don’t be sorry, next time just let her ask.”  My daughter then went on to tell the little girl all about her little hand. It made me one proud Mama.

So often we forget that the people we are staring at have feelings too.  We forget that we are probably putting them in a very uncomfortable position.  So next time you catch yourself staring or catch your children staring think of my daughter and either stop staring or just go up and ask.  We prefer you ask.

It’s a New Year, and with it will come new opportunities and adventures. This is your chance to start with a clean slate. The door to last year has closed, and therefore there is nothing left for you to do than look ahead. But the most important thing to keep in mind is that how the coming year will unfold is entirely up to you and the choices you make today.

So what will it be? A year of plenty, inspiration, growth, and amazing new experiences, or 12 months of hardship, overwhelm, obstacles, and worry. You have the power to decide, so I urge you to choose wisely and go after the future you desire with everything you’ve got.

Starting anything new on the right foot, begins when you start it with the right thoughts. Then the challenge is maintaining that proactive attitude over all the hills and valleys you encounter along the way. The sooner you create solid habits when things are going well, the easier it will be to sustain them when your business throws you a curve ball. Below are three essential steps to establishing those good habits that you can begin to apply to your business today -

Have a Heart-to-Heart

Your first step in starting out on the right thought is to have a heart-to-heart with self and find out what you really want. Busy entrepreneurs commonly get so caught up on the hamster wheel that they lose sight of their big dream. So be sure to spend quiet time reminding yourself what you are working toward, and why. Write it down, post it around you, create a vision board, whatever it takes to keep your dream alive and well.

Plan Your Path

Once you have a destination in mind, you must determine how you will get there. You can take the long, curvy road, or the fast-lane. Both will get you where you want to go, but doesn’t it make more sense to find the shortest, and most enjoyable path? Expediting your journey means staying on point. Focus your time, energy, and attention to your highest priorities, and the things that will give you the highest return on your investment. Eliminate the things that would otherwise steer you off course. Sometimes this is just a matter of setting healthy boundaries around your time, and being selective about the people you invite into your inner circle.

Choose Greatness

Too many people in life choose to settle — I challenge you to settle for nothing short of greatness. You are worthy of it, you were created to achieve it, so why would you not go for it?! If you have limiting belief systems, fears, or excuses a mile long, it’s time for you to decide what you want more — a boring, safe life, or an adventure-filled world of new experiences and ways to be stretched beyond what you ever thought possible. 

As I mentioned before, the slate is clean, your future has yet to be written. Those who begin 2012 with determination to dream big, and make those dreams a reality, will be those who change the world.

Are you going to be one of them?

© 2012 Reece International LLC/Dr. Shannon Reece. All rights reserved.

“Maintain your physical, emotional, and spiritual harmony with the universe by meditating every day. Inhale the precious breath of life. It is your connection to your Higher Power.” ~Louise Hay

Meditation is a stress relief practice that can help balance and calm the mind. Practicing meditation can quiet your mind. The practice of meditation has a spiritual connection that is thousands of years old, but is becoming more widely used today for stress reduction.  You can add this practice throughout your day once you learn some basic techniques. It allows you just to spend a few moments in silence, away from the hustle and bustle of the world.

Annoying chatter in your head can keep you stressed. Your brain can get caught in reaction mode and keep you locked in a chronic stress response. A common response to stress is to go over and over a thought, thinking every angle and possible response to a stressful situation. The result is you are still stressed after the mind acrobats you just played out. In short, it’s as if you become addicted to the racing thoughts.

When you live in a chronic level of stress, your body is geared to think that there is a problem or that something is wrong. Yes, in reality there may be problems with money, job or family. Your body’s stress reaction is more intense, allowing your mind to create scenarios that just aren’t true. I call it the “What If” game. The next step is to figure out the way to fix the “What If” scenario, and so on.

So, what are some simple steps to add meditation in your day?

Get Comfortable. Be as relaxed as you can when getting ready for meditation. Sit upright in a comfortable chair and rest your hands in your lap. Allow your mind to be free, letting your thoughts pass through as air in and out of your body.  If a thought enters you mind, return to focusing on your breath. I use a technique that I concentrate on the air passing in and out of my nostrils. So as long as you can find a quiet place, you can meditate.

Time it. Start meditating for a short period of time, even as little as two minutes. Gradually add time as you can. The important idea is to make space for your mind to take a breather and stop the stress reaction.

Be Gentle with Yourself. Like anything new, meditation takes time to learn. If a stress thought comes up, allow it to pass through. Your mind may want to hang on to the stressful thought. Just return back to following your breath. There’s no contest or competition. Just be present in the moment and allow your mind to rest.

It’s the end of January. Have your New Year’s Resolutions fallen by the wayside and are all but forgotten. One of the reasons that resolutions don’t work is because they are generally not specific enough, are focused around I want to… (Lose weight, get organized, get rid of debt etc.) and are made with no action plan as to how to go about accomplishing them.  So if resolutions don’t work, what is one to do?

You hit the rewind button and switch your resolutions to very specific, intentional goals. Setting up goals will help you accomplish what you set out to do because they …

• Are manageable and attainable
• Are specific and not vague
• Provide you with laser sharp focus
• Give you a sense of direction and purpose
• Require continuous action
• Give you long-term vision and short term motivation

Now that you know how setting goals will help you. Here are some action steps you can take towards achieving them.

Get very specific with what you want it.

 Make sure your goals are simple, clear and focused. Saying you want to get organized is way too broad and overwhelming.  Saying I want to organize my pantry is very specific, clear and meaningful.

Know the Why.

Goals need to have a purpose. Make sure you truly understand why you are investing time and energy in accomplishing said goal. Without the why you will lose motivation and interest.

Write it down, make it a priority and do 1-2 daily tasks that will bring you closer to your goals.

Writing out your goals is an important step to make them a reality. Think of it as a visualization and reinforcement for your brain to keep you from procrastinating and on task… An easy way to do this is when you write out your to do list for the day. The very first thing on that list should be your goal and the 3-5 intentional, action focused tasks you need to do for the day specific to that goal. 

Set deadlines and review.

You need a way to gauge your success and see if you are on track. By setting specific deadlines it will enable you to track your progress and adjust fire if need be. 

Get Help.

If you are having a hard time and are not making progress.  Think about enlisting the help of a coach who can help you. Sometimes you need that support, accountability and guidance from an outside source to keep you on track and motivated. I see this in my clients all the time. 

Never forget to stay positive and that action + consistency = results.

In the comments below please let me know how I can help you get organized  by sharing what topics you would like me to cover in future posts.

Does the thought of Monday or the beginning of the week bring you down? Do you begin each week with a cranky attitude? Do you spend your Sunday evening moaning about the coming morning? If you are one of the many that dreads Mondays, there are ways to make you start of the week with a positive attitude. 

Consider these steps to get each week off to a better start. 

Make These Changes at Home 

• Use Sunday evenings to prepare. Instead of moaning and groaning on Sunday evenings, become proactive instead. Prepare your lunch and that of your children on Sunday evenings. Remember when your mom would lay out your clothes? She was prepping for the Manic Monday and you can do the same. You can certainly bring the Manic Monday to a halt when you are prepared with your lunches, clothes, and everything you need before exiting the home ready.

• Get up earlier. I realized that this the last tip you want to read but it will certainly help. When you get up earlier you will not have the sense of rushing and will have time to eat a nutritious breakfast. If time does not allow for a big breakfast, a delicious smoothie or breakfast sandwich will provide you with the energy to tackle the day ahead. 

• Recruit your family. Who says you must do it all? Help yourself by teaching your children to take responsibility by putting them in charge of age appropriate chore/activity. Allow them to gather their school books and homework assignments. Have them help load the dishwasher with the breakfast dishes, feed the pets and clean up before leaving the house. More importantly remember to praise them for their efforts and great work.

• Stay on a regular sleep schedule on weekends. It’s easier to get up early on Monday if you go to bed and get up at about the same time every day. Sleeping an extra hour on Sunday is fine. Staying up all night watching movies and then rising at noon makes it difficult for your body to adjust.

 Make these Changes at Work

These tips will help whether you work in the home or our of the home. Simply adapt accordingly but you will notice they can be easily accomplished.

• Get organized before the weekend. Before shutting down for the weekend, write out a list of projects or calls you will need to make on Monday or the week ahead. You’ll be surprised how this simple task will help you relax more on the weekend. Who wants to be thinking of what you must accomplish on Monday. Writing down a list or report will help you stay focused when Monday comes and will allow you to enjoy the weekend more.

• Give yourself a treat. Consider treating yourself with your favorite flavored coffee on Monday mornings. The simplest things will kick your mind into gear and help you look forward to the day ahead.

• Schedule tasks for when you’re most efficient. Work with your own rhythms. If you’re an early bird, get cracking right away. If you know that you perform better after you’ve had some time to warm up, save the heavy thinking for later in the day.

Make these Changes in Your Mind

It’s truly amazing how your entire outlook can be changed with your thought process. If you are cranky and upset, inevitably you will have a ‘bad’ day. Consider some of these tips to help you change your thinking. 

• Switch your focus. If you start feeling apprehensive about returning to the office, turn your attention to more constructive subjects. Concentrate on the positive steps you can take to tone down your negative emotions.

• Accentuate the positive. Remind yourself of what you like about your job and the people you work with. Help everyone have a great day by handing out a sincere compliment or sharing an inspiring story from the morning news. If this doesn’t work, consider adding the most important piece of accessory to your wardrobe – A Smile. You will be amazed how your entire attitude and that of others will change with a simple Smile.

• Learn from experience. Setbacks and unexpected outcomes are a part of life. Even if your computer dies or your boss criticizes your work, think of it as a learning experience.

• Look forward to the weekend. Monday lasts for only 24 hours. Give yourself a boost by planning out a great weekend, perhaps an outing with family and friends. Give yourself something to look forward to and you will forget about the mopey Monday blues instantly.

You can put away your Monday blues with these suggestions and truly enjoy each and every day. Remember that Monday is a start of a brand new week and the troubles that happened the week before are in the past. As the saying goes..focus on today for yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come. Have a beautiful, marvelous Monday!

Goal setting is an important key life skill that all people must learn. The teen years are a good time to get a lot of practice with the guidance of parents being readily available. Being able to set  good goals will build self-esteem, create a positive future, reduce unhealthy habits,  improve grades, grow time management skills, as well as help your teen gain all important independence.

You can help your teen set good goals (and help them realize success in meeting those goals) just by being a good example demonstrating good goal setting practices. If you aren’t sure how to do this, the following is an overview of setting good goals and meeting those goals.

Define the goal — It is important to define the goals that you want to reach. A wish is not a goal, but a wish or a dream can become a goal. It is best to use pen and paper or computer and keyboard to actually record the goal that you want to meet. Write down very specifically what the goal is. Don’t just say “I want to go to college” instead, have your teen write down exactly which college he or she wants to attend, in what degree program, and why. If your teen does not know why he or she wants to do something, perhaps more research is in order.

Brainstorm the goal — Before you write down the goal, it’s important to brainstorm the goal that you may want to work toward. It’s hard to be specific about a goal if you don’t know anything about it. Additionally, if a goal is not realistic, pursing it will cause frustration and feelings of failure. It’s important not to sell yourself, or your teen short by making goals too easy, but do make them actually possible.

Don’t blow smoke — During brainstorming the goal you and your child may need to have honest discussions about resources. If you’re uneducated about the particular goal, go to the library or do Internet research to learn all that you can about the goal that your teenager has in mind. Consider costs, resources, and whether you and the child are up to actually following through what is needed. 

Be specific — Using the college example, if the goal is to get into a particular University find out from the University website exactly what the criteria for acceptance is. Determine by looking at the criteria if entrance is possible for your child. Determine specifically how to make it happen. Then write down the steps toward reaching the goal. It can help to start from the end date, and work backwards toward today when creating the steps.

Be realistic — Consider all factors, including time, money, and whether it’s realistic to work toward such a goal. For instance, if a child typically scores average or below average on a standardized test, yet scores well in terms of grades, it may be a good idea to create a goal to attend a school that does not require standardized tests but instead uses other criteria to award entrance (and scholarships if money is an issue).

By following these tips to creating good goals with your teen, you can then follow up with ensuring that the goals are realized by checking in and monitoring whether the stated steps are being followed and adjust as needed, depending on individual circumstances. Goals are not set in stone, but rather are like a roadmap used to get to a particular destination, and the route can vary depending on the many factors involved in planning the trip.