To Eat or Not to Eat, Should that be the Question?

As a wellness advocate I make it my business to read all the latest research regarding food and additives. It is a daunting task and requires much investigation and at the end of the day, I clutch at my heart knowing what we are doing to ourselves. Although much research still leaves us confused, there is one thing though that is always real; if your body can't handle something, it will tell you.

People always comment about eating in moderation. I have a saying, "The concept of wellness is an absolute. If something is bad for you, there should be no such thing as 'moderation'." Eating should be for living healthfully, not for entertainment purposes. Across the World, we are the unhealthiest nation, and I believe it is because of our attitude towards food and the concept of moderation.

Is it okay to have a cookie once in a while? Well let's look at that cookie really closely. Is it full of preservatives? Does it have ingredients that make your body have an autoimmune response? Does it change your mood because of the sugar? Does it make you crave even more? No matter how small a cookie is, it is basically a circle of chemicals. If it sabotages your body for even an hour, shouldn't that make you think twice about eating it? If eating is about fuel, why do we fuel ourselves with such junk and call it food?

My mother has three daughters, two of which have constant weight issues. All three of us have autoimmune disorders, learning disabilities, nutrient deficits, and stomach issues since birth. My father died of cancer, my step father has diabetes and high blood pressure, and my nana (my mother's mother) has heart disease. Still with all of these issues in the family, she insists on preparing huge meals with ingredients she knows are unhealthy. She relates her loving people with feeding them, but she doesn't realize that loving them is hurting their bodies. No matter what I say, it has no effect. She believes food is harmless.

Our entire nation has to change their atttitude about eating. We can't keep going with our heads stuck in the sand on the topic of food. We all have to take our bodies seriously, most especially because the government allows such junk to be put into them. When it comes to what we eat, it should be wholesome, it should come from the Earth, it should only enhance our body, mind, and soul, and it should make us happy because it is good for us. When we finally decide that being deprived of life is more important than being deprived of a cookie, we will thrive as individuals and then as a nation.

Some might question my right to scold America for their eating habits, but can I offer this explanation? I am the one that is called on almost every day to help a child with a mood disorder, or type two diabetes. I sit with young women while they have chemo injected into their veins. I am the one who drives people to get their six month CAT scan to see if their cancer is indeed in remission or if it has returned. I am the one who has written countless eulogies and poems for loved ones who have passed on.

To those of you who refuse to believe that food plays an intricate part in sickness and wellness: I can't fight with you, I can't plead with you, I can't reason with you right now, but one day you will be coming to me for advice after being diagnosed, and when you do, I will be there without judgment, holding your hand and helping you heal. And when you are ready, I will teach you to honor yourself and that incredible human body of yours, hopefully before it is too late. D.

New Year/New Attitude

The days are getting longer, the nights shorter. Something to look forward to this time of year. It is also the time of new hope and beginnings. Hopefully everyone has made resolutions, but is this the year you are going to keep them?

I usually keep my promises to myself, but I have to confess, I only make promises I know I can keep. Maybe that is the secret to self growth; know yourself and the way you operate. Don't try to change the core of who you are, but instead, work harder to change your old belief systems.

Promise to be open to change and you have already changed. Yes, it is that simple! Try new things, don't say no immediately to new challenges, instead think about reasons to say yes, and try to keep your body as nourished as possible. A clean body denotes a clear head.

One of my biggest lessons in life was in understanding that tomorrow is not always a good time to do things. Today is better because tomorrow you will have more excuses and besides, tomorrow becomes today eventually, so why not just do it already!

Good luck and let me know if you need my help. D.

Bringing in the New Year

Hello to Everyone! Hopefully today brings with it hope for the new year. Sadly, I have seen and heard many bizarre things in the last few months due to what is going on in the World. Many people are losing confidence in the Country and where it is heading.

I just want to remind everyone that the Country is not an entity, but instead, a place that we all reside. What I mean by that is WE make up the contents of our Country and we get to decide where it is going. Yes, I know we are not united on issues. In fact, I call us the "UNunited States", but we all do want the same thing; namely, love, peace, safety and happiness. The difference between us though is in how we go about getting love, peace, safety and happiness.

A long time ago, many Americans believed that happiness was having a wonderful home cooked meal with our family on the holidays. Now to some of us, it means getting a gucci bag or taking a trip to Aspen. This Country of ours is filled with so many people who strive for money to get the love, peace, safety and happiness. They can't seem to find it in the every day miracles. That has led us to greed, and I believe, the trouble that we are in today.

Americans seem to want more and more, and are not grateful for what they have. Most of us don't realize that gratitude is what brings in abundance, not greed. The more grateful you are for what you have, the more comes in to you. Also, the more grateful you are for what you have, the more you believe you have! That is the most profound aspect of loving your life as it is at this moment. You are always happy about your life when you take time to appreciate it.

My hope for the new year is that we all stop yearning for what we "think" will make us happy, and instead, find happiness with the lives we are now living. Even if you are terrified with what tomorrow may bring, decide that today you are grateful for something and believe that you have the power to bring in what you need every day. There are no quick fixes for the issues the World is facing, but if we all decide to change our attitudes about what we need and want, we can create a positive outcome. We can't wait for things to evolve on their own. We have to generate the change within our own lives first. After all, if we don't decide to help ourselves, who do we think will?

Is there a full moon or what?

Is it my imagination or is the energy a little crazy lately? I have heard so many stories of behavior from people that doesn't make any sense at all. Could it be that the economy and fear of our future is getting the best of us?

Just a reminder; no matter what is going on in the World, you still have control over how you feel about it. Now is not the time to panic! The more level headed we are, the clearer we will see solutions to immediate issues. Worrying about the future helps nothing. Instead, plan.

There is another issue that many of us are not aware of. When we have anxiety, fear, or anger that stems from issues that seem out of our control, we do many things to help compensate. One of them is to self medicate with food and drink. The more emotions we feel, the more we tend to reach for the carbs. The more carbs we eat, the more sluggish we become which makes us even more anxiety ridden and less likely to exercise or think straight.

If you want to save money and clear your head, now is the best time to stop behaviors that don't help you anyway. Habits like cigarettes, drinking, candy, junk food, soda, expensive coffees, etc. are great ways to save money, your body, and clear your head.

Moods are generated from many instigators, not necessarily real issues. Remember that when you are anxiety ridden, angry or fearful of where America is headed. If we all become pro-active in our destiny, we can create change. NOW WILL YOU FINALLY TRY YOGA?! There isn't a better stress buster and you don't have to spend money. Rent a DVD from your library to get started. Grab a neighbor, friend, or family member and just walk. While going through my divorce many years ago, I walked every single night with opera music playing in my headset. Not only did I get through that stressful time with grace, I had the best butt of my life!

Go back to basics. Find your spirituality again. Meditate and if you don't know how, learn. Stop buying expensive junk food and go out to dinner less. Clean out your closet and find all the clothes you can refurbish for yourself or donate them. Invite a friend in need over to dinner. If you really want to feel better about your life, donate some time at a nursing home. Be thankful and have gratitude that the World is changing. Yes, I said have gratitude. If we don't feel desperate, we won't create change. So much of what is going on is necessary or we would never have stopped our behavior.

I don't profess to have the answers to our World issues. But I do have hope and gratitude and love and that makes me happy to get up in the morning. Spread your goodness and watch it catch on. Have a happy holiday! Love to you and yours, D.

"Whatever!"

Only days left till the election and I am preparing for a “whatever” party, meaning; “whatever the outcome” celebration. This is the craziest election I have ever seen, full of energy and emotion. I am happy to see everyone rising to the occasion and become so into it, but I am hoping that when it is over, the patriotism and the willingness to be involved will continue.

I have written about it before and will try to dig up the articles to post, but my belief is that we should be called the “Un-United States” for our ability to dichotomize every issue right down to using our red and blue colors to delineate what side we are on. I am saddened at how we can’t agree on core issues and would love to be able to help our Country on a larger scale.

Im sure that my dyslexic mind precludes me from seeing the way others see. Most of the time, I struggle with learning and need to unravel things to understand them. In the long run, however, this has helped me to see what may not be there. For instance, I don’t see the healthcare crises as an issue. I see the condition of our bodies and our attitudes about health as the crises. Maybe my construction background has contributed to my views. After all, if I were to fix a ceiling that had water damage, I wouldn’t just spackle and paint without figuring out why it was damaged in the first place. The mentality that we are in a “healthcare crises” is crazy to me, considering the fact that we are one of the unhealthiest and obese nations in the World. It is no wonder why the healthcare system can’t handle it. But the question is, why aren’t we talking about creating more wellness instead of just reforming the way we pay for doctor and hospital visits?

So I am just a citizen and have no history or knowledge of government. I more or less understand the system, but still don’t know how to get anything done because of the political machine that is in place and the attitude that we should keep fighting instead of finding something to agree on. I am not complaining about it though. Instead, I chose to put my energy into educating you, the people of this great country in hopes that we can join forces against the real enemy; namely tolerance. As long as we tolerate what is happening to us, to our bodies, our surroundings, our money, our food, we will never create change.

What I really want is for everyone to get a little anxious, a little fearful, maybe even a little angry so we can all get up and do something about our situation. Instead of fighting about what side you are on, just do one thing, anything to change what you don’t like about your life. Believe you have the ability to create change and if you don’t know how, write me and I will help you find ways!

“Whatever” happens this election, we still have to do our part. We still have to stop fighting amongst ourselves, and we still need to bring wellness to our homes, neighborhoods, businesses, and schools. If each of us took responsibility for our own lives and that of our families, we wouldn’t be in crises, we would be in control. I hope this note doesn’t sound harsh, because there is no judgment. There is only passion and the need to rally for all of us and our kids. In the end, they will be made responsible for healing what we have been creating. Love to you and yours, D.

Election Frenzy

The Campaign is a Rollin! Just so everyone knows, I profess to be an independent, and my vote has gone both ways in the last decade. I believe in choosing the best candidate, not the best party. So last week I posted my opinion of who I would elect, and then this week, decided to remove it. When it comes right down to it, I am extremely passionate about who I want to see in the White House. Feeling politically inept to comment on some of what is going on, I stick to what I do know to be true (head) what I feel (heart) and what my instincts tell me (gut). When I put them all together, I come up with a candidate I feel will do the best for the Country, and also, the World.

Unfortunately, the passion I go forward with every day in regards to health and wellness seeps into other aspects of my life, creating an energy that can be perceived as negative if one doesn't agree with what I feel or think. I am at a quandary because I want to make certain we all make the right decision about who we elect to protect and guide us for the next four years, but at the same time, I don't want to alienate someone who I can help physically, emotionally or spiritually. After a long internal debate, I decided I would rather remain neutral and stick to what I do best, which is help people find their best self.

The issues that exist in the World today are scary. Are they scarier then years passed? I don't know. Awareness makes it seem a lot more intense. I can't remember an election being more "energetic" or heated, but maybe that is due to what is at stake (World peace, global warming, economy) and the barriers (first black president or first woman vice president) that we are now breaking through. Very exciting times and very nerve wracking as well.

As we approach the omnipotent date of November 4, let's remember that in the end, they are all just human beings we are voting for and therefore, very fallible. The real job of making our lives happy and healthy is ours, and should never be left to anyone else. Will the abortion issue ever be resolved? Will the economy every come around? Will the war ever end? Truth be told, no one person had control over any of it! We all play a part. We can all make a difference and we all should be doing something, anything, for the causes we believe in, irrespective of what a politician is saying or doing.

If you believe in prayer, then pray for the best candidate to be elected. If you believe in positive action, get your facts straight and debate your issues with others who want to hear it. If you need to remain neutral because of your job or other issues, then bring forth your ideas and comments in the most sincere way and anonymously send it in the a newspaper or blog. Make a difference and follow your head, your heart, your gut. Love our Country, no matter what mess it is in, because it is still one of the best places to be in the entire World. D.

Fall Changes

"I might as well enjoy the ride" said the parrot, as it was being dragged by the cat. This is a Russion proverb that I came across years ago and it made such an impression on me that I actually am writing an entire chapter on it for one of my books. It reminds me to look at everything that happens in my life as a pleasureable experience, no matter how difficult it may seem.

This past year, I have learned so much about myself and the Universe because I became more aware of daily occurrences that were teaching me lessons. I decided to have gratitude towards everything, no matter how hurtful or difficult life seemed to get. I learned about resistance and how we sometimes want to stay angry or hurt or sad. We stay where we are comfortable or what feels normal instead of actually changing our minds about circumstance. But the minute we decide to "enjoy the ride" we let go of struggle and at that very moment, the perceived unpleasantness ends.

Learning this process is easy. Implementing it, however, is the challenge. When we are stuck in our humanness, we can't see anything, but what is right in front of us, and our opinion of that is usually negative. Fortunately, our soul energy is only a decision away, meaning that as soon as we decide to feel good about a situation, it happens. "I don't want to feel this way" is a good place to start. You might not know where the cat is dragging you, but you have control over how you feel as you move along. Once you let go of indignity, or fear, or anger, you can make a plan on how to proceed. It is amazing how brilliant we can be when our mind is clear of negativity!

The fall is approaching and with it brings a crispness that can't be compared to any other season. It is the beginning of the end, so to speak. It is when the trees release their need to hold onto what is dying. It is when plants stop their struggle and just allow themselves to rest. It is when the animal kingdom prepares for hybernation. All of this hubbub is for a very special reason. Everything seems to stop, but in reality, laying dormant is really just another growth stage. Next year when the spring arrives, all that was at rest comes to life with even more strength and growth and beauty.

If we could be like the Earth and adjust to the changes around us instead of resisting, how strong can we become? This fall, instead of holding onto negativity, allow it to just drop off. Enjoy each experience of change no matter how scary it may seem. Look for the every day miracles and redirect your attitude and reaction towards what is happening around you. Be the parrot and instead of being dragged kicking and screaming through your life, stop resisting and take a look around at the view you are being granted. Who knows, maybe that cat is taking you to a place you could have never gotten to on your own.

No matter what, the season is going to change. Ask yourself, 'am I going to resist it or am I going change with it?