I’m guessing I’m not alone in feeling there are times when my life seems to be on auto pilot. I can react rather than have thoughtful responses to events.
E + R= O: Event + Response = Outcome.
When I do become aware, it’s like a bright light on my dashboard. I realize I’m usually going a million miles a minute, and that it’s time to calm down my chaotic Monkey Mind.
To connect with myself I close my eyes and take 3 deep cleansing breaths and just let everything go. The past is just that… the past, and the future isn’t here yet. What I have is the moment, nothing more, nothing less. I sometimes I stay like this for only a few minutes, or if I’m wanting to it can last for a much longer period of time.
When I open my eyes I really notice what my body is telling me… I generally feel lighter and more relaxed. Colors are brighter and I have a very reassuring feeling all over. Go ahead, try it… “What is alive in You? ”
The question of “what’s alive” is one we ask in Non-Violent Communication language often, it means what are you feeling? Once you have connected with yourself you can then begin to be more fully aware of your true self and surroundings. This is the beginning of “mindfulness”, by not filling your mind rather emptying it…get rid of the monkey!
Makes 8 servings
Prep: 40 minutes
Cook: 8 to 10 hours plus 5 minutes in crock pot or 3 hours on stove
Ingredients:
1 lb Applewood smoked bacon or chicken Italian sausage…omit meat if you’re a vegetarian it’s still delicious!
2 1/2 cups peeled winter squash, such as butternut squash, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 1/2 cups cubed potatoes or same amount of cooked salad macaroni pasta, or pasta of your choice
3 carrots
3 zucchini ¼ length wise and diced
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 15-ounce can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 teaspoon dried sage, crushed
4 cups beef, chicken or vegetable broth
3 cups chopped kale or fresh spinach
1 28 oz can of diced Italian tomatoes
Directions
In a large skillet cook the bacon or sausage until brown; drain well.
In a 5- to 6-quart crockery cooker or big pot, place squash, potatoes, zucchini, carrots, onion, garlic, beans, and sage. Top with bacon or sausage. Pour broth and tomatoes over all.
Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 8 to 10 hours in crock pot, or on high-heat setting for 4 to 5 hours.
In a regular pot, cook all at low for 3-4 hours. Stir in kale or spinach. Add cooked pasta last.
For regular stove top methods figure about 2-3 hours on low.
I just got back from a night out with friends…we shared lots of laughs as we watched a great friend and actor, Valerie Sheppard in an improv comedy theater. The Crazie Beez in Santa Ana are just the ticket if you’re looking for an inexpensive night out.
Improvisational theater is like no other…raucous, fast moving, unpredictable and always a little edgy. You have to be in the right mood. The actors push themselves and the audience to think fast and connect the dots…the speed at which they conjure up jokes and situations is brilliant.
Like life, improv is an opportunity to stretch and grow…to take risks and get outside your box. An off night is painful for the actors and the audience, but tonight was awesome! The energy of the cast was high, I laughed so hard the tears ran…that hasn’t happened for a long time.
So I got to thinking…what about me and my “act.” Am I stuck and unwilling to take the improvisational risk? Am I will to stretch in my business and personal interactions to give my friends and business all that I am in the moment? The answer is YES! While rehearsing has its merits, I know that my authentic self is ready to burst forth at any moment if I will only let it. How about you?
For me this statement is really not an option… I HAVE TO eat!
Okay… I admit, I’m a serial entrepreneur…I have been for over 14 years.
One thing that I occasionally suffer from and did just last week, was a huge drop in blood sugar from not eating. There are times when I’m way busy with whatever I’m doing, and too much time goes by and BAM… I start to feel weird and get cranky…ask my friends and family! Does this ring true for you too? Here are 5 tips that might help. I’ve started to do these in my life and find they really are a benefit.:
TIP #1: Drink your water, preferably alkaline. Even if you are simply working behind a desk all day, your body still uses water. So don’t wait until you get that thirsty feeling in your mouth. By that point you are already dehydrated, which can impair your physical and mental functioning.
TIP #2: Avoid sugar and simple carbohydrates. Incorporate more proteins and complex carbohydrates into your diet, such as products made with whole-wheat flour, brown rice, etc. They won’t trigger blood sugar highs and lows, putting you more on an even keel.
TIP #3: Eat small meals. Have six small meals over the course of the day instead of three large ones. When you eat a big meal in one sitting, it overwhelms your body, causing it to work harder to digest the food. As a result, the digestive process diverts blood away from your brain and your extremities and uses it in the digestive track. With smaller meals, your body doesn’t have to work as hard.
TIP #4: Take walking breaks. Walking gets your blood circulating, helps you breathe better, and stimulates your brain due to the increased blood flow. Take a five or ten minute walk during the day.
TIP #5: Meditate. Meditation is great for rejuvenating your body. Each time you meditate, you’ll feel like you just took a six-hour nap. By meditating for fifteen to twenty minutes twice a day, you’re keeping your body continually energized. If you do run into the afternoon slump, meditating for a quick five minutes can immediately re-energize you.
Certain words that we use on a daily basis have associations to them. Did you feel uncomfortable when I used the word “selfish” as a positive expression in the title of this blog? Exploring non-traditional ways of using words that have judgments attached to them may give us insight as to how we can create a richer human experience.
For me, this quote from Mother Theresa describes how being selfish might be the best course of action…
“People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may just never be enough; Give the world the best you have anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it’s all between you and God; It was never between you and them anyway.”
- Mother Teresa
When we limit ourselves to conforming to society’s value systems, or ways of thinking of things, we miss the opportunity for awareness and self-care.
Heading to bed shortly, and my mind is a symphony of amazing new memories of the past two days. While my head is buzzing, I am content and will have no trouble sleeping…(I might have trouble waking!)
The drive home will be long with plenty of time to rewind the tape in my mind of the rich experiences and the relaxing time away. I expect that as I get nearer to home that my mind will start shifting to what lies ahead. Tasks, phone calls, emails, and the hum-drum of everyday life intruding on my relaxed state. I’m guessing that I’m not alone in wanting my vacation last longer than just the time away.
So what can I do to make it last? First, I will make a concerted effort to stay in touch with my family…I’ll call them when I get home to let them know how much fun I had, and maybe to set another date to get together. Second, I will take some special time for myself each week for self-care. A highlight of my trip was to take a luxurious bath. I don’t have to wait for another vacation to take another luxurious bath! Lastly, I took gobs of pictures and videos. I’m going upload them to a photo site, and have a special album available online and printed that I send as “Thank You” to my family. Everytime that I look the album, I’ll be back on vacation.
Life isn’t a vacation, but the relaxed feeling that you get at end of yours is more of a state of mind than a direct result of the time away. With some care and focus, it can become a part of my everyday world. How about for you?
It truly is amazing how fast time flies. I was reminded by my brother, Clark today that it’s actually been two and a half years since we last were together. Where does the time go?… this statement is asked by many everyday and comes from being aware in that moment. What does it take to be more in the moment?
I have only one more day with Clark on this trip. I plan during our time alone tomorrow to see and remember all the little things about him. I will use my mind like a camera and capture frame after frame, all of his unique traits and nuances to play over and over until we are together again. I’ve decided to enhance my powers of observation, to see more detail, to become more Hi-Definition. Scientists tells us our brains record far more detail that we recall. I want to have choice in what I remember.
So…how about you? When you wake up tomorrow what will you train your camera on? Will you film whatever comes into view, or will you decide how your script might look in advance? Use your camera with purpose and have fun! Capture those once-in-a-lifetime moments in Hi-Definition.
A 6 and 1/2 hour drive is a lot of time to be reflective, especially when you’re anticipating seeing your family after a long time away. I haven’t seen my brother in over two years, and when our eyes met this afternoon, the initial look made up for all the lost time.
In reconnecting, there were many laughs and fun remembrances that took us back to another time in our lives…it seems like it was so many years ago. We talked and talked, and told each other so many funny stories! Our shared experiences as kids, laughing and playing…backyard barbeques, rites of passage, and much, much more. What fun it is to share those times again!
The great thing is that I know that my family and I are always connected, no matter how much time or distance comes between us. For this I am truly grateful.
FYI, I’m having technical difficulties tonight, so the blog is a bit shorter than usual. Videos will soon follow. Thanks for your understanding.
If you haven’t had a chance to talk to your family for a while, perhaps it might be a good time to pick up the phone and give them a call. I wish for you the wonderful experience that I had today.
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