The Health and Life Mixing Bowl

The Beauty of Poetry

Tree, originally uploaded by Adnan Yahya.

Everyone has gone through a “poetry phase”, most likely in high school or college when our romantic sensibilities are at their highest. As we come down to earth and learn to deal with day to day realities like grocery shopping and car payments, poetry fades in to the background, classed as impractical and pointless.

But poetry has an important place in our lives. It makes our minds focus on the depth of language, not just the breadth. A poem uses few words, but they are the essence of a idea—the rich juice of a concept.

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

--Joyce Kilmer. 1886–1918

There is plenty of poetry online, but I recommend getting a small book of verse and going out side to read and reflect. You might feel silly at first, but it is a great way to rediscover your inner romantic. He or she is not dead. Just buried under all that “important” stuff.

Meditation

Meditation, originally uploaded by Suzanne Graves.

The hardest thing in the world is to do nothing at all. After cramming our heads full of thoughts, egotistic responses to stimuli, fears, emotions, and ideas--sitting down and emptying your mind can seem impossible.

Anyone who has attempted meditation can tell you what a challenge it is to not think of anything. Even five minutes can seem like torture for someone with a busy life.

So then, why even try?

Because meditation has proven itself to be an invaluable way for people to regain their senses and refocus on what really matters. When you stop what you're doing and empty your mind, you have a chance to 'reboot' your mind and body--existing in just the moment without the pain of the past, the stress of the present, or the uncertainty of the future.

True, meditation shouldn't be used as an "escape" from negativity, but it does allow you to take time away from negativity (and positivism for that matter) so that when you resume your daily routine, you see things from a fresh perspective.

Here are a few online resources for individuals hoping to begin or refine their meditation practice:

How to Meditate
http://www.how-to-meditate.org/

Project Meditation
http://www.project-meditation.org/how_to_meditate.html

White Tea

White Tea leaves, originally uploaded by ~Mers.

If you have not been converted to white tea yet, I want to convince you to go out and buy some immediately. I know what you are thinking: We tried the green tea when they told us how good it was for us and it tastes like hell and there's no way I'm giving up coffee again for tea so forget about it!

Well, I too was as victim of the green tea revolution. I tried valiantly to give up coffee in favor of this elixer that promised antioxidants, lower caffeine, and immunity boosters. But it just...tastes icky!

After watching a program about tea on television, however, I decided I'd give white tea the benefit of the doubt. Much to my surprise, it turned out to be delicious! No bitterness, no aftertaste--just sweet, simple tea.

Turns out that white tea is actually better for you than green tea! While it is derived from the same plant, white tea is made from the immature leaves from the Camilla Sinensis tea bush. It undergoes little processing and no fermentation (which explains its mellow flavor), and you can buy it with different fruit blends that make it quite tasty for drinking any time.

Does this mean I'm ready to give up my morning latte? Not quite. But I'm definitely adding white tea into my daily routine. Give it a try!

Just Be

Reflection On a Boat - Alter-ego, originally uploaded by Twistiti Photography.

So much of our life is spent distracting ourselves with every possible concern or entertainment. It is a rare and precious moment when we are allowed (or rather, when we allow ourselves) to simply BE.

Whether we are keeping ourselves from facing inner demons, or providing fodder for our egos, the constant “busyness” of modern life is unhealthy. While it may seem challenging in the beginning to do something as simple as stopping and letting all our cares go, it is an invaluable exercise and a vital first step toward a better life.

Take five minutes each day for a week and just BE. Clear your mind, and feel the air around your. Close your eyes and listen to the sounds in the room without fixating on any of them. Just let yourself “reset”.

Moments of solitude and quiet are the cornerstone of spiritual development.

Nourish yourself with silence.

Fresh Fruit: Just Eat It

fruit at the canberra show, originally uploaded by justinKnol.

In nature, fruit is like precious gems that are collected by man and beast--colorful spots of fragrant sweetness that bring both benefit and pleasure. Studies show, however, that Americans are eating less and less fresh fruit. People used to live by the motto, "An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away." But in 2005, it was reported by the U.S. Center for Disease Control that only 32.6% of the U.S. adult population consumed fruit two or more times per day.

For years doctors have been telling us to add more fresh produce in our diets. Maybe we should start taking that advice. The antioxidants in fresh fruit are known cancer fighters. They provide us with fiber, energy, and essential vitamins.

They also provide us with a link to the natural world. In a daily grind full of plastic wrappers, paper cups and microwave meals, taking a few minutes to savor a fine piece of organic fresh fruit reminds us that there's a big beautiful world out there that we're naturally a part of. Drink in the scent of the fruit, enjoy the color, and savor the unique flavor. It is such a joy!

Try going to a local farmer's market and picking out some choice pieces for you to take to work throughout the week. Or visit an organic grocer and pick up some new variety of pear or berry that you can experience with your breakfast. Forget dessert! Buy a mango and take time after eating to carefully peel and cut it into thick slices that you can enjoy with your tea as much as any cake or cookie.

Smile!

smile!, originally uploaded by sean-b.

Smiling isn’t just an involuntary display of happiness. It is also a primal response to positive situations, and can have a profound affect on our health, our psychology, and our appearance.

When we smile, our bodies automatically release endorphins. This causes us to feel good, and relaxes our body acting as a stress reducer. Smiling also boosts your immune system, and lowers your blood pressure.

When you smile, the muscles in your face are built and you take on a naturally youthful expression. Smiling also communicates openness to others, giving you countless opportunities to receive positive energy from strangers, friends, and family alike.

Even when you don’t “feel” like smiling, by making yourself smile—even when you’re alone—you can improve your mood and overall outlook. Try giving yourself a big smile each morning before you head out of the bathroom. Regardless of what happens when you go out in to the world, you’ll have the foundation for a great day.

Final Edition of the Carnival of Personal Change

Welcome to the April 10, 2008 edition and final of the carnival of personal change.

Kenton Newby presents Focusing on Leverage posted at KentonNewby.com.

Jirel presents Learning to live with the present posted at Positive and Successful Life Style tips.

Ariah Fine presents What If We Wiped for Our Great, Great, Great, Great Grandchildren? posted at Trying to Follow.

Joel Gruber presents Who Are Your Enemies? posted at Fearless Dreams Personal Development.

Lin Burress presents Understanding Assertiveness: Getting The Respect You Deserve posted at Telling It Like It Is.

Christine presents Is Marriage Outdated? posted at Me, My Kid and Life: An American Single Mom Living in France.

Nadege presents Holding on to the things that we don't want posted at Clearly Envision.

ananga presents Hidden Anger: How Your Journal Can Help You Let off Steam in a Healthy Way posted at Ananga Sivyer's Living by Design Blog.

Jade presents Saying "No" to Possessive Urges posted at Offbeat Love.

FitBuff presents Friday's Fitness Quotes: "To fear death…" posted at FitBuff.com's Total Mind and Body Fitness Blog, saying, "Interesting and thought-provoking quote on life and death from Socrates..."

DotLobby presents Reality Therapy - 3 Steps to Change Your World! posted at DotNLP, saying, "Reality therapy is an interesting concept, encompassing the ability and technique to change, improve, and enhance your world and your reality..."

daniel santos presents Creating A Dream posted at Creating a Dream, saying, "That first moment you glimpse your destiny - that cosmic bolt hit you yet?"

Patricia Twitchell presents Comfort Comes from Unexpected Places posted at Just Bears and Stuff, saying, "So often people take the things they treasure the most for granted. Life has a way of offering us the opportunity to evaluate and review those things in our life that are important. Many times this occurs through a tragedy. Yet, many tragedies turn into amazing blessings, which help us to clearly understand our path in life. Learn how one woman turned the tragedy of her father’s heart attack into the blessing of having the courage to live her dream. A dream that has blessed so many others who have come to know her as The Teddy Bear Lady of Myrtle Creek."

Alex Landis presents Dealing With The Negative People In Your Life posted at AlexLandis.com, saying, "Alex discusses how to deal with the negative people in your life by understanding where their pessimism comes from and by providing tips to handle that negativity."

Gary Evans presents 3 Tips To Install New Beliefs posted at Good To Feel Good.

Tupelo Kenyon presents Make a Decision Easier posted at Tupelo Kenyon, saying, "Decisions needn’t be a chore. In fact, it’s a profound privilege to be able to make decisions for yourself. Consider the alternative. Would you rather have someone else make your decisions for you? The ability to make your own decisions is a good definition of freedom. Here are some tips on how to make better decisions easier. (Enjoy soothing instrumental music as you read plus song selections with lyrics related to each article – all free"

Lori Jewett presents Living More Fully - Death as a Motivator posted at Between Us Girls, saying, "Living life to the fullest requires that we learn to accept and value the reality of death. We can live in fearful denial, or we can harness the power of death to fuel our life's journey."

Aaron Brandon presents Overcoming Negativity posted at Aaron Brandon.

Jeanie Marshall presents How Do You Know When You are in a State of Balance? posted at JMviews Meditation and Empowerment, saying, "Jeanie Marshall focused on the topic of “Balance” every March for thirteen years on a transformational process called DailyAffirm, guiding thousands of individuals through their own unique experiences of balance."

R.Pettinger presents Effective Ways To Get Out of a Negative Mindset - Sri Chinmoy Inspiration posted at Sri Chinmoy Inspiration, saying, "some suggestions for effective ways to get out of a negative frame of mind"

Gabriella Kortsch, Ph.D. presents Your Beliefs and Your Health posted at Psychology, Transformation & Freedom Papers, saying, "The state of our health is not genetically pre-determined. The state of our health is determined by our environment. The state of our health is determined, therefore, by our beliefs, as they form part of our environment, so if we believe that we will get cancer, or have a heart attack, or suffer from Alzheimer's because it runs in our family, then that is what will happen, but not because we are genetically pre-determined for these diseases, but because we believe we are."

Mike Reeves-McMillan presents One Simple Step Towards Managing Emotions posted at Living Skillfully: Hypnotherapy and Health Science, saying, "Naming emotions - in talk therapy, journalling or just talking to a friend - helps to diminish their power. This post looks at a study which shows what's happening in the brain when you do this, and teaches a simple technique you can use to apply the effect."

ananga presents Flow: The Fluid & Happy State of Getting Things Done posted at Ananga Sivyer's Living by Design Blog.

Matthew Spears presents I ’should’ heal and grow. posted at Loving Awareness, saying, "As much as you desire change, understand it is because you think you “should”. This desire for change, is usually allowed to come to you from an external source rather that from inside yourself. In other words, true change will not occur unless and until you are connected to your inner Self and the desire to change comes from there."

Gwendel Rodriguez presents Making Changes? Aristotle Says Why - Part 1 posted at 40 Something and Mean, saying, "If you are making changes in your life, Aristotle explains the reasons why."

Silveral presents Celebrity Rehab posted at Celebrity News, and Gossip.

Rose Walbrugh presents Beliefs of happy people posted at FreeMyMind.Net, saying, "How do we set about discovering a set of well grounded beliefs certain to result in a happy, constructive life?"

Roger presents Life Really Is Amazing Even When It Doesn’t Seem So posted at The Happy and Prosperous Blog, saying, "This is a way I found of breaking out of a rut. Could it work for you too ?"

Alvaro Fernandez presents The Power of Mindsight-by Daniel Goleman posted at SharpBrains, saying, "Daniel Goldman asks, "When you were young, which of these did you feel more often?""

GreatManagement presents What You Can Learn From Me, Sam, A Border Collie posted at The GreatManagement Blog, saying, "We have learned so much from Sam - over and above staying calm in a crisis"

Ali Hale presents How to Stop Making Excuses and Start Making Changes posted at The Office Diet, saying, "A comprehensive article for anyone who wants to change but always manages to find some reason to put off improving their health and fitness. Deals with the most common excuses for not changing and gives easy, practical tips on getting over them and getting on with starting a better life!"

AlexBo presents 10 Health Tips Everyone Know But Nobody Follows posted at Healthy Health List (heheli.com), saying, "The key is to change our mind"

Warren Wong presents How To Solve Problems By Changing Your Frame Or Perspective posted at Personal Development for INTJs, saying, "How seemingly unsolvable problems can be solved by changing your frame or perspective."

Wayne C. Allen presents Non-Habitual Living and Being posted at The Phoenix Centre Blog, saying, "This article: The way we view our lives, and 'reality' is not true. In fact, it's simply an unconscious habit. Learn ways to let go of habitual living - to live in the moment.

That concludes this final edition.

Thanks to the blogging community for participating in this short carnival series! 

Not Just for Valentine's Day Anymore!

Fairtrade chocolate pieces, originally uploaded by net_efekt.

Just because something tastes good, doesn’t mean it has to be bad for you. Recent research in to the properties of chocolate show that it contains potassium, magnesium, vitamins B1, B2, D, E, and antioxidants.

Cocoa, the main ingredient of chocolate, contains phenols which are known antioxidants and which contribute to fighting free-radicals, heart disease, and boosting the immune system. Some ancient cultures used chocolate as a medicine and as a tranquilizer; it contains Trypophan and when eaten releases seratonin in the brain.

Like anything else, of course, over-indulgence can be bad for you. The sugar and cream used to make "milk chocolate" are not part of the health benefits; in fact, milk is thought to block the absorption of chocolate's antioxidants, so choose dark chocolate for the most benefit to your body.

Additional reading: http://scicom.ucsc.edu/scinotes/0001/chocolate.htm

Sing to Your Health!

sing, originally uploaded by raysto.

Singing is good for the spirit. You don't have to be a classically trained artist. Heck, you don't even have to sound good-- it is something you do for yourself, for the pure joy of it. So many people are self-conscious even when all alone. But take a tip from this little girl...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Q1c6Q830-o

There’s a reason song is a part of almost every faith tradition in the history of the world. Because aside from being entertaining, music and song can help us go beyond the mundane. It is a way for us to bypass logic and immerse ourselves in sound, rhythm, and melody. We allow our entire bodies to reverberate with a noise that is inspired by love, pain, faith, fear, or joy.

Don’t worry that the people in the car next to you are looking…put your heart and soul into it, and sing--because it just feels good!

Books from your Childhood

Being a grown up is hard.  It seems like after Kindergarten our lives are all about work, work, work.  There's always too much to do and not enough time to do it.  The world has unending demands and it us up to us to draw the line and nurture our inner child--the one who used to have chicken soup for lunch and a two-hour nap in the afternoons.

One of the best ways to recapture a few moments of sweet innocence is to pick up one of you favorite childhood books.  Winnie the Pooh.  The Velveteen Rabbit.  Even Curious George.  The stories and the illustrations can instantly transport you to a simpler time and place, bringing comfort and feelings of security.

It is so important to let yourself remember the innocent and even naïve outlook you had before you were jaded and roughed up by the harshness of the outside world.  That sweet innocence is what Jesus of Nazareth referred to when he told his followers to “become like these children”.  It’s good advice for anyone, regardless of their faith.  Children are born with an innate sense of right and wrong; they have the ability to see clearly and to be honest with themselves and other people.

Revisiting your childhood via children’s books can be a way to remind yourself of who you really are—who you started out to be.