I spoke to my Aunt Ruthie a few days ago. She just moved for the third or fourth time since my Theo Costa (Uncle Gus in Greek) passed away seven years ago. When I think about Aunt Ruthie a collage of memories comes to mind - she's always been a very soft-spoken Southern lady - but she had a laugh reminiscent of Phyllis Diller, could burp on demand (which never failed to impress my brother, George, and me!), was always ready to take us on an adventure whether it was fishing or some other fun pursuit. She has always been my favorite Aunt. We spent a lot of time with her as kids. She and my Uncle would come up from Florida and stay with us for the entire summer. I can't begin to tell you what a treat that was!
Aunt Ruthie was not Greek, but she learned how to cook all my Uncle's favorite dishes from my Giagia (grandmother & her mother-in-law). Her genuine love and respect for my Giagia didn't go unnoticed. She always treated her with great tenderness and love, especially in later years when she'd had several strokes and was frail. My Giagia would lapse into Greek half-way through her conversations with everyone - including my Aunt Ruthie - but even though she didn't really speak Greek, she understood her perfectly. Love is the universal language, isn't it?
My Aunt Ruthie just moved again to a senior residence - she is now just shy of 81 years old - she and her beloved cat, I should say. I remember well when my husband and I moved from Tennessee to New York 20 years ago - I was only in my early 30's and while we also had a toddler and baby at the time, packing and actually moving was an exhausting, overwhelming experience. I can't even imagine doing the packing, cancelling services, changing addresses, drivers license, taking care of banking, finding new doctors, and all the other details a move entails all by myself at 80. But she did it. I had no way of contacting her until she moved and settled in. I was so relieved to hear her voice when she called the other night to share her new address and phone number.
I asked how she was and she shared that it was exhausting, and the drive from Sanford to West Palm Beach was a bit daunting, but she said she got in the car with her cat, just said, "I can do this" and she did! That's been her "MO" all her life. She pretty much did everything, even when my Uncle was alive, although just being able to share it all with him made it easier. She has never complained or become bitter or felt she's had such a difficult life (although some would definitely think she had every right to).
As soft-spoken and sweet as she is, there is an undeniable current of strength and determination that is evident in her. She only quit her waitressing job 2 years ago!! Hard work never put her off. She's had to overcome difficulties from the time she was a child. Rather than dwelling on what she didn't get or have, she moved forward and did what she knew to do and at each juncture, God showed her the very next step, and the next...
Even though we are not related by blood but by marriage, I pray that some of her strength, courage and determination have rubbed off on me - even just a little. Nike may have coined the phrase, "Just do it" but she epitomizes it every day.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Inside Out
Miracle anti-aging creams. Designer labels. Microdermabrasion. Energy drinks. Viagra. Liposuction. Manicures. Pedicures. Hair extensions. Botox. Restalyn. People are searching for that magic potion that will help them regain their youthful beauty and vitality. No one wants to look like a dried up prune, but the reality is, no matter how well you take care of yourself, you are just not going to look 20-something when you are 50. I'm not sure why anyone would actually want to - but that's another story entirely. We seem to think the way to go is to "fix" ourselves from the outside. Appearances become all-consuming. I think it's actually one of the reasons so many find themselves in the midst of this credit crunch - whether we can afford it or not we want to "look good" to others. Big house - expensive car - designer clothes - we want people to see us as young, successful and sexy. But at the end of the day, the truth is we are tired, wrinkled, stressed out and in debt. Who's fooling who here?
You can never fix anything by only addressing the external. If you want to look your best at the age you happen to be right now, eat well, take the right supplements, drink water, exercise every day, get adequate rest and I guarantee you'll feel great and look wonderful. Whatever you put into your body will be seen on the outside. If you drink alcohol and stay out until all hours partying, it won't take long for the effects to be very obvious. All you need to do is look at some of the older rock stars who are still around to see what I mean.
The same principle holds true in spiritual things. We can go to church, volunteer, say all the right things and look good on the outside, but if our hearts are really not right, it's all smoke and mirrors. You are a human being not a human doing. Ultimately it is not your behavior, your actions, your appearance or what you do that matters. It is who you truly are - inside. Your motives, beliefs, expectations and spirit.
There it is again - inside. The superficial only gets you so far in life. Sooner or later the truth is revealed. There's a passage in the Bible where Jesus is speaking to the legalists of the day and He called them hypocrites. He pointed out that they were very meticulous about all the little, superficial things, cleaning the outside, while inside they were greedy and self-indulgent. He told them to clean the inside first and then the outside will also be clean. (Matthew 23:25) I think there's definitely a lesson there for all of us.
So often we major on the minor. We strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! So I say we get down to the basics - the fruit of the Spirit is a great place to begin: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. Can you imagine what would happen if we concentrated on developing those qualities instead of worrying about a few gray hairs or laugh lines?
You can never fix anything by only addressing the external. If you want to look your best at the age you happen to be right now, eat well, take the right supplements, drink water, exercise every day, get adequate rest and I guarantee you'll feel great and look wonderful. Whatever you put into your body will be seen on the outside. If you drink alcohol and stay out until all hours partying, it won't take long for the effects to be very obvious. All you need to do is look at some of the older rock stars who are still around to see what I mean.
The same principle holds true in spiritual things. We can go to church, volunteer, say all the right things and look good on the outside, but if our hearts are really not right, it's all smoke and mirrors. You are a human being not a human doing. Ultimately it is not your behavior, your actions, your appearance or what you do that matters. It is who you truly are - inside. Your motives, beliefs, expectations and spirit.
There it is again - inside. The superficial only gets you so far in life. Sooner or later the truth is revealed. There's a passage in the Bible where Jesus is speaking to the legalists of the day and He called them hypocrites. He pointed out that they were very meticulous about all the little, superficial things, cleaning the outside, while inside they were greedy and self-indulgent. He told them to clean the inside first and then the outside will also be clean. (Matthew 23:25) I think there's definitely a lesson there for all of us.
So often we major on the minor. We strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! So I say we get down to the basics - the fruit of the Spirit is a great place to begin: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. Can you imagine what would happen if we concentrated on developing those qualities instead of worrying about a few gray hairs or laugh lines?
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
No More TMJ
The first time my husband had a TMJ attack was when we were first dating. He was a teacher in Tennessee and up in New Jersey visiting family for the summer. His school district was going through some big shake-ups and he wasn't sure he'd have a position in the fall. Needless to say, that stress brought on an attack of TMJ, something I'd never heard of before. TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint syndrome. This joint connects the temporal bone, which forms the side of the skull, with the mandible or jawbone. When this joint is irritated and not functioning properly it causes extreme pain in the muscles and joints of the jaw. That pain can spread to the face, neck and shoulder as well. It is difficult to open the mouth. The most common underlying causes of this painful condition are stress, grinding the teeth (especially during the night) and a poor bite. Believe me I got an education in this condition and quickly!
That first time I witnessed the attack it wasn't one of his worst and it only lasted a few days. Thankfully, he was told his job was secure and was able to relax and release the stress. Once we were married I realized he was grinding his teeth almost every night. I'd nudge him and interrupt whenever I was awake and heard him. It wasn't long before he had another attack, which lasted about a week this time. He didn't get these attacks all the time, but when he did he was in so much pain he was totally bedridden and out of commission for days at a time.
At one point, when our two boys were young, we had our own business (stress multiplied!) and he had one of the worst attacks ever. He just laid in bed, writhing in pain for a week. He was popping Tylenol and Advil like candy and they weren't even touching the pain. I kept him supplied with warm wash cloths to try and soothe his pain and he was living on Instant Breakfast through a straw as he could only open his mouth very little. It was frightening and upsetting (to say the least!) to see him in so much pain.
In researching some natural options, I happened to talk to my son's first grade teacher, who was also into natural health and healing. She said she had suffered from TMJ in the past and gave me a recipe for a tea she made which provided very quick relief. I was all ears and ran to the health food store to buy the herbs, as well as two large glass jars and began making a batch for him. She suggested he drink it at the first twinge of pain and consume 2-3 cups daily until it subsided.
It was almost unbelievable how quickly it provided relief that very first time, even though he was already in the midst of an attack. From that time on, I made sure I kept a supply of those herbs in the house and as soon as he felt the first twinge he'd tell me and I'd get a batch ready. It never failed to halt an attack in its tracks! If you are wondering what those miraculous herbs are, here's the recipe:
1 large handful of Valerian steeped for 8 hours in a big pot of water (I used my pasta pot, so about 8 cups); in a separate pot of water steep 2 handfuls each of scullcap and spearmint for 4 hours. Strain both and combine in a large, glass jar and keep in the refrigerator. As I mentioned before, drink 2-3 cups daily as needed. You can sweeten with stevia. He didn't seem to mind the taste much because the result was so wonderful.
That first time I witnessed the attack it wasn't one of his worst and it only lasted a few days. Thankfully, he was told his job was secure and was able to relax and release the stress. Once we were married I realized he was grinding his teeth almost every night. I'd nudge him and interrupt whenever I was awake and heard him. It wasn't long before he had another attack, which lasted about a week this time. He didn't get these attacks all the time, but when he did he was in so much pain he was totally bedridden and out of commission for days at a time.
At one point, when our two boys were young, we had our own business (stress multiplied!) and he had one of the worst attacks ever. He just laid in bed, writhing in pain for a week. He was popping Tylenol and Advil like candy and they weren't even touching the pain. I kept him supplied with warm wash cloths to try and soothe his pain and he was living on Instant Breakfast through a straw as he could only open his mouth very little. It was frightening and upsetting (to say the least!) to see him in so much pain.
In researching some natural options, I happened to talk to my son's first grade teacher, who was also into natural health and healing. She said she had suffered from TMJ in the past and gave me a recipe for a tea she made which provided very quick relief. I was all ears and ran to the health food store to buy the herbs, as well as two large glass jars and began making a batch for him. She suggested he drink it at the first twinge of pain and consume 2-3 cups daily until it subsided.
It was almost unbelievable how quickly it provided relief that very first time, even though he was already in the midst of an attack. From that time on, I made sure I kept a supply of those herbs in the house and as soon as he felt the first twinge he'd tell me and I'd get a batch ready. It never failed to halt an attack in its tracks! If you are wondering what those miraculous herbs are, here's the recipe:
1 large handful of Valerian steeped for 8 hours in a big pot of water (I used my pasta pot, so about 8 cups); in a separate pot of water steep 2 handfuls each of scullcap and spearmint for 4 hours. Strain both and combine in a large, glass jar and keep in the refrigerator. As I mentioned before, drink 2-3 cups daily as needed. You can sweeten with stevia. He didn't seem to mind the taste much because the result was so wonderful.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Does One Size Fit All?
I saw an article on a health site online this past week and the headline touted a Mediterranean style diet as the "world's healthiest diet." That's quite an endorsement! Personally, and from all my experience coaching different people, I truly do not believe there is just one perfect diet that would benefit every person all the time.
We are all unique in every way - God created us that way. We know our fingerprints are all unique and belong solely to us. But we are also each biochemically unique. For example, I'm sure you know some people who are vegetarians and are healthy and energetic. They love eating plant foods, grains and seeds and thrive on that type of diet. In fact, they tend to feel lethargic and bloated when they eat animal protein. Then there are those other people who feel weak and shaky unless they have some type of animal protein at each meal - and they are just as healthy.
For most of my life I ate mostly vegetables and grains, eating protein occasionally and did extremely well on that. Being of Greek descent, I basically grew up eating a Mediterranean diet (the basic components of which, are very healthy). The reasons were preference - I enjoyed those other foods more, and habit - it's what I was used to. I was healthy, maintained a normal weight effortlessly and was full of energy. As I got into my early 40's this wasn't working for me anymore. I began gaining weight and no matter how carefully I ate or how much I exercised, my body was not cooperating.
After doing a lot of research into nutritional typing, and particularly after reading Ann Louise Gittleman's Fat Flush Diet, I decided to try incorporating more protein. I made sure to have either eggs or a whey protein shake as breakfast and some type of clean protein (chicken, turkey, buffalo, lamb or lean beef) with my lunch and dinner. I intentionally increased my water intake and totally switched over to either Celtic sea salt, pink salt or Himalayan sea salt instead of table salt.
Within several weeks I was able to return to my optimum weight and I've been able to maintain it for over ten years. I've added other elements but as far as diet is concerned, increasing protein was the most important change. However, even with age, our bodies change and I think we have to be aware of this and willing to make adjustments.
There are certain people, like Eskimos, who eat huge amounts of fat and are extremely healthy. We've all read about people coming from other countries and cultures who typically do not have much heart disease or diabetes. Once they come to the United States and begin eating an "American" diet, (essentially different than what they were eating), they begin experiencing health problems they never had before.
So, I think there is one perfect diet for each one of us, but it is not a static thing. Even that particular way of eating that keeps us functioning optimally for years may need to be revisited down the road. We can't be rigid in this but willing to listen to our bodies and make any changes necessary. One size doesn't fit all.
We are all unique in every way - God created us that way. We know our fingerprints are all unique and belong solely to us. But we are also each biochemically unique. For example, I'm sure you know some people who are vegetarians and are healthy and energetic. They love eating plant foods, grains and seeds and thrive on that type of diet. In fact, they tend to feel lethargic and bloated when they eat animal protein. Then there are those other people who feel weak and shaky unless they have some type of animal protein at each meal - and they are just as healthy.
For most of my life I ate mostly vegetables and grains, eating protein occasionally and did extremely well on that. Being of Greek descent, I basically grew up eating a Mediterranean diet (the basic components of which, are very healthy). The reasons were preference - I enjoyed those other foods more, and habit - it's what I was used to. I was healthy, maintained a normal weight effortlessly and was full of energy. As I got into my early 40's this wasn't working for me anymore. I began gaining weight and no matter how carefully I ate or how much I exercised, my body was not cooperating.
After doing a lot of research into nutritional typing, and particularly after reading Ann Louise Gittleman's Fat Flush Diet, I decided to try incorporating more protein. I made sure to have either eggs or a whey protein shake as breakfast and some type of clean protein (chicken, turkey, buffalo, lamb or lean beef) with my lunch and dinner. I intentionally increased my water intake and totally switched over to either Celtic sea salt, pink salt or Himalayan sea salt instead of table salt.
Within several weeks I was able to return to my optimum weight and I've been able to maintain it for over ten years. I've added other elements but as far as diet is concerned, increasing protein was the most important change. However, even with age, our bodies change and I think we have to be aware of this and willing to make adjustments.
There are certain people, like Eskimos, who eat huge amounts of fat and are extremely healthy. We've all read about people coming from other countries and cultures who typically do not have much heart disease or diabetes. Once they come to the United States and begin eating an "American" diet, (essentially different than what they were eating), they begin experiencing health problems they never had before.
So, I think there is one perfect diet for each one of us, but it is not a static thing. Even that particular way of eating that keeps us functioning optimally for years may need to be revisited down the road. We can't be rigid in this but willing to listen to our bodies and make any changes necessary. One size doesn't fit all.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
The Real Secret
I got some comments from people about my post from a few days ago entitled "I've Got A Secret" about my thoughts on "The Secret." I just wanted to expand on that whole theme a little more. I am a freelance writer and have an article being considered for publication right now on the power of belief, expectation and its effect on health.
I certainly agree there is something to "The Secret." My problem with it all, I guess, is that these principles originated with God, but most people are not open to them unless they are presented as coming from another source. It's certainly no secret (excuse the pun) that Christianity is unpopular in this country today. I won't even go into people wanting to take "In God We Trust" off our money or remove the pledge of allegiance from our schools because it mentions God - how about not being able to say "Merry Christmas" because some people may be offended by that? What's next - can't say "God bless you" if someone sneezes?
Without getting totally off on a tangent - so many of the powerful principles God gives us in His Word have been taken and remade by more acceptable, "new age" sources. Take visualization. You know, picturing what it is you desire, really feeling the emotion of having it, and you then draw it to yourself. I read the book by Maxwell Maltz, Psycho-Cybernetics and I highly recommend it. He talks in great detail about the theatre of the mind. Well, so does God! Read the passage about the Tower of Babel. Those people imagined it, got together and worked together to build it. According to one translation, God says nothing they imagine will be withheld from them. If you read that book, I also suggest you read The Fourth Dimension by David Yonggi Cho. Same principles, however, he attributes them to God and His Word.
Powerful. God gave us our imaginations so we can create. Just as He does. After all we are made in His image. I think it's perfectly fine to imagine yourself strong, healthy, thinner, successful - whatever it is you are trying to change or accomplish. In fact, I think you absolutely should. God tells us as we think/believe in our hearts we are!
There are several new branches of science that are researching the power of thoughts, beliefs, emotions and expectation on our health and since we are tri-part beings - spirit, soul and body - these things have a huge impact whether, we believe in them or not!
You can google Dr. Bruce Lipton who is the founder of epigenetics, Dr. Ryke Geerd Hamer the developer of German New Medicine (who believes diseases like cancer are triggered by stressful events) or Dr. Candace Pert who has researched and written several books about the impact of our emotions on our physical health. All well-respected experts in their fields.
So - there is definitely a "secret" - I just think it's a shame that for most people the real secret is that it all begins and ends with God.
I certainly agree there is something to "The Secret." My problem with it all, I guess, is that these principles originated with God, but most people are not open to them unless they are presented as coming from another source. It's certainly no secret (excuse the pun) that Christianity is unpopular in this country today. I won't even go into people wanting to take "In God We Trust" off our money or remove the pledge of allegiance from our schools because it mentions God - how about not being able to say "Merry Christmas" because some people may be offended by that? What's next - can't say "God bless you" if someone sneezes?
Without getting totally off on a tangent - so many of the powerful principles God gives us in His Word have been taken and remade by more acceptable, "new age" sources. Take visualization. You know, picturing what it is you desire, really feeling the emotion of having it, and you then draw it to yourself. I read the book by Maxwell Maltz, Psycho-Cybernetics and I highly recommend it. He talks in great detail about the theatre of the mind. Well, so does God! Read the passage about the Tower of Babel. Those people imagined it, got together and worked together to build it. According to one translation, God says nothing they imagine will be withheld from them. If you read that book, I also suggest you read The Fourth Dimension by David Yonggi Cho. Same principles, however, he attributes them to God and His Word.
Powerful. God gave us our imaginations so we can create. Just as He does. After all we are made in His image. I think it's perfectly fine to imagine yourself strong, healthy, thinner, successful - whatever it is you are trying to change or accomplish. In fact, I think you absolutely should. God tells us as we think/believe in our hearts we are!
There are several new branches of science that are researching the power of thoughts, beliefs, emotions and expectation on our health and since we are tri-part beings - spirit, soul and body - these things have a huge impact whether, we believe in them or not!
You can google Dr. Bruce Lipton who is the founder of epigenetics, Dr. Ryke Geerd Hamer the developer of German New Medicine (who believes diseases like cancer are triggered by stressful events) or Dr. Candace Pert who has researched and written several books about the impact of our emotions on our physical health. All well-respected experts in their fields.
So - there is definitely a "secret" - I just think it's a shame that for most people the real secret is that it all begins and ends with God.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Breaking the Pattern
I have always had really nice teeth - straight, white. I remember my grandmother (my Giagia in Greek) telling me to always take care of my teeth because you could see every one when I laughed. (I always just thought she was saying I had a big mouth...) She had just a few teeth when I was a little girl and had the few she had left pulled later on. She couldn't get used to false teeth so she remained toothless. She actually developed the hardest gums I ever saw! She could chew a steak with no problem. She came to this country at the age of 16 and told how her mother back in Greece died from a blood infection when she attempted to pull one of her own teeth.
I really didn't think that much about dental health growing up. I had a few cavities but for the most part my mouth was pretty healthy. As I reached my teens, my mother began having more and more problems with her teeth. I remember her coming home from the dentist with blood-soaked cotten balls in her mouth. She would always say she had "too much acid" in her system and that was creating the problems with her teeth. She ended up having all her teeth pulled in her 50's.
I still did not think very much about dental health until I began having my own children. Pregnancy was hard on my mouth!! My teeth were still looking good, but I began noticing problems with my gums - bleeding, bruising, tenderness. The dentist told me that it is extremely important to be vigilant about good dental hygiene, especially during pregnancy. I became more aware and tried to be even more careful to floss and brush, but with each succeeding pregnancy, I noticed more problems.
Now I was concerned. I was not willing to be the fourth generation of women in my family to lose her teeth. Actually I was determined I would keep every single one that was still in my mouth. I went to a periodontist who informed me that I would most likely lose all my teeth eventually, but he would do the scaling and deep cleaning necessary to slow the process. Those were fighting words to me! I was determined to prove him wrong.
I went through the cleaning and scaling procedures. At about this time I was learning how important it is to keep your body's pH levels alkaline rather than acidic. It struck a chord as I remembered what my mother had said about her system. While I was "into health" and daily taking supplements and eating a clean diet, pH was something new to me. As I learned more about it I realized it could make all the difference in the results I achieved as far as my teeth were concerned.
So I began to drink several green drinks a day. To learn more about what these healthy, "multiple vitamins in a glass" are, visit http://fatherreallydoesknowbest.blogspot.com/, "Are You Smarter Than A Donkey.
The green drinks are excellent at alkalizing the body. I would drink them and as I sipped, I'd swish a mouthful at a time around my mouth before swallowing. I made sure to have several servings of fruits and vegetables daily along with my protein. The other very important alkalizing thing I did was increase my water intake. I began to drink at least half my body weight in ounces of distilled water every day.
I have not been back to the periodontist in six years. I visit my dentist three times a year for a check up and cleaning and in that time she has noticed that the pockets in my gums have shrunk and my dental health has improved dramatically. I love hearing her tell me that everything looks great! I am very careful about flossing and brushing several times a day. I still drink two green drinks a day and even test my pH periodically to be sure I'm staying in a healthy range consistently.
Just because a doctor or dentist tells you something doesn't mean it is engraved in stone. God's given our bodies the amazing ability to heal themselves if we provide the proper raw materials.
JG8D69D
I really didn't think that much about dental health growing up. I had a few cavities but for the most part my mouth was pretty healthy. As I reached my teens, my mother began having more and more problems with her teeth. I remember her coming home from the dentist with blood-soaked cotten balls in her mouth. She would always say she had "too much acid" in her system and that was creating the problems with her teeth. She ended up having all her teeth pulled in her 50's.
I still did not think very much about dental health until I began having my own children. Pregnancy was hard on my mouth!! My teeth were still looking good, but I began noticing problems with my gums - bleeding, bruising, tenderness. The dentist told me that it is extremely important to be vigilant about good dental hygiene, especially during pregnancy. I became more aware and tried to be even more careful to floss and brush, but with each succeeding pregnancy, I noticed more problems.
Now I was concerned. I was not willing to be the fourth generation of women in my family to lose her teeth. Actually I was determined I would keep every single one that was still in my mouth. I went to a periodontist who informed me that I would most likely lose all my teeth eventually, but he would do the scaling and deep cleaning necessary to slow the process. Those were fighting words to me! I was determined to prove him wrong.
I went through the cleaning and scaling procedures. At about this time I was learning how important it is to keep your body's pH levels alkaline rather than acidic. It struck a chord as I remembered what my mother had said about her system. While I was "into health" and daily taking supplements and eating a clean diet, pH was something new to me. As I learned more about it I realized it could make all the difference in the results I achieved as far as my teeth were concerned.
So I began to drink several green drinks a day. To learn more about what these healthy, "multiple vitamins in a glass" are, visit http://fatherreallydoesknowbest.blogspot.com/, "Are You Smarter Than A Donkey.
The green drinks are excellent at alkalizing the body. I would drink them and as I sipped, I'd swish a mouthful at a time around my mouth before swallowing. I made sure to have several servings of fruits and vegetables daily along with my protein. The other very important alkalizing thing I did was increase my water intake. I began to drink at least half my body weight in ounces of distilled water every day.
I have not been back to the periodontist in six years. I visit my dentist three times a year for a check up and cleaning and in that time she has noticed that the pockets in my gums have shrunk and my dental health has improved dramatically. I love hearing her tell me that everything looks great! I am very careful about flossing and brushing several times a day. I still drink two green drinks a day and even test my pH periodically to be sure I'm staying in a healthy range consistently.
Just because a doctor or dentist tells you something doesn't mean it is engraved in stone. God's given our bodies the amazing ability to heal themselves if we provide the proper raw materials.
JG8D69D
Friday, October 3, 2008
I've Got a Secret!
If you have not heard about the book and movie called "The Secret" yet, where have you been? There are entire websites devoted to explaining exactly how to "work" this Law of Attraction so that you consistently attract all the wonderful things you desire into your life like love, money, success and so on. I have actually read a few messages on this, and while my own personal opinion is that it is kind of "New Age," I was surprised to realize my own secret.
God knew the secret before anyone else! That may surprise you but not me. What did surprise me was just how closely the principles of "The Secret" follow biblical principles. According to the Bible in Proverbs 23:7 "As a man thinks, so is he." Well we know, from common sense and personal experience if nothing else, that we pretty much become whatever we think - "where the mind goes, the man (or woman) follows." Consistently, day after day, feed on negative, defeating thoughts and no matter how hard you may try otherwise, you will not be successful. You will end up defeated and negative, just as you thought! The opposite also holds true. Regardless of your situation in the natural - if you train yourself to think positive, faith-filled, uplifting thoughts of success and blessing - you will see those things come to pass as well.
From what I've read, affirmations - saying what you want to attract - are also very important. God tells us in Mark 11:23 that we can have what we say. We call them faith confessions and we also speak what we desire, as long as it aligns with God's Word.
The way I see it, the real secret is faith in God, the One Who created us. I realize it isn't as popular or "politically correct" - but I really don't care! People seem willing to buy books, tapes, movies and invest in seminars and courses that basically will tell them the same thing God has said for thousands of years. But they think the Bible is boring, out of date, irrelevant. I beg to differ.
There are life and success coaches who specifically use The Secret as their foundational teaching. They have built entire businesses upon that. I give them credit. As a biblical health coach I use the nutritional and health principles God set forth in the Bible and they are as relevant and effective today as when He first said them. In fact, almost daily science is revealing the truth of scripture particularly in the area of health. If you are interested in knowing more about this, visit http://fatherreallydoesknowbest.blogspot.com/.
I guess we all believe pretty much the same thing whether we realize it or not because it is based on "laws." Laws are those principles that do not and cannot change. It is how the world is created to work. Gravity is one of those laws in the physical realm. You may not believe in it, but whether you do or not, if you jump off a building, the law goes into effect. If you work it, it works - every time! Faith is one of those laws whether you call it manifesting or attracting or faith!
Well, from what I see, the principles behind The Secret originated with God and so of course they work. You may want to give the credit for your success to The Secret. That's fine. I prefer to give the glory and honor to God, the Creator and Originator of every good and perfect gift. It's one way I get back to basic health, specifically spiritual health, which is every bit as important as physical or emotional health.
My affirmation for you is this: I wish you health, wholeness and abundance in every area of your life - spirit, soul and body!
God knew the secret before anyone else! That may surprise you but not me. What did surprise me was just how closely the principles of "The Secret" follow biblical principles. According to the Bible in Proverbs 23:7 "As a man thinks, so is he." Well we know, from common sense and personal experience if nothing else, that we pretty much become whatever we think - "where the mind goes, the man (or woman) follows." Consistently, day after day, feed on negative, defeating thoughts and no matter how hard you may try otherwise, you will not be successful. You will end up defeated and negative, just as you thought! The opposite also holds true. Regardless of your situation in the natural - if you train yourself to think positive, faith-filled, uplifting thoughts of success and blessing - you will see those things come to pass as well.
From what I've read, affirmations - saying what you want to attract - are also very important. God tells us in Mark 11:23 that we can have what we say. We call them faith confessions and we also speak what we desire, as long as it aligns with God's Word.
The way I see it, the real secret is faith in God, the One Who created us. I realize it isn't as popular or "politically correct" - but I really don't care! People seem willing to buy books, tapes, movies and invest in seminars and courses that basically will tell them the same thing God has said for thousands of years. But they think the Bible is boring, out of date, irrelevant. I beg to differ.
There are life and success coaches who specifically use The Secret as their foundational teaching. They have built entire businesses upon that. I give them credit. As a biblical health coach I use the nutritional and health principles God set forth in the Bible and they are as relevant and effective today as when He first said them. In fact, almost daily science is revealing the truth of scripture particularly in the area of health. If you are interested in knowing more about this, visit http://fatherreallydoesknowbest.blogspot.com/.
I guess we all believe pretty much the same thing whether we realize it or not because it is based on "laws." Laws are those principles that do not and cannot change. It is how the world is created to work. Gravity is one of those laws in the physical realm. You may not believe in it, but whether you do or not, if you jump off a building, the law goes into effect. If you work it, it works - every time! Faith is one of those laws whether you call it manifesting or attracting or faith!
Well, from what I see, the principles behind The Secret originated with God and so of course they work. You may want to give the credit for your success to The Secret. That's fine. I prefer to give the glory and honor to God, the Creator and Originator of every good and perfect gift. It's one way I get back to basic health, specifically spiritual health, which is every bit as important as physical or emotional health.
My affirmation for you is this: I wish you health, wholeness and abundance in every area of your life - spirit, soul and body!
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Try a Cup of Tea!
When I first got married my husband informed me that he had a serious bout of pneumonia as a teenager and ever since then, he gets bronchitis every fall. Well, that did not sit right with me! I love a challenge, so I decided I would figure out how to prevent that yearly occurrence.
As you might imagine, that first year, he was true to his word and got bronchitis as soon as the weather began to change from summer to fall. Chicken soup made him feel better (so did ice cream, but that's only because he considers it his own personal "medicine"), but did nothing to protect him. We tried different things I was learning about - echinacea, larger than normal doses of vitamin C, bee propolis. They were all helpful to a degree and I believe his colds were less severe, but he still got bronchitis the first few years of our marriage.
I came across some interesting information about a natural substance I'd never heard of at the time - Fenugreek Seed. What I read said it would help keep the lungs clear and was used for bronchitis and other respiratory problems. It was certainly worth a try. I found Fenugreek Seed tea bags at my local health food store and bought a box.
My husband came home from school (he's a teacher) and said he felt miserable - headachy, scratchy throat and as if a cold was brewing. Of course, with him, once that first cold took hold, it developed into bronchitis. I started him on vitamin C, bee propolis and brewed him a good, strong cup sweetened with some honey (since honey also has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties). It has kind of a unique, unusual flavor, but he drank it and actually said it made him feel better. So he drank 2 or 3 more cups that first night. He slept well and woke up feeling pretty good. I filled a travel mug for him to take to work and he had a couple more cups upon returning home that night. He never did develop bronchitis! I was thrilled and from that time on (we've now been married for 25 years) the first thing he does when he feels a cold coming on is put the tea pot on and make a couple of cups of Fenugreek. I always keep several boxes in the house and even my children have used it as well.
Several years later a close friend called and sounded awful - in fact I didn't even recognize her voice. She could barely breathe and had the worst, deep cough I'd ever heard. She said it was her third bout with bronchitis in the last 6 weeks (she smoked at that time) and she asked the doctor to please put her in the hospital but he would not. I asked her to have her husband buy a couple of boxes of the tea and told her to drink a cup every hour for the rest of the night and as many as she could manage the next day and see what happened. She had nothing to lose and so she did what I suggested.
She called me the next day in amazement saying that she felt wonderful - she could breathe, she'd been able to cough up the phlegm and clear her lungs (it was black!). She sounded like herself again! She told me she was going to buy several boxes of the tea to keep at home, in her car and at work - she never wanted to be without it. It seemed amazing to me as natural remedies usually work more slowly - but this seems to work it's magic quickly as long as you drink enough.
What I do is steep a tea bag in boiled water for 10 minutes and then sweeten with honey. If you suffer from respiratory problems like frequent colds, especially if they develop into bronchitis - try Fenugreek Seed Tea.
As you might imagine, that first year, he was true to his word and got bronchitis as soon as the weather began to change from summer to fall. Chicken soup made him feel better (so did ice cream, but that's only because he considers it his own personal "medicine"), but did nothing to protect him. We tried different things I was learning about - echinacea, larger than normal doses of vitamin C, bee propolis. They were all helpful to a degree and I believe his colds were less severe, but he still got bronchitis the first few years of our marriage.
I came across some interesting information about a natural substance I'd never heard of at the time - Fenugreek Seed. What I read said it would help keep the lungs clear and was used for bronchitis and other respiratory problems. It was certainly worth a try. I found Fenugreek Seed tea bags at my local health food store and bought a box.
My husband came home from school (he's a teacher) and said he felt miserable - headachy, scratchy throat and as if a cold was brewing. Of course, with him, once that first cold took hold, it developed into bronchitis. I started him on vitamin C, bee propolis and brewed him a good, strong cup sweetened with some honey (since honey also has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties). It has kind of a unique, unusual flavor, but he drank it and actually said it made him feel better. So he drank 2 or 3 more cups that first night. He slept well and woke up feeling pretty good. I filled a travel mug for him to take to work and he had a couple more cups upon returning home that night. He never did develop bronchitis! I was thrilled and from that time on (we've now been married for 25 years) the first thing he does when he feels a cold coming on is put the tea pot on and make a couple of cups of Fenugreek. I always keep several boxes in the house and even my children have used it as well.
Several years later a close friend called and sounded awful - in fact I didn't even recognize her voice. She could barely breathe and had the worst, deep cough I'd ever heard. She said it was her third bout with bronchitis in the last 6 weeks (she smoked at that time) and she asked the doctor to please put her in the hospital but he would not. I asked her to have her husband buy a couple of boxes of the tea and told her to drink a cup every hour for the rest of the night and as many as she could manage the next day and see what happened. She had nothing to lose and so she did what I suggested.
She called me the next day in amazement saying that she felt wonderful - she could breathe, she'd been able to cough up the phlegm and clear her lungs (it was black!). She sounded like herself again! She told me she was going to buy several boxes of the tea to keep at home, in her car and at work - she never wanted to be without it. It seemed amazing to me as natural remedies usually work more slowly - but this seems to work it's magic quickly as long as you drink enough.
What I do is steep a tea bag in boiled water for 10 minutes and then sweeten with honey. If you suffer from respiratory problems like frequent colds, especially if they develop into bronchitis - try Fenugreek Seed Tea.
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