Here’s an idea for change! We have a new President; a new economic environment, and challenges to a greater degree than our generation has ever seen. Why not come up with a new approach to happiness? Instead of bewailing our economic circumstances, we as a nation have an opportunity to come together as a people and remake ourselves. If we do that, then our outer world will soon reflect the makeover.
Has anybody else noticed the President-elect’s physical condition? Why not give people an incentive to follow the new leader? Find out what kind of workout the President, his advisors, family and so forth regularly do. Let them set goals, and post them on the internet! Find out their diet and exercise regimens, and post their progress on the web. Then let the public insert their own physical stats and program them to correspond to one of the highest government officials. And let them challenge us: “Which workout do you like? Do you want to beat Barack? Do his workout! Do you think you’re tough? Look at the Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, and follow his lead. Do you want to lose weight? The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development does, too. Track her progress and make it your own.
You get the idea. Whether running, weights, or calisthenics. The benefits would be incalculable. How about tax credits to people who achieve certain fitness goals? How about government matching for contributions to health insurance with percentages tied to progress and maintenance? Individual commitment to personal fitness would be a fair component of any government sponsored health care plan.
Think of the benefits of this idea! Not only would we get tax credits and benefits for having fun (remember, even dancing counts as an aerobic workout!)---We would also address the expense of health care on the front-end. By becoming healthier, fitter people, we would have fewer debilitating health problems, and reduced health care costs overall.
Really, the benefits go on and on. As healthier people, we would all have a more positive, creative outlook (thanks to the endorphins created by working out). And think of the economic activity that could result from people getting off the couch and choosing to live, and to move! This would help us face our current economic challenges with a more powerful, proactive attitude, because we would feel strong and confident. We still have the richest resources in the world. This is another benefit of fitness!
And to get all these great benefits, we would do something that also let us pay less taxes. Let me at that treadmill, I say!
How’s that for a great solution, that works?
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Turn Up The Joy!
Recently, I read that Einstein gave thanks hundreds of times each day. What a beautiful virtue is gratitude! When I read that, I made the decision to develop a thankful mind; not just as a passing emotion, but as a basic attribute of my character. To start, I opened my eyes and recognized the mementoes of blessing that surround me in my own house.
As I turned my focus to the benefits around me, I saw that everything was connected to an experience, a person, and a memory. “Thank you!” I said—as I looked at the light fixture I had lovingly selected for its beauty. “Thank you!” I said, to the walls, covered with the wallpaper my sister and I had carefully applied in a memorable time together. “Thank you!” I said, to the ceramic floors, laid so skillfully by a local craftsman named Ken Powers, who has brought so much beauty into my life. “Thank you!” I said, to the smooth sliding glass doors which grace the exit to my backyard.
Everywhere I looked, I saw myriad stories of blessing in my life; things I had selected with my sister; things my kids and I have made; things created by artisans who have brought my dreams into being. As I recognized the benefits which daily sustain me, my heart overflowed with thanks; and I was so happy! And so I continued, thanking my way into joy.
Esther and Jerry Hicks say that we are all like radio transmitting stations. We can only attract that which we send out. More than 20 years ago, they tapped into an inter- dimensional voice (to which they refer as the Beings who call themselves Abraham) that answered life’s most perplexing questions. In their books, they list a hierarchy of emotions, the highest being love, and say that the higher up the feeling scale you can bring yourself, the more prosperity, love, and joy you will attract, or allow, in your life.
My “Thank You!” experiment is one great way to find joy.
If you run out of things around you to be thankful for, thank the different parts of your body for their love and service to you. What a rush that is!
Speaking of good feelings, I want to share another of my secrets for keeping things on the up side…dancing!
I love to dance! There is a certain kind of music I like to dance to; mostly 80’s music. And when I hear it, I just start going and don’t stop for two or three hours!
If you are thinking, “But there are no good places to dance around here”, think again! There are several places in the Detroit area, and they all have their good points, but my favorite for consistent nonstop dancing action is a place at Nine Mile Road and Woodward Avenue in Ferndale, called Boogie Fever. The DJ plays one great song after another. Just when I think I’ll sit down and take a break, he comes up with another good song that just makes you want to MOVE!
Last Friday, I went to Boogie Fever with my friend and personal trainer, Sheryl Blystone. Sheryl is a great dancer, having studied dance as a child and later, to perform disco moves in body-building contests. On weekdays, she helps me work my muscles, but on Friday night, it’s all about fun! While I have no such claim to fame, I have been known to cut a rug, and so far, they haven’t kicked me out.
Last week, Sheryl and I dragged a friend along to join us in the fun. Convinced that only grueling sweat-cercises at the gym are worthy of being called a workout, he sat with us, sulking, drumming his fingers on the table, and looking for all the world like a wet chicken.
I was determined to get this curmudgeon on the right track. So I told him, “Forget the gym. If you want a good workout, get up and SHAKE it.” Suddenly, my life’s anthem came on: Todd Rundgren’s “I don’t want to work. I just want to bang on the drum all day!”
Who can resist such a classic?? So I dragged my sad sack friend out onto the dance floor.
Once he got up, he came alive. Before long, he was dropping to the floor, doing pushups, and jumping up to clap his hands between reps. It was a pretty impressive showing, for such a slow starter. By the time the night was over, everybody was feeling wonderful and the floor was packed!
I could make a pretty good case for dancing as therapy; but that’s not my point. If we are to attract blessings to our lives, we must do that which makes us feel good. Isn’t it wonderful? That’s all we have to do.
Giving thanks is one way to feel good. Dancing is another; but in each moment, we need to be vigilant, and monitor our feelings. If, in the moment, you are feeling bad, have a couple of visuals in your grab bag to bring your mood up. (For me, of course, it’s easy. I just think of one of my beloved kitties.) Then, to keep the mood up, express gratitude, or dance, or do whatever in the world gives you joy. Then watch the wonderful things that begin flooding into your life.
Each of us has our own view of what happens after this life. But while we are here, we can take active steps to create a life that is awesome right now. Try it, and maybe I’ll see you next Friday, on the dance floor.
As I turned my focus to the benefits around me, I saw that everything was connected to an experience, a person, and a memory. “Thank you!” I said—as I looked at the light fixture I had lovingly selected for its beauty. “Thank you!” I said, to the walls, covered with the wallpaper my sister and I had carefully applied in a memorable time together. “Thank you!” I said, to the ceramic floors, laid so skillfully by a local craftsman named Ken Powers, who has brought so much beauty into my life. “Thank you!” I said, to the smooth sliding glass doors which grace the exit to my backyard.
Everywhere I looked, I saw myriad stories of blessing in my life; things I had selected with my sister; things my kids and I have made; things created by artisans who have brought my dreams into being. As I recognized the benefits which daily sustain me, my heart overflowed with thanks; and I was so happy! And so I continued, thanking my way into joy.
Esther and Jerry Hicks say that we are all like radio transmitting stations. We can only attract that which we send out. More than 20 years ago, they tapped into an inter- dimensional voice (to which they refer as the Beings who call themselves Abraham) that answered life’s most perplexing questions. In their books, they list a hierarchy of emotions, the highest being love, and say that the higher up the feeling scale you can bring yourself, the more prosperity, love, and joy you will attract, or allow, in your life.
My “Thank You!” experiment is one great way to find joy.
If you run out of things around you to be thankful for, thank the different parts of your body for their love and service to you. What a rush that is!
Speaking of good feelings, I want to share another of my secrets for keeping things on the up side…dancing!
I love to dance! There is a certain kind of music I like to dance to; mostly 80’s music. And when I hear it, I just start going and don’t stop for two or three hours!
If you are thinking, “But there are no good places to dance around here”, think again! There are several places in the Detroit area, and they all have their good points, but my favorite for consistent nonstop dancing action is a place at Nine Mile Road and Woodward Avenue in Ferndale, called Boogie Fever. The DJ plays one great song after another. Just when I think I’ll sit down and take a break, he comes up with another good song that just makes you want to MOVE!
Last Friday, I went to Boogie Fever with my friend and personal trainer, Sheryl Blystone. Sheryl is a great dancer, having studied dance as a child and later, to perform disco moves in body-building contests. On weekdays, she helps me work my muscles, but on Friday night, it’s all about fun! While I have no such claim to fame, I have been known to cut a rug, and so far, they haven’t kicked me out.
Last week, Sheryl and I dragged a friend along to join us in the fun. Convinced that only grueling sweat-cercises at the gym are worthy of being called a workout, he sat with us, sulking, drumming his fingers on the table, and looking for all the world like a wet chicken.
I was determined to get this curmudgeon on the right track. So I told him, “Forget the gym. If you want a good workout, get up and SHAKE it.” Suddenly, my life’s anthem came on: Todd Rundgren’s “I don’t want to work. I just want to bang on the drum all day!”
Who can resist such a classic?? So I dragged my sad sack friend out onto the dance floor.
Once he got up, he came alive. Before long, he was dropping to the floor, doing pushups, and jumping up to clap his hands between reps. It was a pretty impressive showing, for such a slow starter. By the time the night was over, everybody was feeling wonderful and the floor was packed!
I could make a pretty good case for dancing as therapy; but that’s not my point. If we are to attract blessings to our lives, we must do that which makes us feel good. Isn’t it wonderful? That’s all we have to do.
Giving thanks is one way to feel good. Dancing is another; but in each moment, we need to be vigilant, and monitor our feelings. If, in the moment, you are feeling bad, have a couple of visuals in your grab bag to bring your mood up. (For me, of course, it’s easy. I just think of one of my beloved kitties.) Then, to keep the mood up, express gratitude, or dance, or do whatever in the world gives you joy. Then watch the wonderful things that begin flooding into your life.
Each of us has our own view of what happens after this life. But while we are here, we can take active steps to create a life that is awesome right now. Try it, and maybe I’ll see you next Friday, on the dance floor.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Preview of Coming Attractions
18 September 2008
I just got back from a weekend meeting with world famous concert pianist, Danny Wright. www.dannywright.com/site/index.php . We spent the weekend working on a project to put my book, Jigsaw, to music. The plan is to create a product that is a hybrid of both music and words to help people going through divorce.
Wow! Am I excited!
I stayed in the North Dallas business district at the Doubletree at Campbell Centre. (That's the complex depicted in the opening scenes of the old evening soap opera: Dallas). The next day, I was invited to "The Mansion" Hotel on Turtle Creek Drive, where Danny treated me and a few friends to a private concert.
I will never forget Danny sitting at a brilliant white Steinway, in a white shirt, his back to a huge west window. The sun was setting as he began to play. His blonde hair glowed white.
His music is incomprehensibly beautiful, and touched me at places in my heart that I did not know existed anymore.
Anyway, Danny is going to be writing music especially for the book. What good fortune for me and for thousands of people who will be touched in the same way I was! I can't wait!
Have you ever met someone that you instantly knew was a kindred soul? Meeting Danny was like that for me. This is simply one of the most attractive people I have ever met, and his music as gorgeous as he is. I did not want to leave. What can I say? I am in love!
I just got back from a weekend meeting with world famous concert pianist, Danny Wright. www.dannywright.com/site/index.php . We spent the weekend working on a project to put my book, Jigsaw, to music. The plan is to create a product that is a hybrid of both music and words to help people going through divorce.
Wow! Am I excited!
I stayed in the North Dallas business district at the Doubletree at Campbell Centre. (That's the complex depicted in the opening scenes of the old evening soap opera: Dallas). The next day, I was invited to "The Mansion" Hotel on Turtle Creek Drive, where Danny treated me and a few friends to a private concert.
I will never forget Danny sitting at a brilliant white Steinway, in a white shirt, his back to a huge west window. The sun was setting as he began to play. His blonde hair glowed white.
His music is incomprehensibly beautiful, and touched me at places in my heart that I did not know existed anymore.
Anyway, Danny is going to be writing music especially for the book. What good fortune for me and for thousands of people who will be touched in the same way I was! I can't wait!
Have you ever met someone that you instantly knew was a kindred soul? Meeting Danny was like that for me. This is simply one of the most attractive people I have ever met, and his music as gorgeous as he is. I did not want to leave. What can I say? I am in love!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Knowledge is power
A few weeks ago, I had a pain on the left side of my neck that prevented me from sleeping well at night. In fact, I stayed up until 4 a.m. several nights, working on things so I wouldn't have to go to bed. In the back of my mind, I recalled that my father had suffered a heart attack at age 50, and had several heart surgeries thereafter. Of course this lead to my fantasizing about all kinds of dire causes for the pain in my neck that was also radiating to the left side of my chest and left shoulder.
I rarely go to doctors, but this situation motivated me to find a cardiologist near me. Luckily, she was an excellent one; Dr. Vicky Savas. After testing my blood pressure and so forth, and hearing my symptoms, she opined that I had pulled a muscle in my neck and merely needed to take some anti-inflammatories and lay off exercise for a few days. Meanwhile, I signed up to take a stress test, because the pain had caused me enough concern to make me want to be sure it was not my heart.
I took the stress test, and two weeks later, got the result. Dr. Savas said it was "stellar." That wasn't enough for me; I had to know exactly what that meant. She said that during the test, my heart rate went up to 150 while on the treadmill. Generally, it is a good thing when patients heart rate goes down ten to fifteen beats in the next minute. But Dr. Savas told me my heart rate went down 75 points, to 75, in one minute! She said it was the best recovery they'd ever had. I thought of all the years I had silently worried about the condition of my heart, due to my dad's history. All the years I wasted with needless anxiety, only to find out that my heart is a champion!
How about you? Do you lay awake nights worrying about something that you could easily dispel with a little more information? If so, take my advice: Go out and find out about it. Whatever it costs, it's worth it. If there is something to worry about, you can take steps to deal with it NOW. And if there is not, you can restore peace to your inner space and enjoy your life more. As Winston Churchill once said, we have nothing to fear but fear itself
I rarely go to doctors, but this situation motivated me to find a cardiologist near me. Luckily, she was an excellent one; Dr. Vicky Savas. After testing my blood pressure and so forth, and hearing my symptoms, she opined that I had pulled a muscle in my neck and merely needed to take some anti-inflammatories and lay off exercise for a few days. Meanwhile, I signed up to take a stress test, because the pain had caused me enough concern to make me want to be sure it was not my heart.
I took the stress test, and two weeks later, got the result. Dr. Savas said it was "stellar." That wasn't enough for me; I had to know exactly what that meant. She said that during the test, my heart rate went up to 150 while on the treadmill. Generally, it is a good thing when patients heart rate goes down ten to fifteen beats in the next minute. But Dr. Savas told me my heart rate went down 75 points, to 75, in one minute! She said it was the best recovery they'd ever had. I thought of all the years I had silently worried about the condition of my heart, due to my dad's history. All the years I wasted with needless anxiety, only to find out that my heart is a champion!
How about you? Do you lay awake nights worrying about something that you could easily dispel with a little more information? If so, take my advice: Go out and find out about it. Whatever it costs, it's worth it. If there is something to worry about, you can take steps to deal with it NOW. And if there is not, you can restore peace to your inner space and enjoy your life more. As Winston Churchill once said, we have nothing to fear but fear itself
Friday, July 25, 2008
Workout Mania
Today my daughter and I worked out with our personal trainer, aka Ms. Muscles. What a workout it was! Sheryl always pushes us to our very limit, and the only thing that keeps us going sometimes is the protein shake at the end of the tunnel. Truth is, a tough workout like that is just what the doctor ordered, on many levels.
For people going through divorce, a good workout helps them relieve the stress they are going through. It also helps them focus on something else for a change, and creates endorphins in the brain, which leads to a great feeling when you are done! Moreover, getting divorced means that soon you will be newly single, and getting back into the dating world at some point. (But don't rush yourself!) Regular workouts help us get back into shape, and make us physically stronger.
Do yourself a favor as you go through this major life change. Find a physical activity you like to do, and stick with it! You'll be glad you did.
For people going through divorce, a good workout helps them relieve the stress they are going through. It also helps them focus on something else for a change, and creates endorphins in the brain, which leads to a great feeling when you are done! Moreover, getting divorced means that soon you will be newly single, and getting back into the dating world at some point. (But don't rush yourself!) Regular workouts help us get back into shape, and make us physically stronger.
Do yourself a favor as you go through this major life change. Find a physical activity you like to do, and stick with it! You'll be glad you did.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Never Give Up!
Winston Churchill, in one of the shortest yet most powerful speeches in history, once said, "Never, never, never, never, never give up!" Well, that has been my motto in getting this blog started. Let's see if I did it this time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
