I can’t even think of year, like this one, that has been so stressful to so many people. Everyone has been affected, though some clearly more so, or more egregiously, than others.
So many feelings … fearful, angry, frustrated, uncertain, abandoned, neglected, lonely, depressed, anxious, and on and on. Can you relate? And each of us has different conditioning, a different perspective, different life situations, and processes the “V” and the “V” and the lockdown and the restrictions … well, differently.
But no matter how you’re processing, most of these 2020 feelings (whether new-found or re-surfaced) are NOT comfortable. Am I right?
What if you could get more comfortable, release some of the gunky gunk you may have taken on in 2020, and reclaim your physical and emotional vitality?
I invite you to do just that! You can learn more here.
As always, feel free to reach out to me for a convo!
If you'd like to hear more from me, don't miss my blog posts!
Do you have a big dream or goal you’d like to realize? Something you’d really like to see happen, or something you’d like to make happen ... for yourself, or for you and your family, or for your community ... or for the world at large?
A goal is a dream with a stated realization date.
For purposes of this writing,
For purposes of this writing,
“dream” and “goal” will be used interchangeably.
So, let me ask you ... Do you even dare to dream?
A world-wide, or larger community, dream?
Do you have a big, hairy, audacious dream/goal, like world peace and feeding all the starving children? Good for you! I’m glad there are people who have those kinds of dreams/goals!
A YOU-centered dream?
Maybe your goal is a little more YOU-centered? That’s ok, too, of course. Any dream that makes your heart sing, is perfect for you!
Maybe your necessities are well taken care of, and you dream of a huge estate, with staff (chef, house manager, chauffeur, trainer), in The Hamptons? Private jet and pilot on the side, of course, to fulfill your heart’s desire to whisk you away to the four corners of the earth?
A goal around thriving ... in a financial sense?
Is your goal paying off your children’s (or grandchildren’s) college education, so that neither you nor they will be saddled with student loans? Or maybe your goal is paying off your own student loans???
Is your goal to make sure you are prepared for your (eventual) retirement, so you don’t have to work into your 70’s or 80’s, unless you really want to, and you don’t have to burden your kids to support you?
Is your goal to make the maximum contribution to your Roth IRA each year to get you closer, still, to being able to retire?
Is your goal to pay off your mortgage, so that your home is free and clear - and that is one less monthly bill - and now you can save for, or invest in, something else. And no matter what, you have a home.
A goal around thriving ... in your physical, emotional and mental energies?
Maybe you’d like to be able to consult with, and perhaps receive treatment from, alternative healthcare practitioners, or other medical practitioners, who are not covered by your health insurance.
Maybe you’d like to be able to even just afford health insurance?
Is your goal to be able to take better care of yourself? Eat fresh organic foods, take high-quality supplements, receive monthly (or weekly!) massages, enjoy get a trainer, enjoy a gym membership, attend a retreat workshop?
Maybe your goal is to have all your high-quality supplements, which contribute to you living your most vibrant life, paid for.
Maybe your dream is to have a bit of a not-accountable-to-anybody stash of cash. That can feel oh so liberating!
Would you like to refresh your body – look and feel 10 years younger?
A goal about surviving ... just gettin’ by?
Perhaps your goal is to pay off that debt (credit card, car loan, line-of-credit) that has been insidiously creeping up on you over the years, and becoming more and more a burden and weighing you down … even as you tell no one the situation you've gotten yourself into, and you become more and more stuck.
Is your goal to purchase a reliable vehicle, so that you have transportation to get to-and-from your job … so that you can continue to earn money to pay all your bills?
Maybe someone else (your spouse, your child, the government) is supporting you, and your goal is to be self-sufficient, self-reliant.
Desperate for a way out, perhaps, are you in an untenable, insufferable relationship, and it’s imperative that you get out of it. And you would be able to ... if only you had the resources.
There are so many “levels”, and types, of goals/dreams!
I've barely touched the surface here, of course. Your dream, your “level” of dream, at this time in your life, isn’t right or wrong. The dream you have, right now, is most likely based on your circumstances (e.g., financial inflow and reserve, age, relationship/family status, etc.), your personality, and even your background (your childhood and conditioning). And, of course, as time goes on and/or circumstances change, your dreams and goals may change.
Over the years, I have worked my way through many of these “levels” of goals, and I’ve figured out a LOT along the way. One of the things I’ve figured out is that I am you, and you are me, and each of us is here to help illuminate the way for the other. We all encounter obstacles, and learning from someone who has found their way around them, is invaluable. Long ago, I embraced learning from the “wise ones who appeared before me” … and I still do!
Accomplishing your goal may require nothing more than invested time and effort, along with dedication – putting something on project status, and making sure it gets done.
However, very often, fulfilling a goal requires an infusion of some amount of cash (resources), and for you, that lack of resources may be what is blocking you from fulfilling (or even pursuing!) your heart’s most aching desire … and that’s precisely why most of the goals I mentioned have to do with resources.
And you know what else? Realizing your dream always involves believing in yourself, and knowing that you can do it, you can have it, you can enjoy it … the “it” being whatever your dream is.
YOUR dream IS important!!!
Whatever “it” may be, YOUR dream IS important. Your dream matters. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
If you feel blocked in pursuing and achieving your dream, you are invited to reach out to me. Seriously. No guarantees that I can help. But I can listen, and really hear you, and if I think I can help you move toward realizing your dream, I’ll let you know, and we can move forward in making a plan.
If you'd like to hear more from me, don't miss my blog posts!
Imagine this … You’re seated in a diner, enjoying your meal, and what are you very likely to see??? A waitress going from table to table, offering coffee – to bring you a cup, or to refill your cup.
Am I right? (This is fairly stereotypical for me. If it’s not for you, just go with it, ok?)
Does every restaurant patron accept her offer?
Am I right? (This is fairly stereotypical for me. If it’s not for you, just go with it, ok?)
Does every restaurant patron accept her offer?
No.
Why not?
There could be any number of reasons:
They don’t drink coffee, for medical, religious or other reasons, or because they dislike it .
They’ve had enough coffee that day.
They might want some more in a little while, but not right now.
They can’t afford a cup of coffee.
They can afford a cup of coffee, and they choose not to purchase one at that time.
They like coffee, but they don’t care for that diner’s coffee.
They’ve never tasted coffee, and they don’t feel like trying it now.
And the list could go on … you get the idea.
If a restaurant patron does not accept the waitress’ offer, does that mean that they will never ever accept her offer down the road?
If a restaurant patron does not accept the waitress’ offer, does that mean that they will never ever accept her offer down the road?
Of course not. The condition for which her offer was rejected could change at any time, and then they may wish to accept her offer of coffee. It’s also true that they may, indeed, never ever (even on future diner visits) accept her offer.
When the waitress’ offer to bring a cup of coffee, or refill a cup of coffee, is declined, does the waitress get upset? Have her feelings hurt? Resign from her job? Quit offering coffee? Blame herself? Pout?
No!
Why not?!
Well, she understands that, whether or not her customers take her up on her offer for coffee, offering coffee is part of her job (being of service to her customers), and if it turns out that her customer would like some coffee, it will make them very happy, and they will be pleased with her service.
This is the main thing though: She also understands that the customer’s decision is not all about her. She shows up, as who she is in her position as server, and offers to serve her customers … and she understands and accepts that, at any time, a customer may not accept her offering of coffee. Period.
Now, I’ve been describing someone in a job (the waitress), but this could just as well pertain to how someone shows up in their life.
I’ve always had a natural bent toward health and wellness (physical, mental, emotional, relationship, and more recently, financial wellness), and I find myself showing up as someone who wishes to serve others along those lines, by listening, understanding, and offering solutions, if I can.
Hmmm … there’s that word, “offering”...
No!
Why not?!
Well, she understands that, whether or not her customers take her up on her offer for coffee, offering coffee is part of her job (being of service to her customers), and if it turns out that her customer would like some coffee, it will make them very happy, and they will be pleased with her service.
This is the main thing though: She also understands that the customer’s decision is not all about her. She shows up, as who she is in her position as server, and offers to serve her customers … and she understands and accepts that, at any time, a customer may not accept her offering of coffee. Period.
Now, I’ve been describing someone in a job (the waitress), but this could just as well pertain to how someone shows up in their life.
I’ve always had a natural bent toward health and wellness (physical, mental, emotional, relationship, and more recently, financial wellness), and I find myself showing up as someone who wishes to serve others along those lines, by listening, understanding, and offering solutions, if I can.
Hmmm … there’s that word, “offering”...
Do I get upset, have my feelings hurt, pout, when someone does not accept the solution I’ve offered?
If I’m being honest, yep, sometimes I do.
But you know what? That’s ok, because life is a journey, as they say, and I am getting better at understanding and accepting that it’s ok for me to show up as me, with my heart for helping others create a brighter future, and that others may still choose to decline what I’m offering.
It may not be the right offer for them. It may not be the right timing for them. They may not have confidence in me and/or the solution I’ve offered. They may not have the confidence in themselves to implement the solution.
That’s all ok. I’ll just keep showing up as me … offering my “coffee”.
And my "coffee" will be just the right offer for just the right person at just the right time. No accidents. Everything is working out just as it's supposed to.
So, tell me …
What kind of “coffee” do you offer?
What kind of “coffee” do you offer?
What is your "light" that you shine in someone else's spaces of darkness.
If you're not sure, trust me, it's worth finding out.
And then show up as you ... and offer ...
and trust that you will connect with those who need to receive your offer.
Go HERE to get my free guide, 3 Ways to Invest in YourSelf for Vibrant Health?
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I feel really fortunate that my (adult, married) daughter is living nearby. She and I have gotten into the very lovely habit of having breakfast together every week or two - once in a while at her house, but typically at my house. Whenever I hosted, I would usually make some kind of egg and cheese omelet or frittata, and perhaps some fruit, or maybe even pancakes or cinnamon rolls … if we’re having a “treat”.
Well, she and her husband recently decided to explore going toward a more plant-based diet - not “whole hog” (so to speak), but in a relaxed-and-let’s-ease-into-it kind of way. And so, desiring to support my daughter’s diet choices, I decided to change up the plan for our upcoming breakfast - no more eggs, cheese, milk, cream, butter … not to mention bacon or sausage! (And, to make matters even more interesting, for years my daughter has had issues with beans, soy, tofu, and the like. That meant that even a bean burrito with guac was OUT!)
So, what did I do to figure out what to serve for our upcoming breakfast in a couple of days???
I made a post on Facebook asking for recommendations and suggestions … and, WOW, did my Facebook world ever step up to help a girl out!
I received so many excellent suggestions, and even several recipes. A lot of suggestions for avocado-toast, which I love! Also, a number of suggestions involving eggs. (I have come to learn that the term, “plant-based” is a bit flexible, apparently.) And the suggestions involving beans or tofu … well, I wasn’t too sure about those, because of my daughter’s past issues with them.
The next day after receiving all these very helpful suggestions, was the day before when we were to have breakfast. I was very caught up in my work all day long, and I never got around to planning our meal … which, in all honesty, is pretty much par for the course for me.
Nevertheless, I had about a 1-hour break in the late afternoon to go shop for several (potential) ingredients we could use for our breakfast. I went to the health food store, armed with some vague ideas about what I wanted to accomplish. A very nice store clerk helped me find all kinds of items, which were mostly unfamiliar to me. I thanked him, and he said, “No problem. These are the foods I eat all the time.”
When my daughter came over the next morning, we got to it!
First course
We started off browning some onion in avocado oil. Then she crumbled in the shelf-stable extra-firm tofu (turns out, she’s been doing ok with it!), and sprinkled in nutritional yeast and turmeric. We served this, dotted with a bit of Sriracha, with sliced avocado, sauerkraut and grapes.
Second course
We used a pancake mix (ok…not totally plant-based, but within tolerances), and to substitute for egg, we used a boxed “egg replacer” added to warm water, and for the milk we used oat milk. We served the pancakes with strawberries, “buttery sticks” (crafted from various plant oils) and maple syrup. Coffee with oat milk for our beverage.
The meal was yummo … from top to bottom!
The best part of all? We had a great time making it together! She taught me a couple of things, and I shared with her some of the suggestions I learned from my Facebook tribe.
I’m grateful to you (you know who you are!) for helping me figure this out … and of course there’s so much more to learn, right? And I’m especially grateful for my daughter and son-in-law for their exploration, which led me to mine.
At this point, I’m not sure how far I’ll go with a plant-based diet, but one thing is for sure – there are resources galore! You just have to take a moment to ask, and then listen.
What recent “exploration” have you embarked on, for which you asked, and received, valuable input from friendly, helpful people, who were willing to be a resource for your “journey”?
Well, she and her husband recently decided to explore going toward a more plant-based diet - not “whole hog” (so to speak), but in a relaxed-and-let’s-ease-into-it kind of way. And so, desiring to support my daughter’s diet choices, I decided to change up the plan for our upcoming breakfast - no more eggs, cheese, milk, cream, butter … not to mention bacon or sausage! (And, to make matters even more interesting, for years my daughter has had issues with beans, soy, tofu, and the like. That meant that even a bean burrito with guac was OUT!)
So, what did I do to figure out what to serve for our upcoming breakfast in a couple of days???
I made a post on Facebook asking for recommendations and suggestions … and, WOW, did my Facebook world ever step up to help a girl out!
I received so many excellent suggestions, and even several recipes. A lot of suggestions for avocado-toast, which I love! Also, a number of suggestions involving eggs. (I have come to learn that the term, “plant-based” is a bit flexible, apparently.) And the suggestions involving beans or tofu … well, I wasn’t too sure about those, because of my daughter’s past issues with them.
The next day after receiving all these very helpful suggestions, was the day before when we were to have breakfast. I was very caught up in my work all day long, and I never got around to planning our meal … which, in all honesty, is pretty much par for the course for me.
Nevertheless, I had about a 1-hour break in the late afternoon to go shop for several (potential) ingredients we could use for our breakfast. I went to the health food store, armed with some vague ideas about what I wanted to accomplish. A very nice store clerk helped me find all kinds of items, which were mostly unfamiliar to me. I thanked him, and he said, “No problem. These are the foods I eat all the time.”
When my daughter came over the next morning, we got to it!
First course
We started off browning some onion in avocado oil. Then she crumbled in the shelf-stable extra-firm tofu (turns out, she’s been doing ok with it!), and sprinkled in nutritional yeast and turmeric. We served this, dotted with a bit of Sriracha, with sliced avocado, sauerkraut and grapes.
Second courseWe used a pancake mix (ok…not totally plant-based, but within tolerances), and to substitute for egg, we used a boxed “egg replacer” added to warm water, and for the milk we used oat milk. We served the pancakes with strawberries, “buttery sticks” (crafted from various plant oils) and maple syrup. Coffee with oat milk for our beverage.
The meal was yummo … from top to bottom!
The best part of all? We had a great time making it together! She taught me a couple of things, and I shared with her some of the suggestions I learned from my Facebook tribe.
I’m grateful to you (you know who you are!) for helping me figure this out … and of course there’s so much more to learn, right? And I’m especially grateful for my daughter and son-in-law for their exploration, which led me to mine.
At this point, I’m not sure how far I’ll go with a plant-based diet, but one thing is for sure – there are resources galore! You just have to take a moment to ask, and then listen.
What recent “exploration” have you embarked on, for which you asked, and received, valuable input from friendly, helpful people, who were willing to be a resource for your “journey”?
If you'd like to hear more from me, don't miss my blog posts!
Continued from What's Up With Your Sore Throat? ...
Really? How could this be? What had changed in my life?
It hit me like a bolt of lightning! I had found my voice.
Say what, Marie? What are you talking about?
Ten years ago, during my process of becoming an Advanced Certified BodyTalk Practitioner, I had learned about Body Consciousness – that each part of the body has a consciousness, a role, a reason for being.
Consider your throat. What’s located in and around your throat? Well, for one thing, your voice box – your vocal chords. You can see, then, that one of your throat’s reasons for being, one of its states of consciousness, is communication and expression.
When studying BodyTalk, I learned that a physical pathology in an area of the body can create a pathology in consciousness, and that the reverse is true, as well. A pathological consciousness can create a physical pathology in that area of the body.
Ten years ago, I had come to understand that I did not have my voice, because I had, for many years, allowed various people and circumstances in my life, to shut down my expression of myself.
Equipped with that awareness, I allowed myself to transform from being "muted Marie" to a much more complete expression of myself, and I have come to know that, depending on the situation, even a conscious choice to abstain from vocal expression can the highest and best expression of myself.
Not having a voice, not having an adequate expression of my being, had made sore throats a recurrent theme in my life!
What an amazing journey this is. So many doors opening to new understandings.
Now, with this glimpse into my world of understanding, you can see how a sore throat is not just a sore throat!
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