Tag Archives: #health

Spirituality

Seriously, Though…

I’m eternally optimistic, grateful for everything good in my life, and I don’t have bad days. Even though my attitude is different from most people, there are things in this world that concern me.

It’s expensive to live. Costs are rising at a much slower pace, but a lot of strain was placed on family budgets because of hyper inflation. Affordable housing is part of the mix, too.

There are a lot of good people in the United States who are living in the shadows. They go about their business quietly, doing what’s right, contributing to their community, yet they are afraid. I don’t want anyone to feel afraid. There is a viable path to citizenship for them.

Our food is getting fixed, thanks to HHS Secretary Bobby Kennedy and his team. Obesity is off the charts, especially in children. Kennedy’s efforts continue to face great opposition from the food industry lobbyists. When profits are threatened, the solution becomes more challenging.

There are other areas of concern, but for the sake of brevity I will save those for future columns. My motivation is to leave this world better than I found it.

More government is not the solution. Our politicians created much of the mess. It’s time that we the people run the show and demand the politicians either lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way. Seriously…

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Spirituality, Uncategorized

The New Food Pyramid

Another solid recommendation for our health has come from the Department of Health and Human Services. This time it’s the food pyramid. And man, like the pyramid, it turned people on their heads!

Food is fuel. It’s like putting gasoline into your car (or electricity for EV drivers). When you put high quality fuel into your body, it runs at maximum efficiency. Low grade fuel works fine for a while, but causes engine problems down the road.

Chronic disease is epidemic in the United States. And rather than take responsibility for their health, many people opt for medications to keep them alive. Great progress can be made by eating better and getting some exercise. It takes time so you need some patience, too.

Of course, there are those who will fight for their processed foods along with unhealthy habits, all because they hate the Trump administration. This is shortsighted because there are some brilliant, dedicated scientists who work at HHS. Science isn’t political, nor is our health. It shouldn’t be for you, either.

The losers in this situation are the food and pharmaceutical lobbyists. They keep you eating improperly and you stay sick. Food companies continue mass-producing crap for people to eat. The pharmaceutical companies gain a customer for life. And when you consider that almost half of our children have a chronic illness, they are starting them earlier and earlier. It doesn’t bother me one bit if the lobbyists lose this fight.

Your health is your choice. I encourage you to choose wisely…

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Spirituality

Aging in Reverse

So far, no one has been able to reverse their biological clock. But in the technologically advanced world we live in, anything is possible.

There are several things we can do to slow down the aging process. Intense exercise that incorporates strength training along with some cardio builds muscle and reduces inflammation. Exercise also enhances your cellular function. I encourage you to work up a sweat at least four times per week.

Our diet can help as well. Organic foods, olive oil, fresh vegetables and nuts are in the optimal mix. Reduce alcohol consumption, too.

Prayer and meditation are good for easing your mind and taking away worries and stresses. Undue stress can cause inflammation. You really can prevent it if you take the steps to reduce it. But you gotta believe.

Keep your mind active. Have meaningful conversations. Listen well. And keep an open mind to new possibilities.

Take the time to take care of yourself. You will be better for it, and your quality of life will improve dramatically…

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Spirituality

Burned Out

When people tell me they are going through a period of burnout, most associate it with being overworked, overwhelmed and tired. Burnout is more than this. And it can be prevented.

People get burned out because the stressors of life are too much to handle in that moment. Work, obligations, unexpected challenges, the list of stressors never ends. This is just how life is, yet it’s manageable.

Setting healthy boundaries is the key to preventing burnout. Learn to say no. Take the time to take care of yourself. If you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be any good to anyone else. It starts with your mental health.

Prioritize sleep, eat good food, real food not processed crap, and have meaningful conversations with others. All of these impact your mental well-being. Neglecting one or more and your life becomes unbalanced. You have burned out.

The better you are, the better you can be for others. Take care…

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Spirituality

Take It Easy

In many ways we have become lazy. The proliferation of 7-11 stores was due to our desire to save time. We were willing to pay higher prices for convenience.

Fast food has become a staple of American culture and cuisine. Yes, we save time when we pick up a bag of hamburgers on the way home. But we miss the human connection we get from preparing a meal together. The loss is intangible so we don’t notice it as much.

Today, there are six obesity drugs available. Give yourself a weekly shot and you’ll lose much of your appetite. Yet, you also lose the satisfaction of taking the weight off naturally through exercise. The satisfaction of accomplishment is gone. Plus, weight loss through diet and exercise has no side effects, unlike drugs.

We are hardwired to grow, to achieve. This aids in the development of healthy neural pathways. God has given us every tool we need to live long, healthy, productive lives. Let’s not take His gift for granted…

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Spirituality

This Must Change

Recently I read about people who were doing “Dry January,” putting their drinking on hold for 31 days. From the struggles people seemed to be experiencing by giving up alcohol, they should have chosen a shorter month, like February!

Our country has become obese, and it’s not getting better. Obesity is as harmful as alcoholism. We can rationalize eating because food isn’t going to hurt us. Or does it?

Healthy bodies begin in the mind. How we think will determine what we do. Good health is available to everyone. Taking the steps to improve isn’t a sacrifice.

What we gain must remain in the forefront of our minds. Read articles about health. Get any junk food out of your house. You can regain your health if you refuse to give up. And I encourage you to use your extra energy for something good!

Good health is within your reach. Reach for it…

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Spirituality

Winter

It’s winter in Texas. This means we will have about ten days of cold weather and then we will be back in short sleeves. You gotta love it.

Personally, I like winter. I believe it’s because we don’t have a winter here like much of the rest of the world. Winter can be a difficult period for some. People don’t get out as much and socialize. Mental health can take a further hit.

Isolating ourselves from others puts us inside our own heads more than we should be. Podcasts are great to listen to and learn from, but we need interaction with other people.

If you have a friend who hasn’t been seen or heard from in a while, I encourage you to reach out to them. It will be good for both of you…

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#inspiration

Naturally

Some relationships evolve so naturally that they seem effortless. You get each other and feel safe expressing yourself without judgment. Your rhythms are in sync with one another’s.

Our bodies are designed to process what we eat in the same way. Additives, dyes and fillers alter our DNA so we can accommodate unnatural foods being introduced into our system. Fortunately, this is reversible. We truly are what we eat, as the old saying goes.

Natural sunlight, organic fruits and vegetables are good for us. When you eat organic, non-processed foods you feel different, better. Yes, they are more expensive, but what is our health and longevity worth?

I encourage you to take in more of the natural beauty that surrounds you, and turn off the trash on the airwaves. Your future self will thank you…

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#inspiration

New Roads Await

Today we will revisit doing inner work and why it is vital.

Many people shy away from doing the self work required to grow and mature. The work challenges you to look at yourself and the decisions you’ve made, and why you went down that road. But on the other side of darkness lies peace, wisdom and new, healthy neural pathways.
Fourteen years of self-work and counting for me.

But it has been so worthwhile…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Healthy

What are your daily habits that are good for your health? By health, I mean more than just your physical health. But let’s begin there.

If you aren’t exercising, my encouragement to you is to start. Begin slowly. Start taking daily walks, outside if possible. Breathing fresh air and enjoying nature will help clear your mind. And we can all use a good cleansing sometimes!

Now let’s discuss exercise for your brain. If television appeals to you, watch documentaries at least twice per week. Well produced documentaries will make you think. They will inspire your curiosity, too. This gets the neural activity in your brain moving. And your brain will like it.

Finally, make sure you are having meaningful conversations with your friends and family. Be willing to discuss difficult issues, and listen with an open mind. This creates deeper connections which will benefit your overall physiology while increasing your immune system. All good things!

Change can be scary for some people. But in these cases, it’s a good scare…

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