Rome wasn't built in a day

What takes time is lasting!


This has been a year long journey.  Actually starting thinking about this one year ago, but really set my feet on the path January 1, 2010.

It's interesting the "journey".   I look back and recall some real struggles with making a change.

It's great to see my life blossom where I "without thought" (that's a good thing for me!)
make right choices.

It's great to see when I waiver on making the right choice - I now recognize where I need to make improvements.

Nothing good comes fast.  Kind of like microwave food!  It's fast, but is it really "good for you".

I see the strength I receive from "blogging" (journal, diary...).  There is no better joy to re-read my blogs.  I know that what I am saying is real in my blogs because I'm living it.

Victory belongs to the most persevering. 

Napoleon Bonaparte

Salute! 

What you seek YOU WILL FIND -

Psalm 32:11  

 ¹¹ Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; 

       sing, all you who are upright in heart!

 Here's a little story:

Instead of doing something I was hoping to do while visiting an amazing city... I was doing something that made someone else happy.  I knew I  had a choice to be happy or "cranky" about it.  If I chose to "pout" and complain....

 it would only upset the other person and NO one would be happy.  Plus, it then would be about me manipulating the situation, person with my attitude to "do what I wanted to do".  I changed my expectation and desires to just "enjoy" whatever!    I played the "Pollyanna" happy game.  It was wonderful.

I chose to make the most of this situation and found things to be "Grateful" for.... Like being with someone I loved and loved me. Being somewhere amazing... even if what I was doing wasn't exactly what I wanted to do. I gave!  and I received!

 I was blessed with peace and even laughter .   

Thank God we have the freedom to chose being Bitter or Better in any situation.

Being better is from choosing to have a grateful Heart.

Do you think this is True?

If you're looking for a "problem" - You'll probably find it

If you're looking for a  "solution" - You'll  probably find it

If you're looking to be "unhappy" in a situation - You'll probably find it

If you're looking for something to "glad" about - You'll probably find it

So, when you're faced with a situation  that isn't pleasant or not what you expected it to be... or stressful or  W H A T E V E R (you fill in the word) I suggest saying :

 "This is going to be great..."  

"I'm going to make this work"    

"I can do it"     

"I'm going to make this fun"

Universal truth about life:  You  usually get what you're  expecting  

What kind of person do you want to be?

What kind of person do you want people to see in you?

Ohh..... there was this picture on the wall in the restaurant we went to today of  

Jacqueline Kennedy  ... It made me think:  

I want to be a women of Grace and Elegance.

I don't think Grace and Elegance goes with Bitter and Complaining!  

 I do think a women dressed in a "Grateful Heart and Gentile Words"  is  the picture of Graceful and Elegant.

So   THINK what you want to have

Think if what you want to have (desire)  is Good, True, Lovely, Honest

Then

SAY what you want to have - Hear yourself saying and speaking thoughts and words that

reflect: JOY, LOVE, PEACE, PATIENCE and HOPE

Think it, Say it, Expect it!

Salute!  To your health and Wellness

PS

Just for the fun of it.... next time your having a mammogram ... play the "glad" game.  LOL

 

Piece of Pie or Peace of Mind? You Choose

Driving down one of the rural roads near my home yesterday  afternoon.... 

I experienced a moment of peace my heart.

On the left side of this road is a row of gigantic Oak trees that goes on for almost a mile...   It caught my attention  that there leaves seemed to be sparkling as the wind blew through the branches.  Oh, how I've always been drawn to shinny things.... don't raccoons love shinny things too?  That's another story.

As this moment captured my attention and I choose to take a "snap shot picture in my mind" of those magnificent trees with amazing movement and reflective light on it's leaves.  A picture and feeling that I have filed away in my mind and even now I can pull  it out right now and see it.... bringing me a smile and peaceful feeling in my heart.


It occurred to me that I often travel down this road and have never noticed this sight before.  WHY?  I'm glad you asked me!  hahah

Because typical of our unbalanced lives we are caught up in the moment with a "busy" mind somewhere other than where we are.  We MISS so much that has been created for us to enjoy.... We miss the peace that is weaved into these moments because our minds are preoccupied with thoughts miles away from where we are or what we are doing.

In fact.  I even noticed  earlier that day when sitting in a dressing room, waiting for the salesperson to get me another size "skinny jean" (yes, I'm not quite in a smaller pant size YET but I WILL BE)
So......I had a moment of noticing something while waiting.

My body was tense and up tight, my thoughts were negative.... I wasn't enjoying myself.
Yes, seeing my body image in a freakin 3 way mirror with the worse lighting known to mankind.... it was to say the least stressful.

 Going in a department store dressing room is like a Disco party for Cellulite.

Ok, then my mind wandered to the fact that I really wasn't suppose to be shopping  which produced more "STRESS"... but anyone who knows me... knows I'm drawn to "any store" that has an open door.  Love to shop, even if it's just window shopping.  I'm just LOOKING!  I feel so accomplished when I save money ....  too bad my husband doesn't get that concept.  Any way, back to the story.

At the moment I realized where my mind and spirit was.... it was like my body.... "up tight and out of sync" - unbalanced... not enjoying the moment.

Finding humor in the moment... finding an opportunity to interact with someone... enjoying .... just enjoying something about where and who you are.  Being at peace in the moment... being creative in the moment... Listening, looking, hearing.. feeling,  JUST BE IN THE MOMENT!  anyway... I know.... I'm kind of yelling... I'll take a deep breath and then continue my story.

I STOPPED and dropped  into the dressing room chair. 

Sitting on my clothes.... then I

 Paid attention to my clenched hands, 

my shoulders were positioned like ear rings and 

my face showed no evidence of botox injections

I consciously then  tightened and released (relaxed)  my hands, shoulders, arms and legs... then with palms  faced up,  I closed my eye's and took  a few slow breaths .. while reminding myself to be still!  Quite my mind and listen to my body.  Then,  I listened to each breath and then whispered to the Lord asking him to forgive me for not having a thankful heart... then I began to whisper in my mind words of  thanksgiving for what and who I am, for what God has blessed me with....
                                  focused on having a grateful heart, and positive thoughts.
                

That was wonderful....  I think that was why when I drove home down that long road home I was able to see those amazing oak tree's with their leaves glistening in the sunlight, I  had peace in my heart to enjoy the moment I was in... and not miss the beauty that God put in place for us to enjoy.

Revelation 4:11 

 ¹¹Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and Honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Balance yourself in HIM and find the peace your body and Mind desire.
Do it for your Health and Wellness.  Honor Him by Honoring You.


Salute!  To your Health and Wellness

Who's body is it?

I was thinking last night that I still may not be truly balancing!  Thinking about Real dedicated time Spiritually. 


Then today, with Bible open near my Computer where I blog.  I thought of the story of Daniel.


When my kids were little we had a series of Children's bible stories.  One was of Daniel as a boy (oh my am I sorry I don't have those books to pass on to my Grand kids... and I can't find anything comparable to them- I've looked).


When Daniel as a boy was taken captive (as a Slave) by King Nebuchadnezzar's armies.


As the story goes the King ordered to have some of the Jewish Youths of Royal Family taught the Chaldean language and literature.  Daniel was one of the choosen ones.  And guess who his friends were that were also chosen: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (their Babylonian names) 


(A real chilling Sunday school story about these 3 friend of Daniel   being thrown into a fiery furnace because of their dedication to the Lord...  Oh, how I Loved the felt board they used in  Sunday School in those day's.... ahhh such memories).  Well, any way


The story is about Daniel choosing to Honor his Lord by not defiling his BODY!  He asked to not eating  the Meats (not kosher) and drinking the  Wine that was offered by the King.


Read the story yourself....   

Daniel 1:11-21 

  ¹¹ Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego   ¹² "Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.¹³ Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see." ¹⁴ So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.

 ¹⁵ At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. ¹⁶ So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.
 ¹⁷ To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.
 ¹⁸ At the end of the time set by the king to bring them in, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. ¹⁹ The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego; so they entered the king's service. ²⁰ In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.

  

  I know, I keep on harping on this over and over and over again  

OUR lives are all about BALANCE!  

How can we neglect our Spirit? 

The only part of us that is eternal

The only part of us that is directly connected to our Creator

When we make the choice to 

HONOR our body 

(which is honoring our Creator) we are rewarded and blessed.

We are successful in making the right choices because we desire 

the right things in our life. 

When you believe this (when it becomes rooted in your mind)

When you start putting your thoughts into actions

When you actions are powered by your spiritual strength

YOU WILL HAVE HEALTH and WELLNESS on a whole new level

I will make a commitment to myself to be more thoughtful 

and to spend more effort and time on my spiritual walk

I will Balance myself  so I will not  fall

Salute!  To your Health and Wellness

How can you expect other's to love you when you don't love yourself .  

When you love yourself you TAKE CARE of yourself.

It's your own Reality Show - Who's watching?

How would you behave if you had a camera on you following you around all day?

I thought about this when reading in Zechariah about "Angels".  The Bible speaks about Angels watching over us.... Yikes, then we ARE being watched.

Psalm 91:11-12  

 ¹¹For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
 ¹²They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone

But if you can't get your arms around the "Angel" thing.... I think you can imagine a film crew following you around and recording your every move.  No, they can't capture your thoughts unless you talk to yourself as I do.  Yes, I do.... and proud of it!  It's very therapeutic for me to HEAR with my own ear's whats happening in my head.  It can be at times frightening.  It definitely puts me in check on what I'm thinking about.

Yes, they are watching.... eeewwwwww
"I believe"!  Because the Bible says so

Ok, then move on to the belief that "Jesus" is with you in every step of your day.


DAHHH  the point is this:  

Are we being responsible with 

W O R D S and T H O U G H T S  

matching our A C T I O N S?

Do our actions match up with our Words?   If someone were to start a discussion about Dieting, what would you say.  I bet you would, like most of us, you have your take on HOW TO DIET.

Yet,  When you last looked into the mirror and sighed because your not happy with your weight..... DO YOU GET IT!

You know what to do and how to do it but, YOUR ACTIONS do not match your WORDS.

Why?  

Thank you for asking!  I'll tell you why.

Because your NOT BALANCED!

We live in a physical and spiritual world.  

OH, YES we do live in a spiritual world too.  

Of course, because we are Body, Mind and S P I R I T.

We "war" against ourselves because we do not balance our Mind, Body and Spirit.

This is why our mind says "I know how to be healthy"  but our body reflects poor eating choices.  And our Spirit gets ignored.  

We become T O X I C 

 when our

 body, mind and spirit 

are not connected and in HARMONY.  

Enough (in Italian that would be "BASTA")  oh, there you go thinking of food.  I said Basta with a "B" not "P"  like in  Pasta!  hahahahah

Salute!  To YOUR health and Wellness