How do you chew?

The earliest I can remember, I have been a fast eater. I came from a family of 8. If you didn’t eat it fast enough, someone else would snatch it up. So fast eating worked well for survival as a child, but now as an adult – I have the blessing to be able to sit with my family for a nice, leisurely meal without the threat of bro #1 or bro #2 swiping my food off of my plate.

I have discovered that by eating so fast, I don’t take the time to savor the flavors, textures, colors, temperatures of my food. I’m not “present” while I eat my food.

Last month I took an on-line class at Marilu.com. She is a great advocate for all things healthy (health in general, eating, and living). Please stop by and check her site out – it’s fabulous! But anyways, one of the assignments was to eat a meal with your eyes closed and note to yourself the experience. Was this an eye opening (pun intended!) lesson!

I realized that I:
1) Eat too fast – I slowed down when my eyes were closed.
2) Do not chew my food enough (my stomach does not have teeth.)
3) Enjoyed the textures, flavors and temperatures much more. The food even tasted
better!
4) Surprisingly was more aware of when I was full!

My challenge to you is to try this exercise yourself! Granted, you don’t need to eat your entire meal with your eyes closed, but close them periodically and enjoy the sensations! And please share with me your experience!

I have resolved to chew my food more, to always sit down when I eat, and to savor every morsel that gives me life!

Stuck

"Ultimately in life, you take either action or you don't. All the talk, analyzing, insight, and dreams are only interesting ideas until you put them into action. The challenge is to find your fire, the energy of transformation, and use it to mobilize your intentions in a sustained, organized direction.
Fire creates the alchemy that mixes together your hopes, desires, and dreams and converts them into "I can, I will, and here's my plan." - If the Buddha Got Stuck: A Handbook for Change on a Spiritual Path

Have you ever been "stuck"? That is my current local - "stuck", and I've been here in "stuck" for a very long time. How do I find my way out of "stuck"? The above quote really struck a chord in me. I may have the fire one day, then the next day nothing. Very frustrating but at least I can see that pattern and work my way forward.

What tricks have you done to get yourselves out of the "stuck" rut?

Escaping the Grey

We are born equipped to experience a complex array of diverse emotions. Many of us, however, are uncomfortable confronting our most powerful emotions. We may shy away from delight and despair and deny life’s colors by retreating into a world of monotone grey. We may numb ourselves to what we are truly feeling. It’s easier to suppress our emotions than to deal with them, so we may momentarily turn to pleasures such as alcohol, food, sugar, shopping and too much television. We may even numb our hearts. While it’s normal to temporarily seek distractions as a means of coping with intense emotions, numbing yourself prevents you from confronting your issues and keeps you from ever finding resolution or peace. When you are numb, there is no pain or powerlessness, but there can also be no joy or healing.The activities that numb you may seem harmless or pleasurable, but using them to numb yourself diminishes the quality of your life. Numbing yourself so that you don’t have to feel intense emotions can often satisfy a surface need while blocking your awareness of a deeper need. You may find solace in food or shopping when what you really need is spiritual nourishment. The less you feel, the less alive you feel. Your feelings add vividness to your experiences and serve to connect you to the world around you. It is possible to disavow yourself of numbing behaviors a little at a time and once again taste life’s rich flavors. When you sense that you are engaging in a particular behavior simply to deaden your emotions, stop and ask yourself why. Examining the feelings that drive you to numb yourself can help you understand what is triggering your desire to emotionally fade out.With each numbing activity that you cut out of your life, you’ll find yourself being more aware and experiencing a greater emotionally acuity. Senses once shrouded by the fog of numbness become sharp and acute. Traumas and pain long hidden will emerge to the forefront of your consciousness and reveal themselves so that you can heal them. You’ll discover a deeper you—a self that is comfortable experiencing and working through intense emotions with courage and grace.
Source: DailyOm. com

Eskimo Wisdom

Lovely Nina at had this beautiful quote on her blog...I loved it so much, I thought I'd share it with you!

"perhaps, they are not stars in the sky, but rather openings where our loved ones shine down to let us know they are happy."-- Eskimo legend

With all the loved ones I've lost, it's comforting to imagine that not only are they still on my heart, but I am still on theirs.

Dreams

"I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past." ~ Patrick Henry

The Benefits of Skin Brushing

I've been skin brushing on and off again for the past 9 years. If you've never heard of it...it's a wonderful means of skin health and detox.
It obviously removes dead skin cells
It promotes movement of the lymphatic system
It improves circulation
It softens your skin
It promotes even sweating, eliminating toxins
It encourages cells to regenerate
It stimulates production of sebum
It helps combat cellulite
It results in smooth and glowing skin

Use a natural bristle skin brush, brush your skin in an upward sweeping motion towards your heart. Starting at the sole of the foot moving up the legs, up the buttocks and back. I return to my groin area (lymphatic system) brushing up my abdomen, starting again on my palms and work my way up my arms and down my chest. I avoid my breasts and face...but I've read other articles that recommend brushing there.

I'm sold on skin brushing and it's benefits...my problem is that I forget to do it. It is recommended to skin brush first thing in the morning before showering...I'm already in the shower when the thought occurs to me. Does anyone else skin brush, and if so...do you have a system of reminders? Do share!

The Willow Tree

"When I am a willow tree, I can be with another and still stand my ground - I don't change and become a different kind of tree just to please the other. I stand as myself even when the other pushes up against me. But I can bend when I want to, and I can grow when I need to." ~ Janet Luhrs, Simple Loving

Photo credit - nephthysofheliopolis