Finding Your Why
This is so simple, yet we often make it so complicated. Many of us try to get deep and try and discover why we are on this earth. Others of us, don't really think about it at all, but just want to have fun. Others of us, have no idea where to start when it comes to the "WHY."
What is the "why"??
It's why you get up in the morning...sometimes it could be as simple as, 'I have to go to work so that I can pay the rent.' When you have kids, it could turn into, 'I have to work so that I can pay the rent, feed the kids and buy some diapers." If you're single like me, it may not be as serious, but it still warrants thought. It could be, 'I want to provide a decent space for my parents to stay when they visit' or 'I want to take my little brother on a trip after he graduates college.'
If you relate to any of these whys, that's awesome. They are all really financial whys. You need money and time to do all these things. Isn't that the truth with almost any goal?
It doesn't mean that you are materialistic. But don't most goals involve having more time or money (or both?).
One of my for real goals is to become a motivational speaker (of sorts). To travel and speak and influence others to live better and to the full potential. It's more of an intangible goal that say, a school teacher or a dental hygeneist. With these careers, you get educated, you pass tests, you get experience and then you get a job. Not easy, but pretty straight forward.
When talking about being a motivational speaker, who travels and writes, how do you prep for that? What do you do?
I imagine there are many out there with goals that lend the question, "What should I do to get myself closer to my goal?!"
The truth is simple.
You get around people who are doing what you want to do.
Truly successful people rise and get excited about helping others be successful.
Keep searching until you find the help or the mentorship you need. If you have ever thought of owning your own business and learning from those who live the ultimate lifestyle, email me and I'll hook you up (just saying!)
Your why is truly something that makes you emotional to talk about. If you start to talk about your why and you get choked up, that means it's something that's important to you and you need to keep pursuing it.
On the contrary, if you think something is your why, but it doesn't drive you to do the work necessary to achieve the result needed, it's not your why. Even if it's important. We are not all created to solve everything.
Just because something sounds like a good cause, does not mean it's YOUR cause.
Keep looking until you find your cause, and then take away your rear view mirror and drive forward!
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Thursday, June 7, 2012
The Pursuit...of Happiness (and Joy)
"It was right then that I started thinking about Thomas Jefferson on the Declaration of Independence and the part about our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And I remember thinking how did he know to put the pursuit part in there? That maybe, happiness is something that we can only pursue and maybe we can actually never have it. No matter what. How did he know that?"
What do you think about that statement. To me, what stuck out is:
"how did he know to put the pursuit part in there."
I believe that if you have a dream in your heart to accomplish, it doesn't just come to you, you must pursue it. Can you pursue something (that's right) and be miserable? Absolutely! But if you pursue something that you know is right, and after a time, you achieve what you knew was right..what you knew you were called to do...then that's success. And it in turn leads to happiness (or a better descriptor: joy).
So if the founding fathers could pursue (and stand on): life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; why don't we adapt that into our everyday lives.
How does this apply to you?
You must decide what "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" means to YOU. We are all different. I guarantee what it means to you will be different than what it means to you.
Find your happiness, your pursuit. Find what makes you get up in the morning with gumption, and spark, and a true calling and purpose. Then never let it go, and never let anyone take it from you.
That is the pursuit.
That is how you make an impact.
This is how you change your life (if that is your desire).
In health and prosperity,
Monica
Saturday, June 2, 2012
It's Like Playing Bball Without Hoops
Recently I heard a very successful, young, and bold entrepreneur say, "doing a whole lot of work without a specific goal, is like playing basketball without hoops...it's very frustrating."
Now, at this moment, I had to set my own ego aside, because I am good at setting goals, and I would venture to say, I'm good at helping others set their goals too. When I heard him say this, it kind of hit me like a brick to the head, with regard to a couple areas of my life, where I have been working and thinking forward about things non-stop, but do often get frustrated with the results.
So this begs the question...
Are we really moving toward our goals (and do we know what our goals are), or are we just floating from event to event hoping something will change?
My hope is that you are the first scenario, but so often (even if it's just in one area of life), we are stuck in scenario #2.
This statement was so powerful, it bears repeating:
"Doing a whole lot of work without a specific goal, is like playing basketball without hoops...it's very frustrating."
The truth is, that when you set a goal and make a full out commitment to it (with the right heart), things and people will come into play to help make it happen. This is a universal truth. You may not even know why someone is stepping in to help you. Another person, may not know why they were called to help out your cause. There is power in setting a true goal, and then pursuing it with passion.
In response to this young entrepreneurs statement, I spent the week thinking about it, and then applying it to my own life.
What I came out with, I want to share with you from a universal perspective. His statement got me thinking about:
1. Do you know what you're trying to accomplish in every area of your life, including: health, family, spiritual, finance, etc.
2. Are your goals moving you forward or frustrating you enough to keep you standing still?
3. Do you have a mentor (or someone who is where you want to be), that can help guide you toward your dreams and goals?
4. Are your goals important enough (for you), that they are worth pursuing (for you).
Change takes prepared action.
The saying goes, "plan your work, then work your plan."
Sometimes the planning is just as important as the action.
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "do the thing, and you shall have the power."
Step out. Don't be afraid to reveal your dreams and goals (first to yourself, and then to a trusted mentor!)
Now, at this moment, I had to set my own ego aside, because I am good at setting goals, and I would venture to say, I'm good at helping others set their goals too. When I heard him say this, it kind of hit me like a brick to the head, with regard to a couple areas of my life, where I have been working and thinking forward about things non-stop, but do often get frustrated with the results.
So this begs the question...
Are we really moving toward our goals (and do we know what our goals are), or are we just floating from event to event hoping something will change?
My hope is that you are the first scenario, but so often (even if it's just in one area of life), we are stuck in scenario #2.
This statement was so powerful, it bears repeating:
"Doing a whole lot of work without a specific goal, is like playing basketball without hoops...it's very frustrating."
The truth is, that when you set a goal and make a full out commitment to it (with the right heart), things and people will come into play to help make it happen. This is a universal truth. You may not even know why someone is stepping in to help you. Another person, may not know why they were called to help out your cause. There is power in setting a true goal, and then pursuing it with passion.
In response to this young entrepreneurs statement, I spent the week thinking about it, and then applying it to my own life.
What I came out with, I want to share with you from a universal perspective. His statement got me thinking about:
1. Do you know what you're trying to accomplish in every area of your life, including: health, family, spiritual, finance, etc.
2. Are your goals moving you forward or frustrating you enough to keep you standing still?
3. Do you have a mentor (or someone who is where you want to be), that can help guide you toward your dreams and goals?
4. Are your goals important enough (for you), that they are worth pursuing (for you).
Change takes prepared action.
The saying goes, "plan your work, then work your plan."
Sometimes the planning is just as important as the action.
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "do the thing, and you shall have the power."
Step out. Don't be afraid to reveal your dreams and goals (first to yourself, and then to a trusted mentor!)
30-Days Sugar Free Recap
First, can I tell you that sugar free is not as ridiculous as it sounds. When I first heard of a sugar-free challenge, I imagined a diet filled with water, vegetables and those little sugar-free caramel candies.
You may think, 'no I could never do that' or 'that must be really restrictive.' To that I would say, 'yes you can' and 'it's really not.'
Can I be honest with you and tell you that I did not maintain sugar free the entire time (probably 80-90%). I still got results in the form of better stabilization of my blood sugar, more energy, and less stiffness in my joints and body. The program is not as restrictive as you think. By the way, I'm not a dietitian, but if you are reading up on a program that eliminates a food group, steer clear. We are supposed to get calories and nutrients from all food groups.
There are a lot of great programs out there that you can follow, regardless of your goal. The key is finding on that you will stick with consistently. In my opinion, the best programs out there will encourage you to eat the majority of your meals from fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds, and lean proteins (if you want to figure out the right diet for you, consult with a dietitian who is up on current nutrition!)
When my friend Stefanie told me that she was doing Dr. Scott Olson's 30-day sugar free challenge and after watching the 60-minutes special on sugar toxicity, I immediately knew it was right for me (this usually doesn't happen to me--as I am a natural skeptic of programs and anything that sounds gimmicky!)
Here's a tip: if you watch the video and read about the program and think, 'YES! This is what I've been looking for,' then go for it and give it 30-days. If you check out the info and think, 'that doesn't sound like something I'd follow' or 'no way I'm doing that,' then don't! Find something else, and keep looking til you get that reaction of 'Oh yes! This is for me.'
As a personal trainer, if we sit down and you tell me you hate to swim. I tell you, 'to hit your goals you have to swim.' Are you set up for success or failure?
The thing is, I don't have a sweet tooth. I don't go for candy or cupcakes, or any of that stuff. You could put me in a bakery by myself for an hour and I wouldn't be tempted (actually randomly today I was in a pastry shop and wasn't tempted at all). I do like ice cream though, and really can't buy anything other than an individual size serving...just letting you know :)
The sugar I was eating was coming more from processed food choices, jams, breads, and starchy veggies. Prior to the 30-day sugar free challenge, I was having struggles with rapidly dipping blood sugar, and often a loopy feeling after eating. Throughout the 30-days, I figured out what foods make me feel loopy and disconnected, and I figured out what gives me true energy. Still working on perfecting this, but it's gotten a lot better.
Here are some of the key moments and lessons that I took away from the challenge:
Day 1: I ate eggs and veggies for breakfast, and apple and string cheese for a snack and then went to The Fresh Market for lunch. My normal choice here would be a sandwich from the deli or sushi and occasionally a salad or something that I would come home and cook. This day I chose this huge spinach salad with feta, berries and walnuts. It was delicious and I remember when I was eating it, how proud I was that I had made the sugar free choice.
Day 3: At a layover in Miami, it had been way too long since I had eaten. Walking up and down the terminal, all I could find was processed, fast type foods. Determined to find something that was sugar free, I stumbled upon a little buffet type thing that had pre-made salads. It wasn't my favorite choice of ingredients, but it was sugar free and it was food. I was proud of myself for making that choice over any number of temporarily delicious foods.
On a side note, if you eat frozen meals, takeout, fast food, or restaurant foods on an everyday basis, I challenge you to change over to freshly made food (that you cook or prepare) for 1 week. Then go back to your favorite dish in the above category. I bet it will taste totally different to you!
Day 11: I was at a BBQ and the dinner served was chicken marinated in honey and bbq sauce, corn on the cob and grilled potatoes. This is all no-no food on this challenge, although most would consider this a generally healthy meal (and it is!). For me though, after I ate this meal I felt that odd, loopy, disconnected feeling. For whatever reason, I seem to be sensitive to sugars in starchy foods. Hark!
Day 12: Ordered pizza with my cousin. Started eating it, and found that I really did not desire the crust at all. Ate just the toppings. This was kind of weird, but it shows that reducing hidden sugars really does make an impact.
Day 16: Discovered the best sugar free meal ever...salmon and steamed broccoli. Ever since the start of this challenge, I have been craving salmon, just simply sauteed with a little olive oil, salt and pepper.
Day 24: Started making green smoothies for breakfast. Yum! This may have coincided with the sudden jump in temperature and humidity, but regardless, starting the day with a smoothie is my new go-to. My favorites are either spinach or kale mixed with a natural protein powder, and then pineapple or mixed berries, along with nuts or nut butter, and any other ingredients that may be lying around!
Day 30: I couldn't believe it had been 30-days! Just by reading Dr. Olson's daily emails and by studying on my own, and experiencing the effects of different foods, on my own, I learned a ton in the 30-days (about my own body), even though I didn't go 100% sugar free.
Day 34: Still conscious and making sugar free choices as much as possible. Went out for Thai food and read through the full menu, studying the ingredients. Chose a Spicy Basil dish with shrimp. The sauce was super light and did not seem to have sugar in it. It was delicious and I could tell it was probably the healthiest (in all categories) choice I could have made there.
Results: In general, I will tell you that I have more energy and clarity with my daily focus than I did 30-days ago. Not sure if it's the (almost) sugar free or just popping out of winter doldrums, but my drive and ambition is at an all time high. My body feels good, and even though I have a slight weight loss goal (this story in another blog post), I still feel good about myself, even following this program only partially.
Moving forward, I plan to maintain sugar free about 85% of the time. One thing I will be adding back in is the classic PB&J, because it sustains me, and I am constantly on the go, so it's a good option. I will be re-evaluating my bread and jam choices though! You may even see a recipe for homemade jam in the future! I do have a health goal for this month that involves either losing weight or simply gaining lean muscle tissue (more to come on this).
Part of the 15% not sugar free is meals out where I think I'm ordering sugar free, but I am guessing that restaurants probably add sugar and salt to their food to make it taste better. I travel a lot and am always on the go, so sometimes (actually often) I am not making my own food. And then of course there is human error (often known as caving in on something you want!) Perfection is not my goal. Rather:
I would recommend Dr. Scott's program to anyone who thinks that they made need to reduce their sugar intake or to anyone who is reading this that thinks: "hmm, this is for me." If you think that please pursue it. If you read this and think it's nuts, find another sound program to follow, if your goal is to make a change.
In health and prosperity,
Monica
We all have our perceptions of what it means to be sugar-free.
You may think, 'no I could never do that' or 'that must be really restrictive.' To that I would say, 'yes you can' and 'it's really not.'
Can I be honest with you and tell you that I did not maintain sugar free the entire time (probably 80-90%). I still got results in the form of better stabilization of my blood sugar, more energy, and less stiffness in my joints and body. The program is not as restrictive as you think. By the way, I'm not a dietitian, but if you are reading up on a program that eliminates a food group, steer clear. We are supposed to get calories and nutrients from all food groups.
There are a lot of great programs out there that you can follow, regardless of your goal. The key is finding on that you will stick with consistently. In my opinion, the best programs out there will encourage you to eat the majority of your meals from fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds, and lean proteins (if you want to figure out the right diet for you, consult with a dietitian who is up on current nutrition!)
When my friend Stefanie told me that she was doing Dr. Scott Olson's 30-day sugar free challenge and after watching the 60-minutes special on sugar toxicity, I immediately knew it was right for me (this usually doesn't happen to me--as I am a natural skeptic of programs and anything that sounds gimmicky!)
Here's a tip: if you watch the video and read about the program and think, 'YES! This is what I've been looking for,' then go for it and give it 30-days. If you check out the info and think, 'that doesn't sound like something I'd follow' or 'no way I'm doing that,' then don't! Find something else, and keep looking til you get that reaction of 'Oh yes! This is for me.'
The best laid plan will be one that you choose on your own accord and one that you practice consistently.
As a personal trainer, if we sit down and you tell me you hate to swim. I tell you, 'to hit your goals you have to swim.' Are you set up for success or failure?
The thing is, I don't have a sweet tooth. I don't go for candy or cupcakes, or any of that stuff. You could put me in a bakery by myself for an hour and I wouldn't be tempted (actually randomly today I was in a pastry shop and wasn't tempted at all). I do like ice cream though, and really can't buy anything other than an individual size serving...just letting you know :)
The sugar I was eating was coming more from processed food choices, jams, breads, and starchy veggies. Prior to the 30-day sugar free challenge, I was having struggles with rapidly dipping blood sugar, and often a loopy feeling after eating. Throughout the 30-days, I figured out what foods make me feel loopy and disconnected, and I figured out what gives me true energy. Still working on perfecting this, but it's gotten a lot better.
Even though I was already eating a healthy diet and living a very active lifestyle, I still knew I could be better.
Here are some of the key moments and lessons that I took away from the challenge:
Day 1: I ate eggs and veggies for breakfast, and apple and string cheese for a snack and then went to The Fresh Market for lunch. My normal choice here would be a sandwich from the deli or sushi and occasionally a salad or something that I would come home and cook. This day I chose this huge spinach salad with feta, berries and walnuts. It was delicious and I remember when I was eating it, how proud I was that I had made the sugar free choice.
Day 3: At a layover in Miami, it had been way too long since I had eaten. Walking up and down the terminal, all I could find was processed, fast type foods. Determined to find something that was sugar free, I stumbled upon a little buffet type thing that had pre-made salads. It wasn't my favorite choice of ingredients, but it was sugar free and it was food. I was proud of myself for making that choice over any number of temporarily delicious foods.
On a side note, if you eat frozen meals, takeout, fast food, or restaurant foods on an everyday basis, I challenge you to change over to freshly made food (that you cook or prepare) for 1 week. Then go back to your favorite dish in the above category. I bet it will taste totally different to you!
Day 11: I was at a BBQ and the dinner served was chicken marinated in honey and bbq sauce, corn on the cob and grilled potatoes. This is all no-no food on this challenge, although most would consider this a generally healthy meal (and it is!). For me though, after I ate this meal I felt that odd, loopy, disconnected feeling. For whatever reason, I seem to be sensitive to sugars in starchy foods. Hark!
Day 12: Ordered pizza with my cousin. Started eating it, and found that I really did not desire the crust at all. Ate just the toppings. This was kind of weird, but it shows that reducing hidden sugars really does make an impact.
Day 16: Discovered the best sugar free meal ever...salmon and steamed broccoli. Ever since the start of this challenge, I have been craving salmon, just simply sauteed with a little olive oil, salt and pepper.
Day 24: Started making green smoothies for breakfast. Yum! This may have coincided with the sudden jump in temperature and humidity, but regardless, starting the day with a smoothie is my new go-to. My favorites are either spinach or kale mixed with a natural protein powder, and then pineapple or mixed berries, along with nuts or nut butter, and any other ingredients that may be lying around!
Day 30: I couldn't believe it had been 30-days! Just by reading Dr. Olson's daily emails and by studying on my own, and experiencing the effects of different foods, on my own, I learned a ton in the 30-days (about my own body), even though I didn't go 100% sugar free.
Day 34: Still conscious and making sugar free choices as much as possible. Went out for Thai food and read through the full menu, studying the ingredients. Chose a Spicy Basil dish with shrimp. The sauce was super light and did not seem to have sugar in it. It was delicious and I could tell it was probably the healthiest (in all categories) choice I could have made there.
Results: In general, I will tell you that I have more energy and clarity with my daily focus than I did 30-days ago. Not sure if it's the (almost) sugar free or just popping out of winter doldrums, but my drive and ambition is at an all time high. My body feels good, and even though I have a slight weight loss goal (this story in another blog post), I still feel good about myself, even following this program only partially.
Moving forward, I plan to maintain sugar free about 85% of the time. One thing I will be adding back in is the classic PB&J, because it sustains me, and I am constantly on the go, so it's a good option. I will be re-evaluating my bread and jam choices though! You may even see a recipe for homemade jam in the future! I do have a health goal for this month that involves either losing weight or simply gaining lean muscle tissue (more to come on this).
Part of the 15% not sugar free is meals out where I think I'm ordering sugar free, but I am guessing that restaurants probably add sugar and salt to their food to make it taste better. I travel a lot and am always on the go, so sometimes (actually often) I am not making my own food. And then of course there is human error (often known as caving in on something you want!) Perfection is not my goal. Rather:
Awareness, backed by better choices is my goal
I would recommend Dr. Scott's program to anyone who thinks that they made need to reduce their sugar intake or to anyone who is reading this that thinks: "hmm, this is for me." If you think that please pursue it. If you read this and think it's nuts, find another sound program to follow, if your goal is to make a change.
In health and prosperity,
Monica
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Get a Six-Pack in 7-days. What?!
"Lose 10 pounds in 2 weeks from walking"
"Get bikini ready in 30 days"
How many times do you see articles with these claims? Maybe it's in magazines, from some email mailing list you are on, or in your Facebook newsfeed.
While some tips can be positive and insightful, and often times, the 7, 21 or 30-day plans can be motivating and inspirational, the titles can bring a false or unrealistic hope of success.
Often times the message is, "do "X" and you'll get killer legs" or "do Y and you'll lose 10 pounds in two weeks."
The truth is, hitting your health and fitness goals takes work and dedication. Plus...all of us will have a different journey.
Work. This will be different for every individual. You may have a goal to lose 100 pounds; and you may be starting from a sedentary lifestyle, ordering food out everyday. If that's you, understand that your goals are going to be different than someone who exercises 4-5 days a week, eats a healthy balanced diet, and wants to improve their time for their next marathon. In the first scenario, goal #1 may simply be to walk for 10-minutes a day, everyday for a week, and not change anything else at first. In scenario #2, the first goal may be to do a planned set of sprint intervals directed at improving speed. In both of these scenarios, the goal setter will move forward toward the big goal. Guess what? Both are good!
The secret is, don't compare yourself to someone else or their goals. Your goals are your goals. Develop a game plan that makes sense for YOU, not a plan that makes sense for your co-worker, your best friend, or even your spouse.
Dedication. This is somewhat universal. To hit your goal, if it's a stretch, you are going to have to be dedicated on some level. For some it may be simple. A seasoned college athlete, who is given a new directive and workout plan by a coach, may find it simple to get the work in, because he/she already has workout slots planned during the day AND he/she is already in the mode of improving physically AND understands the benefit of doing so.
If you are new to exercise, you may not know these benefits (or you may not believe them just yet). You may not have a specific time (or dedicated hours) to workout or cook in order to hit your goals. It may take more dedication from you.
You must determine what you are willing to put in.
What you are willing to give, no matter what your neighbor, your spouse, the woman you pass running on the street everyday.
How dedicated are you to your goal?
When it comes to what we all read and see everyday from the media, or hear from our friends... use the grocery store approach. When was the last time you went in the grocery store and bought every single product that was available to you? Some products are right for you, and some aren't. Some are appealing, some aren't. Some of us love mustard, some don't.
Use the same philosophy when you are considering your health/exercise/food plan. Keep searching til you find something right for you. And then when you find it, don't get swayed by other plans that sound better or give you a false hope of quicker, immediate results.
For the last several years, I have known that I love CrossFit. While the program and interest is growing rapidly, it's not for everyone. For example, my dad, who is very active, hikes and walks all the time, has no interest in seeing what CrossFit is all about. Does that make him or I better than one another? No. It's a difference in preference. If I told my dad that he was wasting time hiking and that CrossFit was the only way to achieve health, would that make him better or worse? We are all different in our workout preferences. Don't give up til you find yours.
Use media, magazines and other articles for inspiration, but don't let them sway you from your game plan. Hook up with a partner who can give you feedback with regard to your plan and help keep you accountable to it's completion.
Keep it real when it comes to YOUR goals, where YOU are at. Don't compare your worst to someone else's best. Compare your best to where you are now. Let someone come into your life and show you how you can do more than you think you can, in the arena that you want to play in.
In health and prosperity,
Monica
Sunday, May 13, 2012
A Call for Urban Chivalry
Ladies and gentlemen, today let's discuss an important element of health that is not often related to our well-being:
Everyday we can make small gestures to improve the well-being of our own self and the lives of others; on the Metro, the bus, walking, shopping, getting on and off the elevator, etc etc. The small stuff, that we do mundanely, everyday in order to survive, thrive and live. So, how does it work?
It's not necessary to delve into a bunch of negative stories about the person who cut you off while driving or the person who doesn't move aside on the Metro no matter how many times, you say "excuse me" politely. We all have these stories.
Instead, let it be our duty, to raise ourselves to a higher standard, regardless of the actions of others around us. One of the definitions of chivalry is "the sum of the ideal qualifications of a knight including courtesy, generosity, valor, and dexterity in arms." Click here for the definition of dexterity -- I certainly had to look it up ;) We don't have to knights (or even men) to practice the art of chivalry.
Heres' what we can everyday, in our cities and hometowns to make a simple, positive impact:
On the Metro (or your local train and bus system)
If you are healthy and stable on your feet, give up your seat for pregnant women, anyone older than you, parents with kids, or anyone who looks like they just may need to sit.
A few weeks ago, I took my nephew to the zoo in a stroller and we rode the Metro. A nice gentleman offered me his seat. It's been several weeks and I still remember his face and the action.
Stop at crosswalks
Have you ever been at a crosswalk and let the thought come to mind, "gosh, no one EVER stops at crosswalks." Well you can squash that thought and make someone happy by stopping! Everytime I see this happen, cars in the other lane stop too. Be the trendsetter.
Hold the door
For anyone and everyone! This small gesture can brighten up someone's day in a really cool way. This past Christmas, I was sitting at a delivery dock waiting for an order to come through. I observed a man open the door to the store, wait a few seconds for a stranger to walk through the door and then went on his way. She thanked him with a surprised tone. After that the woman proceeded to talk to me about it for the next 5-minutes, about the rarity of the gesture. It made a positive impact on her.
Just now; seriously! I took a break from blogging to change locations. An older woman who was hobbling with a cane, held the door open for me. "Thank you so much," I said with a big smile. She beamed. She wanted to do something good and was excited that it was well received!
Smile and say hello
If you need to boost your own mood and/or shock people walking by; just smile and say "hi." In my experience, some people don't know how to react. You'll get all kinds of looks and expressions. Plus the smiling will lift you up! You never know when a smile can make someone else's day!
Be courteous when walking, biking or driving
Wave "thank you" if someone lets you cross the street, go first at a stop sign, or pass them on the left...even if you have the right away. Why not? Today I was riding my bike on the wrong side of the sidewalk when I came face-on with a runner. It was a narrow sidewalk and there was a fire hydrant in the middle of the sidewalk between us. I was stopping and going to pull over, since I was definitely wrong, but he checked traffic and stepped into the street to let me pass! How often does that happen? My thanks was an appreciative one.
Can we all do these simple, easy, mood boosting things? I recently heard a successful business person say, "So many people are walking around like Clark Kent, because they don't know they're Superman." Lifting someone else up with a smile or a positive gesture puts you in the above average category, even though it's with little things. Let's help others see the brighter side with our little actions!
Making a positive impact on others through the smallest of actions
Everyday we can make small gestures to improve the well-being of our own self and the lives of others; on the Metro, the bus, walking, shopping, getting on and off the elevator, etc etc. The small stuff, that we do mundanely, everyday in order to survive, thrive and live. So, how does it work?
It's not necessary to delve into a bunch of negative stories about the person who cut you off while driving or the person who doesn't move aside on the Metro no matter how many times, you say "excuse me" politely. We all have these stories.
Instead, let it be our duty, to raise ourselves to a higher standard, regardless of the actions of others around us. One of the definitions of chivalry is "the sum of the ideal qualifications of a knight including courtesy, generosity, valor, and dexterity in arms." Click here for the definition of dexterity -- I certainly had to look it up ;) We don't have to knights (or even men) to practice the art of chivalry.
Heres' what we can everyday, in our cities and hometowns to make a simple, positive impact:
On the Metro (or your local train and bus system)
If you are healthy and stable on your feet, give up your seat for pregnant women, anyone older than you, parents with kids, or anyone who looks like they just may need to sit.
A few weeks ago, I took my nephew to the zoo in a stroller and we rode the Metro. A nice gentleman offered me his seat. It's been several weeks and I still remember his face and the action.
Stop at crosswalks
Have you ever been at a crosswalk and let the thought come to mind, "gosh, no one EVER stops at crosswalks." Well you can squash that thought and make someone happy by stopping! Everytime I see this happen, cars in the other lane stop too. Be the trendsetter.
Hold the door
For anyone and everyone! This small gesture can brighten up someone's day in a really cool way. This past Christmas, I was sitting at a delivery dock waiting for an order to come through. I observed a man open the door to the store, wait a few seconds for a stranger to walk through the door and then went on his way. She thanked him with a surprised tone. After that the woman proceeded to talk to me about it for the next 5-minutes, about the rarity of the gesture. It made a positive impact on her.
Just now; seriously! I took a break from blogging to change locations. An older woman who was hobbling with a cane, held the door open for me. "Thank you so much," I said with a big smile. She beamed. She wanted to do something good and was excited that it was well received!
Smile and say hello
If you need to boost your own mood and/or shock people walking by; just smile and say "hi." In my experience, some people don't know how to react. You'll get all kinds of looks and expressions. Plus the smiling will lift you up! You never know when a smile can make someone else's day!
Be courteous when walking, biking or driving
Wave "thank you" if someone lets you cross the street, go first at a stop sign, or pass them on the left...even if you have the right away. Why not? Today I was riding my bike on the wrong side of the sidewalk when I came face-on with a runner. It was a narrow sidewalk and there was a fire hydrant in the middle of the sidewalk between us. I was stopping and going to pull over, since I was definitely wrong, but he checked traffic and stepped into the street to let me pass! How often does that happen? My thanks was an appreciative one.
Can we all do these simple, easy, mood boosting things? I recently heard a successful business person say, "So many people are walking around like Clark Kent, because they don't know they're Superman." Lifting someone else up with a smile or a positive gesture puts you in the above average category, even though it's with little things. Let's help others see the brighter side with our little actions!
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
30-Day Sugar Free Mentality
Yesterday I started on a 30-day sugar free challenge, which is not as
extreme as it sounds (I initially thought that it was going to be!). As
I am studying it and putting it into practice; I am learning that my
current diet is not far off from this, and it's just a matter of
eliminating a few non-useful items, getting rid of processed foods, and
temporarily taking away a couple of my regular foods (to be added back
in after 30-days). This journey for me is for a health reason (nothing's
wrong; I just want to be at my best!). Also I want to gain a better
understanding about eating sugar free in order to share with others.
After watching the 60-minutes special from April 1, 2012, "Is Sugar Toxic?" it became clear to me that this was something I wanted to understand better. Sugar in the diet (whether apparent or hidden) may be a contributing factor to heart disease and type 2 diabetes. My personal question for myself is, how much will going sugar free affect me? If it's a strong effect, to me that means that there is too much hidden sugar in the diet. Not a dietitian, but this just seems logical to me!
Originally the plan was to start this journey after my trip to Puerto Rico this week, but procrastination is a failure disease, so yesterday was the day! The reason I am blogging this, is because it will keep me accountable while away. My plan is not to obsessive about being sugar-free while, but to be conscious.
Knowing that my good friend, Stefanie, is also doing the sugar-free challenge (and is 2 weeks in and feeling great!), it's incentive to keep on track. Always good to have a support system!
Day one went great. Already a lesson was learned! It was a busy day; I had about 45-minutes in the middle of the day to grab lunch. Popping into The Fresh Market, where my go-to grab-and-go is a panini or sushi, I knew today that wouldn't be an option. There is a delicious salad there that is spinach, berries, feta and walnuts with an all natural balsamic vinegar. Perfect. Usually when I go in there, I have rationalized that the panini is a better choice because, it's a dollar less and it has more calories which can be split into a meal and a snack. I have always viewed the salad as expensive, but yesterday when I got to the register, I thought, "wait..this is only $7." Ha! What a rationalization prior!
Now it's not like I never order salad, or that I eat a panini everyday, but this made me think about little choices and little rationalizations that maybe I make everyday. One to ponder. The salad was delicious, and I felt good eating it. Part of it was that I had picked it with a purpose, rather than a random choice on a random day, based on what looked good.
View 3 recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner, sugar free on my food blog!
In health & prosperity,
Monica
After watching the 60-minutes special from April 1, 2012, "Is Sugar Toxic?" it became clear to me that this was something I wanted to understand better. Sugar in the diet (whether apparent or hidden) may be a contributing factor to heart disease and type 2 diabetes. My personal question for myself is, how much will going sugar free affect me? If it's a strong effect, to me that means that there is too much hidden sugar in the diet. Not a dietitian, but this just seems logical to me!
Originally the plan was to start this journey after my trip to Puerto Rico this week, but procrastination is a failure disease, so yesterday was the day! The reason I am blogging this, is because it will keep me accountable while away. My plan is not to obsessive about being sugar-free while, but to be conscious.
Knowing that my good friend, Stefanie, is also doing the sugar-free challenge (and is 2 weeks in and feeling great!), it's incentive to keep on track. Always good to have a support system!
Day one went great. Already a lesson was learned! It was a busy day; I had about 45-minutes in the middle of the day to grab lunch. Popping into The Fresh Market, where my go-to grab-and-go is a panini or sushi, I knew today that wouldn't be an option. There is a delicious salad there that is spinach, berries, feta and walnuts with an all natural balsamic vinegar. Perfect. Usually when I go in there, I have rationalized that the panini is a better choice because, it's a dollar less and it has more calories which can be split into a meal and a snack. I have always viewed the salad as expensive, but yesterday when I got to the register, I thought, "wait..this is only $7." Ha! What a rationalization prior!
Now it's not like I never order salad, or that I eat a panini everyday, but this made me think about little choices and little rationalizations that maybe I make everyday. One to ponder. The salad was delicious, and I felt good eating it. Part of it was that I had picked it with a purpose, rather than a random choice on a random day, based on what looked good.
View 3 recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner, sugar free on my food blog!
In health & prosperity,
Monica
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