Discover Your Bliss

Tuesday Quote to Ponder

"A good exercise for the heart is to bend over and help another up."

Present Moment Eating

I realized that when I go home to see my parents, I instantly become a vacuum cleaner.  In other words, I inhale and eat everything in sight. 

All my life I have been a "hungry" person and always wanted to know when we would have our next meal or snack.  I burn a lot of calories, so eating is important to me. 

During this trip home I realized that I was eating more than I wanted, needed or liked. 

Thankfully, I'm not one to gain weight, so I didn't yo-yo up and down, yet I did notice this shift in eating.

I've never been a sweet eater and would prefer to have more of the main course instead of a piece of cake or a cookie. 

When I was ten (I remember this so clearly) we went to a baby shower for my mom's cousin.  Of course, they had cake.  When someone offered me a piece, I politely said, "No thank you." 

My mom told me it was rude not to take the cake, yet I didn't want it. 

Back to present day - my big "a-ha" moment came when I realized I was eating cookies, cake and having seconds, thirds and fourths of the main meal.  My eating wasn't "me." 

As a result of a strict diet due to my food allergies (which I no longer have) and a yeast cleanse, I was operating from starvation mode.  The moment I could eat whatever I wanted, my brain said, "Eat all you can and as much as you can because you never know when it will all go away." 

I was so excited to have the freedom to eat anything I wanted that I was eating because I could -not because I wanted that particular food. 

With the snap of my fingers, I shifted into the present moment and filtered my food choices and amounts through "Is this what I really want and like?" 

The results have been amazing.  Now, I'm back to eating what I like and want and stop when I am finished. 

What a blissful "a-ha" and energy raiser!

What's something that could use a little "present moment" in your life?  How does the present moment color your perceptions? 

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries. 

Greatful for Gnats

Yes, that's right - I'm grateful for gnats.

Ah, the saga of the Christmas cactus continues...

After a strange fungus took over my Christmas cactus soil, I removed every drop of soil and replanted the cactus (not really a cactus - in the orchid family) into a new container.  So far, so good on a healthy plant. 

Now, the cactus has attracted swarms of gnats and they've multiplied by the hundreds. 

Never in a million years would I think that I could become a gnat expert (or at least a "let's get rid of the gnats" expert).

I've learned so much about gnats - for one - the kind that live in houseplants are fungus gnats - not too yummy of a title, huh. 

Someone asked, "Why are the gnats flying around my head?"

I immediately replied, "They love carbon dioxide, so they're feasting on your breath."  I read that if gnats are flying around your head, you should find someone that is taller than you to stand by - they'll always bother the tallest person.  How odd. 

I bought some sticky papers to put in my cactus.  Whatever is on the papers attracts the gnats.  The gnats land and get stuck.  The sticky papers only take care of the adult gnats.  The eggs are literally a whole other can of worms. 

I researched and found several products to use that are non-toxic, yet have not been able to locate them in local stores. 

So for now - the sticky papers will have to work their magic until I can locate the non-toxic products. 

As a result of my gnat research, I read other useful and interesting gardening tips that will support my future planting endeavors. 

I'm grateful for gnats - are you? 

What challenge can you turn into a gratitude?  How can the process of turning challenges into gratitudes work your bliss muscle?

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries.

The Clutter/Money Connection According to Suze Orman

On Tuesday's Oprah show, Suze Orman said, "When somebody doesn't have debt they also keep everything in order.  Cutter = debt.  Order  = No Debt.  When you respect what money can buy you (things) you respect money itself."   

So in the time of current economic unrest - what can you do?  Clear out some clutter so you can make space for money to come into you life.

As a life coach, I love working with people around clutter and clearing their mind, body, spirit and home of stuff that gets in the way of their living. 

Here's a few quick tips to bust some clutter today, this weekend or in the coming weeks:

• pause before you bring new stuff into your home - ask yourself - Do I really need this?  How is this "thing" serving me?  If needed, give yourself 24 hour in between finding what you want to buy and actually buying the item.
• does this raise or lower my energy - look at the object - Do you feel uplifted?  Do you instantly feel bummed that you wasted your money?
• use your public resources - Can you get that book at the library?  Most libraries not only allow you to check out books for free - they also have cds, book on tape and movies. 

What's something that you can clear today?  How can you incorporate "clutter busting" into your daily, weekly or monthly routine?

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries. 

Buddy Cop Movie - Ready to Laugh?

My friend Brian Hall is back at it again - making funny short films.  This time, he created a trailer to a buddy cop-type movie (Like Lethal Weapon).  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. 

Suckerpunch and Leroy Trailer

How does laughing change your day?  What can you do to add more laughter into your day?

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries. 

Free Birthday Disney Ticket in 2009

Get out your 2009 calendars - this just in - Disney will give you a free ticket to either its Florida or California park on your birthday.

What a gift! 

Click here for more details. 

How does celebrating your birthday raise your energy?  What's the difference between celebrating your birthday and celebrating another person's birthday?  The same, different? 

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries!

Tuesday Quote to Ponder

"If your cup runneth over, set it in someone else's saucer."  

New Eco-Friendly Kitty: Say Hello to Dolly

My big surprise when I got home was Dolly - my parents' new indoor cat.

The last time they had an indoor cat was in the 1970s with my cat Whiskers.  My mom said she would never have another indoor cat again.

Needless to say, when I walked in the door on my first day home a new family member greeted me - Dolly. 

Dolly is a Rag doll cat and amazingly enough - she doesn't shed.  She has an undercoat that makes her super soft and less likely to lose her hair. 

The first time I picked her up I didn't know that she didn't shed so when I put her down I immediately looked down at my sweater to pick off the cat hairs.  There weren't any.  Amazing. 

The more time I spend with her, the more I like her.

She's officially an eco-kitty. 

Her litter is Swheat Scoop - a biodegradable litter made from wheat that is free from chemicals, clay and is conveniently flushable.  Cats and clay do not mix.  It can cause them breathing, digestion and nervous challenges.  If your cat is currently using clay in their cat pan, you might consider switching to something more supportive. 

She's also eco-friendly with her Bio Bags (made from corn) and cat pan liners. 

We've switched her to a human-grade food (Felidae) and will slowly incorporate the human grade soft food into her diet as well. 

Dolly's current interests are:

• playing with her own shadow
• purring
• attacking a paper sack
• chasing a light from a flashlight
• playing with the dogs (through the glass door)
• getting all of her toys lost under the china cabinet
• using her entire face to "sniff"
• water, water and more water

She's quite the bliss kitty.  At only eight months old, Dolly is a big kitty and won't stop growing until she's four years old. 

I can play with her for hours and she's always up for a good rub around the collar (my mom got her a pink collar with a bell and cat charm so she can hear her and not accidentally step on her). 

Dolly's next challenge - learning that biting is for toys, not people.

How can you be curious like a cat today?  What does being curious do for you? 

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries. 

Shoe Shopping, Conversations & Television

For the past two years I have been in need of a new pair of tennis shoes.  There's a specific brand and style that I like (Asics Gel Kayano) and that specific style is a chunk of cash ($135). 

This particular pair of shoes has amazing arch support and instant cloud-like feeling.  When I put on the shoes, it's as if they're made for my feet and I never have a blister or problem.

One thing about this particular style is that they're challenging to find and they're rarely lower than the $135 price tag. 

I knew that a particular sports warehouse-type store carried the brand, yet I'd never seen that particular style there.

As I walked the aisle of shoes I kept seeing the brand, yet not my particular style. 

At the end of the second aisle, I scrolled the vertical rows and at eye-level spotted my shoe.  My face instantly lit up and I turned around and said, "They have my shoe!"

I didn't account for the fact that I'd walked two rows of shoes and that my mom wouldn't be sitting at the aisle beside me.  I expressed my enthusiasm to a stranger and then got my mom's attention and told her the good news.

After I had the new shoes on and was walking around the shoe section, the woman that I'd "told my shoe news to" asked me why I got so excited about these shoes. 

I told her all the wonderful things about the shoes and why I liked them so much.  The shoe sales lady also had on a pair and we both spoke highly of the shoes.  I must have talked to the woman for about 15 minutes.  She was a very kind and happy-go-lucky lady. 

I wished her "happy shoe shopping" as I left the section to purchase my shoes. 

The next morning, I didn't walk the dogs at their usual "dog walking time."  Instead, I was eating my breakfast in the living room watching the morning news with my dad. 

I only watched one segment of the news that promoted something called a buddy walk .  The Buddy Walk is an advocacy walk in which people with Down syndrome invite "buddies" to walk with them.

As the segment began, I noticed something familiar.  The woman promoting the walk was the shoe conversation woman. 

I yelled for my mom, "The lady at the shoe store is on TV."  My mom hurried into the room and confirmed that it was the shoe store lady.  What bliss! 

How amazing is that?  A conversation with a stranger and the only news segment I see the next day is the same person. 

What "chance encounters" do you have that turn out to be not so "chance?"  How does taking the time to talk to a stranger color your day?  What gifts come from connecting with someone you don't know?

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries.

Old Plaza Firehouse - Los Angeles

Do you ever notice how each fire station is numbered?  Ever see a fire station number one? 

In downtown Los Angeles in the Olvera Street Plaza you can find just that - fire station number one (The Old Plaza Firehouse).  The original brick building (built in 1884) is Los Angeles' first fire station and is now home to a museum (full of fire station stuff). 

Admission is free and there's usually someone on hand to lead a tour.  I'd highly suggest leaving a donation to offset the cost of running the museum.

The museum is charming and utilizes two levels (and no, you can't slide down the pole like you did in grade school). 

If you happen to be in downtown Los Angeles and get the chance, then you might want to see for yourself.

 

Official address and  phone number:    501 N Los Angeles St.; Los Angeles, CA 90012 (213) 625-3741

Could you imagine being a fire fighter for this station?  If there was a fire - they didn't hop in their fancy fire trucks - they had to go get the horses to pull the fire truck.  Talk about dedication. 

If you don't live near Los Angeles, then I challenge you to find the "number one," oldest or first fire house near you.  Have a blissful adventure!

How dedicated are you to your goals?  How committed are you to yourself?  What's the difference?  How can you strengthen your commitment to yourself? 

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries.