Free | October 2013
Second Issue!
Letter from the Editor Last month’s Premier Issue came together in such a beautiful and miraculous way. It was a burst of life, a bundle of creative joy and a combination of so many different areas of life coming together with just one main goal..... to share with you the wealth of information possible for you to live happier and healthier! And, this issue is the same. The articles provided within these electronic pages are just a small reflection a small taste if you will - of the beauty, knowledge and information that will come from here on. Bringing you only experts in their fields, and who wish to share with a meaningful purpose. But, please understand that this magazine is more than just content meshed together and composed into a magazine. Instead, this magazine is a production from my very own heart & soul as a gift to you.
So sit back, open your mind and come on inside.
Table of Contents
Personal Growth
4
They Said What?! 4 Steps for Coping with Gossip
Money
7
Money and Your Relationships
9
Make Your Money Work for You
Parenting
13
How People Just Like You Accidentally Disinherit Their Children
Nutrition
15
10 Steps to a Gluten Free Lifestyle
18
Snack and Still Lose Weight
20
Finding Relaxation in a Spa
22
The Key to a Happy Relationship
Mind - Body - Spirit Relationships
by Angie Romero
by Shagufta Khatri
by Kimberly Eldredge
by Wendy Witt
by Varouj Kachichian
by Michelle Lee
by Patricia Harfield
Excerpt from “Awaken to Love”
Bonus Sections
12
Kidz Corner - Feature Article
19
Seductively Tasteful
by Valeria Salazar
There are some people in life that tend to judge (sometimes very harshly) those who seek a spiritual understanding and a way of life.
They Said What?! 4 Steps for Coping with Gossip
It is a misconceived belief that spiritual seekers are to be completely passive, always pleasing and entirely free of “wrong attitudes.”
By ANGIE ROMERO Just like everyone else, people who aim to live a spiritual path deal with the same adversities, struggles and wrong-minded thinking like all of us do. The difference, however, is that once you become aware of new perceptions of life you try to walk in that new path -- if it feels right to you of course.
things from a different perspective. To help them change from a fear based reality to one of love.
As a life coach and holistic practitioner, I help women to live their life happier, better and with a more fulfilled purpose. Regardless of the area that they are coming to me with (relationships, career, personal matters, etc) my aim is to help them see
Why am I talking about this?
Yet, I am confident enough to know that not everyone wants help. And, I’m secure enough in myself to realize and admit when I make a mistake.
Here’s the thing. Recently, I was informed by a third party that I wasn’t liked very much by someone else. The words used to describe me were pretty harsh. And, its not the words themselves that
really hurt me. Actually they made me inquire and ask myself what did I do or say exactly to that person to have this perspective of me all of a sudden? Now understand, I’m not blaming them. I’m not throwing a temper tantrum kicking and screaming in my defense. And . . . I am not talking trash about them either. Does it hurt me that someone thinks of me those things ... yes, it does. I might be a spiritual seeker myself, but I still have feelings like everyone else. And, let us not forget I too have a sarcastic little pet called my ego as well that I constantly try to train.
Four steps as to how to cope with a situation similar to this.
1st
Inquire with Self
I’ve replayed the last scenario we where together trying to see what I did so that I may change my ways and not have this happen again with someone else. I’ve meditated on the situation and have handed over to my inner self. In other words, I am using this as a lesson for me in my own personal growth. It’s an opportunity that came across to me unexpectedly, and all I can do now is use it to better myself.
2nd A Different Perspective I am using the theory that there are always three sides to a story (their side, my side and the truth). Knowing what I know, and doing what I do for a living this helps me bring peace into the situation knowing that there are more perspectives to choose from than meets the eye.
3rd Projection When “ego” vs “ego” I have to remember that we all project those things we don’t like onto other people. Projection involves projecting undesirable feelings or emotions onto someone else, rather than admitting (or personally dealing) with these unwanted or repressed feelings. Whatever this person is projecting on me are obviously some hot buttons that touched something inside of them. And, whatever I am projecting onto them is what I need to work on myself. I have some ideas as to what it might be, but since I obviously don’t have communication with this person all I can do is the following step.
4th
Forgive and Bless.
I forgive them for I know that regardless of childish comments and name calling ... they too are a child of God, a spirit of light, just like I am. In the spirit of Oneness, I forgive. Not because they need my forgiveness, or because I feel more supreme and give my “forgiveness” to the unworthy. Just the opposite, I forgive because I understand that we are all one is spirit, and its just me forgiving a different part of me experiencing life as “them.” I bless their life and wish them the best. I speak many times on A Course in Miracles, and one of its main principles is that relationships are created to teach lessons. A special relationship is one where we believe there is a certain degree of, well, specialness. “I am special because I am spiritual” or “I am special because I am ____”. A holy relationship is one where we can use that relationship for the purpose of God. And the purpose is always geared to learning the lesson(s) provided. So, I bless this person and situation because its a reflection of a holy relationship in my life. This brings my “ego mind” to a mute, it gives my heart peace as it lifts me to a new level of understanding and acceptance. In closing, I would like for you to ask yourself.... if this situation would have happened to you (or if something similar has already happened), how do/did you respond? Did this response bring you closer to peace or did it drill you harder into your ego? Sometimes, the lessons in life aren’t as clear as we wish they would be. Regardless, there is always a lesson to learn and grow from. We just have to be open and see the situations for what they are ... lessons ... without taking it personally.
Angie Romero is a Life and Wellness Coach for Women, a Holistic
Practitioner, Editor/Publisher of HappierHealthierWomen.com, and Recipient of VIP Woman of the Year by The National Association of Women for 2013 for her service to women worldwide to live Happier and Healthier in all areas of their life. For more information on courses, seminars and transformational packages, visit www.AngieRomero.com
Money is the number one cause of divorce or break-ups. Maybe, you already knew that.
open conversation even if you have never had one before.
Even though, on the surface it may not seem so, because not everyone is comfortable talking about money. As I explained in my last article in the Premier Issue, it has to do with how they have been brought up around money and they carry that same habit into adulthood and right into their relationships. Not just with their spouse and partner but also their children.
If you are both earning and have a joint account, it is important to set aside a little of the money as a saving just for yourself. Learn about banking, taxes etc. You will be surprised at how many women are left in a lurch after a divorce and do not have a clue about managing their money.
Parents reading this, please do not tell your child ever that you are poor and you cannot have that. There is a better way of saying it.
Mo&ney
If you are lending money to a relative or friend, do not hesitate to put it in writing, hips Your Relations no hard feelings. Not only will it save your friendship and your relationship, it will By SHAGUFTA KHATRI give you peace of mind in case things sour up and they are not able to return your money on time.
Insecurity around money can scar a child
for life. It is just one more blow to their selfconfidence. Teach them early on in life about money management. With your spouse or partner, it is best to have an
If you are lending money to your own kids or son in law, be extra careful and clear in mentioning if this is loan (meaning it has to be returned) or is it a gift. If you are co-signing for a loan for someone else, please be aware of the consequences and read all the fine print.
3 Tips on Making Sure Your Relationships are Not Destroyed Because of Money Issues:
1
Set boundaries regards to money, with a spouse or partner. You could try one of these suggestions or come up with a better one yourself. If either of you is going to make a purchase of over $100.00, they will include the spouse in the decision making. OR If you both earning, have a His a/c, Her a/c and Us a/c, so this way each one is responsible and contributing towards living expenses but still has a little at the side for buying that “to die for red heels”.
2
If you are signing somewhere or putting your credit card or social security number, Read the FINE PRINT always, no exception here! Do not be afraid to ask questions if you do not understand something.
3
Do not bring up old money conversations each time you have an argument with your spouse. Try to avoid the “Always and Never” pitfall. Instead of blaming the person, try the technique of separating the act from the person. The emotion will only escalate the conflict. Instead focus on how it can be fixed or how you can prevent it from not happening again. Like if he always forgets to move the car for street cleaning. Simple solution, set up an alarm on your smart phone, on repeat every Thursday 9:45 am (if your street cleaning is on Thursday at 10 am).
Bonus Tip! Use modern technology and online bill pay, to pay your bills on time. You
can save close to thousand dollars with this one single tip and avoid several bitter talks over the $35 late fee on the credit card statement.
Let me conclude by emphasizing that it starts with You. As Gandhi puts it, “You have to be the change You want to see in others.” Also what you see in others is a reflection of yourself. So before you start putting all the blame on someone or something, take some time to reflect inside of you. I firmly believe that there is always room for improvement and every journey begins with a first step. So why not take a small step today in the direction of having a healthy and balanced relationship with your Money Honey.
Shagufta Khatri is a Mentor/Coach to Entrepreneurs who struggle with Consistent
Cash-flow and want to “Keep more of the Money they Make and Make as much Money as they Want.” She works with clients in 3 strategic areas that impact their business’s bottom-line achieving a 40% increase in their net profits, within 3 months of taking her 5 week signature program “Make your Biz Your A.T.M”. If you like this article, you will also enjoy my weekly money tips. I am rebranding my website and once ready, you will get an update on the FB page about your free gift, so do remember to hit “LIKE” http://Facebook.com/ShitThatMatters
Make Your
Content Work For You
Many small business owners, especially those with an online presence, understand the importance of writing and publishing an email newsletter, or eZine. Without fail, they write well researched, relevant content and email it out to their customers and prospects, hoping to gain sales and customers. What these small business owners/eZine authors don’t realize is that they are leaving easy money on the table!
By KIMBERLY ELDREDGE
One of the business owners I’m working with owns a local brick-and-mortar store. It’s a hugely successful garden center. One of the reasons it is so successful, even through the economic challenges and major road construction, and still able to compete head-to-head with the Big Box stores in town, is through the quality content that is emailed weekly to subscribers. The business owner knows the power of content and the garden center’s website has a wealth of resources hidden in its archives. Since the garden center is known as the place to go to for local plants, garden supplies and knowledge, at first glance it looks like all that weekly content is doing exactly what it’s supposed to do: establish credibility and bring people in the door. There’s work to write, edit, and publish each article. But after the customers are at the garden center, the content is no longer working on behalf of the business owner.
It like the old adage: make your money work for you. Most people agree that it’s better to get even the tiniest fraction of interest on money in a savings account than to have the money sitting in a sock drawer, lazing around. Money earning interest, even a miniscule amount, is money that is working. So why not treat articles the exact same way? What do you do with your articles after you send out your newsletter? If you archive it on your website and then forget about it, it’s the same as letting your money watch bad daytime TV while hanging out in your sock drawer! Content you’ve already written can be put work for you – bringing in additional dollars from a brandnew market in eBook and printed book sales. I’m currently working to take all the great content that has been created for the garden center’s newsletter and repackaging it into books that will be sold on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other major on-line retailers. Even though it seems like a cut-off market, written specifically for this area, the gardening tips, tricks, and techniques are relevant for other gardeners facing similar challenges. The articles are relevant, well researched, and written by a gardening expert.
The brick-and-mortar store is the local market leader, hands down. While it brings in the lion’s share of all gardening dollars locally, at some point, there are few additional local dollars to be had. By repackaging existing content into a different format, we are able to add an additional revenue stream into the business and expand the potential client base far beyond a local reach. When the books are sold on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc, the business owners are able to earn additional dollars that aren’t related to local sales. These book sales probably won’t result in additional retail sales due to simple geography, but they will add and additional revenue stream. The business owner has already spent the time to write and edit the articles. And it’s paid for itself in customers walking into the store. But, each week, new content has to be written and edited for that week’s newsletter. Then the customers come into the store. Just like vitamins or exercise, it’s a never ending cycle: write the article, email it out, and get customers. Repeat weekly for consistent results.
Through a one-time publishing process, the same content can start earning passive income as books. After all, the content is already written (and paid for)! Once the book is published on Amazon, it can be sold again and again and again with no additional effort on the part of the business owner.
This is how I got started publishing my own books. For years of I wrote newsletters about outdoor recreation translated into three camping cookbooks, three books of campfire stories, and a book on trout fishing. These books continually bring me income. All I had to do was repackage the content from the articles into books and now I receive a monthly royalty payment without any additional effort on my part. Is your content working for you? Is it bringing you revenue from the largest retail website in the world? Or is it just archived on a website or hard drive? Find that great already-written content and let it work for you!
Kimberly Eldredge is an author,
illustrator, and entrepreneur. Her business, On The Beach Publishing, helps authors and entrepreneurs publish their book. She offers assisted selfpublishing options as well DIY solutions. Find out more at http://OnTheBeachPublishing.com
Do you have a service or product that would improve the lives of women worldwide ? If you do, we would love to hear from you! Email us your name, company and website address, and we will look it over and reach out to you if we feel it’s a good fit.
KCiodrnzer
rent A Diffe View Point of
Illustrated and Written By VALERIA SALAZAR
Hi again. I like to eat ice-cream and play games.
I want to know something - what makes you happy??
Kids. They have no filter, do they? But they have such valuable lessons. Lessons that we adults sometimes should take the time to learn. This section of our magazine is just for that purpose. To remind us of the innocence of childhood, the purity of simplicity and the joy of life from a perspective we have so long ago left behind.
Valeria Salazar is nine-years-old and is in fourth grade. In her spare time she enjoys to sign, dance, make Rainbow Looms and watch Shake It Up Chicago from Disney.
Ask an adult what gives them happiness, and they draw a blank. But ask a child what gives them happiness, and their list is usually endless! To live a happier life, we must re-connect with those things that give us joy. If you are drawing a blank, think back to your own childhood and see what comes up.
How People Just Like You
Accidentally Disinherit Did you know that parents accidentally disinherit their children on a regular basis? It could happen to your own children or your grandchildren. As the Mama Bear Attorney and the mother of 3, this breaks my heart and I want it to stop.
Their Children
By WENDY WITT
I’ll explain how an accidental disinheritance commonly occurs and how you can prevent it from happening in your own family.
The Here’s How An Accidental Disinheritance Often Happens: Mom and Dad get married, have children, and title most of their property in joint names, as spouses commonly do. Mom and Dad divorce (or Dad dies). Mom gets remarried. Mom puts all of her assets in joint names with her New Spouse because that’s how she’s used to owning her assets. Mom dies. Mom’s Will (and Trust) has NO affect on jointly owned property. New Spouse inherits everything he owned in joint names with Mom by operation of law. New Spouse dies. New Spouse’s children inherit everything. Mom and Dad’s children inherit NOTHING.
Here’s How to Avoid Accidentally Disinheriting Your Children As a parent, you have the power and the responsibility to care for your children. Part of that responsibility includes creating an estate plan that actually works.
This means that you must: Work with a qualified estate planning attorney. Keep your estate plan up-to-date. Own your assets so that your estate plan works, meaning it does what you think it will do.
Keep in mind that neither your Will (nor your Trust) control any assets that are jointly owned with right of survivorship. Avoid joint ownership, especially with a second spouse, unless you want those assets to go to him at your death and NOT to your children from a previous relationship. You have the power to be sure your children are not disinherited. Imagine how they will feel if you fail to act to protect them?
Wendy Witt (The Mama Bear Attorney) has been a mama for
19 years and has been helping moms protect their cubs with good estate planning for 14 years. If you’re a Mama Bear and you want to protect your cubs and feel less anxious, you are invited to download FREE Mama Bear Guides at www.MamaBearAttorney.com.
10 Steps to a
Gluten Free I see newly diagnosed gluten sensitive and celiac patients/ clients at least twice a week, and all have one thing in common besides the obvious of course; they all feel overwhelmed!
Lifestyle
By VAROUJ KACHICHIAN
Confused, lost, angry, frustrated, and at a loss, uncertain of their life from this point forward, all they have heard from their consultation with the doctor is all the things they can’t have. And boy, did life just get harder or what? It may seem like it initially, however, I would say… NOT!
We are so programmed to consume everything gluten-full, that our brain is addicted to it just like an alcoholic’s is to booze! No can do is everyone’s first reaction. “I can’t give up bread!” is the first response I get. And I totally understand it. That was my very first sentence uttered when I was first diagnosed. After all I owned a bakery. I lived on bread, croissants, pastries, pizza and pasta.
Here are few pointers to ease you into the gluten free lifestyle…
1 .
2
.
3 .
4
Rule of thumb; When it comes to gluten sensitivities there is no such a thing as “it’s just a small bite.” or “Just taste it!” what’s a small bite going to do to you? Or it’s my birthday; have to have a piece of cake! NOPE, YOU DON’T!!! If you are religious, ask for gluten-free (GF) communion wafers. (Many churches now offer GF version.) And yes, a little piece of the wafer once a week, once a month or even once a year is enough to reset your reactions. Gluten sensitivity is a systematic autoimmune disease!!! This means, your immune system can’t tell the difference between a bite and an entire loaf. Hence the importance of the next step. Eliminate all possibilities for crosscontamination. From kitchen tools, toasters, toaster ovens, ovens, cutting boards, and wooden spoons. Remember, that any regular baking done previously has left residue all over your kitchen and tools, especially the oven. Clean your pantry from ALL gluten foods. Out of sight, out of mind rule applies here. Many will have cravings for gluten-full foods, especially in the first few weeks.
.
5 6 .
.
This may be harder if you are the only one in your family on a GF diet, or live with roommates eating the typical American gluten filled diet. Nonetheless, resist temptations. Be aware of all hidden gluten sources such as some chocolate, licorice, or even prescription medications. Stop playing the victim! Accept the fact that this is now your lifestyle. The sooner you eliminate ALL gluten from your diet the sooner you start reversing and repairing the damage by seek help from a qualified professional, such as a Certified Gluten Practitioner.
7 .
Inform and educate you family and friends about your new lifestyle and be sure they understand that this is not about you choosing to be “difficult”, or wanting to try “the newest diet.” You have a PERMANENT ALLERGY!!! Be persistent, don’t give up, chances are, they will NOT get it anyways!!
8
Plan your meals ahead of time. There will be less of a chance of you falling back into old habits when you are not starving. Be sure to have snacks such as fruits and nuts, high quality gluten-free protein shakes make great alternatives to a quick meal replacement on the go, or as a last minute solution.
9
Look for support groups in your area such as Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG), Meet up groups, and any celiac or gluten-free groups for moral support, to bounce back ideas, learn more from each other’s experiences, and maybe exchange a few recipes.
.
.
10
Resist replacing gluten full foods with gluten-free counterparts, again, this will be a little challenging at first, but work toward reducing the extra carbohydrate consumption.
Once again, working with a qualified professional will not only ease your transition into a gluten free lifestyle, it will make it much safer, achieve faster results, and be able to monitor any sudden or unexpected/unwanted changes. The
goal is to feel better, repair and restore damaged tissues and stay on the healthier path.
I would love to hear about your experiences, your thoughts and comments. Or if you have any questions you can reach me direct at chefv@culinarycreator.com
Chef Varouj Kachichian (chefV)
has more than 20 years of culinary experience and is a certified gluten practitioner. His mission is to help gluten sensitive individuals transition and live a gluten free lifestyle, inspire them to cook and eat healthy and delicious gluten-free meals in 30 minutes or less, so they have more energy, eliminate toxins and manage their weight, all without feeling deprived.
Stil d n a Snack
l
Loseht Weig
By MICHELLE LEE
Snacking can keep you from starving between meals, and can help you lose weight. Although most of us grew up hearing that we should eat three square meals a day to be healthy, and to avoid eating between meals since it might ruin our lunch or dinner, more and more evidence now shows that snacking can actually be beneficial to your waistline.
Why is this so? Well, nibbling between meals can help to control your appetite so you are less likely to starve when lunch or dinner rolls around. You are less likely to overeat, and when you do not overeat, you can lose weight. Eating foods that contain only about 100 to 150 calories can tide you over until your next meal without wrecking your appetite completely. Thankfully many companies are jumping on the bandwagon and providing low calorie snacks to a more health conscious nation since doing this can benefit their bottom line as well.
There are a variety of low calorie snacks to choose from including: • A piece of fruit • Crackers
• String cheese • Microwave popcorn • Nuts (especially walnuts and almonds)
Many of our favorite foods can be eaten as snacks in moderation of course. It is always helpful to read labels provided on your food packaging to truly get an idea of serving sizes and calories. It’s just nice to know that you can have your favorite snack and eat it too and still fit into that little black dress.
Michelle Lee, Life Coach BS, MA, Life Coach, Certified with Coach Training Alliance, M.Ed-Health Promotion. Coaching individuals to reduce stress, create a better work/life balance and shed unwanted pounds without having to diet, so they can start relishing their life now.
So, Ladies. This time, I have a question for you.
y l e v i t Seduc ful Taste
When you are right in the middle of full sensuality and pleasure... are you in your body or in your head? Let’s be real for a minute. We all have insecurities -- all of us -- women and men, the young and the not-so-young! lol Here is the thing: when we entertain our thoughts of our insecurities (the extra pounds here, the soggy skin there) we get caught up in our heads and not in our body. And, I don’t know about you, but that’s not exactly the moment I want to be having those thoughts.
As women, we want to feel
seductive
more
...
sexier and more confident
. . . to feel
in our own bodies. Every month, this column will bring you articles, tips or facts that will help you with just that.
To learn more of this month’s author visit www.AngieRomero.com
Instead, I want to be and experience my body. Allow my skin to be drenched with the touch its receiving. To give in to the movement running through me entirely. To be so present with the chemistry and energy happening that every pore of me registers and imprints the sensation and the desire . . . eliminating time and space if even for a moment. Yet, if we are too busy thinking (stuck in our head), we just might miss the excitement of desire and passion presenting itself (right here, right now), and miss out experiencing the beautiful chemistry happening that very moment. So, ask yourself ... when you are right in the middle of full sensuality and pleasure, are you in your body or in your head?
Finding
n o i t a x Rela in a Spa
By PATRICIA HARTFIELD
Most individuals experience daily tension in muscles and joints due to their busy careers and family responsibilities. Relaxing at a local or destination spa is an excellent way for you to relieve the mental and physical symptoms of stress.
Continual tension and stress can actually make your immune system ineffective leading to a lowered resistance to infectious diseases. Local beauty salons and wellness centers that employ estheticians offer relaxing spa treatments such as massages. It is also possible to travel to exotic locations including beach resorts to have an assortment of relaxing spa treatments.
Relaxing Massages
Hot Sauna Treatments
Providing physical, mental and spiritual relaxation to clients is a main goal of estheticians.
Enjoying a relaxing body wrap treatment made of mud or seaweed is a nice way to detoxify your skin.
A relaxing massage is always a favorite selection of clients visiting a spa. Numerous massage techniques provide a feeling of relaxation to the mind and body. When visiting a spa, the esthetician will explain different massage therapies that will assist with relaxing tight muscles and adhesions in your body.
After the esthetician applies the mud or seaweed, you are wrapped in warm linens to allow the essential minerals to seep into your pores. Next, you are able to wash off the mud or seaweed in a relaxing whirlpool bath.
You may want to begin with a warm and swirling footbath followed by a reflexology massage that includes the application of aromatic lotions to the soles of the feet.
An additional relaxation method at a spa is releasing the impurities from your body with a hot sauna session. To achieve the ultimate relaxation, you can have a full body Swedish massage that uses firm gliding strokes to remove tension from sore joints and muscles.
Patricia Hartfield is a Social Wellness and Empowerment Expert, and Founder of Be
Social‌Be Healthy, LLC., an organization that supports, encourages and gives women from every walk of life an opportunity to step forward to reach their dreams and goals. As an Honored Member of Convington Who’s Who for Executives and Professionals, Patricia comes to us from a background of administration, medical office management and the fitness industry. Visit www.besocialbehealthy.com to learn more.
to A The Key
Happy ip h s n o i t a l Re Excerpt from Awaken to Love: A Mindful Path to Healing your Heart and Transforming your Relationship
When I reflect on moments of happiness in my life, I realize that I owe a debt of gratitude to my discovery of mindfulness. It has helped me perhaps more than anything else to reignite my passion for life and to increase my general sense of contentment in a rich variety of ways. The practice of mindfulness has also become the key to a happy relationship in my personal life. Mindfulness asks that you focus on living in the present moment in an enjoyable and harmonious way rather than getting tangled in the web of painful memories from the past or fears about the future. When your mind wanders to tomorrow or yesterday, or you’re thinking of something or someone else instead of just enjoying the now, it interrupts your flow of being and blocks you from being fully alive. The present moment, this very one now, is ultimately all you have. It is the point of power and the only space in which you can create, decide, choose, think, listen, speak, or act. At the same time, mindfulness is not focused on fixing problems. It accentuates acceptance first, and change may or may not follow. For example, when you’re experiencing an intense feeling in the moment, mindfulness shows you how to accept the feeling rather than deny or fight it, and through this process, change comes about naturally. Ever heard the old saying “What we resist, persists”? Mindfulness takes it a step further by saying “What we accept, transforms.” When you have a few quiet moments, try this: - Think of your partner and imagine that the two of you are sitting on a bench in a beautiful park, enjoying the sunshine and the scenery. Imagine that during this time,
you don’t make the slightest attempt to control the situation in any way. You have no memory of anything that happened between you before and no vision of what would happen after you leave. Imagine that all you want for your beloved is to have his own thoughts and experience in this moment. • What does it feel like to sit in the presence of your partner in this way? • What do you notice about how it feels to be you? • What do you notice about your partner? Whenever I do this exercise, I notice how my thoughts settle down and my body unfolds. I don’t have to wonder if John really loves me or if we’re going to be together forever. I don’t have to pretend I’m anything that I’m not, and I don’t have to impress or influence him in anyway. I don’t experience any feelings of not being good enough. I don’t have to ask for or extend forgiveness. In fact, I don’t have to make conversation at all. I can simply... be. In the absence of striving, I notice silence. A feeling of warmth descends over me. I become aware of a smile on my face because it’s so delightful to just feel into the moment and notice what arises. What a magnificent way to live in the Now, sitting in a park, sharing the beauty that surrounds you with the person you love, smelling the flowers, listening to the chattering of birds. In this relaxed space, I notice that my partner really loves being here with me, that it’s so much easier when nobody tries to control the outcome of the moment, when there is nothing to accomplish or achieve. This is mindfulness.
Book Club APPROVED
From time to time I personally come across a book that is a must read, a book that is worth its recognition, and a book that is of value to my community. Happier Healthier Women is proud to announce its first APPROVED Book Club Member:
Awaken to Love: A Mindful Path to Healing your Heart and Transforming your Relationship By: Mia Rose, D. Ed (Psych)
A relationship book written with such love, guidance and purity that its a must read for couples and singles alike. Find it on Amazon today.