Spring 2017: Issue 14
Calgary's Well-Being and Mindful Living Magazine
FREE
WENDY ZAK
MANAGING CHANGE AND A NEW GARDEN CENTRE DR. ALMA NENSHI
STRESS & AGING KRYSTYNA C. LAYCRAFT
WHY DO WE NEED TO CREATE? JANET LOVE MORRISON
THE NEW SUCCESS LANA OSBORNE-PARADIS
4 MENTAL STEPS TO SUCCEED WITH YOUR FITNESS PLAN Photo by DebbyK Photography
facebook.com/trifectamag | the wellness trifecta: achieving optimal results in three aspects of health; the mind, body and soul
Certified Coaches Federation
2017 Annual Conference
Overcoming Adversity September 30 - October 1, 2017 Calgary, Alberta
For more information and to register for this event, please visit:
www.certifiedcoachesfederation.com/conference
contributors
14
2
7 Secrets of High-Performance People
By Abe Brown
4
Why Do We Need to Create?
By Krystyna C. Laycraft
6
Money - The Foundation for Happiness
By Paula Cook
7
From Dreams to Reality
8
Creating for a Cause - What's Yours?
8
Stress & Aging
By Dr. Alma Nenshi
10
From East to West: Esoteric to Scientific
12
Belief: The Key to Your Mental Notes
13
The Art of Giving and Receiving Critical Feedback
By Alice Wheaton
14
Managing Change – and a New Garden Centre
16
Find Your What
Trifecta Magazine focuses on three aspects of health; Mind, Body and Soul. Achieving optimal results in these three areas is considered a perfect balance or trifecta, hence the name of this publication – Trifecta.
17
Planning for Success
18
The New Success
Inspiring well-being and mindful living through community connection right here in Calgary, Trifecta Magazine provides a channel for community members to both share and learn from each other’s experiences in a solution-based forum of expression.
18
A Curmudgeon's Recipes
20
4 Mental Steps to Succeed with Your Fitness Plan
Trifecta Magazine attracts readers, writers and advertisers with a desire for betterment and provides exposure to the many types of therapies, products and practitioners throughout Calgary and surrounding areas that can help people advance on their personal journeys.
21
Coveting the Lucky People?
22
Positive Mental Health for Children and Families
We hope you enjoy the experience and we look forward to sharing our passion in many issues to come.
24
What's in the Cards?
25
Give Peace a Chance
For information on advertising opportunities or to contribute to Trifecta Magazine, email sales@trifectamagazine.ca or phone 403-589-5060. Trifecta Magazine can be delivered quarterly directly to your home or office for only $24.95 + GST for a one year subscription. Email sales@trifectamagazine.ca for more information. Published by Allison Cartwright and Cindy Drummond
By Cheryle Cote
By Norene Procter
By Jane Sponiar
By Serge Mazerand
By Wendy Zak
By Malcom Saunders By Wendy Olson-Brodeur By Janet Love Morrison By Arthur Gardiner
By Lana Osborne-Paradis By Patrick Murray
By Catherine Feenstra By Cartomancer Craig By Kim Marchuk
26 No-Flour Pumpkin Seed Cookies
By Marsha Hebert
27
Want to be Financially Healthy
28
Fairytale of Love
By Lisa Elle
By Gary Duits
The publisher, authors and contributors reserve their rights in regards to copyright of their work. No part of this work covered by the copyright may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means without the written consent of the publisher. Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and advertisers and do not necessarily reflect those of Trifecta Magazine. Readers are encouraged to consult with their health professional before embarking on any exercise, medical or nutritional changes.
7
By Abe Brown
Secrets of High-Performance People
Most of us look at High-Performance People and wonder how we can “get there” in our own lives. High-Performance People often accomplish more things, experience more visibility, earn more money, and enjoy more abundance. They nail it, and they have fun doing it! Everything that High-Performance People is something you or I can do, if we simply understand what they are doing, why they are doing it, and make consistent choices. Here are 7 secrets of High-Performance People, that you’ll want to add into your life and work, if you haven’t already.
1. They have a clear focus on a big picture. If you don’t have a clear goal or desire in mind, how will you know when you’ve gotten there? High-Performance People have a clear vision for where they want to go, and are guided in their daily lives by a sense in which they know exactly who they are, what they want to do, and how they want to do it. This big picture guidance keeps them on track.
2. They have positive mental frameworks. High-Performance People have incredibly positive mental frameworks. They aren’t pessimistic, judgmental, negative, or critical. High-Performance People understand that their attitude determines their altitude, and so they keep their attitude elevated. They keep in mind that obstacles can be overcome, problems can be solved, adversity can be an opening, setbacks are temporary, and that opportunities are as limitless as they choose.
3. They are creators. High-Performance People understand intuitively that before something manifests in the real-world, it gestates in the mental world. Before a thing is real in actuality, it impregnates in the realm of vision and possibility. High-Performance People aren’t waiting for something to come to them, or for someone to give something to them, but they are using their imagination to create, dream, produce and build. High-Performance People are proactive, take initiative, and get it done! And as they move forward, in authenticity and alignment, they attract all the abundance and fullness that they need.
2 |
trifectamagazine.ca
4. They take time for Self-Care. High-Performance People take time for themselves. In their midst of their dreaming and doing, planning and processing, High-Performance People understand the priority of Self-Care. Energy and passion is the stuff of life, resilience, and success. High-Performing Coaches monitor their personal energy levels, and they do what it takes to regularly replenish their tank, so that they always have abundance to share. Everything from regular sleep to nutrition, to exercise to meditation, to affirmations to visualization, to journaling to time with quality people, High-Performance People take the time they need to care for themselves.
5. They don’t procrastinate. High-Performance People know what it is to engage the uncomfortable, the foreign, and the tasks they don’t like, and they don’t keep putting them off. Not all of the things we need to do in order to achieve our dreams are very fun, but HighPerformance People are able to focus on what needs to get done and do it, even when it’s disagreeable. They aren’t easily knocked off course by the unpleasant or low-profile roles we all need to fulfil in order to achieve the big picture and have long-term success.
6. They partner. High-Performance People know they can’t do everything themselves. They understand their own limitations, and appreciate the strengths and contributions of others. They would far rather move forward with a team, than move forward alone. They have an eye for talent and capacity, and are good at attracting the right people to their teams, and fitting them into the right roles. High-Performance People are able to foster great relationships and build teams that can help them achieve what they want even faster.
7. They are resilient. High-Performance People understand resilience. Like the rest of us, they face obstacles and struggles, setbacks and failures. But High-Performance People are tenacious, sticking to their dreams and goals as long as they need to, in order to get where they need to go. High-Performance People are great at bouncing back, taking a punch, and keeping on keeping on.
Trifecta Magazine MIND | BODY | SOUL
from the publisher. Planning
One final thought: Becoming a High-Performance Person is within all of our grasp. Personal growth and professional development is a PROCESS based on one simple principle: Our "inputs" define our "outputs". When we invest in our own personal growth and professional development, we tap into the power of PROCESS and grow EXPONENTIALLY. The world needs more HighPerformance People. Go out there and become a High-Performance Person, because we all need you to! But as you dream, insure you start strong, so that you can finish strong.
Abe Brown is the Coach’s Coach, and is the Founder and President of Momentum Coaching momentumcoaching.ca, and the President of the Certified Coaches Federation certifiedcoachesfederation.com. Momentum Coaching has experienced triple digit growth for several years running, and the Certified Coaches Federation has trained and certified over 10,000 Life and Executive Coaches in the last 8 years. Abe does Leadership and Executive Coaching, and works with profit-based, and non-profit organizations around strategic planning, cultivating fully engaged employees, and facilitating coaching and training programs. He has also worked with several small, medium, and large businesses to accelerate revenue growth and maximize engagement.
Spring 2017
Spring is the season of hope. The daylight lingers a few hours longer, tulips begin to peek out of the soil and we begin to pack away our mittens and scarves. It's also the season where we should start planning for success. You don't have to be in the gardening business to think of Spring as your planting season. If you are in business, you've likely met with your accountant and have a plan for next year's taxes, or if you are a student, you attend career fairs looking for employment. It is the effort you put into your plan that will ensure success which is why the theme for this issue is Planning for Success. Use this issue as your blueprint for designing your own life plan. We know it will be worth it! Wishing you success! Cindy Drummond
facebook.com/trifectamag
| 3
Why Do We Need to Create? In this article, I would like to answer to the question “Why do we need to create? Creativity can be understood as a process that occurs when something new and unique is brought into existence. Creativity has many faces and many roles in our lives. Creativity in childhood and adolescence is different than creativity in adulthood. During childhood and adolescence, creativity is a part of learning and exploring unknown worlds. During that time, young people are captivated and absorbed by everything new and exciting. But their creativity is often impulsive, spontaneous, and characterized by doubt and hesitation. They need parents, grandparents, and teachers to nurture, encourage, and motivate them. During adulthood, artistic creativity becomes an expression of the accumulative experiences, knowledge, and understanding of individuals. Very often, it develops into educational channels that express something essential and meaningful to them. For example, I created a series of paintings under the title, “Journey through Chaos Theory,” and through them I wanted to share my knowledge and understanding with others. But by immersing myself in the creation of 64 hexagrams of “I Ching,” I felt like a child who was eager to learn something new, something unknown, and something mystical. I was fascinated and completely absorbed in the artistic activity for almost two years. It is also helpful to look at creativity in much broader context. That requires extending it beyond artistic pursuits to the fabric of everyday endeavors. We can feel creative when we are working in a garden, or when we are cooking or when we are decorating our new house. Creativity is essential for psychological growth because it teaches us to learn and adapt to our outer environment and our inner sense of self. In his book “Toward a Psychology of Being,” Abraham Maslow confessed that he had to change his idea about creativity as soon as he began studying people who were healthy, highly involved and self-actualized. He made a distinction between “special talent creativeness” and “selfactualizing creativeness” He felt that it was a distinction that sprang directly from the personality. Another psychologist, Carl Rogers agreed with Maslow’s finding and proposed that a creative person is involved in a directional process called “the good life.” People become creative by going within themselves and developing acceptance and trust in their own thoughts and feelings. The resulting authenticity allows individuals to live by their truest values and by expressing themselves in their own unique ways. For a psychologist, Rollo May, genuine creativity is a way of finding meaning in life. Thus creativity must be understood as a product of the highest degree of emotional health.
4 |
trifectamagazine.ca
By Krystyna C. Laycraft, PhD
In the book “Creativity as an Order through Emotions1,” I present five stories of young people who were actively involved in creative pursuits such as music composition, circus arts, painting, journaling, and writing. I tried to find the answer to questions: What role does creativity play in their cognitive, emotional, and spiritual development? How does creativity help them to deal with their negative emotions? How does creativity contribute to an increase in their experiences of positive emotions? The first two stories are about young people who are very sensitive and talented but both suffered a lot during early adolescence. Both felt rejected by their schoolmates and teachers and were unhappy, lonely, and depressed. The boy’s symptoms were diagnosed as a bipolar disorder. The girl was oscillating between being bullied by her peers and escaping to the safety of doing art at home. They were loosing psychic energy and their situation was dangerous. In this situation, young individuals often escape into alcohol, drugs, or even suicide. Fortunately, it did not happen in the lives of these young people. They both found friendly and accepting environments in their new high schools. In these environments, they were able to open themselves to their external and internal worlds. They also began accepting their own experiences and learning about themselves and their feelings, thoughts, and dreams. They were able to connect to their interests, talents, and abilities. They started to be actively involved in creative activities and through them learned more about themselves. The next story is about a girl who since a childhood was interested in the contortion. She graduated from High School and was accepted to the National Circus School in Montreal. This girl was very creative, energetic, and passionate. From her story, we have learned that to create something meaningful, we have to put our whole being into it. We have to be active participants and sensitive observers. During this time, evoked emotions such as interest, joy, acceptance, and surprise link with each other and create emotions such as resourcefulness, curiosity, enthusiasm, and delight that are essential to our creativity. The last story is about a young man who graduated with BA from University of Calgary. In the last year of his studies, he was interested in non-objective art as a way of expressing something spiritual, something not of this world, something deeper. When I asked him how he understood this “something deeper,” he answered, “I think it was something bigger than me. It is coming from me and through my hands… It is very hard to express in words. It is like an emotion, but not like anger. It is something much more complex. You lose track of time. It is like your ego disappears if you are doing right. You are forgetting who you are. It is like meditation making art. “
Trifecta Magazine MIND | BODY | SOUL
He described a state of flow introduced by Csikszentmihalyi2. Flow occurs when self-conscious disappears and there is total absorption in the activity. It is one of the most enjoyable and satisfying processes of human activity.
KL Emotional Consulting Greater Awareness - Meaningful Life
As a summary, we can say that creativity helps young people in the turbulent period of adolescence by serving as an outlet for their increased tension and anxiety. Creativity becomes a source of positive emotions such as interest, joy, acceptance, curiosity, enthusiasm, resourcefulness, delight, and passion. Creativity gives young people the capacity to connect to something meaningful and introduces purposes and values in their lives. Creativity enriches their lives, opens up new possibilities, and greatly extends their vision of themselves and the world they live in.
Krystyna C. Laycraft, PhD and Certified Life Coach, helps people to identify their emotions, how to respond to challenging situations that evoke negative emotions, and how to embrace positive emotions. If you need my help, please email me: krystyna@platinum.ca 1
Laycraft, K.C. (2014). Creativity as an order through emotion. Promontory Press.
2
Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1997). Finding flow. The psychology of engagement with everyday life. Basic Books.
Krystyna Laycraft is a Certified Life Coach who helps people who need to experience new freedom, novelty, and understanding. She offers seminars and workshops on the emotional needs of adolescents and adults, the role of creativity in their psychological growth, and the importance of decision-making.
Krystyna Laycraft, PhD Certified Life Coach Consultant/Author/Speaker For information or registration email: krystyna@platinum.ca
6 Annual Join us at the
pri
*B AS
What is WOW?
th
October 20 and 21
krystyna-laycraft.com
ED
• It's what happens when 125 get women together in Canmore for a weekend of learning and laughter. • It's what happens when 21 facilitators share their passion on everything from Appetizers to Zumba • It's what happens when you say yes to WOW!
, 2017
cin Early g f Bi rom rd $4 69 CC
ON QU AD RU PL EO
*
UP AN CY
Includes: Two nights accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner plus sessions and other entertainment.
Your 2017 Inspirational Speakers
>Angela Ahosarri Feng Shui Fundamentals >Bev Janisch The Art Of Dealing With Your Feelings >Christina Read Unfolding the Best Version of YOU >Christine Hart Inside the Male Brain >Claudette Stiven Living in the Social Media Moment >Heather Petherick Three Steps to Create your career breakthru >Joyce Sunada The Big B word…Busy >Kate King Harmonizing your Vibrations with Gemstones >Kimberly French Achieving the Ultimate Wardrobe >Dr. Kyla Brulotte Toxin Free Home with Essential Oils >Liane Knox Autumn Yin Detox >Linda Kodnar Energizing the Busy Woman >Lois Hamilton Swap This for That (Explore healthier options for your pantry and fridge) >Maria Koutsogiannis The Light Beyond The Darkness >Natalie Stratton True Colors What is your Personality Style >Paula Cook Financial Jeopardy Game >Sam Rafoss You are Your Brand >Stephanie Hrehirchuk Breakfast Keynote: Welcome to the NEW New Age >Susan Hoy Healthier Holiday Entertaining >Suzanne Presnial Vin a Gogh Go Paint and Sip >Tara Sue Moore What Colour Are You Wearing w.ca nd@sha drummo ation! y d in c il Ema r more inform fo
Spring 2017
ffacebook.com/womenonlyweekend facebook.com/trifectamag
| 5
By Paula Cook
Money - The Foundation for Happiness I attend a lot of Women’s Networking Events on a monthly basis. Some attract women from the corporate world and some are made up of entrepreneurs. Many of the entrepreneurial types have left lucrative careers in the corporate world to follow their dreams and have learned that they have to bypass security and a bit of what they know in lieu of what they feel. Scary as that is, they take that leap of faith and many launch successful businesses. Regardless of which world they come from, Women only networking events have a much different vibe than mixed events. Put 30-40 women in a room and the volume will go up, and conversations may stem from a business angle, but will inevitably turn towards a more personal and heart felt subject matter, and that’s how we connect. Whenever I am asked what it is that I do, I say ‘I give women control of their money’. The long version would be “I help women put their emotional feelings about money on the shelf and instead get it back into their brains and look at money through logic and reason” Somehow they normally can relate to that and then we often launch into our own stories of money. I believe that we all have an emotional money story, and what I’ve learned from working with women and their finances for the last decade is this: Women are complicated! Men have it right, we are, but that’s what makes us so dynamic, interesting, strong and capable. And one thing that’s super complicated is their relationship with money! So much of it stems from our childhood and not necessarily what we were taught about money, but more how we perceive money and the emotion that we attach to it. We hold onto many of the lessons that we learned as children even if those lessons work against us.
They believe that as long as their children and family are thriving, they’re rich! After all the essentials are covered, then wealth means much more than what it can buy. Generally speaking, men are driven largely by profit, perks, and status. Not women. Once a woman is financially secure, she’s no longer motivated by the actual money. She has much more of a motivation to improve the lives of her family, her community and the world around her. What we shouldn’t do is get caught up on the fallacy that money doesn’t buy happiness because it sure as heck is the foundation and we all know it. Money is power, independence, freedom, and living the lives that we want — lives that our mothers and grandmothers may not have even imagined. Want to start your own business? Go on a trip around the world? Get an advanced degree? None of it’s possible if we’re not in control of our money or working toward these goals financially. And we owe it to our children. Fiscal responsibility is a key ingredient for the next generation and if the school system isn’t teaching it, then it’s left to us. Taking control of your finances shouldn’t be scary or embarrassing. It should be empowering and exciting. We should all have the security of knowing that whatever happens, divorce, critical illness, loss of job, reduction of salary, that we’ll be OK! Can you imagine what stress that would take out of our lives?
Far too many women continue to let themselves believe that they don’t understand how it all works or that they’re just not interested. What ends up happening, is being far too passive with wealth building or even worse, relinquishing control.
If you’ve never really stripped down bare to get honest with yourself over money. Never pulled out every statement from past employers, every bank account, every credit card bill and really acquainted yourself with your finances NOW is the time. Find yourself a professional that can help you plan and get clarity and when you decide to put it off for another month, or another year….I like to refer to the Old Chinese Proverb “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”
We have not only gender pay gaps to scale, but also the gender investing gap. I don’t mean the vehicle that men use or the method that they use, but the simple act of ‘doing’.
Paula Cook, Consultant for Professional Women with Fox Wealth Management. A part of Investors Group Financial Services Inc.
For men, often wealth is what a person has, how much they earn, the clothes they wear and the car they drive etc. For women, it can certainly still be some of those, but it’s how it makes them feel, how it benefits their children and families.
6 |
trifectamagazine.ca
Paula.Cook@investorsgroup.com 403-284-0494 facebook.com/PaulaCook123
Trifecta Magazine MIND | BODY | SOUL
By Cheryle Cote
From Dreams...to
Reality
We all have hopes and dreams. Some of us have big dreams and some are small. But they are important to us. We think about them, visualize them, and fantasize about them. We think, “wouldn’t it be nice if I had this”, “wouldn’t it be nice if I did that”. We talk to our friends and family about our dreams. We discuss what we hope for ourselves, our spouse, and our families. We talk and hope and wish and dream and visualize. We have read the latest book on the Law of Attraction, we’ve seen “the Secret”, and we meditate and imagine owning our dream. We make vision boards, we journal, and we ponder the possibilities. So what’s missing from this equation? What’s missing is that we aren’t making a practical plan. We aren’t taking step-by-step actions towards accomplishing the “dream”, the “success”. All of the hoping and wishing and dreaming and thinking won’t make it so without a plan of action. And so many people are caught up in day-to-day responsibilities, work, chores and obligations, that they don’t take time to plan for the goal, plan for their success of their future dreams. All their time seems to get locked into the “now” of living. And then they wonder, as time marches on, why their plans and dreams are not happening. So what can we do to help to make our future goals a reality? Here are a few strategies to get you on your path to creating your goals and helping them come to fruition. 1. Make a comprehensive list of goals that are a priority and that are true to your heart. A half-hearted goal will have you running out of steam before you even get started, or won’t carry you very far. Enthusiasm and a keen interest will give you energy to carry you further. If you have several goals and are ambitious, try to narrow it down to the most important ones. 2. Ask yourself why these goals are important to you. Often the motivation to accomplish a goal can reveal the fuel and fire to help keep you on track or it might put out the flame. If you are dreaming about a goal that is someone else’s expectation of you, it won’t hold up. Much like when a person tries to lose weight for someone else, or tries to quit smoking to please someone else, it often doesn’t work. You have to want it for yourself.
5. Create a timeline for your success with your goals. Again, it’s important to break it down into daily, weekly, and monthly activities that will lead you on the path to your success. These can be listed on a page under the previous headings of Short-term, Medium-term and Long-term Goals 6. Be reasonable and gentle with yourself. In my Professional Coaching practice, the biggest challenge I see are clients that bite off more than they can chew and then they get discouraged trying to keep up the intense pace. It is better to make a reasonable timeline plan that is manageable, rather than one that you can’t keep up with. Taking on too much will potentially overwhelm you, stress you, and you may give up. It’s better to be a tortoise and reach the destination, than to not even get there at all. 7. Be held accountable for your actions. If you want to tackle this without a professional Life Coach, then have a Dream Buddy. This is someone who is a friend you can confide in, share your goals with and inform them of your plans and actions. Ideally, if you are both working on goals, you can meet weekly or every two weeks and give each other updates on your progress. This will keep you focused. 8. And, finally, if the goal needs to be changed because of life circumstances or a realization that the goal is not as important as you originally thought, don’t be afraid to modify and adjust. Be open to adapting and modifying your goals so you can plan effectively for your success!
Cheryle Cote helps empower people through her Hypnotherapy, Holistic Healing, and Life Coaching programs. cherylecote.com
3. Make a list of practical steps and activities that are manageable towards helping you accomplish your goal. Break it down into bite-size, do-able activities. Sometimes when we have a big dream, we may need to do research. Break those planning steps down into bite-size pieces, too. 4. Make short-term, medium term and a long term goals for your success. Spring 2017
facebook.com/trifectamag
| 7
Creating for a Cause - What's Yours? By Norene Procter
Our world is a bit wonky. How can people help themselves to feel more inner peace. For Norene, being in Nature with her 3 pups and being a creator are her ways to peace. A born Albertan she is a self taught artist, entrepreneur and animal activist. She started a business back in 1984 in Calgary called Six Foot Silks. She sold her work to corporations and governments and people received her art as gifts globally. Later through her career, she began teaching art to folks in rehabilitation hospitals taking with her Jerimiah, her small cockapoo dog. She discovered through teaching that art and animals are healing. Many of her clients were very drawn to her little dog and many learned to 'let go' with creating. Nature, her dogs, and art, make her world go round. She 'walks this talk' as she often can be found driving Alberta on week ends taking picnics along even in February. One summer while in Jasper swimming and kayaking in the lakes there, she expressed how Medicine Lake in Jasper / Photo: Norene Procter fortunate this fine town is only 5 hours away and how lucky we are to have this in Alberta when people come from around the globe to be here. She can be found hiking Black Diamond, Turner Valley, Cochrane, Bragg Creek, Banff and Canmore. Norene teaches art to all age groups and finds comfort in sharing her passion and energy for the arts. Her pups Robin, Elijah and Donovan accompany her to most all of her classes. People enjoy meeting her pets and feel happy they are included in her art classes. Her best life lessons, she has learned from her dogs. "They taught me how to truly be in nature" In Nature, one can 'let go'; same with art and creating. Dogs live in the present. We can learn from that. While creating we need to let go and just Be - in the present. We can let go of issues, problems or worries while in nature if we allow it to be. Being a self taught artist, Norene has learned in a unique way and thus teaches differently and feels we all have a creative ability. She offers team building exercises with corporate clients and in trying times in our Alberta, we all need to feel gratitude more and value the good things we have in life, celebrate that and give to back to others in whatever way we can. Renowned feminist activist Germain Greer says, "In Todays world, we all need to be activists". When Norene shares art with kids or adults she reiterates that we indeed all need to be activists in todays world. What is your cause? Our world is in turmoil and we all need to play our part. How are you helping? What are you giving back? Six Foot Silks website will show you some of Norene's hand painted silks. She teaches all art mediums of pencil sketching, pastels, acrylics, watercolours and silk painting. She does private lessons and art classes for birthday parties and special events. Norene celebrates being in Alberta sharing her passion and enthusiasm for art making and emphasizes that we are surrounded by beauty.
8 |
trifectamagazine.ca
By Dr. Alma Nenshi
Stress & Aging Is it possible to stop aging? Of course not, but research shows you can slow and in some cases reverse the aging process. First you need to identify and adapt well to the physical, chemical, emotional and electromagnetic stresses in your life and then you need to reduce inflammatory effects of stress in your brain and body! First, how many of these stressors do you have? Poor posture, sitting too much, sports injuries, car accidents, being overweight, sleeping on a poor mattress, inappropriate footwear, lifting improperly, standing on one leg frequently, lack of or unbalanced exercise and text neck and computer strain causing digital dementia? Food colouring, additive and dyes, sugar, caffeine, nicotine and smoke, alcohol, cleaning supplies, cosmetics, air and water pollution, drugs (street or prescribed), poor nutrition, electromagnetic frequencies and dehydration? What about anxiety and worry, fear, loss of control, loneliness, depression, financial stress, time challenges, peer pressure, family stress, addictions, work stress, frustration and disappointment, exhaustion, traffic and weather? In order to slow down the aging process you must neutralize the harmful inflammatory effects of stress! Here are four ways to help you get started. First stop eating crappy carbohydrates, it’s an addiction that some believe is harder to shake than cocaine. Excess glucose within a cell not only blocks the production of ATP (cellular energy), it is linked to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimers and dementia. It is believed that drinking soda pop everyday is as just as bad as smoking. But drinking orange juice is worse than soda pop, and worse yet is apple juice. Your daily sources of plant nutrition should be 75-90% vegetables and only 10-25% fruits. Your second anti-aging strategy is to supplement your diet with essential vitamins and minerals to protect the brain, specifically Omega-3’s, Vitamin D3 and Magnesium. The healthiest sources of Omega-3’s are from fresh water arctic fish like salmon. Omega-3’s reduce inflammation and fibrosis in the body. Fibrosis is hardening of the tissues in the body which in the joints leads to reduced mobility and in the blood vessels leads to high blood pressure, reduced oxygen and poor energy. Vitamin D3 is necessary for bone and joint health and has a role to play in slowing osteoporosis and bone demineralization. Increased calcium in your cells is not healthy. Magnesium blocks the influx of calcium into cells thereby slowing cell death. Since glutamate and aspartate will open calcium channels, do not consume anything with MSG, aspartame or other artificial sweeteners that will damage cells and accelerate aging.
Trifecta Magazine MIND | BODY | SOUL
Third, become more active! Exercise moderately for 30 minutes most days of the week, or everyday at high intensity for 5 minutes. Too much exercise will create free radicals in the body that accelerate cell aging so be mindful of the time and intensity of your workouts. And finally, incorporate regular chiropractic care into your lifestyle as a way of enhancing the electrical communication pathways to and from your brain and the cells of your body. In a published study (J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2016 Jan;39(1):42-53.) spinal manipulation reduced nerve and postoperative pain by activating anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in the spinal cord. This means chiropractic care reduces inflammation in the nervous system, which in turn enhances whole body functional health. Another published study showed increased benefits of being on a program of high-velocity, low-amplitude spinal manipulation treatments twice weekly for 5 weeks in measuring anti-oxidant and analgesic effects in the body (J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2015;38:119-129). Chiropractic adjustments also increase the activity of your prefrontal cortex (your executive centre for intelligence, reasoning and planning) and your hypothalamus (your centre for hormone regulation, appetite, temperature, immunity, sleep, sex drive, memory and energy.) Of the four anti-aging strategies, the first three are within your immediate control and can be easily implemented if you haven’t already. The fourth, regular chiropractic care as part of your lifestyle, neutralizes the harmful effects of constant, chronic, low levels of physical, chemical, emotional and electromagnetic stress. Improving brain-body communication enables you to regain control of your body. The end result? Improved functional health as you age and the potential to heal tissues faster than they degenerate. Most insurance companies have coverage for chiropractic care.
Dr. Alma Nenshi, Family Chiropractor Chiropractic Wellness Clinic CalgaryWellness.com
M A R K YO U R C A L E N DA R Chiropractic Wellness Clinic
Dr. Alma Nenshi's Health Talks are FREE! Limited seating so reserve your seats. Visit CalgaryWellness.com for information. Spring Clean Your Gut April 15 | 12:00 pm Reduce inflammation, bad gas, cramping & pain naturally.
STRESS INDICATORS Constant, chronic, low levels of physical, chemical, emotional and electromagnetic stress, left unresolved, leads to damage, degeneration and disease. Sleep Difficulties / Insomnia Fatigue / Low Energy Anxiety / Depression / Overwhelm Memory Fog / Forgetfulness High Blood Pressure Weakened Immunity Digestive Issues Irritable Bowel Weight Gain / Belly Fat Chronic Pain Food Cravings / Addictions Headaches Feeling Judgmental or Negative Cold Hands or Feet Hormonal Imbalances Poor Concentration Racing Mind Mood Swings Accelerated Aging
Dr. Alma Nenshi can help you neutralize your stress so you can live your full potential.
FREE Stress Consultation
Alzheimer's & Dementia April 29 | 12:00 pm What you need to do now to improve brain function as you age.
403-254-5774
Chronic Pain and Fibromyalgia May 20 | 12:00 pm Fibromyalgia pain relief is possible with Frequency Specific Microcurrent Therapy.
Dr. Alma Nenshi, B.Sc., D.C.
Healthy thyroid and Adrenal Lifestyles For increased energy and weight loss.
Spring 2017
May 27 | 12:00 pm
DOCTOR OF CHIROPRACTIC
CalgaryWellness.com facebook.com/trifectamag
| 9
By Jane Sponiar
FROM EAST TO WEST:
Esoteric to Scientific Taking care of our health involves paying attention to the whole person and all areas of our life - physical, emotional, mental, physiological and spiritual.
BENT
MEDIA
Since acupuncture has been introduced in the West, the concept of Qi and its circulation in the human body has gained more recognition by physicians as well as the general public.
I S A BO UT I Q UE
GRAPHIC DESIGN
The Eastern healing practices of Tai Chi and Qigong are ancient practices steeped in wisdom that have stood the test of time. Millions of people in China practice daily, not because they are sick - but to maintain wellness.
FIRM. HIRING
A BOUTIQUE
Taking a proactive approach to our health and well being by practicing these mind-body practices has gained tremendous popularity in the past decade in our Western cultures.
FIRM MEANS
LOW OVERHEAD
WITH BETTER
However, in order for our medical community to start accepting the benefits of these practices, research validating the effects are needed.
PASSED ON TO YOU. IT MEANS
An exciting development has occurred this past year where Calgary is in the forefront of a medical study where the effects of practicing Tai Chi and Qigong will be measured on study participants that have cancer.
VA L U E
NO COOKIE-CUTTER
DESIGNS
In Spring 2016, I was approached by the Calgary research team led by the Principal Investigator Linda Carlson, PhD. They were looking for Tai Chi and Qigong experts for the upcoming study.
SO YOUR COMPANY’S
ID EN TI T Y I S AS
UNIQUE
Munira Jiwa and I were selected to be the program facilitators and we travelled to Boston to work on the protocol under the guidance of Peter Wayne, PhD. Together we came up with a plan and later recorded the Tai Chi/Qigong protocol so participants of the study can use it as a supplement for their home practice.
AS YOU! IT MEANS YOU
I am a Tai Chi teacher with a background in coaching, physical education and kinesiology. Meeting the scientific approach after journeying with Tai Chi for 25 years seems to be perfect match. Tai Chi helped me to overcome many life obstacles and is a life long inspiration that I love to share with others. Both, Tai Chi and Qigong are still often viewed these days as esoteric disciplines.
WORK DIRECTLY WITH
YOUR DESIGNER SO YOU GET THE
RESULTS
Let's Connect /bent media corp creativesolutions@bentmedia.ca
10 |
trifectamagazine.ca
ntmedia.ca
YOU WANT!
be
I teach in regular classes full form or we can say full sequence of Tai Chi. This research study protocol involves only a few simplified movements. Peter Wayne has done many studies using this simplified approach. This is what he says in his book on page 66: �Simplified Tai Chi program is structured in an easy-to-learn format, similar to the approach we have used in our research studies at the Harvard Medical School. This program emphasizes essential Tai Chi movements that anyone can easily learn and practice just about anywhere - at home, out in nature, or even in a small quiet corner at work. Growing out of the ancient Tai Chi tradition, these exercises integrate gentle, relaxed flowing
Trifecta Magazine MIND | BODY | SOUL
movements, mindfulness, natural breathing and imagery with the net result being a unique meditative, yet invigorated, state.“ We need to look beyond the visible form to ponder the question What exactly is Tai Chi? Tai Chi is more than learning the form. Form is just the beginning of the whole process. Real Tai Chi starts after the form is memorized and one can focus on other things besides what the next step is. There is suddenly space to be aware of ones own breath, of the flow, relaxation, inner energy, serenity and many other sensations. The person is actually diving deeper into principles and secrets of this ancient art. This experience is something the beginner, who is trying to memorize the sequence does not get until much later. The beauty of the simplified form in this research project is that it makes the awareness of these deeper principles accessible right there, to the novice practitioner! Munira Jiwa, Qigong teacher, says: I have personally practiced Spring Forest Qigong, a form of medical Qigong developed by Master Chunyi Lin for over a decade. I’ve experienced relief of chronic pain, depression and a host of other health ailments. I am compelled to teach and share what I’ve learned due to the profound results I have experienced as well as the benefits many of my students continue to experience with this simple practice. I am excited and honoured to be part of this study to help bring visibility and credibility to these complementary therapies that I hope will one day be widely accepted into our health care system. Qigong uses both still and moving meditation to increase and regulate our circulation of “Qi” or internal life force energy - which is the key to maintaining health. Qigong helps the practitioner experience a high level of body relaxation, calmness and peace of mind. The form allows the practitioner to concentrate effort on improving their ability to feel inside their body. I come from the health care system, having worked as a Physical Therapist with a diverse group of clientele. I strongly believe adding Tai Chi/Qigong to ones wellness regime will empower us to take a proactive approach to our health and well being.
Jane Sponiar, Living Tai Chi
Both Instructors have taught at Wellspring Calgary over the past 7 years and witness the benefits of Tai Chi and Qigong for the participants, people affected by cancer. Implementing the essence of Qigong and Tai Chi into the MATCH study is another step towards making these ancient healing arts more visible in world of science. We look forward to seeing what the results of this three year research study will show.
Munira Jiwa, Core Energy Wellness
Jane Sponiar, MSc. Kinesiology Tai Chi, Qigong, Yoga & Meditation teacher, Reiki Master
thematchstudy.ca Spring 2017
facebook.com/trifectamag
| 11
Belief: The Key to Your Mental Notes By Serge Mazerand In my first article, “A musical perspective on life” I invited you to become the conductor of your personal orchestra––the thirty-five trillion or so musician-cells that play the sacred music of your life. We saw that awareness, the art of listening, is truly the key factor in insuring that we stay in tune, attuned and aligned, creating coherence in what we think, say and do on the stage of life. Thoughts are our notes, our music. But where are they coming from? It all begins with our belief system, the matrix where our thoughts are created. This is where we find the inspiration to compose the music of our lives. Awareness of our beliefs is therefore paramount in the process of creating our day-to-day melodies, our reality. To that effect, we need to ask ourselves three key questions: What is a belief and how is it formed? Most beliefs are just ideas. If we put enough conviction into these ideas, they become beliefs. Some are cultural, others are based on scientific data. Others still come from conditioning. The most flawed beliefs are often generated by early childhood conditioning and later in life, by societal manipulation and subconscious programming induced by the plethora of information (accurate or not) our minds are subjected to on a daily basis. Here are typical examples of both: Often, deep-seated childhood beliefs are in profound conflict with what we are called to do in our adult lives and they totally sabotage the roles we choose to play. They diminish and stunt us. For example, the belief that we are not good enough at this or that, that we are ugly, that we better hide and keep a low profile, that money is dirty––you name it––all these assumptions and perceptions that are hammered into our psyche by parents, siblings or teachers––keep us from reaching the full extent of the many possibilities that await us. In the realm of social manipulation, come fall, we hear and read everywhere: “The flu season is here!” Many people are so suggestible that, in fact, they believe the time has come to get sick–– and so they do, almost on command! This is the equivalent of voodoo in certain countries where spells often incapacitate or even kill impressionable individuals. The placebo effect is the most spectacular illustration of the power of belief–– of belief in belief, in fact. It is often also called the sugar pill effect, meant to induce a perceived or real improvement in a patient’s condition. In the case of the above-mentioned casting of spells, it is called nocebo (I shall harm) while placebo means I shall please, two wings of the same bird. A couple of elements are at the heart of placebo: emotion and expectation. A belief is only as strong as the emotion that sustains it. Then, it is not what we know anymore. It is no longer about what has been scientifically demonstrated. It is about what we are convinced of in the heart of our hearts. And when we expect something to happen, whether in the positive or in the negative, due to the law of attraction, it usually happens. As the saying goes, “be careful what you wish for”. However, we should also be careful about what we are afraid of, because that too, manifests in uncanny ways. Is this belief empowering me or is it disempowering me? It is one or the other. The belief is either giving us strength and resilience or it is weakening us. It serves us in our vision of life, in our goals, or it sabotages us, poking holes into the only boat we have to carry us through life. Often, we manifest attitudes that have sort of grown into us with time, sustained by certain beliefs. For instance, we find ourselves saying to friends and even to strangers: “Oh, that’s just how I am, you know.” Really? Is it how you are or how you were made to be? The “I am not good at this, I am a pessimist, I am lonely, I am this
12 |
trifectamagazine.ca
In book stores & online keystoserenity.com
or that” are not empowering you at all. As a matter of fact, the more you repeat these words the more you reinforce their negative energy and sap the life-energy that flows within you. So, for the sake of inner harmony, effectiveness and success, you need to regularly clean house, so to speak, and assess the belief system you function under. Is this a true belief or just an idea? Often we confuse both. Many so-called beliefs are merely ideas about things, society, money, sex, power, politics, age, death and diets, even religion. To reach lasting inner peace we need to go beyond these pseudo-beliefs; beyond perception and assumption. Mystic Persian poet Rumi famously wrote: “Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and right doing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there.” However, to transcend beliefs doesn’t mean to erase all of them altogether. We still need values and strong guidelines to help us navigate life. All we need to do is to filter through the false beliefs, the pseudo-beliefs and the acquired beliefs. We need to educate ourselves and exercise critical thinking. But we also need to listen to our heart. It isn’t a purely intellectual process. It is a harmonious combination of heart and mind. It also requires acceptance of other’s beliefs because, as we saw earlier, belief is about emotion and conviction. And surely, we cannot expect everyone to automatically resonate with our own convictions, can we? Now that we have become aware of where to find our inspiration as composers of our life symphony––a space of coherent, empowering beliefs that serve us and the world–– let us write the notes, create our thoughts, choices and change. Stay tuned…
Serge Mazerand Pianist – Composer – Recording Artist – Keynote player Author of new book: 7 keys to Serenity keystoserenity.com/book/7-keys-to-serenity Trifecta Magazine MIND | BODY | SOUL
By Alice Wheaton
The Art of Giving and Receiving Critical Feedback It is an art to give feedback that will be well received, and therefore perceived as beneficial. When delivered with respect and clarity the recipient will be much more likely to perceive it as having value, and implement it as soon as possible. One of my clients, CEO of an engineering firm, recently reminded me of the importance of executive feedback and of how vital it is to the success of any initiative. During a debriefing with the CEO we discussed the comments, questions, expectations, and policies and procedures of the technical experts. We also discussed some of their requests about my approach to working with them. I am helping their team build strong business development practises and to radically grow their business in a challenging market without compromising their margin. Since I am not a technical expert myself, I need regular feedback about my approach to their training or coaching. For me the highlight of the debrief session was the feedback that the CEO shared with me regarding the areas that I can optimize in myself, my knowledge, and my approach to working with his team. He is the master amongst masters at making each comment and piece of advice for improvement feel like a compliment. For those of you who feel anxious or become defensive when receiving feedback, know this…it is a compliment! The fact that the extremely busy CEO of a full service engineering firm with close to 100 employees and offices throughout the West was willing to use an hour to help me optimize my techniques was a gift. When you choose to feel grateful for critical feedback you will receive it with anticipation instead of dread. The only necessary response to any feedback is, “Thank you; I appreciate you taking the time. Is there anything else you would like to share?” The opposite, and non-effective manner, is to interrupt and defend and justify your position. You cannot learn the lesson if you are speaking instead of receiving. Just as defensive, albeit not as overt, is to turtle…to become quiet; to shut down the space for feedback and receptivity. When you are receiving feedback in person, a great receiving technique is to tilt your head, as this connotes warmth (instead of a direct face on stare which connotes defensiveness and might be perceived as an attack), while using encouraging phrases such as, “Ah, yes. I understand. Tell me more. And then what?” Can receiving critical feedback be a tough situation for you? Sure, but the alternative is to proceed down a road that does not serve your client or yourself and the consequences of that are really tough to bear! I am not talking about lost income; I am talking about the lifelong knowledge that you did not do your best for the client.
Spring 2017
When you hold the space of receptive silence, you are able to be in touch with your feelings and emotions, all the while being present for your client. By listening you are acknowledging and supporting that person in their leadership role. You will become the person the CEO thinks of when they want to brainstorm about an important subject. What is it that my client does so well when giving me critical feedback? He supports the business relationship first. He does this by acknowledging my receptivity to feedback and then uses specific examples where he noticed the positive adaptions I made. Then he asks me permission in the most elegant way possible: “Alice, we really appreciate the changes you made in your approach; the results show. Would it be okay now to provide you with some additional feedback today so that we can get even more buy in from the group and individual members?” No wonder that this kind of positioning and feedback feels like a sought after compliment. How can you learn to give critical feedback that is well received? From the process I just described, I have defined the following five steps: 1. Support the relationship first. Point out something that they do extremely well. 2. Ask for permission to share some critical insights with him or her. 3. Advise them that you regularly solicit critical feedback from your peers, so you understand how it might be uncomfortable for you. By saying this, you are now in alignment. 4. Share what you have observed or have heard in a detached manner, without insults or accusations, etc. 5. Assurance them that you enjoyed the conversation and that you are sure that the improvement will show. When there is an emotional risk, the stakes are always high. Managing this process is one of the steps of leadership. To hold others accountable is a compliment to them and eventually they will thank you for your investment in their career. The boss who continually lets his team mess up rather than faces his or her own discomfort is not bringing out the best in themselves or others. Bringing out the best in others is the key to prosperity because no one can achieve massive goals entirely on their own accord. If not now, when? Alice Wheaton is a bestselling author with books translated into several languages. Her book, Imperfect Forgiveness: The Miracle of Releasing Hurt Bit by Bit is endorsed by Deepak Chopra and Marianne Williamson. Alice works with her clients to help and support them to create new opportunities and achieve challenging goals.
facebook.com/trifectamag
| 13
Managing Change By Wendy Zak
Something’s gotta change! We’ve all shouted it, but we must have shouted louder than most, because change it did!
were dealing with the mess and chaos of a farm that had been winding down for about seven years.
Let’s go back a step.
In answer to my above question … yes, we’ve found that change has been good. It’s terrifying and exhausting, but we’ve never looked back.
This time two years ago my husband,Tarance, and I were living life as usual. Between us we had a landscaping business, a tree farm and a freelance copywriting business. We had three children in various stages of fledging the nest, and we were the proud owners of enough RRSP’s to last us a good 25 minutes into retirement. Something definitely had to change because our retirement plan involved at least one rich, grateful kid (is one out of three too much to ask?). Our plan B was to turn one of our businesses into a money making machine, but we hadn’t come up with a strategy around that one yet.
One thing we’ve learned so far, is how to go with the flow. We arrived with a definite plan for the place and it’s changed about 15 times so far. The first change was taking on those greenhouse contracts, because why would we take on a business we know nothing about? Turns out the greenhouses are my happy place, and the crop was beautiful.
Never mind, we thought, when the youngest graduates from high school maybe we’ll sell the house and reinvent ourselves. Then we’ll probably get rich. Until a friend of my husband’s said “we’d like you to buy Greenview Nurseries”. Oh how we laughed! (Some context: Greenview is a 50 year old nursery, tree farm and garden centre sitting on 105 acres just east of Calgary, and Tarance has been a wholesale customer for years). Could we even count the reasons why it was a ridiculous idea? Well firstly, we reasoned, we need to make our lives simpler, not more complicated. And we’re in our 50s, so we’re far too old for such a huge venture. And we wouldn’t even know what to do with that much land. And we’re in our 50s. And we don’t know anything about running a garden centre. And we’re in our 50s. The list goes on. Well that was that. And then … driving home from a weekend out of town, one of us said the magic word, “but”. Followed closely by “what if?”. Maybe this is the opportunity we’ve been looking for to build something of value, we thought. The youngest is already in Grade 11, so it’s only one year ahead of schedule, we reasoned. We’re ready for a new adventure, we agreed. Plus - when such an amazing opportunity drops into your lap, is it right to turn it down? Isn’t there something about it only knocking once? By the time we pulled into Calgary we were the new owners of Greenview Nurseries - at least in our minds.
Change is good, right?
Just seven months later, we had uprooted our children from the only house they’ve ever known, and moved into the middle of nowhere. We were filling three greenhouses with flower seeds for a bunch of commercial growing contracts, with no experience in growing anything except trees. And we
14 |
trifectamagazine.ca
Then a landscaper, out buying a tree, asked if he might be able to rent a piece of land. Great idea, we thought, and the deal was made! After that we rented out some pasture to a rancher; a plot to a guy growing herbs in a converted sea can; the garden centre space to a fellow horticulturist; and spots to a compost tea specialist, an online plant company, a landscape maintenance company and most recently a holistic landscaping company. “That’s quite the community you’re building out there,” said my daughter. “No, it’s a horti-cult,” I replied. Well there was no way I was going to let that one slip away unnoticed! I told everyone it was a horticult until it finally stuck and now it’s here to stay. What’s happening here is so fabulous that it’s become something of a force unto itself. We have a group of tenants who are pumped about what they do; who want to collaborate and build something special here. We’re talking about building an eco-friendly, passive solar greenhouse, and other exciting projects that we couldn’t possibly have envisioned a year ago. We even have people contacting us specifically because they want to join the horticult. We’d love to tell you it was all part of a strategic master plan, but it was more a matter of recognizing opportunities and running with them.
Trifecta Magazine MIND | BODY | SOUL
ev Remind me again, how change is good?
Last September, the garden centre owner told us that it wasn’t working out, and she would have to break the lease. We’d all known it was coming, and we let her go without penalty, but it left us with a conundrum.
On the other hand, what an opportunity. Last year I grew more plants than I knew what to do with, because the garden centre wasn’t giving me a market for my own greenhouses. This year, I have more control over that. And so Bloomfield Garden Centre was born.
Creating a Garden Centre That’s Worth the Visit
N R E DE T G A R N C E
Your new favourite garden centre
Bloomfield
OPENING MARCH 31st
Natural, chemical-free gardening
Beautiful, rural location
As we don’t seem to do simple anymore, we decided to completely renovate the space to create something different; something worth leaving Calgary for.
Family-friendly Gardening accessories, gift shop and much more!
Outside we’re building winding paths bordered by huge logs that kids can jump on, with benches and play areas along the way. Inside we’ve created a beautiful gift shop, with a coffee nook where people can stop, have a drink and a snack, and browse our selection of gardening reference books.
Specializing in one-off containers and planters - fabulous arrangements featuring annuals, mini edible gardens.
We’ve got all kinds of plans like a tasting garden where visitors can pick whatever happens to be ripe, and drop-in kids’ workshops so that parents can browse in peace.
And for spring we’re creating a gorgeous selection of unique containers - one-off pots planted with a fabulous arrangement of annuals for people who want something special.
We really hope you’ll come out and pay us a visit this spring.
N
CALGARY
HIGHWAY 1
CHESTERMERE
243015 Boundary Road STRATHMORE
N R E DE T G A R C E N
We’re at 243015 Boundary Road, near Langdon. You can find a map and opening hours at bloomfieldgardencentre.net Or call me, Wendy, at 403-466-7978.
Bloomfield
Spring 2017
*Valid for children 12 and under during the 2017 season, while supplies last. Must be accompied by an adult.
STONEY TRAIL
We’ll have all the plants and gardening accessories people will expect from their new favourite garden centre, but we will be particularly specializing in the edible, chemical-free garden. We will help people find plants that repel bugs, plants for companion planting and a lovely selection of vegetable and fruit plants.
Located just on the outskirts of Calgary, if you want something a little different, come on out and see what we have!
HIGHWAY 9
We had been adamant from the start that we didn’t want to run the garden centre, but many locals had told us how pleased they were to see it open again. We wanted to keep it going, but didn’t want to risk having a series of tenants, and a different name each year. So we decided to take it over ourselves another change of direction!
4 er ” veg F y c et hi abl r e e ld wh e pla o v nt isi fo ts r us .*
LANGDON
403-466-7978 bloomfieldgardencentre.net
facebook.com/trifectamag
| 15
By Malcolm Saunders
Find Your What What do you want to do with your life? It is such a short time that we each have to be alive to make a difference and feel fulfilled. What do you want to do with your life? What is your what? I believe you can find, know and live your what. Just follow your gut because it’s only in listening to and following your inner knowing that you find your what. Follow your gut, to find your what and let what you do, be an expression of who you are. It’s easy as a child. Your job is simply to learn and play. Occasionally you get the question of: what do you want to be when you grow up? But you’re so in the moment, the only question you have in your little world is: who wants to play, right now? Being a kid is a time of creativity, imagination and innocence. I remember loving to be outside - in the forest building forts, on the street playing hockey, out in the field kicking a ball just having fun. It was timeless. However, as we grow, and ‘come of age’, there is a shift in our perception and awareness of our Self, and the world. Slowly, we move from our hearts and into our heads. Can you remember the loss of that playful, innocence? Sooner or later we all go through that transition to adolescence. It can be an awkward stage. In Jr. High and High School life revolved around friends and the question then was - who wants to hang out? My passion was music. Guitarists and lead singers were my heroes. At 14, I looked like a young Kurt Cobain wanna-be. Living the life of Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll, I was too cool for school. For the first time I began to be asked that question, "Malcolm, what are you going to do with your life?" As a young adult, I looked around “what do I want to do with my life?” Let what you do, be an expression of who you are. At 17, I answered my parents question with music. I want to do music. Upon leaving high school, I remember visiting a prospective college. There I was, walking those big long halls, with the tall ceilings. I asked one of the students “Hey, what is it like here?” he replied, “Man, if you want to live, eat and breathe music, then this is the place.” “Wow, so cool…” in my mind I enrolled right then and there. I went to that college, driven and determined. I studied intensely. Practicing as long and as hard as I could. If I wasn’t playing music, I was listening to music. This was my dream - to live, eat and breathe music. And when I was done… I felt empty.
I put the down drumsticks, picked up my backpack and went travelling. I lived an adventure, sleeping outside and hitchhiked where rides would take me. It was my experiment with being ‘spiritual’ and homeless. My new heroes were the yogi’s and monks I read tales of. I followed the ancient paths of yoga and meditation, trying to develop an inner calm and clarity that could lead to my answer. And after several years, I felt a big shift coming. It was in 2003, I met the love of my life and at 24 we were expecting. “Oops!” My wife looked at me holding our new born and said: “Malcolm, what you are going to do with THIS life?” Doesn’t your world dramatically change when YOU are responsible for another life? I needed a career. And at the time, it was either take a couple courses to get steady work as a baker or pursue the unknown through nutrition.What should I do? Should I go with my gut? Let what you do, be an expression of who you are… What I haven’t told you, was that from the age of 16 on, as I was seeking my own way, I said no to packaged and fast food, and I began to search for a better way to feed myself. One that was in alignment with how I wanted to live. You are what you eat and I did not want to be junk food anymore. I went with my gut. Fast forward to today, I am the founder and creative visionary of the Light Cellar, a destination superfood shoppe for anyone into health. I have created a place where you can find, and learn how to craft, your own food and medicine. So now if you were to ask me: “Malcolm, what do you want to do with your life?” I want to help you - recreate your relationship to food. I want to help you - develop a deeper connection and understanding of the foods you eat to know that literally and metaphorically, food is the foundation for nourishing your life. Food can heal you or harm you, help you or hinder you. My what, is to help you bring what you eat into alignment with who you are and what you want to do. So you can live the life you want to live, to feel fulfilled and make a difference. What is your what? Follow your gut, to find your what. And let what you do, be an expression of who you are. The question is, what do you want to do with your life? Malcolm Saunders Owner & creative visionary of the Light Cellar
And I was back to that question “what do I really want to do with my life?”
NEVER MISS AN ISSUE
I searched for answers first in Western religion - but it was too confining. Eastern philosophy however was intriguing. What I applied to my life was the practise of yoga and meditation.
trifectamagazine.ca/newsletter
16 |
trifectamagazine.ca
Subscribe Today!
Trifecta Magazine MIND | BODY | SOUL
By Wendy Olson-Brodeur
Planning for Success Have you ever walked by a garden in the spring where the tulips and daffodils are in full bloom and thought WOW how beautiful! The truth is that doesn’t just happen. Someone plans well in advance for the blooms in spring. The planning is what makes it such a success. People also spend hours and days and weeks and months planning for a vacation. The reason they do this is so they can have a successful trip.
A financial plan encompasses areas that pertain to cashflow, debt, protecting your income and loved ones, retirement income, estate and legacy planning. Research has proven and shows that when you plan anything your chance of succeeding goes up 10-fold. The research also shows that engaging a professional to help with your plan, the success rate goes up.
So, ask yourself “Why don’t I spend a little more time planning my financial life for success?” One of the big reasons, I think ,is we have not been educated in this area. Some operate in fear and others just hope it will turn out.
Wendy is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) offering holistic planning also specializing in issues around marriage, separation and divorce (CFDS). Her passion is to educate, empower and enrich the people she serves. Whether you are at the beginning, middle or end, she can help you PLAN FOR SUCCESS!!
Let’s help you plan for success. A financial plan is the same foundation not matter what stage of life you may be at; single, in a relationship, married, separated, divorced.
Wendy Olson-Brodeur CFP,CFDS, RFM, Collaborative Professional 403-873-0292 tfds.ca & wealthwellness.ca wendy@tfds.ca & wendy@wealthwellness.ca
I like to ask people to start thinking at the end. What’s on your bucket list? If I was to read your eulogy, what would you like it to say about you? Start there and work backwards. Many years ago, I did this very exercise. I then mapped out when I might be able to do the goal and it is amazing now when I look at my bucket list at how many things I have checked off. That’s what planning for success can look like. Planning is very much about being conscious on what is going on in your financial life. Some of your bucket list may need funding. It may be a big item. Let’s say you are planning to go the school and get a degree you have always wanted. For success, you will need to plan that. Where’s the money going to come from to pay for the classes? Do you need to re-arrange work and children? Many considerations need to be planned for success. I always get clients to do a cashflow work sheet. I want them to understand the difference between what they need, their goals and then their wants. It’s about getting prepared for making your plan around your goals so that you can be successful. I will often discuss the cash flow as it pertains to food. We need to eat, we want to eat out. I have found that if we plan our meals, shop only for the items needed, our success for eating healthy, saving waste, and keeping within budget goes up significantly. It becomes a win/win/win.
Spring 2017
Free your mind, body and soul let us save you stress, time and money! A Financial Divorce Specialist can: • educate you on your options. • assist you in complicated processes such as True Income, Back Support, etc. • analyze your past, present and future values. • prepare your proposals for support and division of assets. A Registered Family Mediator can: • be a neutral 3rd party who can help you negotiate. A Certified Financial Planner can: • Offer you Financial Planning for your future • Provide Insurance quotes to cover support interruption such as death, disability, critical illness, accident etc. A Collaborative Professional can: • as part of your specially trained team help you reach a mutually respectful and healthy agreement. • ensure the interesets of all family members are heard and addressed. • help to keep you out of court.
www.tfds.ca 403-873-0292 • wendy@tfds.ca Centre 70, Box 133 Suite 120, 7015 Macleod Trail SW
facebook.com/trifectamag
| 17
The New Success By Janet Love Morrison
Another year has begun and many people are pondering: What will 2017 bring? It seems to me this is a good time to initiate the question: Am I being created – or – am I the creator of my life? I just finished re-reading Dhyan Vimal’s The New Success and it’s timeless. In it, Vimal encourages us to look at our minds in operation and examine: do I have a defeated mind or a mind that is thriving? I need to investigate if I have a defeated mind; because if I do, then everything will begin in negativity. If I am operating from a thriving mind; then, everything begins in joy and expansion. “To me, the success I am talking about is an organic success, in which you live, grow, bloom and not only does it make you have a blessed life, it makes everybody that comes across you blessed to.” (Vimal, 2010) As I have learnt, living in success is giving birth to the best of me. Living in success is realizing I have the power to create, to be the creator of my life. Not living as a victim and being “created”. We get stuck and believe we have failed – we panic. Well, we are human after all. “Everything you have failed or you thought you have failed, it reflects a faulty idea or it reflects you to you clearly. Thus, it is not a failure, it is a revelation. If you live out a life discovering who you are, then you will not create a faulty idea.”(Vimal, 2010) Make sense? Perhaps if I can look at what I have labeled a “failure” and use it as a benchmark to reveal a truth; then, it’s healing, an opportunity, the alchemy for change. An exercise, if you are interested: list down a few things that you feel you failed in life and see if you can discover the alchemy. For example, with one of my first books I couldn’t find a publisher. I sent out query after query and received rejection letter after rejection letter. I felt like I failed. I was so disappointed. A couple of years later I tried again and found a publisher. I learnt that it was all about timing and the right people coming into the creation. The rejection letters were perfect. “And the first rule of success is you have to be exactly what you are… When you are an artist and you are it, everything is art. Everything you do is art. When you are trying to be an artist, you are a mess, which means you are not an artist.” (Vimal, 2010) I’ve learnt that the new success is born from within me and perhaps if more people discover themselves and celebrate their gifts; then, together we’ll be participating in creating a better world. We’re living in exciting times. For more information: dhyanvimal.com/books, visit facebook.com/DhyanaCentreVancouver or send an email to vancouver@dhyanvimalacademy.com for further information. You can also find more learning resources at dhyanvimal.com
18 |
trifectamagazine.ca
A Curmudgeon's Recipes By Arthur Gardiner
Arthur Gardiner, a retired mining curmudgeon, always wanted a boring life. Since adolescence, he strove to avoid excitement; but the trivial round, the common task, was never to be his. Raised on a farm in central Africa, he learnt to cook from his parents and grandparents. Requiring no further education after high school, he had a (very short) career underground as a miner; but opted for a career change, so tried University, where student life gave valuable lessons in kitchen survival. An apparently naive undergraduate interpreted his indecent proposal as a proposal of marriage ... once wed, he quickly learned to keep his mouth shut, to savour French cuisine; later how to change diapers, then stoicism, humility, but never patience. Drafted! Several years in the army in a nasty civil war gave him a grasp of skulduggery, self reliance, and how to cook rice. This undistinguished military career taught Arthur to keep his head down, never to volunteer, and to have an appreciation of a decent curry. With the revolution the family "defected to the west"; but it took another six years to claw their way into Canada. In the interim, he absorbed the wines and culinary arts of South Africa. Then, suddenly, thirty years ago, Canada day dawned on April 22nd, when four sunburnt, tropical innocents thought they were about to die of exposure as they stepped out of Calgary airport into bitter cold (+6°C!). However, after spending a winter in the barren lands of Nunavut, Arthur learnt about real cold, where the temperature shivered below what the thermometer could read. He sampled muktuk (which tastes exactly like it looks), sik-sik stew, even ate seal heart sashimi washed down with Labrador tea. He swore off Labrador tea. Meanwhile, his professional career took him around the globe: Cambodia, Mongolia, Namibia, Russia, Zambia, even to exotic lands like Nova Scotia and California ... and other -ias. Everywhere he had to eat; but found that, just as north Americans make a right royal mess of foreign foods, so foreigners foul up on what they imagine we eat. So he ate local. Always! When he ate, he scribbled the recipes in his field book, bringing them home to test on the family. Mostly they were awful, because he missed something, or couldn't read his own writing. Occasionally hitting the jackpot, that recipe joined the growing compendium.
Trifecta Magazine MIND | BODY | SOUL
Griddle Cakes I learnt these in the Yukon from our field manager, George, who could do anything, but was always too honest for his own good. When Barbara, his wife, asked him: "Do these jeans make me look fat?" George was dumb enough to respond: "It's not the jeans, dear." Ingredients: 1/2 cup flour 2 eggs 1/2 cup sugar 1/4 cup milk 1/4 cup cooking oil 4 tsp. baking powder 1/4 cup water (use 2/3, and if too stiff, add what's left) Instructions: Mix together flour and sugar. Beat eggs, milk, oil and water and beat into flour mix. Lastly, beat in baking powder, and leave to stand for 30 minutes. Do not stir after setting aside. "From an Immigrant's Oven" started as a collection of five generations of family recipes, put together to celebrate their twentieth year in Canada: the idiosyncrasies of some colleagues and family members also needed recording. Everyone who saw them demanded a copy. Over the last ten years, from such humble beginnings, like Topsy the book "just growed". At age seventy, deciding on another career change, Arthur Gardiner resolved to put his mouth where his money was ... so far his cooking has killed no-one. Here's a sample page from Arthur Gardiner's book "From an Immigrant's Oven".
Drop large spoonfuls onto lightly oiled, hot griddle, turning when bubbles rise. These should be about 1 inch thick when done. Split them open and serve hot with butter. Before the computer age, and the wonders of GPS, George embarked on his brother-in-law's ketch to sail to Hawaii. The brother-in-law's navigation skills were such that when they reached Tahiti, George refused to sail further and flew home. And the brother-in-law? He made it safely to Tasmania, where he sold the boat, but never did see Hawaii. George is the only person I know who has worked both north of the Arctic circle, on the Polaris mine; and south of the Antarctic circle, putting in an airstrip for the Brits on South Georgia. An avid fan of Ernest Shackleton, the Antarctic explorer, he cooked up a penguin stew while he was there. When I asked him how it tasted, he replied: "It's penguin. Don't matter what you do to it, penguin always tastes like bloody penguin!"
Household Hint
When making mayonnaise, use a splash of the vinegar from pickled beets to give it a pretty pink colour. Illustrations are by Garry Peck Sasquatch Art & Display Inc. "Garicatures" 403-620-0531 sasquatchart@shaw.ca
~ Jules Verne
Spring 2017
Visit immigrantsoven.com to purchase your copy of "From An Immigrant's Oven".
facebook.com/trifectamag
| 19
4
By Lana Osborne-Paradis, BSc Kin, CEP
Mental Steps To Succeed With Your Fitness Plan
When we set out looking for a new exercise program to adhere to, we’re often searching for a list of exercises and a daily calendar to follow. We’re much less aware that the way we mentally approach our fitness plans has a much greater effect on our success than the plan itself. Of course the type of exercise program we follow matters on some level. If it’s a safe, effective and progressive plan we’re more likely to stick with it because we will see physical results and experience increased motivation. The challenge is that even the most well designed program does not guarantee consistent exercise habits for life. It’s not a secret that exercise adherence is challenging for most people. Making the jump from a 12 week fitness program to a habit of sweating on the regular is the exception not the rule. What is the magic formula that helps some of us succeed with consistent movement habits? The most consistent exercisers have made a lifestyle shift. Not only do we understand that exercise adds to every facet of our lives, we approach our movement habits as a vital element in our well-being. Sweating is a priority that we’re unwilling to give up.
Getting honest about what types of exercise we truly enjoy is vital to this process. It doesn’t matter if our favourite workout isn’t trendy, if we enjoy swimming or cycling or dancing or lifting heavy weights to rap music, then that is where we start. 2. We’ve got to get priorities straight. We can do anything we want, but we can’t do it all at once. Inconsistent exercise habits often occur when our to-do list gets too long. In order for exercise to happen on the regular, we need it to be one of our top three priorities. This is tough because we may need to give up other priorities or ask for help more often. Recognizing that exercise helps us to deal with stress better and provides us with more energy when we do it regularly is key in making it a top priority. 3. We learn to check our expectations at the door. Nothing works unless you do. The benefits of exercise occur when it is a regular practice, so expecting all the results without committing to regular movement month after month is completely unrealistic. It takes years of practice to see results, not days or weeks. Expectation management is a vital step in crafting a successful exercise habit. More fitness programs have been thrown out the window due to unrealistic expectations than anything else. Expect slow progress, expect ups and downs and expect waxing and waning motivation in order to properly grasp how a regular habit is created. 4. We lather, rinse, repeat. Easy is earned. When we understand that success with an exercise plan is only created over time, we begin to embrace the process more than the destination. After all, it’s repetition that creates the stimulus for change.
But what about when life gets busy? How about exercise while on vacation? What if we’re feeling unmotivated? It’s how we think about exercise, and how we mentally approach our routine that allows us to perform it regularly. Here are four mental steps to start making the shift from on-andoff-the-wagon exerciser to lifelong sweat fan: 1. We need to enjoy what we’re doing on some level. If dread and anxiety plague our mind leading up to our workouts, then chances are good that we will find reasons not to sweat. If we look forward to the music we’ll be listening to, the meditative quality of movement or the conversations we’ll have with our sweat partners, we are much more likely to get to the gym.
20 |
trifectamagazine.ca
Most importantly, the only difference between a person with consistent exercise habits and one who struggles to move regularly is practice. There is no such thing as a ‘fit personality’. It’s practice, mental tools and self-compassion that pave the route for solid fitness habits. If we learn to manage how we think about exercise and its place in our lives, we will be much more successful. It won’t always be easy or perfect, but practice makes progress and much of that practice occurs in our heads first and our bodies second. Lana Osborne-Paradis BSc. Kin, CEP, Blast Fitness Inc. blastfitnesslifestyleclub.com
Trifecta Magazine MIND | BODY | SOUL
By Patrick Murray
Coveting the Lucky People? Most of us have that friend that is, well, lucky. Everything they touch seems to turn to gold. They are succeeding at work. They are getting promotions. Maybe they are in business for themselves and they seem to glow all of the time. They are constantly smiling. They talk of how well their children are doing at school and at extracurricular activities. They always seem positive. People are drawn to them. These individuals have what seems to be a charmed life. Wouldn’t it be nice to be lucky like them? Does the above sound at all familiar? Do you know somebody that seems to walk on air? I used to look at some “lucky” people within my life in that very same light….used to! First off, and I don’t mean to burst a bubble here, but success does not come easy. Imagine you trained your way to a great education and toiled for long hours and eventually you were rewarded for your efforts. If somebody dismissed this labour as luck you would likely feel slighted. Luck? You worked hard to get to where you are today. In truth, part of success is all about proper preparation and hard work. It’s about having the strength to make a plan and then having the courage and conviction to work that plan and see it through, no matter the failures along the way. Success is realized by getting back up after falling down, and continuously striving towards your goals.
cases is a temporary situation. My father used to say to me, “You never know what is in another man’s heart.” To me this meant that all of us have challenges and we don’t always know what is happening in another person’s life. You see, you get to decide if you are “lucky” or not. I no longer look at other people and think how lucky they are in their lives and in their accomplishments. My life, like your life, is full of so much richness already. We just have to acknowledge it. By acknowledging it we profess to the world, even quietly, that we too are lucky. With this thinking in mind, go forward and boldly reach for your dreams and set big hairy audacious goals. You will fall down, but remember, you are already lucky. Get back up. Refuse to cower in the face of adversity. Don’t fear the hard work. Enjoy the journey. You are not alone. Other people are doing it. Others will inevitably look at you and say, “Wow, that person is lucky!” Patrick Murray, Speaker, Coach, and Author WTF – Wake Up, Transform, Flourish Attain the Wealth You Deserve & Live Large wtfbooks.ca
The above is only one part of success. True success is also about being in the right state of mind. Then it is putting together a series of goals, routines and habits, working towards goals that are important to you. This is known as discipline. Because you are happy on your journey and living in the right state of mind with your end goal always in your sights, you are open to opportunities. These are opportunities that you would not have realized before had you not already done the self-preparation required. You see, these lucky people are already happy, relishing what they do, making their lives better and better. They know this is a journey. Because of this, they are open to the law of attraction. They see, experience, and get what they are looking for, none of it possible without prior preparation. It is a lifestyle. They make it look easy. Hmmm…perhaps they truly are lucky. In truth, what the outer world sees as luck, all of the positivity and productivity, is really what any one of us can have. Each one of us can be that lucky person. It starts with attitude. It starts with making the choice to be happy. Perhaps that lucky person has some challenges. Maybe a close family member is ill, or perhaps they are really nowhere close to reaching the personal and professional goals they have set for themselves. Sound familiar? These people are just like you and me. What you and I are seeing is a person in the right mind set, working their plan and taking what the journey offers to them. They choose not to dwell on the negative. All of us experience challenges, but not all of us handle challenge for what it is, which in most
Spring 2017
facebook.com/trifectamag
| 21
Positive Mental Health for Children and Families By Catherine Feenstra
The true measure of strong and positive mental health is the ability to be resilient – to weather the storm of today, and be able to handle the storms of the future. One in five people – children AND adults – will have mental health challenges to contend with, and that means that their families, friends and coworkers will also be affected, too. Wood’s Homes is a children’s mental health organization that works with 20,000 people every year to help them build the resilience that they need. When families are faced with depression, anxiety, anger, addiction, grief, or communication issues, everyone needs to be involved. Each member should be an active participant and part of the decision making process as they select services and develop family structure and support. This holds especially true when it is a child or teenager who is struggling. Being part of the solution helps to build the resilience we all need to thrive. If everyone adds their voices to assessing the issues, deciding what to work on and then analyzing how successful those steps were, then it is more likely that everyone’s needs can be met along the way, and that everyone will see longer lasting results.
Willing to adapt and be flexible
Self-belief and confidence
Ability to problem solve and look for alternatives
Control of your response to circumstances Social support of family and friends
22 |
trifectamagazine.ca
Sense of humour; being able to see the lighter side of things
Resilience
Ability to focus on your strengths
Being aware of and accepting your emotions Focus on action and possibility of success
Trifecta Magazine MIND | BODY | SOUL
Unfortunately, many families may quickly exhaust their options and end up accessing emergency services when they feel they have nowhere else to turn. The resources available in hospitals are essential for a crisis situation, but are often not well suited to address mental health in a way that will result in sustainable success.
There are many families who have experienced minimal or no success with traditional outpatient interventions, especially those dealing with mental illness in conjunction with other challenges. These situations potentially call for a more intensive approach, with assessments, goal setting, on-campus treatment and continued follow up care.
A family-centred care approach promotes positive communication, problem-solving skills and stress management within the family. This approach can also serve a preventative function, diverting the family from more intrusive measures such as a child’s removal from the home, inpatient health services, or even future justice system involvement.
Resilience is built over the long term, and requires some hard work from everyone. Success also relies on the support of others. Family, friends, and the greater community can all contribute in their own way.
Because children can be in situations where they have a more traditional nuclear family or a complex blend of relatives, foster care, group homes and government agencies involved in their lives, family-centred care also needs to be flexible. The Wood’s Homes focus on family-centred care is adapted in each of the almost 40 programs offered. In a campus-based program, families might be involved with counselling and parental skill-building; street services may work with families specifically on conflict resolution while supporting homeless teens and young adults.
Spring 2017
If you need help, you can contact the crisis line (403-299-9699) or access the free walk-in counselling that Wood’s Homes offers through the Community Resource Team and Eastside Family Centre. If you’re in a position to help others, you’ll want to check out Wine Women & Shoes - an exciting new signature event in support of Wood’s Homes! The evening of April 7, 2017 will be the ultimate ladies night out - tickets are available online now! Charitable donations can also be made online anytime at: winewomenandshoes.com/woodshomes
facebook.com/trifectamag
| 23
By Cartomancer Craig
What’s in the cards? Cartomancy, or more commonly, card reading has always been a popular means to glean insight into one’s personal situation. This is still true and, as a Cartomancer, this is primarily what I work to do for people, provide guidance. Yes, there is also interest in contact with those on the other side and this can certainly come through and be a part of a reading. Yet a reading is often more like a reflection of where one has been, how things are, and where things are indicated to go. This has even been true for me. Many years ago I had my own cards read for the first time. It was a cold winter night, nothing going on and then I was invited to go to a psychic fair. Sure, why not, right? So we went. I was not totally unfamiliar with the subject matter as I had a number of Tarot decks, books on psychic phenomena, even pendulums and a penchant for burning sage, otherwise known as smudging. But I had not yet really grasped what cards were all about. At a certain point in the evening I sat for a reading with someone who has been doing readings as a career for decades. This reader was also recommended by someone who had just been read. One of the first things mentioned to me was that I “was someone people would come to and would leave from feeling better. That somehow I instinctively know how to make them feel better even though I wasn’t someone in the medical profession.” This last point was true. And certainly at that time my work had nothing to do with making anyone feel better. Worse maybe, but not better! I did, however, know the truth in that statement because I am normally empathetic to people’s situations and willing to listen to their story. Through that reading I was to further realize that my station in life then seemed to have a greater purpose than I was giving credit. Also, there were changes ahead that I was not yet aware of – obvious perhaps, yet the reading seemed like a “head’s up” from the universe. Some cryptic details did not entirely make sense. Other details totally did in the moment. As it turned out the cryptic details came together within a couple weeks and all began to make sense. I then felt my time and money at the psychic fair was not wasted. I needed the extra Intel to help me navigate the change that was about to transpire. Change I would not have been made aware of otherwise.
That card reading experience way back when is also what propelled me to pursue the secrets contained within the cards. It lit a fire under my butt to reread the books I had (still no real internet to speak of so no Googling or YouTube videos to be had – lucky you!) and really begin to figure out what was hiding amongst a regular deck of cards. The truth to a regular deck of playing cards is that it carries much information and correlations - far more than I can begin to write here. Cards also provide a sense of constant learning depending on how they are laid out while being read. I will also point out that while certain realms of thought (ie. religion and philosophical beliefs) have geographic and political borders, a deck of cards can be found pretty much anywhere around the world. Could this possibly be without reason? Such a fact seems only possible as not everywhere do people understand that greater meanings can be attributed to something which is usually only used for games, gambling and entertainment. One other secret rests with the Joker. Most of us know the Joker as a wild card but have you ever wondered why a Joker belongs in the deck at all? What else might it represent? Allow me to reveal that the Joker, or Fool as in the Tarot, represents you. And the remaining cards, in fact, represent life and all life contains. Now knowing just this you too can begin to understand where the guidance may be provided by someone reading cards or having their cards read for them. The cards provide a sort of reflection of how things are going for the person being read. What they may need to focus on to make their way, to possibly avoid obstacles, or to take advantage of a new opportunity, thus aligning them with a more successful path and guide them to be a more successful person. At whatever time you may be interested in having your cards read and are wondering who to see, word-of-mouth is a really good way of finding someone. Comments on my website at Cartomancer.ca reflect just that so please do have a read. I look forward to the possibility of helping you find your success through a reading of the cards.
Without that “head’s up” I am not so sure I would have handled the then revealed situation quite the same or with a higher level of composure. It was the beginning of a troublesome time but it was as though I had been provided a map to help me navigate the inevitable. I moved on with my life with a feeling of trust and confidence that things were going just the way they were supposed to and I was to weather the storm.
24 |
trifectamagazine.ca
Trifecta Magazine MIND | BODY | SOUL
By Kim Marchuk
Can peace AND success reside within the same person? When we think of success, we think of working day in and day out to attain what we desire. When we think of peace, we think of stillness, happiness and being content. When I ask people what they truly want, most will side with peace, feeling like they have to choose. Ultimately, can we have both? I'm here to tell you yes! I recently spent some time with the monks in SE Asia. When you look at them and feel their energy, they emanate a feeling of peace. As I talked with one of them, he said that they understand that we live in a world full of suffering and that each of us has to go through our own suffering to fulfill our karma. As each of us do that, we should all have compassion for one another, recognizing that this is not an easy journey. This all made sense to me once I realized what the true definition of karma is. Most of us are taught to believe that karma is a reward and punishment scale. When we do good, we receive more good and when we do bad, we receive 'our karma'. This is the corrupted version of it. The true version is that we go through what we need to in order to learn, grow and expand our consciousness; to learn what we need to in order to transcend our knowledge into wisdom. The difference between these versions is that one is designed to shame you and the other is more neutral. When we can look at our lives and become neutral, we give up the fight. This is one of the keys to enlightenment and peace. If our perception is that any time things don't turn out our way, or any time we fail at something we are bad and have been bad, our ego's will do anything they can to prove us wrong. Instead, if we look at the experience from a place of learning, knowing that it is here to serve our dharma, then we can accept it rather than fight it. Imagine if you look at the world and everything that happens from a place of curiosity rather than needing to stamp it with your judgement of right or wrong. This is the place where peace has a chance; where we can do what we feel is best in a situation, in order to expand our consciousness and continue to grow love on this planet. Feeling as though you're a failure if you have to go through hard times, doesn't breed success. What if the learning is all about surrendering to a world full of failure, in order to attain the wisdom you came here for? Imagine attaining your goals and finding success. If you apply the concept of 'true karma', then no matter what happens in the future, you will always have peace. If your success gets taken away then you re-assess and move forward, rather than claiming your worth based on it. The wise ones say- "If you want peace in the world, be peace". The only way to do that is to give up the fight, surrender to the outcome and make decisions based on the knowledge you have attained along the way, followed by the love in your heart. May you be blessed with success AND peace!
Kim Marchuk, Transcending Nutrition transcendingnutrition.com Visit Kim's blog at ahealersperspective.com Spring 2017
facebook.com/trifectamag
| 25
NO-FLOUR PUMPKIN SEED COOKIES with Cranberries, Coconut and Sesame Seeds
2017 is your year to EAT for life, feel better in your body and look better that your age. Care about what you care about, YOU are worth it! Dietary Focus: Gluten-free, Lactose-free Makes 18 – 20 cookies Ingredients: 3/4 cup brown sugar 1 large egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup pumpkin seeds, raw and shelled 1/4 cup dried cranberries 1/4 shredded coconut 2 tablespoon sesame seeds Equipment: Large mixing bowl Tablespoon for cookie measurement Wooden spoon or spatula 2 Cookie sheet Parchment paper Food processor or Blender Preheat oven at 350 degrees. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper. Put the sugar, egg and vanilla in bowl and mix well with wooden spoon or spatula. Set aside. By Marsha Hebert Ground pumpkin seeds. Add to sugar mixture with cranberries, coconut and sesame seeds. Stir until thoroughly combined. Scoop tablespoonful of the mixture and put on prepared cookie sheet, spaced about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10 - 12 minutes, until golden brown. Let cool on the cookie sheet for 5 - 10 minutes. Carefully transfer to the cookies to wire rack to cool completely. Applicable for be-er health: Applicable for better health: Ingredients
Top Nutrients
Ailments
Pumpkin Seeds
Beta-carotene, B vitamins, Fiber, Iron, Potassium, Vitamin C & E
Cancer, High blood pressure, Crohn’s disease
Cranberries
AnCoxidants, Fiber, Flavonoids, Vitamin C
Cancer, Cardiovascular disease, urinary tract infecCons
Coconut
Fiber, Potassium
Cravings, DigesCon, Weight gain
Sesame Seeds
Calcium, Copper, Iron, Manganese, Phosphorus, Selenium
Cholesterol, High blood pressure, Rheumatoid ArthriCs, Bone loss
Essential Nutrients Source: ESHA Research Basic Components Gram Weight 17g per cookie Calories 72.81 Protein 2.44g Carbohydrates 7.26g Total Dietary Fiber 0.81g Total Soluble Fiber 0.01g Total Sugars 5.18g
Monosaccharides 0.01g Fat 3.84g Saturated Fat 1.19g Mono Fat 0.10g Poly Fat 0.05g Cholesterol 9.08mg Vitamins Vitamin A - IU 163.48IU Vitamin A - RAE 11.43mcg Carotenoid 15.05RE
Retinol 3.91RE Beta-Carotene 0mcg Vitamin B1 0.00mg Vitamin B2 0.01mg Vitamin B3 0.01mg Vitamin B3 - Niacin Equiv 0.08mg Vitamin B6 0.00mg Vitamin B12 0.02mg Biotin 0.49mcg
Vitamin C 1.60mg Vitamin D - IU 2.00IU Vitamin D – mcg 0.05mcg Vitamin E - Alpha-Toco 0.03mg Folate 1.43mcg Folate, DFE 1.43mcg Vitamin K 0.01mcg Pantothenic Acid 0.04mg
Minerals Calcium 18.99mg Chromium 0.01mcg Copper 0.01mg Fluoride 0.00mg Iodine 1.30mcg Iron 0.70mg Magnesium 0.66mg Manganese 0.02mg Molybdenum 0.73mg
Phosphorus 6.06mg Potassium 7.50mg Selenium 0.86mcg Sodium 5.77mg Zinc 0.04mg Omega 3 Fatty Acid 0.00g Omega 6 Fatty Acid 0.05g Other Nutrients Choline 7.30mg
NOTE TO READERS: The better health information provided should not be substituted for, or used to alter, medical therapy without your doctor’s advice. For a specific health problem, consult your physician for guidance. Sources: Reader’s Digest, whfoods.com, Stay Healthy with Nutrition.
26 |
trifectamagazine.ca
Trifecta Magazine MIND | BODY | SOUL
By Lisa Elle
WANT TO BE FINANCIALLY HEALTHY? When I say I am a Financial Planner, most people immediately assume all I do is manage investment portfolios all day.
except YOU! It’s no one’s job to care more about your money than you do.
That is probably only a tenth of what I do as a CFP®.
Do you want to be financially healthy? Do you want to know you are paying the least amount of tax possible? Do you want to make sure you are headed on the right financial path for your life taking advantage of all the financial strategies out there?
I think most Canadians don’t really even know the benefits of why they should work with a planner. People think they have a good handle on their financial situation and think they don’t need a financial planner, or the opposite, and they feel shame or embarrassment about the state of their finances and don’t want to let anyone look at their financial situation. Here’s the thing. Proper financial planning really doesn’t care about your past. We can’t change that anyways, right? So we look at your financial future. Financial planners take your life goals and dreams and together we put a plan in place for you to create the life you want, while reducing risk, minimizing taxes, and maximizing opportunities for growth along the way. Everyone needs this. To be blunt, I know millionaires with no financial direction, and I know people with very little money well on their way to total financial bliss.
Then find yourself a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and INVEST IN YOU! If you are serious about taking care of your financial health, you know deep down this is something you need to do. Money doesn’t discriminate. It wants to be told where to go. Money wants a purpose and a plan. So should you. Why you need to work with a CFP®! By Lisa Elle, Author & Owner of Ellements Group BMgmt, CFP, FCSI, CPCA, CCS ellementsgroup.com
Whether you have a positive net worth or negative net worth you still need: • tax planning • solid investment planning • estate planning • risk management • insurance & benefits • debt management tools • financial strategies to accomplish your goal To name a few. If you are serious about making sure your body is healthy you exercise and buy fruits and vegetables, don’t you? If you are serious about your health you go to a doctor for regular check-ups, don’t you? Same goes for your financial health. You need to go for a financial check up! You need to do this if you want financial health. Financial stress also manifests itself as physical ailments in your life as well, so you can’t have total health without financial health. It just doesn’t work that way. You need to invest financially in you! It’s not expensive, and it will show you where your priorities are. By the way, the government would be happy if you ignored your money and they collect more taxes – no one has your back here
Spring 2017
facebook.com/trifectamag
| 27
By Gary Duits
Once upon a time a woman cried out, ” Oh My! … It's time!” Her husband rushed them both into the car and sped for the hospital. When they arrived and said “it’s time!” all the doctors and nurses smiled. They went into a room where a doctor smiled a lot and kept saying“ how wonderful!” Then after a time were the woman cried a bit, it happened. The doctor declared, “ She is beautiful! What a miracle!” And so little Suzy, a living and breathing and crying miracle, was placed in her mother’s arms. As little Suzy grew bigger her Mommy and Daddy told her stories about a God who loved everyone so much He died saving their lives. Suzy thought this was just wonderful and felt so happy to be loved by God and her Mommy and Daddy. But she couldn’t see God, and sometimes little Suzy wondered why. So Daddy said, “ God is not like people, He is invisible but he is right here and he loves you very much Suzy.” “As much as you love me Daddy?” She asked. “Even more,“ Daddy replied. And happy little Suzy hugged Daddy because she couldn’t hug God for all the love he had for her.
At first Suzy wanted to laugh; but the Professor was very respected so she didn’t laugh - she listened instead. Listened and thought. She remembered Mommy, skin and bones and dying in agony, and remembered her little self praying for a miracle from the invisible God who loved Mommy. “Life,“ the Professor declared, “ is just the accidental occurrence of random chance. There are no miracles because there is no miracle maker.” Suzy was a smart girl. She listened and thought and remembered. And so one day Suzy went home for a visit and told her father, “I don’t believe in God anymore. And please call me Susan.” Susan grew older and fell in love with Adam. She was so very happy to love and to be loved by someone other than just her father. Life was beautiful together with Adam and when they had little Eric, Susan’s joyful heart was filled full with a warm and wonderful love. Susan’s life felt perfect to her. Then she met the Teacher. He was a friend of Professor Charles and the Teacher told her things she never knew. “I am so in love,” Susan gushed. The Teacher looked at the Professor before smiling down at Susan.
Suzy grew up a smiley and happy girl loving her Mommy and Daddy and God. But one day Daddy came into her room looking very serious. He hugged Suzy tight and cried as he said Mommy had cancer. Suzy didn’t understand. She loved Mommy. God loved Mommy. Everything was going to be ok.
“Ah yes, Love,” the Teacher mused while stroking a gray goatee.“ Love. So wonderful and beautiful. Love almost makes me believe in a god. Too bad love is just another meaningless result of time and chance acting at random. It’s all just evolution you know Susan.” And the Professor smiled down at her too.
So Suzy and Mommy and Daddy and the people at church prayed to the invisible God who loves and asked him for a miracle. Every morning and night, knelt beside her Mommy’s bed, little Suzy prayed and prayed. But all the prayers and all the doctors didn’t help Mommy.
Susan heard and thought and thought and went back home to Adam and little Eric. There, Susan stared back and forth, back and forth, deep into the eyes of husband and son; into the monkey eyes of meaningless random chance. And it was a miracle then. Adam, holding little four month old Eric in his arms, Adam looked at Susan and then from deep within his being Adam softly said…
Mommy died on Good Friday and suddenly Suzy felt it was only her Daddy who loved her. Suzy and Daddy still went to church but Suzy’s happy smile wasn’t the same. Suzy grew up very smart and she never forgot Mommy. One day Suzy said to Daddy, “I want to be a doctor.” Daddy smiled and cried. At university she met Professor Charles; a very old Englishman with a big gray beard, bushy eyebrows and heavy eyes which saw and knew everything. He was a most respected man and told Suzy things she never knew. One day the Professor declared, “God does not exist. We were not created, instead we evolved from monkeys.”
28 |
trifectamagazine.ca
“….we love you.” The words stopped her mind and rang something clear in her heart. Then Susan began to sob. After some moments of tears Susan picked up her phone…. “Hi Daddy, this is… this is Suzy…..”
NEVER MISS AN ISSUE
Subscribe Today!
trifectamagazine.ca/newsletter
Trifecta Magazine MIND | BODY | SOUL
M A R K YO U R C A L E N DA R Become a Certified Life Coach
A 2-day intensive course that will teach you everything you need to know to succeed. All Certified Coaches Federation graduates receive admission to their 1 year CCF Continuing Education Program at no additional cost. Calgary: March 18 - 19, 2017 Edmonton: July 15 - 16, 2017 Calgary: July 22 - 23, 2017 certifiedcoachesfederation.com
Chiropractic Wellness Clinic
The New Earth Expo
Spring Clean Your Gut: Reduce inflammation, bad gas, cramping & pain naturally. April 15 | 12:00 pm
See ad on back cover
Dr. Alma Nenshi's Health Talks are FREE! Limited seating so reserve your seats.
See ad on page 3
Chronic Pain and Fibromyalgia: Fibromyalgia pain relief is possible with Frequency Specific Microcurrent Therapy. May 20 | 12:00 pm
Wine Women & Shoes
calgarywellness.com
See ad & more Health Talk dates on page 9
See ad on page 23
See ad on page 22
Cellular Consciousness Workshop
Learn how you can listen to your body quietly and deeply from a place of non-judgement and allow your cells to freely communicate their messages to you. May 5 - 7, 2017 dellareside.com
Becky Small
Certified Coaches Federation Annual Conference
Overcoming Adversity September 30 - October 1, 2017 certifiedcoachesfederation.com/conference
See ad on inside cover
Featuring wine and culinary tasting stations, enticing auction items, a boutique marketplace, best dressed competitions, a luxurious “Keys to the Closet” raffle, and a crowd of charming Shoe Guys to indulge, inspire and pamper our guests throughout the evening. Friday, April 7, 2017 winewomenandshoes.com/woodshomes
Your space, whether it’s your home or office, should be a place of tranquility and inspiration. Every single inch of it!
A showcase of eco-friendly, natural health, alternative medicine and spiritual lifestyles. September 29 - October 1, 2017 thenewearthexpo.com
WOW5! Women Only Weekend
Join us at the 6th annual WOW! in Canmore at the luxurious Solara Resort for a weekend full of fun and empowerment for women who are looking to meet new friends and reconnect with old ones. October 20 & 21, 2017 facebook.com/womenonlyweekend
See ad on page 5
A HANDFUL OF WOMEN,
TOGETHER FOR ONE
403.680.8448 becky@lilmissorganized.ca
UNFORGETTABLE
EXPERIENCE NOW BOOKING FOR OUR 2017 TOUR October 29 - November 12 Visit our website to learn more and reserve your spot today! SPACE IS LIMITED
Ulu
KUTA
Ubu d
wat
u
babesinbali.com
BALI
by Erawan Travel Ventures
cathy@babesinbali.com 403.278.4084
Support the Environment. Support our Community. Support Local Businesses. Please pass this copy along to a friend, family member or colleague who may benefit from the articles or products and services featured in this issue. Brighten someone’s day, if you visit any of the great businesses advertised in Trifecta Magazine, tell them you saw their ad.
Serge Mazerand
Samaria Cardinal
Bill Little
Dr. Eric Pearl
Sharon Carne
Michelle Eskdale
Katrina Psychic-Medium