I AM

I AM

Everyone came here for a purpose; some may know that purpose and others do not know; at least that is what I have heard people say, and it seems many belief systems with a higher power feel it is true.

What if that purpose was just to do the following:  Learn to love, learn to be loved, forgive, and have a grateful heart in giving thanks for our blessings, and showing respect for all creation.

Sounds simple doesn't it?

Maybe it is so simple that it becomes complex:  People judge others, ridicule, rape, lie, cheat, steal... Prejudice against groups they do not understand; even some in the name of religion... as they allow fear and anger to become hate.

The children they influence, and the ones that are victims, live life in chains, either trying to figure out how to break-free of the bondage to begin repairs or, are so lost they do not realize, and become that which influenced them in the first place...

Change begins with each individual, where you are right now.  Ask, “What can I do in my daily walk to make a positive change;” then listen and meditate on him (Creator/God)...

What are your beliefs, do you even know and what limiting barriers or illusions are present?

I never felt “worthy” of the gifts in which Creator blessed me: Abundance of health, financial prosperity, righteousness, love from a good man, peace, joy, etc.  So, I punished myself by picking the worse possible match to torture myself, then allowing negative thoughts and misery to rule my life for several years creating illusions of manifestations and it was a vicious cycle to punish myself because I thought I wasn’t “worthy.”

Laying in bed one night, meditating on Creator/God, it clicked.  I had said it a million times, had preached it to others, and thought I knew it… that night it became “real.”

The elders even teach that Creator/God gave to us (through the Great Spirit), the powers of the universe which allows us to create our abundance by what we say, feel, think, and believe.  The abundance I created was “lack” of all my desires because I wanted to punish myself in living in that misery and looking at things as if I were not worthy.  Thinking back, I am not sure if I have ever felt worthy of the gifts I was given.  So, I would help others with the gifts, but couldn’t help myself.

That’s the point isn’t it?

We are here, learning to feel worthy – as we are in him, he is in us, he surrounds us, he created all the earth and universe and we are all a part of the whole and it is GOOD!

To love the puppies is easy because they give unconditional love, animals don’t judge.

To love him (Creator) I must love myself because we are ONE.

That is where the “positive abundance” comes in, he is all and all is good; which means I am good, I am worthy, I am… I am… I am… you can fill in the blanks.

I am in part God/creator, he is in me, he is in all, he is abundance, and he is love, joy, peace, harmony, science, finances…

He is… so I am inside this love.  I am worthy because that’s all I can be in him, as part of him, as he in me, and me in him, and he that surrounds me.

Seeing things in/through/as “love” makes nothing else matter, it’s all good.  Enjoy living in his abundance as part of him, it is our birthright! 

Feeling worthy allows us to actually receive those gifts of abundance and operate in that circle love.

Sounds simple doesn’t it?

1500 Cal items to make your meal plan

Some of my friends have been asking for actual food items as they have trouble thinking of what to eat each day, and then there is the hassle of counting calories.  Keep in mind you can eat all the raw vegetables you want. 

Remember anything that is natural (Creator made) is good for you; it is the synthetic stuff/man-made, artificial, fried, and refined/processed items that are hard on the body we live in.  It’s best to load up on fresh fruits, veggies, whole grains, nuts, seeds and plant based oils.

Choose from something from each category daily for a meal plan that is approximately 1500 calories a day and this will help you lose weight, if over doing the calories is your problem.

Breakfast:

·                    2 slices whole grain toast, 1 tbs all-fruit spread

·                    1 bowl/serving whole grain cereal (hot or cold), ½ C Milk

·                    1 Cereal bar, ½ C fresh fruit

·                    2 eggs (any way you like), 1 oz lean meat (Canadian bacon, turkey bacon or sausage)

Lunch:

·                    2 oz Chicken, diced tomato, lettuce, 2tbs shredded cheese, 1Tbs dressing, 1 whole grain wrap

·                    1 bowl vegetable soup, 5 whole grain crackers, 1 mozzarella cheese stick

·                    4 oz of lean meat or fish (turkey, shrimp) over 2 C of mixed salad greens, 1 C raw veggies, 2Tbs shredded cheese, 2 Tbs dressing

·                    1 bowl whole grain cereal (hot or cold), ½ milk, ½ C fruit

·                    1 C Cottage Cheese 1 C fruit

Dinner:

·                    3 oz of any lean meat (like: pork loin, fish, chicken breast) baked with olive oil/herbs, ½ C brown rice, 1Tbs almonds/nuts, ½ C steamed veggies, 1Tbs parmesan cheese

·                    3oz extra lean ground beef patty, 1 thin bun, lettuce, tomato, pickle, mustard, 1 C grilled veggies in 1Tbs olive oil

·                    3 oz. Pot roast, 1C potatoes, veggies, 2 C mixed green salad 1Tbs salad dressting

Snacks:

·                    3 C popcorn

·                    1 fruit

·                    1 whole grain flatbread, 1 ½ Natural Nut butter

·                    Smoothie ( 1C Soymilk or Coconut Milk, ½ C frozen fruit)

·                    8 large olives, ½ large whole grain pita

·                    ½ C Chickpeas w/sprinkle sea salt, 1Tbs olive oil roasted at 375 degrees (stir often)

·                    Handful of Rye Triscuits

·                    4 Tbs trail mix (nuts and fruit kind)

·                    ¼ C sliced avocado

·                    1C Greek yogurt

Heart or Head?

Follow my head or follow my heart?

My good friend Trey asked a simple question, “Do I follow my head or follow my heart?” My question is, What about your gut?

I have learned the hard way in life and some would say that is the best way as you never forget those experiences and memories. Experiences, memories, seeing body language, and facial expression aid us in gut reaction.

The heart is where the feelings are, the head is where we have intellect and our gut can be known as our intuition.

My answer is gather information from all three resources. Good decisions happen when we show restraint (patience) and gather more information.

If you are unsure at the final decision time, leave your feelings out of it and just go by the facts…

In wisdom (and scientifically proven), the heart and it's feelings are too spontanious... we use our head first, our gut second, and the heart is the last aspect to consider… because ultimately, we as humans choose, what we feel based on our intellect and our intuition.

If all three (head, gut, and heart) are telling you "yes!" then by all means, go for it!

Safflower Oil Challenge We Discussed:

Walking Club after School on M,W, and F each week in surrounding neighborhood; if it raining we will just walk in the school. If you want to participate you are welcomed, just bring your walking shoes.

Safflower Challenge: Measure your waste line, Buy a bottle of Safflower Oil, Look at the label. You want the Safflower Oil that says “7-12g Polyunsaturated Fat per serving.” Some Safflower oils are made specifically for frying and will say only 2 (you don’t want that one).

Safflower Oil Health Benefits
As safflower oil contains high amounts of polyunsaturated fats, it helps in creation of prostaglandins, hormone-like compounds aid in strengthening the cell membranes and also in the proper functioning of the body.

It is effective in eliminating the excess fat accumulated in the body, helps in losing weight. Brown fat is present in several areas of the body which is a major factor that aids in burning calories, the cis-linoleic acid present in safflower oil gets converted into gamma linolenic acid (GLA) that triggers the brown fat to burn calories.

Many doctors and dietitians recommend the use of safflower oil to people suffering from diabetes as research has been conducted to find the benefits of safflower oil in older diabetic women who are overweight. These women were asked to take safflower oil supplements for a period of sixteen weeks, and the results that showed were entirely positive. It was observed that they not only lost excess fat, but there was also a significant decline in their blood sugar levels.

Safflower helps in the reduction of the level of cholesterol in the blood which reduces the risk of heart diseases in the individual and can strengthen the immune system. Using safflower oil is an effective method of curing premenstrual syndrome. Consuming safflower oil instead of hormonal drugs helps in regularizing menstrual cycles, thus getting rid of the problem of irregular periods.

This oil can also promote hair growth and healthy skin as it contains vitamin E. People who have dry, brittle hair as well as color treated or premed hair are recommended to get a regular safflower oil massage for healthy looking, shiny hair. This odorless oil is mild and has a very light texture and so it is easily absorbed by the scalp. Massaging safflower oil on the head will improve blood circulation and make hair healthy and strong.

Skin benefits: helps in moisturizing the skin, especially during the dry winter months. Because of its light and non greasy texture, it is easily absorbed by the skin and it makes the skin smooth and supple, and is recommended for treating acne, scars, wrinkles and extremely dry flaky skin. It does not clog pores and hence can be used by people who have sensitive skin.

Safflower Oil Reduces Belly Fat by an increase in the metabolism of the body, thereby preventing the accumulation of fat in body. Safflower oil triggers the production of a hormone named adiponectin which assists in the catabolism of fatty acids. In the presence of safflower oil, the adiponectin production increases up to 20% than usual. Thus, the process of fat burning is escalated which eventually results in loss of weight. Besides, it also alters the function of the fat cells, so that they tend to burn fats and release energy instead of accumulating fats. Safflower is capable of reducing the belly fat without any alteration in diet or exercise regimen of a person. Moreover, it also increases the muscle mass which makes the body leaner and stronger.

Safflower oil benefits in losing belly fat have been backed by a study conducted by Ohio State University. A group of diabetic women in the post-menopausal age were surveyed for this purpose. This group took safflower oil for 16 weeks without altering their diet or exercise routine. At the end of 16 weeks, the women reported a loss of about 3 pounds in their weight along with a reduction in their belly fat. Moreover, the rate of weight loss remained even throughout the study period, thereby alleviating any risks associated with quick weight loss. Thus, safflower oil proves better than any other weight loss remedies available in the market.

The results of this study do not necessarily apply to men and women of all ages. They are mostly specific to obese women in the pre and post menopausal age. Similarly, the efficacy of safflower oil supplements is not comparable with the liquid oil. Hence, the best way to avail the safflower oil benefits is by incorporating it in your daily diet.

Adult Relationships and Respect

Respect is a very large topic... We will narrow the focus and write different installments:

Respect is a feeling, deep admiration, elicited by their abilities, qualities, achievements, and works of good deeds or morals, a dutiful regard for others.

Ignorance on the other hand is a lack of knowledge, education, or awareness.

So, are all these people in society showing disrespect, ignorant, or are they blatantly being rude and disrespectful? What makes us as a society allow them to get away with these negative actions as if it does not matter anymore? Have we lost so much self respect that anything goes now?

Let's look at respect amongst women: If everyone would follow this there would be no cheating! Most women are stronger than men on some levels, as women are premeditated and men tend to be more spontaneous. Spontaneity is kind of like a kid with a pocket of money in a candy store... They don't think of the long term of consequences sometime... Keeping in mind I am talking about most men; not all, there are always exceptions to every rule or statistic.

Now, if a woman knows a man is taken or has a wife, girlfriend, live-in, whatever... Then it is the responsibility of that woman to show respect to that other woman. Stay away from him, he is not yours... If every woman would do this there would be little cheating in the world, and if the man lied to you, tell!

Men can help by not making yourself available to another woman. You have a responsibility to your significant other to be committed and devoted to her. Sure you will hear sob stories and want to help some damsel in distress; don't do it, it's not your job. Sure, you might see a sexy body and wish you had that. Sure, you might see young and want that young feeling again. Sure, you might want good conversation b/c your wife is too busy with the kids... But don't do it, you have to devote yourself to who you have already chosen.

Men, "Confiding" in another woman other than your mother, sister, or blood relation... is the most hurt you can give your woman... You just gave your trust away, like breaking confidentiality to your marriage.

Making excuses does not let you off the hook, they only show you are weak minded and couldn't follow through with a commitment. Either do what is the respectful, or decide you don't love your spouse and get a divorce.

I recently heard of a case where the "other woman" is being sued by the wife for wrecking the home an the wife received millions because she proved the other woman acted willfully and set out to seduce a married man; this is called, "Alienation of Affection," and can be filed in the following states: North Carolina, Illinois, Mississippi, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Utah. What do you think; if you knew you could be sued for being interference, causing a marriage to be broken, or aiding in it not being able to be reconciled...? Would you take the chance in messing with someone's spouse?

I know I got a little side-tracked here, but the point is... It is all a disrespectful act! The respectful thing is to follow-through with your words, keep your commitments, if it doesn't belong to you, and just leave it alone. If you are in an unhappy place, communicate it to your partner, work to repair it, or divorce so you can move on... Those of you, who were never married, make sure you communicate to your significant other; you are done, before moving on.

When the dream comes alive as we meet...
immortal...
embrace...
peace...
and the night sky
is in my palm,
from each star
you have given me,
every time you make
me smile,
for in my dreams you rescue me, quench my thirst, and empower my choice...
the trust I have in you burns the wheat from the chaff as an act of faith

~Elizabeth Corbin

Help the Children after the Divorce! By Elizabeth Corbin

Let the divorce be final and allow the children the benefit of two households, two sets of parties, two sets of families, etc. That is one of the benefits for divorced kids and they look forward to it; don’t come together and combine their parties, spend time sitting and having dinner at your ex-wife’s house, or having a “family” night when you are no longer a family. It may save you money but it racks havoc on the children’s emotional well-being. Children always hope their biological parents will reunite and they can all be one big happy family, so every time you come together you are giving them a false hope.

In my practice I see so many kiddos after holidays, birthdays, and family days who are disappointed and it takes weeks of strategies to help them recover and cope from well meaning parents who for whatever reason feel they need to keep some string attached to their ex-spouse.

I have seen several possible reasons parents choose to do this to their kids/families: 1. Romanticism- just like wanting the children to believe in Santa as long as you can, because it is cute or fun for you; you are the one not wanting to completely let go of the past and move forward. 2. Guilt- not wanting to believe everything has changed and you may have been the cause of it, or you let the kids down by not holding the marriage together, etc. 3. Immaturity- Adults that haven’t matured past a certain level; wanting to appear they are doing this for the kids. 4. Passive- The parent that goes along with whatever the controlling parent says for fear of causing added drama.

Once a family is split, they need to remain split unless mom and dad have decided to be a couple again and really work on being one productive unit. Once the divorce is final you are not “one unit” any longer; are two. There is nothing wrong with living as two units and showing the kids they can enjoy some benefits of having two families… I would not advise a man to go to his ex-wife’s house or her family for any gatherings, nor would I advise a woman to go to her ex-husband’s for the kid’s birthday party. It is far better for a child to have a birthday or Christmas at each house.

So what if one parent makes more money than the other and you can’t offer to spoil the child as much as your ex-spouse? Communication is the key and if you are upfront and honest about communicating things, and you have raised a mature individual in your child s/he will eventually see and understand you did the best you could with what you had for his/her well-being.

It takes weeks to help a child recover and learn coping strategies from disappointment on high hopes parents will reconsolidate every time they see those two spend time together.

In addition to all the disappointment you cause the children by trying to combine things, you also create a barrier for the new relationship in your life; that’s if you have someone. You may not be able to keep a new relationship going if you spend your time at your ex-spouses place. Most people will be happy for you allowing them to be part of your family as long as you are not dragging the baggage of their biological mother/father along with you.