Pashupati

Something a little different this morning. Inspirational music to calm and cleanse your body, mind and spirit.

Enjoy.

And this is my Daily Cyn.......

Please, God! No More Coconuts........

There once was a man stranded on a deserted island. It doesn't matter how he got there. He was just there. Alone.

The first day, he did nothing but yell, scream and cry over his horrible predicament. He cursed God. How could this happen to him? What was he going to do? He would never be found.

He was stuck here forever.


Eventually he grew hungry. He searched for something to eat. Some fruit, perhaps? No fruit trees. He tried his hand at fishing. He stood in the water for hours, hoping to spear just one fish on the end of a stick. No such luck. He gave up, threw himself down on the sandy shore and angrily blamed God. 

"How could you do this to me, God?" he shouted. "I am stranded, alone, hungry and I can't even catch a fish! I am going to starve to death!"

As he threw his temper tantrum on the beach, something hard hit him in the head. He began to curse louder. He didn't have to worry about starving to death. Now he was going to die from a cracked skull.

On a deserted island. Alone......

Of course, his skull was not cracked but he did have a big lump on his head. From a coconut. It fallen from a tree and landed directly on his head. He was surrounded by coconut trees. Dozens and dozens of coconut trees.

He could eat the coconuts.......

So, he gathered coconuts. For weeks and weeks he ate nothing but coconuts.





He munched on coconut meat.........

He drank coconut milk........

And complained to God every day that he was sick and tired of coconuts!




The sun was so strong. His skin was burned and his lips were dry and cracking. At night, the air was cold. The wind was brutal at times and he needed shelter.  He had no idea what to do. He didn't have a saw, a knife, or a hammer and nails.  Nothing. .

"Oh, my God!" he cried. "I am going to die from exposure."

He was angry, hopeless and helpless. He sat down in a pile of empty coconut shells and wept bitterly.

And then, he had an idea............






He could make a little hut from  fallen twigs, branches and all those discarded coconut shells.

Okay. It looked nothing like this, but I am sure you get the picture!






Sitting in the shade of his coconut hut, eating his dinner of coconut meat, he finally made peace with God.
"OK, God. I am content. I have shelter and I have food. It might not be the best, but it is keeping me alive. Thank you for keeping me alive."

The months went by and man was happy. He thanked God every day for life. He grew to love the island. It was beautiful. Peaceful. He spent time exploring. He marveled at the flowers, the trees, the birds, the crystal blue waters.  He could live here forever.

Then one night a terrible storm came. It rained.  It poured. Thunder and lightening filled the sky. He sat in his hut, dry and content. And then, the unthinkable happened. His hut was struck by lightening!

In an instant, it burst into flames and burned to the ground.

The next morning, all that remained was a pile of smoking ash.

The poor man had finally reached the end of his rope. It was over. 
"Oh, my God", he cried. "I am finished. You have taken everything from me and I no longer wish to live!"

He climbed up to highest point of the island and decided to jump off the edge and into the deep, dark waters below.




And then he saw it. In the distance...... a boat! It was headed straight for the island.  He ran back to shore, jumping up and down and yelling for help!

You know what happens next. He was rescued.

Safe and secure inside the boat, he said, " I can't believe you found me! How long were you searching for me?"



"We weren't searching," they said. " We had no idea anything or anyone was out here until we saw your smoke signals!"

You already know the moral of the story.

If you don't, I am sure you will figure it out. :)

And this is my Daily Cyn......

Food is NOT a Reward

Every morning I watch the news. I need to know a little about what's going on in the world. As I sat busily typing away at my computer, the news ended and on came Maury Povich. I am not a fan of his show but sometimes I see the first few minutes of it before I turn it off.  I was surprised to see today's show wasn't about the usual cheating partners and paternity tests. It was about childhood obesity. Of course, this piqued my interest. I poured myself another cup of coffee and watched.

This show was sad to say the least. Huge, unhealthy, miserable children and equally miserable mothers who were concerned about their kids but had no idea how to improve or change things. There was one four year old boy in particular who weighed a whopping 104lbs! 104 lbs! Can you imagine?


When his mother was asked how she rewarded him when he was good, she responded, "fried chicken!"


FRIED CHICKEN?!! That kid needs fruit, vegetables and serious exercise, not a bucket of KFC!

This might be an extreme case but it made me think about our relationships with FOOD. Some use food to soothe, comfort, and to feel loved. This is a learned behavior that begins in childhood. It seems harmless at the time, but there can be some serious issues down the line. It affects the whole way we think about and eat food.

Examples:

Baby cries- we give them a bottle. Milk = comfort.

Child is antsy in the car at the store - we give them a cookie. Cookie = peace

Child is misbehaving- we promise them an ice cream if they are good. Ice Cream = Reward

Child gets rejected at school, on the playground, by friends- we bake them brownies.

Brownies = Love.

Do you see a pattern here? Do you see yourself in this picture? As the giver OR the recipient?

Shut them up with food.
Calm them down with food.
Make them behave with food.
Heal their broken hearts with food.

Oh! And here's a big one! Threaten to take away a treat or favorite food when they misbehave!

We cry, we hurt, we do something good, or we want to feel loved and what do we do? We turn to FOOD... Because we are conditioned to silence our emotions and our pain. We learn to temporarily suppress our true feeling and our needs with FOOD.  We depend on FOOD to make us feel good!.  We are controlled by FOOD!

What happens when you have a bad day? Break up with your mate? 
Do you reach for the gallon of ice cream or junk food?

How about when you accomplish something grand?

Do you celebrate with lots and lots of food?

A former client of mine had a specific dress size she wished to wear in certain amount of time. She had been over-weight her entire life. I told her I would help her but I wanted to address and heal her issues with food and her own self-esteem so she could stay a healthy size forever! BUT.... she had to learn to accept the fact that she was not going to drop weight overnight and there was a possibility she might never fit into her so-called ideal size. She decided my program was not for her.

She was looking for starvation, deprivation and punishment.  And to wear the dress size that would make her feel beautiful, loved and accepted. She wasn't really interested in changing her life. 

She did lose weight on another program and was so excited. She now fit into the dress size of her dreams. Now she was going to reward herself. She made reservations at her favorite restaurant where she planned to devour everything she had denied herself the pleasure of eating for the past few months. She did a good job and now she deserved a prize for being so GOOD! She kept on rewarding herself and within a few months, she gained ALL her weight back and then some!

Sad, huh?

All she learned was how to suffer and deprive herself of  food. She saw starvation as being good. Then she went out and gave herself a nice big REWARD and kept on rewarding herself. Actually, she wound up stuck in a cycle of reward and punishment. That's why she gained all her weight back- plus. She never learned a thing about herself or why food was such a big deal to her in the first place.

Yes, this woman did deserve to be praised and feel good about what she accomplished. She had worked hard! But, there were other ways to pat herself on the back.  She had no clue who she was or what she wanted so she turned to the one thing that always made her feel good- FOOD!

Food is not a reward! It is not comfort, love or peace. It cannot make us act or react a certain way. It is fuel we need to keep our bodies functioning. An ice cream cone is an ice cream cone and I believe if you want one, you should go ahead and have one. Every day if you wish!

If your body, mind and spirit are balanced-- one ice cream cone a day is NOT GOING TO MAKE YOU FAT!!!!

WOW! I bet you never heard that before!!

Sound interesting?

Visit my website and contact me. I would LOVE to chat with you!

And this is my Daily Cyn........

Another Manic Monday?

It's Monday! If you are like most people, the last thought on your mind before you fell asleep last night was : "YUCK. Tomorrow is Monday!"

Let's face it. We love our weekends. We get to play, go out dancing, get together with friends and family, sleep in a little in the mornings and stay up late at night. Not to mention, it's SUMMER so that means BBQs, days at the beach, picnics, boating, sports. Come Monday morning, all that fun comes to a screeching halt as we once again begin our regular weekly routine of work, home, sleep, repeat.

Until next weekend!

So......let me ask you.....when you opened your eyes this morning, how was your attitude? Did you stumble out of bed, less than enthusiastic about today? Did you feel moody and depressed because your weekend is over? It's ingrained into our bodies, minds and our spirits to DESPISE Mondays. Everyone says it. "I DON'T LIKE MONDAYS!" There is even a song about it- actually a few songs.

I will let you in on a little secret. Your attitude directly affects your day! If you wake up expecting Monday to be hectic, guess what? It will be hectic- or MANIC just like the song says.

"JUST ANOTHER MANIC MONDAY!"

Cute song..... bad message!

When you convince yourself  that you hate Mondays, you will hate today and everything will go wrong. Even good things that happen might go un-noticed because you are only expecting bad! You have already convinced yourself that you hate today. And most likely, you will hate tomorrow and the next day, too!

The only REAL difference about TODAY is that the sun set yesterday and rose again this morning! You have been given the gift of a brand new day! You can start all over again, change everything about your life and make TODAY the pre-cursor to a MAGNIFICENT WEEK. And you can accomplish this by a simple shift in your attitude. And that starts with turning off that negative inner chatter and focusing on good and positive things.

The same way you choose which clothes to wear today- you can choose your ATTITUDE!

Choose to make today a MAGNIFICENT MONDAY!!! And it will be!!

And this is my Daily Cyn........

Gluten Free Rice Krispies

There has been some excitement over a new and improved, yet very familiar product. It's something almost all of us have tried or enjoyed at breakfast for years.

Kellogg's Rice Krispies!

Now....They are GLUTEN-FREE!!!

Those suffering from allergies or sensitivities to gluten can rejoice and eat this cereal 'til kingdom come without all those painful side-effects.

A friend of mine was so enthusiastic about this, she actually posted a photo of the brand-new box of Rice Krispies on Face Book. In big, bold letters, there it was.

GLUTEN-FREE!!

Okay. I am just a nutritional consultant who studies food for a living, but the last I looked, rice didn't contain gluten. Rice Krispies are puffed grains of rice. But, I before I completely dismissed Kellogg's new advertising campaign, I thought I should check it out for myself. Perhaps the OLD Rice Krispies were rolled in wheat or a derivative of wheat was added to the recipe for flavor.  Maybe wheat is needed for the whole 'puffing' process? I honestly did not know. So, I rolled up my sleeves and began to investigate.

Here's what I discovered:






First, here's the claim to fame for the new Rice Krispies Gluten-Free Cereal:


New Rice Krispies® Gluten Free cereal, made with brown rice, lets you bring a childhood favorite back to the table. Now your kids can enjoy a bowlful for breakfast, and they won't miss out on the timeless taste of homemade Rice Krispies Treats® marshmallow squares.

You can see it for yourself, here: Kellogg's Product Detail.

Sounds good to me. Who doesn't love Rice Krispies Treats®?

And I do think it's a really good move to use brown rice instead of the usual processed white variety.

Here's what's in the box of New Rice Krispies:

Ingredients: Whole grain brown rice, sugar, contains 2% or less of salt, BHT for freshness.


Vitamins and Minerals: Iron, vitamin C (ascorbic acid), vitamin E (alpha tocopherol acetate), niacinamide, vitamin A palmitate, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B1 (thiamin hydrochloride), folic acid, vitamin D, vitamin B12.

Let's dive deeper and take a look at what's inside the regular variety of Rice Krispies:

Ingredients: Rice, sugar, contains 2% or less of salt, malt flavoring, BHT for freshness.

Vitamins and Minerals: Iron, vitamin C (ascorbic acid), vitamin E (alpha tocopherol acetate), niacinamide, vitamin A palmitate, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B1 (thiamin hydrochloride), folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin D.

Do you see what I see?

The new version of Rice Krispies is missing an ingredient: MALT FLAVORING!

AH HA!!!

Malt flavoring is the guilty culprit. Removing this ingredient from the new Rice Krispies makes it a Gluten-Free product!

What is Malt Flavoring?

Malt flavoring is an extract, most commonly from the grain barley, but may be made from other grains. It is made by germinating the barley grains by soaking them in water, then heating them to stop the germination so the plant doesn't grow. The germination causes the starch in the grains to turn to sugar, with the result being an extract that has many uses.

Malt is used in the brewing of beer as a food for the yeast, as well as a flavoring that is found in many foods.

It contains gluten, which is a complex of proteins found in the grain, so it's not safe for people with Celiac disease or other gluten sensitivity.

Read more: What is Malt Flavoring?

If you suffer from allergies to wheat or wheat products or have been diagnosed with Celiac Disease, it's best to avoid foods that contain malt flavoring of any kind unless you know for a fact it is not made from glutenous grain.

I must admit, I was secretly hoping this was just another deceptive advertising ploy to get YOU to buy more Rice Krispies.

But in this case, they are telling the truth. So you can relax and pour yourself a nice big bowlful or mix up some Rice Krispies Treats for the kids. The fact that this new cereal is made with brown rice makes it even more appealing. But don't be fooled. Despite the fact that it now contains brown rice, there is only 1gram of fiber per serving. So if you need more fiber in your diet, look for products that contain 3 or more grams per serving.

Sugar is listed as the second ingredient. That's usually a big red flag but there’s only a quarter of a teaspoon per serving in the Gluten Free Rice Krispies. That's very low for a cereal.  (The original version has one teaspoon). So, even if you don't have sensitivities to gluten, this product is the wiser choice. It is white processed sugar, however, so if you are looking to avoid that in your diet, skip this cereal.  If your kids are accustomed to the old Rice Krispies, they might be tempted to reach for the sugar bowl to achieve that familiar sugary satisfaction. Add some fresh fruit like blueberries, strawberries or peaches for natural sweetness.

The one real complaint I have (aside from all those added vitamins and minerals) is BHT. BHT – Butylated hydroxytoluene – is an antioxidant preservative that lengthens the shelf life of a product. There is some controversy around its safety, with reports of hyperactivity and carcinogenic properties. Unfortunately, almost all cereals use BHT as a preservative.

Personally, I prefer to avoid anything so controversial. And I don't want to feed it to my family.

I would never leave you hanging without alternatives, however.

If you are interested in healthier versions of Gluten-Free cereal (and other products), here's a helpful website:
Gluten Free Cereals.

And this is my Daily Cyn......

Are Being Discouraged or Encouraged to Follow Your Dreams?

You know who these people are. The ones who always say, "It can't be done." "Give up!"

They tell you are nuts, crazy, or to get a 'real' job! They say your dreams are impossible, ridiculous, childish.

Every time you take a step in the right direction, they knock you down a peg or two. And.....they believe it is THEIR mission in life to do this. To PROTECT you.

Sit back and take a real good look at the nay-sayers in your life.  Is their life spectacular or are they miserable, unsatisfied, and unfulfilled? When was the last time they did anything to make their own dreams come true? Do they even have any dreams? 

Surround yourself with positive, successful people. People with great vision who believe in their dreams and yours. The ones who make it happen. These are the friends you want. They will be willing to lend a helping hand, encourage you, steer you in the right direction and lift you up when you fall.

Separate yourself the negative people. The ones who discourage you and and point out everything that is wrong, silly, or impossible. The ones who say they just trying to help. If they really want to help, they will jump on board with you. If they are not willing to do that;  they are only there to help you fail. It will make them feel better about themselves when you do fail or abandon your dreams.

If you have a dream,  it is there for a reason. It was given to YOU for a reason.

God gives big dreams to those He knows can make them come true.

And He sends angels along the way to make sure they do......

And this is my Daily Cyn......









Meaningful Conversation

"Can we actually practice compassion without trust?"

This was the subject of my six o'clock coffee chat with my Facebook friend this morning.  We debated this for quite some time and finally decided that neither of us had consumed enough caffeine to discuss such topics so early in the morning.

I am not going to write about compassion with or without trust in this blog but I will be thinking about it all day. My friend and I will address the subject again, at a later time. And I will probably end up writing about it eventually. It felt so good to just talk about things that matter for a change. It makes me think. It changes me. It heals me.

Okay, it was a chat on Facebook but it was meaningful nonetheless. My friend lives in Maine. I am in NY. Face to face conversations are not possible right now. It has been a very long time since I have had a meaningful conversation with someone I care about.

I don't want to talk about the weather, sports, TV shows or what's for dinner. I want to be inspired. I want to share my heart and soul and have someone share theirs with me.  I don't want to be ridiculed or told I am silly because I think or feel a certain way. How can matters of the heart ever be silly? And I don't want to be turned off. I want someone's undivided attention once in awhile.

I told my friend this morning that the desire of my heart is to find a partner with whom I can actually share these things. I want to talk. I want to listen. I want meaningful conversation. And I need to know that nothing is more important than what we want or need to say.

I just ended a relationship. It was my first relationship in ten years. Actually, it fizzled out. We stopped communicating. And neither one of us are willing to fight to keep the relationship going. What for? It's not what I want or need at this point in my life. But there is love involved and hearts are broken... but not broken enough. That's the hard part.

When we first met, we talked about everything. He had a temporary space in the basement of his sister's home. They had no television. Wrapped around each other on his little army cot, we would stay awake for hours making love and sharing intimate details of our lives. When I wasn't with him, we chatted on the phone almost every night until the sun came up. We didn't require much sleep. Love provided the energy we needed to get through our busy days. I thought I had finally met my match. I had a kind, sensitive, loving man who wanted to talk to me. Someone who found me irresistible, charming, interesting and funny. I thought I was so lucky and felt sorry for those who didn't have what we had.

Then he moved into an apartment. With cable. That was the end of everything. All our conversations came to a screeching halt. He replaced the little cot with a queen size bed and stayed close to the edge, far away from me with his back turned and his eyes glued to the television. He wouldn't even put his arms around me. I was slapped in the face with a big dose of reality.  The only reason he had talked, listened or touched me was because there was nothing else to do.

I found myself constantly longing for that tiny cot in the damp, dark basement where his eyes, ears, hands and heart were mine. That's where I was safe. That's where I felt loved. There was nothing more important than the matters of our hearts. I don't want  or need it all the time. That would get old quickly.  I just want someone who is willing to turn everything off and stay with me in that place once or twice a week.

No matter how hard I begged, pleaded and cried, my guy was not willing to do this. It's his problem. Not mine. So, after I take some time to heal, I will continue my search for the right one......

I ended my morning Facebook chat with this thought: We have lost the art of meaningful conversation. We are constantly plugged in to something: television, Internet, iPods, and cell phones.. I miss the days of sitting on the train and actually talking to the person beside me or chatting with others while waiting on line at the deli. Instead, all eyes and ears glued to tiny little telephones. Or the joyful noise of the world around us is replaced with music streaming through headphones. At home, dinners are eaten in front of television with little or no personal interaction. Laptops and cell phones are taken to bed and end of day conversations are almost non-existent. Passionate nights of lovemaking by candlelight are replaced with the glare of the television and unsucessful attempts to satisfy both partners quickly-- before the news come on.

I am guilty of this. You are guilty of this. And what it communicates to the person sitting, standing, or lying beside you is this:

You are not interesting to me, therefore, I am tuning you out! 

This is not what I wish to communicate to anyone. EVER. This is not the kind of life I want. Do you? Is a repeat episode of Deadliest Catch really more important than what the person next to you has to say?

I challenge you to turn everything off and have a meaningful conversation. Talk. Don't forget to listen. Chat with the neighbors, the mother at the park, with your children and especially with your mate. If you feel as if you are drifting apart, turning off the television, ignoring the phone, and waiting a day to respond to all your emails and actually talking could change everything.

If you have nothing interesting to discuss, read books, papers and magazines that inspire you. And then find someone to share your thoughts with. Or, just sit and listen to the other person. You might learn something.

A little meaningful conversation........
It goes a long way.

And this is my Daily Cyn.......

How To Get the Love You Deserve

Never allow anyone to love you less than you love yourself.........

If I had heard this phrase twenty-five years ago, I could have avoided a whole lot of pain and heartache. But then again, maybe not. Back then, I didn't really know or love myself at all. In fact, I though it was wrong and sinful to love myself. I believed I was worthless and insignificant. Blame it on the way I interpreted some twisted, spiritual teachings. God loved me, but it was wrong to love myself because I was really nothing more than a useless wretch. How dare I ever exalt myself , believe I deserve anything good in life, or think I have rights of any kind?

That's totally f*cked up thinking, isn't it? It took YEARS to shed all that crap because I was so damaged.

The trouble with that kind of thinking is we attract the wrong kinds of people and the wrong kind of love.  Sometimes, we become victims- stuck in unhealthy relationships. We find ourselves at the mercy of harmful, vindictive, abusive lovers and friends**. When the veil was finally removed from my eyes, I realized how very wrong I was. All my life I blamed other people for my pain, misery, heartache, and lack of love. It wasn't really their fault. I had given them permission because I had no love for myself.

I needed to replace those deep-rooted feelings of inadequacy, worthlessness, and self-loathing with genuine love and respect. This inspired my own personal search for God. I could not accept the way He was presented to me as a child. I needed to find Him for myself. I knew I would never have love or peace until I did this.

Over the years, through therapy, inner healing, and finding God in a personal way (not man's interpretation of God), I have learned to love myself and treat myself kindly. Sometimes, I forget. There are times I fall short. I make mistakes and then those old self-depreciating attitudes rise to the surface. The big difference is, I notice it right away now. When I allow myself to be mistreated or loved less than I want or need to be, I ask God to show me what still needs to be healed.

And then I begin to work on those things............

This is my own personal journey. My situation is probably much different than yours. But this one thing is exactly the same:

We always get the kind of love we believe we deserve!

We show others how to love us by the way we love ourselves. If we do not love ourselves or believe we deserve love, we will never have the healthy kind of love we long for.

It's okay to love yourself. In fact, I encourage you to fall in love with yourself. Forget about everyone else- be a little selfish. Break those relationships that are harmful or simply are not working for you anymore. Spend time alone. Sometimes the fear of being lonely keeps us in situations that are so unhealthy. If you love yourself, you will not mind being alone for awhile.

Don't know where or how to start? Here are a few ideas:

1. Write a list.
List all your good qualities-the wonderful things about yourself -positive personality traits, deeds you have done and things you have accomplished. Focus on these. Put the list someplace where you can see it every day. Don't write down anything bad. Only the good stuff!

2.  Do what you want.
All the things you want to do or love to do but don't- DO THEM. Forget about making a Bucket-List! You need a NOW-List. Remember the movie Last Holiday with Queen Latifah? She had a book of dreams filled with all the things she wanted to do, places she wanted to visit, and pictures of the life she wanted to have. It was only when she believed she had a few weeks to live that she began to make her dreams come true. She fell in love with herself and with life. She realized she was not the quiet, insignificant, incapable woman she thought she was. She was wonderful, magnetic, capable and lovable! And everyone fell in love with her!

When you love someone, you want to spoil them! SPOIL YOURSELF! 

As you begin to love yourself more, you will become less tolerant of those who do not treat you lovingly, respectfully and graciously. You will find it easier to walk away from people who mistreat you. You will attract healthy, well-adjusted friends and lovers. You will begin to live the life you have always dreamed of.

Why?

Because you refuse to settle for anything less.

And this is my Daily Cyn.......

** I am sensitive to the fact that some people come from abusive backgrounds. Perhaps you are a victim of child abuse, neglect or violence. You might exist in a situation like this now. Abuse is NOT love and no one ever asks for or deserves that type of treatment. This kind of suffering is certainly damaging to your sense of worth and self-esteem and it is NEVER your fault! If this is the case, I hope you seek or are currently receiving professional help so you can break the cycle.and begin to heal.

You Do Not Have to Be Good...........

You do not have to be good.

You do not have to walk on your knees

for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.

You only have to let the soft animal of your body

love what it loves.

Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.

Meanwhile the world goes on.

Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain

are moving across the landscapes,

over the prairies and the deep trees,

the mountains and the rivers.

Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,

are heading home again.

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,

the world offers itself to your imagination,

calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting–

over and over announcing your place

in the family of things.

(“Wild Geese,” by Mary Oliver)

And this is my Daily Cyn.............

Danger, Will Robinson!

If you grew up in the 1960's, you remember the robot; that lovable bucket of bolts from the popular television show, Lost in Space. As a kid, I loved him.  I wanted my very own personal robot.

The Lost in Space robot acted as guardian to Will Robinson, the young, adventurous and exceptionally intelligent boy.  Despite the popularity of the phrase, "Danger, Will Robinson!" it was only said once in the entire series. This was during the episode: The Deadliest of the Species (Episode 11, Season 3). In all the other episodes, the robot simply alerted Will or the other crew members of the Jupiter 2 by crying out, "Warning!" or "Danger!" *

The crew members of the Jupiter 2 paid attention to the robot's warnings. They didn't attempt to reason or argue with it. The robot sensed danger and they obeyed. The only times they did get into trouble was when the evil Dr. Smith intentionally disabled the robot to promote his own agenda.

How wonderful it would be if we all had a companion continuously warning us of danger ahead. It would shout out before we made terrible mistakes. We certainly would avoid an awful lot of heartache, pain and tragedy.

We do have such a companion. It's called our Gut Instinct.  You know that feeling you get deep inside that something just isn't right?  That's Gut Instinct.  Sometimes, it's just like the robot. It waves its arms and shouts, "Warning!" and "Danger!"  Most of the time, however, it is subtle. It's something you just can't quite put your finger on, but you know if you don't pay attention, it could mean trouble. Gut Instinct. We all have it and we need to trust it.

How does it work?

 Here's how it works for me: I get a premonition; a queasy feeling deep inside. Something just doesn't sit right. Something smells fishy.  Or it just seems too good to be true. There are times that I don't listen. I reason and argue with it. I tell myself I'm crazy or being too cautious. When I refuse to pay attention to these warning signs, I experience serious consequences. The times I have actually obeyed it, I've been saved from heartache, disappointment and pain.  I've even escaped real danger. My Gut Instinct has always been correct. Every single time!

Our Gut Instinct sees what we don't see. Don't ignore it.  It senses. It knows. Listen to it. Don't reason with it. Trust it and go with it. Even if people think you are crazy.  Even if your heart says something completely different! The heart, at times, can be misleading. It doesn't always see the truth because it is often blinded by love and hope. Gut Instinct is that realistic voice of reason that sees beyond love and hope. It knows the truth. It sees the road ahead and attempts to steer us away from danger and keeps us safe.

I need to make a major, very painful decision. Those warning bells and whistles are going off continously and they have been for a very long time. That's my gut instinct- my very own personal robot. It has been alerting me to danger for over a year now. I've been trying to reason with it. I've been making excuses. I've been tempted to completely disable it. If I don't listen,  I could be in for a lifetime of pain and misery. I have already had enough of that. Why would I want to endure more?

Listening to my gut instinct is not going to be easy. In fact, it's going to hurt. It's going to hurt others. But the pain will be temporary and NOTHING compared to the havoc that will most likely occur if I continue to reason with it, make excuses, or ignore it.

My dad told me something wonderful as I sat with him sipping coffee this morning. He knows my struggle, but he will never tell me what to do.  I am an adult. I make my own decisions, but I don't want to make the wrong ones.  I openly shared with dad all the pros and cons of my situation. The advice he gave me was priceless:

"There is a place deep within where your heart and your mind come together. It's the voice of reason, the place of balance, your God-given instinct. Listen to what it has to say and you will make the right decision."

In other words: Trust my gut instinct. It will never steer me in the wrong direction.

And this is my Daily Cyn.......

*Wikipedia Dictionary

Say NO to Weight Loss!

Say NO to Weight Loss? Have I gone insane? Let's be honest here. I can't think of one man or woman who doesn't want to lose some weight- even if it's just a couple of pounds. Let's face it- unless we LIVE at the gym, never, ever eat a carb, or an icecream sundae, or sip a margarita on the beach, we are all carrying a few extra pounds and want to get rid of them. For good!

 Excess weight (no matter how much) puts stress on our bodies and makes us feel uncomfortable. It can affect our self-esteem, hold us back from participating in social activities, and most importantly, it puts our health in jeopardy.



I am a Nutritional Consultant and Lifestyle Coach. I have a much different approach to health, wellness and weight management. If you are looking for a quick fix or miracle pills and potions, you are in the wrong place. I have nothing like that to sell.

Sorry. You will need to go elsewhere for that sort of stuff...... 

If you are interested in achieving a comfortable, healthy weight that you can maintain FOREVER, then keep reading.

Weight Loss is a BIG business. There's lots of money to be made. Different diets, different pills, different drinks. The Master Cleanse, the Grapefruit Diet, low fat, low carb, the popular 2 shakes and one sensible meal a day! You've tried EVERYTHING but with very little success. Maybe you did take off a few pounds and were happy for awhile. Then what happened? Like most people, you probably gained it all back again and then some. I know folks who have actually submitted to gastric by-pass surgery and over time, have gained the weight back!

 How many times have you watched Oprah lose and gain hundreds of pounds on national television? Oprah, for goodness sake! She is one of the most intelligent, successful, business saavy, wealthiest women in the world. The greatest chefs, health, fitness and nutritional experts are at her disposal and still she is not able to overcome her BATTLE OF THE BULGE!

Why?  And why can't you?

Maybe you need to change your way of thinking. Maybe you need to stop focusing on weight loss. Stop saying ' I want to, need to, must LOSE weight!' What happens when you lose something? You lose your keys, your wallet, your kid in the shopping mall! You want to FIND them again! Or you hope they find you.

If I take off a few extra pounds, I DON'T WANT TO FIND THEM AGAIN!

And I certainly don't want them to find me!

So rather than putting all the focus on Weight LOSS- how about finding ways to RELEASE the weight? When you release something, you SET IT FREE! You don't anticipate it returning and you are happy to see it go!

RELEASING weight! What a novel idea!

Interested? We should chat......

Together we can put together a Weight-Release program. Tailor made- just for you! We can talk about how the weight found you in first place, why it continues to hang on for dear life, and what you can do to set it free!!

Leave a comment here or contact me through my website: True Metamorphosis

And this is my Daily Cyn.......

How to Grow.............

"Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow."

- Ronald E. Osborn

And this is my Daily Cyn.................

Hope From a Horoscope?

I've never been particularly interested or enticed by fortune tellers or psychics. In fact, growing up in a strict Christian home, I was raised to believe they were evil so I avoided that sort of stuff like the plague. The Bible says King Saul lost his kingdom and endured great suffering all because he sought the advice of a medium rather than trusting and waiting on God. That story alone was enough to scare the heck out of me. I was, however, occasionally tempted to peek at my daily horoscope in a newspaper or magazine. Then I would quickly repent and promise never to do it again. And I wouldn't, for a few days.  Some people I know believe horoscopes, any form of fortune telling, luck or silly predictions are so evil and harmful that they refuse to crack open a fortune cookie at a Chinese restaurant.

I always thought that was the best part of the meal. 

My grandmother would not start her day without reading her daily horoscope. Her activities and attitudes were according to what the stars said. If her horoscope warned not to leave the house, she would stay indoors all day. If it was a negative message, she would be fearful or sad. If it was positive, she would be happy and upbeat. Personally, I think she might have been a bit extreme but that was who she was. Bless her heart.

In my early twenties, I fell in love with a guy who was very much into astrology. He had a personal astrologer who did his charts regularly.  He visited psychics, too. He used astrology charts, biorhythm reports and numerology to help guide his life. I was so prim and proper back then and told him if he wanted to be with  me, he needed to be a good Christian. In other words, that stuff had to go. Honestly, he was alot more interesting and easy going before he gave it all up.

I have since shed some of the staunch beliefs and fears of my childhood. I do yoga (another forbidden, evil practice), pray, meditate, and have even taken part in a few Reiki healing circles.  I wear wooden prayer beads around my wrist- not because I am Buddhist, but because they simply remind me to pray. I find beauty and inspiration in the Bhagavad Gītā. I also read the Bible and draw strength from it, especially now. My life has been turned upside down, so I need all the good stuff I can get. I also view my daily horoscope. I don't go out of my way to read it; it's automatically posted on my Facebook profile every morning.  I don't know why it's there ( I don't remember asking for it) but I can't resist reading it.  Most often, they are just plain silly. But every once in awhile, I am truly motivated to really stop and think. Does this make me evil-to-the-core? I don't think so.

Here are a few Horoscopes I've received this week:

Tuesday:
You may feel anxious or uncertain about your job stability today as a result of conflict in the workplace, or problems with your health. Stress is definitely a factor right now. You do have investment opportunities though, and should be thinking about alternative ways to boost your bottom line.


Wednesday:
''There is strength in numbers today and you are at the head - a leader - the position that is just right for you. You may move forward secure in the knowledge of what you know, your inspiration will be a delight to others. You won't have to stand in line for anything, others will seem to know what you need. You will find it so easy to connect with someone who wants to take you out on a date.''

Thursday:
''You are the perfect candidate for leadership this year and your hard work is finally starting to pay off. It's a great opportunity to make use of big ideas, your dreams will finally materialize before your eyes. You are now becoming a professional at what you do, help will be available at each and every turn. If you snap your fingers you will get instant reaction. Good for you!''

I can't begin to tell you how spot-on and motivating these are. Stress is definitely a factor now. Stress doesn't even begin to describe what I feel and my health is affected by it. I am tired, I have chest pain (there is nothing wrong with my heart- I had it checked), and I am tempted to eat foods that are not good for me. These are some of the ways my body reacts to stress. These horoscope messages are gentle reminders to take care of myself and keep practicing my yoga, to pray everyday, read inspiring material, and take time just for me. Am I concerned about my job stability right now? You better believe I am. I just lost my weekly paycheck. I am trying to survive on what I earn from writing articles and my nutritional consulting practice.  Times are hard but I keep plugging along, believing in my dream and working to make it happen.  I am not asking to earn millions of dollars. I just want to live comfortably, pay my rent and my bills and buy a new pair of shoes now and then. My true passion is to help and inspire others. I have the knowledge and the experience so there is no reason why I cannot make it happen. I am a professional and I have some big ideas. I am meeting others who are willing to help me get the word out. I've been introduced to different ideas and avenues and am taking advantage of those, too. It's hard work, though. And right now, with my life in such turmoil, I would love nothing more than for some really nice guy to kidnap and spoil me, even for just one night. I am not ashamed to admit I want and need a little wining and dining.

What am I really trying to say here?

 I know there a few people reading this who are very disappointed that I even look at this kind of stuff.  I don't allow horoscopes to govern my life, my actions or my moods (like my grandmother did).  If my horoscope said to sell all my wordly goods and join a convent, I wouldn't be so quick to heed that kind of message. If I had a burning passion since childhood to be a nun; I might consider it. 

Don't worry- I have absolutely no desire take a vow of chastity. Never have. Never will. :)

I do not believe that reading a little harmless horoscope (contrary to what I was taught as child) will plunge me into occultic practices or open the door to be posessed by an evil spirit. I don't believe I will become so addicted or obsessed that I will end up homeless because I spent all my money on The Pyschic Network. And in no way do I think God will shun me or punish me.  I have always had a heart for God and desire His love and His presence in my life. I try to make everything I say or do a reflection of those desires.

We are sent messages every day. They could come in the form of a horoscope, a scripture, a video, a post on Facebook, or even a blog. Why do I blog every day? It's a form of release and inspiration for me and if it helps to motivate or encourage just one person out there, it is so worth my time and effort. It's my version of a daily horoscope. The only difference is, rather than consult the stars, I draw it from my heart and soul. But, truth be told, ocassionally my writing is inspired by my horoscope.

I don't have plans to visit the psychic around the corner, have my palm read or schedule an appointment for a Tarot reading. I have no interest in that sort of stuff. I would rather let life unfold the way it should and meet every challenge as it comes.  As for the harmless, daily horoscopes, good or bad, keep 'em coming.  They are daily affirmations that I am on the right path.


And this is my Daily Cyn.....

What Do We Mean By Love?

"To love is the most important thing in life. But what do we mean by love? When you love someone because that person loves you in return, surely that is not love. To love is to have that extraordinary feeling of affection without asking anything in return. You may be very clever, you may pass all your examinations, get a doctorate and achieve a high position, but if you have not this sensitivity, this feeling of simple love, your heart will be empty and you will be miserable for the rest of your life."  - J. Krishnamurti



And this is my Daily Cyn.........

The Most Unappetizing Dish....

I've been served the most unappetizing dish of food! Just look at this: YUCK! It's bland, colorless and I have no idea what's in it. It looks like a mixture of mushy potatoes and some other unrecognizable ingredients floating in a disgusting liquid. There's some green in here but I am not sure if it's dried parsley or mold. I think it's parsley but regardless, I DON'T WANT TO EAT IT!

I don't recall ordering this dish and I most certainly would never cook something like this for myself or serve it to anyone I know.  This is a disaster, a nightmare, a tragedy.

Of course, you know by now,  this is just another one of my famous analogies--my way of  being cute, coy and slightly sarcastic.

This horrible looking dish of food typifies how I feel about what life has handed me right now.

I don't want it! SEND IT BACK!

Unfortunately, no matter how often I yell, scream, stomp my feet and attempt to return this dish to the horrible kitchen from whence it came, it keeps coming back. And it's not even served on fine china or a silver platter. I might be able to deal with that. At least I could admire the plate on which it has been delivered. But no!




I would much prefer something like this..........

It's simple, green and bursting with life. It's healthy, easy to digest and it will make me feel good when I eat it. This is the kind of food I want. This is what I am accustomed to eating and being served. This is what I like.



And even though I am not much of a sweet-eater, I would gladly welcome this instead........

Just look how pretty these are! I am sure they are delicious, too.







 I am being served slop in a bowl and no one is willing to trade with me or take it back.

I thought insulting the chef would work.  If I made him feel really awful and ashamed of himself,  he would certainly bring me something else. So I hurled insults, profanities and accusations. But those didn't work, either. He kept placing the same dish before me, insisting I eat it.

But he didn't say I couldn't improve, embellish, or change it around a bit..........

Hmmm......

Here's the thing about life. Sometimes, we are served something we don't want. No matter how often we try to reject it, return it or hand it over to someone else, it keeps appearing until we deal with it.

We are handed a great big dish of Karma and we will keep getting it until..........

Until what?

Until we figure out a way to make it better, tastier and perhaps even good enough to serve to others.

God, in His infinite wisdom, has served me this unappetizing dish. For most my life, He has given me nice things to eat and enjoy. It's been wonderful and I am a little spoiled as a result. I've been selfish. I've been greedy. I thought I was privileged and special because up until now, no real tragedy has touched my life. Don't get me wrong. I have had sadness, heart ache, pain and suffering. My life certainly has not been a bed of roses, that's for sure. I have walked through many fires but I've always managed to come out on the other side without really getting burned.  Most of the time, I didn't even like smoke.

Am I being punished?

At first that is exactly what I thought.  So I tried to correct every wrong and make recompense for all my awful deeds. That wasn't necessarily a bad thing to do. I felt better, but it didn't change anything. I am still being served this horrible meal..

So here I sit, at the table of life with this awful dish before me. I can't get rid of it. I can't send it back. I can't dispose of it. I must roll up my sleeves and figure out a way to deal with it.

How? Well, I am a cook, so let's see......

I can drain off most of that liquid. Add some fresh crushed tomatoes for color. Red is nice and appealing.

I think it needs a bit of seasoning: some fresh garlic, minced onion, a sprig or two of rosemary.

Perhaps add some green stuff: lots of fresh steamed spinach leaves. Oh yes.

And cooked beans...... that will add a nice touch.

It's looking better already.......

I'll toss in some cooked pasta-- vegetable pasta to add even more color. This will also help to absorb even more of the liquid.

Let it simmmer a bit. Stir. Taste. Hey, this isn't bad. In fact, it's pretty good.

I've just taken something really awful and made into something gorgeous and delicious.

Moral of the story:

Stop rejecting the bad. It's there for a reason. There's a lesson you need to learn.

That lesson is meant to share with others who have been served a similar dish.

What ever life hands you, try to make it good. No one can do it for you. You have to learn how to do it yourself.

Even the most unappealing, unappetizing dish can be transformed into something wonderful.

And this is my Daily Cyn.......

Show Me How You Play............

You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. ~ Plato

A guy once told me (when he was trying to win my heart), "Hold on, baby! You are in for the ride of your life!"

He told me exactly what I wanted to hear and so I waited. And waited....

That ride he spoke of never got off the ground!

There was one excuse after the next as to why. There were a few legitimate reasons, I suppose. Some of them really tugged at my heart-strings. But where's was his sense of adventure? That 'let's throw caution to the wind' attitude he led me to believe he had in the beginning? I wanted to see some action behind all that "come on, baby, let's go get what we want!" he kept talking about.

When it comes to friends, dating and relationships, I am looking for a play-mate. Someone with both feet on the ground but who is also adventurous, daring and fun.  I don't mind if they break a few rules. Or make up the rules as they go. I don't have to win. I just want to enjoy the game. And I want someone to enjoy it with me.

This guy knew that about me when we met. He talked a good talk and everything he said led me to believe I had met my match. Now here was a guy who proclaimed to be exciting and spontaneous- a real go-getter.  And he wanted a future. With me.  But my mama didn't raise no fool.  Before I was willing to lay all my cards out on the table, I knew I needed sit back and just observe him at play--figuratively and literally. I watched him play the game of life.  He did not play fair. He was a real sore loser. In fact, he didn't really want to play at all.
If you really want to know someone, watch them play!

Some people are expert conversationalists. They take our breath away with flowery, passionate speeches. They seduce us with promises they don't intend to keep. They exalt themselves and flatter us and we fall for it. We invest our lives, our assets and our love in nothing more than words before we even know who they really are.

Show me how you play and I will show you who you are.   

Everything you need to learn about a person: who they are, what they will do (or not do), and how they will treat you will be revealed in the way they play.

So...go to the playground, get out the board games, a deck of cards, a bat and a ball, or what ever you fancy and watch.....

What kinds of games does he like to play?


Is he willing to play the games you enjoy?

Does he play fair ?

Does he cheat ?

Will he only play games he knows he will win?

Does he make excuses or blame others when he doesn't win?

Is he a sore loser?

When things don't go his way, does threaten to take all his toys and go home?

Is he willing to show you how to play the game?



Does he let you win every once in awhile?

Is he happy when you win?

Is this someone you can play with for the rest of your life?

Plato sure said a mouthful.

And this is my Daily Cyn.......

















.

Upset the Apple Cart-- Ask Some Questions......

I was inspired by a post this morning by Naked Pastor. I love the messages he shares through his art.

Today he shared about QUESTIONS.

In a nutshell: "Take up your question and follow Me."

Check it out for yourself on his website. Naked Pastor





His post got to me thinking about questions-specifically- asking questions.

How often do we go without because we don't ask?

How many of us exist in a state of confusion because we lack the nerve or the confidence to ask a few questions?

Do we put our health, well-being, and even our own spirituality at risk or in the hands of others because we are afraid to question so-called authorities and those who claim to 'know better'?

I used to be that way. Part of it had to do with my upbringing. This is not going to be parent-bashing blog. My folks did the best they could with what they had at the time.

They raised me in the same fashion they were raised- to not ask questions.

Even at an early age,  I was an inquisitive, deep-thinker with a wild imagination. I needed to know: how, when, where, why. When I asked questions or dared to express a difference of opinion, rather than answer me or encourage me to broaden my horizons, my parents gave me a response from the following list of pat answers:

"Don't ask me why. It's because I said so."
":Do as I say, not as I do."
"Children are meant to be seen and not heard."
"Take my word for it."
"I don't care what you think."
"I said NO. End of story."
"You don't need to know."
"I'm the parent. That's why."

And.... the most frustrating response of all time:

"Stop asking! What are you writing a book?"

Truth be told, my dream as a child was to be writer.  Oh, how tempting it was answer back.
 "Yes, Mom. Dad. As a matter of fact, I am writing a book!"

But I knew better than to say that. :)

I don't know why my parents did this. Perhaps they didn't know the answers themselves. Maybe they believed it was for my own good. It's possible they thought if I respected authority and never asked questions, my life would be easier, manageable, successful and I would become a good, obedient, Christian wife some day.

I know it was not what my parents had planned for me, but I became a young woman with no mind of my own. I never asked questions and became an expert at keeping my inner voice stifled. I was obedient. I was a Stepford Wife. Okay, maybe not that bad. 

Deep within, I was in turmoil. The result: years of depression. All because I was afraid to ask. I didn't believe I deserved to ask for or about anything so I went on for years without answers, without love, security, peace, a clear path for my life, and without God. The questions I had practically drove me mad. The older I got, the more serious my questions became.

I am talking deep, ethical, spiritual, I-will-blow-the-lid-off-everything-if-I-ask kinds of questions. I knew I would be rejected, abandoned, ostracized, alone. I didn't want that to happen.

We are all familiar with the phrase, " Don't upset the apple cart." That was my motto.  I never wanted to inconvenience, upset or disappoint anyone, make waves, or get yelled at. I knew if I asked too many questions, especially selfish ones, it would upset the delicate balance of everything. Eventually the crying deep within my soul became so loud I could not ignore it.

I stood before the proverbial cart wondering what would happen if I rearranged or removed a few of those apples.

In other words, ask some questions...............

Well, of course the obvious occurred. There was an avalanche of apples everywhere. The beauty of it was this: each apple represented a question. I was now responsible to sort through all that fruit to find my answers. I carefully inspected each piece, asking myself: Do I need this? Do I want this? Can I use it? Can someone else use it? Can this be transformed into something else? Can this be sliced, diced, mashed or mixed with anything else to make it better? Will this help me, heal me, or make me sick?

Some apples were so badly bruised I had no choice but to discard them. Others were salvageable, so I kept those.  I tasted a few. They were delicious and sweet.  Some of the apples were rotten, worm-eaten, or just plain tasteless. I tossed those. Then I restocked my cart exactly the way I wanted it and pushed it where I wanted to go. 

My apple cart analogy might seem silly but it's the only way I know how to explain it.

Here's what happened when I started asking questions: I found answers!

Some of the answers I discovered upset the apple carts of others. I lost friends. I found new friends. I lost my fear. I found my voice. I found peace, love, joy, and God.

And I haven't stopped asking questions since......

I question the doctor who insists I need a certain medication or surgery. Why do I need it? What are the side-effects? What do you gain by prescribing this to me? How will this change my life? Is there anything I can do instead of taking this medication or submitting to surgery?

I question the people who tell me I need a husband. Why should I have a husband? Will having a husband make me happier, more secure, or more settled than I already am? Would it make you feel better I had a husband?

I question those who tell me I should attend church regularly. Does God live in church? Does it mean I don't love God if I don't go to church? Will God only hear my prayers in church? Can't I meet with God in my living room, at the beach, in the woods? Does God love me any less if I don't attend church?

I question those who claim to love and serve God, yet hate homosexuals....... 

GASP! 

I don't only rely on people for answers to my questions.  I pray, I read, study, research. I turn over every stone until I am satisfied with the answers--until they sit right in my body, mind and spirit.  I keep questioning until I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, it is the right answer for me.

Ask questions.....that's the first step in discovering the answers. 

Even it means upsetting the whole apple cart.

The worst that will happen: you will have to pick up all the apples, pick and choose the ones you wish to keep, and put the apples back- the way YOU want them.

Jesus said, "Ask and you shall receive."

What will you receive? The answers!

Words of wisdom that are as true today as they were thousands of years ago.

And this is my Daily Cyn......