When We Feel We Have The Least Power

My dad dancing with his great-grandaughter, Gabriella

"The times in our lives in which we feel that we have the least power are actually the times when we have the most. Those are the times in which we affirm or redefine who we are, what we believe, and make choices that can impact ourselves and those we encounter for a lifetime." -Gail Pursell Elliott


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

Your Wilderness Self......

So........this is going to be my home for the next few days! That's right. The city girl is going camping! If you really knew me, you would be rolling on the floor with laughter right about now.

I have to admit, we're really not roughing it this weekend. We are pitching a tent (I got the lingo down pat)  at an actual campsite. There will be other people around and although I joke about bears (no joking matter for those who camp in the real wilderness), I think our biggest threat will be a few curious raccoons.

We just need to be careful about leaving any garbage around. We learned that lesson last summer when we had encountered a late night visitor scrounging for left-overs.

Truth be told, I have gone camping in the wilderness. I much prefer a populated site with a bathroom. This weekend, the latrine is within walking distance. A very short walking distance. It's clean, it has electricity and hot showers.

After sleeping in the dirt all night, you really do want to rinse off.



I didn't discover camping (or that I actually liked it) until much later in life. My parents were never the camping types but I had friends that loved it and I was often invited as a teenager. I always declined. If there wasn't an outlet in which to plug in my industrial strength blow dryer, I wasn't going!  Looking back now, I think how sad that was. Vanity kept me from enjoying some fun and adventurous times.

Now that I am approaching fifty, I really don't give a crap! If you don't like how I look, that's your problem, not mine! I do plan on showering this weekend but my hair will be pulled up in a big clip and I won't be wearing a stitch of makeup.  I tossed a few tee shirts, some shorts and a sweater in a bag and I am ready to go!

It's gonna be the care-free, relaxed Cynthia for the next few days. I am going to kick back, forget about work, forget about family and just chill. Sit around the campfire, giggle with the girls, scare the living day-lights out of others after dark! And.....I won't worry about what I eat. Of course, I am bringing my veggie burgers, fruit and plenty of water along, but if someone brings Doritos, I am eating them! Maybe the whole bag. Not in one sitting but over the course of the weekend. Why not?  A little bit of junk food isn't going to kill me and I certainly won't get fat from a few days of indulging. I am usually pretty strict about what I eat, but the Wilderness Cynthia is just gonna let go for awhile and enjoy!

Give yourself permission to let go once in awhile.  Sometimes life is just too complicated with all its rules, regulations and boundaries. It's okay to cross over ocassionally. I don't know about you, but I put very heavy demands upon myself. In order to keep my sanity, I need to throw caution to the wind every now and then. This doesn't make me a bad person. It makes me human, honest and real.

Discover your Wilderness Self and let her (or him) rip! Forget about what other people think and just have fun. Honestly, people don't really care. They just want you to have fun. Stop taking yourself so seriously and let it all go.

Life is tough enough but ocassionally it hands us an opportunity to really enjoy it! Unless you are willing to forget yourself for awhile, those special times will never be as enjoyable.

I am sure I will have lots to share when I return from my camping adventure this weekend. I am also going to be sharing more about how to discover your Wilderness Self. Stay tuned.

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

Daily Double- Biblical Wisdom for the Single Girl

A friend sent this to me today and I thought it was just hysterical!

Biblical Wisdom for the Single Girl

Ruth patiently waited for her mate Boaz.  While waiting YOUR Boaz, don't settle for ANY of his relatives: Broke-az, Po-az, Lyin-az, Cheatin-az, Dumb-az, Lockedup-az, Lazy-az, Married-az, and especially his third cousin, Beatinyo-az!

If you've read never Ruth's love story, it's in the bible. She was a remarkable woman. So remarkable, in fact, she has her own book- The Book of Ruth- in the Old Testament!

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

Did You Wind Up With a Boring, Miserable Life?

If you wind up with a boring, miserable life because you listened to your mom, your dad, your teacher, your priest or some guy on TV telling you what to do, then YOU DESERVE IT...... -Frank Zappa

Okay. That quote might be a bit harsh, but it is kinda true! I am not here to slap you around or make you feel badly about yourself. I promise, I have something good to say. Keep reading............

Everyone offers advice. Folks with good intentions always try to point us in the right direction. That's all well and fine. We should seek the counsel of wise people- those with a bit more experience under their belt.

There are times I think I should have listened to my father when I was younger, but I didn't. He wanted me to go to college, study Theology, fall in love with a minister and live happily ever after.  Instead, I side-stepped school, landed a great job and married a musician! I eventually did go to college. I was thirty-five years old. I juggled school, studying, exams, a full-time job, a child, a demanding husband, shopping, cooking, cleaning. It wasn't easy but I was determined and I did it. It certainly would have been a whole lot easier if I had done it straight out of high school- Dad's way!

However, I try to look at this way. Who knows where I would be now if I listened to Dad? Perhaps I would be stuck in a career I despise. I wouldn't have married the man I did.  My marriage didn't last but I have a beautiful, wonderful son as a result of that union. If I married someone else, I would have a different kid! I love my boy, exactly as he is. He is who he is because of my ex-husband and me.

If I had listened to my dad, I wouldn't have a career in healing and nutrition. I probably wouldn't have met the people who inspired my interest in those fields to begin with. And I know for a fact, I NEVER would've explored alternative methods of healing or spirituality. Most likely I would be a missionary or a minister's wife somewhere. Maybe I would be happy. Maybe not. I don't believe that was ever the plan for me. That was my father's plan and dream for me. Everyone I knew believed that was the life for me. Deep inside, I always had a longing for something different. If I continued to ignore those longings and did what everyone else told me I should do, I would probably be so miserable now. I have disappointed many with my life choices, and I definitely took the hard road now and then, but I have peace. I wouldn't trade that for anything.

I am far from miserable. My life is anything but boring. It is wonderful, exciting and full. Every day I meet new and interesting people. I have the privilege of helping others achieve their hopes, dreams and goals. I have a good life and it gets better every day! The unique talents and gifts that other people recognized in me when I was younger- I am still using them. I would never want to waste what God gave me. I just refuse to allow anyone to squeeze me into one of their molds.  I found one on my own that is the perfect fit.

Your life is yours! Live it.  Ask for advice from others but ultimately, the decision needs to be yours and yours alone.  It took me years to get to the place I am now. I probably did it the hard way but I would never trade my experiences, the wonderful people I've met, or the life lessons I've learned along the way. They make me who I am and although there is always room for improvement, I like who I am.

The good news is: you always have an opportunity to change your life. You can decide today to go in a totally different direction.  As long as you are alive, you can do anything you want! It's never too late.

The thing about people is: most of them mean well. My dad loves me and he had a vision for the perfect life for his daughter. But it's not what I wanted. I am happy to say, although he made suggestions and sometimes even tried discourage me, eventually I had his support in all the choices I made for my life- the good and the bad ones. If you allow someone to discourage you enough to abandon your hopes, goals and dreams and you do it their way instead,  you will be bored and miserable. And yes, you deserve it! Sorry......

If you are miserable and bored with your life- mix up a little.  Shift things around.  Try something new. And if the road you are on now is what someone else chose for you and you are unhappy- forgive them for steering you in the wrong direction (and forgive yourself for listening) and then.....simply change lanes!

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

How's Your Deserve Level- Part II

Yesterday, I wrote about deserve levels. It all started with a chat with a client about why she keeps choosing the wrong men.  She has the perfect partner in mind but always seems to attract the ones that are nothing like her ideal. She becomes involved regardless and always ends up with nothing but heartache and disappointment. 

Where is her dream man?


We determined that the reason why she doesn't have her dream man yet and keeps settling for less than what she really wants is because her deserve level is so low.  She dreams about her perfect mate but when it comes down to it, she doesn't actually believe she deserves him. This is why she always settles and ultimately ends up getting hurt.

Everyone has big dreams: a dream partner, a dream job, a dream company, a dream home, a dream life. Not everyone makes these dreams come true. What is the difference between those who do and those who don't. BELIEF.

You must actually believe you deserve what you dream about in order to make it happen!

Think of people you know who are miserable, stuck in dead-end jobs or in unsatisfying relationships. They might complain about their situation but yet it never seems to change. Usually, these types of people  constantly complain. They might say they want or dream of something different, but nothing ever changes. The truth is they get exactly what they believe they deserve. What they do not realize is they are attracting negative, less than satisfying people and things and will keep doing so until they honestly and truly believe they deserve better.

I like to call your belief or lack of belief in accomplishing hopes, dreams and goals your deserve level.....

So how is your deserve level?  High or low? Ask yourself these questions:

1.  Do you constantly attract negative people (lovers, friends, co-workers that seem to gravitate toward you?)

2.  Do you have an idea of your perfect mate yet still keep falling for the ones who are nothing like your ideal?

3.  Are you stuck in a situation where you are miserable, but never take steps to improve it or leave?

4.  Do you feel like you always have to settle? That something is better than nothing?

These could be signals of a low deserve level.

Why is it low? 

Usually, it begins in childhood.  Attitudes and opinions of ourselves are formed at a very early age. Through experiences and interactions with other people, especially family members, we develop an internal picture of ourselves and place a value on it. Parental attitudes and behavior heavily influence our deserve levels. Perhaps you were not encouraged to try new things or praised for your efforts.  Were you always compared to to siblings or other children?  You might have been wrongly or brutally punished or abused. Your self -esteem and your deserve level suffer and you begin to believe you are not good enough.  If you think you are not good enough, then why would you deserve anything good?

Not every child who grows up this way is destined to have a low deserve level. Some are fortunate enough find positive role models later on in life. Others discover talents, skills or unique gifts. This helps to develop strong self esteem and belief in themselves. And some children who are raised in wonderful, encouraging environments can become adults who believe they don't deserve anything good. Experiences, peer pressure, success and failure, tragic events and abusive relationships can all influence our deserve levels. 

How to improve your deserve level...........

1. Ask for help. There could be some deep-rooted emotional reasons why your deserve level is lower than it should be. You might need to speak to a therapist or hire a life coach to help overcome these issues. Talk with your closest friends, loved ones, or people you trust. Ask them why they think you are this way. What they have to say might surprise you. Ask them to point out your good qualities and to remind you why you do deserve everything you want, as well.

2.  Forgive. Harboring ill feelings toward anyone you think might be responsible for your low deserve level is only hurting you. Unforgiveness takes up your energy and hinders you from moving on. Forgive and release that person completely.

3.  Stop feeling sorry for yourself. You might not have what you want yet, but self-pity parties never helped anyone. Same with complaining. STOP!

4.  Do not envy those making their dreams come true. Make friends with them instead. The best way to change your way of thinking or believing is to hang with those who think and believe differently than you do.

5.  Make a list. I am a big fan of list making. Write down what you want or where you want to be. Go into detail:  the job you want, the salary you want, the type of mate you desire, the dream house you wish to live in. Whatever you dream of, whatever situations you want to change, WRITE IT ALL DOWN. Then, write down all the reasons why you deserve to have these things. Next, list the steps you need to take to make it happen.  Put the list where you can see it every day!

6.  Take action. Begin taking steps to make your dreams come true. If you hate your job, look for a better one. Go back to school or get the training you need. If you dream of owning your own home, you might need to temporarily move to a cheaper apartment or live with your folks for awhile to save money. These might not be the best of circumstances but they are only temporary. They are only stepping stones bringing closer to your dreams. Sheer belief won't make anything happen without action.

Belief is what inspires you to finally take action and do what it takes to achieve your dreams.

7. If at first you don't succeed....keep trying. Miracles do not happen overnight. You might not get the particular job you wanted but that doesn't mean there isn't a better one around the corner. Don't give up!

8. Disappointment is part of life. If something does not work out, don't despair.  Tell yourself that particular company, that friend, or guy or girl simply did not deserve you! .

9.  Never, ever settle! Something isn't always better than nothing. Raise your standards. Wait, hope and believe for the best.

10. Get rid of the notion that it's wrong, selfish, self-centered or sinful to believe you deserve the best.

Once your deserve level improves, your life will begin to fall into place. You will being to attract the good things, the right people and wonderful opportunities. Your dreams will come true, because you believe you deserve them!

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

How's Your Deserve Level?

Today I had another one of those long, intense Face Book chats. As I sat sipping coffee and checking to see what was going on the world,  a client messaged me the moment I logged on.

"Why do I always choose the wrong guys?"



Yep. That's what she typed. No good morning.  No how are you? No greeting whatsoever. JUST THAT. At six-thirty in the morning. I had barely wiped the sleep from my eyes and here she was- demanding an answer.

Thankfully, I am the most productive and clear-thinking first thing in the morning or I would have been in big trouble. But I am a Nutritional Consultant and Lifestyle Coach, not a Relationship Coach! Why does everyone keep asking me about relationships lately? I knew I was going to need more than one cup of coffee to get through this conversation.

"Let me rephrase your question slightly," I typed back. "Why do you think THEY choose YOU?"

A hour and several cups of coffee later, I signed off, content that we each had actually learned something.

This woman knows what she wants. She dreams about the perfect guy. She can describe him to a 'T'. Come on, who doesn't imagine their perfect mate? But for some strange reason, she keeps getting involved with men who are nothing like her dream guy and keeps getting hurt. I feel bad for her. She seems to be stuck. Relationships seem to be one of many areas where she just can't get ahead. I want to help her become UN-stuck.

Deserve level. That's it, in a nut shell. In other words, we have and we get exactly what we think we deserve.

Your perfect dream job, your dream mate, a dream vacation, your dream body, your dream home- it's wonderful to dream. Everybody does it. Here's my question: if our dreams are so grand and wonderful, why do we settle for less than our dreams?

Because we don't believe we actually deserve those things we dream about.

Think about the people you know who are successful, living a good life, work at a career they love, or have terrific partners that shower them with love and affection. You can have everything they have and more. The only difference between you and them is-- they believe they deserve it and you don't.

How about your girlfriend who has a wonderful guy that spoils her with romantic dinners, flowers, jewelry. Your boyfriend's idea of a romantic evening is sharing a bucket of chicken in front of TV. You're lucky to get a card on special occasions let alone flowers or jewelry. It doesn't mean he loves you less than your girlfriend's guy loves her. It just means she KNOWS she deserves better,  therefore she gets what she deserves!

Ever date a guy who never did nice things for you but later you find out he does all that and more for his new girlfriend? Why is this? Did he change? Nope. Same guy with a new girl who believes she deserves it!

Whether we like it or not, we send out signals. These signals attract people and things into our lives. Yes, I know bad things happen to good people- terrible things they never deserve. We have no control over those types of tragic things.  This not about that.  This is about showing the world what you believe you deserve. You can control that!

Perhaps you are stuck in a job you don't like. You work incredibly long hours, your boss is offensive and you barely earn enough money to survive. You've put up with it for years. "I hate my job," you say. " I don't deserve to be treated this way!" Really? If you honesty believe you don't deserve to be treated this way  then why are you still reporting daily to a job you despise?  If you want a job you enjoy with acceptable hours, a kinder boss and better pay, you better start believing you deserve it! And, start showing the right people how much you deserve it! A company you despise working for could become one you love just because your deserve level has changed. Employers don't always promote, reward and compensate those who deserve it but they will certainly take care of the ones who refuse to settle for anything less.

Am I making any sense at all?

My Face Book client has a picture in her mind of the ultimate dream guy. He sounds wonderful. I want her to meet him. Heck, I want to meet him! The only reason why she doesn't have him yet is because she doesn't believe she deserves him! After an hour of trying to explain this to her, she finally got it! She can't keep blaming it on the wrong guy at the wrong time in the wrong place. That stuff really doesn't matter at all. She just needs to work on her deserve level.

We have the career, the relationship, the marriage, the life we believe deserve. We cannot change anything until we believe we deserve better!

Tomorrow I will share more about deserve levels and how to improve them so we can change our lives!

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

Overcoming Diabetes in Thirty Days

Today, I want to talk a little about Diabetes. We all know what it is and we know it is growing epidemic in our nation. Here's a little info:

The two major forms of diabetes are TYPE 1 and TYPE 2. Type 1, formerly called juvenile onset diabetes occurs typically before the age of 20. Type 1 diabetes occurs in about 10-15 percent of all the diabetics in the country.



The most common type of diabetes is what we call type 2, formerly called adult onset. Type 2 diabetics are usually heavy, usually diagnosed after the age of 35. The cause of type 2 diabetes is quite different from type 1. The cause of type 2 diabetes is primarily a complicated medical condition called 'insulin resistance.' In fact, in the early stages of type 2 diabetes, there's plenty of insulin around, it just doesn't work well. Type 2 diabetes accounts for approximately 85 to 90 percent of all the diabetics in the country. Type 2 diabetes runs very strongly from generation to generation and it can be prevented if recognized at an early stage.

Here's the bad news: If type 2 diabetes runs in your family, chances are you are gonna get it, too. Especially if you live the typical American lifestyle, exist on the typical American diet and do NOTHING to prevent it. My mother has it. It was inevitable. She has been overweight for years, eats a very poor diet (she loves her fast foods, sweets and chocolate), and never exercises. It has gotten so out of hand that now she must inject herself with insulin every day. Right before dinner, she escapes into another room to 'shoot up'. We joke about it but it really is no laughing matter. It makes me sad because it could have been prevented and it quite possibly corrected with changes to her diet and lifestyle: changes she was not willing to make. Now diabetes and the dangers and risks associated with it rule her life. She is no longer in control. The diabetes is.....



My doctor tells me that eventually I should consider diabetes medication- for prevention. He believes I am destined to suffer from this disease because it runs in my family.  He is looking at my complete family history: heart disease, high cholesterol, hypertension, obesity- all contributing factors to diabetes. My heart is healthy, my cholesterol is fine, my blood pressure is actually lower than most and I am far from obese! My blood sugar levels do tend to dip a bit low but only if I go long periods of time without eating. Taking a pill is not the solution. The solution is:

I NEED TO EAT! 



Why on earth would I want to take something just in case I get something? Why would I consider introducing my body to a medication with side effects (upset stomach, vomiting, drowsiness, muscle aches and pains) and potential dangers that are more life threatening than the actual disease?


I am not obese now, but if I take the medication, chances are I will be. Weight-gain is a side-effect. Does this make sense to you?

If by chance I do happen to contract diabetes (and I will totally shocked if I do), I will re-adjust my diet before anything else. I will make changes that are more radical than I have already made. I currently eat a plant based diet, avoid packaged processed foods, white sugar, white flour. I rarely drink alcohol, never eat sweets. I believe with all my heart that my diet is the major reason why, at forty-nine years of age, I am in great health. I am the healthiest member of my family. I look good, I feel good and I have the energy of a teenager. I must be doing something right! These are the reasons I became a nutrutional consultant: to help others become the healthiest they can be- naturally.

I would never consider taking meds when I know there are alternatives out there. This doesn't mean I am always anti-medication. I just believe it should be used only as a last resort.






Do not stop taking insulin or medication if you are currently using these methods to control your diabetes OR if your doctor has told you they are a matter of life and death. If your blood sugar levels fluctuate dangerously high and low, it can be life threatening.  However, if your doctor suggests you consider taking meds because you are at risk of diabetes or show early warning signs of this disease, ask him for some time to work on it yourself by changing your diet and lifestyle first. If he is not in agreement, find a new doctor. It's your body, NOT his. You have every right to take matters into your own hands and to heal yourself before submitting to his methods.

Lifestyle changes can work miracles. I've seen it with my own eyes. I have experienced it in my own life. Yes, you might have to say no to that piece of pie or boxed mac and cheese. You might need to stop eating meat and include more fruits and veggies in your diet.  Instead of sleeping in, you'll be up early every morning and walking on the treadmill. Seltzer with lime might become your drink of choice instead of vodka or scotch. Quite possibly, for the rest of your life.  I never said it will be easy, but these changes can help prevent and possibly cure any disease or illness, not just diabetes. I am sad to say, in most cases, people opt for the easier way out- they swallow the pill.

Don't just listen to me. I found this video this morning and I want to share it with you. It's about six people who overcame diabetes in thirty days, simply by changing to a raw, vegan diet. This is a radical change-- but it works and it's worth a look. Share it with your doctor and see if this is an option for you. Show it to your family, friends, anyone you know who suffering with diabetes or is potentially at risk.

Simply Raw- Overcoming Diabetes in 30 Days

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