We Are All Healers.............

For the past several months, I have been spending three hours of my precious time every Wednesday night in a doctor's office. For anyone who really knows me, you know I have very little patience for this sort of thing and can think of better ways to spend my time and my hard-earned money.  I don't even really like doctors and try to avoid them at all costs.  There comes a time in all our lives that we must submit to the "powers to be", suck it up and just get through it.  That's what I am doing now.  This is not a life-threatening situation (but it would have become one had I continued to ignore the warning signs). 

To say I was dragged to this place kicking and screaming is understatement.  I did not want to be here. I cried, I yelled, I stomped my feet.  I pulled out my checkbook and asked " How much do you want? I will give you everything I have if you just let me out of here!" Nothing worked. Eventually, I accepted defeat and submitted. I changed my attitude and began to look at everything differently. I could make this a good experience or a bad one.  My choice. Now I go every Wednesday expecting to give and to receive.  In retrospect, this is the best thing that has ever happened to me. Why? I have met some truly beautiful people who are all struggling to find the same things I am- hope, peace, and healing.  We are connected by one common thread and we are healing each other.

It's amusing, really. This major inconvenience has become an opportunity to share my experiences and my passion for health and healing. I talk to every single person there. The doctor I see has a list of questions about food, nutrition and weight loss to ask me every Wednesday. My ideas, thoughts and suggestions are things he has never heard before. He applies my tips and advice to his own life and shares them with his other patients in an effort to help them heal. Some people think I am crazy to give away this information for free.  I should be charging him. After all, he is charging me a fee, isn't he?  Quite a large fee, in fact, that I am paying in cash because my insurance will not cover it.  I don't see it that way.  If something I share helps just one person, there is no price I can ever put on that. You can't put a price on healing.  I believe with all my heart that whatever I put out there will come back to me in some way, shape or form.  What I will receive is my own healing.

I am a healer. When I say that, I don't mean the type of healer who lays hands on people and casts out sickness and disease. I wish sometimes, I did have that gift.  I would travel the world making sick people well--no charge. We are all healers, every single one of us.  We all have something deep down inside.  Some of us know this, others live an entire life-time and never realize it.   Those are the ones I want to reach--the ones who don't know.

We all have the gift and ability to heal. We all have something to give. It can be a smile, a kind word, a helping hand, information, or an area of expertise that we can share with someone else. Sometimes, the most insignificant, utterly ridiculous thing is pure healing to someone else. This reality is what keeps me going.  It is what inspires me to keep sharing, writing, blogging, teaching, learning, trying, failing, and trying again.  This is why I am up at 4:30AM every morning, searching for encouraging, positive, and funny comments to post on Facebook for others to read.  If something I share touches or helps just one person or puts a smile on their face, I have done my job.

You can continue to muddle through life wondering about your true purpose and if you really have one. You have one and it is very simple. You are a healer. Right now. No special training or Ph.D required.   Just use the gifts you have and be an inspiration to everyone you come in contact with.

I wish you all a very happy, healthy, prosperous New Year!

And this is my Daily Cyn...........

Winter Survival Essentials

Yes.....winter is here. With a bit of a vegence.  Here in New York, it has been unseasonably cold for this time of year with temperatures of 19 degrees and colder. We were just hit with a blizzard that is taking days to recover and clean up from. The LIRR was suspended and still not running on or even close to schedule, cars are abandoned on major highways and side-streets, people have been trying to stay warm without heat or electricity for days.  It's a nightmare for some people but eventually, it will all be cleaned up, melted, and forgotten until the next snow storm.

Depsite the cold, despite the snow, ice, and slippery conditions, life goes on.  We must go to work, to the store, drive our cars, and stay warm.  I commute daily for work and like thousands of other people, must stand outside in the elements for long periods of time waiting for a train that is always late, regardless of whether we are in the midst of snow storm or if the sun is shining brightly. Freezing does not even describe it.  Ten minutes out there feels like hours when your teeth are shattering and your knees are knocking in the bitter cold. The cold gets right into your bones and it takes forever to get warm.  It is exhausting. 

Regardless of how you get to work or even if you are lucky enough to stay home and only venture out once a week to get your grocery shopping done; you need some Winter Survival Essentials.  These are "must-haves" as far as I am concerned and will help to keep you warm inside and out as you brave the frigid temperatures.

A Big Puffy Coat

Toss vanity and a sleek, slim look to the winter wind, ladies and gentlemen.  I sadly abandoned my long, gorgeous, Banana Republic military-style coat for one of these ridiculous looking, artificial-down-filled  puffy coats. Why?  My puffy coat is the most amazing garment I have ever owned.  It blocks the 50mph winds, is waterproof, and has an enormous hood. Remember the movie Hunt for Red October? When I pull that hood up over my head I look just like a big black submarine with a periscope--a periscope trimmed in faux fur! I shiver as I see young girls standing on the train platform dressed in tiny little light-weight coats that don't even cover their equally tiny little hineys. Yes, they look good, but at what price? They are so frozen, they can barely move.  I don't care that I resemble a big fat tick in my huge puffy coat.  I am so toasty; I could stand outside for hours. A fashion tip-- buy it in black.  Black is slimming.  This coat in white is gorgeous but unless you really don't mind looking just like the Michelin Tire Man, say yes to the black.

A Scarf as long as a Cobra Snake
Find a long, warm scarf you can wrap around your neck at least ten times.  If you can pull it over your head and wrap around your neck, even better. Use it as a face mask to keep your mouth from freezing shut (a tragedy for a non-stop talker like me).  I just know people are profiling me as I walk down the street, completely covered in black, my eyes the only visible feature. I don't care. I am warm!

Hand Warmers

Little disposable packets of pure ecstacy! These are the best little things I have ever discovered.  Skiiers use them to keep hands and feet warm for hours.  I buy these by the case and stuff them in my pockets, my gloves, my boots, and in between layers of sweaters.  They last for 8 hours or more.  Take them everywhere with you.  Keep them in the glove box of your car, too.  You never know when you are going to need them.


Faux-Shearling Boots

I hate that I can't wear my sexy heels in this kind of weather but I really don't enjoy slipping and sliding down the train platform steps and certainly don't want to risk twisting an ankle while dashing across a patch of ice. Warm, sensible boots are a must for this type of weather.  Forget about glamour-- think comfort and warmth. Pack your heels in your tote-bag if you must. I am a vegan and will not wear anything from an animal so these boots are absolutely perfect. Slip a handwarmer in each boot, and your feet will be snug and toasty for hours.




Good Skin Care and Body Cream
Guy and girls-you must protect your skin in this rough weather. Lather on the cream. The richer and more emollient, the better.  It will protect your delicate face, hands and body   Pay special attention to your face. The wind burns and a good skin cream will protect it from chapping, flaking, and drying out.  Take care of your skin religiously or you will look like old leather catcher's mitt come spring-time. Don't forget your lips, too. Use a good lip-balm.  Burt Bee's makes a great one.  Put in on everytime you go outside and reapply it often.

A Blanket in Your Car 
When I bought my first car, my father told me to keep a blanket in the trunk at all times.  This was the best advice he ever gave me. In the winter, cars always break down.  Batteries die.  We get stuck in snowdrifts.  Go put a blanket in your car right NOW!! The next time you are stranded without heat, you will thank me. And if you have those handwarmers in your glove box, you can wait for hours to be rescued without freezing to death. And....for those impromtu trips to beach in the summer, you will always have something to lay on. :)

A Warm Body to Snuggle with at Home
Always make time to snuggle up with your sweetie, your dog, or your cat.  Nothing will ever keep you warmer than the comfort of someone you love and who loves you back. A warm heart will keep you going even in the worst weather conditions. 

I wish you love and warmth this season. 

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

New Year's Revolutions

2011 is just a few days away. How quickly this year flew by. 2010 was a year of mixed emotions for me.  I experienced failure, success, personal tragedy, and victory.  I lost a few friends and made some new friends.  I spent much needed time by myself, figuring out what I want for my life, and learned to be content with staying home once in awhile rather than always being on the run. I moved my private practice to a new office, rekindled my love of writing, discovered the art of blogging, and found a true avenue of self-expression.  All in all, it has been a very good year.

I have no resolutions for the coming New Year. I prefer New Years Revolutions! As a nutritional and life consultant, I am revolting against the lies that we are spoon-fed in this country about true beauty, self-esteem, health, and weight-loss. This is not just for women--it is for men, as well.

I revolt against:
1. the lie that we are not good enough just the way we are
2. Quick Fix Weight-loss Schemes
3. Starvation
4.  Countless hours spent at the gym
5.  Deprivation
6.  the ultimate goal of fitting into a size 0
7.  the lie that we can never be too rich or too thin
8.  Tasteless, unhealthy, fat-free food
9.  the belief that doctors are always right
10. the idea that we once we make our bed, we must lie in it
11. spending ridiculous amounts of money on fad diets
12. the idea that combining or avoiding certain foods will miraculously result in weight-loss
13. diet pills, appetite suppressants, and carb-blockers
14. Hollywood setting the stardard
15.  that every man wants a Victoria's Secret model
16.  that every woman needs a man with a body like David Beckham
17. Breakfast and lunch from a can and then a sensible dinner
18. the lie that once you lose all your weight, you will be happy, find true love, and have the life you want
19. the lie that beauty can be found in a jar of $300 face cream or at the hands of a plastic surgeon
20. the idea that carbs, sugar, and salt are the enemy

My vision, my goal, my hope, is that we will all enter 2011 with a new attitude toward health, healing, happiness, and life.  I pray that we finally accept and love ourselves the way we are,  improve that which we are able to improve, make peace with the things we cannot change, and learn to work with what we've got!

I am here to help.  I am available to be your guide, your consultant, your cheer-leader, and your biggest fan.  Call me, write me, email me, Facebook me!

Wishing you all a Happy, Healthy, Productive, and Prosperous New Year!!

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


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A Tribute to Pets

I often wonder how boring my life would be without my crazy little cat, Sambo.  He has been my companion for about two years now.  Yes, I complain now and then about him.  He gets into all kinds of trouble, makes a mess, and I am forever tripping over his toys in the middle of the night.

I have been living alone for a few years now. My son is grown and on his own, I have no husband or live-in partner.  I suffered from empty-nest syndrome for quite some time.  I hated coming home to an empty house so I would stay out--ALL the time.  I would go to my job earlier than I actually needed to, stay at the office later than everyone else, and then stop on the way home and shop, visit friends, or hang at the local bar until I was so exhausted I would come home and fall into bed and pass out until morning.  I eventually realized how unhealthy this was for me.  I needed to rest, eat good, home-cooked meals, and just stay home once in awhile. Not to mention, I was spending so much money and accumulating all this stuff from hours spent at the shopping mall. I needed a reason to come home at night.  I wasn't about to share my home with a room-mate ( I like my privacy) or have a man move in (I don't want to be controlled, owned,  forced to surrender my TV remote, or HAVE to come home and cook and clean for anyone).  Someone suggested I get a dog but I just don't have time for a dog. Dogs need to be walked at certain times every day and demand a certain amount of attention that I just can't give.  I spend too many hours away from home and it wouldn't be fair to the dog.

Sambo was a friendly, black, ball of fur who won my heart in a matter of moments.  He was in need of love and because I couldn't bear the thought of him possibly being homeless, I took him in.  He made himself at home in my place in about an hour, taking over my spot on the couch and stealing my pillow from me in the middle of the night.  He sprawled all over my white chairs, completely covering them with little black hairs.  I am forever walking around with a lint brush. He has more toys than a young child and they are scattered all over the house. He jumps up on counters no matter how often I scold him, attempts to take the food right off my plate while I am eating, and tracks litter all through the house.  I can never leave food out for more than a minute or a dish in the sink. He comes running the minute I open the fridge or if he hears me programming the microwave. I have no need for an alarm clock.  At 5AM every morning he wakes me by wacking me in the face with his paw because he wants breakfast.  We have our little rituals. He eats while the coffee brews and then sits in my lap as I sip my coffee in the morning. Like clockwork every night at 9PM he joins me on the couch and demands love, hugs, and kisses. He's a creature of habit and a bit of pain-in-the-neck, but I love every minute of it.  He gives me a reason to come home every evening, is always happy to see me, has specific times he wants and needs love and attention, and then he just leaves me alone to do what I want to do.  He's the perfect mate.

You might think I am just a little crazy going on and on about my cat.  I have always been more of dog lover and never really had much use for cats but in all honesty, Sambo has been my salvation in many ways.  This is not the first time a cat has saved me.  Many years ago, I was suffering from major depression.  I was under a doctor's care and had lost all hope and my will to live. A neighbor knocked at my door one morning with a tiny cat in her arms. She told me this cat was wandering the neighborhood and needed a home. The minute that sweet little cat's eyes met mine, she leapt into my arms. I gave her a home and she became my companion for years. She never left my side and contributed greatly to my healing and my journey back to wellness. I wept for months when I left my husband years later and could not take her with me. 

I am an animal lover and always have been. I can't imagine my life without Sambo. We are the perfect pair and I need him as much as he needs me.  If you don't have a pet, I highly recommend you get one.  If you do have one, take a minute and give your cat or dog an extra hug, a belly rub or a treat today. They are wonderful companions. They love us unconditionally. They seem to sense when we are happy or sad and are always there when we need them.  As humans, we like to think we have rescued them when it's really the reverse.  They rescue us and fill our lives with joy and laughter. We can scold them, ignore them, even mistreat them, but they always love us and desire our company and our touch. 

This week, we mourn the loss of Benny, the most wonderful dog in the world.  Benny was my brother, Joe's, companion for years. In his lonely hours, Benny was there.  I know there were times that Benny was my brother's only friend.  Benny needed to be loved, fed, and cared for.  My brother took on this responsibility and no matter how tough it got, Joe cared for him.  In exchange, Benny gave Joe his unconditional love. 

The photo I posted here is of Benny and Joe.  I am thankful I had the opportunity to get to know Benny and spend time with him. He truly was a wonderful and amazing creature and now he is in a place where he can run free forever, a place without pain or suffering. 

We love you, Benny. Thank you for being a wonderful companion and the joy you brought to my brother's life. We'll see you soon...........

And this is my Daily Cyn.....

Merry Christmas

When my brother, Joe and I were little, our mom would take us to Swezey's Department store right before Christmas. We would walk through a magnificent indoor Winter-Wonderland and get on line behind dozens of other kids and wait.  On a throne fit for a king, sat Santa Claus.

In those days, it was perfectly safe for mom to just leave us there so she could get her shopping done. The longer the line of children waiting to talk with Santa; the more time she had to accomplish her tasks.  My brother and I didn't mind when mom left us. We were in good company.  We were in the presence of Santa and our mission was to sit on his knee and rattle off a long list of everything we wanted him to bring us for Christmas that year. I still don't know how my mother did it; but everything we asked for was waiting under the tree on Christmas morning.

One year, I remember we were both very sick and couldn't get out to see Santa in person. Joe and I were so upset. We sent Santa letters in the mail, but what if he didn't get them in time? What if the mailman lost OUR letters? We were so certain there would be nothing waiting for us under the tree that Christmas. Our parents tried to reassure us that Santa knows all, sees all, and he understood we were sick and would still bring us what we wanted. Nothing would convince or console us but Santa heard our cries and called us up on the phone! Years later we learned it was our beloved Uncle Charlie who disguised his voice and wrote down every little thing we asked for.

My folks always did the whole Santa-Thing really big! They would have a Christmas Eve party at the house every year.  My brother and I would leave a snack for Santa.  It was never the traditional milk and cookies--it was port wine cheese, crackers, and a bottle of scotch.  We listened to continuous updates of Santa's whereabouts over the radio.  As soon as we heard that Santa and his reindeer-driven sleigh were flying over New York,  we would race upstairs, hop into bed, and pray to fall asleep immediately. We knew if we were still awake, he would pass right over our house. What a way to get kids to go to bed early!  What we didn't know is that our parents were dragging out all the presents they had been hiding for months, wrapping gifts, and assembling bikes and Barbie-doll houses. Even with all the last minute chores and details, my father still managed to climb up on the roof and ring bells to let us know Santa was very, very close. We were too terrified to even think about sneaking downstairs to catch a glimpse of the jolly fat man laying gifts beneath our tree.  Imagine if we saw what was really going on--my father sipping scotch, cussing and complaining as he tried to assemble some crazy toy contraption we just had to have, and mom feeding him cheese and crackers to calm him down.

Of course, we no longer believe in Santa Claus.  We became adults and too smart for such "foolishness".  A few years ago, Joe and I went to see the Christmas show at Radio City Music Hall. We sat beside each other and wept like babies. We  realized that something died inside us the day we lost our innocence and our belief in miracles and magic. We wanted so much to believe again.

The whole legend of Santa is totally ridiculous when you think about it.  A man who loves Christmas and children so much that he travels the world delivering toys?  It's impossible for eight tiny reindeer to draw a sleigh through the air with a huge man and enough gifts for every single child in the world, but we believed it.  It was faith.  We didn't see it, we didn't hear it, we didn't understand it, but when we woke up on Christmas morning, the miracle was waiting for us.

We lose something precious when we make the transition from child to adult.  We experience pain, heartache, disappointment and loss. We lose our child-like faith. We become cynics and critics and the simple things that once brought us pleasure are now silly, un-necessary, and inconvenient. Even Christmas is a bother--all the shopping, cooking, wrapping, cleaning.  We agonize over all the butter and sugar in the Christmas cookies and refuse a cup of eggnog because it's just too fattening. Once we dreamed of a White Christmas but now we hope it doesn't snow because it's such a mess to drive in and so darn cold.

My prayer is that I would always see things as a child does, not just at Christmas, but all year long.  Whether I am rich or poor, may I never lose my peace, hope, or joy.  I ask for the faith to see that miracles really do occur every day.  I certainly don't believe in Santa anymore, but I don't ever want to stop believing the true message of Christmas.  The greatest gift of love was given to all man-kind and in return, we are simply asked to share that gift with others.

From my heart to yours, have a very Happy Holiday and a healthy and prosperous New Year.

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

A Few of My Favorite Things

A Few of My Favorite Things:

Big economy-sized bags of frozen veggies
My coffee pot with the automatic timer set to brew at 5AM every morning
Baked Lays Potato Chips (for when I just have to snack and nothing healthy will do)
Securing a seat on the train on the long ride home
The nice LIRR maintenance guy at the Hicksville station who always stops to say "good morning" as I wait for my connecting train in the frigid cold
Vanilla scented candles that make my house smell like I have been baking all day
Soup
Warm, fuzzy socks
Those hand warmer packets that skiiers use - I stuff in them in my gloves, boots and cleavage to keep me warm in the mornings
Felt-tip pens
Hair Dye (so no one knows how gray I REALLY am)
The daily 6AM " Good morning, I love you" text message
The owner of the chinese restaurant around the corner who knows my number, my address, and exactly what I want to order by heart AND delivers in ten minutes flat!
My cat Sambo who does back flips as I walk in the door at night and is always genuinely happy to see me
Concealer (to fake a well-rested look and to cover a multitude of sin) ;)
Sparkling Pomegranate Water

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

Beach Body Ready???

Yes....I know it's winter. We are cold, bundled up, and able to hide in big, bulky sweaters. But............ summer is right around the corner. The time for beaches, BBQs, tank tops, shorts and .......the dreaded swim suit!!
What do we do in the cold winter months? GET READY FOR SUMMER!!!!

Imagine being 'beach-body" ready without agonizing over every ounce of fat and every single calorie you eat? I can help you........Togeher we will work from the inside out to get your body, mind and spirit into the best shape ever!  No more hiding, no more covering-up, no more saying no to invitations to the beach or pool parties!

Isn't it time?? 
Contact me here, on Facebook, or send me an email at metamorphosis321@hotmail.com

I look forward to hearing from you!!!

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