October 30, 2010

Add a habit of success to your life!

Whatever you do again and again turns into a habit just like putting on your seatbelts which is a great habit!  My habits have a profound effect on the quality of my life. The last 10 months have proven that to me without a doubt.

My horrible lab work results at the beginning of the year has drastically changed my habits! My eating habits, exercise habits and total lifestyle has changed with one blood work results that was so frightening and continued to get worse every two weeks and blood was drawn repeatedly out of concern.

I was feeling fine on the outside other than some weight I have gained during the last four years or so.  I learned to control my actions and habits and chose what I had to stop doing and develop a new and healthy way of life or things would turn grim.  I thought just my exercise in the pool was enough cardio but I was wrong……..need a lot more than that.

Though you can’t get rid of bad habits overnight, you can indeed choose and control them. I added so many new life changes and I certainly got rid of so many destructive ones that dramatically improved my life. I believe I was scared enough to do as I was told by my doctor. It took 10 long months to see improvements but they finally came. Thank goodness!

The Vegan Diet is the most difficult to do for me. I’m now allowed just a few things back like fish but still NO meat, dairy and grainy stuff like bread and crackers. Just eating fruits and veggies is boring but I have learned to make some new recipes that I enjoy some and some I don’t but I have programmed my head to be strict with myself. I didn’t say it would be easy!

I couldn’t believe that even small little habits made big differences. Because each time you do it, you steadily add more power to it. I added two more days to the gym. I now eat breakfast and lunch which I seldom ate………not to lose weight, I was just never a breakfast person and I was always running around at lunchtime doing errands but I now make it a must to eat breakfast and lunch. Actually, by not eating those two meals was causing me not to lose weight!

Think of what you can do, beginning right now to rid of an addiction. We get addictive to certain foods just like over the counter drugs or smoking or alcohol or any other addictive destructive things…………..Don’t wait until you become a senior citizen to start changing your life. Your quality of life will be so much better………trust me!  Keep in mind, your environment, selection of friends and choices of certain social activies can create bad habits!

I recall feeling like an outcast four years ago when I was the only one still smoking when all of my friends have stopped.  Now, I'm with the "In" crowd and on the right track!  I'm praying that some will kick the habit......you know who I'm talking about!

A dear friend recently gave me the recipe for WW muffins made with pumpkin.  Well, they tasted so good but were personally very addictive to me!  I did not have the willpower to have a dozen of these delicious things in my house so I had to give them to a neighbor!  LOL  I'm still craving them like I did the cigs when I stopped smoking so habits in all forms become addictive!

I got those new “Rocker” sneakers on sale for $32.00.  A fraction of the cost than the New Balance or other brandnames that cost $100.  First, let me start by saying that I was very skeptical and was an extreme doubter of the hype of this shoe. Such a weird shape and profile can really set anyone on the path of apprehension.  But they certainly force you to stand up straighter and align your spine. You have to get used to them at first and be super careful. I love them now! You definitely feel the burn in the back of your legs after a long walk or a Silver Sneakers Class routine!  I only wear them for walking and a workout.

P.S.  There was an 80 year old lovely lady in KMart that was wearing these Therashoe sneakers.....that sold it for me!  LOL  If she could handle the Rocker, then I knew I could do it too!

Add a habit of success to your life!


Hugs, Rose

October 20, 2010

My Trip to Boston October, 2010!

I just got back from visiting my children, family and friends in Boston. I had a fabulous time and couldn’t request better weather for New England breathing in cool, crisp air with the exception of the last day or so when a nor’easter approached! Brrrrrrrrrrr!
  
Yes, I was on the MTA with the trains and buses and the homeless people sleeping on the benches. Brought back memories of the days I went to work everyday in Boston. It is an amazing city. I truly miss it. My daughter and I had a fabulous day and met Rhonda for lunch.

Every time I go back in to the city…….there are new changes that I have not seen from the trip before.

My son cut and colored my hair and did his magic to make me look 10 years younger!

I’m happy I had the opportunity to visit with a sister who is ill and other siblings as well. I have such a large family and I don’t rent a car so it is so hard for me to see everyone during each trip.

I was disappointed not to be able to see one brother that was rushed to the hospital the day that was planned for a get together. The matter is under control now.

I had a blast with my classmate Forever Friends. I don’t believe I know anyone else that still is in contact with their classmates from childhood and all the way through high school and still have such a close friendship with a 50th Reunion approaching in the year 2012. We had a lovely luncheon at DeMaino’s Restaurant in which is one of my favorite restaurants.

And, my dear friend, Nina drove a long distance to have breakfast with me the day before my departure. I have the best friends in Boston and here in South Florida!

On my return flight home, oh my, I was taken out of the line at the airport to go through that new security machine that can see through your undies! And a women in uniform still patted me down………………Ugh!

I met very interesting people on my flight to Boston……a women doctor and her husband and during my flight back, a gentleman originally from Newton, MA that knew some of the same people I know. So both my flights did not require me to dig into a book and get focused on anything but the flight. I’m not the best flyer!

I had the pleasure of seeing my son again here in South Florida as he flew down two days before me to surprise me. Rhonda and Brian came too. We had dinner together last night and they surprised me with boxes of lovely gifts. They are tanned already! People who live in Florida year round stay out of the sun.

I thought I took care of everything before leaving for my trip…….you know, the “need-to’s,” “have-to’s,” and “ought-to’s,” yet, I somehow forgot a few things! LOL

I spent the first day getting my bills up to date, then sending off a card I forgot to send and the endless phone calls to return and the numerous emails to open……sigh, now my vision is clear!

Living away from my hometown for 21 years now, circumstances have changed, and with change there is great challenge. And with that challenge comes opportunity. With each change, new positive possibilities are born. It is hard to put your energy, your awareness and your creativity into figuring out what those possibilities mean.

One thing you can always count on is that the world will change. And even in the difficult changes, there is value to be found.  I will try to be ready and willing to uncover that value, and hope to make the most of it. And no matter what happens, I’ll always have the ability to get where I decide to go or need to be.  Decisions always need to be made daily.

It is great to be away for a while but always feels good to be back in your own bed!  I missed my make-up mirror the most!  LOL  I can't see in a normal mirror.  I need that magnifying side that allows me to put my eye make-up on to perfection!  At my age, my eyes are not what they used to be.

The time went by so fast, I can't believe I'm home already!  A special thanks to my children who spoiled me rotten!

October 5, 2010

Meditate! (I am)

You only live once. And, it doesn’t hurt to think of this, from time to time. The worst thing would be to look back on your life, wishing you could have been happier or done more. Unfortunately, I allow too much junk to rent space in my head. I try hard to let go of unpleasant things but sometimes it is not easy. There are many things I would love to change right now but with today’s economy, it has put a halt to my plans.

Recently, I learned how to meditate. For years, I found it difficult to do and a dear friend gave me Meditation CD and it did not work for me but watching Dr. Oz one day and Deepak-Chopra was a guest on the show. Deepak-Copra also provided a video on how to meditate.




Just click on the blue lettering to view

Whoooooooooohooooooooooo, it worked! I have to turn on the video each day for it to work for me. I can’t do it alone like most people.

Now is the time to take a good look at your life and make changes so that you have no regrets.

We all know time flies by too quickly.  The days, weeks, months, and years slip away. I’m getting older and I feel like time is passing me by. I need to make some changes to allow and create more joyful memories back into my life, so I can look back with no regrets.

I found that Meditation allows me to go deep into my thoughts about events, people, etc. Deep down inside there is a longing to explore and to express more of myself. It requires a lot of solitude time and deep concentration to let go of certain things and allow other things into my life. Sort of like the “Law of Attraction”.

There is plenty of joy to be lived in this moment. I have now learned how to turn the uniqueness of the moment to help me discover new ways of enjoying life's real pleasures.

Hope the Meditation site helps you as well.