Some Wise Advice from Mother Teresa......LOVE THIS!

Wise Advice about Perspective in Life, from Mother Teresa (do it anyway, because it was never between you and them)

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives;

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies,

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;

Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy over night.

Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;

Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;

Give the best you got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis it is between you and God;

It was never between you and them anyway.

Reminder......March 25th......Want all of your insights!

Good Evening!
Please keep your emails coming in regards to how you all stay connected!  The one's I have received so far are fabulous!  I know that the ones I have received so far are going to inspire a lot of you and I hope they will help you get through a moment or a bad day.  I hope to receive several more.  Please remember, like I always say.....your connection may or may not be like someone else s, but can complete somebody's day.  Have a wonderful, peaceful evening......Peace

Anxiety....& How I Overcame it.....

In 1979 I remember a day very clearly that I wish never happened.  I was in the 4^th grade & my class was getting information on different Presidents.  My teacher, Ms. Burke was explaining to us that we would be writing a report on a President (our choice) and she was showing us how to get information.  I was looking @ different Presidents and came across Zachary Taylor.  I was reading his biography and got to the section of how he died.  The article mentioned that his death was caused from heat stroke.  At that moment, my first episode with anxiety had arrived.  My heart was racing at an uncontrollable rate, and my palms were sweating.  I felt nausea, dizzy and scared.  What I witnessed was a full blown panic attack and hundreds more followed.

I still question and wonder how the word heat stroke could send me into such frenzy?  Was it even that word?  Or was it the word death that completely freaked me out?  I really had nowhere to turn.  I would attempt to talk to my mom and she would do everything in her power to calm me down or make me feel better.  It did help for a short time, but a few days or weeks later I would read about cancer, or watch shows that would have a character that had a disease and I would be back to my “Panic Frenzy State”.

Remember the show, “Happy Days’?  I loved that show until Chachi got diagnosed with diabetes.  Every time I peed a lot or was thirsty I would melt down.  So the diseases I had in the past?  Brace yourself…..cancer, diabetes (thanks Chachi), MS, AIDS, and drum roll…..African sleeping sickness.  I know, I know, it all seems funny now and yes, I can certainly laugh at myself.  However, back then in the moment when my fear took over I would literally feel me becoming crippled inside.  As a child that sucked!

So, how did I overcome this anxiety disorder?  Let’s just say it took strength, breathing (lots of it), and I talked to GOD a lot!  When I had Avery, these attacks still came consistently.  When she was 6 months old, I had enough and went to my doctor.  She walked in the room and I broke down crying and shaking.  Her one reaction?  She grabbed her pen and wrote on her prescription pad, ripped the paper and said take this, and see me in 30 days.  I was given no counseling, no consoling, nothing!  I was given a freaking drug to make the pain go away.

I felt that this piece of paper was my only option at the time and no one could understand this disease I had.  It was a disease that had every symptom of every other disease but more intensified.  It literally sucked the energy and life out of me at times.  It was kicking my ass and I felt out of control and helpless.  As I am writing this now, tears are in my eyes and that intense feeling is penetrating through me.  I cannot begin to imagine how I survived this without getting admitted into a hospital.

I decided to take this “drug” for 1 month.  Did it help?  Yes.  How did it help?  Well, I slept better and felt like a Zombie at the same time, which was not working for me or my 7 month old.  I immediately switched doctors and fell in love with my new one.  We were in her office for over an hour, unlike the 12 minute visit with the previous doctor.  We discussed anxiety and she made me understand how powerful it can be and how the symptoms mimic any other disease I am nervous about.  She explained to me my two choices.  She said, “You can take another anxiety medication, or you can take control of your own life”.   This sounds easy to some, but for me that was never the case until her next comment.  “If you decide to go on any anxiety medications you should really be consistent with it and you cannot go on and off, and on and off of the med.”  My decision was made……this was a no brainer.  TAKE CONTROL or slowly lose my identity to a foreign object taken orally, which would take control over who I was.  This was not happening, nor was it an option.  I loved who I was, I liked my energy when I was not panic stricken and I loved being a mom and a wife and I felt that I was pretty good at it without medications.

The baby steps to this journey began and I do not want anyone to think this happened over night.  It took about 5 to 6 years before I was completely at ease whenever I heard the word cancer, symptom or anything that used to overcome my feelings.  I read books, I went for runs or walks and I started following some of the teachings of Buddhism.  Please be aware I am not promoting any type of religion or belief right now.  I am just saying what worked for me.  I am also not judging anyone’s decision to go on any type of medication.  I just could not go down that road.  I enjoy compassion, I try to live with harmony, and fear is not allowed or accepted anymore as of today!  Yes, today……  Let me explain.

I recently began Bikram Yoga (the type of yoga practiced in a 104 degree room).  Well I had a setback on day 8 and experienced that “panic’ again.  I was in a pose and all of a sudden I felt dizzy, nausea and immediately stood up and fled the room.  I felt like I was reading about President Taylor all over again.  I took the next day off and went again this morning.  Driving there, anxiety was flowing through me.  What if this happened again?

I walked in the room and just decided to have a conversation with God.  It went something like this,”Alright God, I need you on my side right now.  I need strength and guidance to get through these next 90 minutes.  Please do not leave me hanging”.  The response?  “You are greatness and that greatness will always complete you, now lose the fear and move on”.  That was it in a nutshell.  The class was great, the fear is no more and I have never in my life felt so connected or strong about my love for God.  I love all of you and if any of you suffer from any type of anxiety, I am here for you.  Only you however can decide to TAKE CONTROL.

Some of you never knew me in my “anxiety” ridden days and some of you did.  To those who did not, I hope you may find your inner strength and connect with your greatness.  To those of you, who did know me in these scary times, thank you for being patient and kind and doing your best to understand.  At that time you were my rocks & now you are my friends until the end.

Peace and love,                                                                                                                                                                               

sandi

All the Answers are Out my Window......

I lay down each night and speak my peace with my inner light.  I ask the same questions every time:  Why am I here?  What is my purpose?  How can I serve?  I receive no response right away.  The answers come to me the next day.
I open my window and hear the birds......All of my answers are their words.    I run outside and see the sky.  I smile to it's reply.....
The sun warms my face, the wind sings in my ears......All of my questions & concerns disappear.  The trees dance around me & whisper my way.....I now have my answers, my purpose, my HAPPY day..........:)                                                  

TIME

When I was young

I had not a care

Time was not rushed 

No need to be anywhere

Every day was fun and adventurous it seemed

Then came the time to educate me

That time moved slowly

And was not nearly as fun 

In fact

I couldn't wait for that time to be done

After graduation I felt I was free

Little did I know

 Time was turning on me

Searching for a job

 Maybe a career

Need to pay bills

Meet deadlines that near

Wishing that time would pick up its pace

It seemed to creep by

Like a marathon race

Now I am older 

No longer employed

I find myself thinking

Of the life I enjoyed

Looking back now I realize

One thing is true

Time was not slow

It really flew

So if you're still young 

With not a care

Cherish your time

In this world that we share!!

How to Burn Fat More Efficiently.....

The fitness revolution has been an ongoing war for decades.  I truly believe that we all have our own experiences with what works best for us and what does not.  Since my early days, I have tried all the different techniques, strategies, and suggestions that I read from books & magazines.   In college I studied exercise science, obtained my degree and STILL questioned, “What works best?”

We need to remember we each have different goals and different journeys.  For starters, STOP comparing yourself to that hot lady with a rocking body on that stupid (sorry, I do not like that word) magazine cover!  Also, please take your scale and throw it in the garbage!  We are so consumed and obsessed with what others look like and our society has made us addicted to a stinking number that determines how much we should or shouldn’t weigh!  I can honestly say I the only time I get weighed is when I go to the doctor.  Yes, that is once a year.  I determine how I feel about my weight by clothing or my moods.  Honestly if I feel good and I am filled with love, peace & happiness then a number means CRAP.

Alright, that was my be happy & feel good about yourself lecture.  Now let’s get to our metabolism and how to kick its ass.  Remember, this is what works well in my experience.  You may have your own exercises that you are completely content with.  I am just sharing and if you want to try them, great!  I am not going to sugar coat or tell you that you get to go for a walk for 30 minutes & be done.  Sorry!  The best way to get results is kick your own ASS!  That’s right, I went there.  Come on, did you really think that by taking a “stroll” we can get lean?   I am not saying strolls are not wonderful.  I take strolls all the time, however they are good for my mind and not my ass.  Let’s get you on the fat burning path.

We all need to move!  By moving, I mean we need to elevate our heart rate, sweat and exhaust our muscles.  Now, I can already see some of you “cringing” & saying you do not believe in no pain, no gain.  I definitely do not either, however in order for your body to burn more fat, you need to accelerate your workouts.  Please do this safely and do not injure yourself.  An injured muscle can take WEEKS to heal and will set you way back.  Always do a proper warm up before you begin any workout.

So what exercises can help with accelerating our heart rate, making us sweat, and exhausting our muscles?  Here are a few you can do in your own home.

1.        JUMP ROPE:  Jump roping is an amazing fat burner, affordable and a phenomenal cardio workout.  Do intervals.  Jump 30 seconds, take a 30 second break & repeat.

2.       JUMPING JACKS:  Same results & a bit easier than jump roping.

3.       PUSH UPS:  I encourage everyone out there to PUSH UP!  Whether it is military or a modified version of this exercise, they work!  Think of all the muscles you are using with this action?  Chest, shoulders, back, triceps & core!  Yikes, that is an almost total body workout!

4.       SURRENDERS:  These suck, but wow your heart rate goes way up!  You need to stand up straight, put your arms straight up over your head and just put one knee down, then the next knee and stand up with your arms always above your head.  Try it for 30 seconds & you will feel your quads, glutes, shoulders, back, core and calves.

5.       BURPEES:  This is a huge heart rate accelerator!  Stand up, squat down, kick your legs behind you @ the same time like you are jumping into a plank position, bring your legs forward back into your chest and jump up.  If you cannot imagine this move, type the word Burpee into Google and it will be there.

6.       WALKING LUNGES:  Walking lunges are amazing and I find I get the most results in my quads with this movement.  Please ALWAYS make sure your knees do NOT go over your toes.  Weight should always be in heel.  Once again you can check out this movement also on Google.

These are only a few of “my experience” workouts that I have super results with.  I really enjoy mixing these moves in my daily workouts whenever I can.  Remember in order to get the best results with these, proper technique is a MUST!  If anyone is interested I do run women’s fitness camps @ The Complete Athlete in Derry.  This is located in the back of the Sports Zone building.  I offer a 5 am and a 6 am class.  Now get out there and BURN SOME FAT BABY!

Becoming "Unattached".....(it is not easy)

I am still working on this daily.  What do I mean when I say, “Become unattached?”  Well this is tricky and really with a lot of practice will get easier as time goes.  I will begin with an incident that happened to me 7 or 8 years ago. 

I was out and about one day and decided to stop at Dun kin Donuts drive through to get my hubby a coffee.  I was singing and dancing to my radio just minding my own business when I looked up at the car in front of me.  I was completely taken by surprise when I saw an empty cigarette box fly out the driver’s seat window and land on the ground.  I was so angry, and rage was coming out of every cell in my body!  If any of you really know me, you know that I hug trees, literally.  I did not know how to react to this calmly and obviously did not take much time to think of any outcome.

I immediately got out of my car, went to the cigarette box, picked it up and went to the driver and said, I think you dropped something,” and through it in the trash.  I then went back to my car and sat in it with adrenalin pumping through my veins.  Thank God this person did not jump out of their car and kick my ass. (I am a lover, not a fighter).  I felt however in this case I was right, and they were wrong.  The driver’s response was just a dumbfound look and no words were spoken.  Anyway, I got home and told my husband what happened and that powerful rush came over me each time I told that story.  What do we call that rush?  Yup, my EGO……

Now, how would I handle the same situation if it happened again?  Please keep an open mind, you may not agree.  I would wait until that person got their order and drove off.  I would then pick it up and dispose of it.  I am not here to make someone feel bad or try to “teach” them a lesson.  Back when this first happened I felt “almighty” in some way, like I was better than them and trying to make them feel like crap was my mission.  That is no value to them and I am certain they drove off that day feeling pissed off or embarrassed.

I would then go about my day and not feel any need whatsoever to discuss what happened at Dun kin Donuts with anyone.  Talking about it only adds fuel to the fire and gives everyone a “reaction”, right?  So how does the “unattachment” process happen?  If you look at my second scenario I just did what I felt was going to provide me with less stress and more joy.  I avoided conflict and at the same time picked up trash that I was fortunate enough to see happen and make a difference.  No one got hurt, freaked out and no asses were kicked.lol I also did not feel the need to talk about it which would  get my  EGO into overdrive thinking, “I am right, they are wrong”.

Unattaching is not easy and becoming aware of it was the first step for me.  A simple question I ask myself now when I see something I “disagree” with or have a dilemma?  “What would Gandhi do?”  You will see this is one of my favorite things to ask myself in my future writings.  It makes me stop and think.

Another example is when I see someone fly by me on the highway and they are texting.  I breathe, ask my famous Gandhi question, and just send that person love, safety for them and the people they are driving near.  It makes the anger disappear.    I know sometimes we also feel that our need to be right is so valid.  Well, try this.  When someone has an opinion and you think they are completely out of their mind, off their rocker or just wrong, STOP!  Do not speak a word, bite your tongue if you have to and let them be right.  No matter how crazy it seems, this “unattaching” yourself from thinking your right and that your opinion is more superior to theirs is not the route you want for happiness.  Let it go and move on, I dare you.  It is hard, it sucks, but it brings such joy and contentment when you don’t feel the need to be right all the time.

We are all here for this “human experience” and learning how to live in the present, letting go of the past, and not worrying about the future is a HUGE step.  Now unattach yourself and all will be well…..Peace