bodysoulconnect

Richness of Now

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:36:08 -0400

There is no time other than now. We are not, contrary to what we think, “going” anywhere. It will never be more rich in some other moment than in this one. Although we may imagine that some future moment will be more pleasant, or less, than this one, we can’t really know. But whatever the future brings, it will not be what you expect, or what you think, and when it comes, it will be NOW too. It too will be a moment that can be very easily missed, just as easily missed as this one.

- Jon Kabat-Zinn, Arriving at your own Door: 108 Lessons in Mindfulness

"This website supports a growing cultural shift towards slowing down. On this site we discuss how we..."

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 20:35:34 -0400

“This website supports a growing cultural shift towards slowing down. On this site we discuss how we have lost connection to most aspects of our life and to the natural world and rhythms around us, and how we can reconnect – how we can live a connected life. The Slow Movement is a worldwide movement to recapture Meaningful Connection this state of connectedness. The movement is gaining momentum, as more and more people recognise their discomfort at the fast pace and disconnected nature of their lives.”

- The Slow Movement: Making a Connection

Stress is leading to unprecedented health problems. “Stop the world I want to get off” is a feeling we all have sometimes.

Mango Greenie

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:27:37 -0400

This morning’s breakfast greenie was delicious…

1 ripe mango
small handful of mint leaves
large handful of pennywort leaves
small handful of parsley
small handful of spinach
1/2 scoop of chia seeds
2 + cups water & ice

Cheers!

Pennywort anyone?

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 23:49:41 -0400

One night last week I was at a Vietnamese restaurant at the Eden Center and came across a green drink called nuoc rau ma (with the word “Pennywort” next to it)… Since we like to try green drinks, we were kind of excited. How could I have not seen this before? The waitress couldn’t explain what it was in english, so we ordered and then Googled it. Fortunately I came across this great post by Wandering Chopsticks explaining the drink, the plant and how to make a pitcher of the juice. The drink at the restaurant was ok but way too sugary for my taste, so I got motivated to find some pennywort and make my own!

Of course, there was a market right next door to the restaurant, so we picked up a big round bag of the stuff. The next day I made fresh mint & pennywort tea (pouring steaming water over fresh, clean mint & pennywort leaves, letting it steep and then straining. I made so much that I put the rest in the fridge and had it as iced tea the next day - it darkened overnight and had a richer flavor. I also took a big bunch of the well-washed leaves and added them to some smoothies this past weekend. I’m loving the taste and will add them to a big green smoothie tomorrow too (the bag of pennywort I purchased was huge!). Given this will be a big salad week for me, I’ll be adding them to my mixed greens too.

A bit more info about pennywort…

Also known as “gotu kola”, it is mildly antibacterial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcerogenic, a circulatory stimulant, a diuretic and more. When eaten raw it is thought to help maintain youthfulness and was known to be part of Li Ching-Yun’s diet, who purportedly lived to be 256 years old. A decoction of juice from the leaves is thought to relieve hypertension. This juice is also used as a general tonic for good health. A poultice of the leaves can be used to treat open sores.

The Edible Library also has a fun blog post about making fresh, raw juice from the leaves. Enjoy!

"One of my favorite books is by Candace Pert called Molecules of the Mind. She writes that most..."

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 17:23:54 -0400

“One of my favorite books is by Candace Pert called Molecules of the Mind. She writes that most people think the mind holds emotional memory. Actually it’s the cells and organs. The Chinese have always known this. Deepak Chopra said “the issues are in the tissues.” If your body is subconsciously harboring emotional trauma, daily affirmations won’t matter. Old wounds are stored at a molecular level and are going to get triggered without warning unless their negative energy is properly released.”

- Aleta St.James, energy healer, woman entrepreneur | Starting a Business and Growing your Company, Ladies Who Launch

"Some people would say you shouldn’t strive for personal happiness until you’ve taken..."

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:42:05 -0400

““Some people would say you shouldn’t strive for personal happiness until you’ve taken care of everyone in the world who is starving or doesn’t have adequate medical care,” says Howard Cutler, MD, coauthor with the Dalai Lama of The Art of Happiness in a Troubled World. “The Dalai Lama believes you should pursue both simultaneously. For one thing, there is clear research showing that happy people tend to be more open to helping others. They also make better spouses and parents.” And in one famous study, nuns whose autobiographies expressed positive emotions (such as gratitude and optimism) lived seven to 10-and-a-half years longer than other nuns. So, for any die-hard pessimist who still needs persuading, just think of how much more you can help the world if you allow a little happiness into your life.”

- 5 Things Every Happy Woman Does - Oprah.com

acupuncturegirl: Click on the image to WATCH: “How to Cook your...

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 10:31:50 -0400

acupuncturegirl:

Click on the image to WATCH:

“How to Cook your Life”

I want to see this movie! It is very Zen and looks tasty!

Great find! Looking forward to seeing this. Looks quite amusing - a zen chef with a great sense of humor.

In a move that was one part procrastination and one part seeking...

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 13:43:03 -0400

In a move that was one part procrastination and one part seeking strength for the rest of my packing (tomorrow is moving day!) I invented a new smoothie today.

almost 2 cups fresh blueberries
a cup of coconut water and some of the meat
a handful of fresh mint leaves
a small handful of spinach
1/4 banana
about a tablespoon of raw cacao powder
some cold water and a bit of ice

It tastes amazing. Yesterday I also tested a blueberry-cucumber-mint combo that was super refreshing.

Any suggestions for a name for this berry-minty smoothie?

fun badges!!

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 16:30:00 -0400

Our amazing Shiny Heart Ventures intern just turned out a few fun badges for us… aren’t they fun? Smaller sizes coming too…

Snag them at will!!

CODE SNIPPET:

CODE SNIPPET: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4143/4777566711_bdbea2d089_o.png” alt=”Thankfulfor - online gratitude journal” />

CODE SNIPPET: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4097/4778192604_0b34db7a07_o.png” alt=”ShinyMaineLobster - delivered direct to your door” />

The Sunny Raw Kitchen: Blueberry Dream Pie This site makes me...

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 21:31:06 -0400

The Sunny Raw Kitchen: Blueberry Dream Pie

This site makes me want to embrace a raw food lifestyle.. at least partially. Her recipes look amazing!

great video on the Top 10 Healthiest Things You Can Do by Kevin...

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 00:34:59 -0400

great video on the Top 10 Healthiest Things You Can Do by Kevin Gianni of the Renegade Health Show. He doesn’t get to them until about 2 minutes in so feel free to skip the beginning. I’m such a fan of their site & show!

Love this list from Buster Benson, creator of 750word.com -...

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 14:51:52 -0400

Love this list from Buster Benson, creator of 750word.com - http://busterbenson.com/

Looking on the Bright Side

Sat, 03 Jul 2010 17:28:24 -0400

Looking on the Bright Side:

It’s easy to be grateful when the sun’s out and your rose-colored glasses are not askew, but there are gloomier days when finding something to be thankful for becomes an almost impossible chore, especially when someone tells you that you should. How can you be thankful for anything when… (read the rest on the Thankfulfor blog here)

Thankfulfor Blog: Thankfulfor Dads ebook

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 10:04:49 -0400

Thankfulfor Blog: Thankfulfor Dads ebook:

Prior to Father’s Day, we asked members of the Thankfulfor community to start posting why they were thankful for a dad in their lives. We collected their expressions of gratitude and this book is the result.

For best viewing, click the Fullscreen link below and use your keyboard arrows to turn…

Thankfulfor Dads

This is awesome - please share with a dad in your life!!

Thankfulfor Blog: Thankful For.... Hearing

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 14:55:18 -0400

Thankfulfor Blog: Thankful For.... Hearing:

The other day I received an email challenging me to think about my hearing and asking when I last focused my gratitude on sound. It struck a chord with me because I am actually quite sensitive to sounds. As someone who cringes at loud noises, regularly craves silence yet revels in the most pleasant sounds - from music to nature - I felt compelled to really think about this topic.

As I sit here, I’m thankfulfor for the silence of my home after weeks of nonstop events, meetings and social gatherings. The sound of occasional trucks accelerating outside reminds me that there is a world outside my window. I’m thankfulfor for the lack of construction noise which drove me crazy last summer. I’ve also heard no sirens today which is always a good thing.

According to Hear the World, 16% of the world’s population is affected by hearing loss. Do you know anyone affected? I do. So today my focus is on appreciating my favorite sounds.

Waves crashing on the shore or just lapping against the beach. Both are equally soothing to me. And thinking about the beach reminds me of laying in the sand - if you put your ear to the ground and scratch your fingers or toes into the sand, you can hear it loudly vibrate through the ground. I haven’t been to the beach in a while but I can hear the sound in my head, with the sound of gulls flying by. I guess they go together.

Music of all sorts. Classical instruments like piano, guitar, violin, horns. When the clock gets close to around 6 or 7pm, I’ll start hunting for songs I’m in the mood for… some days it’s all folksy and jamming, others it’s more classical. I love that some songs can take me back to a time and place. There are songs that can instantly lift my spirits - others that can make me cry.

The sound of my family’s voices… friends too. Yesterday I had a special lunch with a longtime girlfriend and last night I heard another friend’s voice from California through my phone. Hearing their voices is like coming home. And tonight I look forward to hearing my partner sing to me - in a whisper or at the top of his lungs in the car. I’ll take either.

It’s easy for me to forget the sounds of nature from the concrete jungle that is my neighborhood. But it’s here and when I open my door I can hear the wind in the trees, birds chirping, dogs barking. The other day I heard the whoosh of the sky opening up to sheets of rain and some low rumbling thunder. I love all of those sounds.

Now I hear my tea kettle whistling - so as I go pour myself some tea, I open it up to you to consider your hearing… what sounds are you most grateful for? Post your thoughts in your own personal (and free) journal at http://thankfulfor.com.

And consider entering the Hear the World photo competition by taking a photo of yourself or someone else in the “conscious pose of hearing” as seen in my pics above. You can win a Polaroid 300, iTunes gift cards and even get published in Hear the World magazine.

Happy Father's Day

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 21:54:09 -0400

thankful4:

“You know, fathers just have a way of putting everything together.”—Erika Cosby

That they do. Whether they’re putting together an overly complicated toy or the right words to say when you need to hear them, good dads seem to come equipped with all the necessary tools.

Happy Father’s Day!

Share your appreciation for the dad in your life in your Thankfulfor posts! Don’t forget that we’ll be creating a free ebook using posts collected from the site. If you like, you can also submit a link to a family photo to be included in the ebook.

Image by absolute xman

Tori is a student intern who will be working with the Thankfulfor team over the summer. She is a senior at the Savannah College of Art and Design, where she is studying graphic design.

Don’t forget to post at http://thankfulfor.com - cool site, free to use, inspirational everyday!

Thankfulfor Dads

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 21:45:00 -0400

Thankfulfor Dads:

We may appreciate our fathers throughout the year, but Father’s Day seems to be the time that we get around to voicing it. Thankfulfor is celebrating dads—and all that they do for us—from now through Sunday, June 20th. Check the blog regularly, as there will be new posts honoring dads… read the rest of this post here

Snag one of these badges for your site to remind people about honoring a dad in their life this week…

Gluten-Free Girl and the Chef: roasted asparagus frittata YUM!...

Sat, 05 Jun 2010 22:32:00 -0400

Gluten-Free Girl and the Chef: roasted asparagus frittata

YUM! After I discovered that, I bumped into these little treasures on GlutenFreeGirl’s website: gluten-free rhubarb muffins

I don’t follow a gluten-free diet but I try to mix it up pretty often give how much gluten is in a normal diet. It also seems to help my skin out a bunch.

in the sand at goose rocks beach….

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 22:47:56 -0400

in the sand at goose rocks beach….

3 Little Books with Big Impact

Mon, 31 May 2010 09:23:34 -0400

3 Little Books with Big Impact:

I love these books so much I decided to repost it… good summer reads :)

They sound scary until you see their covers…

Today I want to introduce you to three little books that have big impact. Each of these authors approaches life’s big questions from different angles. Other than their small size what else do they have in common? All are easy reads, are deeper than they appear to be, make great gifts and have the potential to become a bedside favorite. I keep all three nearby so I can just re-read a page now and again.

The Meaning Of Lifeby Bradley Trevor Greive

Don’t let the title fool you into thinking this is some deep, heavy tome that would better serve as a door stop. Quite the opposite, this spunky little book is compiled of gorgeous and humorous animal photos with a few words of poignant commentary at the bottom of each. This is one of those books that makes you think - but forces you to laugh and enjoy the process, leaving the questions echoing in your mind to marinate on. It’s great for adults, teens, kids - anyone with a sense of humor, an appreciation for animals and a desire to challenge your own thoughts around the meaning of life.

Arriving at Your Own Door: 108 Lessons in Mindfulness by Jon Kabat-Zinn

Another little green book, also filled with beautiful nature images, but chock full of excerpts from Kabat-Zinn’s original work Coming to Our Senses: Healing Ourselves and the World Through Mindfulness. Each page has a numbered passage, a nugget of wisdom boiled down to it’s most simple meaning. I’ve savored this book for over a year now and never get tired of flipping it open to a random page, which seems to have an immediate calming effect. It’s also an Oprah favorite (apparently she’s given quite a few as gifts and has them in each bedroom for guests). Here’s one short passage to give you a taste:

#34 Dream Reality

We are caught believing in and living in a dream reality, invested in it emotionally, unwilling and unable to see through it because of our own personal attachment to the dream, especially if it seems a good one.

This Is Water: Some Thoughts, Delivered on a Significant Occasion, about Living a Compassionate Life by David Foster Wallace

Some of you may recognize writer/philosopher David Foster Wallace - this book distills what he believed to be his most important life lessons into a profound and humorous manifesto. I love the simplicity of this book on every level - from the plain white cover with just the title and a tiny goldfish in the bottom right corner, to the layout - just one sentence (short or long) per page. It’s a very quick read but powerfully written in a colloquial style that will challenge you from page 1. The major themes are How do we keep from going through life unconsciously, comfortably entrenched in habit? and How do we remove ourselves from the foreground of our thoughts and achieve compassion? Everyone who has ever been frustrated at the tedium of life after college should read this book.