If you have ever walked into a Starbucks at just the moment when the rest of society walks into Starbucks your answer may be NO! You know you are suppose to be in the office by now and this diversion will cost you BIG TIME!!Your heart drops knowing you’re on a deadline and without the jet fuel of the highest octane available you may drop to the back of the pack as the lions start their hunt.The lions being that laundry list of tasks running through your brain… the project at work, shopping for dinner and the smile that you remind yourself you’re suppose to expose to the rest of the world no matter how frazzled you are feeling. You check your watch, “Why in the hell is that person in the front of the line asking about the Barista’s day? WE DON”T CARE!! Stop chatting, order your soy-milk latte and move on. Some of us have lives to get back to”! Now add caffeine to this disposition and you have the sparks to set off a real forest fire. As you contemplate this exchange, the woman next to you starts to chat…”Oh God” you say to yourself, “I have no interest in idle talk”. She pleasantly says how nice you look today and you start to soften. After a few more minutes you realize you have a friend in common and her sense of humor makes you laugh out loud unexpectedly. It even surprises you. Now you soften a little more and the snaking of the coffee line starts to move along smoothly. As you commune with this woman you feel her good energy and you absorb it like the sun on your skin. You wind up your encounter with this unexpected soul and she orders. “Have a great day she says” walking away and you have a feeling you will. Then you order and the pleasant girl that says “What can I get started for you” about 1000 times a day takes your order. She then does not ask for money. How can this be?”The lady ahead of you paid for your beverage today”. You whip around to say thank you and she has vanished. Your day has been altered for the better. There is kindness and generosity everywhere you look. You leave knowing that this was suppose to happen. You were suppose to slow down your angst a bit today and a wonderf ul encounter has accomplished that for you. You now know that taking a few minutes to ask how a person day is going including the Barista , is a small act of kindness and understanding that we all deserve. I want to invoke a very important concept. Some of you may think it’s bull$#@% but I find it to be true. We are ALWAYS in the right place at the right time. Sometimes the encounters are not positive and sometimes they hurt…but all of them have something in common, they TEACH. If we can listen, if we can accept, if we can just BE, you will find that
everything happens in the time and space it is suppose to. If you can take this to heart you can relieve a tremendous amount of pressure from your life. Then you will be that enlightened soul that touches a person’s heart today by making them laugh unexpectedly and help them feel the sun on their skin . And that, my friends is how we change the world for the better. One encounter at a time!
Posts Tagged ‘Inspiration’
Are You Always In The Right Place At The Right Time?
Monday, October 3rd, 2011Self Inflicted Wounds or Self Growth? The Choice Is Yours!
Wednesday, September 28th, 2011Life can be funny and it can be heartbreaking. Recently, I have experienced the
best things that life can offer. Wonderful gatherings of friends, business going
in a positive direction and the satisfaction of helping others with their health
and happiness. But not too long ago, I felt like I was under water. Drowning
really with no life preserver in sight or the good looking life guard that you
dream will come and save you. I felt that I only had my own sorry butt to pull
me out of my emotional mess and I knew my “wounds” were all my own doing. The
constant bickering with myself made me wonder which one of the voices in my head
would win out. For those that know me, you may also have wondered which Wilma
would show up each day…and which one of those little voices would actually
speak out. We all know that putting your foot in your mouth not only leaves a
bad taste (especially if you work out and your socks get sweaty)but being
uncertain of your place in the world and with others is a difficult lesson in
self growth. Digging inside of yourself to see the parts that are not so pretty
and try to find a better path can be exhausting. But I am here to tell you the
work is WORTH it! I have been privileged to experience the gift of others
confiding in me with their struggles, asking for reassurance and trusting that I
have their best interest at heart. As I reflect on the passage of my
self-realization and growth over the last five years I have finally found out
that it wasn’t my own sorry butt that pulled me out of my emotional mess. There
was and is a network of souls that have guided me through and brought me to a
place of light, energy, health and love. These people have been angels, truly in
the best sense of the word. Some I am aware of and some are anonymous. With
their help and living through my self-inflicted exile brought me to a place
where I can give back to others and that has filled my heart in a way that I
never thought would have been possible. As I navigate through this world, I find
that the people in my life are what make this life worth the work. The beautiful
space that has been kindly afforded me is also an abundant source for me to
share with others. Thank you to all of you who continue to help my self-growth
on a daily basis by trusting me to help you. Please know that the realization of
self-growth in itself is a manifestation of self-growth. So when you wake up
each day remember you have a choice. To continue to self-inflict yourself with
emotional wounds or to thrive. Please, please, please choose to THRIVE…The
gift of light that you bring to others will only make you richer in all the most
important ways…and you never know who’s life your saving in the process
because it may truly be your own!
Wilma Young CPT
What Do You Do When Your Feelings Get Hurt? Plot Murder or Eat Ice Cream!
Monday, September 19th, 2011>I never quite have figured out a perfect way to manage the urge to run to
the “bad for me” foods
when something in my day has had a mis-step. The irony is that with an
imperfect world and
imperfect humans there are bound to be some mis-steps in each day. (I, myself leaning toward the devil side of the “angel on
the right shoulder and
devil on the left” scenarios!) Some mis-steps
are like pebbles and
some like Mt Rushmore. But sometimes those pebbles can get in your
“spiritual shoe” and rub
your last nerve. Today I had my feelings hurt, the details of which are
truly insignificant. The
significant part is that I felt a blow to my self-esteem. Now, of course my
head is crashing with the
proper enlightened person’s response to this situation. Telling myself all
the right things. You know,
the things that when your in a good place sounds like pearls of wisdom and
when you are in a bad
place sound like pure crap and you want to tell the messenger to go jump in
a lake ! Then what
happens when you ARE the messeneger? The dilemma sets in and I say to
myself “I think I need
some Cherry Garcia”!
>
>The mental battle ensues and that little voice in your head says “you
really want that ice cream
don’t you?”. You nod like a zombie from a bad B movie and walk in a trance
towards the fridge.
Now I usually safeguard myself by not keeping ice cream and other health
killing foods in my house
but I happen to be staying in a location that several family members share
on weekends. There, in
the frozen tundra, was the inticing culprits. They were half gallon
containers of fat and chemical
laden ice cream with names that sound like a decadent walk through Will
Wonka’s chocolate
factory. Oh, those childhood memories. So I found myself contemplating
this gastronomical
equation. Within seconds I was able to pause and talk mysef down from the
ledge. It was not
because I have extra willpower. No, not at all! It was that I had prepared
for such a mis-step and
had a yummy altenative. It is a homemade trail mix I make with a small
amount of dark chocolate
but moslty nuts, shredded coconut, dried fruit, and a healthy grain cereal.
I keep this gem in the
freezer so that I can give my brain the sensation of dessert and stay on
track. So the good news
is, it gave me the fix I needed but the better news is that I was able
to realize what was
happening before I launched into a feeding frenzy. Now, I know that most
fitness and lifestyle
professionals want us to find out why we need to go to the food for comfort
and I totally concur
with this. It is exactly the reason I was able to talk myself away from the
ice cream because I have
been doing some of the mental and spiritual work needed to make better
choices. But let’s get
real! In this crazy existence there comes a time and a place when we need
to have some comfort
foods, albeit, a reduced version and not fried in batter like at the county
fairs, but still some
comfort. More times than not though, the comfort from a friend or
significant other comiserating
with your current mis-step can do more good than any trail mix or ice cream
could ever think of. I
was fortunate to also have this avenue and I am most grateful for this in
my life. If ever there is a
time to value the sweetness of companionship over the fleeting sensation of
a drug called
SUGAR, the time is now. It’s either that or I am going back to plotting
murder!
Eat. Pray. Love? How Can I? When I Can’t Even Pee Without My Children Being In the Bathroom With Me!
Saturday, September 10th, 2011Our society is full of great women. The type of women that are trying to provide a healthy, happy environment for everyone to thrive in. Nutritious food, lots of love and the occasional attitude adjustment that we all need from time to time. But in a day and age of go, go , go, how do we manage to have time for ourselves like the movie Eat, Pray and Love? We go to the movies and we see Julia Roberts and it sends this positive message but we walk out knowing that applying this to everyday life is almost a fantasy.Much like the Prince Charming on the white horse nonesense that we all eventually figure out is a just a wonderfully simple man that requires clean underwear and food on the table to make him happy! So we contemplate…when is it my turn? When will I be able to feel the peace that will keep me from blowing my horn at the car in front of me for stopping at a green ligh? So I start to pause and realize what is good in my life -call it prayer or meditation- but I find this simple focus can sometimes bring me back from the brink of homocide to a calmer sense of myself. Not easy, I know, I get it. But I want to remind you that you too want, NO, you need clean underwear and food on the table to make you happy too (or a massage, a new pair of shoes or lunch with your girlfriends). Whatever it is, if it brings you calm and inner peace it is important! Your acceptance of the great GOOD that is to be found in the small things in your day is the fuel to keep you on a positive path. The fact that your coffee turned out perfect this morning, or you had a 10 minute chat with a friend who makes you laugh, these are the things that can bring reverence and gratitude to your life. So instead of kicking ourselves becaues we can’t go to India because little Suzy has a soccer tournament every weekend until the end of time, I want you to talk to yourself with kindess and grace. Commit to your life, forgive yourself for your mistakes and remember to mark the day with the smallest of miracles that remind you of how lucky you truly are. How fortunate it is to be in a world where we have choices! Today, choose to live a happy, healthy life and remind the world how beautiful it is to be a woman and a great one at that!
ANGIE LUSTRICK CN, CPT is FINALIST FOR PRESTIGOUS AWARD
Tuesday, August 30th, 2011The ULTIMATE CHEK PROFESSIONAL AWARD is given by Paul Chek of The C.H.E.K Institute based in Vista, CA. CHEK stands for Corrective Holistic Exercise Kinesiology and is a philosophy of lifestyle coaching that has a exceptionally positive impact on client achievements of their personal goals. It awards a CHEK Certified Personal Trainer and Holistic Lifestyle Coach for exceptional successes with clients at a level beyond just physical training but emotional and spiritual coaching as well. Working with cases of brain injury and chronic disease management prove that a holistic approach provides long term success to even the most challenging lives and situations. Angie Lustrick has made it to the final round and is one out of three finalists for this award. On September 2nd, Angie will be giving a presentation about her journey from pre-diabetic to Holistic Lifestyle Practitioner and how that has impacted her clients, her business and her community. The attendees at this 3-day conference in San Diego, CA will ultimately decide the winner but in our book she is already the winner because she has helped so many people move forward to a happier, healthy life. Please send Angie good wishes and look for updates on this positive and wonderful opportunity for her and our Riverside community. This international exposure benefits us all.
How Will You Celebrate Valentines Day?
Saturday, February 5th, 2011We’re barely through the New Year’s resolution season and our convictions are
already being tested. The displays of chocolate with the “I Love You” ribbons
are everywhere and cupid is lurking around the corner with an innocent smile but
a devious plan. The message we get is that if you truly love someone you will
shower them with candy treats. Now we all know that dark chocolate (70% or
higher) has positive health benefits in small doses but that is not what is
being pushed. The amount of REAL chocolate in our current marketplace is
deceptively small and in some instances completely non existent. I am hoping
that if we really want to show our loved ones how much we care about them we
will consider different avenues for showing our affection. How about a
subscription to a favorite magazine. (Oxygen magazine is a great choice for you
fitness fans, www.oxygenmag.com)or maybe a massage or pedicure. Mom may
appreciate a day off with her girlfriends to go to lunch while Dad takes care of
the kids. Maybe a movie date or a hike together might do the trick. When you
think of how to show someone how much they mean to you give them something that
will add to their life not take away from it. This year when cupids pulls back
his arrow remember to target your loved one’s health either physically or
emotionally when choosing a gift. Because the best gift of all is a long,
healthy and happy life together!!
John’s Mt. Whitney Follow Up
Sunday, July 25th, 2010For those of you interested in our client who climbed Mt. Whitney last week for his 65th birthday, John Adair, he has a terrifc response and overview of his experience. Check out his comments in the comment section of our blog dated 7-22-2010! His inspiring overview will motivate you !!!
So What Are YOU going to do on your 65th Birthday?
Thursday, July 22nd, 2010It’s 10:15 pm on a week night. For those of you that know me, this is WAY past my bedtime. I get up at 4:15 am every morning so I am always in bed at 8 pm.
Tonight is different. Tonight I am watching a GPS tracking device online. Why? John Adair is finishing a 22+ mile hike on Mt. Whitney. John is a client of mine who has struggled with a weight problem for many years. He appeared to not be motivated or inspired to sticking to a exercise/eating plan… until this year. John turned 65 this year. In fact, today.
In his own words: “Tomorrow is my Sixty-Fifth birthday (7/22). Friends have suggested that I am now “OVER THE HILL” I have given this a little bit of thought and I have to ask myself, what is on the other side? After a short amount of time I decided I would take a look before I found myself some place I may not want to be.So to mark this point in life’s progression I have decided to climb Mt Whitney and see for myself what is on the other side? Mt Whitney (14,505 ft) the highest point in the continental US. I will camp (7/21) at the trail head and plan to depart sometime between 1am and 4am (7/22). I would like to reach the summit between noon and 3pm, take a short rest and start my decent. I hope to return by 11pm. The trail is about 22 plus miles round trip, with an altitude gain of about 6,700 ft. It will be a long day. This will be a life time first; I have never climbed any mountain before. I have not asked anyone to join me, this is a solo effort. I invite you to follow my efforts by clicking on the link below (It will show a Google Map with my tracking points). I will be carrying a GPS tracking device with me. It should report every 10 min for 24 hrs. Here is the link to follow my progress on climb to the summit of Mt Whitney
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/gogl.jsp?glId=0NlZc9AXSOLso2TuHCJ4f3flooSU9v11u”
(Please check out his voyage. You can change the view to satellite to see the trees and the snow.)
How inspiring is that? This year, when John decided on this goal, it was like a spark lit up inside of him. He was no longer trying to lose 40 lbs, he was on a mission. When his mind set changed from a number on a scale to a reason to be leaner, John’s life transformed. John wanted to eat better so that he could hike longer. He wanted to walk everyday because he had a goal – an exact date – to hike the tallest mountain he could find. This transformation is the key to releasing weight for good. If you are still trying to lose a few pounds, I invite you to think outside of the box and do a bit of soul searching. Find out what you really want to do with a leaner body. Dance? Ski dive? Rock climb? Climb a mountain? When you follow your dreams and listen to your inner voice, you will have the motivation you are looking for to achieve your goals.
I have been tracking him all day. I sent him energetic vibes to keep him strong as he switch backed up the mountain. I cheered for him from my computer as he reached the summit. I watched as he descended the mountain after being up for over 12 hours. I remembered our conversations about what he should be eating on his hike and hoped that he wasn’t feeling hungry or overly fatigued. I wondered if I gave him all the advise he needed to make his goal. And now I wait in anticipation for John to arrive safely back.
Tonight I am congratulating John for doing something many fit 65 year olds wouldn’t consider doing. He is moments away from arriving back at the Whitney Portals. His family is there to surprise him. I can’t imagine a better way to celebrate life, doing something you physically didn’t think was possible.
John at Mt. Whitney
A True Success Story!
Wednesday, April 21st, 2010By Wilma Young CPT
Changing our lifestyle to be more fit and healthy is a process. It stems from building your knowledge about proper eating, hard work and consistent choices. I was so happy for a recent revelation that one of my “star” clients had. She has spent the last year transforming her body and mind. She has dropped over thirty pounds and 3 pant sizes. Has muscle tone that rivals a college student and she is twice the age. Her physical changes are obvious to her family, friends and co-workers. But the surprise that revealed itself to us both happened this week. She had to prepare for a scope of the lower and upper GI tract as a regular routine test for a person her age. It required a “prep” diet that involved the elimination of all fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, protein shakes etc. All of the food choices she has come to rely on for mental and physical energy. The recommendations for eating were meat, white bread and processed foods that had little nutrition and fiber. By the time I saw her she was low in energy and feeling “punky” as she put it. She did not need to cut calories so that was not the issue. She knew at that moment that all of the foods she had been choosing over the last year that were full of enzymes, phytonutrients and life-force were an irreplaceable part of her health. That a few days without these items made her feel worn out and sluggish just emphasized how essential this ingredients were to her active and happy life. Her biggest dream was to eat oatmeal and salad again the next day. At this moment we had realized that not only had she transformed her body but also her mind and spirit. That she now craved the nutrition of good food as opposed to the “cheap” high that fast food or sugar provided was proof of what true success is! I guess the old adage is true, that you never know how much you miss something until it’s gone. That the life we choose to invest in is worth the uncomfortable stages we must go though. That in the end we have truly gained success when we know that the choices we make are the right ones and also the ones we want!
The Monday Morning Blues!
Monday, April 19th, 2010Wilma Young CPT
It happens to most of us. We have a hard work week and we want to let loose on the weekends. We feel we deserve a little rest and relaxation but what happens when we do a little too much? We eat a few extra bites, indulge in the appetizers we normally swear off of all week or nibble on the crackers and cheese put out by well meaning friends. THEN, Monday morning hits like a slap to the face and we are defeated. The need to berate ourselves with the internal “flogging” is an undeniable burden that leads to stress. This is the stress that causes our emotional roller coaster to take off. Then, you guessed it, our weight loss stops because we have increased our cortisol and start storing fat instead of releasing it. As a strong and relatively intelligent human being we know this is not the smartest way to handle our missteps. Yet, the child in us who has been use to a scolding when
she has done “bad” lets the voice inside take over. If we are not careful this is the turning point where we could fall off the wagon completely. In fact, it is especially important at this time to get RIGHT BACK ON! The key to a successful and healthy lifestyle is being able to navigate through the pitfalls that come up. To be able to evaluate and manage the social and environmental challenges we encounter and when we fail get right back to it is true success. There is no knowledge of success without the taste of failure. There is no peace if we have not known unrest or sunshine if we haven’t met the darkness. I want to offer you this. When you feel dark about your recent choices it is important to find your light again. Even if it is a flicker. It could be to wake up and do ten jumping jacks or make a healthy dinner for the family. Even thinking just a positive thought about yourself, like, I am a good mother, wife or friend can have a positive impact on your life. Maybe saying to yourself… I make a nice home for my family or I made someone happy today that was sad just by being there for them can be the turning point. It is important to get the light re-ignited at the first opportunity, even if it means you have to start that fire yourself. Remember, you are a light in this world, for your children, your community and for yourself. Do everyone a favor and let that light shine!!