So you wake up in the morning with the greatest of intentions. I will get in a work out, I will smile at my children when they spill their breakfast in their car seats and I will NOT honk at the driver who has miscalculated their stop in the crosswalk by little Johnny’s school. You then get out of bed, with a chirp to your step only to find the cat on the kitchen counter eating your husbands dinner leftovers that he failed to clean up. Then, startled, the cat knocks the plate on the floor and shatters. “I will not get upset” is the mantra going through your head. So you calmly and methodically start to pick up the broken pieces as your husband comes to complain about the noise waking him up. “Oh Boy”, you say to yourself and then count to 10. “Sorry dear but the plate I’m sure you mistakenly thought to put in the dish washer got knocked to the ground.” Hmhmhm, thinking to your self, you inconsiderate jerk” but once again pushing that thought out of your head and moving on with the plan of the day to remain calm and enlightened. Just as you talk yourself back from the ledge, little Johnny and tiny Tammy come screaming in for breakfast and fighting with each other. The plans of the day once again getting tested and you haven’t even gotten to brush your teeth yet. At this point, you are thinking about knocking someone else’s teeth out but NO…You are enlightened, you are ZEN, you will deal appropriately. Then the final straw, the last apple to upset the apple cart occurs. Your Prince Charming wants to know why his favorite socks aren’t where he can find them. You close your eyes, take 3 breaths, and whip around like the Wicked Witch of the West and start a borage of tyrannical expletives that make your family look as if they are on a roller coaster. Eyes popping out, mouths gaped open and eyebrows raised to the roof. As you finish your rant you notice a sense of stillness come over you. Unloading the pressure seemed a great idea at the time. Then you see the looks on their faces change. They are upset and their day is now off on the wrong foot. “Why, God, can’t my day go as planned? Why do I not have patience?” Well, my friend, this is the fuel of life. This energy which can manifest in a positive or negative way is what will give life it’s color. It will also be the energy that makes you laugh when your children do a funny dance for you or melt your heart when your husband brings you a single rose and a thanks you for taking care of the family. When these unplanned joys happen in your life, it is the time to take stock of the gifts that we are given. It is the time to remember why we nurture little Johnny and tiny Tammy knowing they will go out into the world and spread kindness and friendship. Their joy will have a contagious effect which will make other people have a better day. So when you want to scream and throw up your hands, take a moment to breath, take a moment to give thanks and take a moment to laugh at yourself and the plans you have made. God, is a funny God and wants us to laugh, even if it’s at our own expense.
Posts Tagged ‘motivation’
Making Plans…God’s Funny Joke On Humans!
Tuesday, October 4th, 2011Are You Always In The Right Place At The Right Time?
Monday, October 3rd, 2011If 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!
Self 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!
Getting Tempted by Bite-Sized Tasty Treats at Starbucks
Friday, April 8th, 2011The newest fad that is popping up is “bite-sized” treats. Not only at Starbucks but many food outlets are tempting you with a bite size portion of the Not-So-Good-For-You items as a way to “up-sell” you while you are at the counter waiting for your coffee or paying for your groceries. Even restaurants are jumping on the calorie train by adding mini appetizers and 100 calorie desserts. The problem is that that an extra 100 calories a day on the average person puts on roughly 10 pounds per year! With these little 200 calorie “land mines” that equals 20 pounds in a year. Plus they really don’t have the nutrition to boost your energy and create the body you want. In fact, all processed foods require additional energy from your body to digest them – making you tired and sluggish. If a food doesn’t come from a recognizable source: a plant, a tree, or an animal – stay away! I have never seen a bread tree, cupcake tree, or candybar tree! Now think of this, if you ate 100 calories LESS per day that would equal a 10 pound weight loss in a year with virtually very little sacrafice. Think about ordering an item you normally eat with cheese, without cheese. Or how about oil and vinegar dressing instead of ranch or Caesar. Maybe use salsa as your condiment instead of sour cream. Minor adjustments lead to great changes and tend to stick with you long term. Personally, I would much rather have this new habit stick to me than those bite-size treats that show through your clothes and tend to stay with you for far too long. So next time you are tempted, think about the 10 LESS pounds that saying NO today will do for you this year!
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!!
Barnes and Noble Was A Great Success!
Sunday, July 25th, 2010Yesterday we had a wonderful group come to the Riverside Barnes and Noble for Angie and her book, “BODY BY ANGIE, Is Your Body Bankrupt, Learn to Invest in Yourself”! The day included an author discussion as well as a FREE body composition test for anyone who attended. What a delightful group we had and their questions were exceptional. Many had already read the book and Angie was able to interact with individuals to answer their specific questions. What an inspiring day to see others make the connection with nutrition, energy and health that myself and those in my profession can often take for common knowledge in our everyday lives. I KNOW that there were many recommendations given out yesterday that were minor changes in the events of that person’s daily activities but actions that are going to pay off BIG TIME for them in the future. I am happy to know that there are people being affected in such a positive way by Angie’s knowledge and presence in our community. I consider myself very lucky to witness her engage her passion with the intention of making this place we call our body a healthier and happier one. I also know that what she is doing will help to reduce the effects of chronic disease, mobilize people into physical activity and ultimately make this world a better place for each and every on of us!
When It’s One of Those Days
Thursday, May 13th, 2010>by Wilma Young
> Too many obligations, late nights, chores to do and not enough “me”
> time. Sound familiar? Well what do you do when you know that being
> healthy is the right choice but frankly all you want to do is crawl up
> to a pint of Haagen- Dazs and cry yourself to sleep. The battle that
> ensues between the devil on one shoulder and the angel on the other
> can be draining. Most days I do make the right choice but on those
> days I feel overwhelmed and underappreciated and mostly by me and not
> those around me, I go weak in the knees. I want to return to the days
> of reckless abandon, delve into the cookies and ice cre am and forget
> what discipline and hard work has done for me. If I do n’t pull myself
> out within a short time, I could slip down that rabbit hole and
> eventually wake up more miserable and more over whelmed then when I
> started. This is the time to BREATHE! This is the time t o take stock
> of the little choices that are made each and every day that have
> brought you to a healthier life and happier body. I person ally find a
> way to make myself a healthy dessert (try Greek yogurt with Chocolate
> protein powder, a little glutamine and shredded coconu
> t…yummy!!) , sit in a comfy chair with a great book and enjoy a sile
> nt moment. You could take a bath, get a pedicure or sit outside in t
> he sun and soak up some vitmain D for five minutes! I know life has a
> way of interfering with your plans to be the perfect spouse, a good
> friend and a contributing citizen but sometimes you have to check out
> for a while to recharge your batteries and we have to be okay with
> that. We need to forgive ourselves the fact that there may be days
> that you are not at 100% and that the world will not end because i t.
> Take a moment for yourself, sit for a minute and remember that going
> down that rabbit hole won’t make you feel any better.
>
>
>
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!!