Good Year, Sunshine!

Oh, how lovely it is today in Southern Florida! And today begins the second day of the New Year! Haven't been posting much because as everyone knows, it's been a hectic time of the year for many of us when we get our book in order, get ready to file our taxes, clean our homes, and put Christmas and decorations away for the coming year. It's been busy in Lake Worth and all is well!

Had a wonderful New Year's Eve spent with just each other and our Toy Poodle, Kody and first season of Game of Thrones on HBO. Wow ... incredible series! I've been contemplating my Life as of late. 

I've endured many losses over the past 18 months or so, yet am still positive and living in the Light despite them. I am woman, hear me roar! I lost my very sweet and dear friend Christopher in March 2010. He was only 37 years old, and the night of his demise we had chatted up a storm for over 2 hours! It's amazing how quickly someone can be plucked from your Life, which is why I try not to take Life for granted ... EVER. And why I forgive quickly, and keep my side of the street as clean as humanly possible. One never knows when creating one's reality with words, thoughts, and actions if he or she will see tomorrow or not. We simply can NOT take Life for granted. 

The following Spring, I had emergency open heart surgery in April 2011; lost my lovely, sweet, kind mother-in-law in August 2011; lost my very dear friend's Mom ~ whom I've called "Ma" for 40 years and who also was a sweet, kind, non-judgmental Soul ~ in November. Many losses, many tribulations but still I am strong, healthy, happy, and alive! 

And grateful! Eternally GRATEFUL for being happy, joyous and FREE! No drugs, no alcohol, no nicotine ... the only vice I still cling to is caffeine and food and I'm not sure I will ever give either up anytime in the near future! LOL

Just wanted to post a little something to begin the New Year right! Hope everyone has a wonderful week and I'll be writing more soon, I promise! Looking forward to the New Year with New Hope, New Attitude, New Promise, and New Strength! 

Sending healing Reiki energy to all ~

Namasté, my friends ... 

Christmastide & Wonderment

Okay, so Christmas is right around the corner and I have had the opportunity to spend time with loving family and friends for a few days of this season before stepping back into brutal reality once again. All I can say is it's a good thing I am a strong and determined Soul! Being a human with heart dysfunction, I really don't need added stress in my already stress filled Life! 

I need to remember that if I was working at this time I most likely would not have had the opportunity to visit with the kids and grandsons right now. I need to remember that everything happens for a reason, and I am right where I am supposed to be! Everything is an illusion ... all is illusory and in the big picture all is well. Always.

Thank God I'm resilient and willing to see my character flaws and change them for my own betterment and for my own happiness! One just can not be happy and peaceful within if she is focusing exclusively on the negatives in her environment! Life happens, death happens, and Life moves forward either way ... I miss those who are leaving the planet ahead of me, but I know they will be preparing the way for the masses who will be following in the coming years ...


Now it is time for me to get ready to travel ... in the meantime, please have a lovely day and remember that only YOU can make it a GREAT day!!

Gearing up ...

Nope. I haven't begun my training as of today. I'm still gearing up for that. I am on the 7th day of this vegan cleanse, though. And I feel very different, so much better than I did last week at this time. Last week I had a "sugar/carb/turkey hangover" lol. I began my cleanse on Saturday 11/26. 

The cleanse consists of fruits, vegetables, and legumes/beans mostly. What is suggested to eliminate from your diet for 21 days is: sugar, gluten, alcohol, animal products (including all dairy!), and caffeine or a combination of a couple or more of these items. I have eliminated sugar, alcohol, animal products, most gluten but NOT caffeine! And I don't drink alcohol so that really isn't a biggie for me, either lol ... but I feel much better eating vegan. Vegans don't typically give up gluten. 


Gluten is a choice because some people have sensitivities to it. I feel better when I do not eat gluten, but a little here and there doesn't seem to affect me at all. I am eating cleaner, healthier, and less in my portions now. I find it helps to juice as many fruits and veggies as possible, too. Whole oats and grains are wonderful! 


Anyway, I have been enjoying this cleanse so much that I've pretty much forgotten I'm doing one! I really love the almond cheddar 'cheese', almond milk, vegetable based 'meats', everything I have been enjoying for most of this year is on this cleanse. Eating this way has lowered my triglycerides considerably and in August my numbers were amazing! My cardiologist was very pleased, except for his on-going gripe of "You need to lose weight!" lol ...

My triglycerides prior to surgery were an extremely unhealthy 526! The norm is below 149 ... when I had my lipids analyzed in August, my triglycerides were down to 112!! This is due to a combination of eating differently and taking a statin regularly. My overall cholesterol was 166, where the norm is 199 or lower. And my LDL/HDL ratio was perfectly balanced for the first time in my adult Life! Score!


So now, to get back to gearing up for this heavy duty training! I'm getting psyched! It's gonna be fun :) Doing yoga at the West Palm Beach library every Saturday morning with my sister-in-law and niece! Awesome!


Namasté, my friends!