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Mind Body Plus Me!

~ Musings and Inspirations towards Holistic Health

Mind Body Plus Me!

Tag Archives: Inspiration

Happy Earth Day!

22 Saturday Apr 2017

Posted by mindbodyplusme in Holistic Health, Nature & Gardening

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Happy Earth Day, Health, Inspiration, love, Nature, Sharing, Thoughts

It seems odd to me that we have a day to celebrate virtually everything you can think of! That said, Happy Earth’s Day to you all!

I am finding it difficult to spare the time to update this site, but I do intend to keep it going, and I would like to thank you all who continue to contact me having read some of my older posts, it is appreciated, and nudges me to try and find more time!

So, Earth Day – it is rare to find people who truly respect, appreciate, and share the importance of the Earth in their everyday life. But as black and white as it possibly can be, Earth is paramount to our daily breath. Obvious I know, but translated a few times, ask yourself, when did you last focus purely on the Earth we stand on . . . hmm you see, it’s a phenomena that raises a smile on peoples faces.

Seeing today has been chosen as a special day to remind ourselves about the importance of the Earth, spend a moment looking at the surface of this Earth; feel it with bare feet,  smell it, touch it; widen your gaze and look at the sheer magnificent beauty of it. How it sustains life not only for us, but for every other creature on the planet, every living plant and organism. Everything we know relates back to the Earth. If you let your mind wander and your imagination time to ignite, the concept becomes even more ‘mind blowingly’ magnificent! We are so small, almost like a grain of sand in the grander scale of the planet, probably not even that! And we only exist within the tiniest depth of the Earth’s surface, so, how small do you feel now?!

Many of us love our lives, love our gardens; our walks in the countryside, our expeditions to more adventurous pursuits; love every minute we get to spend looking out of the window watching birds or butterflies, or simply admiring the view of flowers, trees, far reaching views, the sea, hills, rolling wolds, mountains, the list goes on. We have such diverse scenery, wildlife, plant life, we should be thankful and grateful with every breath we take.

Being mindful, and living in the moment we are in does bring a harmony within our souls, only possible when you engage with the Earth and all it offers around us.

Enjoy your day appreciating and loving the Earth, that boost of love today, can only help in healing the many scars we have given the planet. We need to give back instead of taking and living with an ignorance that it will always just be there without any thought and care given. We are only here for such a small amount of time, which flies by faster every year; lets make it our mission to embrace and better the Earth around us in any, and every way we can. It is precious and we owe everything to its existence, literally!

Happy Earth Day!

Druantia

International Women’s Day 2017 . . .

08 Wednesday Mar 2017

Posted by mindbodyplusme in Holistic Health, Thoughts & Words

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Inspiration, International Women's Day, love, respect, Sharing, Thanks, Thoughts

Where is time going?! I have never known time fly like it is this year, maybe it’s just me, maybe I’m getting old, but it’s taking some coping with! However . . .

Today is a day when we should spend a few moments to think about the women in our lives, or women who have helped inspire us, cared for us, love and have loved us; women who gave us a spark to re-evaluate our lives, have guided us to where we are today, for without women, none of us would be here. It’s a day to say, “Thank You” – it’s International Women’s Day!

We all need each other in this world, but there are always those people we meet along the way who leave a special print on our lives, on our souls. I am very lucky to have a wonderful relationship with my Mum, she has been in my life from day one, literally! I know how blessed I am to have my Mum in my daily life today, and truly cherish her presence. I have female friends who enrich my life, who show every aspect of what a woman is capable of; from their love, their friendship, support, patience, tolerance, their strength, forgiveness and endless energy, they really are inspirations.

Around the world, and in this country, there are those who’s role of a mother, and being a woman is hindered by many constraints. We are a fast changing species, and as such there seem to be more extremes transpiring all the time. Some parts of the world are still very difficult, where existence is a daily fight; where Mums can do nothing but watch their new born and young children die due to horrendous living circumstances. Where women are not allowed to be heard, nor seen, have no rights nor ways of experiencing and expressing themselves, and live a very restricted life, in the dominance of men. On the other hand, there are women who have more opportunities than ever before, even running countries! They stand equally to men on business boards, and positions of authority.The extremes between the two are almost too extreme to believe they are all on the same planet, only a matter of hours by plane apart, it’s a mind blowing concept. How the gap between the two extremes has changed.

Whilst I encourage everyone to live their dreams and be free to achieve them, irrespective of gender. I do also acknowledge the fundamental role differences between men and women, and would not like to think those values were ever eroded. A more global level of acceptance of women and their abilities would be lovely, but I doubt I’ll be still around to see that global transformation.

So today, on this internationally recognised day, take five minutes to just think and acknowledge the women you know; who hold a special place in your heart and life. Give them a call, send them thanks and love, for without their presence, near or far, our lives would have been that little bit less whole than it is today . . .

Happy Women’s Day to all the women in my life, and thank you all for enriching my life.

Druantia

New Year, New Incentives

11 Wednesday Jan 2017

Posted by mindbodyplusme in Holistic Health

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Diet, Health, Inspiration, Mental Health

Hello again and a belated Happy New Year!

It’s the time of year when thousands of well intentioned people convince themselves, this is the year they are going to get healthy, fit, slim and happy!

Whilst I encourage everyone to strive to achieve all of those brilliant states, I also advise caution. Make your aspirations achievable. We tend to want everything now in this day and age, and with the minimal of effort and cost, which often thwarts the end results.

My humble advice would be, think twice, and then think again about what you want to change the most, write it down. Look at it again after a couple of days, amend anything you previously wrote down, leave it again for another day; then start to plan your journey. Take into account your lifestyle, in the sense of what time you have to dedicate to the task. Your finances, your true expectations, and a realistic timescale, and whether you can, or want to do this alone, or with a group, then off you go.

Should you want to be slimmer this year, and healthier from eating better, then this can be a lot simpler than you imagine. Eating wholesome real foods will help you shed the pounds and reward you with more energy, less potential headaches, better bowel, better sleep, better skin and hair and, have a less stressed physical body. So think about what you are eating on a normal day, and tweak it. Cutting down the amount you eat will start the ball rolling. Changing the snacking on sugary biscuits, chocolate to having fewer, and adding alternatives like, unsalted nuts, raw carrot, celery, an apple, banana, red grapes, or a pre-made health snack that could be fruit and nut based, or oat and seed based. These will have sugar in them, so you get your sweet fix, but will have nutritional value that will be adding to your ‘Health Account’, as opposed to depleting it with bad foods.

Your new regime doesn’t have to be drastic unless you want it to be, and have the will power, stamina and determination to follow it through. Eat more fresh natural foods, and less refined processed foods. Sometimes eating a little and often suits people better than three set meals when you tend to over indulge. If you want to stick to your meal times, then add more fresh foods like the vegetables, salads, nuts and cut down on the pastry, sauces, bread, gravy, keeping the emphasis on green steamed vegetables and raw foods. If raw foods is a new concept, eat in small quantities until your body gets used to it. Grated carrot, celery, spring onion, red cabbage and beetroot, with little mayonnaise makes a great addition to a meal. Be experimental with your choices; ginger root, leeks and stir fried greens takes minutes to prepare but full of goodness, cooked in a tiny amount of coconut oil. If cooking your vegetables always steam, stir-fry, or roast them, never boil them.

Exclusion diets can be tough and often do not give you the long lasting result you seek, so I would suggest you tweak what you eat now, favouring smaller healthier quantity and quality, than drastic changes. Eat more fresh natural foods, allow yourself a treat everyday, a biscuit or some chocolate preferably dark, and feel good about yourself, instead of feeling guilty when you need that treat.

You do need to check the labels on packets at the shops though. Many cereals are full of sugar, so look for Shredded Wheat for example, instead of the Cheerios, which should be banned in my opinion; sugar free muesli instead of the sugar laden granola cereal cluster types. Natural live plain yogurt that you can add your own blueberries or other fruit and nuts to, rather that the fruit yogurts which nearly all have added sugar. Live yogurts rather than non-live and yogurt-like deserts. There are hundred on the shelves nowadays, and nearly every single one is packed with sugar, such is due to our sweet tooth of today. You can get the sweetness from natural fruit, organic honey, it won’t take long for your tastebuds to accept the natural sweetness in foods rather than the added sweeteners. Avoid ‘diet’ foods, they are often nutritionally void and have artificial sweeteners added, none of which are good.

Drink more water, have smoothy nutritional rich drinks that are freshly made, and remember to “chew your liquids, and drink your solids” to help the assimilation of the nutrients from whatever you are ingesting. In other words, take your time to eat and drink whilst in the mouth. Don’t gulp your fluids, nor hoover your food from the plate. Take your time to chew solids until they are liquidised and mixed with all the saliva and enzymes needed for proper digestion. The same with fluids, take your time to drink it, rather than gulp the whole glassful in one action. The process of extracting all the nutrients out of what we eat and drink, essential for health, starts in the mouth, and taking that little bit longer to taste, and enjoy your food and drink is an excellent start to improve your overall wellness.

Breathe, stretch and walk. All of which are free and possible every day of the week. Breathe good and deep (see other posts on the importance of breathing correctly). Nice deep abdominal breathing everyday, will help calm your body so that it can assimilate the nutrients and digest your food better. Making the bowel work better and takes some of the stress from your internal workings generally. We naturally have to breathe to be here, so how easy is it, to make sure the breath is working for you and not against you. Breathing correctly is a key stone to total well being and cannot be over stated, it is an essential part of being healthy.

Stand up more often if you have a sitting occupation, just stretch, lift the arms over the head and stretch upwards. Roll the shoulders slowly and relax them and the neck. Bend over towards your toes, and dangle your body, allowing gravity to free tension from the spine. It also helps circulation to the brain. Bow your body forwards – standing up push your pelvis forward and gently stretch. This is particularly beneficial to people who sit for long periods of time, it creates an opposite stretch to how you will have been sat. Get into the habit of stretching whenever the opportunity arises through the day, then, particularly first thing in the morning, and last thing at night.

Walk more every day; if you already walk, give yourself bursts of walking faster so you get a work out. Proper footwear that cushions impact on the heel and supports your feet is better. Think about once a week at least, go for a really good walk, either in distance, or endurance. If there is a walk you can do that makes you sweat and increase your breath then you know you are working out! A walk that involves steps, or a hill, will naturally increase the calories used. This can be the highlight of the week, walk with family or friends, dogs, or by yourself, deciding where you are going to go, make it a social event, helping others get outside and enjoy the great outdoors too, it’s a win win situation.

Most importantly, your mental health is essential to wellbeing. So this year, make that a daily focus too. If you are happy and balanced in your mind, then everything you do will be  easier. You will be able to achieve more goals and targets when you are not battling against yourself. Those invented reasons for not doing the exercise, for really needing that extra chocolate bar, will be replaced with a kinder mental approach, not the guilt. If you really really need the chocolate, then have it. If you are in the right state of mind, that chocolate bar will be taken in your stride and you will automatically compensate with extra effort in your walk, or less sugar elsewhere in that day. It isn’t failure, it’s balance.

So have fun, laugh, sing and enjoy your life and do something exciting whenever you get the chance. Be kind to yourself, be true to yourself, and as long as you are gracious and truthful in your efforts, a healthier you will be waiting for you at the end of the year!

Druantia

 

The Day . . .

08 Tuesday Nov 2016

Posted by mindbodyplusme in Thoughts & Words

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Inspiration, Sayings, Self, Self-evolvement, Thoughts

The day you don’t see how to make something better,

is the day you should leave the job you are in.

Something always has to evolve.

We all have days when the chores of our jobs can make us feel flat and uninspired, but we are human and allowed to have ups and downs! If however, the monotony continues and you either can’t express your enthusiasm in your chosen job; or the job has no room for your growth, start looking around for something that does inspire you. Life is so short and to not evolve as an individual is a sad status, so if you can change your lot, go ahead and do it . . . live your life.

Druantia

A Little . . .

02 Wednesday Nov 2016

Posted by mindbodyplusme in Holistic Health, Thoughts & Words

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Inspiration, Poems, Thoughts, Words

A little more kindness, a little less creed,

A little more giving, a little less greed,

A little more smile, a little less frown,

A little less kicking a man when he’s down,

A little more ‘we’, and a little less ‘I’,

A little more laugh, a little less cry,

A little more flowers on the pathway of life,

And fewer on graves at the end of the strife.

Often the changes that need to be made to make a big difference to our lives are little ones. The above verse gives a good guide to a happier healthier life path. I was always told “manners cost nothing”; being courteous and polite brings positive karma to your life. These words give substance to how we could improve our daily life, not only for ourselves but for those around us, and none of them cost a penny! Hindsight is double edged, so doing the best you can for yourself and others now, is better than leaving it until it is too late to make a difference.

Have a happier day, smile, laugh and show a caring attitude to those around you. ‘What goes around, comes around’, and you never know when you might be the one in need of the kindness of others to help you through your day.

Druantia

Wisdom

25 Tuesday Oct 2016

Posted by mindbodyplusme in Thoughts & Words

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Inspiration, Thoughts

Wisdom is knowing when to speak your mind,

and when to mind your speech!

Many a true word! How many times have you been with people who get carried away with what they are saying, and really, if they had engaged their brains, they would be been silent many minutes ago!

‘Think before you speak’ I always remember being said as we grew up. I think we are all guilty sometimes of not necessarily giving enough thought to the words we speak. Make today a day for giving forethought to what you say, it can make a huge difference to your day!

Druantia

Footprints . . .

19 Wednesday Oct 2016

Posted by mindbodyplusme in Holistic Health, Thoughts & Words

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Faith, Inspiration, Poems, Spirituality, Thoughts

Whilst the following poem has been re-written by many authors, Mary Stevenson 1936, Margaret Fishback Powers 1964, Carolyn Carty 1963 to mention but a few, I am unsure who wrote this particular version. I am not a religious person, but I do class myself as Spiritual, and whilst the word ‘Lord’ may have different interpretations depending on your viewpoint, this poem has inspirational tones. Anyone who has Faith, Belief and a connection with ‘something’ bigger than ourselves can also feel a kinship to the words within the lines, I certainly do . . .

FOOTPRINTS

One night a man dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord, scenes of his life flashed across the sky. There were two sets of footprints in each scene, his and the Lords. Looking back at the footprints in the sand, he noticed sometimes there was only one set of footprints, and that this happened at the lowest and saddest times of his life.

Bothered, he said to the Lord, “You said, when I decided to follow you, you’d walk with me all the way, yet during my most and troubled days there is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand, why, when I needed you most, you would leave me?”

The Lord replied, “My precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you saw only one set of footprints, it was then, that I carried you.”

It makes you think about our own ability to survive through difficult times we all experience at some stage or another in our lives. What helps us cope, what gives us the courage and strength to come out the other side? We often go into an ‘auto’ mode because we just cannot comprehend what to do to deal with certain situations, you take it day by day, but there is something giving us strength, hope and ability. It makes you think because no one has a definitive answer; what you think could be just as correct, as real as anyone else’s opinion . . .

Druantia

Look . . .

16 Sunday Oct 2016

Posted by mindbodyplusme in Holistic Health, Thoughts & Words

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Communication, Inspiration, Mental Health, Thoughts, Words

Look backward with gratitude,

Look forward with hope,

Look upward with confidence.

Again, I do not know who wrote this saying, but I liked it’s sentiments nonetheless!  I tend to jot down sayings, poems and thought provoking words when I see or hear them, this one was no exception.

It’s a daily affirmation we could all aspire to have! It has depth of meaning, and the more you think about it, the depth seems to deepen, there are so many layers it could apply to!

Druantia

Kinder . . .

10 Monday Oct 2016

Posted by mindbodyplusme in Holistic Health

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Communication, Healing, Health, Inspiration, Life Experiences, Mental Health, Sharing, Thoughts, Words

Be kinder than is necessary

because, everyone you meet could be

fighting some kind of battle.

Your kindness could help them win their day.

There are always those worse off than ourselves, sometimes we can visually see their impairment, other times, and more oftenly so, we cannot see their inward struggles; that doesn’t mean they are any less painful, nor the damage hard to cope with.

Kindness can heal many mental wounds, and offer hope to someone who feels they have none. You never know, one day it may be you in need of some human kindness to help your day pass.

Druantia

Slow the pace . . .

06 Thursday Oct 2016

Posted by mindbodyplusme in Holistic Health, Thoughts & Words

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Health, Inspiration, Mental Health, Spirituality, Thoughts, Words

Today, I caught up from yesterday;

By tomorrow, I should be ready for today!

The pace of life we are expected to live at times can be bewildering as I’m sure you will all know. However; remember life is flying by incredibly fast, that we cannot change, but make sure you do live your life before it passes you by. Take time to breathe, relax and smell the flowers, daily! Feed your body fuel to attain health, and give your body the sleep it needs to recharge every cell, ready for your tomorrows, with a broad smile!

Druantia

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