Laying the groundwork

Yours Truly at the conclusion of the Peachtree Road Race last year

The groundwork for all happiness is good health.
~Leigh Hunt

As Lindy pointed out yesterday, there is a plethora of information out there about health and well-being. Do I really have anything more to contribute to the conversation?

Well, I don't have credentials as a weight loss expert and I am certainly no fitness guru. But I AM an expert on my own experience as a human being struggling to live a reasonably healthy lifestyle in a world filled with junk food, tobacco advertisement, and mind-crushing stress. The fact is, every day I am faced with a series of choices. Do I eat the doughnut or the oatmeal for breakfast? Do I go to the gym or do I skip it, just this once? Do I stay up late watching Letterman even though I know the alarm will go off at 5:30 the next morning?

I believe the secret is tipping the scales in favor of choices that lead to overall health and fitness. Here are a few of the rules I strive to live by:

1. Eat healthy. For me, this means never skipping breakfast, limiting portion size, emphasizing fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and avoiding foods with ingredients whose names I can't pronounce. I do treat myself - at least once a day - but I have learned to be content for the most part with a Nonni biscotti (110 calories), a fat free fudgesicle (80 calories) or a small McDonald's pineapple mango smoothie (210 calories). I have struggled with my weight all my life; I weigh ten pounds more than I would like right now but I am good according to the charts, so I am trying to learn to love this post-menopausal body the way it is and not obsess about a number on the scale that I may never see again.

2. Exercise regularly. I try to hit the gym at least five days a week (Fitness 19, $14.95/month) where I do 35 minutes on the elliptical machine. I also have a body bar workout DVD that I like to do a couple of times a week, but that tends to fall by the wayside during the summer months. For the record, I do NOT love going to the gym, but I force myself to go anyway. It's kind of like brushing my teeth at night or washing my hands before eating; I don't really give myself a choice in the matter. And yes, I do miss a day now and then, but I try never to miss two days in a row.

3. Drink plenty of water. I start every morning by drinking a big glass of water with my thyroid medication - I have an mildly underactive thyroid - then I fill a 32-ounce container with water and try to finish it by the end of the day. I also take a bottle of water with me to the gym.

4. Get plenty of rest. I am an insomniac AND a morning person, meaning I often find myself burning my candle at both ends, a direct path to burnout and illness. But this summer I am making a sincere effort to get at least seven to seven and a half hours of sleep each night; it will be harder after school starts again, but I am hoping by then this will be a fully formed habit. And I have eliminated caffeine after noon, which seems to be helping with the insomnia.

5. Wear sunscreen. I have never been a sun worshipper, but I do enjoy being out in the sun and I tan easily. But last year I had a "pre-cancerous" mole removed from my stomach, and my dermatologist warned me to be careful. "You have great olive skin," he said, "but you're not invincible." Point taken.

6. Practice preventive maintenance. I am always appalled when I find out that someone I know and love hasn't had a PAP smear in ten years, or had a mammogram EVER. Go to the doctor, people. Get those checkups. What you don't know can kill you.

7. Don't smoke (duh) and drink alcohol in moderation. Enough said.

8. Develop a spiritual practice. Whether it's going to church on Sunday and worshipping with a body of like-minded believers or sitting in the lotus position doing breath work and meditating on "OM," find a way to center yourself and explore your connectedness with the Universe, whatever you perceive it to be. This does all kinds of good things for your head.

9. Find work that you love. 
10. Purge toxic people from your life.
Both mind-numbing work and soul-crushing people make me want to eat potato chips and drink gallons of wine while staying up all night watching infomercials; in other words, they make me care less about myself and making positive choices. Do you hate your job? Then find your passion and make it happen. Is someone making you crazy - or worse, harming you or making you feel like you are stupid or worthless? Do yourself a favor. Say goodbye and don't look back.

It has taken me literally YEARS to figure some of this out, but what I know for sure as that the more positive, healthy choices I make each day, the better I feel, and the better I feel, the better I function. Each of us faces unique challenges as we travel our paths across this planet. What is your number one tip for good health? Leave a comment - we love chatting with our readers! And remember come back tomorrow and find out Megan's perspective on this week's topic. Three writers, three points of view - that's what Writers LiP.P. is all about!

Author: Pam Asberry
Website: http://pamasberry.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/pamasberryfanpage
Twitter: http://twitter.com/pamasberry

Healthy Li.P.P.s and Recipes too

It's hard to imagine what in the world I might add to the host of blogs, news reports, articles, and advice you already receive each day that empores you to follow a healthier path. But I truly do believe that we are the masters of our own destinies and we must take charge of our own health and care. The daily grind can rob us of the time that we need to care for ourselves, so adding to that the Martha Stewart approach probably sounds painful. Why not just go to the spa and get a facial? Why not meet with a dietician and work out a new lifestyle plan? I don't know about you, but this slump of an economy we're in doesn't leave me with much extra to spend on trips to the spa or a to a nutritionist. So, here is what my healthy Li.P.P.s want to share with you today:

At the dining table - I don't have to tell you that what you put in your body can affect not only your metabolism, but your mood, your energy level and, helloooo, your health. Here are some ideas for healthy choices.

Breakfast:

There is nothing easier than low fat vanilla yogurt, a handful of granola, and fresh berries. You have all you need in one bowl to fuel you through the morning - whole grains, fruits with natural sugar, and the yogurt cultures for appropriate digestion. Easy peezy.

How about a smoothie? Have you seen those awesome, as-seen-on-tv bullet blenders. I love mine! Pam Asberry, one of my Writers Li.P.P. partners told me one day about freezing peeled bananas to form the icy base for your smoothie. Best tip ever! So take a frozen banana and add your favorites - berries, yogurt, juice, milk, stone fruit - whatever strikes your fancy and crank up the bullet. One of my recent favorites is one frozen banana, enough fresh blueberries to fill in the gaps, and cranberry juice. Antioxidants that keep your pipes working smoothly. Who can beat that?

Let's talk lunch:

Lunch is a killer for me. I always find myself craving what I really don't need, or in a time crunch and unable to do anything healthy. My go-to option...salad.

I love fennel as a salad option. It adds vitamin C, fiber and folate to your meal along with a fresh yet subtle licorice flavor. If you aren't familiar with fennel, it looks like a giant stalk of celery. I like to slice it nice and thin for a salad and one of my favorite combinations is Mediterranian. Blood orange segments, fennel, black olives, olive oil, salt and pepper. Yum! Here's a link to another favorite - Escarole and Fennel Salad with Pears and Gruyère.

Let's not leave out our friendly whole grains. Couscous, barley and quinoa are high in fiber but also add lots of protein to your salad. Not to mention using these healthy grains are a great way to use up the leftover side dish from last night's meal. I especially love quinoa. It's nutty (like me) and a wonderful high protein alternative to starchy old rice. One of my favorite quinoa salad recipes is Quinoa Salad with Vegetables and Tomatillo Vinaigrette.

Edamame is another great add on. It's packed with as much if not more protien than most meat without all the saturated fat. Studies show a diet rich in soy means increased weight loss and a decreased risk of breast cancer. One little green pea with lots of healthy advantages.Why not add it to your salad? Triple Pea Salad With Creamy Tarragon Dressing is one of my favorites.

Alright, there's one last topping worth talking about - seeds. Seeds are a great alternative to nuts. They both have similar amounts of fat and calories, but you get more seeds in two tablespoons so you get more crunch per yummy bite. Seeds offer high levels of zinc, but pumpkin seeds give you more than four grams of iron per serving. A fabulous cancer fighter. This is one I enjoy year round - Roasted Squash Salad with Bacon and Pumpkin Seeds.

Getting out and about - I am not here to lecture you about the benefits of exercise. I shouldn't have to. If you are reading this you are a grown person and can make your own decisions about your lifestyle. At the very least, please take the stairs instead of the elevator. Fair enough?

The do-it-yourself kitchen witch - I am a big believer in taking care of yourself and one easy way to do that is to relax. I love lavender oil for its relaxing qualities. It has been known for centuries to calm frayed nerves. I even took it into the delivery room with me and rubbed it on my temples when struggling with the pain of labor. Now, I use it to take a breather. Taking care of yourself doesn't have to cost a lot of money. Here is a recipe I use for homemade bath salts.

There are lots of recipes for exfoliants, age defyers, face masks, bath salts - anything you need to take care of your skin, your body, your mind, and ultimately your soul - right online. Poke around and see what you can find then come on back and share it with the rest of us.

Life in Penned Perspective by Lindy Chaffin Start
http://www.unstoppablestart.com/
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Don't forget to find me on Facebook: Lindy Chaffin Start
Blogging about being a writer, mom and individual - http://unstoppablestart.blogspot.com/

Visit again tomorrow for Pam's perspective.

Friday Show and Tell

PAM - Dacula, GA

Meet my dog Karma: part golden retriever, part chow, and part Welsh corgi. This picture was taken a couple of Halloweens ago, when he dressed up as Batman. Adorable, right?

Karma made his appearance in our subdivision in the spring of 2003. He took turns sleeping on various front porches; we posted flyers and checked with area vets hoping to find his owner but no one claimed him. Since it isn't safe to have stray dogs roaming in the suburbs, the across-the-street neighbors said if someone didn't adopt him they would have to take him to the pound. They really wanted to keep him but they already had two big dogs; it seemed that everyone else already owned a dog, too. 

Except us. Because, as I explained most emphatically, I am NOT a "dog person"; I am a "cat person," but because my middle son is allergic to cats, I cannot have a feline in the house. In the end, though, I was unable to resist the pleading of those three pairs of little-boy eyes, and I was not surprised when their promises to feed, water and brush our new pet were quickly forgotten. In no time, Karma became MY dog, although I didn't realize how much I loved him until he became really, really sick after ingesting an entire grilled cheese sandwich. The moment I dropped him off at the emergency clinic, not knowing whether or not he would ever come home, everything changed.

From Karma, I have learned what the term "unconditional love" means. He follows me everywhere I go, gets depressed when I am away, and would die if necessary to protect me from harm. Also, he reminds me of the importance of cherishing every moment; yesterday, when I picked him up from a routine grooming, the vet tech recommended a couple of medical procedures for him now that he is "geriatric." It seems that that any dog over the age of seven is considered a senior citizen - who knew?

Most important, I have learned not to define myself too narrowly. Because the universe just might have a lesson in store for me. It turns out I am a "dog person," after all.

*****


Megan - Roswell, GA

Have you ever felt like you were at a crossroads in life? Like you had a decision to make that, unlike some others, may actually determine the greater course of your life? I’ve felt like that more often in recent years, so today I’m sharing with you my favorite photo of my son. Doesn’t it just have “decision” written all over it? Don’t you hear the lines of The Road Not Travelled echoing in your head?

…. I will be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence.

Two roads diverged in a wood and I,

I took the one less travelled by

And that has made all the difference.

~ Robert Frost

It speaks to me so much I use it as the header graphic for my personal blog. It hangs on the wall in my front hall. I’m considering making it into a coffee mug. Want one?

I remember the day that I took this photo. It was early Spring and my son was a few months shy of 2 years old. My daughter wasn’t quite 2 months old, and I had not been out of my house without her… ever. This fine, gloomy, misty morning I decided to give my husband some Daddy-daughter time, and I got out onto our neighborhood trails with my son and my camera. And I caught this image. It seemed so right for the moment in time. We were a new family, a family of 4 rather than 3, with expanded roles and changed dynamics. It was a time of change, and we could fight it or roll with it.

So we rolled with it. And we’ve been rolling ever since. I could go into how we’ve also gone down some interesting, “less travelled” roads – as individuals and as a family. But not today. Today is for this moment and this photo. Peace out.

****


Lindy - Decatur, Georgia

It was four days in Gulf Shores, Alabama. There were fireworks, plenty of sunshine, two girlfriends and their two little girls. I couldn't have asked for better. I couldn't have asked for more. I actually sat back and rendered a loud, "Ahhhhh..."

*****

Comment for another chance to win a Writers Li.P.P. t-shirt in our drawing at midnight on Sunday. Follow this blog too and you will be entered twice. Last week's winner is Tami. Congratulations, Tami - and thanks to all of you for your support!

Be, and You Will Be

As many of you are aware, this week on Writer’s Li.P.P. we’re focusing on reinventing ourselves. No, we’re not playing a game of Extreme Li.P.P. Makeover, which sounds like it would require an exorbitant amount of collagen. Rather, we’re each taking a look at what personal reinvention means or has meant to us. Pam talked about how she’s evolved over the years due in great part to time and circumstance, and Lindy defined the specifics of personal reinvention for us.

Reinvention is an essential part of everyday life. Simply living in and interacting with the world provides endless opportunities for reinvention. As Pam pointed out in her post, as life moves along – with growing up and learning and becoming a parent and moving in and through relationships – reinvention almost happens to you half the time, so you might as well learn to go with the flow.

But what about when you want to reinvent yourself? What about those times when you absolutely ache to be someone different from who you are?

When I was a kid, I had the oddest combination of traits. I was forceful by nature but shy among people other than my closest friends. I loved speaking with people but didn’t know exactly what to say to them. I adored sharing information and teaching but would become almost catatonic in front of even small groups. It was pretty torturous. However, oddly, I could manage to participate in chorus parts within my high school plays. It didn’t occur to me until much later that I could do this because I was in a role rather than putting myself out there as myself.

From my high school's production of "Mame" my freshman year. I'm the very short one in the middle with no riding cap. Apparently I was anti-riding-safety.

About midway through college, I decided to try an experiment… for one of my electives, I took Improv. In Improv class, the primary skill we learned was how to communicate through tone and body language rather than specific words. Our professor would give us all a single line to memorize. We would then be paired off, given a sort of direction (such as “you two are a parent and child arguing about curfew time”) and we would have to perform the interaction speaking only the line we’d memorized back and forth to each other, conveying the nature of the interaction through physicality and intonation. The class taught me to focus on the message and not to get all caught up in the minutiae of the words.

After doing well in that class, I took a more drastic step and decided to take Public Speaking. Talk about hitting my fear on the head! And wow, what a step. In four short months, I learned not only not to be afraid but to love speaking in front of groups. Seriously. I loved it!

A few years later, when I landed my first serious job in advertising, it all came together. My first boss, Karen, was fabulous with her clients. She was a natural communicator with an ease about her that was infectious. I spent a few weeks literally wishing I could be Karen. Seriously. And then it hit me… I could be Karen. I tried it. I went to a few meetings and spent my time focusing on “how would Karen respond” and “how would Karen convey this” and communicating as I felt she would. And it worked! I felt safe behind the façade of “what would Karen do,” and the clients responded well to what they perceived as confidence.

Now, have I spent my entire career acting as a mini-Karen? No, of course not. But using my perception of her as not just a role model but almost as a role itself allowed me to try on the mold of the person I wanted to be, to experience it in a safe and “proven” way and then eventually to break that mold and complete the reinvention of myself in my own way.

All confident and stuff now... that's a local celebrity's arm around me, though I will not post his photo. I'm not in the mood to pay royalties.

Am I saying that the best way to reinvent yourself is to pretend to be someone else whom you admire? Of course not.  What I am saying is that if you want to reinvent yourself, the most important action you can take is to envision exactly who it is you want to be. It’s tough to reach your goal if you don’t know what the goal is, you know? And once you can envision who you want to be, actively be that person. Imagine guidelines about how that person thinks and what that person says and how that person responds to others, and then follow those guidelines. In other words, act the part, and continue to act the part until you’re no longer acting and you’re simply… being.

Have you ever actively, consciously reinvented yourself? Comment for another chance to win a Writers Li.P.P. t-shirt in our drawing at midnight on Sunday. Follow this blog too and you will be entered twice. Thank you for your support!

Every Seven Years

A while back, an acquaintance informed me that every cell in the human body is replaced over a seven year period - meaning, in essence, that we become a new person every seven years. It turns out this is NOT the case; according to this article, different tissues in the body replace cells at different rates, and some tissues never replace cells. But according to this article, our personalities change approximately every seven years. What do you believe?

From the vantage point of the ripe old age of 51, I can look back over the years and see that my life underwent radical transformation at nearly perfect seven-year intervals. Let's travel back through time...

I was eight or nine years old when this picture was taken. I was at my grandmother's house, wearing one of my favorite outfits - a dress made by my other grandmother and a pair of knee socks - and proudly holding up one of my prized possessions, a black and white box camera. I was just starting to show signs of a weight problem that has plagued me throughout my life.

Here I am at age 14, dressed up and ready to go to my church and play organ for a friend's wedding. I distinctly remember the dress I was wearing; I felt like a princess every time I put it on. By this time I was sure that music would be the center of my life.

Now I am almost 21. I have left home, gone away to college - majoring in music - and am getting ready to move into my first apartment.

In this picture I am 22, at the dress rehearsal for my graduate piano recital. What pressure that was for a young woman who hated being in the spotlight.

Now I am 28 - married, teaching piano lessons in my home studio, and very pregnant with my first child. Since the moment he was born, my identity has been centered around my role as a parent.

Here I am 35. My two surviving children are as different as night and day, and I have just lost my third - my daughter, Mackenzie. Life began to develop a sense of urgency. I stopped teaching piano. I focused on my kids. I got pregnant again.

By the time I hit 42 I was divorced; my third son and I are hamming it up for the camera here at a cub scout event. Being single hasn't always been easy, but it is worth it. As Nietzsche said, "No price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself."

And here I am, at age 49, after finally getting engaged and having it all fall apart, starting over once again.

Today? I am still single, still teaching piano, but now I am also working on a novel - with the crazy dream of being a published author - and trying to make a success of an online jewelry shop.

What I know for sure is that, despite what the experts say, I have reinvented myself every seven years.

The changes have been necessary to my personal growth. And I'm not finished yet.

And know, beyond a shadow of doubt, that the best is yet to be.

What are the stages of your life? Comment for another chance to win a Writers Li.P.P. t-shirt in our drawing at midnight on Sunday. Follow this blog too and you will be entered twice. Thank you for your support!

Author: Pam Asberry
http://pamasberry.blogspot.com

Defining Reinvention

re·in·vent (taken from Dictionary.com)

–verb (used with object)

1.  to invent again or anew, especially without knowing that the invention already exists.

2.  to remake or make over, as in a different form: At 60, he reinvented himself as a volunteer. We have an opportunity to reinvent government.

3.  to bring back; revive: to reinvent trust and accountability.

*****

It seems like over the last six or so months all I have talked about is reinventing myself but I’ve done so without bothering to look up the actual definition of the term. It struck me when I did finally look at its meaning how important and relevant each of these is to the human condition; my condition.

Let’s look at item one: to invent again or anew, especially without knowing the invention already exists. How many of us feel lifeless, useless, like there is nothing in us worth knowing or loving to share with the world? I can admit I’ve felt that way quite a bit since I became single *AGAIN*. I often can’t comprehend that I was created as a perfect being just as I am. I am here because the God I choose to believe in wanted me here just the way I am to learn the lessons I was meant to learn, to love, to teach, to share who I am, as I am, with others. Okay, that speaks to what’s inside, but what about what’s out?

Ah, then there’s item two: to remake or make over, as in a different form. Look, every girl deserves a makeover when she’s darn good and ready for one. Do I subscribe to the belief that you should cosmetically change your outward appearance? I do not, but I don’t condemn those who do. I just want to own who I am, take care of myself, and set the best example possible for my daughter. Does that include teaching her that it’s okay to change it up on occasion? Absolutely! Hair grows out, make up colors change with the direction of the wind in Paris, styles come and go with the seasons. A makeover is okay as long as you do it for yourself because you want to and not because someone has been overly critical and left you feeling less than. Got it?

Which brings us finally to item three: to bring back; revive. A good revival never hurt a soul. *laughing – pun intended* The best medicine in most cases, not all  but most, is to get back to our true selves. If I am feeling less than, then I am lost. The only way someone has the power to take me away from me, especially me, is if I give them the power to do so. With everything that happens in our lives, its expected people. We get lost. But please, oh please, don’t stay lost for long. Find yourself.

*sigh*

I found myself today, July 4^th, 2001 - Independence Day - with you. In everything I’ve written I have bared my soul. My sentences might run on, my spacebar sticking leaves me having to read and reread what I’ve written, but in the end I have shared with you who I am. I’ve found myself. I only pray I can do it again next week.

*****

Shameless 4th of July Marketing - Stop by Unstoppable Start tomorrow where it’s all about Talking Girl Talk. And be sure to check back here tomorrow for Pam’s insight, on Wednesday for Megan’s perspective and on Friday for Show and Tell. Stop! Before you go be sure to comment for a chance to win the exclusive WritersLi.P.P. t-shirt, and if you follow you'll be entered twice!

*****

Now, I’m off to find more of me on the beach!

Friday Show and Tell

 Lindy - Decatur, GA

Picture worthy!

To me, this is not only picture worthy, it makes my heart soar. This innocent photograph of Pasqual (the lizard) Teddy (the bear), and Mooey (the cow) was taken by my three and a half year old daughter. Okay, so that might not mean a lot to you, but as a creative spirit I see this as the beginning of a lifetime love of the art of photography.

Now, let me take this wonderment a step further...you're probably reading this post thinking, "Heck, they make those toddler cameras now. What's the big deal?" Well folks, my daughter does have one of those little girlie-pink toddler cameras, but she chooses to use my camera setup instead. This was taken with a Nikon D50 with a 18-200 lens. This was the picture that touched my heart because she posed her favorite friends (note that Teddy is being propped up by a ball behind his back) and took their photograph.

The other pictures, and there are probably fifty, not only captivated me but illustrated a love of taking THE perfect picture. I am one proud mom (and amateur photographer)!


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Pam - Dacula, Georgia

Plestiodon fasciatus


 Earlier this week, when my 15-year old son moved our recycling bin in preparation for lawn mowing, he discovered a brooding lizard. According to Wikipedia, this beautiful creature will guard her eggs and take care of her young hatchlings for the first day or two of their lives, at which time they will leave the nest.

And we will resume recycling.



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Megan - Roswell, Georgia

This is a picture of my favorite wall in my house. It’s in my dining room, and the photos of my two children take up pretty much the entire north wall. One might say that such a display could be considered narcissistic in that it seems to indicate that I think my kids’ images are more appealing – to me – than any other work of art. (I say narcissistic because your kids are, in essence, a part of you, right?)

Well, to be completely honest, that’s exactly how I feel. I believe my children are incredible and beautiful works of art. In fact, it’s my belief that children in general are relatively miraculous. Their curiosity. Their imaginations. Their tiny, compact selves. Their potential. Their ability to learn and adapt.

But these photos on my wall don’t just serve to remind me of my own little ones. They help me keep in mind that everyone is, in essence, both childlike and miraculous. The miracle doesn’t end in childhood. We just learn to tuck it away. But every man and woman – from the kind mailman to the confident CEO to the grumpy neighbor –started as an infant. Someone’s son or daughter. A miracle. And somewhere deep inside, that person still has remnants of that miracle, whether or not they choose to show it.

Remember the miracle, my friends. Particularly when someone’s behaving so badly you just want to smack him or her upside the head.

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Remember to leave a comment for a chance to win the hottest t-shirt in town. Follow this blog and your name will go in the hat a second time. And please pass the word along to all your friends!

We'll be back on Monday to share our thoughts on reinvention. Have a great week-end!