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Subscribe to this list via RSS Blog posts tagged in #livingwell

Posted by on in SageWoman Blogs
Positive Thinking for Realists

Some people have the impression that positive thinking is all glitter and rainbows and a river in Egypt.

It’s true that positive means happy, good, and encouraging.  However, positive also means helpful, constructive, and tangible, or real.

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Posted by on in SageWoman Blogs

...In the Neighborwives’ Garden

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In the twilight
The highway’s rhythm a few blocks away
Creates a lulling to cradle the occasional barking dog, crying child
And basketball dribbled down
The center of the street
Streetlights overtake the stars in the city,
Punctuated with flashing lights from the police in the distance

Deep in this city
On a good block in a not-that-good neighborhood
Lives the Neighborwives’ garden

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     Midsummer Day dawns to a fanfare of birdsong against the backdrop of an early morning sky of pink and grey. Walking barefoot upon the spongy mounds of moss and grasses I revel in the thought of my feet being bathed in the purity of fresh morning dew. I kneel before a great Oak to scoop a handful of dew into the palms of my hands and splash my face with its invigorating coolness. As I open my eyes a flurry of Elderflower petals shower me from above and stick to my wet face. I look up and am sure I hear the childlike titter of faerie folk having one last laugh before the true day dawns and they are gone.

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On the Darkest Night of My Soul I found My Light

This is the story of how I made the shift from a lifetime of negative thinking to a new life of positive thinking.

What does positive thinking really mean?  I used to think it meant thinking like an optimist.  I considered myself a realist back then, and thought optimists were only able to be optimistic because they had never suffered as I had.

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Recent Comments - Show all comments
  • Danielle Blackwood
    Danielle Blackwood says #
    Thank you so much for sharing your deeply moving story. You are brave, you are amazing, I salute you.
  • Ashley Rae
    Ashley Rae says #
    Thank you so much for your kind words, Danielle!

Posted by on in SageWoman Blogs
Chickweed

I recently spent sometime learning how to scour the California country side for medicinal plants and herbs. One plant that was a surprise to me was the abundance of a weed known for its fascinating health benefits and tasting remotely like fresh picked corn.

The botanical name ~ Stellaria media ~ meaning ‘little stars’, or commonly known as Chickweed, can affect your physical and psychic health, by opening up cosmic energies and giving the strength handle these energies. Chickweed has been used in folk medicine for skin conditions, indigestion rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, stomach ulcers and as a "blood cleanser". When chickweed is consumed, it increases the body’s ability to absorb nutrients, especially minerals. It can also dissolve and break down unwanted matter, including disease-causing bacteria, cysts, benign tumors, thickened mucus in the respiratory and digestive systems, and excess fat cells. Yes, you heard me correctly; drinking chickweed infusion can eliminate fat cells.

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Posted by on in SageWoman Blogs

I felt like I was holding on by a thread after my husband’s heart attack. I found myself a caretaker while working a full-time job, dealing with our out-of-touch employer, editing my new manuscript for my publisher, keeping my radio show on the air and trying to pay the bills. Then the opportunity to spend a couple days floating on the Lazy River at a resort in Las Vegas presented itself.

Yes, it was in the hottest part of summer in Las Vegas, but anything was better than being in the office where I could not shake off my boss’ demoralizing words. I thought our performance for the last thirty years in his employ buffered us from the angst and vulnerability so many workers were feeling these days, but no. His reply to my query if my husband could expect sick leave during this health crisis kept echoing in my ears. “I don’t want to pay Roy for sitting home on the couch!” It took all my strength to refrain from hoping in his next life he came back as the guy who cleans out port-o-potties.

So we packed up the car and headed for Las Vegas and the Lazy River. Days of floating in quiet contemplation was just what I needed to recharge my batteries and have a moment to think about something besides stents, pills and doctors and how unappreciated I was feeling. At first the Lazy River just allowed, allowed, allowed me to just be, with no pressure. I could drift with no place to go but round and round, softly, gently, and quietly. Even the kids sharing the Lazy River were not a source of aggravation. It was peaceful and my brain could click off for a few hours.

As the hours turned into days, I began to feel like myself again and before I knew it the creative juices were flowing and this Lazy River became a source of inspiration.

Sometimes we can just float along in life, easily avoiding the chaos all around us, without having to put forth much effort to avoid turbulents. We see others around us going under but somehow we’ve managed to catch the current that just steadily pulls us along out of harms way. We may be lucky enough to continue like that for a bit but sooner or later we’re going to brush up against the rocks. We might even feel as if we're drowning as we are unable to avoid getting sucked beneath rapids and struggle to the surface gasping for air. If we’re lucky, in the next few times around the bend, we might be able to catch our breath. We feel lucky to maneuver ourselves away from the crushing weight of the waterfalls, large and small, we see along the journey.

As we go round and round, with each turn of the wheel, we learn to adapt. We try different positions to discern how to place ourselves so that we float along as stable as possible. We stretch and strengthen our muscles to avoid the rocks and waterfalls. We keep an eye on the horizon so we might manage to avoid chaos and not get stuck in log jams. We wear protective covering to ward off direct hits we might not avoid along the way. And sometimes, if we look for it, gifts present themselves during the struggle, and it is oh so important to embrace those moments in gratitude.  I am grateful.  I am grateful.  I am grateful.

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Posted by on in SageWoman Blogs
Natures Finest Medicine - Wheatgrass

While visiting the local Farmers Market today, I noticed a great addition to the growing easy ups. This new vendor just sold freshly grown hers.  You can buy the herb picked or planted,  I was particularly drawn to the Wheatgrass display.  It looked so fresh and healthy I decided to share some of the interesting benefits shared by the vendor.

Wheatgrass is one of the most potently healthy substances on earth. Yet for some reason it is still not mainstream – even though there are thousands of wheatgrass benefits that are so clear and felt so quickly. A few of the benefits really caught my attention. Did you know that Wheatgrass can cause gray hairs to vanish; clear Rosacea; and get rid of bad breath?

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Recent Comments - Show all comments
  • Paola Suarez
    Paola Suarez says #
    Shared this post on my Goddess Spiral Health Coaching FB page (http://www.facebook.com/GoddessSpiralhc). Thank you for providing a
  • Tammye McDuff
    Tammye McDuff says #
    Thank you very much for sharing Paola!
  • SophiaDawn
    SophiaDawn says #
    Thanks for the great info. I recently started growing wheat grass and selling the juice shots at my shop. It has been a learning
  • Tammye McDuff
    Tammye McDuff says #
    I used it in the past as a hit and miss - but after doing the research and speaking to the vendor - I will be including it much mo
  • Lizann Bassham
    Lizann Bassham says #
    Wonderful post! Reminds me to get some at the Farmer's market tomorrow!

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