Antipandemonium

A World Out of Balance – Announcing a Series about the Issues of Our Time

Posted on February 9, 2011 by bonniejpreston

When I started this blog, I intended to post once a week on something relevant to the four dimensions of our individual lives, with a 5^th thrown in regarding our relationships.

But over the past few months, it has become more and more obvious to me that we have huge issues and neither the government nor business are going to help us. Besides, they have caused so many of our problems, any solution they offer is highly suspect.

This means we must help ourselves. Fortunately, in the age of social media and connectivity, this is easier than ever. As with most things, you need to make a commitment – schedule some time each day or each week and educate yourself.

Don’t worry – I’m going to help you! Really.

In order to educate yourself, you need solid information – which many people find hard to come by. No surprise, when politically backed think-tanks and corporate-funded special interest groups are behind a steady stream of misinformation, it’s hard to know what to believe.

Mass media isn’t much better. They are also backed by corporate dollars these days.

But I have found good information out there about the real problems we are facing as a nation and a world. I am sharing it with you because I am hoping that those of you who read this will explore what I am offering up, and then (like that old Faberge commercial from the 1970’s) you tell a few friends – and that they will tell a few friends, and so on, and so on, and so on.

Maybe we can create a critical mass that will move us closer to solutions. I am hopeful.

I am much more comfortable as an rabble-rouser than I am as a “sage” offering advice on how to have a balanced life – even if I believe I’ve done a fairly good job of achieving balance in a world out of balance.

So, the hell with my original idea. I will still write and post about things that can help you find balance, but I’m also going gather information on critical issues, absorb it, and abstract it in the hope that the knowledge will spread – quickly.

Because for some of the issues we face, we do not have a lot of time to do something.

I’m starting with food – the reason for this choice should be obvious in my upcoming post.

I will also write about education, the environment, climate change, globalization/sustainability – any critical issue that we face today.

I do not have solutions to problems in these areas, but there are people who do. I am hoping to shine more light on them in order to create that critical mass – the one in which the solutions will be found.

I sincerely hope you will join me.

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Kettlebells – Why I Love Them and Why You Should Try Them

Posted on February 6, 2011 by bonniejpreston

If you pay any attention to the weather, then you know that the Dallas area has been in a deep freeze over the past week, along with many parts of the rest of the country.

This is very unusual for us. When it stays this cold, this long, we have things like Hard Freeze, which means you need to open your cabinets and let water drip from faucets and shower heads in order to prevent the pipes from freezing. Fun stuff like that

So, during the past week, I was stuck in my house. I did not leave from Monday evening until Saturday afternoon, when it warmed up enough to clear ice from the streets -ice which had been covered with a 4-5 inch layer of snow.

For someone like me, who enjoys the privilege of a corporate fitness facility and makes it there every weekday morning at about 6:00 AM, not being able to get there might seem like a problem. But it is no problem for me because I have a nicely stocked home gym.

And just this past week, I added a kettlebell and some kettlebell DVDs to my equipment and DVD collection. So this week I got to use them for the first time – and I LOVE them.

What is a kettlebell? Glad you asked. Although many of them come with the bell encased in a bright plastic coating (different colors depending on the weight of the bell), the basic kettlebell looks like a black cannon ball with a handle.

So – unlike a dumbbell – you can use this thing in many creative ways to combine weight training, cardio, and stretching/flexibility. The handle is the key to the bells versatility.

The greatest advantage of using a kettlebell is that the exercises engage the entire body, and improve functional fitness – that is, your ability to perform tasks you do every day.

In short – it’s a balanced workout!

The program I’m using is Kettleworkx™ (http://www.kettleworx.com/). It is well recommended and after using it for a week, I can personally endorse it as a great way to start working with kettlebells.

For people who are not used to working out, the basic 3X a week routine contained in the basic DVDs probably works very well. Every other day, you do the exercises on one of 3 DVDs – Core, Resistance, and Cardio. Each routine begins and ends with a warm-up and cool down. Always warm up and cool down – it’s important for preventing injury.

Although each of these DVDs contains a different emphasis, many of the exercises are the same from one to the other – and the creator of the program, Ryan Shanahan, LOVES squats. After my first workout (which you will note is called “Core” – so I’m thinking abs), my quadriceps were on fire.

I ordered supplementary DVDs, so on the second day, I thought I’d give my quads a rest and do the “Arms and Shoulders” DVD. More squats! Granted, the emphasis is on the upper body, but even the warm-up has squats so get ready for rock hard quads, hamstrings and glutes (which is fine with me!)

The Kettleworkx™ program runs 6 weeks if you follow it exactly. Each of the basic DVDs has a program that, in this first week, consists of two sets. No doubt that will increase over the next 6 weeks.

My plan is to do Kettleworkx™ in the morning, first thing, before I leave for the fitness center at work. Once I am there, I will do walking or running intervals on the treadmill, or some work on the elliptical.

My plan is as follows: Mon – Core; Tue-Arms and Shoulders; Wed-Resistance; Thu-Butt and Hips; Fri-Cardio; Sat-Chest and Back; Sun-Legs and Thighs.

This is the plan I followed this first week, and my legs are killing me. But it’s a great all around program, and frankly, I can use a rest from counting reps and sets! The DVDs take care of that for me.

The recommendation is that most women start with a 5 lb. kettlebell – men with 10 lbs. However, as with dumbbells, most of us have some body parts that are stronger than others. Like most women, I have strong legs, but my upper body can’t handle the same level of weight as my lower. I could easily handle a 10 lb. bell on some exercises, but for others, the 5 lb. bell works well – but I can see this changing quickly.

Rather than buying a bunch of bells at different weights, I intend to do the same thing I did when I purchased my own personal dumbbells – PowerBlocks! (http://www.powerblock.com/)

If you are not familiar with PowerBlocks, allow me to enlighten you. PowerBlocks makes dumbbells (and, as it turns out, kettlebells) that can take you from 3 to 20 lbs per hand (The Sport 2.4 set – which is what I own) or 5 to 50 lbs. per hand (the Sport 5.0). There are additional sets, but you get the idea.

Lucky for me, there are two versions of the PowerBlock Kettlebell – the KettleBlock 20 (5, 8, 12, 16 and 20 lb increments) and the KettleBlock 40 (8, 12, 16, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 increments). http://www.powerblock.com/Kettleblocks.php

The beauty of these bells is that you can adjust from one weight to another very quickly between sets of exercises, so if you are moving from something that challenges your lower body to an upper body exercise, you can lower the weight in seconds and continue.

Obviously, they also take up less space than a range of kettlebells, and in the end, probably cost less than buying multiple bells individually. But the best part is being able to move to the next challenge without having to go out and buy a bigger bell! Set yourself up for success and you’re re likely to actually get there.

With that in mind, when I ordered my Kettleworkx™ kit, I requested the Level Two program as well. That means once I have mastered the Beginner’s Program, I can keep on going to the next level – again, setting myself up for success in advance.

For now, I will stick to my little 5 lb. bell and ask my family to chip in for the PowerBell for my birthday, which is at the end of this month.

Now that I have been through all the workouts included in my new kit, I am already looking forward to my Monday morning workout – Core. I will let you know at the end of the first 6-8 weeks what kind of progress I’ve made. In the meantime, if you can find a kettlebell class and give it a try on your own, I can highly recommend it!

“Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity.” John F. Kennedy

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Jack LaLanne – The Epitome of a Balanced Life

Posted on January 24, 2011 by bonniejpreston

“The most important person in the world is you. You came into this life alone and you’re going to leave it alone. But in between, make the rest of your life the best of your life.” Jack LaLanne, Live Young Forever

One of my personal heroes, Jack LaLanne, passed away yesterday. Frankly, it shocked me. Jack was one of those people I expected to go on forever!

If you have no idea who I am talking about, Google Jack LaLanne. Jack was a pioneer of the fitness movement. He invented many of the machines we see in fitness centers today, including the Smith machine. He is responsible for Bally’s. His last contribution to health and fitness was his Juicer!

I am old enough to remember Jack in my living room in the 1950’s, in his jumpsuit and ballet slippers, doing “Jumping Jacks”. I remember his white German shepherd, Happy. (Years later, the first dog I ever owned myself was a white German shepherd – inspired by Jack!)

I have always been interested in health and fitness. The interest eventually developed into a passion. Jack LaLanne was a trusted source of inspiration, motivation and information. He was ahead of his time. Watching him and listening to him, you just knew he was telling you the truth. He walked his talk, so he was completely credible.

One of the things I always found most fascinating about Jack – and something that many people apparently don’t know – is that Jack didn’t really like to exercise. He did it because he liked the results. I have been inspired by this many times – the man many consider the “godfather of the fitness industry” did not like to exercise – but he did it anyway! In other words, he led by example. He WAS the Nike slogan before there was one – JUST DO IT!

I prefer to do my exercise first thing in the morning because I know that it will get done – but I don’t always enjoy getting out of my nice, warm bed at 5:15 AM to get dressed and get on the road if I am going to the gym – or getting on the treadmill if I’m doing cardio in my own home. Staying in bed, especially on cold winter mornings, is mighty tempting.

When I am tempted, Jack is the first person I think about. His discipline served him well, and I am happy for his example.

I believe that if you want to be successful at something, you should find someone who is already successful at it and just copy them! Why re-invent the wheel? I have been copying Jack for years – and I believe I have a reasonable expectation of living a full life well into my 90’s – and perhaps beyond – because I practice the principles that Jack did. It worked for him!

I am not just copying Jack in terms of getting up to exercise every day. Exercise is rightly called the true fountain of youth, but if you don’t fuel your body properly, the effort you put into exercise won’t matter. A car can’t run without gasoline, no matter how well tuned it is. The body does not run properly without proper fuel. Jack knew all about that – in fact, that is where his journey started – at a Paul Bragg lecture on nutrition.

You’ve never heard of Paul Bragg? Check out the condiment section of your grocery store. I bet you will find Bragg Liquid Aminos All Purpose Seasoning. Great stuff. To learn more, please visit http://bragg.com/index.html.

Dr. Bragg was also a pioneer – also ahead of his time. He was the single biggest influence on the young Jack LaLanne and had it not been for Jack’s mother taking Jack to hear Dr. Bragg speak, the Jack LaLanne we know may never have developed.

While most people might associate Jack with exercise and feats of strength, in his later years he became famous for his Juicer. Jack well understood the importance of nutrition in living a healthy life. After all, it was a lecture on nutrition that turned his life around. Jack understood the synergy of exercise and proper nutrition.

I have stated in this blog that I believe physical health is the foundation of a balanced life – and that it depends upon good nutrition and regular exercise. But there is more to good health and balanced living than diet and exercise – and Jack knew this too. He spoke about it and he wrote about it. He understood the value of a healthy mental attitude, hard work (Jack did not believe in retirement – neither should you!), healthy relationships, and the importance of what some consider the ancillary aspects of fitness, such as stretching, sleep and hydration.

Jack’s last book even included a chapter on healthy habits such as brushing your teeth, bathing regularly, and hair and skin care. Jack understood balance all right – and he understood balance at the whole person level. How anyone could fail to be inspired by this man is beyond me.

Rest in peace, Jack. Thank you for your example of a life well lived. I miss you already.

Posted in Emotional, Mental, Physical, Relational, Spiritual | Leave a comment

Balanced Living When the Wheels Falls Off

Posted on January 18, 2011 by bonniejpreston

I’ve had a rough week. There’s been a major change in my family that happened in a completely unexpected way. I am still trying to process it and come to terms with the new reality. In other words, I am trying to regain order in my life after having a little chaos thrown at me.

So my post is late this week – and it is about how I am attempting to find balance when the wheels have fallen off.

The biggest challenges are mental and emotional. One follows the other. I am trying hard not to over think.

First, I accept reality. The situation has changed and it is what it is. Whether I like it or not, this is the new reality. I must deal with it.

Second, I am not analyzing or speculating – I do not have sufficient information. I intend to perform as much reasonable fact-finding as I can, digest the information, and accept the reality of that information.

Third, I am resisting projection. I do not know what is going to happen and I can’t control the future – no one can. All we can do is respond.

Fourth, I intend to do what I always do when I have a challenge – focus enough attention on myself to keep up my health (both mental and physical) so that I can meet any additional challenges or fallout.

In the physical dimension, I had intended to begin the Body for Life Challenge on Monday, and that is what I did. I prepared my meals for the week and I’ve already executed the first of the weight-training and cardio sessions I have planned. The exercises I intend to do are logged in my journal and I am recording actual against planned. I continue to log my nutrition – you can’t balance your bank account if you don’t record your transactions.

Every weekday morning, once I’ve completed my workout, I will go to work and do my job. There is a welcome relational aspect to most jobs – I will interact with my co-workers. They are an incredibly fine group of people whose intelligence and humor I am grateful for.

When I come home from work, my daughter is not there, but my husband is. We are empty nesters for now, and perhaps from now on. It’s a little sooner than I expected, and the way it happened in no way resembled my expectations – but then, few things in life ever measure up to our expectations. For most experiences, “You gotta’ be there!”

My husband and I did expect some day to return to being just a couple. So here we are. In the emotional dimension, although we are having different reactions to this past week’s events, we have supported and strengthened each other, just as we did when we first came together as a couple.

I have also availed myself of outside help. This is relational – having trusted advisors with whom to reflect. We have a terrific family therapist. I have seen her this past week. She asked me “How are you going to take care of yourself?” My answer was a rather flippant “Chocolate and yoga.”

Well, not so flippant. Dark chocolate and yoga are a great way to comfort myself. I intend to indulge in yoga, and occasionally treat myself to a small piece of dark chocolate. From these two things I can get physical, mental, emotional and spiritual comfort – not a bad deal.

But I also told her I would write. When I said it, I was not thinking about a blog post – but writing for me is therapeutic. I hope that perhaps for some who read it, it will also be instructive.

In order to retain balance when the wheels fall off, I need the structure of my regular routine and the strength of my relationships, punctuated by the occasional treat and the ability to express myself creatively. This is how I keep on keeping on.

Posted in Emotional, Mental, Physical, Relational, Spiritual, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

A Balanced Life in the Face of the Shooting of Gabrielle Gifford

Posted on January 9, 2011 by bonniejpreston

My weekend started out as it usually does, with the weekly grocery shopping. I usually enjoy these excursions, as my husband is a funny guy and generally something amusing happens. I was not disappointed yesterday.

At some point during the outing, I checked in on Twitter. In Tucson, AZ, Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford was shot, along with 20 other people. 9 of the other people died, including a 9-year-old girl.

My pleasant Saturday shopping excursion had been turned on its ear in the blink of an eye.

Aside from checking in on CNN when we arrived home yesterday afternoon, I have not watched anything on TV about this incident. After watching the trending on Twitter for the rest of the day yesterday, and a bit this morning, I have largely stayed off. And aside from posting some pictures of the snow in North Dallas this morning out on Facebook, I have not spent much time there today.

My thoughts are these.

If you are fed up with the divisiveness of the politics in our country, do not be divisive.

This is not always easy. I know this because I am, by nature, a confrontational individual. I enjoy a good debate, and I often take a devil’s advocate position to keep the confrontation going. Confrontation in the interest of bringing opposing points-of-view together for comparison can be a good thing. We resolve issues by discussing them. And in this country, at this time, we have a lot of serious issues that need good discussion.

However, although what one hopes to get out of discussion is dialogue, what often happens is division. People are so emotionally invested in their own point-of-view that they simply can’t stand listening to someone else’s. Sometimes they can’t even admit that there actually is another point-of-view. Civility breaks down and before you know it, you’ve got a fight going.

When a discussion degenerates into a fight, no one listens to a thing. And no issue will be resolved.

One thing that will happen in the aftermath of the shootings in Tucson is a debate about gun-control. It has already started. This is an issue with deep emotional roots. It will get ugly. This is not a good time to be having a discussion about such an emotionally charged issue.

Another thing that will happen is discussion and debate on the divisiveness in American politics. This may get ugly too. It is also an emotionally charged arena. If the discussion can remain civilized, it’s one we need to have. Otherwise, this subject may also need to remain off-limits until we can all cool down.

So, how do we find balance in a world where such violence occurs on an all too regular basis?

I believe there are two things we can do right now that will promote balance. The first is to make a choice to stay out of the fray and reflect. The world does not need my two cents on these issues. I advise avoiding the urge to join in the battles to come, at least until after a time of reflection – especially if you are passionate about your point of view.

I intend to reflect on the lives that are gone, and the lives that will be forever changed by this incident, especially on the life and loss of Christina Green, the 9-year-old girl among the dead in yesterday’s event. This was a young life already well-lived, with the hope of tremendous promise. And now it is gone, in an instant.

The second thing we can do is practice extreme gratitude. Be grateful for the people in your life. Hug them every chance you get, especially the children in your life. Tell them “I love you” and “I appreciate you” and keep on telling them. These are small actions but they are tremendous forces for good.

I believe if we used these words and took these actions more often, we would read far fewer of the headlines we were confronted with this morning.

“You must be the change you want to see in the world.” Mahatma Gandhi

Posted in Emotional, General, Relational | Leave a comment

Happy New Year – What’s For Dinner?

Posted on January 2, 2011 by bonniejpreston

Food is a subject near and dear to my heart. I don’t consider myself a “foodie”, but I do love to eat, and I love good food well prepared. I like my food as fresh as possible, and I tend to stay away from processed food as much as I possibly can. It is a little more work in some cases, but it is worth it, for many reasons.

If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to “go on a diet”, I hope you will consider the following:

Eat out less – better yet, commit to eating dinner at home 6 days a week
Eat less processed food (which leads to number 3)
Eat more whole food (food as close to nature as possible, with no additives or preservatives)
Lean more towards vegetables, fruits and grains, and less towards meat, poultry and fish

In my own life, this is how I try to live. This is not to say I am always successful, but I place a high value on my health, and I have learned that the two greatest factors in the state of my health are 1) diet and 2) exercise.

I have very personal reasons for the choice to make health my first priority. I was adopted as an infant. Consequently, I do not know my Medical History. I have no idea what possible diseases or tendencies run in my family. So I am playing it safe – I am doing everything I know to avoid anything that is brought about by poor diet and lifestyle choices.

And make no mistake – most of the health issues we see rising in this country and around the world are caused by poor diet and lifestyle choices (aided by some very smart marketing executives and well-paid lobbyists in Washington, D.C.!). Do not be deceived – there is much you can do to avoid many of the conditions and diseases people have come to believe are just part of life.

For instance, the following nutrition-disease links are well-known:

Calcium and bone health
Sodium and hypertension
Saturated Fat and cancer/coronary heart disease
Fiber and cancer/coronary heart disease prevention
Fruits & Vegetables and cancer prevention
Alcohol and liver cancer

With the Human Genome Project, the science of nutrigenomics (the effects of food on gene expression) has proven scientifically the relationship between whole foods, or elements of whole foods, and disease prevention. It has also shown that whole foods work synergistically. For example, the benefits of combining various vegetables in a salad are greater than eating a single vegetable, because the nutritional elements of each vegetable work together. Even the best multi-vitamin-mineral tablet cannot duplicate Mother Nature’s storehouse of nutrition.

There is also a relationship between the ingredients in processed food and disease:

Trans fat and heart disease, cancer, digestive disorders,
High Fructose Corn Syrup and cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes and hypoglycemia
White sugar and obesity, cancer and diabetes
Artificial sweeteners and cancer and metabolic syndrome
MSG (monosodium glutamate) and nerve damage and vision loss

The following link is an excellent source of information on the top ten additives to avoid and why. http://www.foodmatters.tv/_webapp_427697/Top_10_Food_Additives_to_Avoid

I am fond of repeating something I heard from Dr. Mitra Ray (http://drmitraray.com), a biochemist and health activist. Processed foods contain ingredients to extend shelf life – that is, they retard spoilage by deterring bacteria. If bacteria will not eat a food, why would you? The best example of an illustration of this is the Happy Meal that did not decompose after 6 months. You can see it here. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1319562/McDonalds-Happy-Meal-bought-Sally-Davies-shows-sign-mould-6-months.html.

Is this something you want to eat – or to feed to your children?

And speaking of what you are feeding your children, check out the difference between the Nutri-Grain Cereal Bars sold in the U.S. and those sold in Europe. http://www.fooducate.com/blog/2010/12/02/nutri-grain-fake-color-and-why-do-american-kids-deserve-less-than-europeans/

After reading these articles, it should be clear that while food companies go to great lengths to convince us that they are interested in our health, they are much more interested in our money. They are, after all, in business to make money. But the rise of dietary disease parallels the rise of the “food businesses” of the 20^th century.

Before industrialization, we mostly grew our own food and ate it before it spoiled. There are movements advocating that we return to a simpler food model, notably the “Slow Food” movement (http://slowfood.com/) and not merely for dietary reasons linked to disease prevention – it’s also an environmental issue and a political one as well. Don’t believe me? Read this article about corn – http://www.corporateknights.ca/article/killer-kernel.

Food, as an issue, is complex. Food as nutrition, at least for me, has become simpler as I have gotten older. The best diet, and the one I try hard to adhere to, is the one found in the opening line of Michael Pollan’s book “In Defense of Food”.

“Eat food, not much, mostly plants.” (http://michaelpollan.com/reviews/how-to-eat/).

I have moved closer and closer to a vegetarian diet with each passing year. There is so much evidence that it is the optimum diet that it’s hard to ignore. Even Weight Watchers has moved in the direction or “more plants” with its new program, PointsPlus+ (http://www.weightwatchers.com/).

If you want to try going vegan, The Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine has a wonderful program that will help you: http://pcrm.org/kickstartHome/.

If at this time of year you have determined that it’s time to get your nutritional intake in order, please consider my suggestions, especially the one regarding dinner at home 6 nights a week. In addition to being a great way to spend time with family and friends, it’s a great way to try new recipes, control more of what you eat, and cut the cost of eating out.

Best of health to you in 2011!

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Steps to a Balanced Life – Resolution and Execution

Posted on December 26, 2010 by bonniejpreston

If you don’t know where you are going, you will probably end up somewhere else.

~Lawrence J. Peter

It’s the time of year when most people are making their New Year’s resolutions. Does the very idea of making resolutions stir up bad feelings about unfulfilled resolutions of the past? It does for most people. We start off with an idea, jump in full steam ahead, but within a few weeks, we lapse back into our comfortable patterns. Many wonder, why bother?

May I suggest an alternative? Don’t make any resolutions this year. Develop goals and makes plans instead!

Many people go through their lives allowing life to just sort of happen to them. Although it is true that there is much life over which we have no control, we control ourselves. And when it comes to our physical bodies, our mental abilities, our emotional states, our spiritual maturity, and our relationships with friends, families, and colleagues, it pays to establish goals, develops plans for achieving them, and then executing tasks on a regular basis to make progress towards achieving those goals.

If, for you, this is a new idea that sounds overwhelming, don’t try to do it all at once. Pick one or two of the dimensions to concentrate on in 2011, and decide where you want to be on December 31, 2011.

As I have stated previously, I recommend starting with the physical. There are many good reasons, but the one I think is most important is that if you improve your physical health, everything in your life will improve along with it. You get a big bang for your buck with improvements in this dimension – and so do the people with whom you come in contact.

By now, I hope you have assessed where you are. Perhaps your physician has told you that you need to lose weight. Maybe you have noticed you aren’t climbing those stairs as easily as you used to – and that you are winded sooner. Maybe you have clothes of different sizes in your closet and you’re looking at adding a new, larger size soon. Maybe you want to run a race this year – perhaps a marathon.

Whatever it is, pick a physical goal and start breaking the achievement of the goal into manageable pieces. You may have heard the acronym S.M.A.R.T. – Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Realistic, Time-bound. Please see this web page for a great explanation. http://topachievement.com/smart.html

For instance, if you want to lose 50 pounds, you could determine to lose a pound a week for the next year. In order to do that, you will need to calculate how many calories you can eat every day, and plan your daily meals. Or perhaps you will join a program (I recommend Weight Watchers based on personal experience) and make the commitment to a weekly meeting and daily tracking.

The point is that you can decide what you want to do, plan your steps, and execute tasks every single day to move you closer to where you want to be one year from now. All you need to do is spend a few hours determining your goals, planning, and then doing something every day to move towards the achievement of your goals.

Execution is key – there is no point coming up with goals and plans if you are not prepared to execute them. Breaking your goals down into steps is essential in making progress towards your goals. On the other hand, if you have daily goals and fail to execute, there is little point in beating yourself up about it. Just move the daily goal to your next day and make another attempt to cross it off your list.

If you fail to accomplish a daily task after several attempts, it’s probably not something you are really committed to – you might need to go back and look at your annual goals. Is this task related to something you really want to achieve this year – or is it more of a dream at this point?

There is nothing wrong with dreams, but we are only here for a finite period of time. And time is really our most precious commodity. Once spent, we don’t get it back. Take time this week to make sure you are living your life on purpose. You will look back to this week in 2010 from a completely different perspective on December 31, 2011 if you plan today for what you want to accomplish in 2011!

If you want to make your dreams come true, the first thing you have to do is wake up.

~J.M. Power

The vision must be followed by the venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps – we must step up the stairs.

~Vance Havner

Don’t say you don’t have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein.

~Life’s Little Instruction Book, compiled by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Posted in General, Physical | Leave a comment

Steps to a Balanced Life – Feeling Good

Posted on December 19, 2010 by bonniejpreston

“You can’t have a perfect day without doing something for someone who’ll never be able to repay you.”— John Wooden

My mother would have agreed with John Wooden. When I was a child, she taught me that doing something for someone else benefits both them and you. Once I actually performed an act of kindness, I understood exactly what she meant. There is nothing quite like the feeling you get when you have made a difference in someone else’s life. Giving makes you feel good!

If you regularly volunteer for or regularly contribute financially to an organization, you already know what I mean.

I know of no better cure for sadness, anger, or depression than volunteering. You simply cannot feel sad, angry or depressed when you dish out food at a local mission, or hold a sick child in a hospital ward, or teach someone how to read, or tend to and stroke an animal that’s been abandoned. At this time of year, it is particularly meaningful.

So if you are feeling down, check your local paper for the nearest mission, shelter or hospital. They need you and doing something for them will make you feel really good! Once you try it, you will be hooked!

I would like to suggest that if you don’t already support an organization or charity that means something special to you, make it a goal for 2011 to find one whose mission really resonates with you, and make a contribution. If you can’t afford a contribution of money, consider volunteering and making a contribution of your time. None of these organizations can exist without both financial contributions and the work of volunteers.

I have contributed to many organizations over my lifetime. The one I have chosen for 2011 is the Ian Somerhalder Foundation (http://www.isfoundation.com). Please click on the link and read their mission statement.

Ian Somerhalder is not the only “celebrity” with philanthropic pursuits, but he may be one of the most hardworking and sincere. What I particularly like about his approach to the work of his foundation is his desire to engage our youth.

I hope you will check it out – there is something for everyone at the IS Foundation, and many ways to make a contribution.

I have created a list of organizations that have worthy missions to get you started in your search for one to adopt as your own if you don’t already have one. http://bonniejpreston.com/4thDimensionEmotional.aspx

If you do have one, and it’s not on my list and you’d like to add it, please contact me and let me know. I will be happy to add it. I’d like to see this list grow and grow.

And always remember that we can give to each other every single day, with a warm smile, a kind word, and a heartfelt gesture.

May you and yours be blessed with health and happiness during this holiday season.

Have a great week!

“No person was ever honored for what he received. He was honored for what he gave.”– Calvin Coolidge

“It is possible to give without loving, but it is impossible to love without giving.”— Richard Braunstein

“The value of a man resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable of receiving.”— Albert Einstein

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Give the “Gift of Health” to Those You Care About!

Posted on December 15, 2010 by bonniejpreston

Make Holiday Shopping More Convenient and Rewarding…

Give the “Gift of Health” to Those You Care About!

Help your loved ones start the New Year by reducing their risk of cancer, heart disease, and other age-related disorders with a beautiful RED and GREEN carton of Juice Plus+^®, the “whole food nutrition” of 17 fresh, raw fruits, vegetables, and grains in capsules or soft chewables.
Help the “habitual snackers” on your list to “snack healthy” with a delicious can of Juice Plus+^® Complete powder for smoothies. Complete is a delicious 100% plant-based powder that when mixed with water, milk, or juice, can be used for a healthy and nutritious breakfast, to replace a meal, added to a meal to increase nutrition or calories, or as a pre- or post-work-out drink—available in Dutch Chocolate or French Vanilla.
Juice Plus+^® Vineyard Blend is the next best thing to berries and grapes! Concentrated vineyard powders in capsule form or soft chewables, specifically formulated with cardiovascular (heart and circulatory) health in mind!
Juice Plus+^®alsooffers an awesome program for children age 4 years through college students called the Children’s Health Study! When an adult sponsor signs up as a Preferred Customer, the child can receive either the Juice Plus+^® capsules or soft chewables absolutely free for up to three years!

All of these healthful, quality gifts are available to you as a Preferred Customer at NSA’s discounted prices, and they are shipped directly to your home (price includes shipping)!

Make holiday shopping more meaningful for you and healthful for your loved ones! Visit my Website to find out more about Juice Plus+® and to order: www.bonnie4juiceplus.net or email me at bonnie@bonniejpreston.com.

BEST WISHES FOR A HAPPY, HEALTHY HOLIDAY SEASON AND 2011!!!

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Steps to a Balanced Life – Question Your Thinking

Posted on December 12, 2010 by bonniejpreston

“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” Wayne Dyer

Have you noticed lately that people seem to be thinking less rationally? As an example of what I mean, I offer this: http://www.newsweek.com/photo/2010/08/24/dumb-things-americans-believe.slide1.html

Feel free to review the article in its entirety later. For now, here are a few of the highlights:

41% of American’s believe in ESP.
4 in 10 American’s believe there will be “death panels” with health care reform.
41% of Americans believe Saddam Hussein was involved in the 9/11 attacks.
In 1990, 20% of Americans believed the Sun revolves around the earth.
50% of American’s do not know that Judaism is older than Christianity.
American’s can generally name more of the 7 Dwarfs than the Supreme Court Justices.
63% of young Americans can’t find Iraq on a map. 9 out of 10 can’t find Afghanistan on a map, even if the map is limited to Asia.
3 out of 4 Americans can identify the 3 Stooges as Larry, Moe and Curly, but cannot identify the 3 branches of the US Government as legislative, executive and judicial.
Obama is not qualified to be President because he was not born in the United States (and this was reported again as recently as 12/8/2010!) http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2010/12/luke-scott-luke-scott-birther-baltimore-orioles.html
Rep. John Shimkus telling us all that we don’t need to worry about climate change because God will take care of it! http://www.utne.com/Wild-Green/Climate-Change-Isnt-a-Threat-God-Said-So.aspx

And my personal favorite: http://washingtonscene.thehill.com/in-the-know/36-news/3169-rep-hank-johnson-guam-could-tip-over-and-capsize

11. Rep. Hank Johnson thinks Guam may tip over and capsize!

It is far too overwhelming a prospect to find all the people out in the world with erroneous beliefs and attempt to enlighten them. However, this appears to be a growing trend, and as a way to combat it, I am going to suggest that we each, individually, do three things: 1) examine our own thinking; 2) confront reality; and 3) mind our own business.

This is not meant to be insulting. Please allow me to explain what I mean.

No doubt you’re thinking “none of the stuff on this list applies to me.” And hopefully, it doesn’t. But ask yourself if any of the thoughts listed below have crossed your mind:

“There’s not enough time.”

“My kids should listen to me.”

“There shouldn’t be war in the world.”

“People are destroying the environment.”

“Women shouldn’t be so emotional.”

“I am right”.

You get the idea. We are all victims of our own irrational thinking from time to time. We develop our beliefs over time and we come by them honestly, usually as we are growing up, in our households, from loving parents who want the best for us. But somewhere along the way, some of the beliefs we’ve adopted stop working for us. They start to cause problems. They start to cause stress, or anxiety, or depression.

The first step to fixing a problem is recognizing that there is a problem. It is very difficult to recognize our own irrational thinking patterns. It takes introspection, discipline and a very healthy dose of humility.

But it is so worth it. If you can both confront reality and mind your own business most of the time, you will experience a lot less stress in your life. I know this is true based on my own personal experience.

Let’s take one of the statements above and “analyze” it. “There shouldn’t be war in the world.” Nice thought. But what is the reality? The reality is that there has always been war in the world. However much we want there not to be, or think that there should be peace, the reality is there is war. To argue with reality causes stress. There is nothing wrong with working towards peace – it is a truly noble goal. We should all be working towards peace and getting our thinking straight as a way to eliminate conflict.

In the meantime, we need to acknowledge that there is war. To do otherwise is to ignore reality – something a rational person would not do.

Another thought – “My kids should listen to me.” What parent does not believe this? But what is the reality? Do your children always listen to you? Or, like most kids, do they push the boundaries in their attempts to grow up? This is trying for parents (and kids) but it is normal. How else will they grow? We worry, and we say they “should” do this and that – but they don’t.

Again, this is about facing reality. The reality is that kids do not always do what we ask them to do. If you walk around continually saying “my kids should listen to me” but they still don’t, you are not facing reality – you are fighting it.

Our irrational thinking patterns come with emotional consequences. Thinking precedes feeling. For instance, if you think “My kids should listen to me”, how do you feel when they don’t? No doubt you experience a range of emotions – frustration, anger, sadness, anxiety. These feelings are often accompanied by physical sensations. They are usually stress-related, and this is not good news.

Take a different perspective and try to imagine how you would feel if you did not believe the thought “My kids should listen to me.” Chances are, if you can imagine not believing this thought, you can also imagine not feeling frustrated and angry. You can also probably imagine that you might treat your kids differently.

Of course, this is just an example and I am not suggesting that we all become disengaged parents who don’t care about our children. I am only suggesting that there is a relationship between fighting against reality and our mental health. In order to get balance, we have to get a handle on reality and stop fighting with it.

The other magical thing about confronting and accepting reality is that you quickly see that you have been trying to mind someone else’s business. In my example, you are trying to mind your kids’ business. Our children will not always behave the way we want them to or think they should. We need to accept that. That doesn’t mean we condone or approve of all behavior – but we need to stop fighting reality and think clearly.

There is a wonderful resource available to everyone that I have found very beneficial to getting my thinking straight and more balanced. It is called “The Work” and was developed by a woman named Byron Katie. I recommend it to people who want to find peace of mind and improve their thinking.

Please visit http://www.thework.com. Check out the resources page, particularly the “Little Book”, which is a wonderful explanation of “the work”, instructions for doing it, Emotions and Reactions List, and Universal Beliefs. There are also video clips of Katie actually doing the work. They are instructive and some are fun to watch.

“The Work” is much like the “Body for Life” program. Both are simple, but not easy, and they describe what I believe are foundational principles for good health – mental and physical respectively.

In closing, borrowing from the Emotions and Reactions List from “The Work”, if you feel angry, depressed, confused, helpless, indifferent, afraid, hurt, sad or judgmental, I hope you will take the time to investigate “The Work”. If you do, you will soon be on your way to feeling Open, Loving, Happy, Interested, Alive, Positive, Peaceful, Strong, and Relaxed – regardless of what is going on with the people and in the world around you.

Have a wonderful week!

Posted in Emotional, Mental | Leave a comment