$3 for a friend?

$3 for a friend?

Welcome back, friend!

There's magic in the way life unfolds and tries us. This short article is about a pair of shoes: a pair of shoes that tried my heart and made me think of how common, embraced and loved 'stealing'/benefiting from others has become nowadays, even among the 'holy' ones.

These few last weeks I decided to inspect my shoes collection and simply get rid of those that I haven't used more than once in the last couple of years. (Ps, I do love my shoes and before moving to Alaska I had already given many pairs away, except those darlings that even if I did not wear, I so totally loved).

So I posted these shoes on a website and people pressed the 'like', but not the 'buy' button. I waited for a week or so, then re posted with a price reduction/or best offer. This time I also prayed for buyers.


So, there was this lady that said she wanted my new pair of shoes, but omitted to include when she was going to come and get them. I waited for like a day for her to just tell me she was coming to get them, then I decided she was not a serious buyer, so I made the shoes 'available' on the website again. Within minutes, she wrote that she was coming in few hours to get them.  I was making dinner when the door bell rang and there was a very young, cute lady, with a foreign accent, giving me $20 for the shoes. I did not expect not to be given the exact amount ($15), so  I hurriedly looked for change in my purse, then in my husband's, checked any jackets and pants pockets, but all I found was $2. I said sorry, that's all the change I have right now;  the lady said it was OK: she loved the shoes and did not mind it at all. And then I wished her to enjoy the shoes and off she went, and back I was to my baking.


Covered in flour and stuff, I started to process the fact that she paid more for something I promised her for less. She said she did not mind, but...if I had found 5$ change in my wallet, she would have taken it. It did take me few seconds to realize that I benefited from the situation, and she lost. None of us planned to lose or win, it's just happened. It was not fair, I know, but we complain all the time that life is not fair, aren't we? And then I asked myself: Am I that kind of person who just lets things happen or do I take full responsibility and choose to make things happen? Was I responsible for shorting this lady with 3$? The more I thought about it, the more I decided that yes, even with her blessing, I benefited from her.

I am a giver, so I did not feel good about it. I thought about how many people benefit from other people, just because it is so easy, so comfortable and doesn't apparently  hurt any of them from in the front place. I was thinking of how many people nowadays just get something that is not rightfully theirs: people that have their friends do things for them for free, parents that forget to pay the babysitter or always have less cash than what they agreed on. I even struggle with people that complain all the time - it feels to me like they always expect and think they need more than they have. This 'I need more' makes me feel like they're thinking 'I need more of what you have right now, give it to me!'

Well, the end of my story is that I contacted the lady and went and dropped the change I owned her.  She was so impressed by my gesture and I found out that she has two children and is a stay home mom. I know how it is to be on one military income as a family, so with two children that would obviously be more challenging. To say the least, I just felt so happy and relieved to learn that I should never take lightly even the small things (those that we always forget to care about). I promised myself one again that I will be at least fair even in small things. Later in the week, the lady invited me to her house for Filipino snacks and coffee. I gained a potential friend just by being fair. I wonder how many of us 'lose' potential friendships just because we can't just spare the time and the money of being fair...Since I came here to Alaska, the materialism of people continues to shock me. The truth is, when you are consumed by yourself (what I do not have, what I need to have right now), you are too absorbed to see anyone around you, and you forget everything and everyone, but yourself.

My encouragement for us, today, is that we will be different. Fair people. Happy people. Blessed people. My prayer is that we can spare $3 or a cup of coffee to just be fair. I wonder how many friends and blessed relationship you can get just by being fair. A friend is an invaluable asset, and it might never cost you more than 3$. But sometimes a friendship starts by giving, and not by receiving. Let us not forget that! Let us be fair even in the small things that everyone else is happily ignoring!

Dieting or NOT?

Or loving it?

I often hear friends going on different diets and believing that this one will work, will have to work...because everything else has failed. Most of us have been there, done that...

Hating it?

With every failure, we get depressed and more inclined to indulge in any sort of 'feeling good'
treats who give us some sweetness that would instantly wash off our bitterness. The truth is, dieting is an industry and it is supposed to make big money. It is estimated that Americans alone spend $35 billion a year on weight-loss products. This dieting fashion that's entangling us is not supposed to make us look like Hollywood stars, but rather make us believe you we found the 'recipe' to the 'Hollywoodism'. In fact, the 'recipe' doesn't work:  95% of all the people that lose weight by dieting regain it in one to five years.


And of course that The American National Institute of Health has the solution, while subtly blaming who has failed: "To lose weight, you need to use more calories than you eat. Portion control is the key. When trying to lose weight, you can still eat your favorite foods -as long as you pay attention to the total number of calories that you eat."
I don't know about how you, but I could never eat half of a Reese cupcake or half of a pie (even). If you're mastering the portion-control art, congratulations and I hope you know that you're a rare specimen. Common folks like me, have to carefully prepare my meals, making sure that eating as much as my tummy needs won't make me fat, but full and healthy - this is the secret of sparing myself the pain of counting calories and reducing my portions to some ghostly meal size.

As an avid reader of anything to do with health, nutrition and fitness, I have understood that the human body is designed to gain weight, keeping us ready for any emergencies that would need those extra pounds. The more we starve our bodies, the more our bodies believe there's an emergency happening, turning into our bodies into the 'survival mode' - when actually the body doesn't want to let go or any fat, and also turns into fat whatever food it gets. The secret is, again, in eating foods that keep you full and make you lose weight. 

On the other hand, I do sympathize with The Old Continent ( The New England Journal of Medicine) stating that "Diet without lifestyle change is not enough." 
I embrace this theory  because it approaches the person (me and you)  in a holistic way, taking into account the complex system that makes our lives and lifestyles. When you want to lose or gain weight, please take time to reflect on your health conditions, your exercise life, your eating habits, your stress and body inflammation levels. It is important to be kind to yourself and allow your soul, mind, body time to change. Change happens slowly, so be patient with yourself! 

I'm always hard on myself and hard and I had to learn to be gracious with my body. Getting married to a very gracious man has taught me what grace is. I have learnt to be happy with my faults, to allow myself time to recover and to even relax. I have learnt to admit my faults and cravings, to give in for an occasional, weekly treat or not to beat myself for a daily work I ditched. And I have magically become calmer, more content and more happy with myself in general. More balanced and reasonable, more understanding and more gracious.

Dieting is in the end a fight: the psychological drive is trying to control and suppress the biological drive of wanting and needing to eat. It should not be so as "There is no one solution for everyone, a one-size-fits-all wight loss strategy that works all the time for every person. It is about finding the right diet for you, based on your understanding the unique ways in which your genes and metabolism interact". There are many books and resources that try to explain what metabolism is and how you can turn a 'slow' metabolism into a 'fast' one. Well, just remember that metabolism is the sum of all the chemical reactions in your body, resulting in your health or sickness. The secret is to make your metabolism and body work for your benefit: by eating the right foods for you and by getting into the right exercise too.

Also, keep in mind that there's a parallel increase in inflammation and obesity, like they are connected. Inflammation in the body is the first sign that something is wrong out there - and inflammation should be taken seriously as it can cause auto immune diseases, cancer, obesity. I have experienced inflammation for many years, mistaking it for something else. For my own experience, I have seen how inflammation needs to be dealt with before anything else. The number one inflammatory trigger nowadays is modern wheat, which was genetically modified and simply can't be processed by our bodies. Keep an eye on this and google 'wheat belly' if you feel like wheat might be your enemy. 

My lessons I have learnt so far:

-Pay attention to your body! Recognize your symptoms and learn how to know what caused them! (start by eliminating any food you think might be guilty for making you fat/bloated etc)
- Do not skip any meals! Eating breakfast is like telling your body to wake up and start to burn more calories than it does into the 'sleeping mode'.
- Eat lots of vegetables, meat, and some fruit. If no weight loss is happening, cut on grains (wheat) and fruit.
-Clean your kitchen: bin all sources of sugar and refined food (bleached flour too). It is sugar that makes us fat. 
-Learn how to read labels! Any food package that has a long list of ingredients is a non buy, also any ingredients that you're not sure how you should pronounce are either preservatives, additives or MSGs, something that a good looking person will never buy - stay away!
-Drink plenty of water and hopefully daily lemon hot water (for detoxing your liver). Most people can't distinguish between thirst and hunger, so just to make things safe, they eat whenever they feel like they need anything.
-Work out every day. It has been proved that 30 minutes of exercise ....3-4 times a week can increase your metabolism. One hours of moderate exercise a day is just for keeping you at your present weight. If you are serious about losing weight, learn how to love weights in order to tone up. Muscles burn more calories than fat, so it will work in your advantage to have more muscle than fat.
-Even on your lazy day, give your metabolism a 'boost' by doing squats, going for a jog or just cleaning those windows fervently. 
-Last but not least, breathe in and breathe out every day! Be happy and do not let your happiness evolve around food. Learn how to make healthy treats for yourself, using real ingredients you find at the market (hopefully a locally grown market/farm). There are lots of websites around about clean eating, so why won't you give them a try?

I hope you enjoyed the article, I hope you got inspired towards a healthier and a better looking YOU! Please team up with friends for a 'gorgeous looking' transformation, or ask to join one of my fitness 'challenge' groups that are always up to something!



To anyone interested in understanding more about how you can lose weight and keep it off, I recommend:

'Ultra-Metabolism' by Mark Hyman - best book I have read about health, metabolism and losing weight (and I'm always reading on this subject)

 'The China Study' by Colin Campbell - great book about how certain foods have different nutritional value, about how food can either make you fat and sick, or healthy and fit.



Enjoy your healthy food today!

Are you crippled by fear?

Living in the interior Alaska (red spot on the map) is different than anything before. You experience all sorts of wild fears.




For example, walking around the house instantly sends me in the 'alert' mood, making my senses grasp more noises and smells. The natural beauty of this place cheers my heart and feeds my soul, but the 'avalanche' fears are still there, making me stop and look for wild animals while praying for protection at all times. The scariest it ever got was to be stopped from my 'immersing in the nature awe': by concerned drivers that told me mamma moose is just feet away from me, or by just seeing these huge, beautiful moose with their babies, feeding on grass on the side of the street...My mind stops working instantly and my emotions of fear take over, making me hurry in the opposite direction (which is somehow the longest). Crippled by fear, I start hearing noises I have not heard before and even the wind blowing the leaves gently scares me. I can only say that we need to be careful in handling our fears, as these bundles of emotions and energy can just cripple us, making us paranoid and hear and believe in things that do not even exist.
I







When Sam, our hyper dog, accompanies me, it's even worse. I fear for her impulsive reactions and us ending in some 'mama moose's love hugs...I fear her making the situation worse with her barking at the non familiar animal and her excitement to just meet another animal that might as well become her new 'play' buddy. When all this walk is over, and I am finally in the safety of our home, I can think back how many times having the wrong person next to you just makes you fear more...There are people that are just barking and jumping and do not understand what's going on, but rather make everything worse with their noise...

                  

I love living here...Whatever happens: rain, snow or wind, it is just beautiful all the time. Living inside of this massive block of nature kind of makes me more aware of the majesty of our World: makes me trust more and makes me fear more - all in the same time. 

This place can be lived in a daily awe, or it can just get more and more depressing as the winter approaches...Short, grey days with no sunlight, quiet and serene everywhere - it all looks like frozen postcard of an unreal territory. More than that, it might look like I am damned to develop the only skills of this world: the skills of distinguishing between different wild animals, the skill of baking cookies and sipping on hot chocolate all year long - these all seem like lazy ways of spending some time you don't care about; not real life skills that can take you to the next level we've all been dreaming about. More than that, I do not fancy any of these Alaskan skills, but I'd rather be in cafes and museums, walking around big cities and discovering some hidden historical sites, or would rather be in a dusty library working on a boring university project.

In the end, it all comes to a choice, of course. My choice.
Do I let the environment dictate who I am to be? Do I let my justified or unjustified fears rip me off of my identity, dream or destiny? Do I let the other 'hibernating' people tune me into the hibernation mode and print all over me fears that I didn't even know they existed? Am I brave enough to acknowledge my deepest desires and rise up to them -in spite of everything?And when there's simply no way for any dreams, am I still believing in the One that granted me this life and purposefully situated me where I am? Our roles are vital, wherever we are, and they need us wholly, not crippled away by any fears. 

I'm not a visual learner, but a photo can instantly bring clarity to words.

Everyone has at least one dream that's ahead of them, waiting to be taken over and enjoyed. I see our dreams, desires and ambitions like a mountain that's just there in front of you. Ready for you.

There are two options to choose from: getting close to the mountain and climbing on it, taking it into possession; or walking away from the mountain, deleting it from your memory and heart.



The closer you will get to your dream, the more difficult it will become. There'll be more fears,more tiredness than at the bottom of the mountain.

It is in the law of the universe to experience Resistance every time you attempt something bigger than where you are. The Resistance can be anything that holds you back, and most of the times it is just own own fears of not making it, of getting it all wrong. It is the fear and anxiety you experience when you learn a new skill or try something for the first time. It can be the way we know we're stepping up and doing something that gets us out of sunny and comfortable valley.

Steven Pressfield, an inspirational writer that's been on Oprah's show (see link at the bottom), believes that this Resistance is just part of gravitation. It is like the shadow of a tree. It what accompanies anything and at all times, it is this part of the universe that wants to hold us back from the dream that would take us back.

In our Bible terms, it should be what Paul was referring to when he said that he wants to do good, but something from the inside makes him do the opposite. We're certainly living in a spiritual world where we feel  invisible forces. Doesn't matter what we do and where we go, feelings of fear will try to embrace you and squeeze you in a bear hug for as long as you allow them to. What people forget is that we all fear, most of the times. We fear when we start a new job, when we try a dating website, we fear when we meet new people and we fear even when we try a new cookie recipe. Fear is a reality we feel but we do not see. Fear can become a very powerful reality that can steal away the good reality that God has for you.  We need the power of the fears destroyed, and this is possible only by relying on the One who made you for this very purpose you're walking in. “I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears” (Ps.34:4).

                


As children of God,we need to let go of fear and embrace trust. Trusting in God releases God's power, energy and potential over us. Bearing God's name, entitles us to all his resources and future victories, by faith. Embracing this reality, which is God's reality, will help you stay on your path, pursue your dream and get to the top of that mountain. Your career, future family, future dream - they all bear your name. They're all yours as God designed them to be! 

.
Now just start where you are, just start it! There are no shortcuts, you just need to start as you can.

I find it releasing, friends, that we are all going to experience Resistance any time we dream higher than the visible, than the achievable. I have personally experienced Resistance all the time, especially before I won my biggest battles. The bigger the battle, the bigger the Resistance. Living in the serene Alaska is beautiful, quiet and wonderful as long as you only visit...I'm living here, living my dream of a family, and it has been like a peaceful ooze after the long struggle we had of finally getting together. But now, new dreams are forming up, dreams of a bigger future...Let us all decide to get closer to our dreams with every day that passes by, let us decide today that we will take the step that we've never taken before. By faith. "All things are possible to the one who believes."

See the Super Soul Sunday show with Oprah and Steven Pressfield at the link below AND encourage your friends to rely on the One who changes the perspective!
http://www.oprah.com/own-super-soul-sunday/Super-Soul-Sunday-Full-Episode-Oprah-and-Steven-Pressfield-Video

Dating is like shopping

I have been thinking during the last few weeks that our habits really define us. 
The way we behave here, makes us behave like that there. Everything is interconnected in this whole complex process that makes us individuals - and we can learn more about themselves just by meditating on our habits. 

Dating is like shopping.

So I have come to the conclusion that dating is like shopping. Some people are natural shoppers, but some are not. Some people always find those shoes they had in mind within days, but some have been looking for them for years. 

Why is this so? 

Well, let's look a bit into shopping - my favorite topic always. 
Let's get hypothetical and say that you need those shoes you've been dreaming about...
So you decide to go shopping...

Where and when and how do you shop?

1. Well, if you have the time, the nerves and the fat savings, you go from store to store and mall to mall. You start from here and reach to that far there. You stop wherever you want and buy whatever you want. You enjoy shopping so much, you're so into it, that you totally fall in love with so many things in such a short time...There are just so trendy, look so hot -  you just need to get them right now, while they are still on the hangers. So you buy them...After few hours of shopping (at least) you get home exhausted, poor, but having more dresses, sweaters and shoes now. More is always good, isn't it?

Most of us find ourselves here.We're so enchanted by the colorful world of shopping that we forget what we went there for. We end up with beautiful, sparkling clothes that we do squeeze in the closet, but that we did not need... We've been deceived by the glamorous world of shopping believing that anything would do for now, that anything is better than nothing, that anyone is better than no one...Somehow, dating is like that too. If we have the time, the energy and the disposition, we fall in love with anyone that's around and available..And as the dress that you buy today will always be in your closet tomorrow, the relationship that you develop today will be a part of you tomorrow...
Should we then have a shopping list at least? A dating list with all the 'must have'?


2. Well, if you don't have the time, the nerves or the fat resources, you go straight to the source. You go exactly to your favorite shoes store and use an assistant to help you find what you need. If the shoes are not there, you simply wait and stick around. One day or another, your shoes should arrive.

'All good, none right..'

Some of us are like that. We know what we need, wait for it, while keeping our focus clear and our wallet intact - we will spend as much as needed, but only on the right product and person.
This is a much more focused 'shopping' style and it can usually meet the need we have or get very close to it. 
This 'dating' style pretty much lives by faith,  choosing to stick to the 'must have' list while praying over it and deciding not to go for anything less than the best...Believe me or not, these 'best' are still around and some still single, and if you are focused and stick around for as long as needed, you might just marry them one day, as I did.
Besides having your closet uncluttered and your wallet happy, this 'shopping' style actually spares you some energy and emotions, making you a happier and a more balanced person that those 'date/shopping addicts'.

3. But there are some people that might just want an easier, faster and more convenient 'shopping' way. Maybe these people have been waiting around for a while and their favorite 'stores' simply stopped making those shoes they were looking for. Maybe these people are just too tired or too busy to actually do any shopping. Whatever the reason might be, the good news is: we've go the online shopping (the best thing ever invented)! This online shopping practically brings the world to you. From the comfort of your home, you can look for what you need - and it always saves you time, energy and money!!! Well, it looks like we've pretty much defined online dating too...

You look for a special product, but find so many that seem exactly like what you are looking for. Well, then you read the labels and learn what the product is made from (and where), and also learn the 'maintenance' requirements: how to wash and generally take care of the product. If you like the labels but are still not sure if it is exactly what you need, then you look for some reviews from real people. You read what people say about it and then you take a while to make up your mind. Do you order it or not? Most of us, coming this far, order the product and excitedly wait for it to be delivered. Well, after such a strenuous research, there's a high probability that you will be happy with the product. But the truth is revealed only after the product has been unpacked and you are holding it in your hands. When you see it and try it on. Then, if you are happy with it, if it meets your needs and most of your wants, you are probably going to keep it and put it to good use.

If you are not happy with it, guess what? You can return it. You will be reimbursed and that will be it. You will continue to shop for what you need.

Same is with online dating.
There are lots of 'online' malls and they each custom for different types of 'shoppers'.  You go to this 'online' mall that specializes on dating. If you want an even more focused search, then you choose a 'mall' that reflects your values. A 'mall' that gives you a personal assistant that gets to know you: your personality, your likes and your shopping list. Paying attention to you, the individual, this 'mall' will introduce you to the shopping options that would fit you best. A website like E-Harmony is well known for the personalized dating experience they provide. According to who you are and what you want, it shows you your best 'matches' available. The process is in itself very systematic and the best thing to love about it is: you will only 'meet' people with the same beliefs and life priorities. 

Needless to say, shopping and dating are indeed personal choices, with very personal outcomes as well. I have tried all the shopping and dating style mentioned above -at different stages in my life timeline. We all start in the pretty messy 'experience' shopping style and we grow up and embrace more focused and convenient 'shopping' styles.
 From what I have seen, the online experience has beaten up all the other 'shopping' records. Like pursuing anything else in life, dating is pretty much the same: we need to look at the Provider, the resource, and we then need to find a means to an end -while keeping our identity and purpose. It sounds like something hard to accomplish: it is. Only God's divine fit will embrace yours in that perfect design that will have a greater impact and a bigger dream.



I hope this post has brought some clarity and vision to you. I pray you get inspired to keep pressing for your goal, as is will come...


There’s an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth:True, God made everything beautiful in itself and in its time—but he’s left us in the dark, so we can never know what God is up to, whether he’s coming or going. I’ve decided that there’s nothing better to do than go ahead and have a good time and get the most we can out of life. It’s God’s gift.(Ecceliastes 3)

P.S. These are some good 'follow up' reads on online dating:


http://convergemagazine.com/defence-online-dating-6592/

http://www.oprah.com/relationships/Tips-for-Successful-Online-Dating/1

Thank you for reading the post! Please put some time aside to think about it, discuss it with your friends and share your heart encouraging one another...

Rules on "How to Find the One"

We always want something, don't we? We're always in the position of continuously and routinely 'needing' something, craving for that 'something' that will ultimately 'make' us happy and fulfill us.

And it always comes a time in life when your only need is of a partner. A soul mate. A husband. A wife. A friend and a lover that can be with you forever, enriching you and beautifying you. That will see you as God sees you and love you with that love that will move mountains today and tomorrow. And it seems like the more you 'need' this person, the more it looks like the person doesn't even exist.

It feels like you were procrastinated to be single. And lonely. Alone. Always single.
Your friends fall in love and get married. They are having the best times of their lives (or so they tell you). And you feel 'left out'. You wonder what is wrong with you. You pray even harder and louder. You look over your shoulder every few seconds - just to check the guy behind you off 'the list'. You desperately pray and pray but the heaven is silent. Always silent. Annoyingly silent.

I have felt like that for a long time. I was the last one that met 'the one'. All my friends had met their 'mate' and started happy families. But somehow I was left behind. I felt sad, annoyed, unloved and so lonely. Whenever I acknowledged God, I decided to speak His words into my life over and over again: words of blessings, words of happiness and enjoyment. Words of peace. And then, I relaxed and I let it all go. I was ready to become a nun. Happily, my hubby came along soon after. And everything changed.

I encourage you to reach to your heart and plead to God for what it is there. There will be a time when God will answer. God's answers are "YES" and "A-men".

In this post, I am going to give you few hints of how to prepare to meet the one.  I have years of dating experience (a tiring and a not very satisfying hobby, I tell you) and I have observed many couples meet, interact and blossom together.

So, how should we prepare to meet the one?

"Rules":

1. Stay where you are!

Stay in your calling. Do not flee to greener pastures just because there are no available guys/girls in the circles you move. Do not feel pressured to swap churches and emigrate to places with a higher density of 'the one'. While getting involved in more activities that you feel called to it's advisable allways; please know that God will meet you where you are.  If God gave you a calling and placed you somewhere, then that's where you need to be. You do not need to go and do things that are not 'you', so be yourself and be patient. Stay where you are!


2. Be honest at all times!
Be honest with yourself and with anyone you meet. Being honest with anyone you meet might appear that it leaves you vulnerable (which can easily happen to foolish people). But honesty makes wise and humble people stronger.  Honesty can make you stronger.When you are honest, people are honest to you too. It's a heart thing.  Let them know you as you are; you will see that only some will stick to you. Be thankful for these, they are your team, rely on them!

3. Be open to anything!
Be open to life and what comes with it! Some people preach cautiousness and they sell you this frame of regulations that your future spouse should by all means 'comply with'. What I feel is that dating is such a personal thing that only personal rules should stay valid. You are an individual and you should make your selection based on what you believe in, feel called to and ultimately want to. Being open gives you the benefits of a non judgmental approach -which frees you from any preconceived ideas. This state of mind and attitude makes you fully expectant and recipient of God's unending grace.


4. Do something about it!
It is funny and childish to see people believe that Prince Charming or Princess Juliet will one day just fall off the skies in front of them. It is so funny and intriguing to realize that we prepare for our careers and our house down payment but we never seriously prepare for our married life. As we prepare for a job, polishing up our resume, selecting our clothes and doing our hair, so we should prepare for dating. What matters most in a resume is the skills and knowledge you have - and these have been learnt over a period of many years. What matters most in dating and marriage are matters of heart and character - and these take time to get accomplished too. So this is where your preparation should start: working on these 'life skills' that we'll make you have a blessed life.

Then, just do something: make yourself visible and pleasant wherever you are. Keeping your heart close to God and praying at all times, let your character shine! And you can even try online. It is a bit interesting, but over the last few years most of my friends met their spouses online. Other did through common friends and blind dates. God can use anything and anyone to resource.


5. Wait expectantly!
Waiting should'n be passive and depressing. Waiting should just be a personal preparation for a life in two. Work hard, stay in shape and be beautiful, get involved in church or in whatever your call is. Decide to be the best whatever you do and wherever you are and decide to help others do the same.

The fact is, God works in miraculous ways and He loves making all things new. God wants to give you a special love story that is not like anyone else's. He wants to make your love story unique and He is working on that. So please worship Him, make Him your best friend, pour your heart to Him and be open to receive His gift from Him - it will come!

We have examples in the Bible of might women of God who waited expectantly. I personally love the story of Ruth. Ruth felt called to take care of Naomi and to follow Naomi. She followed her calling and was honest about it. Ruth was open to leaving behind any bit of familiarity and comfort: she left her country for a foreign and poor one. She was open to working hard and she worked hard. But Ruth did not like being a foreigner, a widow and a poor woman in this new country. Ruth decided to change her future and boldly did something that many would not: she humbled herself asking to be helped. And she was did get not only her prayers answered, but she was blessed beyond any of her wildest dream.

So, all my single ladies, there are better times to come, and there are dreams to be fulfilled.
Let's just not praise God for His Sovereignty: 

Wedding cake!!!

34:1 I bless God every chance I get; my lungs expand with his praise.

 I live and breathe God; if things aren’t going well, hear this and be happy:
Join me in spreading the news; together let’s get the word out.
God met me more than halfway, he freed me from my anxious fears.
Look at him; give him your warmest smile. Never hide your feelings from him.
When I was desperate, I called out, and God got me out of a tight spot.
God’s angel sets up a circle of protection around us while we pray.
Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see-how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him.
Worship God if you want the best; worship opens doors to all his goodness.
Young lions on the prowl get hungry, but God-seekers are full of God.
Come, children, listen closely; I’ll give you a lesson in God worship.
Who out there has a lust for life? Can’t wait each day to come upon beauty
Guard your tongue from profanity, and no more lying through your teeth.
Turn your back on sin; do something good. Embrace peace-don’t let it get away!
God keeps an eye on his friends, his ears pick up every moan and groan.
God won’t put up with rebels; he’ll cull them from the pack.
Is anyone crying for help? God is listening, ready to rescue you.
If your heart is broken, you’ll find God right there; if you’re kicked in the gut, he’ll help you catch your breath.
Disciples so often get into trouble; still, God is there every time.
He’s your bodyguard, shielding every bone; not even a finger gets broken.
The wicked commit slow suicide; they waste their lives hating the good.God pays for each slave’s freedom; no one who runs to him loses out. (Ps. 34:1-22 MSG)

He's always holding your hand

Turning 29

I AM turning 29!!!

Now, when I'm approaching my birthday, I've realized that I've never cared much about my birthdays. 
I grew up in a family who didn't make a big deal out of them. We celebrated with cake, juice or ice cream and that was all. We got kisses and hugs from everyone in the family and sometimes my parents used to give us some birthday money (which was nice). I loved the simplicity of it or I kind of grew to love it. I liked how there was no fuss about it and there was no present expectancy. Birthdays were all about being together as a family (and eating cake).

And if I have to think back, there are only few times I did even have a celebration. Birthdays were small priorities and no one planned around them. And life moved on as it always has.

But right now as I'm turning 29, I realize that this is the year of big changes. I will celebrate these big changes that re-shaped my life. I am happy and content not only because I married the smartest, sweetest and most generous man on earth (and I'm not even saying anything about his looks), not only because I enjoy the challenging company of the crazy dog or because I simply love our new house. All these make a delicious bite of the famous 'American pie' but I believe the pie is greater (and bigger) than the slice I am having right now.

So 29 marks the beginning of 'the change'. Recently married, with a husband, a dog and a house to take care of, I sometimes find it hard to believe that it is me 'possessing' all these. I have long given my old self up and I quickly became the person I had to be. I am no longer the urban lady working like a slave 5 days/week, shopping Saturdays and doing church on Sundays. I  became the country housewife who works when she pleases, does weekly grocery shopping with the husband and tries to do church still. My obsession with dresses, shoes and bags instantly had to stop - it was replaced with a passion for healthy family living I guess. It is not about me anymore, it is about the family.

I am no longer praying for a future husband and my purpose in life to make more sense. I love my husband and my purpose in life makes more sense -but not enough yet.

I no longer complain about my job, but I pray I get a job.

I'm no longer the loudest of the group, but I'm the most quiet of any new group.

I'm no longer in charge of anything. And it's quite a relaxing feeling -knowing that I am where God wants me to be it is still empowering. Right now, when all my plans, desires and wishes depend only on God, I can somehow have the freedom to give them all up. I realize it will only be Him making them happen.

Embarking on this journey of starting my life all over again, far away from any familiarity, I decide to trust again in the plan that I do not see. With the many things I still surrender, I find my self dying and my faith growing stronger and wider. In this context of turning 29, I'm experiencing a new re-birth. It is painful and it is worth it. And all I can say is: it is getting better and better! In spite of everything that goes on around the world, God always manages to take us from better to better. Thank you, great and personal Designer!

I will be probably celebrating with tea and cake, so who won't you invite someone over and celebrate the miracle you are walking in? Also, pray for the bigger one that is about to unfold!

Happy cake day everyone!

 

Exercise can affect your genes

So now I am going to shout out loud this word that everyone fears: EXERCISE!!!

What do you feel and imagine when you hear/read the word 'exercise'? Sweat drops touching the ground with the speed of the sound? The classic running on the treadmill like there's a lion chasing you scenario ...and puking sooner than expected? Tired, angry people that drag themselves along to the gym only to feel more depressed by how much they cannot do?

Oh well, we're living in a world where self image is important like never before and where everyone seems to always proudly comment about how fat they are. While I believe there is nothing wrong with acknowledging the true composition of your body and wanting to do something about it, I think that nowadays we use excuses as a form of 'exercise' (and the only 'exercise' unfortunately). And even if not everyone's dream is to be a marathon runner, we all long to like our bodies. As the Holy Bible says, the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit: we are to nourish and take care of our bodies (the body is a temple!!!).

As everyone seems tired of trying the next famous diet, as everyone gets depressed by that pound that just refuses to drop off at our feet, as everyone just gives you that 'you've got one life and you need to enjoy it' grin, we are all just losing hope.

But there is hope. The hope that you have in your spirit (that all things are possible through God who gives us the strength) must be made practical in our day to day life. Where there's a will, there's always a way of achieving it. The fact is that people, scientists, and doctors have been very intrigued by the obesity epidemic which hit the developed countries in the last few decades. While many have linked it to the food we eat and to the static lives we enjoy, obesity remains a complex phenomenon that no one has quite resolved yet.

But, the great news is, there are doctors with a heart for humanity and if they refused to produce a more powerful diet pill, they looked elsewhere for answers. 

Juleen Zierath, a contemporary professor in clinical integrative physiology, was the one who discovered how exercise can change our genes. (And we all know how important genes are today, everyone is out of shape because of bad genes).

Juleen Zierath holds both American and Swedish citizenship and is well known worldwide on the research on metabolism and diabetes. She is a professor of Clinical Integrative Physiology at Karolinska Institute since 2001 and also works at the Departments of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, as well as Physiology and Pharmacology. She is the first female Chairman of the Nobel Committee for Physiology or Medicine, and the Nobel Assembly will make its decision to award the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine on October 7, 2013....so please stay tuned in.

In the study published in Cell Metabolism on 7 March 2012, she discovered how inactive but healthy men and women can change their DNA minutes after engaged in exercise. It is not science fiction, but please keep on reading.

The researchers worked with 14 young, sedentary men, and women and asked them to work out on an exercise bike that measured their maximum activity levels. Researchers compared the muscle-related genes before and after the exercise. After the exercise the participants'  DNA showed less methylation - a molecular process in which some chemicals called methyl groups settle on the DNA and inhibit the cells' ability to switch on certain genes. The more intense the exercise -  the less methylation was shown. The less methylation - the more you help your DNA 'forget' about those fat, bad genes and help your body 'create' fat burning genes. 

In other words, you CAN teach your DNA not to store fat and you can significantly improve your overall fitness levels as long as you engage in high-intensity exercise (your heart needs to pump at an 80% increase of your normal resting heart rate -every gym machine usually has a heart-rate chart displayed, so look up what is 80% for your age).

The high intensity exercise intervals do not need to exceed 20 minutes and do not need to be repeated more than 3-4 times a week. So, you just work hard (heart-rate 80% above normal) but only for 20 minutes and only 3 times a week. This is great news, isn't it? Finally, we are not told to run until we drop (that should only be used for shopping, right?).

I think it is great news seeing science and research coming up with something achievable, doable and effective!!!!!  I think that this theory has been around for a while (Fit Curves and interval training promoters use it) but now we have the scientific research so we can even get eager about trying it out!!

Exercise is already known to induce changes in muscle, including increased metabolism of sugar and fat. Our discovery is that methylation comes first. Our muscles are really plastic (...). We often say "You are what you eat". Well, muscle adapts to what you do. If you don't use it, you lose it and this is one of the mechanisms that allow that to happen. (Juleen Zierath)

There was also research presented at the Integrative Biology of Exercise VI meeting in Colorado last October that demonstrated that high-intensity intervals burn more calories in less time. This research recommends 30 second sprint intervals at maximum exertion, followed by four minutes of light pedaling to recuperate.

So, it is time to exercise! The research is supporting us! 

The high intensity training (that both research studies used) can change our DNA and help us lose fat, and it helps us burn more calories too. There are more health benefits linked to the intensive training, and some of these are insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance, as Dr. Mercola mentions. He also revealed a study that showed that doing only 3 minutes of high-intensity exercise a week, for 4 weeks, can lead to a 24% improvement in insulin sensitivity. Also, 

Another important benefit of high-intensity interval training is its ability to naturally increase your body's production of human growth hormone (HGH0, also known as the 'fitness hormone'. HGH is a synergistic, foundational biochemical underpinning that promotes muscle and effectively burns excessive fat. (...) (high-intensity intervals) also plays an important part in promoting overall health and longevity (...). (Dr. Mercola)

 So, I hope that this was helpful to you and that you're thinking about when to start exercising. I can only add that every journey is different and starting small is still doing something. Sometimes the body needs time to teach you how to breathe when running or it needs time to get to a certain speed and high intensity. The key is to keep exercising at your best - you will always do better and always get better.

Happy exercising planning, everyone!

Exercise is medicine, and it seems the means to alter our epigenomes for better health may be only a jog away (...) (Juleen Zierath)

 

Resources:
http://healthland.time.com/2012/03/07/how-exercise-can-change-your-dna/#ixzz2aOLhKfXa

http://healthland.time.com/2012/03/07/how-exercise-can-change-your-dna/#ixzz2aOMADACl

http://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/abstract/S1550-4131(12)00005-8

http://www.mercola.com/

http://fitness.mercola.com/sites/fitness/archive/2013/05/31/burning-calories.aspxhttp://ki.se/ki/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2766&l=en

http://ki.se/ki/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2766&l=en

http://www.nobelprizemedicine.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PRESS_RELEASE_ENG.pdf

http://erc.europa.eu/succes-stories/exercise-changes-chemical-marks-dna

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550413112000058

Why you should love lemons

Hi, there!

If you are like me and love food, this post is a must read for you! We were created to love and enjoy our food, and this is all good news! But I used to believe that food was 'made' to feed my body, and now I know better: nowadays, food is made to sell and not to meet any nutritional needs. Over the time, I always suffered from a bloated stomach, constipation and sensations of tiredness. It seemed like the more I ate, the worst I felt. No improvement happened until I started to eat more unrefined food, more nature-made food, and not so much man-made food. My 'tummy' symptoms diminished but stayed with me. I found natural pills that relieved my symptoms and gave me the impression that my tummy was healed, except that I was depending on the pills. And I just wanted a pills free life, so I started to search and look for 'that' natural, common, inexpensive 'something' that would help my tummy get a normal shape - meaning helping my stomach and liver get better at doing their daily job.

So my research brought me to the miracle of lemons. And one month ago, I decided to give lemons a try. 

I started to use lemons in anything I could and I drank my hot lemon water every morning.When I woke up I boiled water and squeezed one big lemon in it (I then let the lemon float in the water too). I had this 1 liter hot lemon water in the morning or before any consistent meal, like breakfast.

After one month of daily lemon intake, I can testify the miracle properties of lemons. It is not only that I felt my body being cleansed, it is not only that I got a normal digestion, but also my moods improved and I simply felt energetic and happy!!! (I have not actually had lemons for the last two days and today I told my husband to please buy some lemons on the way home!!! I was feeling miserable and extremely moody and ready to kill ten moose, not only one -for dinner- P.S. We live in Alaska).

The magic is that hot lemon water is diuretic, and taken first thing in the morning, it helps your body with its daily cleanse. A daily detox is simply necessary as the lemon cleanse helps the liver function better.  If we want to be healthy, feel healthy and if we want our bodies to work at their best capacity, we need to care about our bodies daily. And as we all like to clean and beautify our bodies on the outside, why should we not care about what is going inside too? 

 And one of our most important 'insides' is the liver. Everything we eat goes to the liver, whose job is to process the food, get rid of the bad stuff and feed to our cells the good ones. The problem is that most of us are captives of the modern age food trap, consuming highly processed foods - when this happens,  the liver is overworked having to eliminate all these nasty things (which are basically paramount amounts of fats and sugars). By not caring about the nutritional value of our food and eating what it's easy and fast (like ready made meals), we abuse our bodies eating too much of the wrong stuff - then we abuse our liver giving it too much work to do. And as we clean our bodies once or twice a day having a shower, as does the liver need to get his daily cleansing too. 

So please love your body and decide for a daily detox. Hot water with lemon, first thing is the morning, is a great detox and also a great 'morning' start. You will feel better, happier, lighter and your tummy will start to love the scale...a better digestion so does love the scale. I have lost 1 kg in 1 month just by using one lemon/day. Also, I use lemon juice in salads and in pretty anything I can (we don't have any vinegar in the house - it is a personal choice, but some types of vinegar have certain health benefits).


Other Health benefits of the lemons:

You need to consume lemons because they also (like limes) contain some unique compounds (flavonoid compounds) that have antioxidant and anti-cancer properties. Extensive studies have discovered that lemon and lime juice can alter the cycles of our cells and also the activities of the special immune cells (called monocytes).  So the lemon and lime juice can indeed alter the decision a cell makes about whether to divide (mitosis) or to die (apoptosis). So what can you do for the health of your cells?

You should consume lemons because they are an excellent source of vitamin C.
Vitamin C, one of the most important antioxidants in nature, travels through the body neutralizing any free radicals with which it comes into contact in the body: both inside and outside cells. The free radicals are unpaired electrons that will simply 'steal' an electron from other molecules; when a molecule is losing one electron, it becomes a free radical' and free radicals will attack any molecules and even your DNA (so free radicals basically attack your own body). When the free radical attacks other molecules, it will interact with the  healthy cells in the body, damaging them and their membranes. The free radicals treat your body as an enemy and will not stop wanting to damage your body. And the fact is that the body can generally take care of itself, but the body cannot make antioxidant chemicals like vitamin C, E and flavonoids to protect itself. We need to take these vitamins from our diet and as they are rapidly used by the body, they need to be constantly replenished. A lemon has between 30-50 mg of vitamin C and an adult needs 75-90 mg of vitamin C daily; if you smoke (or practice any other damaging habits) you need at least 35 mg more. The vitamin C is important because, like any other vitamin, it can inactivate the free radicals even before they produce any damage in your body.

So, as we have seen earlier, vitamin C is vital to the function of a strong immune system (because it inactivates the free radicals). The immune system's main goal is to protect the body from illness, so vitamin C will also help with cold, flu, recurrent ear infections. 

Lemons have also anti-bacterial properties and can be used against bacterial and fungal infections, can be effective against internal parasites and can regulate blood pressure. Since free radicals can damage blood vessels and can change the cholesterol to make it more likely to build up in artery walls, vitamin C can also  be helpful from preventing the development and progression of atherosclerosis and diabetic heart disease.

Generally, it has been proven that vitamin C reduces the risk of death from all causes including: heart disease, stroke and cancer. The compound found in lemons (and limes) called limonoids -  have been proved to help fight against cancer of the mouth, skin, lung, breast, stomach, colon.

Lemons are considered miraculous at killing cancer. They are considered 10,000 more potent than chemotherapy (This is a hot topic nowadays: people are becoming less and less willing to take chemotherapy, but look for other more natural treatments).

Nevertheless, vitamin C helps with any stress or nervous disorder and the lemons are used in aromatherapy as well.

There are many ways in which you can use lemons in your house too: from making your own face creams and hair masks to using lemons to fragrance up the room, bleach some delicate clothes or take those stubborn stains off your cups.

So, why should we not make use of lemons and decide to benefit from them? 
Try to take it one step at a time, using possibly raw honey in your hot lemon water; then as you get more used to the taste, try to reduce the honey amount. My husband is not a fan of lemons, so he is using limes instead. Limes come very close to lemons in their miraculous nature and produce much more fragrance (that's why they are used in cocktails). Whatever you decide, stick with your decision for at least few weeks so you can see a more obvious result.

Have a very lemony day!