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!

There's a reason for your season

There's a logic in the universe and nothing can be done to reverse it. The natural way of things is to progress and to get to the next season; there's always a progression and there's always a next season.

But we, the adults, are so busy with just making life happen - holding on to the job, pressing on that career, taking care of our families, volunteering in the community - so we become too tired to make sense of what's happening in our lives.

And when we finally have some time, we make 'pity phone calls', we organize 'pity dinners' or we even throw 'pity parties' -  this is our recreation time: to complain and talk about what is wrong in our lives. Complaining has become such a socially accepted behavior that no one seems to bother to analyze and realize what complaining ever accomplished, how many golden medals it won and how many genius ideas it inspired.

But likely for us, it takes the life out of us to finally understand that complaining has never brought any good results. Complaining only instantly dismisses the blessings of your life. Complaining only looks at what you are lacking and describes you as a failure.

And you simply can't start with the negative and hope for the positive (result).

We forget that we are not all grown, but we are growing. We forget that it is not about the destiny, but about the journey. When we finally reach that goal that we have worked for, it is funny how quickly we become obsessed with the next goal and we never ever take time to be content with what we have. We are not enjoying our season, but always hunting for something that's too far to reach right now.

But just by passing through life like everyone else, I have realized that life comes in seasons. We are all at different seasons in life. It is funny, but when we hang out with people, we are instantly and unconsciously  drawn to compare our life with theirs. We sometimes want to be in their seasons and have what they have. It is funny but we never want the whole package, only those accomplishments that are sparkling trendy or hot. We surprise ourselves wanting her husband and her career, her shoes and maybe her bag.

But comparing your season with your friends' season you robbing yourself of the season you are in. By not appreciating the season you are in, you disqualify it and you annihilate it. You are only robbing yourself of the blessings that your season might bring.

You need to be where you are. You need to appreciate the season you are in. Focusing on your here will get you to your there. Doing the work that God trusted you with right now will open the door for the work that God has in store for you tomorrow. I don't know if God will give you tomorrow what you are praying for today, but I know that God will bless the great work you are doing now. He might now give you the same he gave to your friend. God has a great, creative mind and loves blessing each child of Him individually, He will bless you in a personal way that will set you apart from all the rest of the crowd. He will bless you according to the good plans that He had in mind your YOU. So stop expecting God to perform the same miracles that He did for your friend; instead, be obedient where you are and open to God's unique blessing for YOU. There's not a question of IF but there's only a matter of WHEN.

The most important think I have learnt in my life is to enjoy and make the best of my season. There was a time when I thought that my calling was to live in 'this' beautiful, scenic country and therefore I made every effort to accomplish my dream. I made the mistake of thinking that if God gave me the vision and the heart for this dream, then it was my responsibility to make it happen. Needless to say, it did not work. Every strategy I took collapsed and I failed on every level. Then I did the only thing that was left: I surrendered to God, I prayed and acknowledged my failure and asked for His intervention at His perfect time. I finally understood that it was not the season to get my dream. So I gave it up and prayed God for opening a door that I might walk in. ANY door He fancied. The Holy Spirit led me to the British land  where I spent the best four years of my life. Looking back, I know that those where the best years of my life, but back there, I tended to complain like everyone else did: it was hard to get integrated into a country I did not know, it was hard to go back to school and do it all by myself, it was hard to work ten hours/day and commute another two. It was hard!! But when I understood that I had been granted a British season, I worked hard on it. It was hard to depend on God for everything, I had to learn to be wise with my resources, I had to learn to be responsible and focused on my school and then on my job. But step after step, God provided and blessed me even more, with a graduation paper and a job and then a better job. I grew like a fig tree by the water in that soil and environment and I recognized the season I was in and the blessings I was experiencing. That was my training for the season to come.

After all that training, God has finally granted me the things I have prayed for years. And I am happy and I have understood even more the importance of enjoying every season and making the best of it. Your next season depends on what you are doing right now in this season. Just because I chose God's way and surrendered my dream and took the door that was opening in front of me, I honored God by trusting Him with my dream. Four years later, right now, I am living in that country I was dreaming of, I have the husband I prayed for and I am in another season. The country and man that God gave me are much better than I could ever choose by myself. And also, there's a peace and an assurance knowing that it all came from God...cause when God gives you something, it is for eternity and not for a moment.

There's a reason in your season. Look for God's presence and He will tell you what to do. Do not feed your emotions but turn your emotions into prayers and pour them to God -tell God your fears about tomorrow, He will reveal to you the good intentions and plans that He already had prepared for you.  The big bright future that's for you starts with today: working hard on what you were entrusted with right now, meeting the needs around you.

As God says:

1 You're blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God. 2 You're blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him. 3 That's right - you don't go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set. 4 You, God, prescribed the right way to live; now you expect us to live it.   
 164 Seven times each day I stop and shout praises for the way you keep everything running right. 165 For those who love what you reveal, everything fits - no stumbling around in the dark for them. 166 I wait expectantly for your salvation; God, I do what you tell me.   (MSG Psalm 119)

My welcome to America

So, America finally welcomed me.

For all of you who are American you must understand that I have lived most of my life on the old continent and I found myself exuberantly excited waiting for my USA visa to be processed. And when it happened, the process of crossing the Atlantic was rather quick so I did not have time to prepare and practice  my 'repatriation'. All my 'training' (into the USA concept) was media and Google branded mostly.  My husband was the American I knew and I loved him to bits - so I planned to do the same about his country.

Boarding the American Airlines plane was rather pleasant and to my delight, I even got a window seat. The guy sitting next to me was a high schooler who was just returning home from a school trip to England; he was chatting with the guys about the nostalgic feeling of leaving behind the jolly land, and I therefore liked him as I identified myself with him... England and London in particular have been an amazing blessing into my life; almost four years they have nurtured and entertained me, enabled me to find build special friendship that must forever last. But voila, it was time for new discoveries and, most important, it was time to be with my soul mate!

So,the flight over the Atlantic was uneventful (which is always a good thing when travelling) and, lacking any interest in reading or watching movies, I found myself counting the number of sodas and cookies that people around me consumed. Counting is always a distinguished hobby in itself, but for me it was quite amazing to conclude that no person around me had any drop of water during the whole flight, but soda, and especially Diet Coke, Dr. Pepper and Ginger Ale. I did stay firm in my beliefs and only had water and tea (with one milk, no sugar please) of course.

Landing in Dallas, the procedure was standard, except the amount of time which the queue took until we went through security. But I felt lucky to have been able to catch my next flight even if the three hours queue wait left me completely dehydrated, so therefore highly irritated. My nonstop prayers worked though so I was able to resist my body (to the urge to faint) and I could even made it to the next gate.

Not long after that, I was walking on the American land, breathing the American air and eating the American food. I did not mind the first two at all, and the last seemed quite fun in the beginning. Until I went to  the supermarket and started to read the labels - then I have realized that it must be quite a fashion here to have long lists of ingredients. I personally did not understand why yoghurt or bread must be made from all these ten to thirty different ingredients; when yoghurt is basically milk; and bread is basically wheat (my mom used to make yoghurt and bread when we were kids and she used only the basic ingredients that we could always recognize and pronounce).

But this is the land of the American dream, so food here must be different too.
Shopping for food is like shooting for a moose: you find food and moose everywhere here (Alaska) but you rather want to make sure that you know what you're getting yourself into...Or what you're getting into yourself (or into your body - for more clarification). Aiming at avoiding GMOs, artificial additives and colorants at all costs, looking for the natural and most unrefined product is hard word and sometimes makes you feel so restricted. But this only makes it more clear and evident that what's best about this American land it's the American people.

I have never (ever) met more joyful, more relaxed and more welcoming  people(note: British and Canadians are all of these, but there's no excessive manifestation of emotion with them). We have all impacted by the charm of the American people in Europe and we have all been inspired by their oratorical skills. These are the people of the new land that for many years monopolized the world with the power of their speech and with their enthusiastic actions. Of course that the world always change over time, but for me, I'll always appreciate the non-tiring fight that America led for enabling other smaller countries and far away people to get their freedom and live up to their abilities.

Now of course that the country of yesterday is not the country of today, but my husband is the best evidence to me that the American spirit is alive and as honest and as powerful as it has always been.

It is merely a matter of choice I believe. It is trendy to criticize and find faults in the American land nowadays, but when there's a will for the better, there's always a way for the better. I am personally thankful to God for my American family and for all the benefits that come with living in such a great country. Every country has its own battles but we must never forget that it is the people who make the country; and each nation must and can write their own destiny.

So, I'm happily becoming American I guess.