Working With What We Already Have

Above you see two pictures of my living room floor. The first is the before and the 2nd is after sanding, lots of TLC, and begging my "floor man" to just work with me on this one.

You are probably thinking great Paula, pictures of your floor, but what does that have to do with health. I am going to be quick about this explanation... the Reader's Digest version is what I am aiming for.

In a frenzy one day I made my boys help me rip up the carpet in this room. I hate carpet. I knew underneath there was 100 year old wood floors (my home is 175 years and there are wide plank boards under the boards you see. Hmmm, crowbar? Nah, work with what is right there!) that I would prefer to sweep than use a noisy vacuum cleaner on carpet.

Long story short: hard wood floor refinishing company took one look and said: "No way to make this floor look good. You need to put in a whole new hardwood floor." My reply: "Seriously? Why not use what is there and prevent the use of new trees to make new floor boards and the possibility of creating garbage in this world by ripping up the 100 year old boards. There is history here, lives lived on these boards, stories that I will never hear (the people are no longer alive!)... why waste what is already here? Why not work with what we have?"

I got my renegade, work for himself floor guy (who initially said the same thing about the floor and why I then asked the "pros") and begged him to just work with me on this one. I will share pictures of the final floor when I am finished sanding, fixing up, and poly-urethane covering the boards I am thrilled to have under my feet.

Your health and my floor connection? Work with what you have!

Years ago, close to 20 I bet,  I was doing a workshop locally on whole foods for weight loss. After the workshop a woman came up to me and said... I want to look like you. This woman was easily 5 inches taller than me and blessed with the big bone structure of Slavic peoples. I am 5 foot 5 1/2 inches and have the bone structure of a bird. (Trust me, I have had my longings for a more curvaceous and voluptuous body and bones that would better anchor me to this earth in a strong wind but what I have is what I have!) I hugged this woman, told her that her body was strong and beautiful, and suggested she work with what she already has (what she was gifted by her genetics)! Sure, a 25 pound weight loss would increase her health and vitality but her height and bones are her height and bones. 

My point(s): 

• embrace what nature, genetics, God, Goddess gave you (whatever beliefs you live and love by),
• eat whole foods to re-balance your weight right where it is supposed to be for you
• move your body to keep it frisky and healthy; do not rely on movement... exercise for weight loss, real food 100% of the time is what matters in the metabolism of healthy biology and body weight
• chew your food well to take good care of your gut
• LOVE exactly what you were given (what you have) and care for it in whole health ways to make the very best out of YOU!

There is only one of you. Celebrate you and make you the very best you that you can be!

That is how I am dealing with my 100 year old floors... making those boards the very best they can be and being at peace with their imperfections; walking with the history that came before me!

My Floor & I wish you Peace in discovering that what you have is just what you need. 

Garbage Disposal Syndrome

My last post, The Diets I Have Tried, was written in good humor as well as to provide healing information around the "games" we play with our eating habits and styles to promote cellular health.

Recently I heard a blurb on the radio about crazy things people stuff into their sink's garbage disposal unit clearly not thinking logically about the consequences of what they are doing. It made me laugh as I was thinking that is how many people stuff food into their mouths: without thinking with logic and common sense about what they are eating and the consequences to their long-term health. I say this with MUCH love, heartfelt humor (the garbage disposal stories were very funny!), and as a wakeup call to people to start thinking, start using logic and common sense around their food choices.

Over the years of working in Nursing, Health Education, Holistic Healing, and "coaching" people back to vibrant health I have heard this statement many times, in different incarnations:

"I want to lose weight, lower my high blood pressure or cholesterol,

heal my diabetes, etc., but I do not want to change anything I eat.

Can you recommend an herb or supplement that will fix my problem?"

I have so often, very lovingly, told dear people that I wish I had a magic wand I could bop them over their head with and make everything better OR a true magic bullet treatment that would take away all their troubles and struggles. 

The healing principle is always in the living system itself (your own body - my words). All living organisms are self-constructing, self-defending, and self-repairing. Teach men and women to prevent disease by avoiding its causes rather than attempt to cure it by administering the causes of other diseases [drugs] - then health and happiness will abound everywhere. We are convinced that mankind can be educated in correct principles and trained in right practices so that sickness will cease to trouble us. These statements on Natural Hygiene by Dr. Herbert M. Shelton, Naturopath, 1895-1985

Questions to ask oneself before you pop that food substance in your mouth:

1. Is this a whole food?
2. Will this food contribute to my vibrant cellular health OR will it degenerate my cellular health and lead to degenerative diseases?
3. Are there artificial ingredients of any kind in this food substance?
4. Did nature make this food or was it made in a factory?
5. Would people 250 years ago have been able to eat this? And then the all time Paula favorite to share with clients:
6. Is this best for my wellness?

The way you live your life and the way you feed your body are not separate from the way you feel and the health or ill-health (dis- ease) you experience.

Remember your digestive tract is not a garbage disposal system. Your digestive tract is your seat to cellular health; your whole body's health.

Feed yourself and feed your kitchen's garbage disposal well!

Stayed tuned for a blog post on "Eating Hygiene" coming soon!