William Shakespeare said it all in this one sentence.  This week part of our nation got slammed by Mother Nature. She must have been “scorned” over something as Hurricane Irene pummeled the East Coast with all her might. It was tragic seeing all the damage she left in her path of destruction yet it was also inspirational hearing of all the heroic rescue efforts. In times of tragedy people really do pull together which only goes to show that we all possess positive energy in the form of goodness.

When you are present to your life, you connect with your core energy. Three tools to become present are walking a labyrinth, meditation and yoga. All three offer various methods by which to become aware of your breath, reduce stress, and connect with your inner/primary truth. When you become keenly aware of your true self, you are able to resonate at a higher level of energy which is called anabolic energy. This type of energy is healing and allows you to be more present to and more purposeful in your life. The people who acted heroically during Hurricane Irene portrayed anabolic energy; by helping others they helped themselves so everyone was safe.

Be Present, Be Purposeful, Be Well.

There are many ways to become present to your life.  One way is the journey of a labyrinth which is a metaphor for our life's journey.  Getting to the center is not the objective.  Consciously winding through the unobstructed path from the opening to the center is done in the form of a moving meditation. By walking through the path of the labyrinth it allows your subconscious mind the ability to invite change into your life. By being present to the path before you, your breath deepens, your heartbeat slows and your mind becomes clearer allowing stress to simply dissipate as you gain a greater sense of self.

Labyrinths have been used by many cultures and religions for over 3,500 years.  Unlike a maze which is created to trick and block the mind (left brain activity), a labyrinth intends to guide the mind (right brain activity) to connect people to their core energy.  This allows for energy to become balanced, blocks to be released and chakras to open. It can be said the labyrinth is an ancient archetypal tool for healing.

A few years ago I had the opportunity to take a workshop exploring the meaning of labyrinths and learning how to lead group labyrinth walks.  The most wonderful discovery for me was connecting the shape and purpose of the labyrinth to the levels of energy within the Energy Leadership Index (ELI) in which I am certified.  The levels of energy (or consciousness) in the ELI represent your current state of consciousness which is composed of your existing energetic makeup; which encompasses every thought, feeling and emotion you’ve had as well as your actions.  Every person has a characteristic level of consciousness that frames, or limits, both the perception of and the response to external reality.  And when experiencing moving meditation while winding through a labyrinth, you become acutely aware of your energetic makeup.

Want to learn more about how to be present to your life?  Go to Appelbaum Wellness LLC and sign up for my free ezine.  As an added bonus you’ll get my free report Insider Secrets Everyone Over 40 Should Know.

While listening to music in the car yesterday I heard a song that was quite poignant. It was sung by Martina McBride entitled, “I Hope You Dance.” Here is a synopsis of the lyrics that resonated with my spirit.

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance.

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance,
Never settle for the path of least resistance,
Livin' might mean takin' chances but they're worth takin',
Lovin' might be a mistake but it's worth makin',
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance.

Our lives are filled with constant motion. We tend to go through each day doing what needs to be done, rarely taking notice of what we’re actually doing and rarely taking chances. We tend to be stuck on the hamster wheel of “getting it done faster” equating it with being better as well as sticking to our “normal” because it is safe.

When is the last time you stopped, took a breath and actually took notice of your daily routine? When is the last time you took a risk, no matter how small? Being present to our lives helps us to enjoy. Taking risk adds variety, change and opportunity. Both lead to a purposeful, well life. So take notice, take a chance, seize opportunity and, in the words of Martina McBride, I hope you dance.

To your wellness!

There seems to always be societal pressure to be thin.  From when we’re young, media portrays beautiful women and men as thin.  Too bad many of us do not realize that there’s a lot of air-brushing being done!  In my humble opinion, it is best to be healthy.  And, each person has a different weight that is healthy for their body type.  However, here are a few common things to avoid when “dieting” if you are trying to lose weight.

• Diet Soda – Research has shown that drinking beverages with artificial sweeteners (such as diet soda) actually makes you more hungry!  So forget the diet soda and drink water.  But if you really want something with flavor, I take 3/4 glass of seltzer water with 1/4 glass 100% juice with no sugar added or 3/4 glass plain ice tea with 1/4 glass fresh lemonade.  Both are refreshing and limited on the real sugar.
• Non/Low Fat Food – Again, research shows that the additives to food that make it non/low fat actually make you hungry.  Besides, it is best to eat real and avoid processed foods for your health.  Eating full fat foods isn’t really the issue in losing weight.  The real issue is quantity consumed.  Eat smaller portions and eat real food with a balance of fruits, veggies, whole grains and protein.
• Frozen Meals – Be sure to read the label!  Many frozen meals offer portion control but at a price.  Most have very high sodium levels which can contribute to poor health. Also pick a frozen meal that has ingredients you can pronounce so you know you’re eating real, not processed, food.

I will share that I used to always be on a diet.  I never felt thin enough or pretty enough because I always saw myself as a bit chubby.  As I’ve grown older and learned about health and wellness, I’ve learned that if you eat right for life, your body will find the weight that is comfortable and appropriate for you.  So my advice is eat right for life and forget about dieting:

• keep it real (avoid processed food)
• keep it simple (so you’ll do it)
• keep it fun (so you’ll maintain it)

Be Well!

So often in life we go through the motions without really taking notice of much.  We have our normal routines and stick to them from the time we arise to the time we go to sleep.  On the rare occasion we stray from the norm.  Sometimes we notice, other times we do not.  What would your life be like if you were actually present to it? 

Being present means that you become aware of your existence.  You make conscious choices, live in the moment and are so aware of your breath and being that stress is minimized.  When present, you gain an appreciation of the world around you and behave with purpose.  One way to be present to your life is to meditate.  A form of meditation that allows for profound reflection is that of walking a labyrinth.  A labyrinth (see image) is an ancient tool used to further the presence of spiritual and emotional well-being in one’s life.  It is a metaphor for our life’s journey.  It can even be said the labyrinth is an ancient archetypal tool for healing.

To learn more about how to be present (and to get my FREE special report), go to Appelbaum Wellness LLC and sign up for my FREE ezine.