This past weekend I was blessed to see family and friends I haven’t seen in ages. The Phoenix based part of the Wood Clan flew into Washington D.C. to visit the matriarch of the family…my sister Sonia. I don’t know about you but when family arrives at my sister’s home there is only one thing , two things to do. First, visit “Ledo’s” pizza in Adelphi, Md (if you haven’t tried this pizza GO NOW! http://www.ledopizza.com) . Second, have a cookout ….Translation: cook meat. A lot of meat. Every kind of meat. Hamburgers,hot dogs,chicken,pork chops,beef ribs, and keilbasa. I think there was a fruit salad around to keep everyone’s colon from going into spasms! Dessert was Amy’s incredible cheesecake…a decades old recipe handed down from her Nana and a closely guarded secret.
The combination of good food,family, and drink created a warm, loving atmosphere of old stories and bladder-bulging laughter… ( evidently there are photos of our family friend Tony being hogtied by the girls when he was very young and forced to put on dresses and make-up for my sister’s sick enjoyment.) 90 degree weather, cheesecake, and Corona is like truth serum for my sisters. No amount of passing time could take away Deenie’s memory of having to drink pickle juice everyday after school, because Sonia told her younger sister “it was the only way to learn how to whistle.”
Can you feel the love? I sure did. For eight hours I didn’t worry about sessions,bills, or anything that required my brain engaging the “future”. Next weekend is another visit to the D.C. suburbs. Crab feast at cousin Cheryl’s…now that will something to blog about!
A few weeks ago during a major trance meditation I got a message from a group of enlightened beings named the “Wilson”. Actually I’m lying, a lot. I was passed out on my couch watching the History Channel with a half eaten tunafish sandwich laying on my chest. The phone was ringing and I looked at the caller ID and it was a Utah number. Now I’ve gotten calls from all over the world but very seldom from Utah. I figured it was someone inquiring about having a session. I almost didn’t pick it up, but one can only watch “Ice Road Truckers” for so long. I decided to take the call. It was from intuitive medium, Amy Berry. She was asking me pointers on how to get her business up and running. I brushed the crumbs off my shirt, got into my serious business mode, and said “of course”.
The reason I am writing about this is that for whatever reason, Amy sought me out and I found that to be a very big compliment. When one intuitive seeks out another, I find it to be quite the blessing. Through the conversation, I found out many things about her. Her style of reading, her incredible sense of humor, and her no nonsense approach to mediumship and psychic work. We spoke twice and each phone call was a great way for me to tap in to my own wants and desires for my business and a way for me to assist her. I dont know how much help I really was but I know it was very helpful for me. Her websitehttp://www.aim2inspire.net has great information on her psychic work and sessions. I highly recommend her kind and practical matter. No crazy talk about spiritual elves communicating that you don’t have to pay your rent this week. Amy, if you ever read this, I want to thank you for those phone calls. It reminded me that at times we all have to reach out with our intuition and take a chance on either meeting or calling someone “out of the blue”. I know your intent will take you far! I would suggest to anyone reading this to one day take the chance, write that letter, make that phone call, introduce yourself to the stranger, and see how beneficial it can be. Thank you Amy and good luck!
It was one of those days. The offices were dead and Dr.Andy and I were watching the paint dry and wondering why IN TEENAGE AND BABY JESUS’ NAME IS IT SO FREAKIN’ SLOW! We tried blaming the economy,we tried blaming the weather, we cursed both John McCain and Mother Theresa! When we realized that Mother Theresa was dead and Senator McCain was really,really old - we knew we had slipped into the nasty galaxy called “negativity”. We put down our breakfast of Hostess Ding Dongs and vodka,prayed to both Saint Theresa and Saint McCain, got into an “attitude of gratitude” and started typing…
Positive Thoughts……Do you think the glass is half full or half empty? Is the world out to get you or do you view every issue as a way to learn and grow from your experiences? Are you waiting for the other shoe to drop instead of looking at the silver lining of that cloud?
The purpose of this post is to make you think about how you think. Most of us go through the day on autopilot and do not know what we are really thinking and how it is affecting us physically. When you have a thought, your brain releases chemicals that will go to your cells and elicit a response that can alter the actual physiology which in turn can be either harmful or helpful. When you get angry or have a negative thought, it alters the overall physiology of you. This could become a stress response, result in depression, and various health problems. There have been recent studies that show that about 80% or more of all ailments and diseases are stress related.
When you are in a positive frame of mind, you release chemical messengers into the bloodstream that signals the cells to go into a state of growth and repair. The body is in a state of de-stress so to speak.
If you are out there and you are a happy-go-lucky, roll off your back kind of guy or gal, then great! If not, how are we going to change this? I suggest a few options:
Find an outlet, this could be exercising, meditation, yoga, counseling, finding a hobby, anything to provide a way to channel any negative thoughts into positive energy
Be more conscious of your surroundings, learn what triggers you to have negative thoughts- is it a co-worker? spouse? sibling? job?
Be positive! Don’t let things get to you. Try to cut off the negativity before it starts. Try to look at things from a different perspective or angle. You are already taking the wrong look at things, why not the 180 degree angle from that?
Hostess Ding Dongs,Scrapple and Mountain Dew… just wanted make sure you were paying attention! No one should use these three items in combination without the supervision of a licensed practioner.
Crayon sun above you
In a blue crayon sky
Little one, I love you
You’re the reason that
I am here.
Once inside just close the door
Leave the world behind.
Love is what we’re living for
Love and love alone
To be safe at home.
Crayon Sun- Michael Franks
Have you ever seen this type of face before? This is the type of look that can lead to frustration, anger, and adoption or at least some type of grandparent foster care. This is the look of my step-daughter relating how ‘freakin bored’ she is. This face cannot be soothed or comforted by games, snacks, or movies. For a 12 year old you’ve got to provide something different.
So… on a lazy Saturday afternoon Mom, Cassandra, and I sat down to do individual vision boards. I told everyone to grab poster board, magazines, scissors, and glue. To cut out words and pictures that would show their dreams, aspirations, and desires.
Something seemed to change about all three of us. We became more engaged, there was more laughter, and more creativity. It was wonderful to sit back and watch the two people that I love the most put together a collage of what ‘happiness’ meant to them. You can find out a lot by what people put on their vision boards. Creating friendships, creating more wealth and abundance, and health.
A little over two hours later, we were finished and we happily placed our visions up for everyone to see. I noticed the girls had big smiles on their faces. I would suggest that this is a great way for the family to spend time together that doesn’t consist of a TV or Playstation.
The end result was quality time and a much happier twelve year old!
So everybody, grab
Your baggies and bikinis
Cause it’s only just begun
We’re gonna have a ball
Until the fall now
Cause summer means fun -Bruce and Terry
The cover of the New York magazine June 28th,2008. Johnny and Barry just chillin’ at the beach! Sorry, Obama Girl those aren’t Barack’s abs. (But those might be John’s).
I was waking up from a cable news stupor the other day with the remote in my hand flipping back and forth between Fox News and MSNBC. It was Obama this, McCain that, Obama this, MCain that. And what I started to notice was that the McCain campaign seemed to be defending it’s position and the Obama campaign seemed to be promoting it’s position. Most of you that know me know that I’m and advocate for positive thinking, or at least promoting what you want instead of what you don’t want. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not anti-McCain, I believe in his own way he can be a very independent thinker, but to focus on everything that Obama doesn’t have or couldn’t do seems to take away from any message that he’s really trying to promote. I believe that is part of the reason Hillary lost the democratic nomination. She focused more on what she didn’t want instead of what she wanted. I appreciate Obama for trying to keep a more positive message. Change is a positive message. Keeping things the status quo is non-energetic, even malignant. It’s my hope that McCain would stop focusing on Obama’s weaknesses and rather focus on his own strengths. I think a lot of this has to do with the fact that Obama seems to attract a lot of younger voters. The younger voters seem to be more up-beat, positive, happier and full of hope. That my friends, is contagious. You may not believe me when I say this, I used to be an avid Fox News viewer from Steve Doocey to Sean Hannity. I’ve noticed over the last couple of months that I seem to hear or see is an anti-Obama message and I believe that doesn’t help McCain at all. I think the media forgets that we no longer are as stupid as we were in the ’70s and ’80s. Most of us are able to make are own decisions. Like attracts like. For the first time since I can remember, the American populace has a more positive vent in this election process than ever before. If Obama can still surf the wave of positivity he will be the next president of the United States. If John McCain can grab a board and ride the same wave then it’s up for grabs. This is an overall general feeling. Both sides have their pros and cons, but for right now it looks as if Barack has been focusing more on the pros.
I think sometimes I take myself too seriously. Don’t get me wrong I love what I do. Mediumship can be exhausting. Trying to get others to understand that is also very draining. Other times I get a big kick out of the usual question, “what do you do for a living?”. The long pause of silence after hearing ” Well, I talk to dead people” can be quite refreshing. This quick skit from Hugh Laurie’s earlier days on BBC remind me that keeping a sense of humor about my job makes it so much easier!
Im gonna wake you up early
Cause Im gonna take a ride with you
Were going down to the honda shop
Ill tell you what were gonna do
Put on a ragged sweatshirt
Ill take you anywhere you want me to
“Little Honda”-The Beach Boys
I’ve a great friend over at http:www.creativechiropracticsolutions.com he’s decided to buy a moped. You gotta understand, Dr.Andy seemed like a truckdriving ,Spotted Owl shooting kind of guy. You know, the person who thinks recycling is using the same plastic cup at the keg party.I was dead wrong. Andy went out and bought a moped! This man has great waysof looking at being green. His philosphy is a simple one …goin green = great benefits. Health,financial and otherwise. Read on…..
Those that know me personally know that I recently purchased a scooter to do my daily running around to work and errands. It gets about 100 MPG and gets up to 50 mph. Not to mention that it is pretty fun to “scoot” around in. As I was filling up the tank today for the first time since I picked it up at Philadelphia Scooters on Passayunk (shameless plug) I topped off the tank at $3.55 with 91 Octane Premium gas. That was an incredibly awesome feeling so, I felt inspired to share with you MY true meaning of “going green.”
In the public eye, most people think it is trading in that Hummer for a Prius and getting a Hybrid. It should be more than that. Mainstream media and Big Corporations have dictated to the American Public that the bottom dollar is KING. They look to produce a high quality product and for the least amount of money to increase the profit. Save a penny by adding a preservative to the food to give it a longer shelf life, switching from a metal part to a plastic mold to raise profits 10 cents a unit, or by using harmful chemicals that are foreign to the body that produce the same effect to save on cost.
To truly go green, one should look at more than what kind of car they drive and actually start and look at their household products. What harmful chemicals are you putting on the surfaces of your kitchen counters? Can you even pronounce what is in these bottles let alone know what it actually does? Next, look at the food you consume. How many ingredients are in that cereal or condiment that you are using? Can you pronounce them? Does it contain man made chemicals or natural ingredients? Now onto the closet. What are your clothes made out of? Polyester? Cotton? Stop and take a moment to think what else you use in the day that is not natural to you or your body.
The big thing now is alternative fuels. What are you doing to help cut down on the astronomical consumption of energy in its various forms such as gas, electricity, fresh water? The more you use, it increases demand which in turn, increases cost. By turning out the lights an hour earlier and maybe using candles or even just only using the lights in the rooms you are in. Can you carpool with some friends from work to reduce the need to use gas? Can you take mass transit? Can you actually buy a more fuel efficient car or motor vehicle? Can you walk a little more to work? Pack a lunch? Do you need to leave and run 3 different errands instead of bundling it all together to save on gas? Over time, those pennies and small dollar amounts can add up. It could pay for that vacation for the family you wanted to do but could not afford it because of your normal less than calculated spending habits.
I live by a few simple rules when it comes to being a green minded person
If there are too many ingredients in my food, cleaning products, personal care products, I don’t use it
If I can’t pronounce what is in it, I don’t use it
If I don’t know how something works in my body or in my daily activities, I don’t use it or ingest it
If it came from the earth, It usually is ok.
Balance is Key to anything in life. Moderation is the Key
So, when you go about your day to day this week, think how you can personally help your environment and those around you as well as how you can help your internal environment by going “Green!”
Thank you for taking the time to read this. Have a healthy day!
Angie Yasulitis & Tracey Luckett join Ken Blanchard
& Stephen Covey
in an upcoming release of Roadmap to Success America’s Top Intellectual Minds Map Out Successful Business Strategies
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You know,you know you are Be still and know you are Your life is meant for joy
It’s all so deep within, oh
Your life is beautiful
A seed becomes a tree
A mountain into a sky
This life is meant to be, oh
Now is the time life begins
Take that simple path
And love will set you free Live in harmony And love will set you free, oh
You know, you know you are
Be still and know you are
You know, you know you are
Be still and know you are
“Be Still” - The Beach Boys
“I don’t know about you, but when things aren’t going my way I try everything in my arsenal of self help; mantras, books, meditations, and affirmations. Usually they work, when they don’t I want to slam my forehead into my well used copy of the “The Secret.” It doesn’t occur to me that patience with myself is one of the most efficient paths to stress reduction that I know.
I am one of those people that believes that coming up with solutions is better than complaining and whining any time. My problem is that I don’t suffer well. I expect solutions to come instantaneously and the problem with that is I am really not listening. God has a great way of answering questions, it is pretty simplistic. Yes, no, and wait. The last part is the toughest because it requires faith. Thinking positively is pretty useless without faith. My dog Angel has plenty of faith, she knows that when you say “treat” we’re going to give her a little snack. She doesn’t worry about what kind of snack or if it is a big enough snack. Me on the other hand, worries how many snacks, will I get enough snacks, and if they are organic. All that worrying has gotten me nowhere. My stepdaughter also has non-complicated tools for dealing with this type of stress, it is called play. Kids can find joy in staring at a bug, coloring a picture, or singing to themselves. In these moments Cassandra is the perfect picture of self-awareness and joy. So for today, I think I will go have a snack and sing to myself ( I don’t care if the snack is organic).
This past weekend I was blessed to see family and friends I haven’t seen in ages. The Phoenix based part of the Wood Clan flew into Washington D.C. to visit the matriarch of the family…my sister Sonia. I don’t know about you but when family arrives at my sister’s home there is only one thing , two things to do. First, visit “Ledo’s” pizza in Adelphi, Md (if you haven’t tried this pizza GO NOW! http://www.ledopizza.com) . Second, have a cookout ….Translation: cook meat. A lot of meat. Every kind of meat. Hamburgers,hot dogs,chicken,pork chops,beef ribs, and keilbasa. I think there was a fruit salad around to keep everyone’s colon from going into spasms! Dessert was Amy’s incredible cheesecake…a decades old recipe handed down from her Nana and a closely guarded secret.
Individualized Corporate Wellness Programs
