Once upon a time there was an unfit forty something woman, who never quite got rid of that extra 10 (ya, right) pounds gained at maternity, even though her first baby was now in college. She discovered untold thrills in shopping and eating. As far as the rest of her life went the game seemed over too soon coz the fat lady was singing. Noone cared either, that she was singing the blues. Afterall, life hadn’t dealt her a Royal Flush you know!
She was getting by coping with a regular yet uninspiring job, living in an average house, paying off mortgages, arguing with teenagers and sleeping with her rusty d*** of a husband. So to get her kicks, she discovered the sinful pleasures of CHOCOLATE. Whenever she binged on chocolate though, she had to have potato chips too. As from her somewhat twisted viewpoint, that was what eating a balanced diet meant. Afterall who could blame her? The only conversation she could have with her beloved children started and ended with "yeah, whatever" A-N-D her husband thought foreplay meant brushing his teeth! Of course you know the beginning to this story. She discovers just what her little darlings are doing at 'bush parties' and that her rusty husband is wearing new cologne, has joined a health club, and is getting into shape. Of course he is flirting his rust away with a 20 something underling found at his workplace!
Well that's all our forty plus friend needed to encourage her to make some choices for herself. (Even if it didn't happen before the rocky road ice cream or chocolate sauce container was emptied!) What matters is that she is determined to get BACK ON TRACK...NOW! So, she says to hell with clean houses, ironed shirts, home cooked meals, and on with living the only life that God gave her--so the story goes...(Of course the affair with Mr. Cadbury is over.)
Fit For Life:
How is She--Getting Back on Track?
First our friend decided to make small changes and take things one-step at a time. Making too many changes at once is overwhelming for anyone. So she challenged herself with “Little Steps to Improve Your Health”--from the importance of drinking water more regularly to making a goal to become a healthier and happier person.
Little Steps to Improve Your Health--BE WATER CONSCIOUS!
Drink plenty of water--about 8 glasses a day.
We lose 10 cups of water per day--through breathing, sweating and urinating. By comparison the average person only consumes 5 cups of water per day. So many of us suffer mild dehydration. This affects our memory, ability to focus and energy levels. Other signs may consist of dry lips, headaches, becoming cranky and having trouble with constipation. If you don't replace your water levels appropriately, your body in turn hangs on to every ounce of fluid it can. It stores water between cells and you end up carrying excess water weight.
Also if you’re dehydrated your body retaliates by storing fat too. Think about your kidneys for a minute. Without sufficient water your organs can't function properly. You then rely on your liver to produce what your kidneys can't. In return your liver is unable to burn fat as it normally would. Now your liver deposits fat around your mid section in your stomach area. By drinking plenty of water though, your liver reduces fatty deposits and eliminates toxins from your body. Water is an important "Little Step" towards a healthier you!
Reminders From Previous Newsletters:
- Eat a huge salad filled with dark leafy greens and lots of chopped vegetables before your lunch/dinner. Light on the dressing too!
- Try shaking your salad & dressing inside a zip lock plastic bag--you will distribute the dressing more effectively and reduce some extra calories.
- A salad before your meal acts like compost and helps to digest your foods in a safer, efficient manner.
- Stop eating at 6:00 pm or close to that time if possible.
The Best Of Times…
Looking back on our lives is like reading a book or watching a movie--a history of good times and bad, happy and sad. This history is never fully acknowledged until after we’re gone and others are relaying it; as if reading our story so to speak.
As we live life in the present, we’re writing the pages. We have some control over the content by being proactive or reactive to life’s situations but this is solely our choice. This can lead us to happiness which seems to be our internal view of the world and how we react to life’s ups and downs...our own unique definitions, expectations and actions in regard to it. At times, fate deals us a hand that leaves us bitter but we must go on with the hopes of better times ahead.
We all have stories to tell firsthand but the best are those that evoke a feeling of happiness and contentment, laughter and joy. As I recall some of the pages in my book, I remember that the developing years of my children were some of the happiest and funniest.
One day, while I was at the bank with my three-year-old son, the teller asked if he’d like to have his hand stamped. The expression on his face confirmed that he did indeed and so I held him up to the window where he quickly held out his little hand to have it stamped. After putting him back down on the floor and encouraging him to say thank you, I asked him "where his manners were?" to which he responded, “Where A-R-E my manners, Mom?”.
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Reflections of Happiness…
Most of us have a good idea of whether or not we’re really happy. Happiness means different things to different people but we all deserve some of it. Right? Ironically, it can usually be found right under our noses but for some strange reason, it’s often overlooked in our quest for grander things. So, what brings you happiness? A sunny day? A walk in the park? I have some definitions of my own I’d like to share…
Happiness is…
…being alive
…having a daily relationship with God and knowing He loves you
…being thankful for the nourishment, clothing and sheltering of your body
…a strong, loving relationship with your husband after 27 years
…celebrating the miracle of birth
…listening to a laughing or singing child
…feeling pride in your children as they mature into respectable young adults
…belonging to a close knit family
…the blessing of special friends who love and accept you as you are
…“old friends” who know the history of where you were and where you are in life
…having a job that you love and feeling you have the greatest boss in the world
…a pat on the back for a job well done
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Our Favorite Email of the Week: 57 CENTS
A little girl stood near a small church from which she had been turned
away because it was "too crowded."
"I can't go to Sunday School," she sobbed to the pastor as he walked by.
Seeing her shabby, unkempt appearance, the pastor guessed the reason and,
taking her by the hand, took her inside and found a place for her in the
Sunday school class. The child was so happy that they found room for her,
and she went to bed that night thinking of the children who have no place
to worship Jesus. Some two years later, this child lay dead in one of the poor tenement buildings. Her parents called for the kindhearted pastor who had befriended their daughter to handle the final arrangements. As her poor little body was being moved, a worn and crumpled red purse was found which seemed to have been rummaged from some trash dump.
Inside was found 57 cents and a note, scribbled in childish handwriting,
which read: "This is to help build the little church bigger so more
children can go to Sunday School."
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C'MON GET HAPPY
1. Know Your Purpose
Other people will try to tell you what to do with your life. They mean well, but they aren't you. If you follow their advice you may make them happy--or you may not--but you most assuredly will make yourself unhappy. Your answers will come from within. Practice listening internally. What is your inner wisdom telling you to do?
2. Take Time to Reflect
A sure way to make yourself miserable is to be busy every moment of every day. When will you be able to listen to your inner wisdom to stay on purpose if you're always busy? Without reflection, you can't step back from your life to see the big picture. Where is your life going, anyway? Reflection allows you to see the subtle signs that announce a change is on the way.
3. Identify Your Talents and Develop Them
Many people are on a "self-improvement campaign." Their intent is admirable but the process usually backfires. Inherent in a plan to improve is the assumption that something is wrong. You are not okay. No sooner do you "fix" one flaw, than another one appears. After years of work on yourself, you may still feel dissatisfied and unhappy. The route that will take you where you want to go is to start with your strengths. Add to them by developing new skills. Start from a place of abundance, not a place of scarcity. You'll be happier and your self-esteem will flourish.
4. The Joy is in the Joy-Ney
Think of something you wanted very badly. When you finally got it, did it give you all the joy and satisfaction, all the happiness you expected. Probably not. Why? Because the joy in life occurs between the peaks. The joy is when you're on your way to an achievement or accomplishment, not the moment you reach the peak. Sure, it feels good to reach a goal, but if you expect goal attainment to make you happy, you will spend most of your days unhappy.
5. Stretch Yourself To Be Uncomfortable Every Day
If you play it safe in your life--never risking--when life presents you with an opportunity, you won't be able to seize it. If you practice risk taking every day, however, your comfort zone will expand. You'll find yourself taking more risks. Your confidence will grow, your experiences will be richer, and you'll have fewer regrets. All that adds up to feelings of happiness.
6. Look For Life's Stepping Stones
Life is a series of experiences. You relish some experiences, others you label as hardships, disappointments, set backs or disruptions. Whatever life presents to you is an opportunity to grow and learn, if you choose to view it that way. You have the power to decide if any given event is going to be a stumbling block, or a stepping stone. Your happiness depends upon the choice you make.
" Copyright © 1998-2001, Barbara Braham, 1143 Neil Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43201. Phone: (614) 291-0155."
Welcome to StreetSmarts:
Our new addition to the RustyChicks lineup! It's our aim to help you B-E-W-A-R-E: become, educated, women about risky experiences. So help yourself...please
NOTES FROM A FEMALE POLICE DETECTIVE
I want to share some things I have learned over the years of my law enforcement career with you. In my work, I have reviewed hundreds of files and cases, and decided to take notes of some mistakes that people have made. Allow me to preface this by stating that a woman is NEVER EVER EVER at fault for being assaulted or raped, but there are definitely ways to help reduce your risk of becoming a victim.
THE MOST COMMON MISTAKES WOMEN MAKE:
1. Getting into the attacker's car when he pulls a gun and orders you to get into his vehicle.
Most attackers don't want to shoot you ... they want you to get into the car so that they can drive you to a deserted place and torture you. Don't comply. Run screaming. It is MUCH more likely than not the perpetrator will just move on to an easier target.
2. Pulling over when a person drives alongside of you pointing at your car pretending something is wrong.
If this happens, drive to the nearest well-lit and populated gas station and look the car over yourself (or ask an attendant). Never pull over. Believe it or not, many women have fallen for this for fear of their car spontaneously exploding in the middle of the road. Not likely.
3. Not locking your doors while driving.
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