How Poetry Affect What I See

"Be The Creator Of Light"

I encounter the darkness with outstretched arms

casting my light upon shadows and harm

Since I am the product of an old oak tree

I take steps on a bridge built before me.

My goal is to move forward leaving the past behind

and making the best of the future inherently mine

I leave light behind with every step that I take

to encourage any followers to stay consciously awake.

The direction I'm headed is to be totally free

from any type of poison or negativity

It frees me to roam to great places unknown.

We are particles of the universe, so this is our home.

"In The Mist Of It All"

A prayer for all who may be lost in the mist

I pray you are found or not on this list

there are so many ways I wish to assist

I prefer hands together instead of with a fist.

When the world is all foggy, it's easy to dismissed

that this thing called life, it comes with a twist

If you're not staying focused it can easily be missed

The fact that the 'purpose of life' still exist.

Finger tips up, pressed hands and flexed wrists

the stronger my prayers, the more I persist

recalling the feeling of first being kissed

That feeling revisited, I just can't resist.

"I Am One With The Universe"

Sunshine and blue skies I dance on the sand

wrapped in pure linen with a staff in my hand

I open my spirit to a higher command

as the wind change direction, I change what I can.

Bright clouds hang around my head like new friends

whispering stories, no beginnings, no ends

exposing my core in the breeze of the winds

with the essence of burning sage as I cleanse.

Together the elements and I are now one

my foot prints and shadows may fade with the sun

the edges I've mended might become undone,

but to the creator, I'm forever his Son.

The Afro Flow

Auto Flow Retro Original

 Sum'n bout' an Afro

I just don't know

the way it's so natural

the way that it grow

Sum'n deep down

within my soul

it powers from the root

into a radiant glow

strength to defy gravity

when the wind blow

Gettin' stares from folks

as they watch the show

I define myself

as the uncommon joe

above the norm

not the status quo

The art of creative health is exploring and nurturing the entire you from top to bottom, left to right, from the inside / out.  Look to the smaller things like the color of your finger nails to the strength and shine of your hair to identify any changes... if there are any abnormalities or unusual occurrences, subtle changes or unexpected mood fluxes, it may be time to adjust something in your life. It could be your diet, or simply needing to drink more water or do more exercise.  The real art is to notice differences and do something about it. Make changes to counteract them to optimize your total health.  

Physically, emotionally, psychologically, mentally, spiritually, etc... 

 

Living Healthy with Yogi

When the average person thinks of living healthy, the first two things that comes to mind is diet and exercise... but there is so much more to it than eating right and sweating.  It's a combination of things that works for you as an individual. The object is to strategically find what combination works for you. 90% of the time it's instinctual, but if it's not rendering the results that you desire for optimal health, then utilize the other 10% to practice change. The health of your body, mind and spirit may differ from that of others, but there are a few simple things (in modified variations) that works for all.

The obvious is food: The quality, quantity, and type of product itself of what you put into your body determines the same of what you can/will get out of the usage of it.  The nutrient value, fat content, and sustainability of energy it can promote are some determining factors that should be considered when choosing what to eat. Remember to eat the rainbow. There are some foods that are grown from the earth that are called complete foods, meaning it has the ability to completely be properly absorbed and used by the human body.  Those are the foods that should be chosen more often than foods with a lot of empty calories and void of nutrients. (Insoluble fats and sugary-sweet processed foods). The key is a balanced diet.

Getting the right vitamins and minerals is what regulates our bodies for optimal performance, proper healing after injury, and adequate growth when needed. But as we get older it is also important to be aware of how the changes in our bodies can demand a change in our dietary needs. For example, women require more iron in their reproductive years to aid in possible fetal housing, as young men require a bit more proteins in their formative years to promote strength and rapid muscle growth.

Avoid doing anything in excess, especially bad habit-forming activities like smoking and drinking. Making attempts to stop smoking can be a difficult thing, but by doing so, it will prove to have huge benefits like adding years to your life. Also, by limiting your alcohol usage/drinking can impact your life in many other positive ways.

Be proactive about your health and get regular exercise.  Keep your joints moving, blood circulating and heart pumping strong by creating a routine of fun things to do on a daily.  You don't have to over exert yourself with a sweaty set of this or that's, but do something that will elevate your heart rate and keep a full range of motion of your joints. Please see you doctor before starting any physical routine to avoid further injury of any pre-existing conditions. It is also important to get regular checkups to ensure that you are on the right track.

Create balance, stay connected and reduce stress. Work as hard as you play, and remember that there should be a yin to your every yang.  Society puts unnecessary pressure on what we might think are needs, when in actuality its the needs of others that we adopt. It's okay to say 'no' to situations that you feel uncomfortable about, and it's okay to not beat yourself up about making that decision.
Healthy relationships are very important to maintaining overall health. Having a circle of friends, relatives and loved-ones are beneficial in adding fullness to our lives, it nurtures our spirit and adds depth to our personal being.
Excess stress can be a killer. The stress that comes up in areas of our lives as we try to do it all can really add up without notice and can lead to heart disease and other serious health issues. Attempt to manage the stress that you do have by simply stopping just to breathe with a deep inhale and a slow but steady exhale. Various aspects of yoga is my go-to stress reliever. Do what you can to avoid and eliminate stressful situations before they happen, it's a primary key to a healthier lifestyle.

Accept yourself just as you are.  Before there can be room for improvement, you must first realize what goodness you're working with.  It's mental, and the mind is very powerful. Understand that what others might see as flaws are actually our own, personal uniqueness.  Don't beat yourself up about anything you wish to change, change it from a good perspective by accepting it, embracing it as belonging to you, then work on it with compassion.  Giving yourself permission is a sure way to accomplish setting and achieving a personal goal.   

Have fun. Notice how good you feel when you are laughing, smiling and thinking good thoughts.  Simply enjoying your life is just as important as any other point of living healthy. Having a positive outlook and making sure you take time out to have fun can actually have a positive effect on your spirit health too. A single step in the right direction, taken every day, will get you where you want to go, so you might as well have fun getting there.
Go out, conquer your world.  Live Healthy.

Namaste'

10 Stress Reduction Tips You Can Use Now

 

  

 

 

We live in a microwave world where everything is wanted instantly... You don't need a spa weekend or a retreat. Each of these stress-relieving tips can get you from OMG to om in less time than you think.



1. Meditate
A few minutes of practice per day can help ease anxiety. Daily meditation may alter the brain's neural pathways, making you more resilient to stress, and helps to regain clarity and focus.

It's simple. Sit up straight with both feet on the floor. Close your eyes or find a neutral focal point. Focus your attention on reciting -- out loud or silently -- a positive mantra such as "I feel at peace" or "I love myself." Place one hand on your belly to sync the mantra with your breaths. Let any distracting thoughts float by like clouds.


2. Deep Breathing
Take a 5-minute break and focus on your breathing. Sit up straight, eyes open with a neutral focal point or closed, with a hand on your belly. Slowly inhale through your nose, feeling the breath start in your lower abdomen and work its way to the top of your head. Reverse the process as you exhale through your mouth.

Deep breathing counters the effects of stress by slowing the heart rate and lowering blood pressure. Inhale good, exhale bad.


3. Be Present
Slow down and enjoy a cup of green tea.

While sipping, you can talk yourself through whatever is causing the stress, first by identifying the source, dissecting it, then verbalizing your course of action to accomplish the task at hand. Green tea has micro and macro antioxidant properties that also promotes focus.

Take 5 minutes and focus on only one behavior with awareness. Notice how the air feels on your face when you’re walking and how your feet feel hitting the ground. Enjoy the texture and taste of each bite of food. When you spend time in the moment and focus on your senses, you should feel less tense.


4. Reach Out, Touch Someone
Your social network is one of your best tools for handling stress. Be careful, it can also be a primary source for stress. Talk to others -- preferably face to face, or at least on the phone. Share what's going on. You can get a fresh perspective while keeping your people skills and connections strong.


5. Tune In to Your Body
Mentally scan your body to get a sense of how stress affects it each day. Lie on your back, or sit with your feet on the floor. Start at your toes and work your way up to your scalp, noticing how your body feels.

Simply be aware of places you feel tight or loose without trying to change anything, For 1 to 2 minutes, imagine each deep breath flowing to that body part providing exactly what it needs to restore balance. Repeat this process as you move your focus up your body, paying close attention to sensations you feel in each body part.


6. Decompress
Place a warm heat wrap around your neck and shoulders for 10 minutes. Close your eyes and relax your face, neck, upper chest, and back muscles. Remove the wrap, and use a tennis ball or foam roller to massage away tension.

Place the ball between your back and the wall. Lean into the ball, and hold gentle pressure for up to 15 seconds. Then move the ball to another spot, and apply pressure.


7. OMG... Laugh Out Loud
Laughter doesn’t just lighten your mood. It lowers your stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline, and boosts chemicals in the brain called endorphins, which help your mood. Lighten up by tuning in to your favorite sitcom or video, reading the comics, or chatting with someone who makes you smile. Laughing tricks your nervous system into making you happy.

Here is a 5 minute video to laugh:

8. Play Some Tunes
Research shows that listening to soothing music can lower blood pressure, heart rate, and anxiety. Create a playlist of songs or nature sounds (the ocean, a bubbling brook, birds chirping), and allow your mind to focus on the different melodies, instruments, or singers in the piece. You also can blow off steam by rocking out to more upbeat tunes -- or singing at the top of your lungs!


9. Get Moving
You don’t have to run in order to get a runner’s high. All forms of exercise, including yoga, tai-chi, Pilates and walking, can ease depression and anxiety by helping the brain release feel-good chemicals and by giving your body a chance to practice dealing with stress. You can go for a quick walk around the block, take the stairs up and down a few flights, do your best shadow dances or do some stretching exercises like head rolls and shoulder shrugs.

Physical activities and routine movement helps to promote better sleeping habits, which in turn decreases overall stress.



10. Eat Right & Be Grateful
A proper diet and gratitude are closely related. Unfortunately, it’s when we have the most work that we forget to eat well and resort to using sugary, fatty snack foods as a pick-me-up. Fruits and vegetables are always great choices, and fish with high levels of omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to reduce the symptoms of stress. Fish really is brain food.

Keep a gratitude journal or several (one by your bed, one in your purse, and one at work) to help you remember all the things that are good in your life.

Being grateful for your blessings cancels out negative thoughts and worries, just as feeding your body with proper nutrition cancels out stress-related hunger

Use these journals to savor good experiences like a tasty well-balanced meal, a sunshine-filled day, and good health. Don’t forget to celebrate accomplishments like mastering a new task or a new hobby.

When you start feeling stressed, spend a few minutes looking through your notes to remind yourself what really matters. You Matter.

 

Healthy Smoothie & Snacks Made Easy

 

 

There is really no excuse to not eat healthy... I have often heard that eating healthy is difficult or hard to stay on top of.  I have also heard that it takes too much time, or too much focus, or too much of this-and-that.  Well, in a world full of sickness, disease, and Genetically Modified Organisms* (GMO), all it takes is to make right choices and make it delicious. 

 

 

 

Choose to eat more fresh fruits & vegetables daily to replace processed foods and snacks that you would normally choose to eat.  The choice is to simply 'get it in' with no excuses... and one of the best ways to get it in is to make plant-based decisions... smoothies and/or snacks.  Now you're eating healthy.

 

Be Creative and Eat the Rainbow... or DRINK it!

 

 

*A genetically modified organism (GMO), also known as a transgenic organism, is any organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques.  GMOs are the source of genetically modified foods and are also widely used in scientific research and to produce goods other than food.

Replacing the old with the new is often a good thing… unless it’s something that’s still in good-shape, and/or still fully functioning.  Replacing things that are no longer of use could be a window to prosperity and wisdom.  Give yourself an invigorating, 5 minute oil change.   A quick mental cleanse and refresher while physically giving the body stress-relieving attention. 

Sometimes it’s difficult to make a conscious decision to stop the world (your world) from spinning so quickly and moving so rapidly.  No matter how hard you try, there is still one more thing that needs to be done.  As soon as you feel like you need a break, take it.  Stop.  Breathe in.  Exhale.  Now follow this quick technique to start the process of renew.

Stop.  Breathe in.  Breathe out.  Find a focal point as you put everything on hold for the next 5 minutes.  Sit comfortably in an erect position where your spine is straight.  Imagine that you have a string attached to your base chakra (located in the under groin area).  The string has 7 knots, tied from the base to the top of your head.  As you remain comfortably seated, spine erect, move your hands from your lap to over your head.  With hands ending over your head, you should have all fingers touching the opposite hand’s fingers in the shape of a diamond.  Breathe regularly.  With every exhale, imagine that you are gently pulling on the string at the top of your head slowly untying each knot from the bottom, up.  Take about 60 seconds to visualize and untie each knot.  Slowly lower arms and welcome you (yourself) back to reality… the list has gotten so much easier.

Drifting Away

...and it feels like I'm drowning, pulling against the stream.

 

 

One of the best stress relievers I have ever experienced is being close to the water or being totally submerged in it.  Fresh is best, but salt-water has a special quality where it is complemented with the sense of smell and taste. I am a water sign by nature, so I am naturally drawn to water and fluid activity.  Just like meditation and yoga, the transitions are seamless and constant.  Deep breathing and focused movement should be just a seamless as thirst and hunger. I like to avoid the feeling of being stagnant, water has the ability to keep me fluid, moving, and transitioning.

I like it most when I have much on my mind and there is no one to talk to except my source of light and energy that provides me the ability to be me.  I am merely a reflection, therefore I am a natural part of the universe as I am part a creator. 

 

The source of my being provides me to be creative through my many moods and expressions.  One of my expressions is song.  Not often shared, but very often rendered.  Allow me to share...

 

http://youtu.be/vU0eRZnqJaw

 

 

Enjoy the Peace that is provided just for you on a continual basis, even when there are tough times to face.

Own your PEACE!

 

 

Noticing and Welcoming Change

 

Time is a healer.  Time is also ever moving.  Time is all we have to recognize, notice and welcome changes that are necessary to improve ourselves.  By greeting the Sun daily we acknowledge that time is of the essence and that time waits for no one. 

 

Today, at this time, I have now to notice the daylight, the Sun, the reflection of the sun through beams of moonlight, encouraging me to travel through focused movement and controlled breathing to reach my higher being.  I am not only a natural being, but I am nature at it's best.

 

All matter, every atom and molecule that surrounds me becomes a part of me through selective, controlled breathing and focused movement.  I inhale what is greatness and release the unusable so that life becomes a part of me as I reflect life in its most concentrated form... Me!

 

Time after time, day after day, I must perform a ritual of giving back to life what life has given me.  Reflecting like the Moon, I realize I am nothing without the true source of light that allows me to return the favor of life.

 

It has taken me some time to realize this thus the close to a full year gap in posts.  Now is the time to Salute the Sun.

 

Know your purpose...

 

Sun Salutations!