Finding Your Joy: Be Happy Every Single Day

Our lives are rich with potential sources of happiness, but sometimes we become victims of negative thinking because we believe that focusing on all that has gone wrong will provide us with the motivation we need to face the challenges of survival. When we choose to focus on what makes us happy, however, a shift occurs in the fabric of our existence. Finding something to be happy about every single day can help this shift take place. The vantage points from which we view the world are brought into balance, and we can see that being alive truly is a gift to be savored. There is always something we can be happy about – it is simply up to us to identify it.

On one day, we may find happiness in a momentous, life-changing event such as a marriage or the birth of a child. On another day, the happiness we experience may be a product of our appreciation of a particularly well-brewed cup of a tea or the way the sun shines on a leaf. If we discover that we literally cannot call to mind a single joyful element of existence, we should examine the cause of the blockage standing between us and experiencing happiness. Keeping a happiness journal is a wonderful way to catalog the happiness unfolding all around us so that joy has myriad opportunities to manifest itself in our lives. Writing about the emotions we experience while contemplating joy may give us insight into the factors compelling us to resist it.

Happiness may not always come easily into your life. You have likely been conditioned to believe that the proper response to unmet expectations is one of sadness, anger, guilt, or fear. To make joy a fixture in your existence, you must first accept that it is within your power to choose happiness over unhappiness every single day. Then, each time you discover some new source of happiness, the notion that the world is a happy place will find its way more deeply into your heart. On this day, find one thing to be happy about and let it fill your heart.

~Reprinted with permission from DailyOM

Garlic Lime Chicken Fajitas

This recipe is full of different herbs and spices which are full of anti-oxidants among having other health benefits. For example cumin is a good source of iron, which the body needs to make hemoglobin as well as being a good digestive enzyme. It has been said that cilantro has been used to remove metals and other toxins from the body. It is also a great anti-inflammatory, helps with cholesterol, is a great anti-septic and helps promote healthy liver function among many other things. Oregano also has anti-bacterial properties as well as being a great digestive aid. Garlic helps prevent heart disease and stroke as well as being good for your cholesterol levels and is also a great anti-inflammatory. Onions help lower your glucose levels as well as aid in strengthening your bones. Pepper is another spice that helps with your digestion as well as being full of magnesium and iron. It also helps promote urination and sweating, both help eliminate toxins from your body.

Ingredients:

• 1tsp. minced garlic
• 1tsp. minced onion
• ¾ tsp. ground cumin
• ¾ tsp. oregano leaves
• ½ tsp. cilantro leaves
• ½ tsp. coarse ground black pepper
• ¼ cup each lime and orange juices
• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• ½ tsp. salt
• 1 ½ lbs. boneless skinless chicken breast cut into thin strips
• 1 medium green or red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
• 1 medium onion thinly sliced
• 8 Ezekiel or organic whole wheat tortillas
• Optional: Hard cheese shreds such as Romano or parmesan and sour cream ( Friendship sour cream is made without cornstarch).

Directions:
1. Mix juices, oil, all of the spices and salt in small bowl. Reserve ¼ cup of marinade. Place chicken in large resealable plastic bag or glass dish. Add remaining marinade; turn to coast well. Refrigerate 30 minutes or longer for extra flavor.
2. Cook and stir chicken in large heated skillet on medium-high heats 3 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from skillet. Add bell pepper, onion and reserved marinade; cook and stir 5 minutes or until tender. Return chicken to skillet. Cook 2 to 3 minutes or until heated through.
3. Spoon chicken mixture into warmed tortillas. Serve with assorted topping, if desired.

~~
By Ann Moon

don Miguel Ruiz and don Jose Ruiz Come to CNY in April

TRIUNE LIVE ~ Sheila Applegate, Ken Stone, Meagan O’nan With don Miguel Ruiz, don Jose Ruiz & Joanne Shenandoah. Please Help Me Welcome don Miguel Ruiz and his son don Jose Ruiz to Syracuse by spreading the news of this event.

As you know, through a series of unfolding miracles, we have been presented with the rare opportunity to bring internationally renowned don Miguel Ruiz and his son, don Jose Ruiz (authors of several NY Times best-selling books, including The Four Agreements, Mastery of Love and The Fifth Agreement — www.miguelruiz.com) to Syracuse NY on April 16th for a powerful evening celebrating the Earth and Spirit.

We were led by Spirit to bring don Miguel and don Jose Ruiz to the land of the Onondaga and know that this is a rare gift to be able to offer the people of the area, since the don Miguel Ruiz rarely travels to the East Coast.

The limited time to plan the event has left us with limited Marketing options.We believe this is not by chance but because we are being called to come together as a community in order to spread the news about this event to all the people whose lives will be transformed by attending.

I am asking each one of you for your help in getting the details of this event to everyone who will want to attend. This means not only our Upstate NY friends but the entire East Coast. People are coming from all Four Directions to find inner Peace. This is as it should be. Lets join hands as we welcome our Brothers from the Toltec Tradition to this Sacred Land. Please use every tool you have to spread this information so that we welcome don Miguel and don Jose Ruiz with a full house.

Thank you!
With Much Love,
Sheila Applegate –  www.sheilaapplegate.com

April 16, 2010,  7:00-10:00 pm, The Palace Theatre, Syracuse, NY:
Featuring Internationally renowned authors don Miguel Ruiz and don Jose Ruiz and Grammy Award winning Joanne Shenandoah. A down-to-earth evening of soul connection, meditation and music to help you uncover the truth of who you really are and to make dreams a reality.

Triune partners, Sheila Applegate, Ken Stone and Meagan O’Nan, together with teachers and best-selling authors, Don Miguel & Don Jose Ruiz, and Grammy-Award winner Joanne Shenandoah invite you to spend an evening opening up to a refreshingly new approach to spirituality.

TICKETS ON SALE AS OF MARCH 12 ~ GENERAL ADMISSION $35 VIP $100 ( Includes private meet and greet)

Click this link to purchase tickets.

Intensive Workshop with Triune and don Jose Ruiz on April 17, 2010 10am – 3pm at The Spring, Fayetteville NY. Space is limited.

Finding Friends

We have often heard something like; “you pick your friends, but family is picked for you”. Family is certainly something we are “gifted” with and it can sometimes be a struggle to understand if the stork was drunk or simply lost. Good or bad, we spend most of our lives trying to be part of our family and be accepted as equal. Some days and some people are certainly more difficult than others. Either way, because they are our family, we almost always keep trying.

However, do we really pick our friends either? True friendship, is shared, without jealousy, control and insecurity and is very rare indeed. I would suggest that those that profess to have a large circle of friends and several BFF’s as they are now referred, simply have many close acquaintances, with similar interest. Each of those acquaintances, having different needs, wants and limitations that are not always in your best interest.

It is probably safe to say that if you look at your circle of “friends”, it is not you that picked them, but maybe, they that picked you. Remember that if your light burns bright and your music is heard, people will look to you, to light THEIR path. Having acquaintances and people to interact with and spend time with, and sharing interests with, is a wonderful thing that should be encouraged. However, knowing each relationship for what it is and seeing its limitations and boundaries is critical for self-care.

FRIENDS, like family, we do not pick, we simply have to find where the Universe has put them. If you are truly blessed, you may find you have more than one FRIEND. You do not have to have a spouse, partner or lover to have a FRIEND, but your spouse, partner or ,lover should always be a FRIEND. Friends, like life partners, must be willing to accept your changes and growth. Without that willingness from each, the friendship can not endure. Look at each friendship closely and remember that they like you, have and will continue to grow and change.

As you look at all those changes ask yourself; “Have you been FRIENDS a long time, or a long time ago you were FRIENDS”? A FRIEND gives and shares without judgment or selfish motives and demands the same in return. Take the time to find where the Universe has put your FRIEND.

~David Ritter

The Journey

As we travel on our journey for enlightenment and salvation it is only natural that we want to include those we love on that journey. Unfortunately, the choice to make that journey is a solitary one. The Universe provides the time and place for all of us to begin anew and it actually offers this opportunity several times throughout our lives. The decision to start that journey lies solely within each of us. My time to see and begin life anew will always be different than even that of my closest companion and love.

When my journey started, I wanted to show everyone that there were other options to life, that can bring happiness and joy unlike any other. Unfortunately, until the time comes when someone is open to changes within themselves and finds the willingness to except their own shortcomings, all you will find is a blank stare and deaf ears. The Universe wrote the complete story of our lives, eons ago and that story can not be changed. What we often fail to realize is that WE do not know that story. The story includes changes and choices and mistakes and successes that we have yet to know.

We must realize that just because the Universe knows our destiny, WE do not. We can, at any time change our mind, our path, our dreams and, whatever we choose is exactly how and when it was supposed to be. Your destiny is written in stone, however there is no “cliff” notes for the story and no peaking ahead. Let go of the fear and be who you feel inside. Today a surgeon, tomorrow a missionary, today an Olympic runner, tomorrow a participant in the wheelchair Olympics. Today’s happiness is not always tomorrows joy. Live your life everyday with only one thought; “What makes me a better person for myself”.

There are those gifted souls that know and see what it is that brings the joy and happiness of the Universe to bear. Those that refuse to turn away from the passions they feel and the efforts and sacrifices to achieve them. See the signs, make the choices and you will have untold bounty in this life and the next.

~David Ritter

Cleansing the Heart of Your Existence: Nine Ways to Have a Healthier Home

Our homes serve as sanctuaries in which we are protected from what is potentially harmful. If we are not careful, however, we can inadvertently surround ourselves with substances that can be toxic to our bodies. It is precisely because we rely on our private spaces to serve as refuges from the world that we must exercise great care when choosing how we build, furnish, cleanse, and decorate our homes. Here are some suggestions for creating a healthier home:

1. Be a conscious consumer. If you buy products that contain wholesome, organic, and inert components, you will avoid most common household toxins. Read labels.

2. Your spaces will be as healthy as they are clean when you use natural cleansers and detergents. Almost everything in the home can be cleaned and disinfected using varying combinations of baking soda, vinegar, salt, tea tree oil, herbs, and gentle castile soap. Organic cotton slipcovers can be washed regularly to keep dust mites at bay and to keep us from close contact with furniture that may be off-gassing toxins.

3. Plants clean and add oxygen to the air you breathe when you place them in your personal spaces. Two plants in each room of your dwelling will rid the air of toxins and pollutants while balancing indoor humidity levels. Air purifiers are an easy way to have clean air and are especially useful in a bedroom. Try and clean your air ducts and furnace and change filters regularly.

4. Natural decor that incorporates pesticide-free wood and fibers, organically grown materials, and nontoxic paints and varnishes adds beauty to your house or apartment while lowering your exposure to unsafe chemicals.

5. Scents can help you maintain a hazard-free home. As you enter your home after an absence, pay close attention to the dominant fragrance you perceive. You may discover toxins that might otherwise have gone unrecognized.

6. Be aware of the water you drink and bathe in and consider adding a whole-house filter system.

7. Getting a good night’s rest is easier when your bedding is comprised of natural materials. Organic cotton sheets, down comforters, and wool fiber mattresses offer a wonderful alternative to standard bedclothes.

8. Negative ions are invisible molecules that promote whole-self wellness found in the clean air atop mountains and near rushing water. Equipping your home with a negative-ion generator or salt lamp will ensure that you feel alert and refreshed whenever you are at home.

9. If building a new home, consider carefully the materials you choose and research how much they off-gas toxins. You may not be aware of many glues and hidden substances. Choosing sustainable wood floors over wall-to-wall carpeting can be very beneficial to those with allergies and sensitivities.

Making a few easy changes in your home can provide years of healthy living for you, your family, and pets. A healthy home is a good foundation for living. And whether you use these suggestions or others, the best thing you can do is be aware.

~Reprinted with permission from DailyOM

Tasty Salad Recipe

Enjoy this delicious and nutritious Jicama Red Apple Mint Salad.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Jicama, peeled and sliced into thin strips ( place in lemon water along with prepared apple to prevent discoloration)
• 2 cups baby spinach
• 1 red apple, cut into thin strips
• 1 tsp. fresh mint, chopped
• 1 lemon
• olive oil
• pinch of a salt (real salt or your choice of natural sea salt)

Directions:
Mix drained and dried jicama, spinach, apple and mint in a bowl. Toss gently with a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of salt. Enjoy!

Nutrition:
Jicama is high in potassium which helps prevent muscle cramping, low blood sugar, stroke, heart attack, muscle disorders, high blood pressure as well as normal brain functioning. This vegetable/root is high in carbs, so be careful if you are watching your carb intake.

Spinach his high in folic acid which helps prevent birth defects, high blood pressure, colon caner and heart attacks. It’s also very high in Vitamin K which helps the blood clot normally, helps prevent bones from fractures, helps prevent liver and prostate cancer, lower’s your risk of kidney stones and Alzheimer’s. Spinach also contains high amounts of Vitamin A which helps maintain and repair your skin cells, it’s good for your eyes, helps fights bacteria and virus ( we all know that cranberry juice is a good treatment for urinary tract infections). People who have strokes and high levels of Vitamin A are less likely to die or suffer from disabilities caused by strokes. Spinach is also high in Manganese a mineral that helps with bone formation, thyroid function, calcium absorption, immune function, etc. It’s also very high in iron which helps transport oxygen to our cells. Surprisingly spinach contains high amount of calcium which is good are bones, teeth and is good for our heart and metabolism.

Apples are low glycemic fruit. They contain Vitamin A ( see benefits above), potassium which helps prevent muscle cramping , low blood sugar, stroke, heart attack, muscle disorders, high blood pressure as well as normal brain functioning. Cranberries also contain a little bit of calcium which is good for your bones and teeth as well as your heart and metabolism. As well as many other vitamins and minerals.

~~~
Ann Moon

Zumba Party at CNY Healing Arts Raises Funds for Breast Cancer Patients

Laura’s List: Books for Women, Positively Pink  Packages hosted Zumba for Breast Cancer . The greater Central New York community united at CNY Healing Arts in Syracuse, New York. This fun event was a great chance for women to come together and participate in the newest fitness class, or just  relax with a glass of wine and enjoy some scrumptious desserts while supporting this great cause.

Laura Ponticello, of Laura’s List: Books for Women, shares “Thanks to our friend and support champion, Dr. Robert Kiltz, we were able to raise $500 from this venue, for local breast cancer organization, Positively Pink Packages.”

Chemotherapy was the hardest part of treatment for me.   Those four months seemed like years.  Even though I had seen others go through it and knew what to expect, I somehow thought it would be easier.  It wasn’t so much the nausea- I had a wonderful nurse practitioner that told me if I was nauseous, she wasn’t doing her job. For me, it was the hair loss.  Vickie Girard sums it up when she writes in her book, There’s No Place Like Hope, “Losing our hair hurts and no one tells us that.  It hurts our head, yes, but mostly it hurts our heart.”  I have taken some of the items I found helpful, and created a care package-in the hopes of making this time a little easier for you. Sincerely, Jennifer Tom; Founder of Positively Pink Packages

With your support, we can bring light to breast cancer patients darkest days- not only does the care package let them know that they are not alone in this fight but it provides them with the highest quality products to use during this difficult time. Again, a huge thank you for your support and embracing the chance to make a difference in the lives of cancer patients and their families by supporting this wonderful program.

Donations are still being accepted and every dollar donated, goes directly into creating breast cancer care packages for local CNY residents. Donations (and yes, a tax donation) can be sent to:

Positively Pink Packages
PO Box 208
Fayetteville, NY 13066
Email: Jenniferatom@aol.com

Positively Pink Packages is a 501 (c) (3) tax exempt public charity dedicated to supporting the physical, emotional and educational needs of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients in Central New York by providing care packages without charge. www.positivelypinkpackages.org

Anything Can Be Overcome: Hope in Hardship

The journey that each human being makes through earthly existence can have hardship as often as it is touched by joy. When we encounter adversity, the stress we feel can erode our optimism, eventually convincing us that the issues we face cannot be overcome. In truth, there is no situation so dire, no challenge so great, and no choice so bewildering that it cannot be overcome. Though we may believe that all avenues have been closed to us or that our most conscientious efforts will come to naught, we are never without feasible options. The best course of action may be veiled in doubt, but it is there. When we are honest with ourselves with regard to this simple fact, we can overcome anything because we will never stop looking for a solution to the challenges before us.

Self-trust coupled with a sturdy plan is the ultimate antidote to adversity’s tendency to inspire disillusionment in the human mind. As difficult as the obstacle plaguing you seems, it is no match for the love of a supportive universe that has been a part of your life since the day of your birth and will be with you forevermore. Try not to be misguided by your fear as this gives rise to the notion that there are problems without solutions. If you believe in your capabilities and dedicate yourself to the creation of some form of resolution, you will be surprised to discover that paths that were once closed to you miraculously open. Even if all you can do is change your perspective to turn an impediment into an opportunity to grow, you will have found the hope that is an inherent element of all hardship.

Remember that your destiny is a product of your own creation. Even when it seems you have nowhere left to turn, there is a solution waiting for you. The only insurmountable obstacles are the ones you create in your own mind—and these can only exert power over you if you let them. Uncertainty will always be a part of your existence, but perseverance and mindfulness will never fail to see you through to the other side of hardship where joy can thrive. Try and remember that no matter what life places at your feet, there is absolutely no situation that cannot be resolved with time, love, and friendship.

~Reprinted with permission from DailyOM

Easy Supper Recipe, Only 4 Ingredients

Turkey is a very good source of Vitamin B12 which is needed to help maintain red blood cells and nerve cells as well as DNA. Turkey is also a good source of Selenium which is an antioxidant that helps prevent cell damage and free radicals (the things that age us and cause cancer).

Cranberries are an excellent source of Vitamin A which helps maintain and repair your skin cells, it’s good for your eyes, helps fights bacteria and virus (we all know that cranberry juice is a good treatment for urinary tract infections). People who have strokes and high levels of Vitamin A are less likely to die or suffer from disabilities caused by strokes. Cranberries also contain Vitamin C and like Vitamin A it’s good for the skin and immune system. Vitamin C also helps reduce your risk of having a heart attack by preventing free radicals from damaging the artery walls. It reduces the risk of all types of cancer, it helps are body to produce collagen and it’s very useful in the abortions of iron. Cranberries also contain Potassium which helps prevent muscle cramping , low blood sugar, stroke, heart attack, muscle disorders, high blood pressure as well as normal brain functioning. Cranberries also contain a little bit of calcium which is good for your bones and teeth as well as your heart and metabolism.

Mandarin oranges also contain Vitamin C, A and some calcium.

This recipe serves 2 and is very easy to prepare.

Ingredients:

• 2 turkey thighs (Plainville Turkey or organic is best because they don’t use hormones or antibiotics)
• 1 can whole berry cranberry sauce (use naturally sweeten cranberry sauce or one that is sweeten with evaporated cane juice)
• 1 can mandarin oranges (sweeten with fruit juice)
• Salt (use sea salt or “Real” salt for healthier alternative) and pepper to taste

Directions: Preheat oven to 350°F. Rinse and dry turkey thighs. Season with salt and pepper. Place skin side up in large casserole or Dutch oven. Drizzle oranges and cranberry sauce over turkey, including can juices. Cook, uncovered approximately 1 1/2 hours. Let rest, serve and enjoy. Serves 2, simply double the recipe (including canned ingredients) for 4.

~~
Ann Moon