THIS MOMENT...

When death can come at a blink of an eye without warning, how do we know this moment isn't our last?

How is it that we take so many moments for granted when each one is just as important as any other?

Is the argument with a loved one more important than the moment you agree to disagree and hug and say I love you?

What if this day were your last? What legacy will you leave?

What will your last words be?

What if today is the first of 40, 50, and 60 more years of life?

What will you start your journey off with? Love? Anger? Depression? Passion? Curiosity?

Each moment we have may be the end of a cycle or a beginning. Each moment matters and no matter what is happening right now, in this moment you get to choose what you are doing, thinking, feeling...

In this moment you can change the questions in your mind and redirect the focus of your life.

If you are sitting in anger, guilt, rage, depression, loss... at any point you can shift this.

When we lose a loved one, we can become flooded with so many "shadow" emotions and thoughts. Go ahead and feel all of this. Sit with it, and move through it. And come to the space were too you discover loss is also beautiful. Our loved one is now in a place they no longer are experiencing the suffering of the human condition.

In Buddhism there is a saying, “suffer what there is to suffer and enjoy what there is to enjoy”.  In many cultures, mourning is extremely important to go through. Key phrase here, “go through”. Not to stay stuck in, not to avoid, not to overcome or conquer but rather, “to go through”. Experience it and once you move through it, keep moving. The sense of mourning will touch you from time to time and remember, the richness of life is meant for us all.

Most folks on their death bed have not pondered the regret of; “I wish I had worked more, been lazier, fought more, or stayed in depression or anger longer”. Most that have the time to ponder how they have lived their lives think if they had it to do over, they would have lived more, enjoyed more, loved more, laughed more, had more fun. If you stop living fully, are you not only cheating yourself but cheating the life teachings of those that have passed, even those we see as having passed too soon?

If you had another chance, what would you do differently?  What can you do NOW? What CAN you do right NOW? FAR MORE THAN YOU MAY REALIZE!

Understand that through thousands of years and through many cultural beliefs, religious doctrine and the like, there is much agreement with the idea of life’s purpose for us all is to be of service, to appreciate, enjoy and experience richly the offerings of life (birth, suffering, pleasure and death), to learn, and to love deeply.

We are all one... we are all part of this one heart beat and each decision to live richly brings more strength, joy and healing to us all. 

There is a cross roads here where you can make a decision to live as joyous and as giving as possible and experience the richness of life for yourself and for those that cannot.

This crossroads exist in all steps of our journey. At any given moment you can say, “ok, now is the moment I am shifting my direction. “ And then step in a new direction.

Those emotions of guilt, shame, anger, and blame are not here to destroy us, they are here as teachers and guides. Do not sit with them for long because they can become the trickster if given too much attention. Simply listen to their guidance and move forwards.  Have these emotions guided us to see mistakes we have made? Then do what you can to learn how to stop repeating those mistakes. Step joyously into the lessons. Learn from a love directed focus.

Have you ever said a statement like this: “I have learned to never trust anyone again”? This is not loved based learning. This is fear based learning. Learning from the lesson of blame or anger, etc. This is staying stuck. If you have been hurt, then learn to let go of the attachment of others and to truly step into the connectedness with others. Learn to let go of the expectations of others and start to live and vibrate at a space that brings you joy and confidence in yourself and in your own life and the universe will line up to support your focus and your investments.

If life feels painful and you feel stuck, seek counseling, natural healers, and / or life coaches for assistance. Read books that guide you to refocus your thoughts. Start to get involved with activities and people that are fun, uplifting, positive, joyful, and interesting, etc… start to take classes, read books, have conversations that challenge you and help you to expand your thinking, your abilities physically, emotionally, and mentally, etc…

Your life is your responsibility. We cannot control life or death. We cannot control the way others live, behave or talk. But we can control ourselves. We can participate in our own personal investments and do the work towards shifting ourselves, moment to moment.  In the beginning, it is moment to moment and as you grow and practice mindfulness and love based living and loved based learning you will notice effort becomes easy. At times days, weeks and months can pass and you notice you are living your shift without much effort. You will realize that paddling your boat downstream is a much easier tasks then paddling upstream. You may run into rapids from time to time but you will have the confidence and the abilities to direct your life in the direction you wish no matter what is coming your way.

Like a pro kayaker, in time, you’ll be ridding the current with joy and skill.

 I wish you a happy, loving journey. 

I'm so happy I didn't listen too much to what "they said" and did and do what I want.

What they said:

They said I had a couple of months to live, several times in my lifetime the last one being several years ago. But I’m still here

They said there was no way I’d walk, that was when I was a toddler, but I have walked and ran and climbed and jumped and played and rode bikes and horses and on and on. Then they tried to say similar 5 years ago, still I move and move and move.

They said If I had kids I’d die, but that I probably couldn’t have kids anyway, but I have given birth to four; (three live births) and have three beautiful daughters and two amazing grandsons now.

They said I’d never speak right; HA! And My family and friends would say HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! 

 They said no one could survive such injuries (at least 4 times in my life.) But I’m still here.

Five years ago they said that I’d never bend over or crawl or do yoga or martial arts or ride horses again to name a few, and yet those are things I enjoy as much as I can now.  AND I am able to! Like a beginner, but regardless, I AM DOING. 

They said, they said, they said….

They asked me; “how do you do it Jody”? I say I let spirit lead me. It is through prayer that leads me to that which I need: Reiki, EFT tapping, FRIENDS, FAMILY, LOVE, life coaches, healers of many walks of life and I listen, I try and fail and try and fail and try and fail and try and before I know it… I’m doing, success is a process of trying and continuing to show up even when I have no idea of what I’m doing, of what the outcome will be, I just show up and do as much as I can, even if it’s to observe, I show up.

They ask me; “why do you even try Jody”? I respond: “Because I can” 

When doctors tell you what you can and cannot do, remember that you get to participate in this choice.

You can take it lying down or you can “go out” enjoying as much possible.

Have you ever heard those questions: “what would you do with your life if you knew you only have a couple of months to live”? Most people answer with these great answers of all the fun things they’d do.

But the sad reality is that when people are told they have limited things they can do or limited time they can spend they end up spending it sad, worried and getting sicker and sicker.

My thoughts are if I’m going to die or be sick I might as well live as much as I possibly can while I can live.

If my body allows movement today then I’m moving. If it is only my mind that can move today, then I am visualizing myself dancing, doing Martial Arts, running, playing and enjoying life while I give thanks in celebration for all of the movement I have enjoyed and continue to enjoy.

I do advise to work with your medical specialist and with your body. Tune into what your body is saying.

If eating certain foods, doing certain activities means you will be very sick for several days and in bed, then do something else, or do it in moderation. If you must do the activity then do it in awareness of what the outcome MAY be.  AND do it in gratitude and celebration! 

My dear friend and mentor, Desiree Rudder, told me that I can send Reiki ahead of me on activities. So that is what I began doing. I have sent out visualizations, Reiki and gratitude ahead of myself. THIS has proven to be highly effective.  I see myself in celebration of the outcome I desire at the end of the activity. I see Reiki waiting for me every 3 to 10 steps of my walk. Or I see Reiki waiting for me in the field where I practice yoga or Martial Arts, or in the saddle of the horse I ride.

When I could only walk about 3 or four blocks but then be in bed most of that day as a result, or if I went over that amount, I would be bed for a couple of days in agony as a result I made the choice and took Desiree’s guidance. I put it to the test and ended up walking 10 blocks or so, came home rested 16 minutes, got up, did dishes for about 10 minutes, rested 8 minutes and then cooked for about 25 minutes and then sat on the sofa for a two hour movie without additional pain. In fact, my pain was bit lower than before my walk! 

Desiree Rudder LMT & Me; Jody G

I was told I couldn’t raise one leg at a time or have balance again. I started out lifting the heel of one foot for a few seconds while holding a fence. I’d alternate feet and do that each time I took the dogs out. Soon I was doing it without the fence. Then I began lifting my toes 1 inch off of the ground and doing that a few times a day. After about 3 months I could stand with one foot on my inner thigh in the tree pose (yoga). I could do it on both sides without touching the fence for support. After another couple of months, I could do this pose with no support nearby and do it with confidence.  Sometimes I can hold the pose for several minutes.

Healing is a process of baby steps. We don’t have to challenge our diagnosis with big leaps that could lead to intense trauma or that could greatly shorten our life span. Rather, we can take each day to embrace the possibility that wellness and a better quality of life awaits us and take those tiny baby steps to walk towards health and freedom. All the while enjoying the journey as that is what it’s all about anyway right. 

I snuck this pic during class while they were goofing around. Lol!

For me, I’d rather take baby steps towards goals that “they said” would be impossible than to sit around and make sure “they” were right.

I’d rather live my life taken steps towards the possibilities of; “what if they’re wrong”.

How about YOU? 

What if “they” are wrong?

What if you really do have a short time to live? What will you do with that time?

What if you have dozens of years to enjoy? What will you do with that time?

What if you truly have no way of knowing and what “they” say is a guess and only the Universe knows?

What if you can do some baby steps and discover that your pain has gone from a daily level of 8 to a daily level of 2 or less?

How will you live differently when you have lower pain or no pain at all?

How will you live differently when you have more years than you realized?

How will you live when you discover that you really can achieve and experience dreams that you have always wanted?

How will you feel? What will you do? How will you live?

When…

You discover that the limits set before you by others and even by yourself are actually illusions that can be changed into realities that you dream of?

Worst case: you do your best…. Take baby steps, make healthy choices and really do the work and still things get worse… wouldn’t it be FAR better to know you did your best AND YOU lived trying? Wouldn’t you feel better about yourself if you did the work to be victorious regardless of the rewards than to lie around and be a victim of no or little action?

There are so many things you can do and many things you can overcome and many tools to assist you along your journey.

There are coaches and healers that are skilled, trained and talented in these very areas. You are NOT alone in this journey. Reach out and take that first baby step.

I believe in you. I SEE your higher self. I hold that space for you in loving light.

Are you ready? 

Ruby

They said I'd spend most of my life sitting or laying and with very low activity levels. 

Here's just some of what I do instead:

Most all of this is done with EASE and very little consequence. MOST of the consequences actually are lower pain and higher energy...  

Walk up to 2 miles every now and then

Ride horses up to half an hour at this time

Participate in Martial Arts once a week for two hours

Walk my dogs every day for 5 -15 minutes

Walk sometimes for up to 4 hours doing photography (stop and go with some sitting).

Attend tons of events: concerts, Pow Wows, shows, classes, work shops, church, Temple (Buddhist), ETC (1 to 6 hours long).

Play with my grandchildren on the playground or in the house.

I WORK a full time job! This is a real shocker to "THEM", Hahahaha! I get to laugh in joy with this! 

I  do healing work with dogs, horses and with my fellow human (up to 4 hours in a day)

I teach classes up to 6 hours long

I do coaching with others up to 4 sessions in a day. 

THIS is some of what I DO that "THEY" said I could never do. 

I have discovered things that work for me by trying and by showing up. LIFE IS GOOD!!! 

Here's what to do when "they" say what your limits are: 

LAUGH ABOUT IT! :) 

Exploring cooking with Mama's Fire Tibetan Hot Sauce. What a delicious journey!

Welcome!

My journey cooking with Mama’s Fire Tibetan Hot Sauce, celebrating the delicious flavors of life and "Oceans and Oceans of Kindness".

I can taste the flavors of life and feel the blessings of loving kindness as I cook and as I consume this incredible sauce. This is one of those foods that has beautiful living energy.

I’d like to share with you some of my discoveries along my joyful journey using Mama’s Fire Tibetan Hot Sauce. This fantastic sauce has opened up an entirely new world of cooking for me so I am delighted to share with you some simple ways to use Mama’s Fire Tibetan Hot Sauce to make food interesting again.

Most of these are simple variations of things you may already eat and I’m mostly just adding Mama’s Fire Tibetan hot sauce to diversify and to take basics or even boring foods and turn them into gourmet tasting dishes.  This has been a fun and a very delicious journey of exploration. Enjoy…

I borrowed pictures of Mama's Fire products from their website: http://www.mamasfire.com/index.php

FYI: This is my first time writing out recipes of any sorts and these were tested before I wrote them out and not after so proceed with loving kindness. J

Hints & tips: I purchase Mama’s Fire Tibetan hot sauce at Life Source in Salem Oregon: http://www.lifesourcenaturalfoods.com/ However you can also purchase Mama’s Fire Tibetan hot sauce directly online at their website:  http://www.mamasfire.com/  they also have an amazing BBQ sauce too! While you are on Mama’s Fire’s website check out their “recipe” tab for more great recipes!

I’m willing to try Mama’s Fire on almost anything because so far it’s been incredible on everything I have tried to date.

At Life Source and other natural food stores you can find healthy alternatives for the ingredients used below.  Please chose local, organic, happy foods as much as you possibly can, it’s good for your body, your soul and for our planet.

Vary the amounts of Mama’s Fire Tibetan Hot Sauce per your taste. I preferred a bit more of a kick so you may need to test out these amounts to suit your personal preference.

 Mama’s spicy peanut butter with bacon sandwich  

Ingredients:

Two slices of bread (I really like "Dave's Killer Bread") http://www.daveskillerbread.com/ 

4 slices of thick cut bacon

Peanut butter

1teaspoon or more of Mama’s Fire Tibetan hot sauce

Items needed:

Bacon cooking tray or skillet or cookie sheet

Butter knife

Plate or paper towel

Preparation:

Cook the bacon to your liking: In the microwave, on the stove or in the oven. Please follow the cooking instructions on the bacon package.

Note: Fried provolone can be used as a bacon alternative. Check out this link: http://www.foodista.com/recipe/3TG6WGTT/fried-provolone-cheese#

Toast your bread if you want it toasted

Place your bread or toast on a plate or paper towel

Spread peanut butter on each slice of toast

Spread the teaspoon of Mama’s Fire hot sauce on one slice

Lay the bacon across the long way of that one slice of bread so that the bacon is covering the entire slice of bread or toast

Lay the other slice of bread/toast on top, cut in half and enjoy.

Cup of noodles or Raman noodles:

Prepare as you normally would

Add 1 or 2 tablespoons of Mama’s Fire Tibetan Hot Sauce

Another variation: add 1 or 2 tablespoons of peanut butter at the end of preparing along with Mama’s Fire and enjoy a Thai tasting dish.

Adding peanut butter at the end gives a cream texture. If you add while heating or cooking the peanut butter often takes on a slimy texture and may not be as pleasurable.

OR

Cook the noodles make sure you have used the season package at some point

Remove the noodles and place them in a bowl

With the remaining broth add 1 or 2 tablespoons of Mama’s Fire Tibetan Hot Sauce

Add 1 cup of frozen spinach or vegetable of your choice heat until hot (or done) and scoop them out and add the veggies on top of the noodles

Add 1 or 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, mix until well blended and then poor over your noodles and vegetables.

Curry soups:

Prepare your favorite curry soup and add 1 or two tablespoons of Mama’s Fire Tibetan Hot Sauce to each 1.5 cups or 2 cups of soup for a fantastic dance of flavors in your mouth. So yummy!

Progresso soups and other canned soups:

Add about 1 tablespoon or more per cup of soup.  Take the ordinary and turn it into extraordinary! Progresso makes great soups and Mama’s fire makes them rock this world! Just saying, J

Curry and or coconut dishes:

Add Mama’s Fire Tibetan Hot Sauce to various curry and or coconut recipes. Add to soups, sauces, lentils, rice dishes and much more.

Chicken:

Before baking, brush a thin or thick layer of Mama’s Fire Tibetan Hot Sauce over the chicken for a delicious Tibetan kick.

Spinach side dish or topper:

Items needed:

Small to medium sauce pan with a lid

Table spoon

Mixing spoon

Ingredients:

2 cups fresh spinach (in a bag is easiest)

3 tablespoons of water (less water may be fine)

2 tablespoons of Mama’s Fire Tibetan Hot Sauce

Pinch or so of sea salt

Pinch of black pepper

1/8 teaspoon of onion powder

Preparation:

Rinse the spinach and drain the water off (or use a salad spinner)

Chop the spinach or leave whole (it simmers down a bit better when it’s chopped up at least a bit)

Heat the water and Mama’s Fire Tibetan Hot Sauce to a nice simmer or slow boil

Add the onion powder, sea salt and the black pepper to the liquid and mix in

Add the spinach to the hot liquid mix, top with lid and let it wilt down

Completely mix spinach with liquid, remove from heat, let set about 4 minutes but stir it each minute to make sure flavors completely mix in.  

Serve hot on the side or over a nice juicy peppered stake

You can also add a sprinkle sesame seeds or crushed pine nuts or walnuts on top for added flavor, texture and visual appeal.

Addition pointers:

Try making your favorite homemade soups, lentil dishes, and quinoa dishes with a bit of Mama’s Fire Tibetan Hot Sauce to give it a whole new flavor and or a nice kick.

When preparing lentil dishes from scratch here is a great website worth taking a look at:

http://www.recipetips.com/kitchen-tips/t--975/all-about-lentils.asp

Mama’s Fire Tibetan Hot Sauce is wonderful in many dishes from around the world such as Indian, Thai, Tibetan, African dishes and stir fry’s.

Another discovery I have made is that in healthy dishes when I add Mama’s Fire Tibetan Hot Sauce I find it far more interesting and am drawn towards eating the healthier foods since I have started using Mama’s Fire Tibetan Hot Sauce than I once was before.  

Try adding it your salad dressings too!

While some of these recipes may be healthy or a healthier choice than other meals, some may be high in cholesterol, calories, sugar or total carbohydrates. Please check each ingredient you are using and be sure it matches your dietary needs.

http://www.mamasfire.com/

MAMA'S FIRE TIBETAN BBQ SAUCE!

http://www.daveskillerbread.com/

DAVE'S KILLER BREAD!

Foot notes:

While I really want to share in my delight of Mama's Fire Tibetan Hot Sauce,

I realized that I also love Dave's Killer Bread for sandwiches so of course,

I had to put that plug in too.

All good stuff!

More foot notes:

The other key thing for me here is choosing to use products or patronize businesses with heart! These products and companies mentioned here all have heart. They all give back to, contribute to and connect with their communities in many ways.

They chose products or ingredients that are quality good for you kind of good stuff.

And more foot notes:

I was not hired to write this by any company. And I haven't asked their permission.

 I enjoy these products and want to share my experience with you.

This is my exclusive experience (my families experience too!) and I hope it will be yours as well.

In fact, I'm confident you will enjoy these products as well that that was why I wanted to share.

All of these products are just far too good to keep a secret.

:)

If you were strapped to a bed, unable to move or talk what would matter to you the most? How would your life, beliefs, values change?

Don't make death be the space that you discovered love and acceptance 

existed in abundance all along.

Live love and acceptance now.

I remind myself often of what it was like for months after my car crash and I ask myself to re-assess my values and my actions. When I get caught in the drama of life or feel targeted by the lies or distractions of my ego or that of others I come back to the “nothingness”, to the core, to that space where body, life’s tasks and activities cannot distract from what is my truth, and what matters most to me.

Chew on this:

When everything is taken away from you including control of your body, when you lay there in a hospital bed unable to talk or move and on the edge of death while your loved ones look at you with expressions of desperation, all of lives drama becomes irrelevant. All material things become liquid and you don't care if it all flows away because all that matters are issues of the heart. Knowing that you are loved, longing to be sure others know they are loved and how very much they matter. It isn't the mistakes of your children, family or friends you have in mind, it's all of the laughter, hugs, smiles and memories of playing hide and seek and water fights and the kids coming home with tales of their day and their "aha" moments as they grow into wisdom. It's the memories of friends that stood by you even when you were wrong and laughed with you when you figured it out. It's matters of the heart that mean the most. No matter what you think, you are loved. No matter how many mistakes you make or how big they are, you are good enough and worthy of joy. No matter how many times you fall, it's that you keep getting up and trying again that matters. Don't let your ego or the egos of others trick you, you have value beyond measure and you have purpose.

Food for thought:

Ø What matters to you?

Ø What is your “why” for doing anything you do?

Ø Why do you want to succeed at any aspect of your life?

Ø What value does having a job, a business, money or benefits bring to your life?

Ø What value do your relationships bring to your life?

Ø What value does your spiritual beliefs and or practices bring to your life?

Ø What value do your beliefs bring to your life?

Ø What Value does your education (formal or self-taught) bring to you?

Ø What value does your community bring to you?

Ø What value do you bring to others?

Ø What value do you bring to your community?

Ø What value do you bring to your relationships?

Ø What are you doing with your time? Investing it? Or spending it?

Ø When you are involved in something; watching TV, reading a book, working, watching sports, playing sports, playing video games, arts and crafts, playing music… whatever it is you are doing, if someone you love comes to ask a question how do you treat them?

Ø Are you investing more in what you are doing than in who you are being?

Ø Are you investing more in what you are doing than in what you state is important to you?

Ø Are you actions and behaviors matching your beliefs, purpose and goals?

Ø Are you spending time being busy so you can avoid being productive?

Ø Are you spending time doing so you can avoid being?

Ø Are you actively loving who matters to you?

Ø Are you actively loving you?

Ø Love is a verb, an action word, have you done acts of love for yourself and others lately?

I have learned that regardless of a person’s ability or willingness to see, feel or know that they are loved and valued, they are anyway.

Once I was in a space of my mind with nothing else I could do I had to face truth. The truth is that there is a higher power, a Great Spirit that loves me and accepts me and all people. There are many people that love and accept me. There are people I love and love deeper than I could ever express. There are people that I accept regardless of anything and that accept me the same. All people are loved, lovable and deserving of love and acceptance exactly as they are. And there are no exceptions to truth.

I spend the majority of my life afraid, angry, hurt and trying desperately to control every aspect of life I could. Once there was nothing I could do. I was there to face myself and to step into my beingness. Raw, vulnerable, afraid, I stepped into the void. I was forced to let go of the doingness of life and discover the beauty of the beingness of life. I lost the illusion of control and gained the beauty of surrender.

It is in the mystery, in the surrender that the abundance of life’s blessings can be seen, felt and experienced. It is there that appreciation is song that plays while you dance the dance of life’s celebration. It is there that the authentic self exists and emerges from. It is there that purpose can be revealed.  It is there that the voice of the Great Spirit can be heard.