The Law of Intention and Desire from Deepak Chopra's website

I have been meditating every day this week - using mostly guided meditations from The Chopra Center Website. I really feel great after doing my meditation. I guess that means I am shifting my spirit, my path, my purpose. I have some ideas of things I want to do now that will propel me on my journey and I am excited.

Inherent in every intention and desire is the mechanics for its fulfillment . . . intention and desire in the field of pure potentiality have infinite organizing power. And when we introduce an intention in the fertile ground of pure potentiality, we put this infinite organizing power to work for us.
I will put the Law of Intention and Desire into effect by making a commitment to take the following steps:
1. I will make a list of all my desires. I will carry this list with me wherever I go. I will look at this list before I go into my silence and meditation. I will look at it before I go to sleep at night. I will look at it when I wake up in the morning.
2. I will release this list of my desires and surrender it to the womb of creation, trusting that when things don’t seem to go my way, there is a reason, and that the cosmic plan has designs for me much grander than even those I have conceived.
3. I will remind myself to practice present-moment awareness in all my actions. I will refuse to allow obstacles to consume and dissipate the quality of my attention in the present moment. I will accept the present as it is, and manifest the future through my deepest, most cherished intentions and desires.

Whacked hormones and being an Empath - where is my bubble?

I didn't quite make it to workout on Monday, Wednesday or today. I did go to my workout with my trainer on Tuesday though - only because I had to. Monday I said I was resting because of the run on Sunday, but that was a lie! And, of course I haven't been sleeping well at all! The motivation is just not there. Not sure if because I am such an Empath (empathetic person that picks up on the energy of others) I am just in a funk because of all that is going on around the world - the earthquake, tsunami, and radiation in Japan; all the turmoil in the Middle East, gas prices here....I could go on and on, which is so not like me. Usually, I am pretty good about not focusing on the bad. But, I really feel like I am picking up on the feelings these occurrences are bringing out in others. I am trying to stay in a good emotional state, but it is hard for me when I see the news and read things on the Internet. Maybe I just need to live in a bubble. I know that sounds unrealistic and self centered to live in a bubble, but I just can't take all the pain in the world right now. I've got to snap out of this. Plus, I just found out that my hormones are officially out of whack. In a way this is good news because the doctor said that my out of whack hormones could very well be the cause of my not sleeping well, my evening cravings, and my not releasing weight like I would like to.  So, I am doing something about it and I’m going to get my hormones working for me and not against me!  We shall see – I start on my new regimen tonight. I am optimistic that this will be the big turning point for me in my journey.  I’ve read that hormones not being in line can really wreck havoc on a body and its systems. I may well be living proof of this. The good news is that hormones can be regulated and get back to normal.  All I can say is that I am so glad that tomorrow is Friday and that I am seeing my former Prosperity Princess ladies tomorrow to talk about some positive manifesting. I really need that now.

Up at 5 a.m......

Actually, 4 a.m. without the time change - to get my coffee and drive to the Grunion Run 5K in Dana Point. It was mighty early to drive down there to participate in this run! I was one pooped girl when I got home. And, I didn't even see one Grunion. hahahaha!  I know they are only out at night. I think I was tired mostly because it was soooooo early to get up and on a Sunday too! Well, I mostly walked with a little jogging, but it was a nice time - beautiful scenery along the coast. Then my friend, Sue, and I had a a little breakfast at the Dana Point Harbor. The plan is to do more of these runs - and to get more proficient at the 5K's before moving on to the 10Ks. The next one we have planned is the beginning of May at the Orange County Marathon. Oh no I'm not doing the Marathon - not yet anyway. LOL! We will be doing another 5K that day. That event I'm sure will  have some very serious runner types attending. LOL! Not me...I'm happy with myself and with completing the run/walk this morning. Needless to say I didn't do my meditation this morning because I was up so early and rushed to get out the door - and I feel it. Or could it just be that I got up so early? LOL!  Seriously, I am really getting into the vibe of meditation. I know it sounds cliche, but I am serious. Meditating in the morning is really helping to shape my days - in a good and fabulously joyful way.

Reiki, Meditation, Yoga, Workout and Pilates

I've been a busy girl since I last wrote. On Saturday I had the pleasure of refreshing my Reiki skills with my Pilates instructor/Reiki Master, Janice, and my friends Yvette and Joni. It was an awesome day - with some huge revelations for me. I have continued my meditation daily since we last spoke - feeling more still each time I meditate.  It really only takes about 15 minutes or so a day to completely - well not really completely (LOL- still have a little drunk monkey in my head) - center me for the day. Plus, I went to my friend Alysia's meditation class at The Healing Shoppe – where she does a guided meditation which really helps in seeking guidance in life. I know that may sound a little out there – especially for a real estate broker to say – but it is true! I went back to the yoga class I tried a few weeks ago - and that was awesome too. Boy, do I need to get more limber though - which I understand will come with time. Thank goodness! And, today is my workout/Pilates day. I know don't ask me why I am doing both on the same day - scheduling issues. Yes. That's it. So, basically I moved my body for two hours today. YAY! This weekend I am doing The Grunion Run 5k in Dana Point with one of the ladies I did the Mud Run with – my friend Sue. It should be a beautiful weekend for the run – in my case mostly walk. LOL! Life is good.

Stillness Speaks

This may seem a little cliché, but the idea that my body is my temple seems to be a reoccurring theme for me the last few days. I really believe that I have been disconnected from my body for the last 25 or so years or maybe even longer. My mind and spirit seem to not be a part of my body and its laments. I think this may hold the clue to why it has been such a struggle for me to release weight in the past. I don’t really feel overweight in my head most of the time. I don’t really feel uncomfortable. Well, of course unless I am shopping for clothes – the reason for my vast shoe and purse collection! LOL! Or if I am going to a beach or pool – then I do recognize that I’m not going to feel too comfortable in a bathing suit – but my weight hasn’t stopped me from going! I did give up wearing shorts quite awhile ago – but hey don’t all forty-year-olds. Hmmmmm….that sounds like a little bit of denial.  But, the point being that in my everyday life – I don’t think of myself as a fat person.  I really don’t.  I think that somewhere along the way the connection between body and soul so to speak was lost for me. Not sure when or how or why! But, in expanding my meditation practice I have learned – I am still a total novice at this – that it is only in stillness that we discover our infinite possibilities. It is in stillness that we set our intentions and our stillness connects us to our intentions.  Very profound breakthrough for me! Discovering this made me think about how I have lived my life for the last 25 years or so, or maybe longer.   I have always tried to be in a constant state of motion. Ask my husband!  I can’t even sit and watch a movie without dashing around the house.  Always doing something, always talking to someone, starting project after project, decorating room after room, buying this and buying that, and now always on the computer on Facebook, or email or Twitter  - but I realized that in doing, doing, doing perhaps I have lost the connection between my spirit – my authentic self – and my body.  Always living in my racing mind with that stupid little drunk monkey talking to me much of the time, and not living in my body – even while exercising I would think of what I had to do next.  I could barely take Cleo for a walk without scurrying back to the house – for what - so, I could do something anything, but be still. I realize that in not having this connection to my body – my temple- the energy mass that keeps my spirit alive on this earth –that there was no way I would ever be a my ideal weight. This is big. This is it. This is the third part of the triad.  Connection! There must be a connection between body and spirit, body and mind.  I am just figuring this out. I am just realizing the potential of this discovery. This morning during my meditation – I felt the stillness.I was mindful. I was peaceful. I felt the connection. I felt that the possibilities in my life are absolutely unlimited!

gro-Organic Garden Planning Software Review

I posted a little about the garden planning software awhile ago when I first used it, but now I am going to give a full review of my thoughts on how it works. The software was really easy to use. I measured my garden space in my backyard, then I drew the plan for my garden with the grid system on the site. I actually realized that I could plant and grow way more than I did last year, once I inputted what vegetables and fruits I wanted to plant where in my garden. As you can see by my completed plan below, I will be growing lots of delicious vegetables this year. All and all I thought the software was really easy to use and I really like seeing where I will be planting each plant/seed. In the past I just sort of planted where ever with no regard to spacing etc. This really helped me when I actually planted a few weeks ago too because it told me when to plant each type of plant and how many plants/seeds to plant in each square foot of my garden. The website also has information on each type of plant with photos.

gro-Organic also offers all these other features if you have Garden Planner account:

Growing information: Just click for full details of how to grow each plant, where to position them, etc.

Number of Plants: Clearly shown by the number at the top of each plant square (This is what really helped me to hopefully grow much more this year - by allowing to be totally utilized all my space.)

Personalized Planting Chart: You get a chart showing when each plant will be planted and harvested by geographic area.(Now I will know when to pick my vegetables instead of letting them get too big!)

Reminder Emails: You can have emails sent reminding you what needs planting in your garden

Easy Crop Rotation: The Garden Planner remembers each year's crops and advises where to place them next year (This will be great next year!)

Succession Planting: See which crops will follow others and view your plan for each month of the year

Add Notes: Like a garden journal you can add notes on how each plant did (So, I will be able to track any issues I have with pests, birds, whatever in this section.)

Intuitive Use: Very easy to use intuitively. (I am one of those people that never reads directions and I figured out out how to use it within minutes.)

Tutorial Videos: For those who would have the patience - not me! But, very useful to learn how to use the software.

Can't wait to start picking and eating my bounty! Thanks for the help with my garden planning gro-Organic!

 This is what my garden plan looks like for this year. The brown part is actually a walkway/path to the terraced garden, as you can see in the real photo of my garden from last year.

And, this is my actual garden from last year. See my over grown onions. LOL! This year I'll know when to pick those puppies! Don't look at my dead lawn though - actually it is really green right now! So, I'm looking forward to eating real food from my garden in my pursuit of my fit self!!! Can't wait!