I finished my renovation of the Emergency Supplies for any potential disaster. I moved the water, shelter supplies, food, and first aid supplies from our upstairs deck to under the back deck. You see, there’s always a decision to made. If the house falls down — where will it go? Originally I thought I’d want my supplies on top of the rubble. But after leaving it on the upper deck for a year, I decided that it might be more accessible if it’s on the ground. The next question is — where will our neighbor’s house fall? How does one prepare for a disaster anyway? At least, right now, I am better prepared than I ever have been. This is all due to our great friend Tony, who gave us the emergency supplies and a chest to put them in! What a special gift!
The next update is that I’m really farming at home. I’ve purchased 4 half wine barrels and I’ll plant a winter veggie garden on the upper deck - the only place that really gets sun. Now I have to drill holes, lug soil, buy plants (or seeds), and set up the drip system I bought before we went took out last trip. It didn’t really work for any of the watering tasks I had then, so I had to rely on my wonderful, willing daughter. That’s still probably the plan since the system I have requires turning on the water for a specific length of time.
There was a great sale of organic tomatoes at the local market, so I made red sauce to freeze ala Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. I’m glad I did a small batch because I don’t like the texture; however, the flavor is fabulous! I’ll use one container for spaghetti with Italian sausage tonight and see if the texture is better when disguised by chucks of sausage. Regardless, I bound for the market tomorrow to buy a huge bunch of those tomatoes. This buying tomatoes is odd since for the first year ever, I’ll have a zillion cherry tomatoes in September. Those are for eating because they don’t freeze or can well.
This seems like my new life path and I like it a lot. I’m also looking at the various places I can volunteer to cook - maybe one day a week. One thing is certain. I am bored with email, Facebook, and Farm Town. The house needs more cleaning and refurbishing, but that’s just part of my newly implemented Homestead Act!
cooking, disaster supplies, farming, life path
A while ago, I said I’d write something about playing Farm Town as a metaphor for life. The previous article on this blog is something I wrote a month ago. When I saw Julie and Julia - a movie about blogging and cooking, I was hooked. I immediately wanted to blog about something and viewing Farm Town as a metaphor for life is perfect!
I have several blogs - coaching, health and wellness, and just random thoughts. This blog is about attracting what you want - deliberately. Deliberate Attraction is a big part of my coaching process. When someone wants a new job, a new beau, a new house - whatever - I have a wonderful process to help them define exactly what they want and help them develop a program for getting their heart’s desire.
A main aspect of this process is the have positive thoughts and to feel happy. That’s where Farm Town comes in. What I learned while plowing, planting, and harvesting is that it makes me happy. It’s an outlet for creativity - I have reasons for every little aspect of my farm.
The metaphor that came to mind today is that what I like isn’t necessarily other people’s cup of tea. I’ve shown many people the game on my computer - I think everyone has said, “Hmm, I’m glad you like it, but it’s not for me.” I’ve emailed several people I thought would enjoy the game, and only one started playing the game. This is just like my life.
If you read my last blog, you know I have stopped doing internet and network marketing. I got really tired of believing strongly in the efficacy of something (herbs, essential oils, fiber, meditation - whatever) and telling people about it, hoping that they would embrace the idea and buy the products and become part of my “team.” With Farm Town, I had no investment in whether or not they wanted to play the game. With my network marketing, I really wanted to convince people, partly for the money but mostly because I want people to be healthier or feel better or get more wealth.
Sharing the fun is the metaphor. I love telling people about things I think they might enjoy. It’s just easier if it’s something like a great movie or book - or an engaging computer game.
Look forward to future entries - there are metaphors galore.
Have you noticed that we’re goal-driven these days? Everyone seems to be looking for improvement. Don’t think me obstructionist – I can see that we need to improve many aspects of our lives. From the food we eat to the things we buy, as a nation, we can be more conscious about our choices.
However, I’ve begun to wonder if we are missing something by not enjoying and appreciating what we have right here in front of us. My recent days are a perfect example. Here I am at 66 figuring out how to make my business successful. In fact, I could just take some time to appreciate the fact that I really don’t need to create a successful business – at least I don’t need to do it for the money. Oh, extra money would be nice – we could give more away if we had more coming in, but in truth, we do have enough to live on. So why am I looking for future success rather than enjoying what I have?
It a good question. Why don’t I just retire already? I can think of two reasons, and maybe by the time I write about them, I’ll have thought of another.
First, I do know that I can help people get healthier and or wealthier if I am successful with my current idea. That’s quite appealing – especially the healthier part. I know so many people whose health is jeopardized by their current eating pattern. I also know people who are looking for work and who could make the company I support a money-making project in their own lives. Actually, I guess that’s two reasons right there.
But there’s ano6ther reason. Since Jim has come out of retirement to consult with his old company, I would feel terrible if I am painting my toenails and watching soaps while he is concentrating on unraveling some code that makes MRI work. So in this case, it’s guilt that has me at the computer and at my desk, planning my success strategy.
What if I forgot all that and just loved my life as it is. What would I do with my time? What would I do with my knowledge? I feel like I have an obligation to use my time, talent, and knowledge and that is what is. I love my wanting to share these gifts. So, I guess I’ll put away my nail polish and hid the remote control and get back to telling people that I have some incredible opportunities for them to explore.
As a matter of fact, if you are someone who would be interested in a teleclass about health – how the systems of the body work and what you can do every day to promote optimum health – let me know. Thinking about this stuff is pretty much what I love about me.
I read this entry yesterday in Gay Hendrick’s A Year of Living Consciously and I’d like to share it with others.
When you swallow your feelings, your body begins digesting itself. Ulcers, heart disease, cancer — all have been shown to have a relationship with stress. While stress may or may not create bacteria and cause renegade genes to mutate, it undeniably creates an environment that is welcoming and supportive of physiological processes that can — that will — ultimately kill you.
If you visualize the process, you can see what repression does to the lightness and magic of the human body; imagine the sharpness of your strongest feelings, whether feelings of joy or anger or sadness. When strong, sharp feelings are hidden deep inside like shameful secrets, the feeling tear at your organs and block the path that your blood wants to travel as it gives you life.
Expression keeps you open and strong, able and ready to easily defend your physical health and emotional well-being. Instead of concentration on fighting or fleeing or owtherwise denying felings, you body is doing what it was intended for all along; living in a state of peaceful acceptance and essence.
What is your wildest dream about your health? That can be a startling question because most of us feel we have little or no control over our health. We think we are bound by a genetic link with our parents and doomed to die of or live with whatever diseases and health problems our ancestors had. And if we have some health problems, we think our doctors and the pharmaceutical industry control our destiny. That’s absolutely wrong. You are your health’s best friend (and worst enemy!)
I have been involved with health all of my life. I worked in hospital labs in my early adulthood and later expanded my knowledge into the field of natural healing because I know that people have control over what happens to their bodies. You control what happens in your body; you just may not know you are in command.
Much of our bodies’ health originates in our minds. During our daily life, we set all kinds of goals such as getting to work on time, buying a new car, or having a wonderful vacation. The first step to reaching a goal is to intend to reach it. It’s the same for health, but most of us don’t go quite that far. We might make a resolution to exercise three times a week or stop smoking, but we rarely intend to have good health. Start with the big picture and then break it down to small steps.
An intention for health is the first step to being healthy. This was particularly important to me because heart disease caused many early deaths on my father’s side of the family and diabetes played havoc on my mother’s side. I was determined to have a different health picture, and I have! I’ve outlived my mother by nearly 10 years and am far healthier than my father when he was my age.
What’s my secret? Intention. I didn’t even know how to attain good health, I just intended it. You must intend to have what you want. Many years ago, I intended to be healthier than my parents and their parents. As a result, my medical history is boring: no allergies, no illnesses, no hospitalization other than child-birth, no prescription drugs, no antibiotics. I don’t give a doctor much to latch onto – except my weight.
Oh dear, weight has been my nemesis for 30 years. Since moving to California in my mid-thirties, I’ve steadily gained weight until it tipped the scale at 200 pounds last winter. That was a turning point. At that time, I not only intended to be healthy, I extrapolated that to an intention to lose weight. And I’ve done it, or I am doing it. I’ve lost 40 pounds and have 20 to go! Hallelujah! Success is a wonderful motivator.
The first step is to intend to be healthy. You can do it. If you need help with the second step of creating a plan to become or stay healthy, you can contact me and we’ll figure it out. Call me.
Jacquie Hale
Natural Health Coach
510-548-2585
vibrancecoach@jacquiehale.com
©2008, Jacqueline Hale
exercise, goals, health, intention, nutrition, resoultions
and I will stay engaged for longer than I imagine. Whatever the future holds, I am totally thankful for this enjoyment. It has also propelled me into my own neglected yard where I can put real sweat equity and reap great benefits. My neighbors have already noticed.
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