Finding Lessons and Guidance In All That Is Around You
the worlds lessons come on a breeze rather than a bolt of lightening
I hope our newsletter finds you and your family well. The New Year is all about resolutions. I have one of my own I plan on working on. I am looking for freedom in my life. And I know that I can only find it through detachment and letting go of expectation.
Every morning as I am preparing to begin my day I ask for a direction which will ultimately shape my life. During my day little signs will come to me that give me guidance toward my lesson. These come to me in a very profound manner and truly deepen my spiritual connection to all things. It has taken me a long time to learn how to hear this guidance. What I have come to know is that nature’s messages do not come in form of a bolt of lightening as much as they come as a subtle breeze or light fragrance. And I find that unless I listen very carefully they go overlooked.
The other day I had asked for guidance and wisdom for this New Year. As I journeyed on my daily hike I passed my neighbors house. He had borrowed my ladder a few weeks ago and failed to return it. I saw it in his front yard. I was more amused than I was irritated. But, it lead me to think about him. He has not worked in nearly 3 years. He took a second out on his home some time ago and has been living off of his equity in the hopes that work will come to him. He has almost depleted his equity and has become very over leveraged. Now that the real estate market has pulled back he will be in financial ruin.
An old sage had once told me how they use small wooden boxes to capture monkeys in Southeast Asia. There is a small whole cut in the top just big enough for the monkey’s hand. Peanuts are left in the bottom of the box. The monkeys descend upon the boxes and reach inside for the peanuts. However, with a fist full of peanuts the monkey is unable to get his fist free from the box. His attachment to the peanuts has lead to his capture.
The world is my mirror and my neighbor’s dilemma was a mirror of my dilemma, thus my lesson for the day. How am I the monkey? What are my attachments? How do my attachments keep me captive and impugn my freedom? How can I transcend my attachments and dependency that I hold so dearly and transform them into love and admiration? I know if I listen very carefully the answers will come to me. All I have to do is ask.
These were all great questions for me and maybe for you as well. It has started me on my journey for this New Year. And the Journey is where the answers are as opposed to the destination.
Thank you for your patronage.
Have an excellent Day!
Thom King
President
thom.king@steviva.com
Steviva Brands, Inc.
YOUR MIND
Risk Not Want Not
Max Steingart
If you don't take some risks, you won't get the chance to succeed.
While you are trying, you are winning.
The law of averages is on your side.
The more you try, the greater your chance of succeeding.
Never get discouraged.
Every wrong attempt is another step forward.
People that make no mistakes usually don't make anything.
Make up your mind not merely to overcome a thousand obstacles,
but to win in spite of a thousand defeats.
Your mistakes are stepping stones to success and
Your installment payments to victory.
You can't be a winner and be afraid to lose.
YOUR BODY
How Much Water Does My Body Really Need
If you’re confused about how much water you really need, I’m not surprised. Conflicting advice in recent headlines appears to contradict the old "8-a-day" advice we all grew up with. Is it necessary to chug down eight glasses of water daily, or is this recommendation exaggerated and out of date?
We’ve heard for years that eight glasses of water daily is the minimum necessary to keep healthy. Your weight loss and health depend on it. Drink the minimum and see clearer skin, better sleep, better sex , improved vision. We’re warned of impending dehydration without at least eight glasses. But, the tide has turned, away from liquid nutrition toward examining your daily diet, including what you eat, as well as what you drink.
Here are my best tips for staying hydrated:
1. How much water you need depends upon your weight, your activity and your climate. If it’s hot, and you’re exercising, you’ll surely need more water than when you’re sitting at a computer all day.
2. Fresh fruits and vegetables add fluid to your diet. You’re going to benefit from the water in these foods. Lettuce is 97 to 98 percent water; and so is watermelon. Other good "fluid sources" include carrots, (88 percent water), fresh tomatoes (93 percent water), and fresh celery (94 percent water).
3. Since cooking vegetables decreases the fluid content, eat a big, fresh salad every day, and at least two servings each of fruit and other vegetables.
4. With age, we need more water, because we become less sensitive to body losses and our sense of thirst diminishes.
5. Clinical evidence shows that people with a history of kidney stones can lower their risk for reoccurrence by increasing their fluid intake.
6. Drink more water if you're exercising and perspiring a good amount, especially in a dry climate.
7. Water is the best fluid you can drink. It has no calories, additives or preservatives. I drink tap water because my municipal water company produces a high quality product at an inexpensive price. In fact, regulations on tap water are more stringent than bottled water and the average bottle of water costs more than a gallon of gas or milk, sometimes 500-1000 times more.
8. In terms of weight loss, drinking water will not cause you to lose weight, but use water as a strategy or tool to help when you’re on a program to lose weight. Drinking water between meals can help curb your appetite.. and so will snacking on water-filled fresh vegetables and fruit.
9. To prevent dehydration, follow these recommendations from the American Water Works Association:
- Drink water BEFORE, DURING and AFTER exercise
- Drink water every 20 minutes or so when engaged in strenuous physical activity
- Do NOT take salt tablets
- Stop working out at the first sign of dizziness, lightheadedness, or fatigue
Keep yourself hydrated! Don't forget to drink plenty of water! What I suggest is adding the juice of half a lemon to 32 ounces of water with a sprinkle of Steviva Brand Stevia Powder . Aside from being less than 2 carbs, you will get the health benefits that the stevia provides along with the vitamin C and electrolytes that lemon have. You can substitute limes for lemons if you get bored. Click here to order stevia powder.