Loving-kindness

The loving-kindness practice was interesting in that you are instructed to choose someone you love and put all of your focus on them then turn that love inward to yourself.  I found this to be a very difficult task because I was raised with the belief that loving one's self is bad; it's egotistical.  However, as the activity continued I was able to better understand the reason for being directed to turn that love inward.  Regardless of our teachings and upbringing, each person must learn to love and respect his self first and foremost in order to be able to truly love and respect others.  I found this exercise to be very peaceful and meaningful.  The part that really touched my heart was when we were to think of someone who is suffering and turn our loving-kindness on them.  My best friend has breast cancer and I immediately thought of her.  She is a good person and I want her to beat this.  I gave her all of the positive energy and loving-kindness I could muster.  I thought I might have a difficult time at the end with turning my loving-kindness toward my enemies, but I don't know of any true enemies that I have.  There are people that I know that I don't see eye-to-eye with but I don't give them much thought.  I have learned over the years that it takes too much time and energy to hate or to stay mad at someone.  I guess that is why I am just "indifferent" with some people.  I have no feelings toward them one way or the other.  This is definitely an exercise I will repeat often and that I would recommend to others.

A "mental workout" is when you push your mind to the limit over and over such as you would your body in a physical workout.  Research indicates that a mental workout can lead one to a feeling of happiness and wholeness that they may have never thought possible.  There have been many who have studied the Eastern religions and philosophies and many of these undertakings include hours and hours of sitting still and listening or reflecting on one's inner being.  To sit for hours, without moving, to listen to one's heartbeat or breathing rhythm may seem ridiculous at first but when a person is on a journey of peace and tranquility this simple activity makes a lot of sense.  Furthermore, it is a serious mental workout.  A person can not only change their mental state by way of a mental workout, a person can change their physical state as well. 

Wellness

1.  I rate my physical well-being as a 3, because I have post-baby weight I want to lose.  Also, I had pre-eclampsia during my last pregnancy and it doesn't want to seem to leave me.  I am still battling blood pressure issues.  I have also been suffering from more frequent asthma attacks.  I never used to have asthma, now I seem to have it all of the time.

I rate my spiritual well-being as a 5, because I feel that I have had a spiritual breakthrough.  For years I struggled with certain religious issues.  Being born and raised into a strict Catholic family did not allow me the opportunity to discover or explore the answers to these questions.  I have since denounced myself as a Catholic and I now have my own version of religion that I practice.  I have gotten so many answers to so many questions that I feel as if my eyes are open and my heart is lighter because these were things that I felt lied to about all of my life.  So, all in all, my spiritual well-being is doing better than the rest of me.

I rate my psychological well-being as a 4, because I have too many things going on on a personal level that I don't know how to handle them all.  I don't have a job.  I am trying to finish school.  I have no social support system at all.  I have too much stress and I don't get enough sleep.  If I could just take two days and sleep and not have to worry about classes or kids or homework or anything I think I would feel much better.  I keep thinking of the old Calgon commercial with the woman standing in the middle of the room with so much going on around her and she raises her hands and says, "Calgon, take me away!"  That is what I want to happen to me.

2.  I will start my lifestyle change (diet) on February 1st and by June 1st I will have reached my weight goal.
     I will continue to explore and discover the answers to all of my unanswered questions regarding religion.
     I will start blocking out all of the unnecessary information around me and concentrate solely on that which is truly important.

3.  I will begin jumping rope, walking, and using a elliptical machine to help achieve my weight goals.
     I will read more books and search the Internet to find verification of my findings.
     I will use deep breathing exercise techniques and relaxation exercises to keep myself grounded in the moment.

4.  Will post 'The Crime of the Century' exercise tomorrow.

Journey On relaxation exercise

Saludos!  I thought that a day at the beach watching the water was relaxing.  Boy, was I surprised when I did this exercise!  The guide's voice was so relaxing.  I have been feeling a bit overwhelmed with some of my classes and this exercise allowed me to take a step back and disengage myself from my surroundings, my family, and my classes and just concentrate on me.  I was in a nice state of being nowhere, surrounded by nothing.  I didn't hear anything; only the sound of the guide's voice.  I let myself be taken on a journey through my body.  I could feel a heaviness, then a lightness, in each part of my body as I concentrated on it.  I could feel myself relaxing from my front to my back, from my head to my toes.  When I finished this exercise I was relaxed and refreshed.  I was also a little sleepy.  This is a relaxation exercise I will definitely use again.

Welcome Statement

Bienvenidos de La Isla del Encanto!  Welcome to The Island of Enchantment!  On Island Cures and Lore we welcome discussions on topics ranging from island remedies to island living to the cure for island fever.  Join us here to talk about your favorite island and why the Caribbean is the playground for the rich and famous.  Throughout the Caribbean one can enjoy beautiful beaches, tantalizing cuisine, and a variety of liquors and spirits.  We offer fun in the sun, lively music and dancing, and endless possibilities.  So come join us and experience the Caribbean first-hand.  I promise, you won't be disappointed!

Reflective Statement

"A journey of a thosand miles begins with a single step." - Chinese proverb

This very profound statement can be applied to many areas in your life.  Are you experiencing challenges with your health?  If so, those challenges did not occur overnight.  They have been building up over time.  But that is ok!  You have acknowledged that you have a problem.  Now is the time to do something to correct that problem.  Decide today if you want to get healthy or continue on the path you are on.  If you definitively declare that you want to get healthy, then do something about it.  Go see a doctor.  Get up and exercise.  Start eating healthy foods.  Change your mindset.  Change your attitude.  Know that you are not alone and that there are others out there like you who want to get healthy too.  It only takes a single step in the right direction to begin the transformation into a healthier, happier you.  Take the step and begin your journey today!