the purpose of life

Take a moment to think about this question, "Are you living your dreams?"

If the answer is no, then ask yourself, "why not?" Life is short, and you never know when it will come to an end. Do you really want to say that you lived a life of unfulfilled dreams?

But "hold it!" you say, "I'm waiting for the perfect time" or "I'm waiting for the perfect situation." All this waiting is an excuse not to go out and try. Or, maybe it's not that you are "waiting" per se, but rather that you are afraid.

So, what are you afraid of? Are you afraid of making a mistake? Afraid of making the wrong choice? Are you afraid that you may not be good enough, or that the people around you might laugh at your dreams, or won't support you? Are your fears enough to stop you?

And what happens if you do end up living your dreams? Are you afraid that once you get there, then you'll have to live them? Meaning that what you've been talking about for so long will now come to fruition and you might not actually succeed?

I find that fear is the number one reason that people do not live their dreams. Fear holds us back, sometimes paralyzing us, and prevents us from moving forward. But, when you look back at your life, what do you want it to be about? Do you want to say, "I could have" or "I did"? The choice is yours. What legacy do you want to leave behind?

check your compass periodically

I will be celebrating another birthday this August 5th and, as I occasionally do, I glanced over my shoulder to see where I've come from, and then peered ahead to confirm where I was going. Priorities change, situations change, views change, and I find it comforting to check my compass periodically and make sure I'm still on course for what I desire.
Such is my life: a series of adventures within adventures. Each having its own course and destination. Why the planning and periodic comfirmations? It lessens my angst about where I'm going, and helps me get back on track if I get blown off course. It's life right? So storms are always possible.
There are lots of ways to stay on track. I write my goals and steps to get there in a little yellow book. Whether I've got too much on my plate and need to prioritize or too little and need to fill free time, my action is the same. I glance at my goals and get really honest with myself about whether I'm doing the right things to achieve them. If something is missing, I add it. If something is unnecessary, it's gone.
Life is too short to just be busy without being productive. No matter what the goal, whether it's your health, wealth or something else, choose your destination, set your course, and check your compass every once in a while. You'll thank yourself for it!
Yeah, another birthday... I'm gettin' old!

Vitamins Essential for YOU

Women 20 to 40:  

D3: 1000 IU daily.

F (folate): 800 mcg daily. (can also be known as folic acid, folicin, or vitamin B9)

Niacin: at least 30 mg daily, preferably more. (check with your doctor if you are on a statin drug)

Pantothenic acid: 300 mg daily.

Calcium: 500 mg twice a day in divided doses (you cannot absorb more than 600 mg at a time)

Magnesium: 400 mg daily.

Selenium: 200 mcg daily.

Potassium: 4 fruit servings plus a normal diet should do it.

Omega-3: 1 gm of distilled fish oil or 6 walnuts daily.

Co-enzyme Q-10: 200 mg daily if on a statin, hypertensive, or diabetic.

Women 40 to 50:

D3: 1000 IU daily.

F (folate): 400 mcg daily. (can also be known as folic acid, folicin, or vitamin B9)

Niacin: at least 30 mg daily, preferably more. (check with your doctor if you are on a statin drug)
Pantothenic acid: 300 mg daily.
Calcium: 600 mg three-times a day in divided doses (you cannot absorb more than 600 mg at a time)
Magnesium: 400 mg daily.
Selenium: 200 mcg daily.
Potassium: 4 fruit servings plus a normal diet should do it.
Omega-3: 1 gm of distilled fish oil or 6 walnuts daily.
Co-enzyme Q-10: 200 mg daily if on a statin, hypertensive, or diabetic.
Aspirin: 162 mg a day (check with your doctor) with 2 glasses of warm water.

Women 50 and up:
D3: 1000 IU daily.
Pantothenic acid: 300 mg daily.
Calcium: 600 mg three-times a day in divided doses (you cannot absorb more than 600 mg at a time)
Magnesium: 600 mg daily.
Selenium: 200 mcg daily.
Potassium: 4 fruit servings plus a normal diet should do it.
Omega-3: 1 gm of distilled fish oil or 6 walnuts daily.
Co-enzyme Q-10: 200 mg daily if on a statin, hypertensive, diabetic, or if over 62.
Aspirin: 162 mg a day (check with your doctor) with 2 glasses of warm water.

Men 20 to 35:
D3: 1000 IU daily.
Pantothenic acid: 300 mg daily.
Calcium: 500 mg twice daily (you cannot absorb more than 600 mg at a time)
Magnesium: 400 mg daily.
Selenium: 200 mcg daily.
Zinc: 15 mg daily.
Potassium: 4 fruit servings plus a normal diet should do it.
Omega-3: 1 gm of distilled fish oil or 6 walnuts daily.
Co-enzyme Q-10: 200 mg daily if on a statin, hypertensive, or diabetic.

Men 35 to 50:
D3: 1000 IU daily.
Pantothenic acid: 300 mg daily.
Calcium: 600 mg twice daily (you cannot absorb more than 600 mg at a time)
Magnesium: 400 mg daily.
Selenium: 200 mcg daily.
Zinc: 15 mg daily.
Potassium: 4 fruit servings plus a normal diet should do it.
Tumeric: As much as you want but at least 1/2 teaspoon of strong mustard or a curry dish daily.
Omega-3: 1 gm of distilled fish oil or 6 walnuts daily.
Co-enzyme Q-10: 200 mg daily if on a statin, hypertensive, or diabetic.
Aspirin: 162 mg a day (check with your doctor) with 2 glasses of warm water.

Men 50 and up:
D3: 1000 IU daily.
Pantothenic acid: 300 mg daily.
Calcium: 600 mg twice daily (you cannot absorb more than 600 mg at a time)
Magnesium: 400 mg daily.
Selenium: 200 mcg daily.
Potassium: 4 fruit servings plus a normal diet should do it.
Acetyl-L: 750 mg twice daily (while this one comes in dehydrated beef protein, Carnitine, that's not so appetizing, so I recommend the supplement.
Tumeric: As much as you want but at least 1/2 teaspoon of strong mustard or a curry dish daily.
Omega-3: 1 gm of distilled fish oil or 6 walnuts daily.
Co-enzyme Q-10: 200 mg daily if on a statin, hypertensive, diabetic, or if over 62.
Aspirin: 162 mg a day (check with your doctor) with 2 glasses of warm water.

Remember, it's always best to get these nutrients naturally through your diet, but if you are unable to eat nutritiously, be sure to supplement your diet accordingly. Please discuss any changes to your diet with your primary care provider! Good luck!

about feeling alone

Of the many studies I have read concerning health and longevity, they have all agreed that people in relationships were generally healthier and lived longer than those who weren't. Yet, there are people out there, on their own, who live long, happy, and healthy lives. Others, surrounded by friends and family, are miserable and die young. How is this possible?

Perhaps these studies could have looked at the data in a different way. What if they divided surveyed people into two groups-- those in a healthy relationship with themselves, and those who were not? After all, some of my best mentors and pastors taught me that if you don't love yourself, you can't really love another.

Have you seen this? People, content with themselves, glow when alone and shine even more when they are partnered? Conversely, people, unhappy with themselves, look discontent no matter where they are or who they're with. What if feeling alone is all about attitude and not about the lack of actual company? I've known some awfully lonely people who were physically surrounded by others. At times, I've been one of those folks.

I think it happens to many of us throughout our lives. We have moments when it seems nobody is cheering for us, not even ourselves. It's important to see those times as just passing moments, something that we experience and move beyond. We need to be there for ourselves, and we need to know that He is always there for us even when we feel most alone. We are never really alone because when we eagerly seek Him, He continually reveals Himself to us. After all this time, I have finally come to understand that it's when I'm alone that I begin to realize that I am NOT.

Another summer day has come and gone away-- in Paris and Rome, but I want to go home...

"I may be surrounded by a million people, but I still feel all alone. I just want to go home."

I've been away from home since the beginning of my freshman year in college: 2004, and I haven't returned back to my parents-- back to where I called "home" before Seattle. When I was home, I wanted to leave so badly-- to experience being on my own and to escape from the ever-so-tight grasp of my parents. I wanted to be educated, to think new ideas, and discover a new "me," but now I feel that I've done all that.

"Another aeroplane-- another sunny place-- I'm lucky, I know, but I want to go home."

I miss having a simple life where I didn't have to worry about rushing to the coffee shop every morning and driving thirty minutes to work. I miss having dinner ready and parents who are always there to lecture me in the evenings-- being a child.

"Another summer day has come and gone away-- in Paris and Rome, but I want to go home..."

It might be time for me to return home.