Wild Woman Wednesday

Wild women – there’s only three shopping days left, and you know how crazy people can get. Last night it was rainy here in NJ, and I counted three fender-bender accidents in a 10-mile commute. Everyone is so busy speeding around they aren’t paying any attention to others. So what can a wild woman do?

Wild women can exercise their put others first muscles today. If you’re in a line, let someone in front of you – whether it’s at the grocery store, in a department store, or in a traffic line. If you’re in a fast food line (I know some of you are succumbing to this easy way out – and I understand – just don’t make a habit of it), pay for the person behind you. Just tell the checkout clerk to tell them Merry Christmas! Imagine the good will you can start – perhaps it will be a chain reaction! Look for ways to cheer someone up today and practice random acts of kindness. Pay for someone else’s coffee. Put a love note under your spouse or child’s pillow or in their pocket or lunch bag. Bring in some healthy snacks to work to try and counteract all the junk food, candy, and cookies. If you’re single and have the time, or if you’re a mom with kids, offer to babysit for another woman with kids for a couple of hours so she can have some down time. Grab a girlfriend and treat her to a mani/pedi together. The possibilities are endless, and you are creative, so think of something. Help a sister out.

You can do this – you are a big-hearted, wonderful wild woman!!!!! Be a surprise blessing to someone else today – you never know how much it might mean to that one person.

Blessings,
Linda

Wild Woman Wednesday

Wild women love life. We are a passionate people, and enjoy family, friends and food! Sitting around the table laughing, talking… and eating. For those of us who don’t have the whole Norman Rockwell ideal Thanksgiving thang going on, we may be facing a difficult holiday… which can also mean eating. Seek out one another, ladies – is there someone who would love to have a seat at your table? I remember being a single mom and my daughter, my mother and I being invited over to a dear family who had quite a number in their group. It was so much fun! As an only child in a small family, I can also remember one Thanksgiving as a teenager being invited over to my girlfriend’s home with a HUGE Italian family. I had a blast, and also tasted many new foods that had never been served in my German home – roasted chestnuts, artichokes -- and pasta on Thanksgiving??? Who knew?!?!

Thanksgivings growing up for me were at my grandparents – the big dining room table had the leaf put in it (only on special occasions did that happen), and the aunts and uncles would arrive, along with my cousin. Grandmom had these barrel-shaped glasses that had a pattern of frosted grapevines on them, and when they were on the table, well, you knew something was special. I always looked forward to the traditional feast, and the pies galore sitting there on the side board all morning, begging me to sneak a taste. But no… we had to wait until after dinner.

One of my Thanksgiving traditions is watching “Miracle on 34th Street” – the original black and white version with Maureen O’Hara and Natalie Wood. I never get enough of this movie. I also like to open my Bible and read Psalm 100. I’d love to hear some of your traditions – please comment!

Exercise those big, beautiful hearts this year – invite someone over if you can, and if you are alone, do the same! Seek out a seat at a friend’s table – she’ll appreciate a helping hand and your friendship on that special day. Go to your local soup kitchen and serve – there’s nothing like focusing on others in need to make you realize how blessed you are where you are in your life right this moment. Choose to make it a great day.

Blessings,
Linda

Wild Woman Wednesday

Wild Women weep. We are strong, and most times we try to keep the weight of the world riding high on our shoulders without one grimmace or complaint, knowing we can do it. I know the musical mantra of the women's movement at one time was "I Am Woman", but sorry Helen Reddy, there are days I don't feel like roaring. No, some days I am too tired and overwhelmed, and I feel like weeping and pulling the covers over my head. Those are the days some of the lyrics of Bob Dylan's "Just Like A Woman" are more appropriate:

"She takes just like a woman
She makes love just like a woman, yes she does
And she aches just like a woman
But she breaks just like a little girl"

Crying can be cleansing, a welcome emotional release that "puts it all out there". Sometimes it's just a few tears easily brushed away quickly before anyone notices. Then there are the times when the floodgates open and we are wracked with sobs that feel as if they're going to turn us inside out. Your feelings are your feelings... and your tears are your tears. I can't help but think of how things look brighter in the morning after a cry and a good night's sleep. It reminds me of a Bible verse in Psalm 30:5 "weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."

So today, exercise those hold-it-all-back muscles by releasing them. Realize there ain't nuthin' like a good cry sometimes! You are still strong, you are still more than capable, and you are still an amazing wild woman.

Hey, maybe we can start a once a month "Weepy Wednesday" club. Everyone gathers at someone's home, BYOT (bring your own tissues), somebody brings the tear-jerker chick flick, and we all have a good cry together! Who knows, it could catch on!

Blessings,
Linda

Wild Woman Wednesday

Wild women walk… yes we do, from hither to yon (where the heck are hither and yon anyway?). However, it’s harder to do these days, because inactivity has been engineered into our lives (escalators, remote controls, etc.). In fact, an article in www.medicinenet.com notes that inactivity is the second leading preventable cause of death in the United States, second only to tobacco use. The same article tells us the top reasons for walking are:

 Prevents Type 2 Diabetes – walking 150 minutes per week and losing 7% of your body weight (approx. 12015 lbs.) can reduce your risk of diabetes by 58%!!!
 Strengthens a woman’s heart – reduces risk of heart attack by 35% compared to non-walkers.
 Good for the brain – women walking the equivalent of an easy pace at least 1-1/2 hrs/wk had better cognitive function/less cognitive decline than women who walked less than 40 minute per week.
 Good for your bones
 Helps alleviate depression – walk 3o minutes, 3 to 5 times a week for 12 weeks reduces symptoms of depression by 47%!
 Reduces risk of breast and colon cancer by 18%
 Improves overall fitness and physical function, even when walking in short bouts of three 10-minute walks per day.

In another article from the Mayo Clinic, we also find that walking can help you:

 Lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol)
 Raise high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (the "good" cholesterol)
 Lower your blood pressure
 Manage your weight

Be sure to check out the article to see how to prep to begin a walking program, including stretching, cool down, and measuring the intensity of your workout. For a few dollars invest in a pedometer, and you’ll be amazed at how much you already walk. The goal is to walk 10,000 steps a day, roughly five miles. Most of the wild women I know are doing almost that just in their day-to-day activities, let alone specifically going for a walk.

Now ignoring the bizarre blizzard we’ve had recently in the Northeast, this is the perfect time of year to get out there and walk! I love the feeling I experience when I’m walking in one of my local parks – being in the beauty of nature, feeling the breeze/sun on my face, the smell of the air, and the way my body feels afterwards. I’m calmer, and there’s a great sense of satisfaction knowing I did something good for me. Walk for 15 minutes at lunchtime (approximately one mile going about 125 steps a minute). It’s free, and you can do it anywhere. If you don’t have anywhere local to walk, go to the mall and walk there – but be sure to step away from the stores and your charge card. We’re exercising our physical muscles, not our spending!!!

So get out there somewhere, somehow, and GET WALKING!

Blessings,
Linda

Article #1: http://www.medicinenet.com/walking/article.htm
Article #2 : http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/walking/HQ01612

Wild Woman Wednesday

Wild women are warm, generous and wonderful. Recently I was leading a group session and I asked the women what some of their goals were – not geared completely on physical/health goals, but life goals. After all, we are multi-faceted and multi-dimensional treasures, just like diamonds! One woman stated a goal I have never heard before in all my coaching time. I’ll call her Jane Doe, because if I gave her a shout out like I’d love to do, she would be terribly embarrassed (but you know who you are, dearie!). Anyway, Jane said, “I want to be able to give 100% of my undivided attention to each person who comes into my path.” W…O…W… this is her gift to each person she meets in order that they feel loved and special.

I gotta tell you, I was completely blown away. In this hamster-wheel world of pursuing Olympic speed multi-tasking madness (which, by the way, is proving not to be such a great idea after all), Jane has found a better way – a simple act which almost stops time itself, like a bubble surrounding Jane and the person to whom she is giving this beautiful offering of herself. I can personally attest to how warm and cared for I feel whenever I’m around Jane. I always look forward to being with her, and always come away feeling happier and blessed.

On my drive home that night, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I began to examine my interaction with others, and realized how lacking I was in giving someone my full time/attention. I may be listening, but often I’m doing something at the same time, my eyes are looking around, or I’m mentally elsewhere planning what I’m going to do next. Don’t get me wrong – I’m not a complete oaf, but I became painfully aware of my scatteredness/duplicity in listening skills. Jane’s goal was inspirational, and got under my skin.

So… the next morning I vowed to make the same kind of commitment, to run towards the same goal as Jane. That’s the nice thing about positive, inspiration goals – they can be shared! I have begun to stop what I am doing when someone comes to see me and I give them my full, exclusive, unbroken attention. I turn towards them, focus on them, meet their eyes and listen. I avoid thinking of what I’m going to say in response to whatever they’re saying, I put down whatever I’m doing, and I’m just fully there for them. To me this is one of the simplest, loving acts I can give to another human being. My time and my attention.

I invite you to consider flexing your focus muscles, wild women, and fully give yourself into the conversation with the people you meet today. Stop… and listen… and gift them with the experience of walking away being a blessed person because they have been with you. After all, you are an amazing, warm, and wonderful wild woman!!

Blessings,
Linda

Wild Woman Wednesday

Wild women are cool, calm and collected… yeah right, when we’re asleep! Most of the time we’re running around, planning, juggling, hangin’ with friends, rockin’ with the fam, working, going to school, religious activities/worship, parties, dancing, laughing… and STRESSING!!!!!!!

Oooohhh, yeah, that would be us, yes, girls?!?!? Too many commitments, too many things to do, too many variables, too little time and energy. Its part of life, it happens, but what can we do about it?

Rise up and exercise your “manage that stress” muscle! Just today I gave a seminar on stress management, so who better to share it with than my wild women buddies here in nutshell form.

What Is Stress
1 -- Eustress (positive stress), caused by happy things like vacation, new job, buying a home, etc. It motivates, energizes, and is usually short term.
2 – Distress (negative stress) caused by biggies (death, divorce, job loss) to everyday stressors (financial problems, work issues, relational conflicts), and can be both long and short term.

Stress and Your Body
Can you spell wreaks havoc? Yes, the “fight or flight” hormones kick into gear, producing glucose and fat and all kinds of nasties which can raise your blood glucose levels (look out, diabetes), and negatively impact every body system. This is NOT a good thing.

How Can You Reduce Stress?
1 – Body Awareness: be aware of how your body feels when it begins (nervous, sweaty palms, body tension, shallow breathing) so you can immediately use stress management methods to nip it in the bud.
2 – Breathing exercises – try inhaling slowly/deeply through your nose for a count of five, hold for a count of five, and then release the breathe slowly through your nose for a final count of five. Repeat several times.
3 – Progressive Relaxation – progressively from toes to the top of your head squeeze/tighten your muscles, then release.
4 – Meditate/Prayer/Forgiveness: focus on something that makes you happy, quietly sit in the park and enjoy nature, pray anywhere/anytime. Also, let go of those grudges and the negative stuff you’ve been hanging on to for all this time! Release, and then relax!
5 – Refute Irrational Ideas (or as I call it, Projecting). For example, you could think: “I’m late for work, the boss is gonna fire me, then I won’t be able to pay the mortgage, I’ll lose my home, and I’ll wind up homeless on the street!” Or you could think “Really? Seriously? Maybe I’ll just be a few minutes late, and it might not even be a big thing. If the boss mentions it, I’ll apologize, and try to plan a little better tomorrow morning.” BIG difference in outcome, yes? Just think about the worst thing that could feasibly happen and then get to the reality of the situation.
6 – Exercise & Nutrition (no big surprise here) – eat clean and balanced meals, drink lots of water, work out regularly.
7 - LAUGH! Even if you fake it your body won't know it, and those endorphins will start swimming around tickling you from the inside out and making you feel all kinds of good. Even better, get with some friends and laugh over a good movie, or just sit and grab a cuppa and enjoy!

Overall, just remember – each day you have the power of CHOICE and you can choose to react, or you can choose to respond. It’s your choice… – you have the power to enrich your life and manage your stress head on -- you are a WILD WOMAN! And by the way, if you find that all this doesn't help you manage stress effectively no matter how hard you try, get some professional help -- ain't NO SHAME and I've been there, done that, got the tee shirt, and am feeling much better, thank you very much!

Now go out there and tackle your day with a delicious vengeance!

Blessings,

Linda

Wild Woman Wednesday

Wild women are resourceful, and love to look fabulous and save money! One of the classes I enjoy teaching is “The Secret Spa in Your Kitchen”. I’m also, as you know, obsessed with all things pumpkin. So today I’m going to have you exercise your “I’m a pampered pumpkin wild woman” muscles! I have two home treats for your wild woman body that are as fancy as you can get in the spa, but for pennies! Lovin' those home spa treatments!

What’s not to love about pumpkins? Check out the nutritional facts for one cup of pumpkin puree:
• Calories: 80
• Carbohydrates: 19 gram
• Cholesterol: 0
• Fat: less than 1 gram
• Potassium: 588 milligrams
• Protein: 2.4 grams
• Vitamin A: 310% of RDA
• Vitamin C: 20% of RDA

Pumpkin contains anti-oxidant vitamins A (helps to heal skin) and C (anti-oxidant properties), zinc, and alpha-hydroxy acids. They’re great for your whole body! The pumpkin enzyme can sooth and protect your skin. As with all recipes (internal and external) use at your own risk, as you may have certain sensitivities or allergies.

Soothing Pumpkin Masque

Ingredients:
3 tablespoons pumpkin puree
1 tablespoon honey (a natural humectant – draws moisture to your skin)
½ tablespoon olive oil
A pinch of cinnamon or pumpkie pie spice

Mix ingredients together in a small bowl. To prepare skin for masque, gently exfoliate (rub skin with) a handful of steel cut oatmeal (not instant), but this is optional. Rinse with warm water, pat dry, then apply masque. Lie back for ten minutes with your feet up, slap some cuke slices on your eyes, put on some soothing music, and chill. When done, gently wash face with warm water to remove all traces of the natural masque ingredients. Pat dry, and look glowingly fabulous the rest of the day.

Pumpkin Brown Sugar Scrub

Ingredients:
½ cup pumpkin puree
¾ cup brown sugar
¼ cup olive oil
¼ cup honey
A pinch of cinnamon or pumpkie pie spice

Mix ingredients together in a small unbreakable bowl. You’ll want to do this in your shower/tub, but BE CAREFUL because it can get VERY SLIPPERY!!! You may want to put down a rubber mat or a big towel – again, you are fully 100% responsible for your own safety here. Stand in the shower and GENTLY begin applying the mixture to arms, legs, feet, elbows, knees, and anywhere that IS NOT COVERED BY A BATHING SUIT. I wouldn’t recommend sugar scrubbing those delicate areas – let’s not get too wild! I don’t recommend using this on your face, either. One your body is buffed to glowing perfection, go ahead and do your general shower routine, rising off very well so you won’t have any sticky residue left over. CAREFULLY step out of the shower/tub, pat dry, and enjoy having smooth and lovely skin. Please note – you can also use this mixture daily on your hands. Scoop a tablespoon into your hands, and begin washing hands just with mixture. Add a bit of your favorite liquid soap, lather up, rinse off with warm water, and apply your favorite hand lotion. Perfect for beautiful autumn/winter hands! I recommend mixing up a fresh batch each time, since the brown sugar will liquefy in the puree/honey mix.

Blessings,
Linda

Wild Woman Wednesday

Wild women are creative! We aren’t all poets or artists or sculptors, but think outside that box and rip up those labels –we are ALL original, imaginative, resourceful, innovative, and productive in a thousand different areas of life. Let’s face it girls, wild women kick serious booty! You can’t tell me that a woman who makes meal after meal for her family isn’t innovative in resources and culinary skills! Then there’s the woman who sweats bullets to pay the bills and manage her budget – that’s financial wizardry. And let’s not forget that we all do a full-blown juggling act with our daily schedules – well, that’s just pure poetry in motion!

I just finished reading a very cool blog posting by Jonathan Fields, author of the book Uncertainty – Turning Fear and Doubt Into Fuel for Brilliance (2011). He writes about exercise being a powerful tool, and fuel, for creativity. He noted another book by Dr. John Ratey called Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain (2008), who says that exercise has a “profound effect on your brain chemistry, physiology, and neuroplasticity (the ability of the brain to literally rewire itself.” (Ratey, 2008) The article cites studies that found that people who exercised were less anxious, less depressed, less neurotic, more socially outgoing, and experienced significantly less anger and stress. He goes on to tell how aerobic exercise works in the brain to help transform the persistent uncertainty, fear, and anxiety that accompanies the quest to create something from a source of suffering into something less toxic, then potentially even into fuel.

His article wraps up by noting that exercise “makes us so much more productive and leads to such improved creativity, cognitive function, and mood that the time we need for doing it will open up and then some – making us so much happier and better at the art of creation, to boot.” (Fields, 2011).

Today I challenge you to work out for the next week and keep a small pad or journal and pen with you at all times (and put it on your night stand at night in case you wake up with ideas). Start thinking about problems to solve, issues to resolve, questions for which you need answers – let’s see what comes to mind. Even keep a journal/pen in the bathroom when you shower – because you wouldn’t want a good idea to go down the drain!

Be wild – exercise your brain by exercising!!!

Blessings,

Linda

Blog by Fields: http://www.fastcompany.com/1783263/the-creative-brain-on-exercise


Picture: "Six Women of Color" Illustration by Angela Hayden