In this age of TV, computers and many more people working from home, our lives have become far too sedentary. I live at my computer screen and find that time goes by so quickly, it is dark outside before you know it. So this Fall I am committed to setting up at least half-an-hour each day to walking.

Studies have shown that it does not take a lot of walking for you to see and feel the benefits. You do not even have to walk that fast. Just getting out and about is sufficient to make a difference to your well being.

There is another benefit to walking. It can help clear your mind and refresh it – allowing you to ready yourself for any tasks that lie ahead. So if you are like me and somewhat in a rut or have come up against a wall, put down tools and go out for a quick stroll. You will come back feeling less stressed and more focused.

Let me know your thoughts on this subject and I will be certain to let everyone know how my daily scheduled walks work out.

Cheers!

By simply taking time to relieve our minds of all this extraneous “junk” can help in reducing stress and making our minds work better. Much like a computer’s memory works more efficiently when we do a clean up or delete some unused program and files.

There are several methods one can use to accomplish this task which are very easy and well worth doing.

Meditation – There are many methods, so you are bound to find one that works for you and it can be done in a matter of minutes. You basically just need a quiet place to start.

Mindfulness – Similar to meditation, this study can be beneficial to those who are extremely busy. It calls for one to slow down rather than stop completely. Clearing out a room or organizing some books would be considered effective mindful exercises.

Expressive Writing – Putting to pen to paper and just letting your thoughts flow out can be a very good mind clearing process. Keeping a diary on hand or a journal can be a helpful way of examining your problems and assist in overcoming them.

Distraction – By allowing your mind to change its focus, from negative issues, you can give it time to address the situation and reduce the magnitude of the dilemma. Try tai chi or judo. Both activities will clear the mind and allow you to refresh and refocus in on the difficult task ahead.

By utilizing these tactics you will give your mind healthy boost of energy and allow it to become stronger and work more efficiently.

In this week’s anecdote blog, I want to explore the various ways one can relax and by doing so, create a more zen-like existence.

For me just going for a brisk walk does wonders for my inner spirit and general persona. During these walks, I am able to clear my mind and therefore enabling a more logical thinking process to take the place of confusion and stress. Also, the physical exertion helps alleviate the pain in my back and shoulders. I can also release the tension in these areas by gently stretching before my walk.

Let me know your thoughts on this anecdote and if you have any other ways to relax and create a more calm existence.

As each year passes and another birthday comes around, the importance of time and its consequences becomes crystal clear. It’s up to us to determine how we use each and every birthday year.

So on the anniversary of each and every birthday, I try to account for and analyze the validity and success of the previous twelve months. I’m not always pleased with the results but it has helped me develop good goals and make constructive changes.

Instead of looking at a birthday as just another year passing with a few more gray hairs, I look at it as a time to review the years anecdotes and create better and exciting ones in the new year approaching.

On a personal anecdote note this achievement has made me feel extremely proud. It has given me the confidence to make plans and follow through, something that has been a weakness of mine in the past…

As a bonus I am also a few pounds lighter and a bit trimmer and it seems as if I accomplished all of this without trying too hard. It takes determination and dedication to keeping to your regimen, but, by god, it is worth it!

It does seem be hereditary with me because I can relate many personal anecdotes about my mother having sneezing fits all Summer long when I was younger and still living in the UK.

I have been referred to so many remedies that I am somewhat confused. However I really don’t want to try any chemical solutions unless they are natural ones.

This Summer I planned on trying out a natural remedy called Butterbur but the side effects have made me very wary. So I’m just going to eat well, stay away from caffeine and other products known to worsen hayfever.

Unfortunately I have already started sniffling and Spring has barely started. Wish me luck!

When I asked the store clerk if there was a difference between brown and yellow flax seeds she replied, “there is absolutely no difference between the two.” I found this amusing because upon first glance I actually liked the look of the brown ones better and thought, “How could she say that? The brown ones look so much better!”

I wanted to give them a little home, so I used an old wonton soup container to store them, because if I want to be healthier I won’t need it. Wow they look so cool and healthy in that container. They actually look a little lonely, so I’ve been finding ways to use these little seeds to the fullest. I now sprinkle them on cereal. I dip bananas into them as well.

I’ve grown to like them even though I don’t know if they have any taste. Here’s what I have heard about them. Nutritionists say that flax seeds help lower cholesterol and also are good for people who have diabetes.

Flax is high in Omega 3 essential fatty acids, which helps people with rheumatoid arthritis. I’ve also heard that if you grind them up they’re better for you, but as for now I’m afraid to crush them in fear that my new little friends, the flax seed, may get mad at me!

I believe that I may have fallen into that category of late. Also you still have to exercise and practise sound relaxation techniques to stay healthy and maintain strong mental functions.

I recently found out that I have higher than normal blood pressure. It runs in our family and it is something I have always been aware of, however it is so easy to take things like that for granted. Especially when my eldest sister had a stroke because her blood pressure was so high, it is even more imperative that all of our family members be aware of this trait.

So how does my lifestyle and diet come into play here? Well I have discovered that I consume a lot more salt than I care to admit. I live on a very low-fat and low-sugar diet but I end up eating a lot of “hidden” salt in some prepackaged soy products. It is something I hadn’t really addressed until now.

I would hate for the story of my life to end in an anecdote about why an otherwise healthy vegetarian ended up in a coffin well before their time. So both my partner and I are taking steps to control our sodium intake and also to increase our walking and exercise regimen.

A recent medical study found that previously sedentary patients who took up walking three to five times a week were able to reduce their systolic blood pressure by five points after twelve weeks. A number which would put me back into the “normal’ category for blood pressure reading.

I’ll keep you posted on my progress as I intend on getting check-ups every week for the next twelve weeks at the very least.

As I have expressed in previous posts, I am coming up on my twentieth year as a vegetarian. For me vegetarianism is all about trying to only consume produce that is grown from the earth. It’s also about respecting animals by not chopping them up and putting them on your plate! Although I must stress that this is a personal choice and I am not the type to frown upon or reprimand anyone who chooses to eat meat.

However I do take exception with the nouveau vegetarianism that allows one to consume meat. These meats are of very high quality and are from organically grass-fed animals that supposedly have a decent life before hitting the chopping block. For these so-called vegetarians it is more about how animals are treated before they end up on their plates as opposed to the idea of a living creature having to die for their consumption.

In my view this is much worse than the normal, slightly ignorant carnivore who just wants to know what’s for dinner. The snobby vegetarian who thinks that they are somehow superior by eating better quality meat at exorbitant prices is the personification of pretension in my humble opinion.

The medicine was aptly called “Fisherman’s Friend” but don’t let the word “friend” in the title deceive you. This concoction was no child’s friend and I dare you to find any adult who wouldn’t gag slightly after this milky, fishy liquid made it’s way down your throat. As children we would hide under the stairs, as my Mum would call us into the kitchen one by one to face our ultimate fear. Still have nightmares about this bottle!

As I got older I refused to take this “devil’s honey” and eventually went my own way when it comes to medicines and more natural herbal remedies. However, I found that I would never get a cold and for years this continued to be true even after I moved to the States.

So do I recommend this evil tasting potion? Not really but I benefited from it’s strong immune boosting properties and for that I have to be grateful. Nowadays I eat my fresh fruit and veggies. Drink loads of water and get out into the cold at least once a day for a brisk walk. I try to get my full eight hours for sleep and stay away from coffee.

Whether it’s the remnants for my old “Fisherman’s Friend” or my healthier lifestyle I am still “cold free”. I think I’ve got Mum to thank for starting me on the right track.