2012 Life Map

It's been awhile since I've posted anything, and I'm feeling the disappointment of a failed New Years resolution from last year (to blog consistently). But, I'm not the kind of person who cannot NOT make New Years resolutions. It keeps me inspired, motivated, and more likely than not to reach my personal goals. So, to get back into this, I decided to create a post to catch everyone who may be reading this up on what has transpired in the last year and what I hope to accomplish and become this year.

In 2011:

1) Ran a 25K.

2) Enlisted in a program to become a certified health/nutrition coach.

3)Networked with a lot of like-minded people.

4) Started a new relationship.

5) Developed several new friendships.

6) Visited New York City (something on my life list last year).

7) made it another year in a fast paced managerial position.

8) drank lots of green smoothies.

9) grew my own herb garden.

10) spent lots of time with my family.

11) got a puppy

12) spent less time with people who drain me

13) did the "29" gifts project    

14) Learned to spend time with myself.

This year, my intentions are to:

1) Graduate as a certified health coach in February.

2) Build my practice.

3) Develop the Common Unity Center

4) Run more

5) Practice gratitude.

6) Do another 29 Gifts Project

7) Practice yoga

8) Eat lots of raw foods

9) Run more races

10) develop a meditation practice

11) go on more walks

12) Write a book (I'm good at writing, but waiting for the right subject to come to me) 
13) Drink one green smoothie a day.
14) Spend lots of time with my friends.
15) Make new friends
16) Develop a clear vision of what is and is not for my higher good...purging those things that no longer serve a purpose in my life.
17) Blog consistently...yes, I am trying again :) At least 3 times per week.
18) Eventually transition to JUST helping people create healthy balanced lives.
19) Create my own schedule when I get up every morning.
20) Appreciate other people
21) Forgive more- others and myself
22) Actually read A Course in Miracles
23) Use my planner
24) Eliminate clutter
25) Create peace on the inside, so I can experience peace on the outside as well.

A daunting list, but I find the more things I put on my list, the more I can cross off...it gains momentum and makes me a better person.  I find it helpful to give myself some direction and a vision for where I want my life to go...I feel that 2011 was a year that a lot of people went through a lot of turmoil (myself included), almost a purging, that paved the way for a lot of transformation and positive change in 2012.

So, here is to a new year....it feels like a blank slate and I plan to make the best of it!

Did You Get Your Greens Today?

So often, life gets busy, busy, busy and nutrition is the first thing to go! It is so easy to forfeit nutritious foods in favor of fast food when we feel like we can't even catch our breath, let alone take the time to prepare fresh, living meals!

Green smoothie to the rescue! Green smoothies are pretty fail-proof. Pack a banana or two into a blender with a bunch of greens of your choice, add a small amount of water, blend for a minute or so.....and voila! There are your greens for the day, packed into a drink you can take with you on the go. You can experiment with this to make it more palatable or according to your tastes- Spinach and Romaine are pretty mild. If you are feeling bold, go for kale or another more bitter green. Add some green apple or other fruit. If you want more of a frozen treat, use frozen bananas. The possibilities are endless. If you search for green smoothies on the internet, you could come up with a years' worth of recipes!

 Drink this in place of your morning coffee on the way to work for a month and see what happens. I guarantee that you will derive more energy and greater health benefits from the smoothie!

If you are further interested in the health benefits and the research behind green smoothies, a fascinating book to read is "Green For Life" by Victoria Boutenko.