Month: May 2008

Ever wonder why you can seemingly learn something great or gain
some great insight, but then nothing really changes in your life
or your experience?

What then is the role of new knowledge, and what is the process of
turning that knowledge into actual change?

Here’s a quick nugget I recently received from a very close friend
and mentor—Artemis Limpert:

Knowledge alone doesn’t change you…

What it can do is give you new perspectives…

…and a new perspective can allow you to see choices you didn’t see before…

…and then changing your choices can change your life.

So there you have it in a nutshell…new knowledge can give you a new perspective,
which enables you to see new choices, and making new choices creates new results…

…which can change your life…

And here are two resources I’ve enjoyed recently that can make you aware of new ways
to look at things, open up new choices for you…and thereby give you the possibility
of co-creating or co-operating with very different experiences and results in your life…

The first is Guy Finley’s Life of Learning Center.

I’d begin with his Welcome Message here (It’s just a few minutes, but takes you
immediately to “another time and place”…)

The second is Joel Osteen, first recommended to me by some “non-religious” friends
who found his messages—–including audio, on TV, and in print—–both relevant
and impactful to their daily lives.

As I was driving back from dropping my oldest daughter off at a friend’s to help with
her horses on Memorial Day, I listened to a few minutes of a recent podcast
(you can subscribe to these for free at here) and was struck by
this shift in perspective:

Everything is not happening TO you, it’s happening FOR you…

Think about that one for a minute.

Everything is not happening TO you, it’s happening FOR you.

Then as you enjoy these and other resources, ask yourself what shifts in perspective
they give you, and what new choices you can make as a result that can change your experience…

…and your life.

Let me know your own experiences, shifts in perspective, and new choices and results in
your comments below.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Dr. Ben

I have a confession to make.

I buy groceries at Wal-Mart.

What…Dr. “Wellness” Ben’s wife does that?  I thought they were health nuts.

I know when I think of good old American Wal-Mart, I picture carts full of Doritos,
Little Debbies, Wonder Bread and Dr. Pepper. 

But that’s not what we’re talking about here.

We like to eat nourishing food, we have a large hungry family, and we live 60 miles from
the nearest Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s.

A Super Wal-Mart opened up a few months ago and I discovered that I save ALOT of money
over our smaller local market. We are talking up to 60 – 80 bucks a week.

Now I still support our local market, but I am finding that the sheer bulk of our grocery list
inspires a little creativity these days. 

We are still eating quite well and I thought I would share a few ideas of healthy choices EVEN from Wal-Mart.

Plus it gives me an excuse to bring up an issue that I think it is vital to remember: 

That it is OKAY to not eat perfectly all the time.

It is OKAY to celebrate the stages of our life that might seem limiting…

like the fact that I am pregnant with number six and we live out in the country.

And THE most important thing you and I can do is start from a place of Self Acceptance AND Thankfulness.

I have found my life is more fulfilling and what I truly want it to be when I come from a place
of inner acceptance.  

It is okay that we eat white flour here and again.

It is okay that not everything is organic.  We will have more time for that in the future.

It is great that we are increasing our veggies whenever we can.

I find that NO lasting and healthy change comes from negative thinking and forcing myself. 

What about you?

So now let me give you a few ideas for nourishing and energizing meals.

Easy one.

Wal-Mart carries Omega Eggs and Cage Free eggs.  They are around $2.25 a doz.

I scramble them with provolone cheese (deli sliced in a package) and any veggies I have on hand.

The kids really like the taste.   Top with tomatoes and add a handful of fresh lettuce or greens. 

Ben and I don’t eat too much bread, but I’ll toast some with whole grain in it for the kids. I’ll
eat toast if I really have the hankering for it.  The store also carries fruit sweetened Jams.
Lovely with a cup of Irish Breakfast Tea.   Yum!

Number Two.

Tofu, Bok Choi and Rice

I know there is some controversy about soy, but at times we still eat tofu.
We like the taste and the break from meat. 

I like to get two or three small plastic tubs where the tofu is sealed in water. I use Extra Firm.
I take the hunk of tofu out and dice it into small square pieces.  Then wrap it in a clean towel
and gently squeeze out the excess water.

Then I marinade it.  Wal-Mart has several different sauces you can use.  Try what sounds good to you.
I’ve used Hoisin Ginger.  Some can be really sweet so you don’t have to use a lot.  

If you are watching your sugar, then try tamari or soy sauce with lots of minced garlic.
It is simple but yummy. 

Let the marinade soak for about an hour.

I usually cook it under the broiler in a 9×13 pan until brown and a bit crispy.

Wal-Mart has Jasmine rice and brown rice.  Make what you like.  You can use whole grain spaghetti noodles
if that sounds good to you.

We eat our Bok Choi raw.  It is so refreshing and I am glad to have the enzymes.  Napa or Chinese Cabbage
is also delicious raw.

Okay…last one.

Asparagus wraps.

My friend told me how to roast asparagus so it stays crisp and tastes fabulous!!!!

Be careful.  It is addictive.

Heat oven to 400 degrees.   Clean and pat dry asparagus.  In a bowl toss the stalks with olive oil,
sea salt and cracked pepper.

Place in a 9×13 pan.  Cook for about 12 minutes.  Take it out and test it.  See if it is how you like it.

I like to eat asparagus with poached eggs, with chicken or fish, or just as a snack.

But I really like it for a tea meal in a wrap.  Buy whole grain tortillas or authentic flour tortillas.
Spread mayo on tortilla and lay down some cucumber slices and your favorite cheese.  I like a shredded
Italian blend or Muenster.  Then lay down 2 or 3 stalks of asparagus.  Roll up and eat with a healthy
TLC brand cookie and a cup of tea. 

Wherever you shop…

Enjoy and celebrate where you are…right now.

Blessings!

Rachelle Lo
The Cottage Coach

P.S. If you’d like to hear more from the “Cottage Coach”, leave your comments below,
and you can also contact Rachelle directly for a free 10 minute “Creative Eating & Living”
Consultation by leaving a message at 1-888-909-6601.

From time to time I get questions about pregnancy and birth, and the different options, choices, and decisions that arise.

Despite all the “science” and technology that now surround us, many parents intuitively sense that there may be answers for them that are more simple and yet more profoundly impactful than what technology alone can measure or medical science can tell them.

My wife and I have experienced this firsthand ourselves with our first 5 children, all of whom were born at home (after the first birth, Rachelle said just knowing she could get up and use the bathroom whenever she wanted was a big “plus”, not to mention being in her own bed and comfy chair and being waited on hand and foot right after the birth…), and I’ve also counseled many couples and worked with 100’s of deliveries both at home and in the hospital.

And now as Rachelle and I are expecting #6, and all the kids can eagerly feel her “kicking”, we again enter the mystery of what happens in the womb and at birth.

Last night Rachelle told me she’s been talking to “Ginny”, and wrote out some affirmations for the two of them for the birth, realizing that that will be a special time of their first “partnering” together as mother and child—in the powerful act of birth.

Given these experiences, and knowing there are many out there who would love to bounce ideas and questions off us from both a “professional” and personal perspective, we thought we’d find out how many are actually readers of this blog and the Dr. Ben email letter, and whether we could serve them in some way.

So…if you’re an expecting parent, or a nursing mom—that also is a wonderful journey that can generate much question and mystery—and you’d like to talk directly, simply say so in the comments below, and even leave a question or topic that you would love addressed.

If there’s enough interest, Rachelle and I may host an open teleconference call in the next week or two to connect with you all and address your questions.

Much love and blessings to you all!

Dr. Ben

As we’re about to begin another weekend, I wanted to share a wonderful term I picked up from David Schwartz, Ph.D., in his book The Magic Of Thinking Big:

“Psychological Sunshine”

In the book, Dr. Schwartz gives an example of two different people and how they spend their weekends.

I don’t have the exact details in front of me, but it went something like this:

Person A, let’s  call him Joe, is exhausted from his week at work.  He wakes up late on Saturday, watches TV and drinks beer, he and his wife ask each other what they’d like to do…they don’t know, so they watch some more TV….Sunday’s the same…they’re too tired to see anyone or do anything…and when Monday rolls around, they still feel tired and dread another week of work.

Person B, let’s call him Jim, gets some errands done on Saturday, and then he and his wife have some friends over that they’ve been wanting to meet, and they enjoy having good conversation together.  On Sunday, they plan a family outing — a hike outdoors where they get some exercise, enjoy the outdoors, and have some relaxed time together as a family.

When Monday rolls around, Jim feels refreshed and ready to dive into a new week.  He enjoyed plenty of “psychological sunshine” on the weekend.

Dr. Schwartz also talks about giving your family the gift of  “planned” time together…and I’ll add that this “planning” can apply to your own personal time as well…

And it doesn’t have to be sunny outside….last Friday night, I was actually feeling a little tired and I’ll admit, a little grumpy as the day was coming to an end and I was feeling like I’d missed an opportunity to have some quality time with my family.  My oldest daughter was helping out at a friend’s house, and my wife suggested I take our middle two out to town on the way to pick our eldest up while my wife herself gave our youngest two a bath.

Just as dusk was setting in, we drove to our little harbor town on Lake Michigan, and as we approached, my daughter stated with enthusiasm how much she loved walking in town just as the lights were coming on.  As we walked by the lighted shops, most of which were closed, Emmie, who can only see some light and color, would ask what each shop was.  When we walked past the South Bend Chocolate Company Cafe (which was still open), my son Henri asked if we could step inside, and Emmie agreed.  When I asked, “Why?”, Emmie said, “So we can look at the chocolates…”  I commented that she couldn’t see the chocolates, but she just smiled and we went inside.

We were the last customers in the store, and after hearing a description of some of the things on display, we ended up getting two chocolate covered oreos–one for each of them.  As we stepped outside with the little paper bag, both Henri and Emmie were very excited, and Emmie later told me she was trying to get me to get them something without actually asking directly…

We then walked to the harbor where there’s a grassy hill, and as a breezy, cloudy night was coming on, we ran and rolled down the hill a number of times.  We then walked back to the car together just as it was starting to sprinkle.

I mention this story because it was a brief but very special time for the three of us–a memory we created together that we’ve already talked about several times since–and one that occurred when moments before it looked like the day was “over”, at least from my perspective.

That outing–on a cloudy end of the day–became a significant source of psychological sunshine for us that set our direction that weekend.

So how about for you?

What experiences are you allowing yourself and your family?

As illustrated above, something seemingly small can turn into something precious…

So enjoy some “psychological sunshine” this weekend, and let me know your own experiences in the comments below.

Dr. Ben