Spritzer quartet

When I was in my late teens, my friends and I would often go to the local pizza parlour on Thursday evening because the men’s barbershop group would go there after practice to socialize and sing a few tunes for the patrons.  I absolutely loved the sound of their 4 part a capella music.  Little did I know that a few years later I would be introduced to the women’s counterpart group, the Sweet Adelines!  I was hooked after the first rehearsal and singing in this group is an incredible part of my life.   While it was the harmony that hooked me, there have been innumerable benefits to this wonderful hobby.  The friendships, continuous learning of vocal production, stage performance, choreography and travel top the list.  AND – there is a huge health benefit to singing as it increases your happy hormones and opens up the throat chakra.

I found a wonderful article that I wish to share with you here on the benefits of opening your throat chakra. Taken from the All Good Things website:

The Throat Chakra – The Great Purity Center

When the Throat Chakra is Blocked

The throat Chakra has everything to do with expression and communications. When this Chakra is blocked, there could be problems in the throat, inflammation of the gums, pain in the teeth, a voice that is not natural (too high-pitched is a perfect example). My Story shares a healing of a student’s experience with this. Her entire life changed instantly.

It is not uncommon to find thyroid problems with this Chakra when it is stuck. Other symptoms include: TMJ, scoliosis, swollen glands, laryngitis, cough, sore throat, addiction, criticism, a persistent cold or flu that take a long time to leave, tonsillitis, acute infections, vocal and communication difficulties, and underactive thyroid. It also affects the sternum, throat, and endocrines.

Another prime example is the salivary glands, which include the parotid, sublingual, and submaxillary. These glands are responsible for producing enzymes that initiate the digestion of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. This is very important because it takes 45 minutes to an hour for adequate hydrochloric acid and pepsin to be produced in the stomach to continue protein digestion.

The salivary glands are also thought by many to be vital in differentiating between food and other foreign proteins in some sort of a tagging process by the immune system. It is for this reason that they are also useful in ridding the body of toxic substances.

The importance of the salivary glands underscores the need to chew one’s food until it is liquefied in order to achieve the most complete mixing of enzymes and other substances.

When the Throat Chakra is Open and Spirals are Free

A person with an open Throat Chakra has no problem with communications, listening, expression, or creative identity. They probably eat slowly and chew their food, too! Great singers and speakers usually have a very strong 5th Chakra. It denotes the ability to enchant others with the voice. When you can hear a pin drop in an audience, you can be sure that you are in the presence of a powerful 5th Chakra.

I just returned from Syracuse, New York where our Regional Competition was held.  My chorus, the North Metro Sweet Adelines, will be representing our region at the International Competition in Denver, Colorado this October.

I know that 30 years of singing has strengthened my throat chakra and for that I am truly grateful. There are so many ways to bring balance to our body, mind and spirit.  What activities bring you joy and give you vibrant health? I’d love your feedback. And don’t forget to leave a link back to your own blog as well via the commentluv feature here on the site!

I’m off to exercise my vocal chords!

Karen

I was interviewed by Debbie Papadakis on Blog Talk radio in February and followed up with an Enneagram presentation at the Hypno-Healing Institute.  She gave me a book mark with a great poem that I would like to share with you here that prompted me to think about the mentors in our lives.

Your Life’s Poem

Read your history, it becomes your teachers.
Select your teachers, they become your questions.
Select your questions, they become your suggestions.
Select your suggestions, they become your thoughts.

Select your thoughts, they become your perceptions.
Select your perceptions, they become your beliefs.
Select your beliefs, they become your choices.
Select your choices, they become your attitude.

Select your attitudes, they become your feelings.
Select your feelings, they become your words.
Select your words, they become your actions.
Select your actions, they become your habits.

Select your habits, they become your character.
Select your character, it becomes your fate.
Select your fate, it becomes your destiny.
Select your destiny, it becomes your life.

As I read this today, I paused on the first line that speaks of teachers and I reflected on the incredible role that teachers and mentors have in our lives.  When we are young, our teachers are often provided to us via our parents, families and school teachers.  As we grow, we have more influence on who we choose to be our teachers.

I remember being asked once on a leadership course to write down 5 people in my life who have been positive influences and explain why.  This was a great exercise as I could acknowledge the values and skills that I admired in them and wanted to expand into my life.  As time has passed, some of these mentors have stayed in my life, some have fulfilled their influence and I have added new ones.  It is said that all leaders seek out mentors in their lives. They become part of the foundation of our character and bring out more of our true light!  We all play this role to someone whether we know it or not.

This also ties into one of the beautiful reiki principles;

“Honour your parents, teachers and elders.”

Today, I give thanks to the many teachers and mentors who have helped to shape my life. Life is good!

So – who are your mentors?  Do you have any special thoughts to share? Don’t forget to leave a link back to your own blog as well via the commentluv feature here on this site.

Until next time,

Karen

I have shared with you that the core of my work is providing an opportunity to connect my clients with their truth.  Your truth is the core of who you are and what brings you Joy!  In that process I guide you to notice where you get in your own way.  Once we bring awareness to what is limiting you, it brings you choice on how to move forward.

For the past 12 years, I have incorporated the wisdom of the Enneagram personality system as well as the healing energy work of Reiki.  They compliment each other perfectly and to be honest, though I am open to many other modalities, I did not feel the need to add anything else to my practice.  Then in 2011, upon return from a phenomenal trip to South Africa – something new entered my field of awareness. My stepmom became very ill immediately after arriving home from our trip and after a trip to the doctor’s office to have blood work done – a friend recommended that she see a Biontologist in her area.  By this point she had been extremely ill for a week and my father was quite concerned.  So they decided to go and she felt immediate relief from the illness.  Cool.  This same situation repeated itself when my father was the next to get sick.  That was enough to peak my curiosity and over the next 6 months, I explored and researched this therapy. My experience resulted in a deep knowing that this was indeed something I needed to continue with.

My initial training took place in March at the Academy of Applied Biophoton Sciences in Collingwood, and I have been offering sessions to my clients for the past few weeks.  So let me relieve some of the mystery on what biophoton therapy is. A simple description:

In the 1970’s a German physicist, Fritz-Albert Popp confirmed the existence of biophotons. These are light impulses that emanate from every living cell at a rate of 100,000 impulses per second. Healthy cells radiate coherent light and unhealthy cells radiate chaotic light.

A Chiren® instrument is used to investigate the meridian or acupressure points on the fingers and toes to reveal any imbalances (incoherent light) where disturbances occur. The Chiren® can distinguish between harmonious and disharmonious energy in the body through thee use of filters, which separate the chaotic and coherent signals of the different frequencies. The harmonious frequencies are amplified and returned to the body, whereas the disharmonious frequencies are first inverted, amplified and then returned to the body.

When the disharmonious energies in the body are confronted with their exact opposite (the inversion) they are neutralized. When the frequencies are corrected, the body chemistry is also corrected. Once the measurements are complete, a treatment plan is created to realign the bodies balance with as few appointments as possible thus giving you back your health and joy.

Biophoton Light Therapy is completely safe, painless and non-invasive.

Areas of treatment may include:

• Anxiety Disorders
• Migraines/headaches
• Sinusitis
• Allergies
• Heart Problems
• Circulation Issues
• Stomach Problems
• Digestive Issues
• Skin Problems
• Gall or Kidney Stones
• High Blood Pressure
• Vaccine Reactions
• Constipation
• Chronic Fatigue

I am very excited about adding this therapy to my practice and look forward to continuing the journey of supporting people to free themselves of whatever is not serving them in order to experience well being and joy!

I’d love your feedback! Have you heard of Biophoton therapy before? Have you tried it? Don’t forget to leave a link back to your own blog too via the commentluv feature here on my site.

Until next time,

Karen

Welcome to the first day of spring for 2012!  We are certainly experiencing cooperation from our weather in this region – I have witnessed a sudden change into shorts sleeves and sandals from warm coats and boots a couple of weeks ago! Beautiful! This day has had extra special meaning for me for the past 24 years as our first born arrived on this day in 1988.  Talk about experiencing a life changing event!

In his book, “When Everything Changes, Change Everything”, Neale Donald Walsch shares some wonderful stories and insights on how we typically deal with change, what we could do to manage it differently and why it is important. Here are a couple of passages that really spoke to me:

“If we can recognize that change and uncertainty are basic principles, we can greet the future and the transformation we are undergoing with the understanding that we do not know enough to be pessimistic!”

“Life is change and when there is nothing changing, there is nothing living.  Life is movement, movement is change. Change therefore is inevitable. It is the nature of life itself.”

I don’t know about you, however just when I think that I have my life figured out and relatively lined up, a day comes along that changes everything.  It has been a few weeks since I have posted a blog because one of those days happened.  I lost my father on March 6^th, 2 weeks after going into the hospital to check out why he was experiencing discomfort in his chest. Now that’s a big change in my life and one that I will take time to integrate fully. I have an amazing family and support network with caring friends and that absolutely makes this easier to move forward with.  I also know that my dad is an integral part of who I am so he lives on in me, and in the people he touched and that is the precious eternal part of our circle of life.

As the magic of life would have it – the week after his passing I was scheduled to go on a training course for a new therapy I have been planning to add to my practice.  It was a great thing for me to do – immerse myself in learning something new that means so much to me and I knew in my heart I was right where I was meant to be.  After all, this opportunity presented itself to me following a trip to South Africa that my husband and I went on with my father and stepmom last spring. I feel this new journey was a gift that came to me through them and I can dedicate this part of my practice to them.

Today is the first day of spring – this week is my first week offering biophoton therapy to my clients. (watch for more details on what this is next week) I am embracing this change.

I would like to encourage you to think about something you would like to effect positive change on in your life; be it a relationship, your health and happiness, your career, your home or learning something new. Let the energy of spring bring new energy to your life – after all you get to choose. Let me finish with another quote from Neale’s book:

“The trick to life is not to try to avoid change, but to create change.  Life begins at the end of your comfort zone!”

I encourage you to share your thoughts and ideas here so we can inspire each other.  What changes would you like to initiate?  Don’t forget to leave a link back to your own blog too!

Until next time,

Karen

Could it be that deep inside the hurting couples exists an invisible “emotional love tank” with its gauge on empty?  Could the misbehaviour, withdrawal, harsh words or critical spirit occur because of that empty love tank?  If we could find a way to fill it, could the marriage/relationship be reborn?  With a full tank would couples be able to create an emotional climate where it is possible to discuss differences and resolve conflicts?  Could that tank be the key that makes marriages work?

According to Gary Chapman and the work he has experienced with his seminars on the five love languages, the answer very frequently is yes!  I have shared this work in relationship seminars over the past few years and found it to be a beautiful companion to the Enneagram, a personality system which identifies the core motivation for our thoughts, emotions and actions.  Relationships can provide the perfect arena for life long learning about ourselves.  Let me share the Five Love Languages according to Gary.

#1 Words of Affirmation

It is a fact that when we receive affirming words we are far more likely to be motivated to reciprocate.

• Verbal compliments or words of appreciation are powerful communicators of love.
• Encouraging words can be used to inspire courage in areas where we feel insecure.  If we lack courage in an area it often hinders us from accomplishing the positive things we would like to do.  Encouragement requires empathy and seeing the world from your partner’s perspective.  We must first learn what is important to them.  Then you can communicate, I know, I care, I am with you, How can I help?
• Love is kind. The manner in which we speak is very important.

#2 Quality Time

Definition: giving someone your undivided attention. It is a powerful emotional communicator of love.  A central aspect of quality time is togetherness.  Not proximity…togetherness has to do with focused attention.

Quality conversation – the focus is on what we are hearing from the other. If I am sharing my love for you by means of quality time and we are going to spend that time in conversation, it means I will focus on drawing you out, listening sympathetically to what you have to say. I will ask you questions, not in a badgering manner but with a genuine desire to understand your thoughts, feelings and desires. Many of us are trained to analyze problems and create solutions.  We forget partnership is a relationship, not a project to be completed or a problem to solve.

Practical tips:

• Maintain eye contact
• Don’t listen to your spouse and do something else at the same time
• Listen for feelings
• Observe body language
• Refuse to interrupt

#3 Receiving Gifts

Gifts are visual symbols of love. Gifts can be big planned gifts at typically learned times or can be small everyday tokens of love and attention.  You can get creative with this and have fun. If this is so out of your realm, then ask close friends or family members for suggestions.  Everyone loves to support acts of kindness that make people happy. Don’t forget the gift of self – being there when your spouse really needs you speaks loudly to the one whose primary love language is receiving gifts.

#4 Acts of Service

Acts of service are doing things that you know your partner would like you to do.  You seek to please by serving and express your love by doing things for the other.  They require thought, planning, time effort and energy.  If done with a positive spirit, they are indeed expressions of love.

#5 Physical Touch

We have long known that physical touch is a way of communicating emotional love. For some individuals, physical touch is their primary love language.  With it, their emotional tank is filled, and they feel secure in the love of their spouse. This area includes all 5 senses. Physical touch can make or break a relationship. It can communicate hate or love.  In marriage, the touch of love may take many forms. Since touch receptors are located throughout the body, lovingly touching your spouse almost anywhere can be an expression of love.

Once you discover that physical touch is the primary love language of your spouse, you are limited only by your imagination on ways to express love.

Discovering your Primary Love Language

What is your Primary Love language?  There are few questions that you can ask yourself to assist in this discovery.

1.  What does your spouse do or fail to do that hurts you most deeply?  The opposite of what hurts you most is probably your love language.

2.  What have you most often requested or your spouse?  The thing you have most often requested is likely the thing that would make you feel most loved.

3.  In what way do you regularly express love to your spouse?  Your method of expressing love may be an indication that would also make you feel loved.

So – have some fun this Valentine’s Day exploring what your love language is.  We rarely choose a partner who has the same language and that’s where the fun begins.  My husband now knows that my main language is Quality Time so he can forgo the flowers and chocolate and come home early from work to spend the evening together doing something we both enjoy!

“The quality of your life is the quality of your relationships.”  Anthony Robbins

“The purpose of a relationship is not to have another who might complete you; but to have another with whom you might share your completeness.”  Neale Donald Walsch

“At the heart of mankind’s existence is the desire to be intimate and to be loved by another. “ Gary Chapman

I’d love your feedback! And here on my blog, you’ll get commentluv. Not just today but all the time! This is a great opportunity to leave a link back to your own blog.

Until next time,

Karen

Do you find your happiness is dependent on the external circumstances of your life?

I have noticed a theme lately in working with clients and chatting with friends.  The discussions have reflected on how other people’s energy, actions and words affect our current state of happiness.  This is not new or unusual; however, we keep running into it at different levels.

We know our true happiness comes from inside, that we are responsible for how we respond to others and for our own perceptions, though putting it into practice is one of life’s greatest challenges!  So how do we tackle this challenge?

As a rather sensitive person, it is a skill set that I have been developing my whole life.  I recall numerous time as a child in public school, arriving home at the end of the day in tears, telling my mom I hated my red hair and freckles because I was teased so much.  The teasing to me felt like rejection and if I could only be a blonde or brunette, then all my troubles would be over.  If you are a blonde or brunette reading this, then you will have your own personal stories of teasing that have nothing to do with your hair colour.  Kids are amazing at coming up with an infinite number of ways to point out differences.  With the help of my mom and others, I began the journey of what we sometimes call “having broad shoulders”.

Don Miguel Ruiz put it beautifully in his book, “The Four Agreements” by labeling the second agreement “What anyone says about you is none of your business!”  We can never stop others from talking about us AND we can never make everyone in the world like us. (believe me, I tried for many years…) So, what matters is what WE say about us!  Literally, that voice in our head that is chatting away every conscious moment, has more impact than we give it credit for.  It is part of what I will call our Personal Power.  When we develop skills and habits to support our personal power, we have a greater likelihood of being able to “Manage our Energy!”

Managing Your Energy Gives You the Strong Foundation You Need to Handle Whatever Life Throws At You.

Energy comes in many forms which is great because it gives us many opportunities to support it.  We keep our energy or personal power balanced through:

• Proper rest
• Good nutrition
• Regular exercise
• Engaging in activities that bring us joy
• Taking time to dream
• Activities that provide positive reinforcement
• Self-reflection activities to check in with our current energy level

This is one of the reasons I was drawn to reiki.  It became one of my avenues for gauging my energy level or personal power and then effectively bringing it up to a higher functioning level. I have practiced reiki for 17 years now and have assisted many clients to tap into their personal power. For those who are drawn to learn how to bring this gift out for yourselves, I encourage you to explore reiki as one of the tools you can use.  I have a schedule of reiki training classes listed here on the website if you are in this area or you can search out a local reiki master teacher where you live.

As we head into this New Year, how can you learn to manage your energy and personal power more effectively? I would love your feedback. And here on my blog, you’ll get commentluv. What a wonderful opportunity for you to leave a link back to your own blog when you comment!

Until next time,

Karen

This year as I have been pondering this question – the words that have come forth are Courage and Discipline – Courage to continue speaking my truth with a loving heart and discipline to deepen my spiritual practice.  I am sure that I am not alone when I report that I get on a really good path of daily meditation or journaling, weekly commitments to work on my business instead of just working in my business and then life happens! I get a diversion for a short period and it takes me longer than I realize to get back on track.  Now, I realize that diversions will always come up; however I can certainly get back on track with much more expediency.

Here’s one of the reason’s I know that this year will be different!  My Dream Team!  Yes – in the last couple of months I have invested my time and energy into a Dream Team.  Similar to the idea of a Mastermind Group, this is a hand-picked group of people that commit to creating and supporting your greatest dreams. You can orchestrate the format of the group to work for all involved and I will share with you how our group got started.

• We have a group of 5 women entrepreneurs who have known each other for some years.
• We are committed to our businesses but more importantly to the quality of life we wish to live.
• We set up a 1 hour conference call on or as close to the new moon each month as positive thought forms and energies can be seeded on the new moon.
• The first task was to write out our BHAD’s. (Big, Hairy, Audacious Dreams) and share them with the team. For those of you who have been reading my blogs, you will understand when I say that my dreams took on the form of My Big Five For Life! Please click here to see this particular blog post.
• We decided the next steps would be to create a one page business plan which includes our Vision, Mission, Objectives, Strategies and Action Plans all tied into our long range dreams. We are currently working through this list.
• Each month we set goals to complete for the coming month and all members can solicit the help of any other member throughout the month.
• We keep each other abreast of our accomplishments and any inspirational material we believe worthy to share.
• In the words of a recent Women’s Circle speaker, Virginia Hackson, the group represents some of our strongest Champions!

So far this group has been extremely valuable to me.  I am right on track with my objectives which include my spiritual and health practices!  I have great expectations for 2012!  How about you, what plans do you have and how are you supporting them?

I’d love your feedback. And, here on this blog, you’ll get commentluv. What a great opportunity for you to leave a link back to your own blog when you leave a comment.

Until next time,

Karen

“Love me when I least deserve it because that is when I need it the most!”

This message reminds me of many moments in my life when those close to me are in “That Space”.  It happens often at this time of year when people are stressing out over the holidays. You know, those times when people in your life are miserable, moody, pushy or just closed off!  That is exactly what is happening – they or we are closing off the world because we are not feeling ready to take in any more.  The ‘more’ I am referring to, is more burdens, more challenges, more pain or whatever has put us into this place of negativity.  A self fulfilling scenario occurs as we express our own message of negativity to the world; we get more of that back.  Our ego gets to be right – we are justified in our bad mood because the world is just not kind and loving at this time.

We tend to give young children a break because we know they are just feeling hurt.  We approach them with a message that it’s not that bad and we attempt to shift their perspective so that they are happy and open once again.

Somehow when we grow up, we have higher expectations of ourselves and of course others do too.  I can hear that voice in my head saying “oh just snap out if it” when someone close to me is in “That Space” for too long.  I live with 4 men in my house ( 3 adult sons and my husband) who don’t let me get away with being in a negative space for very long at all before they will subtly say something like, “what’s up with you today – why are you in such a _____ mood?”  This usually triggers a response in me that complains about not even being able to be in a bad space – however, it is a gift.  I get to decide whether it is a worthy space to be in and deal with the issue or if I just need to bring awareness to an emotion inside me that I have not dealt with.

At a recent Women’s Circle, our presenter Virginia Hackson, had a brilliant way of expressing this.  She shared that it was never in our best interest to “rent space in our bodies to unresolved issues”. I love this simple expression because it is true!

So, when I find myself in a negative mood, I am learning to realize that I really need to show myself some love as I would to a young child.  And of course what we learn to give ourselves, we can learn to give others.  This Christmas season, when stress can create thin fuses in our emotional balance, let’s remember to “Show the Love!”

I will close this post with one of my favourite pieces that I recently rediscovered in my notes and will keep in the forefront over the coming weeks.

Today is the beginning of my new life.
I am starting over today.
All good things are coming to me today.
I am grateful to be alive.
I see beauty all around me.
I live with passion and purpose.
I take time to laugh and play every day.
I am awake, energized and alive.
I am free to be myself.
I am magnificence in human form.
I am the perfection of life.
I am grateful to be….ME.
Today is the best day of my life.
I focus on all the good things in life and give thanks for them.
I am at peace and one with Everything.
I feel the love, the joy, the abundance!

Feel free to share this with your friends and family! And I’d love your feedback. Here on my blog, you’ll get commentluv. This is a great opportunity to leave a link back to your own blog when you leave a comment.

Join me in creating each day to be the best it can be.  Some days will be easier than others but if we shoot for the Stars we won’t be disappointed!

Karen

Let me back up – 11 years ago, I had a call from a friend who was putting together a couples’ activity group and wondered if my husband and I would enjoy participating.  There would be 6 couples and each would be responsible for creating an event once during the year for the group. I was all in to add a bit of play time to our busy schedules and jumped right in as it sounded like a wonderful idea.

We started off with a planning meeting where we all brought our ideas and calendars and we established the first 6 events. Many of us had younger children at the time ranging in age from approximately 7 – 13 so some events were classified as family activities and some just couples. Who would ever have known that 11 years later, we would still be a very active group and we look forward to every event with great excitement.

We have experienced things that as a couple we would never have known about or thought about for that matter!  We are always on the look out for a “couples’ idea” as the year unfolds and I keep a special folder that I put flyers, newspaper clippings and hand written ideas into to bring forward the next year.  We actually have our official 6 events now and a number of what we call “extras”! The apple pie making day has become an annual extra that started as one of the couples’ official event 5 years ago.  We loved it so much that we all committed to continue every fall after the apple harvest has taken place. The men work in the garage peeling, coring, cutting and mixing the apples with the magic recipe of cinnamon, sugar and flour.  They bring the bins of prepared apple filling into the kitchen where the gals are busy making pastry, rolling the dough, filling the pies and handing them back to the guys to bag and label.  Refreshments are served, we catch up on all the happenings of each family and end up with a pot luck dinner complete with fresh made apple pie for dessert.  The best part is, we leave at the end of the night with a supply of apple pies to tuck into the freezer at home.

This group has been an important outlet for creativity, laughter, support during challenging times and a very special part of all of our lives.  The activities range from themed and costumed dinners like a King Henry VIII feast, outdoor hiking excursions, camping weekends, music, theatre, games nights, boat tours, winter tubing, tobogganing and on and on.  Here’s what’s coming up for this year:

• We kicked off with an evening guided lantern tour of the Sharon Temple followed by a visit to the Roast of Sharon to listen to the band.
• A full dress Halloween Dinner Party where every part of the meal was in complete theme for the evening.
• A dinner ride on the York Durham Heritage Railway.
• A visit to the ROM in the spring.
• A evening of up-close magic with a professional magician to entertain after our swim and bbq dinner.
• A tour of the Butter Tart Trail.

Most of our lives have ample demands for our time and energy and having this group gives a little respite to the hectic schedules. We always have lots to laugh about and we are reminded of the special gift that friendship brings into our lives.  We dream of taking a grand trip one day like boating down the French waterways or going to New Zealand and you know – I believe it will happen!  So – I encourage you to explore this idea if it sparks an interest.  I am happy to share specifics if anyone is interested.  How about you – do you have annual group events that bring richness to your life?  I would love to hear about them. And when you leave your comment, don’t forget to take advantage of the commentluv you will find here and leave a link back to your own blog at the same time! Of course I am always open to great ideas to host for our events too – pass along your ideas! LOL

Until next time,

Karen

I understand that not everyone reading this will be in the same place of interest with the significance of the shifting energy right now and that is totally great.  No matter what our understanding and beliefs are about the world shifts, we can all benefit from the foundational guidelines for living our life with intention and to focus on enlightenment, possibilities and potential!  In fact, if we all made a decision to do that today, there would be a HUGE energetic shift in consciousness that would manifest in countless ways around the world. However – let’s bring it back to you and me! How do we practice integration and stay aligned with our intentions?  From my experience – it comes down to a few core components carried out with consistency.  My colleague Shawn Nisbet, who is a holistic nutritionist, finds clients can relate when we think of our core components as the wheels on a car.  All four wheels require attention to keep the car balanced. In no particular order, the four wheels represent:

1. Nutrition
2. Rest
3. Exercise
4. Stress Management

The steering wheel can represent the Spiritual – the true driver! If any wheel is flat, the ride is affected. We can all handle being off balance for short periods of time before the body gives us stronger and stronger signals to pay attention to before a breakdown will occur.

For me – I want to be at peak performance to live my life every day. Together with my Dream Team, I have created a vision statement and business plan that incorporates strategies for all four wheels. The first 3 are quite straight forward so I thought I would share with you my strategies for the 4^th wheel entitled Stress Management.

• Spend quality time with my family.
• Do what I do best and where possible enlist the help of experts to do the rest. Ie: book-keeping, social media, financial consultant, nutritionists, estheticians, masseuses, hair stylists.
• Work with a coach/mentor to stretch, support and guide me in what I say I want.
• Meditate a minimum of 15 minutes daily and do self reiki.
• Always make time for my hobby of singing weekly with the North Metro Sweet Adelines chorus and part time with my church choir.
• Connect regularly with my friends.
• Spend time outdoors – no matter what season it is!
• Do good deeds whenever the opportunity presents itself.
• Have play time.

These are a few of the things that feed my soul and bring richness to my life.  What do you do to lower the stress level in your life? I’d love your feedback!  On my blog you’ll get commentluv. This is a wonderful opportunity to leave a link back to your own blog when you leave a comment.

Until next time,

Karen