3 How to Live an Intentional Life with Purpose. This week we celebrated Martin Luther King Day, a man who had a dream that changed the tide of our country. Dr. King was a man from humble beginnings. He could have stayed in Atlanta, continuing to sing in the church choir. Except, he could not really do that. Why? Because he had a vision that was bigger than him. That vision, that purpose drove him to heights that I am sure those around the young Dr. King would not have ever imagined. Not when you are an African-American born in 1929 in the South. The point is that many of us have a dream, though never realize them because we do not know how to manifest them. I wrote this article about manifesting your goals last year. I thought as we are both at the start of a new year and a new decade, I would share this again. I sincerely hope you find it helpful.
4Silent Wisdom Meditation | What Do We Really Want. As a companion to the above article, about manifesting your dreams, here is a meditation I recorded. It encourages an introspective reflection on the things you really, truly want in life. When you meditate, you may want to have something near-by to write down what comes to mind, maybe even some action steps, when you are done. Happy Manifesting!
5 How Two Apples a Day Keep Cholesterol at Bay: A Brace of the Fruit Daily for Eight Weeks Can Lower ‘Bad’ Cholesterol by Up to Four Percent Study Finds. This article made me sit up and pay attention. Over a year ago, I was diagnosed with borderline high blood pressure and put onto medication. To say the least, I was shocked. I exercise. I meditate. I eat pretty well. Though I was under a lot of stress, honestly, and it was wreaking havoc on me. Virtually overnight, I took salt off my table. I became even more conscious of my water intake. I stopped eating white sugar and started drinking decaf coffee. I then did a follow-up with a cardiologist, who told me to throw away my medication, which I gladly did. However, what remained was a vigilance to taking even better care of myself, and it has made a world of difference. So, when I read an article that tells me that eating two apples a day will relax my blood vessels. That doing so will help lower my risk of cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure; I am taking note and sharing it with you all.
6 How to Stay Motivated in the Winter Months. While in the northern hemisphere, we are still in our cold months of the year, try not to let the temperature crush your fitness goals or undo all the work you did to get in shape during the summer months. Read this 5-step article as inspiration. 1) Use a smart training platform. 2) Buy the right cold-weather gear. 3) Do indoor strength training. 4) Use the time to cross-train. 5) Set achievable goals.
7How A Month Without Mirrors Set Me Free. Actor and writer Zosia Mamet tells how a month on the road without mirrors impacted her perception of self and ultimately freed her mentally. In a world where your image is your meal ticket, this was a brave article to write. An honest admission to what it is like to feel imprisoned by the felt thickness of your skin. Maybe we should all get a little taste of freedom from mirrors for a while.
Jim B.