All We Need Is Love... Sowing the Seeds

At this time in my life and living through the many changes that have taken place over the past several years, I want to focus on love, non-judgement, acceptance, respect and integrity. In the present time of social media and the internet where so much is out in the open, one can either go down a dark path or a light path. I choose a light path — no pun intended! While I do focus on our “light” environment, in this post I am referring to focusing our energies on a different source of light… on those things that touch our hearts. Maybe it’s connecting more intimately with a lover, reading inspiring books that elevate our mood, gravitating toward those things that bring us joy, living in a space of heightened awareness of all the good things that are going on around us. These are the things that are important to me now.

If you have an army of people looking at all the negatives.. all the evil.. all the things that can go wrong - and, you have an army of people who inspire you, who fill your cup when it may not be full, who are focused on positivity, passions, desires and the sense that all good things will come when our focus is in the right direction — which do you choose to bring your awareness to? Which army is the one that will serve you well? Which army is aligned with your true purpose? It’s called “choice.” We can choose the light path or the dark path.

We are all slivers of light making the best in our little corner of the world — playing in our playground so to speak. We are a tiny speck on the infinite highway of consciousness having a human experience. I know I want to make the best of that experience.. what will you choose?

In love & light,

-C

Your Face is Your Navigational Map....

I like to think of my face as my map of a life well-lived. Every line, every wrinkle, every reminder that I made this journey is something that I cherish at this time of my life. Will you embrace your age? Will you accept the tapestry of life’s experiences that show up on your face? Many have not lived long enough to see their life’s journey expressed in this way. You are blessed to be at this point in your life to be who you are…. fully.

When you look in the mirror, tell yourself you are beautiful just the way you are. Remind yourself that your mindset is powerful. Change your fear of aging to one of cherishing the life you lived so far. Let go of fear to embrace love.

Aging is a gift, and, aging gracefully is beautiful.

Should You Supplement with Melatonin....

It took me many years, many certifications, going through many research articles, etc. to come to a place where I do not take any supplements. I do drink Shilajit tea and put Quinton Minerals in my water.. I guess you can say those are supplements, but I tend to view them as “whole” foods.

I’m hearing a lot about melatonin these days and it makes sense since many people struggle with getting a good night’s sleep. I was one of the ones who struggled with sleep for a few years so I know it can be upsetting and can throw a body off in terms of cravings, exhaustion, anxiety, etc.

These days my sleep is incredible.. I attribute it to the SUN. Getting up at sunrise every day for the past 2 years (even if it’s not visible, I get outside and face east), getting into the morning sun, afternoon sun and several sunsets was a game changer. Once I began the sun protocol, my sleep changed overnight (LOL - no pun intended).

So.. in terms of melatonin, I do not believe we need to supplement something the body produces. Melatonin is made in the mitochondria and is activated by our “light” environment. Natural light (sunlight) sets us up first thing in the morning with the release of melatonin and becomes active once the sun sets. Actually seeing a sunset is amazing for getting melatonin released again to help with sleep.

Once the sun goes down, it’s time to stay away from blue light from TV’s, computers, cell phones, etc. Wearing blue blocking glasses will definitely help to make sure you’re not telling your body to put away the melatonin because it’s daytime. Blue light at night actually destroys melatonin. There are many affordable blue blocking glasses out there and they really do work!

Also, supplementing with melatonin over time tells your body that it does not need to produce this important hormone. This goes against Mother Nature and that’s never a good idea. We are designed to get everything we need to be healthy. We just need to know how to take advantage and use the natural resources we're built with. We are in a thermodynamic relationship with the sun; it’s the way our bodies are designed to know what time it is - depending on the frequencies during that time period. Each frequency tells your body what it needs to do.. regulate your hormones, produce vitamin D (during UVB light), release melatonin for sleep, etc.

To a good night’s sleep,

-C

Do You Want To Look and Feel Youthful As You Age? You MUST Read This Blog!

In this day of botox, fillers, plastic surgeries, etc., are you afraid of LOOKING YOUR AGE?

Do you hide behind the camera, not wanting to show your face?

Are you embarrassed of the way you look?

Do you lack the confidence to be YOU and to embrace this time of your life?

Well, let me tell you…. I felt all of the above!! I was almost elated when my corporate job ended, realizing that in just a few short years, I would be older and not looking great — especially as new hires were the age of my grandchildren!! I remember buying clothes that were suited for younger women and were not all that appropriate for a woman in her 60’s.

When the corporate job ended, I began teaching Pilates. While I loved teaching, I felt the pressure of being much older than the other teachers. I made sure I wore youthful Pilates outfits and kept myself in as good shape as I could.

In these days of botox, surgeries, etc., it’s important not to fall victim to thinking you look old just because of what you see around you in the media, etc. Don’t be manipulated to do something unnatural if it’s not you. Own your power! That is the gateway to becoming confident and accepting you as you are.

Does any of this resonate with you?

If so, I want to tell you that at 71 years old I have never felt YOUNGER! I feel better than I did when I was in my 20’s!! WHAT CHANGED? Several things changed and they were not monumental. They did not involve money, time or effort. They were doable and rewarding.

All these changes have led to me finding “quantum physics” and learning how our circadian or master clock sets the groundwork for how we perform and how we feel. This awareness is so exciting that I want to share it with everyone I can. Our “light” environment not only helps with mood, weight, sleep and happiness, but it is next level in ANTI-AGING! Let me just say.. I do not like the term “anti-aging.” I am certainly not against aging — I AM IN FAVOR OF FOREVER STAYING YOUNG!!

If you would like to learn more about how to look, feel and stay youthful as you age, please set up a 45 minute consultation with me here.

What the Heck Does Quantum Mean?

When I began my quantum journey almost 3 years ago, I remember telling my husband something I had learned. His response was, “What is Quantum?” As I chuckled initially, I realized that I didn’t know what quantum meant a short time earlier either.. It’s not a word we use in conversation often, and it’s also one of those words that you think of as referring to something mysterious, something you can’t explain or something possibly scientific. Yep.. I thought the same thing at one time.

Now, since learning all about the body as a collection of sub-atomic particles, I understand how the word “quantum” fits into the equation. It almost doesn’t make sense to view the body in terms of chemical reactions that are slow to create change and are many times encouraged by various drugs, interventions, etc. It makes sense when we realize that we are made of atoms and atoms are made of photons, electrons, protons, etc. and these are interacting with our environment at the speed of light and probably even faster than that. This is realized when an energy worker can touch one part of your body and you feel the sensation in a completely different part of your body. How is that explained? Many would say that there is no explanation — that it’s a coincidence — or that it’s “woo woo.” What I have learned and which makes so much sense is that everything in us operates at the quantum scale. A small change creates a massive result — that is basically “quantum.”

Whether you’re aware of this or not, there is a paradigm shift taking place. People are waking up to the fact that while we have so many advances in medicine, etc., more and more people are getting sick and even more are on a cocktail of various prescription drugs that they will probably never get off of. I am urging you to look at the body as a perfect machine that responds to the environment. Given the right information, our bodies can heal from many illnesses. We have survived over millions of years interacting with our environment. It’s only been a short time that we are no longer doing that — that we are living mostly indoor lives under artificial lights — that we are not connected to nature — that we are on our tech devices most of the time — that we are bombarded with electromagnetic frequencies that are harmful to our health and so on.

My intention is not to frighten you or make you feel things are hopeless… quite the opposite. I’m hear to tell you that your body is always looking to stay healthy and keep you functioning as you should. All you need to do is realize the body responds to “light,” “sound,” “water,” “magnetism,” and everything that makes up the universe. After all, we ARE the universe expressing itself. Get the morning sun in your eyes and on your skin, stand barefoot on the earth, exercise outside, eat real food grown in your area and keep your thoughts positive.

Sending Quantum Love,

-C

CAN ARTIFICIAL LIGHT BE CAUSING OUR HEALTH TO SUFFER?

As I am taking a deep dive into how our “light” environment affects our health (natural and artificial light), I will share a few key observations.

Mother Nature does not make mistakes. Our natural light environment from the sun includes the colors of the rainbow which emit different frequencies at different times of the day. These frequencies instruct our bodies to perform various tasks. While sunrise begins with infrared light frequencies, there is very little blue light present as well. Blue light is never present by itself in nature. 42% of red light is always part of the sun’s spectrum. This is so we are protected from the damage blue light can cause.

Artificial blue light is our “indoor” light — the LED’s, computer screens, cell phones, TV’s, etc. Think of non-native electromagnetic frequencies. This means it does not come from the sun. This may sound crazy, but…. blue light raises glucose levels, raises insulin levels and can make you gain weight! I know.. it sounds crazy, right? I have done my research and there are many published studies corroborating this.

Natural light is essential for our circadian clocks, which leads to the coordination of our physiology and behavior. Emerging evidence suggests that increased exposure to artificial light is a risk factor for sleep and circadian disorders. With the prevalent use of LED lighting and device displays, we are subjected to increasing amounts of light in the blue spectrum since commonly used LEDs emit a high fraction of blue light. Blue light may affect human eyes and recent data suggest that extraocular light may impact human brain physiology - (Sun L, et al. Human brain reacts to transcranial extraocular light). The LED technologies are relatively new; therefore, the long-term effects of exposure to blue light across the lifespan are not understood.. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6797782/

So what can we do? Lots of things! I have been experimenting with mitigating my blue light environment by substituting incandescent bulbs for LED’s, red light bulbs as night lights and wearing blue blocking glasses when I’m watching TV or need to look at my cell phone. I can tell you firsthand that the changes are significant. From sleep to mood to energy — there are many positive changes.

My suggestion to clients is always the same in terms of making changes — start small and take baby steps. Do not get overwhelmed with the knowledge. Just know that little changes over time add up. This is how I have always lived my life and have found that it is most doable.

In Light & Love,

-C

I Used to Think that All Disease Begins in the Gut

As I’m taking a deep dive into quantum biology, I have come to realize just how connected we are to our environment. I know we hear this all the time and maybe some of us just ignore it and continue doing things the same way we’ve always done them while others take a closer look to see if they could make some changes to the status quo.

Whichever person you are, there are several things to consider…. Were you dealt a bad hand? Maybe your parents were drug addicts or alcoholics. This could ultimately cause a weakened immune system when you were born; maybe cancer runs in your family on both sides; possibly mental illness prevailed in your family’s history. This does not have to dictate the course of your health.

Another consideration … was your immune system suppressed by antibiotics, vaccinations, prescription drugs, toxins from food, your environment, lack of sunshine, etc? These are some of the ways that, over time, chronic illness can manifest itself. That’s not to say there aren’t things we can do to support our immune system going forward but taking those steps is crucial to reversing or preventing disease down the road.

Additionally, major stressors can cause havoc on our immune system. A car accident, war, divorce, grief, etc. can definitely affect our organism and can lead to negative health outcomes.

We all have the ability to turn off certain genes and to turn on others. Just because we may be at a disadvantage due to a weaker constitution, we can CHOOSE to make changes.

It actually comes down to CHOICES we make that can reverse chronic disease or even prevent it from happening. We can no longer blame it on “leaky gut” and try and fix it with a new strain of probiotic or fermented food someone is selling us. A gut doesn’t become leaky unless we actually choose a lifestyle that allows the bad bacteria to permeate it.

So, just like the soil that we abuse with pesticides, glyphosate, etc., we can abuse our “inner” soil. This was my AHA moment when I realized that soil is teeming with bacteria which can be good or can be detrimental to the livelihood of the vegetation grown in that soil. No plants will thrive with the nutrients they need in soil that does not have healthy microbes living there. The same is with our gut.. If our terrain is not teeming with healthy bacteria due to outside forces (environment, stress, weak consitution), we will not thrive in the way Mother Nature intended us to.

AND, for my biggest AHA moment, I have come to realize how much our interaction with the frequencies of the sun can affect our overall health. This cannot be understated. Just like the plants need the sun for photosynthesis, we need the sun for various biological functions. After all, we are electrical beings.

In my upcoming Quantum Biology Group Coaching Course, I will be introducing some “cutting edge” information (although it has been known for a long, long time) regarding how the water surrounding every cell in our bodies may just hold the quantum information that is missing from the medical paradigm today (this water is called Exclusion Zone Water — not the same as the water we drink). I will not be delving deeply into this E-Z water during this course, but I will tap upon it so you are aware of how important it is. The sun, magnetism and water play a major role in our overall health. It’s so INCREDIBLE and so IMPORTANT to be aware of this new knowledge.

You can find the course in my bio on Instagram. Also, I have several FREE PDF’s on “light” and “anti-aging” in my bio as well.

Stay healthy..

-C

EARTH'S MEDICINE.... QUANTUM BIOLOGY

As I prepare for my offering of a 4 week coaching session on Quantum Biology as it pertains to our Circadian Clock (details will be going out tomorrow), I am writing a short blog on the health benefits of “grounding.” A surprisingly positive and overlooked environmental factor on our health is the direct physical contact with the electrons on the surface of the Earth. I had no idea about this years ago but have done lots of research and actually have been living it to understand the amazing benefits of this very simple practice.

Unfortunately, our modern lifestyle separates us from contact with the earth. This disconnect may be a major contributor to physiological dysfunction and dis-ease. Reconnection with the Earth's electrons has been found to promote physiological changes and subjective reports of well-being. Earthing (or grounding) refers to the discovery of benefits—including better sleep and reduced pain—from walking barefoot outside or sitting, working, or sleeping indoors connected to conductive systems that transfer the Earth's electrons from the ground into the body.

The National Library of Medicine's online resource PubMed lists 7021 studies and 522 review articles from a search of “antioxidant + electron + free radical.” It is assumed that the influx of free electrons absorbed into the body through direct contact with the Earth likely neutralize ROS (reactive oxygen species) and thereby reduce acute and chronic inflammation. Throughout history, humans mostly walked barefoot or with footwear made of animal skins. They slept on the ground or on skins. Through direct contact or through perspiration-moistened animal skins used as footwear or sleeping mats, the ground's abundant free electrons were able to enter the body, which is electrically conductive.. Through this mechanism, every part of the body could equilibrate with the electrical potential of the Earth, thereby stabilizing the electrical environment of all organs, tissues, and cells.

Pretty cool, huh? I’d say! Can the answer be right under our feet?? Why not give it a try and see if you notice subtle (or dramatic) improvement in your health. As I always say, Mother Nature has the best medicine chest of all….

-C

Confusion Around What to Eat?

I don’t know about you but I have stopped listening to everyone out there talking about the newest trend in diets or the latest dietary theory we all need to jump on. I’m here to tell you that the only person you need to begin listening to is YOU! Your body knows exactly what it needs to thrive. When we give our power over to others to tell us what we need in order to optimize our health in terms of nutrition, then we can run into trouble.

I recently jumped on the keto bandwagon and quickly jumped off.. I was hungry often and ate loads of cheese. I missed my occasional fruit — maybe an apple in the afternoon. I found myself baking with the “keto” friendly sugar substitutes like Swerve, Stevia, Monkfruit, etc. I never felt right when I used them, but I continued to bake with them for a short period of time. I found they were not good for me. They caused me to feel bloated and have lower stomach cramps. I’m very happy my body told me I was not giving it the right nutrients. I have come to realize these 0 carb sugar substitutes can wreak havoc on the body — especially the pancreas.

I was missing veggies, an occasional healthy sweet and a few healthy carbs. I would run to the fats instead of the carbs, telling myself that this was the way to better health. NO! The way to better health is to listen to your body and honor what it’s telling you. If you crave carbs, your body is looking for that nutrient. If you crave something sweet, your body is looking for that. This doesn’t mean that if your body is craving something sweet that you eat Oreos or a pie from Walmart. It means you may need a sweet potato with dinner or some local, raw honey in your tea — or even homemade ice cream made with good quality cream and milk, sweetened with maple syrup. Think “unrefined sugar” and healthy alternatives like maple syrup and honey. They are much better substitutes for refined sugar.

Also, cravings can be the sign of an underlying imbalance. It’s your body’s way of telling you it needs something that you’re not giving it. This might be where you begin to look deeper into the root cause of cravings. An example of looking deeper might be…you crave fats and do well with eating lots of fat.. but, this might also be a sign that your body is not absorbing fats. One way to know this is if your bowels are oily or if they float.

How did our ancestors survive? Think about it. There was no-one telling them how to eat, what to eat, and what diet was the best for them. Wherever they lived, Mother Nature provided them with the foods that would nourish them and keep them healthy. They hunted and ate “nose to tail.” They ate organ meats (which today are villified), local fruits, local greens, etc. If they lived by the ocean, they ate wild caught fish, seaweed, etc. They ate according to their environment. They ate the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet and they ate with the seasons. Whatever was available and plentiful was eaten.

Do you eat with the seasons?

It doesn’t have to be confusing. Listen to your body — it has all the answers.

-C

Are You Living The Life You Desire?

I recently heard this question asked.. “If your life was in a lineup and you had to choose, would you pick your own, knowing everything you know now?” Don’t answer right away; give it some thought and be brutally honest with yourself to dig deep for the answer. How many of you dream of a life that’s different from your own? How many of you are not living each day with gratitude and joy.. grateful for all you have in this moment and joyful that you live in this moment each and every day.

As many of us have gone through various changes lately due to disruptions in life as we knew it, have you come to a better place or do you find you live with uncertainty? Do you have fear that your life may go back to the days during the “pandemic.?” Do you miss the security you had prior to the last several years that everything would be okay, that your life would evolve as you wanted it to? Are you guarded more these days?

Since we will not experience a “lineup,” we can actually CHOOSE the life we want to live.. we have the ability to create this and it all starts with our belief system. If we believe in ourselves and trust that we have everything we need to be happy and live a joyful life, then anything and everything is possible. It’s only the limitations we place on ourselves that keep us in the same place. It’s the “not believing” that we possess the power to make changes.

As an integrative health coach, my approach is that our bodies know how to keep us healthy — and, as we are one organism — mind and body — we have the ability to create the life we desire. Believing that you can heal from anything — whether that be living in fear, living with uncertainty or living with an illness — is your birthright. No one can make the life you desire a reality — only you can do that. We are bombarded with so much information these days and so many opinions and advice on various subjects. There is much noise around us all the time. I believe this is part of the issue of not finding what’s true for you. You won’t find ways to heal from a doctor, a supplement, a book or even food. If you’re feeling you wish you had the opportunity to pick a new life, then this is the time to do something about it.

I chose a flower as the image for this blog because flowers hold lots of wisdom — why wouldn’t they? After all, nature has all the answers. They begin as a bud, blossoming into a beautiful specimen. They take from Mother Nature what they need to grow.. they don’t read books or talk to a professional. They intuitively know what’s needed to become whole and to give off their beautiful shapes and colors and scents. We have that same intuition. We just need to learn how to harness it.. to believe in it..

What can you decide to do today to create the life you desire going forward?

-C

What Is Going On?

This is the 27th school shooting this year!! Let me say that again.. THIS IS THE 27TH SCHOOL SHOOTING THIS YEAR! What in God’s name are we to do about this? What needs to change in order to stop such violence?

I wonder how we grow accustomed to such horrific events. I know from watching Outlander that there was a time in history where disturbing and unimaginable deaths occurred. There were beheadings, burnings, torture — and, onlookers watched as if these were normal practices (I guess they were considered “normal” back in the day) done to people who disobeyed the law, who partook in treasonous acts, etc. There are still parts of the world today where horrific acts are witnessed and somehow normalized.

Have we “normalized” violence in our world today? Have we become numb to the shootings, stabbings, rape, human trafficking, etc. today? I believe the answer is “yes.” We are living in a sick place that needs to be healed. We can’t keep blaming politicians, guns, mental illness, etc. for the breakdown of a society. We need to understand it’s a combination of years and years of an underlying hatred and disdain. We are disconnected from one another. We are isolated..

According to Bari Weiss, “The social rot that’s come over America, the nihilism and hatred of each other, is part of the cause here. The dissolution of our social ties—and with them the accountability and responsibility that an actual community demands—has allowed insanity to fester unnoticed. Lockdowns accelerated the isolation, the purposelessness, the lack of meaning that was already overcoming us.

If we insist on viewing this shooting as part of some isolated issue or species of violence, then we miss the point. The point is the country is being consumed by what Philip Roth famously called “the indigenous American berserk.” It stretches back many decades, or longer, and for ages, it was possible to ignore or compartmentalize. Now the brokenness is everywhere we look and it is impossible to unsee it.”

-C

Do You Honor Both Your Feminine and Masculine?

I have to give credit to my two girls who have taught me so much over the years. One taught me about “boundaries” and relying on my truth for the answers. My other daughter taught me about the “wise woman” who speaks her truth and intuitively knows what she desires. I realize that our “truth” is the only way to real freedom… freedom to be who we are meant to be in the world.

It has taken me to this point in my life to honor and respect the energies that make me who I am — FEMININE AND MASCULINE. There was a time in my life where my competitive nature was driving my decisions. While this can prove to be effective (entering a marathon, competing in a swim contest, etc.), in the long run, it can be exhausting. I was building muscle, running races, pushing the limits of a cardio workout, etc.

I now rely more on my feminine.. living my life with a clear sense of purpose — a clear sense of who I am. I guess you can say I have “surrendered” to the beautiful feminine energies I hold. I am no longer competing with anyone (especially myself). I am softening into my “wise woman” self — honoring my nurturing qualities, the wonderful qualities that have molded me into this energy state. I can be competitive these days because I hold a different view of what it actually means. I compete without judgment or a mindset that adds stress or tension. I compete by being the best I can be or doing the best I can do — this is now my competitive self.

Do we hold both energies — Feminine and Masculine? We certainly do! Freedom comes from being truthful to our inner self — creating a balance between our feminine and masculine and honoring both. Anything that’s too rigid will break over time. We can decide to live in the moment (which is all we have) by honoring what our bodies are telling us… being aware that we are constantly evolving and to see that evolution as a wonderful aspect of our lives… being able to navigate our lives while realizing we are ALL things at ALL times.. this is called an Empowered Life!

Naturally,

-C

Who Do You Listen To For Answers?

I have made many changes over the past 15 or so years and am grateful to have done so. While staying stagnant was never my mojo, making changes based on a new diet I heard about, a new exercise I read about, a new supplement someone told me about is not something I subscribe to anymore. Back in the day, I did explore many different health claims — and that has led me to where I am today.. happy to listen to MY body.

There was a time in my education when I was learning so much about various super foods, new ways to meditate, creative ideas about mindset, etc., and took many of them to heart. I explored various health claims and found that I had many of the answers already. We all have a voice inside — an inner wisdom — that speaks to us when we’re willing to listen. I call this intuition.

For instance, today, before I hiked up a mountain, I ate a big breakfast. It was not even 9:00am and the ‘old’ me would never have done that. I would not have eaten until about 1:00pm because I needed to do an intermittent fast. Why? Because I know it’s probably a good thing to do. But, even a good thing done for the wrong reason can become something that doesn’t serve us. While I believe we would all do well to fast from time to time, for me doing a daily intermittent fast is not what I feel is the best thing for my body. I now listen to that inner voice that guides me to make the choices I make.

Rigidity and restrictive behavior can ultimately work against us. Do you find you have anxiety around changing a habit you think is a healthy one? I was very rigid with the things I did to promote what I deemed “optimal health.” I know that being rigid can work against us. I guess at this stage of my life, I have learned to tap into my ‘feminine’ a little more and become easier on myself — allowing myself to enjoy the pleasure of eating when my body is hungry and not when the clock tells me to eat.

No one has the answers.. with the tens of thousands of books written on the best diet, the best foods, the best health outcomes, as well as the internet, only you have the answers to give your body what it wants.

Having said all of this, I do not eat processed foods and have little desire for sugary sweets. But, if the craving hits me, I will eat my dessert and enjoy every last bite! I just make sure I prepare the dessert using unrefined sugar (honey, maple syrup, date or maple sugar) or know the ingredients of a sweet I may purchase from the store.

Freedom! Freedom from the restrictions I placed on myself for years. Freedom to enjoy those things I love when I desire them. Freedom to listen to my body and not the voice of others who do not know me.

Thank you for reading this blog and I hope I inspired you to go within to find the answers.

To our health,

-C

I'm Alive 2,239,056,000 Seconds!!

WOW!! Talk about a LONG life!! HA!

How do you choose to look at your life? Do you focus on your age? Do you focus on those things that you can no longer partake in? Do you think about those who have transitioned? Do you often visit that place that doesn’t serve your higher self.. that critical, self-judging place?

I do not have divine answers to these questions.. I have experiential answers. Since I have not experienced those things that you may have (obviously), I am a product of past generations, past traumas, past elations, etc. I believe we all hold a myriad of emotions that span generations — and, we might not even be aware of this. Having said this, I’ll go back to my initial question, “How do you choose to look at your life?”

I choose “love.” I am so grateful to be alive, have a supportive and loving family, have friends I can talk to and certainly trust, and I am blessed to be in good physical and emotional health.

I know the world can dish out a lot of things that we do not like.. during the lockdowns, life was very different to what, we humans, thrive in. The ability to look forward to things was not there. There was no “forward.” There was only the present — and, that was difficult for many of us. I know there are people in the world who are struggling and I feel for them.. we are all one and when one struggles, we all struggle.

So, now, even though our world is somewhat different due to the after effects of the past 2 years, we do have the freedom to choose (thank goodness). Nobody can take your freedom from you unless you choose to give it up. You are one with the universe and you are powerful. I am powerful! Try looking in the mirror and say, “I am free,” “I am powerful,” “I am the universe expressing itself.”

Today.. rather than focus on what isn’t or what has changed, focus on the gifts you have.. the gift of life, the gift of freedom, the gift of enjoying nature, the gift of YOU. You came here for a reason.. nothing is a coincidence. You may not even know the reason you are here.. you may have touched someone in a way that changed their life. How amazing is that.

Stay positive,

-C

Curiosity (from a different perspective)....

I wrote a blog back in 2018 on the same subject - CURIOSITY. Back then I wrote about my curiosity to research anything health-related. Today I am much more interested in global issues that are disturbing to me. The censoring of information the past several years is very concerning to me. As a researcher, I am, and have always been, interested in exploring various interpretations of situations that are happening around the world. Since 2019, I have had to resort to finding people I once followed by going to obscure sites because the information they were dispensing was not available on mainstream sites.

Hmm.. this piqued my curiosity. What happened? Why wasn’t I able to explore information from the people I followed for years? What were they saying that was denied publishing in the mainstream media? Well, this didn’t stop me from diving deeply into finding out where they were. I eventually joined various off-mainstream sites and was able to hear enough information to make me aware of things that were going on that was not being talked about on network TV or any mainstream outlets.

Needless to say, I am horrified to know some of the things I know today. I had to go through a dark period of trying to wrap my brain around some of the things I was learning about. Is this really true? Were we not told the truth about so many things over many years? Has there been an agenda we weren’t privy to? So many questions.. so many emotions.

I have always been a positive person and want to live my life in that happy place — this is why I go into nature. This is why I love the sun. Nature provides solace and even at times, answers, to some of the questions brewing in my mind. So, while I am aware of certain dark things that have happened and are still happening today, I am choosing to stay positive and look toward a shift in the world that will reveal goodness and honesty to all of us. I know we are spiritual beings living in a material world and I know our collective spirits will prevail.

Let’s all stay curious so we are not blindfolded to what may or may not happen. Let’s not be victims to those who crave power. Let’s realize WE are powerful and have the ability to speak up.. to stand tall.. to voice our opinions.. to be FREE.

To our freedom,

-C

NATURE VS. NURTURE

I think we pretty much know the difference between nature and nurture.  But, just to clarify…. Nature gives us everything in its most natural form; nurture is our influence or care over what nature has given us.

I wrote a blog a while back regarding the addition of “fake meat” to our food supply.  In the next 2 years, there will be a brand new meat on the market – a meat where the cow has been genetically modified (yes – gene editing) to change its DNA.

The genomic alteration in the cattle is introduced using CRISPR technology. While this technology may have some beneficial advantages, it depends on how we use it. Can it be used to genetically alter genes that express Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s? Possibly! Can it be used to alter genes that can have devastating outcomes? Possibly!

Why would we want to change a cow’s DNA?  Well.. as with most of the so-called progressive attempts to alter the food system, I tend to not buy into the reasons that are given but to FOLLOW THE MONEY.  How can we make cows better equipped to produce a better outcome?  Shorter and slicker coats to help cows better withstand heat stress, allowing them to gain more weight and increase the efficiency of meat production.  OH!  Yep!.. There it is.. Bigger cows, more meat, more money.

Since graduating from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition over a decade ago, I have been teaching my clients how to make healthier choices with their food and lifestyle.  It has gotten progressively harder to do this based on how much our food has changed over the years. And, while I realize that it’s not all about food (I’m happy I know about the effects of “light” on our biology), I am saddened to know that the nutrient-dense foods I grew up with are changing day by day.. year by year.  

While nature knows, do we?  Are we nurturing the way we should be?  Do we think we are smarter than nature?  I’m not sure there is ever a time when we can outsmart nature.  After all, she’s been around a lot longer than we have and has survived given many of the obstacles that have come her way.

Love,

-C

Having Compassion for Self....

We all know that it’s a wonderful quality to feel compassion for others.. whether that be a family member who is having an issue, a friend who needs your support, a co-worker who needs guidance, or someone you observe having an argument with the cashier as you’re on line at the grocery store.

But, what about compassion for yourself? Are you hard on yourself when you’re feeling unmotivated? when you make a mistake? when you’re feeling less inspired to do everything you had intended to do in a day’s time? when you feel angry at a friend but do not let them know it? when you feel disappointed in your spouse but decide not to talk about it? Are these emotions keeping you from realizing that you and only you have the ability to choose compassion. While I realize that we can let our emotions take us to places we’d rather not go to, I also know that we are all divine beings — light beings — living in this material world who can tap into the resources we have been born into. One of those resources is ‘love.’ Why would you have compassion for anyone if you do not have compassion for yourself? Would that not be the ultimate self-less act? To feel for someone or something outside of you when you cannot feel for that something that lives inside your very being — the baby you once were, the little child you once were, the amazing being you are! Is it easier to feel for others over yourself? I believe we need to develop a love affair with ourselves.

I guess what I’m saying is that compassion starts with us.. it is available 24/7 and is something we can tap into to help us navigate our world. When I feel a little concerned about what’s going on in the world or confused about what to actually believe is going on, I know that I have the ability to go inside myself and feel that everything is “okay” because I am okay. And, I know I am okay because I have compassion for all that I am.

To your compassionate self,

-C

My Rendition of the Food Pyramid

I have learned that everything we’ve been taught is somewhat “upside down….” Instead of getting discouraged, make small changes every day to improve your health.

THE USDA’S FOOD PYRAMID

I literally just turned it upside down to create my own. THEY HAVE CARBS AS THE BIGGEST FOOD GROUP (MEANING THEY ARE HEALTHY FOR US AND WE SHOULD BE EATING MORE) AND, YET, THEY ALSO HAVE CARBS ON TOP AS THE FOOD GROUP THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE EATING MORE OF. IT JUST DOESN’T MAKE SENSE. Also, there’s nothing about hydration or exercise.

Sometimes I hesitate to blog about things that can be confusing. When I entered the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, I remember thinking, “Oh my goodness.. everything I learned is upside down! How can I make these changes? I’m so overwhelmed!” That was 12 years ago and I started out making small changes that, over time, has added up to a whole new lifestyle.

Can I admit I feel differently? Oh yeah! I have more energy now than I did when I was in my 20’s!!

I liken it to new “wiring” and “plumbing” in your house.. everything runs more efficiently.

Once you begin to make small changes, life begins to unfold in new ways. Your perspective changes. What you once did without thinking now becomes something that you definitely think about. It becomes less overwhelming as the changes are incorporated into your very being.

Once you know, you can’t unknow….

If you want to know more, contact me for a consultation. I love to help people get better, faster, stronger with each small step. Begin your journey today. You will not look back.

In good health,

-C

What Turns You On?

I thought I would get your attention by the title of this article - HA! Actually, I’m here to affirm that we all need something to light up our lives, to ignite our passions, to enhance our purpose in this life.

So, again, “What turns you on?” What desires do you possess that add meaning to your life. I’ll speak a little about mine. I have become interested in quantum physics, quantum mechanics and sunlight and how we, as part of the whole, or part of the universe, are all connected. I have delved deeply into understanding life on a quantum scale and I have to admit, it’s been somewhat challenging but ultimately very exciting and uplifting. I have learned about sunlight and how it plays our DNA like a magical symphony. I learned that the sun’s spectrum (roy g biv).. RED, ORANGE, YELLOW, GREEN, BLUE, INDIGO, VIOLET is so important for our circadian rhythm or biological clock and instructs our body to activate various hormones, etc. The morning sun (actually at sunrise) sets our internal clock, informing our bodies when to make cortisol, dopamine, melatonin, etc. If you don’t see the sunrise, just go outside and face east - even if there’s a building in front of you or a mountain. You will still get the benefit of the red and slightly blue light coming from the sun. My mantra is “Sunrise, Sunshine, Sunset, Repeat.” If you have sleep issues, the sun is your best “sleeping pill.”

While my education has been mostly focused on nutrition and how what we eat becomes who we are, I now realize that there is so much more than food. I will never say that we shouldn’t care about what goes into our bodies.. just the opposite. We would all benefit from making good choices about what we eat. Once I realized how the body works (at least MY body), I realize what will affect my energy level, my mood, my cravings, etc.

I have always professed that our bodies know how to protect us and how to heal. We were given this amazing gift — a gift we need to tune into and listen to what it is telling us. Do you give into having a piece of cake or a cookie, or some ice cream when you have the craving? Do you stop to think that you may not really be hungry? Do you think about what you can do instead of running to the refrigerator to satisfy that urge for something sweet? Have you set up your body to be dependent on glucose? Think about how many foods you consume that are telling your body to burn glucose. What if you switched that around to burning fat — a much better way to feel more energized. What if I told you that you can produce 4x more energy burning fat than burning glucose. Hmm.. what would that do for your pickle ball game? or help you to hike up the mountain?

One of my missions in this lifetime is to plant seeds. Everything starts with a seed — or a thought — and then we either water it, nurture it, study it, and eventually incorporate it into our lives. Or, we just ignore it.. which is a choice we all have.

What will you choose? Empowering yourself to be in control of the choices you make to keep yourself healthy going forward? Our thoughts are powerful! Trust your body enough to listen to it when it’s signaling something isn’t right. Trust in your intuition to figure it out and change it.

In sunshine,

Charlotte

The Processing of America

There was a time when I first realized that just about everything I was taught about the world around me and how I lived in that world, whether through school, tv, magazines, newspapers, friends, etc., was actually not what was going to keep me in good health. I remember when I attended the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and learned about various topics for the first time and thinking, “Wait a minute…. that’s not what I know to be true.” “That’s almost the opposite of what I was taught.” And, I learned over 100 different dietary theories from over 100 different educators in their own field of nutrition. Well, to say the least, I was elated, shocked, confused, excited, and everything in between. How could there be so many different theories and who has the correct one?!!

It took me doing my own research and using my body as a laboratory to try out many of the various theories. I have come to a place of knowing — at least knowing what I know to be detrimental to a healthy body and mind. I don’t profess to know everything, of course, but I do know enough to be able to say with conviction that the Standard American Diet is a roadmap to chronic disease — no matter how you slice it (pun intended! :)

I remember graduating from school and talking about everything I learned to family, friends, etc. I was so excited to be able to share what I felt would help others. What I found in my pursuit was resistance to what I was sharing — it’s hard to hear those things that we don’t want to hear, especially when it comes to the foods we love. So, I have come to accept that I would lead by example and hopefully some people would do their own research and follow in my footsteps.

Fast forward to today. I am no longer reticent about talking “health” to anyone who wants to listen (or not). I want to SHOUT — I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT TOO MANY FOODS ARE TOXIC — THEY ARE NOT REAL FOOD!! And it’s not just the food!! It’s the air, the water, the soil, the body care products, the pesiticides, the herbicides, blah, blah, blah.

I have heard, “Well, I can’t live in this world and avoid all these things.” That’s not true. You can start small. Once you realize that the foods you eat are owned by a few very large corporations and their only concern is profits and not the quality of the food, you will begin to see that you can take control of what you buy and begin to see better health outcomes. In terms of the air you breathe — yes, we live in this world and there’s not too much we can do about the air outside, but we can decide to get into nature more, to possibly buy an air purifier for our homes, to use essential oils, to make sure we are not using toxic chemicals in our homes and to make sure we are putting clean products on our bodies.

If you look back in history, so many of the pesticides and herbicides have caused many illnesses. The illnesses may have been blamed on other things but when you do a little investigating and follow the money, you will find that the spraying of chemicals on our food was at the root cause of many of the diseases over the past century. We all need to take charge of our health and the health of the planet. It starts with you and the small changes you make over time.

I know this may sound daunting and possibly overwhelming but I can assure you as someone who was not tapped into any of this years ago, it just takes one step at a time and before long you will be living a healthier life. In time your palate will change and your cravings for familiar foods you always ate all your life will diminish. You will see changes in your energy levels and changes in your mood. Remember, everything you eat becomes YOU. Believe me — I know how exciting it is to eat that store-bought apple pie or boxed cereal, etc., but once you realize what they are doing to your health, you will begin to understand that you, and only you, have the power to do something about it. Believe me — Big Ag and Big Pharm do not give a damn about your health and the health of your children. They have designed these foods to entice your senses so you will become addicted. That is their hope. Please don’t fall for it. You do not want to one day fall ill and realize then that you had the power all along. Stay empowered! Stay educated! Do your research! Don’t take the easy way out! Get healthy — it feels really good.

To your health,

-C