Buy the Giraffe!

It has been a while since I wrote a new post. We all have busy times in our lives. This year has been a whirlwind so far ! Many of my posts in this blog: and in my personal blog http://fivechildrenandafarm.blogspot.com/ are about discovering our own identity. For us to be our best at anything we need to have a clear vision of what it is we are moving towards. For us to be our "personal best we need to identify who we are". While this changes as our lives move forward it is always good to look at who you are at the core. What makes you tick or defines you. What one word or single sentence could be used to describe you? Whatever your dreams or goals…health, love, prosperity you need to know yourself first. Just before April Fool’s Day (one of my favorite fun days), I was given not one but two very similar assignments the past two weeks for some marketing classes. Both asked (for different reasons), that I very briefly define who I am. Today, totally by accident I discovered via texts, calls & messages from friends/family on a day (April 1st) when the unbelievable comes to life (the answer to this question) that I am in fact...."That one person who my friends & family might actually fathom buying a giraffe on a whim (just because I wanted too)" . While most of you I am sure did doubt this had actually occurred, many of the responses I received suggested it was plausible. This may seem like a silly way to define yourself but actually it describes me perfectly! Sooooo to everyone who believed (if even briefly) or played along thank you for thinking of me as being that person AND I Hope everyone had a fun April Fools Day. Don't be afraid to step out, try something new, expand your knowledge, take action or do something wonderful for yourself. "There is Only One You"! Contact me if you would like to set up an appointment to learn how to improve your lifestyle choices and be a better healthier, happier version of yourself ‪#‎embracelife ‬‪#‎onlyoneyou‬ ‪#‎pinerockwellness‬ #michelineedwards #mE

Forty Day Promises

Today we play, tomorrow we begin in sorrow but with hope. Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday. While I realize that many of you may not recognize this religious holiday I am using it as an example of penance, change, rebirth or new life. The last few weeks we have discussed making small but steady changes in our lives. For those of you that follow the season of Lent as a time of penance, change and almsgiving followed by a period of great joy it is a time to focus on what is important. The Lenten journey within the church calls us to express conversion in relation to oneself. This time begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter. It is at this time that reality of our own mortality may be contemplated..."from the earth we came and to it we must also return". Lent reminds us of our humble and wayward spirit and how we must constantly reign ourselves in and refocus our purpose. Whether you are observing Lent or have never been spiritual it is a good time for you to have a start and a finish to positive change in your life. Depending on your spirituality this time of self-initiated and/or church sanctioned penance may be the time you need to reflect and become a better you over the next 40 days. Pick something in your life tomorrow you have been wanting to change or give up and make a 40 day promise to yourself to follow through. (For any readers wanting to learn more about Lent check out my other blog Five Children and a Farm) Copyright © 2016 Micheline Edwards All rights reserved to by Micheline Edwards

Positive Substitutions...Making the Shoe Fit.

Most of you have hopefully taken some insightful time as mentioned in previous posts and begun to notice reoccurring thoughts. Plans, changes and maintenance of good things in your life are likely 3 categories in which you could put most of those conversations with yourself. Even if this is the first time you are reading this blog you have probably had deep insights at some time about your direction in this world. This blog is about making changes; we are going to call them substitutions. I see this as a fun way of thinking that makes most of us feel like we are just trying something out. Substitutions allow us to make adjustments, largely without failure. If you sub out a few ingredients in a recipe you usually have the same general outcome but often it is improved. Substituting or “instead of thinking” allows us to enjoy a healthier lifestyle in a more gradual “see if the shoe fits sort of way”. In our house it is pretty common to find assorted bags of grains, seeds and such. My kids usually refer to this as “there is nothing to eat” when these items are in their “raw form” (although they DO enjoy them even when not baked into things like banana bread). My family is fully aware that these ingredients are also the materials that create healthy and delicious meals. With my family shrinking I was noticing that I had these healthier options but was not using them as much as I had in the past. My substitution this week is to make better use of what I already have and should be using. To start incorporating good choices into more meals. This week one of my swap outs is substituting rolled rye for rolled oats in my breakfast bowl (see image for side by side visuals and my page Welcome Wellness for a link to nutritional comparisons/serving suggestions).

I found this to be a nice subtle change. For you the substitution might be switching out one ingredient you use often for an organic version or changing one habit you have for the better. Some ideas that might get you started: Instead of soda try 1 part juice/4parts sparkling water for just a few of those colas (start slow or you won’t like the way your new shoe fits). Substitute 100 percent whole grain bread instead of white (if you don’t like whole grains then start by making your sandwiches half/half). Try asking to hold the processed cheese and/or sub out mustard for other sauces if you need to choose the fast food fix (you could lose 200 calories or more and excess fats just by doing this). Little changes can reap huge rewards and by subbing out parts of your favorite foods you allow your tastes to adjust so you are more likely to stick with your healthier new you. If any of you have taken to hiding under the bed or in a closet to enjoy quiet time to get to this point; you may want to just start with that issue and find a more socially acceptable thinking place. Blanket forts can and do qualify if you don’t get caught. For many of you the substitutions you feel compelled to make this week will not be diet related but something you know in your heart needs adjustments. Start small and enjoy a better you. Copyright 2016 Micheline Edwards

Balancing Life

Wow January is slipping away well maybe it is running! We have had so many exciting things going on in our family (weddings & such!) focusing on my personal goals made me feel like I was climbing a slippery rock wall at a 90 degree incline on most days. Some days the best we can do is try to keep up and we often fail to meet our goals with even the best efforts. My last post was about taking 10 minutes each day for you. How did that go? Honestly I got to that about every 5 out of 7 days but it wasn't always what I had expected. Often it was reconciliation with myself to do better tomorrow. I don't actually count these self-guided motivational speeches as a loss, but rather as a way of actually meeting my betterment goals. It's about balance. If I fall short of what I wish to achieve on a given day; spending 10 minutes or more in quiet sorting out the how or why I didn't meet my goals often allows me to do better next time around. Whether your goals are diet changes, weight loss, exercise, attitude or spiritual atonement or just being able to get through a day with your head and feet going the same direction you are one step closer to your goals if you can visualize regroup and move forward. Copyright Micheline Edwards 2016

New Year; New You.

The New Year has started and you need your resolution to work. A lot of us took vows to be better this year. Ok, let’s cut to the chase most of us have done this every year. Many of us saw “more of ourselves” but not a “better self”. We didn’t know how to maintain what we desired. Resolutions to be better can be aimed at the emotional, physical or spiritual self (or any combo if you are really stepping it up). This week I am asking you to take 10min each day to be alone (or more if you can). Yup…take a walk, lie on the ground, write a journal, meditate, stare into space. Hell, lock yourself in a closet and sleep if that’s what you need to be your best. Maybe turn off your phone ringer and set it to alarm only so your kids don’t report you missing. (Disclaimer***If you choose the closet route while at work, you are on your own). During those 10minutes focus on what is really important right now. Remember, just as you can't clean out a closet, your car or other things in just 10 minutes start small and tackle one issue each day. Imagine the possibilities if you had no limits. Sort out what is possible and what is out of your control. Put all your garbage in the great plastic grocery sack in your head and throw it out. Not that I am condoning enlarging your mental carbon footprints (this could be a thing lol) but free your mind to really focus on what is important. Clearer visions are easier to focus on. Whatever your better you is this year; you can’t commit to new things when the old crap is pulling you back into the same old hole you are trying to crawl away from. After a week…what do you see? What is possible? Copyright 2016 Micheline Edwards