Looking for fast results?........But wait!

You could miss out on the "meat" of the journey. WHEN you finally reach the result of all your efforts and succeed in achieving your goals, look BACK at the journey that you went through and ALL that you have gained through persevering THROUGH the struggles, trials, and pain. Be grateful that you not only received your reward for the work you have consistently and passionately put in, but you became RICH with knowledge, wisdom, and experience. The wealth of what you gained through the time it took to achieve what you sought after is wonderful refinement that will last.

Today was the pinnacle of what I have been working towards for almost a year. In a matter of 5 minutes, the heart of neglect and disdain have met it's match with love and concern. I look back and see that everything has been set in place for this beautiful (frosty), winter day to be remembered as one that brought a family united, an injustice righted, and hopefully a hurting situation healed.

It has been very painful....spiritually, emotionally, and definitely physically, but I know that it will not remain undone, but the work that NEEDS to get done will get done. Even when others figured I had given up, I kept going. I don't want others to have to go through the pain I have gone through and suffer quite in the way I have. SO I say to you, fight for what you believe in, keep going after your goals and dreams, do what is right, love your neighbours as you would love yourself and, NEVER give up.

All or Nothing?

• Posted by Elisa on February 27, 2009 at 8:30am

What you give may be what you get.

I have been rolling this over in my mind this morning as I was kicking myself in the butt. Why was I kicking myself? Because I found myself in a situation of having to do something when it could have been done already. Months ago as we finished off projects around our condo before we listed, I was told to not paint the basement....there was so much other things to do. I knew there was lots to do,but the way the basement looked was a HUGE turn off for me being left in such an unfinished state SO close to being done......especially in contrast to the rest of the space. I went through many sleepless nights pondering the things we needed to get done and I decided to get out of bed and head to the basement and paint. I finished off the mudding and sanding in the stairwell and primed and painted the walls and the stairs as I thought about the other things I had to get done in other areas of the house and my life. I couldn't do much else while others were sleeping and in the end, it turned out well. But one thing lingered on my mind...."I really should finish off the walls in the living space as well.....it just needs a little sanding and I could prime and paint it while I have the stuff out. WELL.....I didn't. I didn't give it the couple hours of attention to just finish it off. I know I did something, but I didn't do it all and now I am back at having to finish it anyhow. It's taking more time as it is now a furnished instead of an empty room and I have to shuffle around and move furniture in order to get at the walls.

In all this I thought about applying myself to anything I want to do in life. I shuddered at the fact of doing anything with a half-attempt, not really caring how I do it or not or doing the work grudgingly. Where is the satisfaction in that? If I am going to do anything, I am going to give my all (or whole heart) to it....regardless if it is something I think I won't like. Because I realized, that regardless of liking what I do or not, it the getting it done and done well that I get a KICK out of. Ever clean up dog doodoo in the spring time?......not fun. However, after cleaning it all up off your lawn, you know that you can enjoy taking care of your lawn and going onto it without worrying about rolling in a dog's leftovers.

I also thought about wanting to get something out of what I put into it. If I am all or nothing, and I put nothing into it, what am I going to get out of it? NOTHING! If I put my half-effort into doing something, how much do I expect to get in return? I should expect half. But if I put my ALL and full effort into doing something, then I can hope to expect a whole lot in return. As I did my workout this morning I gave it my ALL. I didn't finish it all, but for what I did do, I got the most out of it. I did do something as opposed to nothing, but in the SOMETHING I did, I gave it my all! I have muscle awareness all over the place HAHA and it is soooo satisfying. I know that my example of giving my full effort to whatever it is I do, will be seen and hopefully lived out in my children, in my friends and family too. I AM going for ALL as half or nothing doesn't sit well with me. =D

CHICKEN SOUP!!!....What's in yours?

• Posted by Elisa on February 20, 2009 at 5:44pm

As I mentioned my happy dance for chicken soup on twitter today, other fellow FYMs have stated they enjoy chicken soup as well. So I decided to share what I tossed into the pot and would hope others share as well.

Onions, Celery, Carrots
Sea salt and black pepper
Garam masala, tumeric, cayenne pepper, fennel seeds, bay leaves
minced garlic cloves, grated ginger
leftover rotisserie chicken
some chicken stock and water
sweet potatoes

TADA!....chicken soup LOL.

Quote of the day

"you need a valley to reach a peak" - Annik

Thank you Annik! This made me think of all the contrasts we live in life and how we need one to help define the other for us.

What "valleys" have you been through to help you reach (or aim for) the "peaks" in your life?


Elisa

"Wall-E"....reflections part 1....use it or lose it

"Wall-E"....reflections part 1....use it or lose it

* Posted by Elisa on February 18, 2009 at 2:30pm

I can't share enough about this movie so I am doing it in parts.

First point: Use it or lose it!

What do we have to use? Our bodies, our minds, personal interactions, our choices. If we don't keep moving we will not be as mobile. If we don't keep thinking and challenging our mind and grow in what we know...well, we won't grow in what we know and everything changes and evolves around us, so better to keep up than get left behind. If we don't keep social and interact with others, we will not only miss out on challenging our senses, but lose on important feedback as well. AND if we leave our choices to be made by others, we will lose the experience, knowledge and wisdom gained from making our own choices.

DISCLAIMER - If you haven't seen the movie, try and get the opportunity to do so and then come back and read this beyond this point as I may spoil the movie for you =D.



Currently I am feeling like one of those people floating around on the hover thingys as I am experiencing joint pain (could be gout) and cramping. I haven't been very mindful of my eating amidst the stress either. I know I'm not going to stay that way, but as I am watching the movie with my boys, I am reminded to keep at it in the best way I can.

We are provided with a lot of information from the media and multiple sources telling us one way or another to do this or eat that. I would like to think that I question enough to want to check out the info for myself and make my own decision based on the information I sought out and was given. Of course, I wouldn't have sought out the information if it wasn't presented to me in the first place, but I can always expand on what I was exposed to. (Instead of letting a company tell me what to think, do, eat, wear, etc).

Our personal interaction helps us to learn and gain feedback and experience the fullness of life. Let it be with our environment, nature, the sun, the moon, the stars, flowers, plants and how things grow, we are a part of it and it influences us. Being involved in a community that offers support or being out and about and encouraging others and your environment gives encouragement in return.

And last but not least, the continual use, nourishment, and challenge of our bodies will help us to better interact mentally and physically with what is around us. If you want the change, choose to make the commitment in your mind and follow through with continual actions. Every little step counts. Put one foot in front of the other and start walking, jogging, running and skipping and enjoy life! (use that jogging track and help your muscles encourage your bones to stay strong and useful)


Keep on steppin'!


Elisa

For my personal reflection, but you can see too.....I love my smile =D

• Posted by Elisa on February 17, 2009 at 12:30pm

As we move and go through our blog posts, etc, You just gotta love where you are at as you look to the future was a blog I posted with pictures of me almost 3 years ago, 6 months after having my youngest son.

It's interesting to reflect as the body I see in the picture I don't recognize (I don't even know if I really acknowledged it), but I always gravitate to the smile on my face.

This smile encourages me (taken about 2 weeks ago) as it is similar to the first one, but with more support =D.

My "anniversary" at ClubFYM is April 1st, but wanted to express my gratitude before the move =D. Thanks again for being a part of why I smile =D.



Elisa

Carrot Banana muffins

• Posted by Elisa on February 15, 2009 at 8:30am

This is one of my favorite recipes I make. I modified it from Martha Stewart's Carrot cupcake recipe. I switch it up all the time and it's quick and easy.

Carrot Banana Muffins

Ingredients (Makes 12)

* 1/3 cup honey (or agave nectar) and some stevia (1/4 cup sugar equivalent...original recipe called for 1 cup sugar)
* 1/3 cup vegetable oil (I use olive oil or coconut oil)
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 2 large eggs (2 large ripe bananas or 1 banana and a tbsp of plain yogurt)
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
* 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
* 1 cup chick pea flour
* 2 tablespoons ground flax seed
* 2 cups shredded carrots (could mix it up and use some shredded zucchini)
* 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional....I don't use them)
* 1/4 cup shredded coconut (optional)


Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Oil a standard 12-cup muffin tin or line with paper liners. In a bowl, combine honey, vegetable oil, orange juice, vanilla extract, and eggs (or mashed bananas).
2. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, stevia, allspice, cinnamon, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix.
3. Stir in carrots, walnuts, and coconut.
4. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups. Bake until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean, 25 minutes.

Note: Being that I am allergic to eggs, I tend to use bananas (or yogurt) in place of. However, if you can do eggs and want to add the bananas as well, I would use one egg and one banana.


Enjoy!