10 Easy Steps
Toward Greater Awareness
of Wellbeing

Read Labels

It is well worth the few seconds time it takes to scan a label listing manufacture's ingredients, as well as nutritional content.  Don't rule out non-edible items either.   Our skin is our largest organ and everything you smear, rub, dust, wash, or lather on or into it is absorbed in your bloodstream within two hours.  Everything. You can find everything from detergents to heavy metals in many products you would otherwise assume free of such materials.  We've found everything from aluminum in eyeliners to synthetic detergents in toothpaste!  If you worry about allowing your kids to drink diet soft drinks, are you aware that some vitamin manufactures use artificial colors, flavors and sweeteners in chewable multi-vitamins for children? 

Whenever possible avoid synthetics such as artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, fats and preservatives, and search out manufactures which use only all natural, organic ingredients in their preparations.  You can often avoid many undesirable additives simply by buying generic or store brand equivalents of name brand products.  Compare yourself, and be amazed. 

Search for a local manufacturer of homemade toiletries and cosmetics for you and your family and if there are none available, learn how to make your own.  Simple solutions of body oil, shampoos, hair rinses, lip balms, etc... can be made in day and last for weeks!  Far less expensive and lots better quality!

Buy Organic And Buy Local

Whenever possible, buy only organic foods and other ingredients, and buy locally.  This helps support your local producers who are dedicated to sustainable and eco-friendly agriculture, who in turn will support you, your family and our Earth.  Supporting local agriculture brings many realities close to home, and helps sustain communities.  The vicious cycle of oversaturation of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and every other cide must be brought into balance within our local ecologies if diversity of life on this planet is to survive.

Americans are very much process and product ignorant.  As busy individuals we often defer our responsibilities to educate ourselves to the bite sized and sponsored tid-bits of slanted information fed to us by the media.  We exchange direct involvement in our own knowledge to what's put before us on shelves. 

Learn what your foods go through from soil to seed to soup.  I promise you, if you don't know already, you will be amazed.  Just because you drink a diet drink and eat fortified, no fat, no sugar something or others for lunch don't delude yourself into thinking you are actually eating healthy.

Many of us take for granted that the producers of our food supply have our planet's and our best interests in mind when it comes to agricultural practices.  But very often the bottom line and all-important factor is cash flow.  Learn what your grower's land and the foods that spring from it must endure before brought to your kitchen table.   Realize the steps that are often implemented to increase yield, retard ripening and spoilage and increase an "attractive" presentation.  What kinds of chemicals, processes, packaging are involved?  Growth hormones and other hormones; artificial, rapid growth, chemical fertilizers; inoculations and irradiation are only a common few among many!

Be aware that solvents and their residues are involved in even the extraction of certain vitamins and other components!  Use only cold pressed oils ~ they may be a bit more expensive, but you are paying for the all-important process. 

Whenever and wherever possible attempt to grow and produce your own food.  It is a marvelous alternative to what can often be found on grocer's shelves and can be a very educational and fulfilling activity for yourself and your kids.  A small garden plot can yield a surprising amount.  As can a windowsill garden of herbs or a hanging pot of cherry tomatoes.  Growing a half barrel of salad greens can keep you in lettuce and other greens for some time.  Sprouting your own organic sprouts at home takes up only a little counter area.  Keeping a few chickens can provide a bounty of both eggs and meat.  Investigate the possibilities for your space, time, finances and energy level.   No matter what your situation, you have options!  Organic options!

As often as possible, try to eat foods grown in non-polluted soils; foods that are grown organically; eat whole and raw foods as much as possible; and when cooking them or preparing them, try to do so in healthy ways such as steaming verses boiling and baking verses frying.

Recycle ~ Reuse ~ Reduce Replenish ~ Refuse

Take glass, aluminum, newsprint, cardboard, paper, wood scraps, oil, tin, plastics and other materials to your local recycling center.  Many services pick up recyclables at the curb these days, but even if you live out in the boonies, there are occasionally places you can load up your recyclables and drop off to. Every so often new materials are being accepted, so be sure to ask around and ask often!

Don't toss stuff in an erosion area.   Foul chemicals and toxic materials can easily leach into ground water and contaminate soils as well.  Look around for the proper places to dispose of your waste.  If we all watch the amounts we chuck in the landfills, our planet and our selves will be better for it. 

Limit your use of disposable items.  Invest in the future by spending your dollars on durable items that will go the distance, and which you may find to have other uses later. 

Plant trees if not on your own property than in a nearby park or national forest area.

Refuse to support manufacturers who waste valuable resources on excess packaging.

Take canvas bags or baskets to the market, and toss small items in a pocket or purse.

Use Alternative Cleansers

Replace your toxic household cleansers, which eventually end up in the water table, with these natural alternatives.

Vinegar ~ A marvelous grease cutter and general cleanser.

Baking Soda ~ A great abrasive, and general cleanser when diluted.

Colloidal Silver ~ Fabulous for cleansing surface scuz like micro-organisms that live on counter tops and toilet seats.

Light Vegetable Oil ~ Great for polishing up woodwork.

There are also many alternative options available to you for 'pest' and 'weed' control.   Check out a book from your local library on organics or natural alternatives for pest control.

It may also be helpful to rethink your attitude about what you consider to be 'pests' and 'weeds' and in what quantity ~ let us not forget that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and to all things there is a given purpose.

There are many new and many ancient therapies which can replace or assist conventional therapies in the treatments of many diseases.  Whether or not you approve or elect to participate in such therapies is a choice you should have every right to decide for yourself.  It cannot hurt, however, to investigate these other options before such time as you may deem them necessary to your or your family's health. 

A naturopath is a good place to begin your research.  They are generally versed in many different complimentary/alternative means of healing and maintaining health,and are often knowledgeable on everything from herbal remedies, chiropractic, homeopathy, light therapy, iridology, reflexology, acupuncture, acupressure, aromatherapy, meditation, and nutrition.  They should at the least be able to answer many of your questions and point you in positive directions. (as of this posting however, their right and freedom to inform is being severely limed within certain state legislatures)

Realize that no matter WHAT you're doing in your life, there are probably a half a dozen other ways you could be doing the same thing.  Investigate your options!

Take Responsibility For Your Own Wellbeing

Don't wait until you or someone in your family is sick before you begin looking at options and ways of getting better.

Realize that modern research has shown many maladies to be linked to these few simple factors:

Dietary Deficiency ~ this is when various nutrients are at low levels or completely missing from our bodies.  this may be due to poor nutrition, but poor nutrition can be caused by depleted farming soils.  Vitamin, mineral, and other supplements may be helpful in helping the body regain it's natural healthy balance.

Micro-organism infestation ~ This is when we get a bug like a bacterial or viral infection.  Simple hygiene like frequently and properly washing one's hands can go a long way in preventing this kind of malady. 

High Levels of Toxic Substances or Overexposure ~ This is when our bodies are exposed to certain substances in quantities our imune system or other bodily functions are unable to process.  Unfortunatly, this particular cause of illness is all too common place in our modern polluted environment. 

Obesity ~ Being severely overweight can contribute to all sorts of maladies including diabetes.  Recall also that the body stores many toxins in fat cells.

Fatigue and Stress ~ Like obesity, fatigue and stress host an array of illnesses.  

Malfunctioning Eliminatory Organs ~ Many diseases manifest from our eliminatory organs, like the liver, kidneys and bowel.   Many diseases are manifest in the colon, which is why it is very important to keep your eliminatory organs clean and healthy.  There are methods available to assist in internally cleansing these organs.  Again, investigate your options thoroughly.

Dehydration ~ Drinking 8 eight to ten ounce glasses of clean or distilled water everyday can help the body to flush itself of toxic substances. 

If you look at any of these factors, you'll quickly see that they are often a result of the body being out of balance.  Balance is a tricky thing, and not everyone's body adheres to the "standards" set forth for all bodies.  We are all different and our bodies and tolerance levels reflect that.  But realize, that whatever your particular tolerance level is, once your body gets out of balance, it throws other balanced systems out of whack too, which leads to yet other forms of degeneration.  This is why it's important to consider the root cause of illness, and not just the symptoms of a particular disease or 'dis-ease'.

Like anything else, these factors don't stand alone, but must be regarded in a wholistic way in order to be effective.  Dehydration is directly linked to malfunctioning eliminatory organs, which can be directly linked to fatigue and other symptoms.  It doesn't take a Ph.D. to figure this out.  It is simply the mind-body-connection system which has evolved to carry us this far.  As technology speeds past our evolutionary abilities to keep up, you must be constantly aware of how our modern world is impacting your health and consciously take steps to keep everything in nature's balance.

Don't just take someone's word for something.  Educate yourself as to the pros and cons, the facts, myths and opinions, the motives and history behind any discovery, therapy or anything else for that matter!  It actually takes very little time to become informed.  Don't rely on someone else to just tell you the "truth".

If you find your pace of life or your general lifestyle to be most often overwhelming, or if you find yourself in a constant state of frustration, depression, fatigue or chaos..... in addition to professional counseling which may help you gain a clearer perspective, a good first step might be to simplify your existence. 

We find that simplifying one's existence can be a vague term for many who may not know where to begin.  We suggest that you consider it from the mind-body-spirit connection, and then extend it to your environment.   Often times, the process of simplifying is one of re-prioritizing, and in our rapidly moving world, it is a task that we sadly must consciously do everyday. 

Mind ~ Clear your mind of troubled thoughts, by choosing to look on the positive side of things. there is always an up-side.  Take an active role in resolving conflicts by making the first effort to negotiate.  Learn to see other perspectives and consider compromise.  Don't allow yourself to procrastinate, because the tasks are still on your mind making you feel guilty which is often worse than actually doing something about it.  If something is beyond your control, then don't dwell on it.  Move on.  If possible, assist others in resolving an issue that seems beyond your control.   Reconsider everyday the three most essential factors in your life.   Concentrate on nurturing these directly and consider what the worse is that could possibly happen if the five hundred other things in your date book don't get addressed today.  Simplify and pare down your obligations.

If you begin to question your value and your worth, and the extend of your "charitable" contributions is limited to twenty bucks a year to support the administrative habits of corporate givers, then get down to the nitty gritty, roll up your sleeves and instead of spending money, spend time.  Visit your local children's hospital and read to the kids. Visit a youth center and offer to help organize a pre-teen dance. Visit the local pound and walk/pet/play with the animals there.  Go to a veterans hospital or nursing home and ask how you may be of service.  There are lots of places in your own local community where your involvement will make an immediate difference, and you'll be able to see the personal rewards of your compassion immediately.  There's nothing like it help you reaffirm your station in life or vow to change it.   If no one has addressed an issue of importance to you, then initiate a relief effort.  You be the one to get the ball rolling.  Others will help.

Body ~ Take time out to care for your body.   Think of it as your vehicle to being alive.  If you allow your body to suffer neglect, you will eventually suffer the consequences, and end up spending more time tending to it and trying to get it better than if you had simply devoted the time necessary to prevent deterioration.  It's always easier to maintain a healthy plant than it is to let it whither away then try to nurse it back to health.  Feed, water, exercise and rest your body.  Give it the proper nutrients and balance of attentions.  And lavish it now and then with a special treat just for keeping you at your pace.  A body wrap, a foot massage, a lingering bath....

Spirit ~ Take time out to nurture your spiritual self.  Even Agnostics and Atheists have a spiritual side.  It can be as simple as deferring faith in anything out of your control to some unknown entity.... still believing that everything will somehow be ok.  Nourish your faith in the goodness of life and take time out to re-affirm your faith and explore the depths of your chosen belief.  Embrace yourself, love yourself and others, and try to relinquish negative feelings.  Nurture the sense of peace associated with the feeling of acceptance.  Consciously focus on the people, relationships, activities and places that make you feel good about yourself and being alive. 

Environment ~ Clean out your closets!  Clear off your shelves and move the boxes out of the garage!  Our amassed "things" can very often lend us a feeling of being crushed.  This is usually because we then feel a responsibility to protect and preserve those "things".  Bag up some old clothes and take them to a thrift shop and see how it makes you feel the next morning.  Move on from there. Letting go of all the stuff we pile around us can be a very liberating thing, making us realize our true dependent relationship to it, and making us more aware of the "things" that are really important in our lives.  How many "enter your particular collectable here" do you really need?

I would hope that you would question even the information you read here and implement your own common sense when considering it's value to you, your family and our planet.  I can assure of one thing however.  Our motives for putting this page on our site is very simple and straightforward.  We want everyone and future generations on this planet, including our very planet to be happy and healthy.  Period. 

Learn to see beyond the obvious and question the motives behind actions.  The only reason some people do anything is for supreme gain or what some might consider greed.  Thankfully not everyone is like this, in fact, we choose to believe that most people are interested in helping others for no greater gain than the satisfaction of doing so, but if you regard all individuals with the general presumption that they have an agenda to fulfill (because everyone does everything for a reason) and they eventually show that their reasons are fair and just, then what harm is done?  But if they, in the end, prove that their motives are unfair and unjust, then you will have exercised the appropriate caution regarding your and family's wellbeing.   Unfortunately, not everyone is a "good guy", looking out for your best interests.

Everyday, our legislature, influenced by million dollar lobbies, makes decisions that affect the health and wellbeing of ourselves and our planet.  Only some of those decisions make it before the public for review and fewer are influenced by public participation.  Your involvement in the legislative process is crucial if we are to preserve the freedoms we were so graciously and wisely granted by the Constitution Of The United States Of America.  The Constitution is your voice of freedom, so use it to stand up for what you believe in. 

Recently Their was an issue up for debate over laws governing Organics.  Fortunately, enough concerned citizens rallied to voice what they felt organic meant and the result was a preservation of those standards ~ for now.  At the present time there are at least two major issues that need to aware of and educate yourself as to their effect on you and your family.  One basically boils down to the fact that due to the pressure put upon the conventional medical establishment by complimentary and alternative therapies, the FDA is considering making it illegal for anyone to make claims that a food or nutritive product is healthful in any way.... unless a doctor says so.  Further, there are movements afoot to assure that only Medical Doctors have the authority to prescribe nutritive therapies like herbs and other foods.  Also, there is an international lobby to take the power to inform the and sell to the public these foods from local people and allow only an authoritative body in Germany such power. 

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away"  Whoever said this years and years ago, might today, if these laws were passed, find themselves in deep litigation. 

Where is your authority?  Where is your license?  Where is your Degree?   Where is your Permit to say such things?  Does this sound as ridiculous to you as it does to us?  Research has long proven that nutrition plays a major role in health ~ don't let the foods you eat become a vehicle for billion-dollar leverage.  It's bad enough that the drive for for the food market has lead many manufacturers to all sorts of questionable means of growth, yield and preservation techniques, but now.... to have a legislative body withhold an individuals right to information and access to good nutrition seems to be too much.  It is your right to be informed and to voice your opinion.  

Our legislators cannot be blamed for listening to the loudest voice.  Don't allow those precious and hard-earned rights go the way of so many others simply by being silent.

To Your And Your Family's Wholistic Wellbeing!

 
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