A little while ago I asked for some help deciding what I should do with my tax return. First I have to tell you I made a little error in a calculation so my actual return was $778. Still a nice chunk of change.
I re-read the post and did some thinking on what I wanted to do with the return. So far I've moved $550 to debt - making a complete extra payment that wasn't expected for this year. I left the other $228 in my account, because I feared I'd fowled up my budget for April. I'll be able to determine this more after May 1 when rent comes out of the account, if I've actually fowled it up that badly or not. Either way, the money will temporarily be spent as I have made a dentist appointment and I'm anticipating I'll have ot have some work done.
Aside: I don't have cavities that I know of right now. I know that my previous dentist was bugging me to have the pits of my molars filled in so I wouldn't end up with any. This year I'm changing dentists - it's just not practical to drive an hour for an appointment in another city when he doesn't even have the courtesy to actually attend his appointments and wants to make me come back. The work I know I need is to have a filling replaced between my molar and the extra cusp I have on one of them. We found it many moons ago and I've just noticed that the filling has broken off. So for now the other $228 will be going towards dentist fees for cleaning, possible filling and x-rays at the new place. Once that money is returned from work, I'll move it over to debt repayment - as it's also outside of my budgeted monthly medical costs.
So for now I've put an extra $550 payment onto my debt and will be holding hte extra money for the dentist at the end of the month. My company has a decent medical plan - they cover $1500 of medical expenses - regardless of the type of expense (prescription, eye doctor and glasses, dentist, chiropractor, accupuncture, massage therapy, etc.) We pay up front, they tax us and return the rest of the money. $1500 divided by 12 gives me $125 of medical expenses per month. I decided to take a day off work on April 30th to get all my doctor stuff done for this year (physical, eye doctor, dentist) and added chiropractor and accupuncture while I'm off. An expensive day - and the reason why I'm pretty sure I screwed up the budget this month.
So extra debt payment made this month. YAY! And possible addition to it with an "extra" payment again next month - what with mileage and medical reimbursement coming.
Things are going pretty well - I'm marching deliberately towards my goal and having a good time doing it.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Beginning to assembly my TEAM
Just a quick note as something popped into my head.
I've begun assembling my team.
It began with a conversation nobody imagines having with their significant other on Valentine's Day. From there I spent some time within myself and trying to figure out my head - hence the Giving Him Up for Lent deal. From there I spoke with someone I know who is venturing into the Life Coaching realm of his current career. This person is personable, easy to talk to and quite knowledgeable in these things. He's always learning and growing and he and his wife have put together a great team in this new personal business.
I know him because he's also the kickbox instructor, who's classes I've been attending for more than a year now.
I have a telephone meeting with him once per week for the next 10 weeks. I've so far found our sessions (2 back ground gathering sessions and two actual coaching session) to be an eye-opening experience. They have helped me understand more about myself and how I deal with certain situations. I also have the added bonuses of a motivation CD, daily internet messages for progress towards my goals.
The sessions are enlightening and uplifting. We'll see how well I do with reaching my goals over hte next two weeks, as those are the first ones I have set for myself.
This is one person I have in my "TEAM". He isn't mandatory, but nice to have.
Other people I'll be researching for my TEAM will include:
1) Financial Advisor
2) Estate Lawyer
3) Accountant (?)
4) Personal Trainer
Who's on your TEAM?
I've begun assembling my team.
It began with a conversation nobody imagines having with their significant other on Valentine's Day. From there I spent some time within myself and trying to figure out my head - hence the Giving Him Up for Lent deal. From there I spoke with someone I know who is venturing into the Life Coaching realm of his current career. This person is personable, easy to talk to and quite knowledgeable in these things. He's always learning and growing and he and his wife have put together a great team in this new personal business.
I know him because he's also the kickbox instructor, who's classes I've been attending for more than a year now.
I have a telephone meeting with him once per week for the next 10 weeks. I've so far found our sessions (2 back ground gathering sessions and two actual coaching session) to be an eye-opening experience. They have helped me understand more about myself and how I deal with certain situations. I also have the added bonuses of a motivation CD, daily internet messages for progress towards my goals.
The sessions are enlightening and uplifting. We'll see how well I do with reaching my goals over hte next two weeks, as those are the first ones I have set for myself.
This is one person I have in my "TEAM". He isn't mandatory, but nice to have.
Other people I'll be researching for my TEAM will include:
1) Financial Advisor
2) Estate Lawyer
3) Accountant (?)
4) Personal Trainer
Who's on your TEAM?
Life After Debt
At our Gail meeting last night we were discussing a path to take as a group, now that we've completed her book.
What we came up with is this - Life After Debt. It's a great unknown. It's also, in my opinion, why many of us self-sabbotage our financial goals. What the heck happens after the debt is paid off? Here are some things I can think of that will inevitably happen once your debt is paid off.
1) You will do something frivolous - and probably do it for a little while.
The is no reason to keep those purse strings padlocked up. You've removed that burden and are now able to work for YOUR money. You will do something that you were waiting to do becuase you've now paid off the debt. A trip, new TV, shopping spree, or all three! Wait a minute - isn't this how you got into debt in the first place?
2) You will have jubilant feelings, want to have a party and enjoy yourself.
Call all your friends, call over your parents, call the town and set up a parade! You are Debt Free and you don't mind shouting it from the rooftops!!
3) You will suddenly owe someone money!
Ah jeez, jumped a little too fast and didn't put yourself into the right frame of mind. You cut the padlocks off the purse strings and now you are bleeding money everywhere. Sit down with your budget and reallocate that debt repayment amount - a little more to savings, a little more back into the regular budget, a new account called DEBT REPAYMENT and a bunch into your emergency fund. Use this money to pad your Travel/Shopping/Freedom account.
From what I can see, being debt free is GREAT! The trouble is you don't get to forget about your money once you are there. Common Sense tells me you have to reallocate those debt funds to other places to keep it working they way you want. You have to save for things still. It just means you can watch your spending with more insight, so you cna pay that credit card bill off in full each month and not carry a balance any longer. It means you'll be able to take a trip....... IN 5 MONTHS WHEN YOU'VE SAVED THE MONEY!! It means that getting the new TV will feel all that much sweeter since you don't owe anyone money and you SAVED UP FOR IT!
Being debt free also means you'll have to stay on top of yourself, not fall back down that mountain you climbed out of and be smarter with what you are purchasing and how.
Gail's new book gives a small chapter at the end that addresses what happens when you are working to stay debt free, after you've become that way. I find this topic is incredibly under-discussed in all PF books on the market. It's like once you've done all the work to get to debt free you'll know what to do once you are. Well - I don't believe that's exactly true. I think what happens is there is a bunch of hte stuff I mentioned above happening, and suddenly, when you weren't watching, you're right back into that hole again. It feels a bit like they don't talk about it because that means we won't be making them rich anymore. So if they can't get rich from it why tell anyone about it?
As PF bloggers, wouldn't it be nice to pick up a book about personal finance that only discuss what happens in life AFTER you've gotten to debt free. or maybe one that says here's how to get debt free - first 100 pages - here's what happens after you get there - last 100 pages?
its the part that nobody talks about. It's the little known fact about the future. I think they leave it out because everyone's path is different after this stage. I think they leave it to your imagination because they want you to fail at it, pick up another book and keep pumping the industry full of money.
So what will YOU do once you are debt free? Or better yet, what have you done since getting there???
What we came up with is this - Life After Debt. It's a great unknown. It's also, in my opinion, why many of us self-sabbotage our financial goals. What the heck happens after the debt is paid off? Here are some things I can think of that will inevitably happen once your debt is paid off.
1) You will do something frivolous - and probably do it for a little while.
The is no reason to keep those purse strings padlocked up. You've removed that burden and are now able to work for YOUR money. You will do something that you were waiting to do becuase you've now paid off the debt. A trip, new TV, shopping spree, or all three! Wait a minute - isn't this how you got into debt in the first place?
2) You will have jubilant feelings, want to have a party and enjoy yourself.
Call all your friends, call over your parents, call the town and set up a parade! You are Debt Free and you don't mind shouting it from the rooftops!!
3) You will suddenly owe someone money!
Ah jeez, jumped a little too fast and didn't put yourself into the right frame of mind. You cut the padlocks off the purse strings and now you are bleeding money everywhere. Sit down with your budget and reallocate that debt repayment amount - a little more to savings, a little more back into the regular budget, a new account called DEBT REPAYMENT and a bunch into your emergency fund. Use this money to pad your Travel/Shopping/Freedom account.
From what I can see, being debt free is GREAT! The trouble is you don't get to forget about your money once you are there. Common Sense tells me you have to reallocate those debt funds to other places to keep it working they way you want. You have to save for things still. It just means you can watch your spending with more insight, so you cna pay that credit card bill off in full each month and not carry a balance any longer. It means you'll be able to take a trip....... IN 5 MONTHS WHEN YOU'VE SAVED THE MONEY!! It means that getting the new TV will feel all that much sweeter since you don't owe anyone money and you SAVED UP FOR IT!
Being debt free also means you'll have to stay on top of yourself, not fall back down that mountain you climbed out of and be smarter with what you are purchasing and how.
Gail's new book gives a small chapter at the end that addresses what happens when you are working to stay debt free, after you've become that way. I find this topic is incredibly under-discussed in all PF books on the market. It's like once you've done all the work to get to debt free you'll know what to do once you are. Well - I don't believe that's exactly true. I think what happens is there is a bunch of hte stuff I mentioned above happening, and suddenly, when you weren't watching, you're right back into that hole again. It feels a bit like they don't talk about it because that means we won't be making them rich anymore. So if they can't get rich from it why tell anyone about it?
As PF bloggers, wouldn't it be nice to pick up a book about personal finance that only discuss what happens in life AFTER you've gotten to debt free. or maybe one that says here's how to get debt free - first 100 pages - here's what happens after you get there - last 100 pages?
its the part that nobody talks about. It's the little known fact about the future. I think they leave it out because everyone's path is different after this stage. I think they leave it to your imagination because they want you to fail at it, pick up another book and keep pumping the industry full of money.
So what will YOU do once you are debt free? Or better yet, what have you done since getting there???
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Second Review of Debt-Free Forever
After a few months you forget things that you've started. I recently took a browse through previous posts and realized I hadn't posted the remainder of the review of Gail Vaz-Oxlade's Debt-Free Forever. You'll find it and my final comments here:
We left off having to finish PArt 3, 4, and 5. For the first half of the book review, head Here.
Part 3 - Change Your Habits
Chapter 6 - Make More Money
If you are a follower of Gail's then you'll understand this part is pretty self-explanatory. The idea is if you've completed the exercises in the first half of the book and you need to increase your income to make up the shortfall you'll have to make more money. Myraid ways to do this, are only inhibited by your creative thinking skills. Ask friends to watch their children for a reasonable rate. Clean someone's house. Post that you are willing to personal shop or drive elderly people to their destinations for a fee. Perhaps you have a scrapbooking talent, can sing, play guitar, or teach piano? The point of this section is to think about what you can do to increase your income to help meet the needs you have. Although increasing your money seems to be the most obvious way to make those ends meet, Gail is quick to tell you that perhaps it's the priorities in your life you may need to reassess. 45 pairs of shoes, 15 handbags, 30 pair of jeans, and closets and draweres bursting with clothing are not needs! A clothing budget, if you have credit card debt and clothing coming out of every available space shows a large disconnect between your desire to be debt free and your desire to be stylish. consign the clothing you aren't wearing or simply return stuff with tags still on it. Align yourself to your goals. Re-evaluate your needs from the luxury wants you've incorporated into your life.
Take a good hard look at your budget and see where you can cut back.
Chapter 7 - Shop Consciously
This furthers the points Gail was making in Chapter 6. Shopping with coupons, shopping sales, or just plain not shopping are all thins suggested in this part. What I found most helpful here are the sections on learning about your Gremlin's. These are the little feeling and voices you get when you are doing things. They tell you that you need another {fill in blank} to make you feel better. The Gremlin tells you that you work hard so you deserve [fill in blank here]. Learning your Gremlin is the best thing you can do to help yourself on the Debt-Freedom track you are on. The rest of this chapter discusses strategies for dealign with the gremlin and shopping consciously and changing your behaviours
This by far was the most insightful chapter for me. It helps to understand yourself, to prove to yourself why your behaviours needs to change and why you do things that you do.
Part 4 - Prepare for the Future
Chapter 8 - Save for the Long-Term
Seems simple enough right? Well that would depend on what advice you have been following and the conclusions you've made on your own. This chapter talks about how things used to be Earn $10, Save $1. Nowadays there re many people you feel so overwhelmed with their financial situation they can't grasp the reason to save for the future. If you plan on working forever, then I can understand why you can't see the reason for saving for the future. But, if you want a house, cottage, car, to retire, new tires for your current car, another pair of jeans, another pair of shoes, a vacation, then you need to save for the future.
This section helps get past all the excuses you can have for not doing it. The point it makes is that it should be done. Always. Saving is the thing that will get you ahead. The type of savings you choose is as personal as the faith you practice. Gail offers great tips for saving at any age. The earlier you start the better for you in the long run.
Chapter 9 - Build an Emergency Fund
The chapter title is one that I love - but here's the thing. This is a savings chapter. The reason it is a chapter by itself is this. The money in this fund is what you've saved ON TOP OF the savings for your future. This account is the one that will e there when you fall ill, you lose your job, a fire happens, a death happens, This is the account that you use when a true emergency happens.
An emergency fund has already helped me out in some not-so-nice situations. Without it I would have had to use my credit card or borrow the money form family. Instead I used my emergency fund and was able to keep going with my repayment plan and continue to move that debt down. This is also another reason to get a second job or make more money. In my opinion and in Gail's opinion, this is a necessity. it gets you through in times of need, and allows you the peace of mind that you don't have to worry about things when something bad happens.
How do you build your emergency fund? You take your budget and make a chart. On that chart you write out each category and the amount you need each month. you set up boxes for at least 6 months. Check them off as you save the amount of each category until you've built u enough for at least 6 months. I personally use a TFSA for this so I can earn some interest on the money that I'm saving. Some people like GIC's, some mutual funds. The point of this fund is that you can access it when you absolutely need to.
Chapter 10 - Plan Like a Pessimist
Gail's famous line. This section talks about insurance - life, health, disability, and wills. Pretty much it boils down to this. You need Life Insurance. You should have Disability Insurance. You NEED a will. Even if you are single. She takes a look at different types of life insurances available and helps you determine which is the best for you. The most important thing I took form this chapter is that I need to get a will made. I may not have children yet, but I do have assets and debt. These items are enough for me to create a will that helps my family make some decisions when I die, as well as take it away from the Government. I'd rather see my sister get my car, my family be able to use my savings and RRSP to pay off my debt and help out with any costs incurred because I passed away.
Chapter 11 - When Caca Hits the Fan
This chapter gives you a step by step process of what to do when you lose your job. It also gives you guidelines and a plan for when your bills get to collections. A very useful chapter to have in case of things like this. I found it quite informative about what collections agents can and can't do when looking to collect. I had no idea that they have to contact you at your residence only at certain times of the day. Yes they can call you at 7am but not before. Unless you are in a collection or job loss situation, this chapter's best asset is that it can prepare you and let you know you can take steps to getting through the situation. The biggest lesson I got was YOU NEED AN EMERGENCY FUND!
Part 5 - Stay the Course
Chapter 12 - Stay Debt-Free
Here it is folks. The last chapter of the book. You've completed your budget. You've been marching towards debt freedom for about 2 years. You have your savings accounts set up. You are looking after your future. You have Life insurance, disability insurance and a will. You're emergency fund is healthy and supple. yesterday you made the last payment on all your debts. So now what?
Now you get to stay that way right? For most of us that's not going to be the case. We are afraid of being able to feel confident in our financial situation. We are afraid to be happy without debt. And for the most part we just don't know what to do with ourselves without it. To stay debt free you need to continue to be mindful of your spending. You need to make sure you've got one more account in place - one that holds some money you can easily drop onto your debt to pay it off each month. it's different then the future account, the emergency account, the vacation account and the regular everyday banking account - unless you're the type of person who can exercise extreme discipline enough to leave all this in one account.
Adjust your budget with the money you no longer have to give back to someone. Increase your savings and give yourself back a little more room in the regular budget to be able to comfortably handle life without debt.
Most of all, enjoy the accomplishment you've made and make sure you've really learned the lessons you've learned along the way.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. As a PF blogger, and Gail supporter, most of the information I found to be repetitious from my own study. However, having a place I can go and read over and over again to reinforce behaviour is much more valuable to me. I liked the tips Gail offers throughout the book. I like that she truly does understand what's happening in your head while you are on this journey and that while reading I could hear her saying some of the things to me. I like that I have a reference away from electronic modes to get me through my journey. For those who need the help this is an excellent book to follow - if you are willing to do the work. If you aren't going to do the work to get yourself out of the situation and are looking for a quick fix, then this isn't the place for you. In fact, I'd go so far to say that if you are looking for a quick fix then you aren't ready to fix your problem.
As the saying goes, You did the crime, now you have to do the time. the time is sitting down with yourself and your debt and getting to know them both. this book will help direct you on that discovery path, as well as give you the concrete methods to get yourself out of debt.
I'll be passing it on to my sister and brother-in-law. I think they really need to sit down and read this.
We left off having to finish PArt 3, 4, and 5. For the first half of the book review, head Here.
Part 3 - Change Your Habits
Chapter 6 - Make More Money
If you are a follower of Gail's then you'll understand this part is pretty self-explanatory. The idea is if you've completed the exercises in the first half of the book and you need to increase your income to make up the shortfall you'll have to make more money. Myraid ways to do this, are only inhibited by your creative thinking skills. Ask friends to watch their children for a reasonable rate. Clean someone's house. Post that you are willing to personal shop or drive elderly people to their destinations for a fee. Perhaps you have a scrapbooking talent, can sing, play guitar, or teach piano? The point of this section is to think about what you can do to increase your income to help meet the needs you have. Although increasing your money seems to be the most obvious way to make those ends meet, Gail is quick to tell you that perhaps it's the priorities in your life you may need to reassess. 45 pairs of shoes, 15 handbags, 30 pair of jeans, and closets and draweres bursting with clothing are not needs! A clothing budget, if you have credit card debt and clothing coming out of every available space shows a large disconnect between your desire to be debt free and your desire to be stylish. consign the clothing you aren't wearing or simply return stuff with tags still on it. Align yourself to your goals. Re-evaluate your needs from the luxury wants you've incorporated into your life.
Take a good hard look at your budget and see where you can cut back.
Chapter 7 - Shop Consciously
This furthers the points Gail was making in Chapter 6. Shopping with coupons, shopping sales, or just plain not shopping are all thins suggested in this part. What I found most helpful here are the sections on learning about your Gremlin's. These are the little feeling and voices you get when you are doing things. They tell you that you need another {fill in blank} to make you feel better. The Gremlin tells you that you work hard so you deserve [fill in blank here]. Learning your Gremlin is the best thing you can do to help yourself on the Debt-Freedom track you are on. The rest of this chapter discusses strategies for dealign with the gremlin and shopping consciously and changing your behaviours
This by far was the most insightful chapter for me. It helps to understand yourself, to prove to yourself why your behaviours needs to change and why you do things that you do.
Part 4 - Prepare for the Future
Chapter 8 - Save for the Long-Term
Seems simple enough right? Well that would depend on what advice you have been following and the conclusions you've made on your own. This chapter talks about how things used to be Earn $10, Save $1. Nowadays there re many people you feel so overwhelmed with their financial situation they can't grasp the reason to save for the future. If you plan on working forever, then I can understand why you can't see the reason for saving for the future. But, if you want a house, cottage, car, to retire, new tires for your current car, another pair of jeans, another pair of shoes, a vacation, then you need to save for the future.
This section helps get past all the excuses you can have for not doing it. The point it makes is that it should be done. Always. Saving is the thing that will get you ahead. The type of savings you choose is as personal as the faith you practice. Gail offers great tips for saving at any age. The earlier you start the better for you in the long run.
Chapter 9 - Build an Emergency Fund
The chapter title is one that I love - but here's the thing. This is a savings chapter. The reason it is a chapter by itself is this. The money in this fund is what you've saved ON TOP OF the savings for your future. This account is the one that will e there when you fall ill, you lose your job, a fire happens, a death happens, This is the account that you use when a true emergency happens.
An emergency fund has already helped me out in some not-so-nice situations. Without it I would have had to use my credit card or borrow the money form family. Instead I used my emergency fund and was able to keep going with my repayment plan and continue to move that debt down. This is also another reason to get a second job or make more money. In my opinion and in Gail's opinion, this is a necessity. it gets you through in times of need, and allows you the peace of mind that you don't have to worry about things when something bad happens.
How do you build your emergency fund? You take your budget and make a chart. On that chart you write out each category and the amount you need each month. you set up boxes for at least 6 months. Check them off as you save the amount of each category until you've built u enough for at least 6 months. I personally use a TFSA for this so I can earn some interest on the money that I'm saving. Some people like GIC's, some mutual funds. The point of this fund is that you can access it when you absolutely need to.
Chapter 10 - Plan Like a Pessimist
Gail's famous line. This section talks about insurance - life, health, disability, and wills. Pretty much it boils down to this. You need Life Insurance. You should have Disability Insurance. You NEED a will. Even if you are single. She takes a look at different types of life insurances available and helps you determine which is the best for you. The most important thing I took form this chapter is that I need to get a will made. I may not have children yet, but I do have assets and debt. These items are enough for me to create a will that helps my family make some decisions when I die, as well as take it away from the Government. I'd rather see my sister get my car, my family be able to use my savings and RRSP to pay off my debt and help out with any costs incurred because I passed away.
Chapter 11 - When Caca Hits the Fan
This chapter gives you a step by step process of what to do when you lose your job. It also gives you guidelines and a plan for when your bills get to collections. A very useful chapter to have in case of things like this. I found it quite informative about what collections agents can and can't do when looking to collect. I had no idea that they have to contact you at your residence only at certain times of the day. Yes they can call you at 7am but not before. Unless you are in a collection or job loss situation, this chapter's best asset is that it can prepare you and let you know you can take steps to getting through the situation. The biggest lesson I got was YOU NEED AN EMERGENCY FUND!
Part 5 - Stay the Course
Chapter 12 - Stay Debt-Free
Here it is folks. The last chapter of the book. You've completed your budget. You've been marching towards debt freedom for about 2 years. You have your savings accounts set up. You are looking after your future. You have Life insurance, disability insurance and a will. You're emergency fund is healthy and supple. yesterday you made the last payment on all your debts. So now what?
Now you get to stay that way right? For most of us that's not going to be the case. We are afraid of being able to feel confident in our financial situation. We are afraid to be happy without debt. And for the most part we just don't know what to do with ourselves without it. To stay debt free you need to continue to be mindful of your spending. You need to make sure you've got one more account in place - one that holds some money you can easily drop onto your debt to pay it off each month. it's different then the future account, the emergency account, the vacation account and the regular everyday banking account - unless you're the type of person who can exercise extreme discipline enough to leave all this in one account.
Adjust your budget with the money you no longer have to give back to someone. Increase your savings and give yourself back a little more room in the regular budget to be able to comfortably handle life without debt.
Most of all, enjoy the accomplishment you've made and make sure you've really learned the lessons you've learned along the way.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. As a PF blogger, and Gail supporter, most of the information I found to be repetitious from my own study. However, having a place I can go and read over and over again to reinforce behaviour is much more valuable to me. I liked the tips Gail offers throughout the book. I like that she truly does understand what's happening in your head while you are on this journey and that while reading I could hear her saying some of the things to me. I like that I have a reference away from electronic modes to get me through my journey. For those who need the help this is an excellent book to follow - if you are willing to do the work. If you aren't going to do the work to get yourself out of the situation and are looking for a quick fix, then this isn't the place for you. In fact, I'd go so far to say that if you are looking for a quick fix then you aren't ready to fix your problem.
As the saying goes, You did the crime, now you have to do the time. the time is sitting down with yourself and your debt and getting to know them both. this book will help direct you on that discovery path, as well as give you the concrete methods to get yourself out of debt.
I'll be passing it on to my sister and brother-in-law. I think they really need to sit down and read this.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Meditating on my goals
A post yesterday from a great couple lead me to enjoy the jubilation of seeing someone so close to reaching their goal! A comment I made to this couple promoted a thought and a post on meditation. My comment was meant to be a well done, and a humourous reminder that they were so close now that they just needed to keep focus a little while longer.
What grew from there was a second response by me on meditation. From there I had a thought.
How many of us know what meditation is, or how to do it?
The answer that I've come up with is this. Meditation takes many forms. It is personal, and therefore looks different for each one of us.
Meditation's purpose is to make the mind calm and peaceful. It is supposed to bring an awareness of of mind to us. I meditate by taking a few minutes each day to sit comfortably with my back straight and just breathe deeply. Paying attention to my breath moving in and out of my body helps me shut out the pace of life.
Recently I've employed the services of a life coach to help me meet some personal goals and to guide me through my self-study. We've gone through questions that have yielded surprising answers for me, and he's helped me with techniques designed to self-reflect on feelings, attitudes, emotions, perceptions and actions. It's helping me understand that though I am a positive person, I still have room to grow. This is also helping me vocalize what I truly want, be honest without feeling guilty and reflect my true self - not the self people want of me.
I use meditation to help quiet the mind, to take some personal time away from the business of life and to shut down for a little while. Previous meditation session have resulted in reaching a deeper more relaxed state of sleep, a clearer idea of what I want, and the formulation of a step by step plan to get there.
Sometimes I meditate by journalling my thoughts from the past few days to help work out on paper how I'm feeling about things. Sometimes my meditation is simply a quiet cup of tea on the balconey listening to nature. The point is I'm sitting quietly away from electronic distractions, with not much more than myself - sometimes props of drink, book or pen are added, but often times it's just me. These times have yielded some great things - watching a mated bird couple find a good nesting area to raise their young; watching a chipmunk discover food and pack it's cheeks full; watching a new puppy master the art of sitting and observing it's surroundings for dangers. Other times it lets me puzzle through a conversation I had that I could have done something better in, and revisiting that with the other party.
Meditation, or learning to meditate, does not require all the answers before you start. It does require a quiet comfortable place to sit or rest. Breathing meditation is the easiest and most basic form of meditation. You require nothing but something your body already does for you.
How many of you use something like this to help you through your journey towards the life you want?
What grew from there was a second response by me on meditation. From there I had a thought.
How many of us know what meditation is, or how to do it?
The answer that I've come up with is this. Meditation takes many forms. It is personal, and therefore looks different for each one of us.
Meditation's purpose is to make the mind calm and peaceful. It is supposed to bring an awareness of of mind to us. I meditate by taking a few minutes each day to sit comfortably with my back straight and just breathe deeply. Paying attention to my breath moving in and out of my body helps me shut out the pace of life.
Recently I've employed the services of a life coach to help me meet some personal goals and to guide me through my self-study. We've gone through questions that have yielded surprising answers for me, and he's helped me with techniques designed to self-reflect on feelings, attitudes, emotions, perceptions and actions. It's helping me understand that though I am a positive person, I still have room to grow. This is also helping me vocalize what I truly want, be honest without feeling guilty and reflect my true self - not the self people want of me.
I use meditation to help quiet the mind, to take some personal time away from the business of life and to shut down for a little while. Previous meditation session have resulted in reaching a deeper more relaxed state of sleep, a clearer idea of what I want, and the formulation of a step by step plan to get there.
Sometimes I meditate by journalling my thoughts from the past few days to help work out on paper how I'm feeling about things. Sometimes my meditation is simply a quiet cup of tea on the balconey listening to nature. The point is I'm sitting quietly away from electronic distractions, with not much more than myself - sometimes props of drink, book or pen are added, but often times it's just me. These times have yielded some great things - watching a mated bird couple find a good nesting area to raise their young; watching a chipmunk discover food and pack it's cheeks full; watching a new puppy master the art of sitting and observing it's surroundings for dangers. Other times it lets me puzzle through a conversation I had that I could have done something better in, and revisiting that with the other party.
Meditation, or learning to meditate, does not require all the answers before you start. It does require a quiet comfortable place to sit or rest. Breathing meditation is the easiest and most basic form of meditation. You require nothing but something your body already does for you.
How many of you use something like this to help you through your journey towards the life you want?
Monday, April 12, 2010
Sugar or something else?
I get sugar cravings. It's my only vice, and the number one addiction in the world. Don't think you have this problem? Try going 1 complete day without any processed or refined sugar in anything (No bread, cookies, store bought foods, fast food, coffee). All of these things are sugar (yes coffee is too - it's called caffeine and a form of sugar to your body). Try one day. If you already do that on a regular basis get through one week of this and see how you are. First three days you'll be lethargic, royally cranky, moody and emotional - even you men. Anger is an emotion. Last 2 days you'll suddenly start feeling better. You won't like what you are eating, you won't like the taste of most things but your body will be silently cheering.
Our livers get damaged just as much from the foods we eat and the stuff we drink. The difference? The names we give to the diseases and the process they are diagnosed by. Ever had your doctor ask you to write out your foods for two weeks when you go in with a cold or flu and want a cure for them? Ever had your doctor ask you to write out your food diary for a month when you figure out your cholesterol is high, your blood pressure is high, your joints are feeling pain or you keep getting sick but you don't know why? Nope, me either. Sugar is in just about everything right? Yep! Here's the catch though, your body synthesizes natural sugars the way it does processed - it can't tell the difference between them at the synthesis stage. It stores excess in fat cells, but doesn't burn those up because of the eating habits you have - it just burns the stuff you just gave it to digest - it's easier. I am addicted to sugar and know it. Here's what I learned though - and it's taken me 31 years to learn this. My sugar cravings are not sugar cravings. They are fuel cravings.
I'll say that again. My sugar cravings are not sugar cravings. They are fuel cravings. My brain crosses the signals a bit and associates the cravings with sugary items because it's the fuel it's looking for and sugar is the fastest thing and easiest attainable item to synthesis into energy for the body. How did I figure this out? I went out dinner on my birthday. I ate at a lovely Italien Restaurant in town. I enjoyed a Brie and Roasted Pepper Appetizer, an Garden Salad, and lovely plate of salmon with roasted vegetables and a proper sized portion of citrus infused linguini under the salmon. I ate the entire salmon, most of the pasta, all of the veg. When asked about a dessert menu I declined - my partner did not. I had one spoonful of Tiramisu and then simply understood that wasn't at all what I wanted and did not eat any more. My body needed the protein from the fish. And I did not crave the sweet ending to dinner like I usually do.
It was pointed out to me though, that perhaps it wasn't the protein necessarily but the omega fatty acids that were needed. This will be something I test out in the next little while. Protein, whole carbs (veg, whole grains, fruits) and lots of water are fantastic way to give your body what it truly needs.
A mentor of mine has given a speech in recent times about the Elixir of Life. Anyone know what it is? I love the speech he gives because he adds in a conversation never before heard between parent and child.
Some of you may have said, well if my body doesn't know the difference between processed and natural sugars why should I care? Please note that I said during synthesis of those foods with the sugar in it, it can't tell the difference. It can tell the difference in digestion, use, and leftovers of that sugar. We create processed foods with all kinds of chemicals. Can you pronounce and read all 42 ingredients in your favourite snack cake? How about the 16 ingredients in your favourite Canned/boxed soup? Or tin of your favourite store-bought coffee? Tim Horton's Coffee isn't coffee beans and water.
You make soup at home right? K - pick a kind and figure out how many ingredients you put into it. Please note that if you use a tin of consumme, crushed tomatoes, beef/chicken stock, this isn't from scratch - it's just mostly homemade - and all those ingredients in the tin count! Sugar isn't the only thing that we need to watch out for - it's also the sodium, or salt products we find in all of our foods.
Are you someone who salts soup when you by it? Are you someone who salts any food you eat because you think it adds flavour? Have you actually read the package to see the amount of salt already in the food you are eating? Try it some time. Please note though, the package probably won't call salt salt on the package. You'll find it as Sodium something, Potassium, something, Magnesium something. Hidden salt by a different name! ACK!
The point I"m trying to make is this. If you get a hanckering for something savory, sweet, salty, crunchy or whatever else you crave, it may not be that item you are craving. It may be your body telling you it needs something like omega fatty acids, proteins, veggies, good carbs or something else like zinc or magnesium, calcium or whatever. You should try listening to it and try resolving the issue with somethign good for you and not processed or whatever.
Here's a good one to start. If you feel hungry - drink 500ml of water first. If you feel tired, drink 500ml of water. If you feel like you need a coffee, drink 500ml of water before your coffee. In the morning when you wake up drink 500 ml of water before you eat breakfast or drink that first cup of coffee. think you need a sugar fix? Try 500 ml of water first.
Want to know why? Listen to this Speech. You may learn a thing or two. It's called "I know you know, but do you understand." Are you hydrated?
Our livers get damaged just as much from the foods we eat and the stuff we drink. The difference? The names we give to the diseases and the process they are diagnosed by. Ever had your doctor ask you to write out your foods for two weeks when you go in with a cold or flu and want a cure for them? Ever had your doctor ask you to write out your food diary for a month when you figure out your cholesterol is high, your blood pressure is high, your joints are feeling pain or you keep getting sick but you don't know why? Nope, me either. Sugar is in just about everything right? Yep! Here's the catch though, your body synthesizes natural sugars the way it does processed - it can't tell the difference between them at the synthesis stage. It stores excess in fat cells, but doesn't burn those up because of the eating habits you have - it just burns the stuff you just gave it to digest - it's easier. I am addicted to sugar and know it. Here's what I learned though - and it's taken me 31 years to learn this. My sugar cravings are not sugar cravings. They are fuel cravings.
I'll say that again. My sugar cravings are not sugar cravings. They are fuel cravings. My brain crosses the signals a bit and associates the cravings with sugary items because it's the fuel it's looking for and sugar is the fastest thing and easiest attainable item to synthesis into energy for the body. How did I figure this out? I went out dinner on my birthday. I ate at a lovely Italien Restaurant in town. I enjoyed a Brie and Roasted Pepper Appetizer, an Garden Salad, and lovely plate of salmon with roasted vegetables and a proper sized portion of citrus infused linguini under the salmon. I ate the entire salmon, most of the pasta, all of the veg. When asked about a dessert menu I declined - my partner did not. I had one spoonful of Tiramisu and then simply understood that wasn't at all what I wanted and did not eat any more. My body needed the protein from the fish. And I did not crave the sweet ending to dinner like I usually do.
It was pointed out to me though, that perhaps it wasn't the protein necessarily but the omega fatty acids that were needed. This will be something I test out in the next little while. Protein, whole carbs (veg, whole grains, fruits) and lots of water are fantastic way to give your body what it truly needs.
A mentor of mine has given a speech in recent times about the Elixir of Life. Anyone know what it is? I love the speech he gives because he adds in a conversation never before heard between parent and child.
Some of you may have said, well if my body doesn't know the difference between processed and natural sugars why should I care? Please note that I said during synthesis of those foods with the sugar in it, it can't tell the difference. It can tell the difference in digestion, use, and leftovers of that sugar. We create processed foods with all kinds of chemicals. Can you pronounce and read all 42 ingredients in your favourite snack cake? How about the 16 ingredients in your favourite Canned/boxed soup? Or tin of your favourite store-bought coffee? Tim Horton's Coffee isn't coffee beans and water.
You make soup at home right? K - pick a kind and figure out how many ingredients you put into it. Please note that if you use a tin of consumme, crushed tomatoes, beef/chicken stock, this isn't from scratch - it's just mostly homemade - and all those ingredients in the tin count! Sugar isn't the only thing that we need to watch out for - it's also the sodium, or salt products we find in all of our foods.
Are you someone who salts soup when you by it? Are you someone who salts any food you eat because you think it adds flavour? Have you actually read the package to see the amount of salt already in the food you are eating? Try it some time. Please note though, the package probably won't call salt salt on the package. You'll find it as Sodium something, Potassium, something, Magnesium something. Hidden salt by a different name! ACK!
The point I"m trying to make is this. If you get a hanckering for something savory, sweet, salty, crunchy or whatever else you crave, it may not be that item you are craving. It may be your body telling you it needs something like omega fatty acids, proteins, veggies, good carbs or something else like zinc or magnesium, calcium or whatever. You should try listening to it and try resolving the issue with somethign good for you and not processed or whatever.
Here's a good one to start. If you feel hungry - drink 500ml of water first. If you feel tired, drink 500ml of water. If you feel like you need a coffee, drink 500ml of water before your coffee. In the morning when you wake up drink 500 ml of water before you eat breakfast or drink that first cup of coffee. think you need a sugar fix? Try 500 ml of water first.
Want to know why? Listen to this Speech. You may learn a thing or two. It's called "I know you know, but do you understand." Are you hydrated?
Some new things!
It's been a while since I've posted. Some pretty interesting things have happened. Firstly, though not interesting I did end up getting a horrible head cold that basically knocked me on my butt for the past two weeks. I can breathe today and it'll be the first day I get back to the gym as well.
Reading the paper this morning I came across this article on the new Renters break on the HST. it boils down to this - there are close-loops in place that won't pass the HST increase on to renters. All that can happen is that an increase based on the CPI can be put through (as is already happening). Great news for us!
Something else that has happened - I had to get new tires for the car and I went and got myself some life-coaching from a person I respect greatly, to help me figure out some things, and get me to some goals I have. A bit costly, and I ate up most of my savings, but that's what the account is for I guess.
I am half way through the payments for my debt for this month as well - which means I'll be 17 months away from debt free!
Oh, and I'm sure all of you are wondering how the experiment for lent went. (In case you forgot, I gave up my boyfriend for lent). It allowed me the time I needed to reflect on myself and learn more about myself. I am not exactly over the situation, but with the life coach, I am figuring out what I want most and how to get it - not just in my relationship, but in all aspects of life. It's helping so far.
Boyfriend learned a few things as well. I am not keeping quiet anymore. If he's being a pain for no reason I tell him about it. if I don't want to do something, I'm vocal about it. I learned that even after Easter (and my illness) that this is an ongoing challenge. I learned that even on my birthday he can be selfish. I learned that no matter how long we talk, I value different things than he does, and I remember more than he does. I'm still discovering things about me that will impact this relationship as well. I am committed to the relationship in that I need to figure out if we can move past this, or not. I am committed to trying to work through some things. The trouble I'm having right now is this...I'm doing everything I can think of to work through this, change some things and grow, but he still thinks there isn't anything wrong. I suppose this is the biggest thing that is bothering me.
So that's a quick update of things over the past couple of weeks. I learned while I was sick that honouring my body and what it needs can be as simple as staying home for work, sleeping when the body says TIRED. I didn't try to go to the gym and work out through this. I've done that before and all it does it keep the cold longer and make me feel more exhausted. This time I rested until I could breath again. Today is the first day i actually feel completely better. Today will be the first day i go back to my exercise program. it's amazing to me also, that honouring what your body tells you helps get over things faster, make you feel better in the long run and gives you the presence of body and mind to understand there isn't anything lazy about getting sick.
I'd love it if everyone began to become more aware of themselves. Finding what it is you truly want in life, and being tuned in enough to understand what your body is really telling you.
Reading the paper this morning I came across this article on the new Renters break on the HST. it boils down to this - there are close-loops in place that won't pass the HST increase on to renters. All that can happen is that an increase based on the CPI can be put through (as is already happening). Great news for us!
Something else that has happened - I had to get new tires for the car and I went and got myself some life-coaching from a person I respect greatly, to help me figure out some things, and get me to some goals I have. A bit costly, and I ate up most of my savings, but that's what the account is for I guess.
I am half way through the payments for my debt for this month as well - which means I'll be 17 months away from debt free!
Oh, and I'm sure all of you are wondering how the experiment for lent went. (In case you forgot, I gave up my boyfriend for lent). It allowed me the time I needed to reflect on myself and learn more about myself. I am not exactly over the situation, but with the life coach, I am figuring out what I want most and how to get it - not just in my relationship, but in all aspects of life. It's helping so far.
Boyfriend learned a few things as well. I am not keeping quiet anymore. If he's being a pain for no reason I tell him about it. if I don't want to do something, I'm vocal about it. I learned that even after Easter (and my illness) that this is an ongoing challenge. I learned that even on my birthday he can be selfish. I learned that no matter how long we talk, I value different things than he does, and I remember more than he does. I'm still discovering things about me that will impact this relationship as well. I am committed to the relationship in that I need to figure out if we can move past this, or not. I am committed to trying to work through some things. The trouble I'm having right now is this...I'm doing everything I can think of to work through this, change some things and grow, but he still thinks there isn't anything wrong. I suppose this is the biggest thing that is bothering me.
So that's a quick update of things over the past couple of weeks. I learned while I was sick that honouring my body and what it needs can be as simple as staying home for work, sleeping when the body says TIRED. I didn't try to go to the gym and work out through this. I've done that before and all it does it keep the cold longer and make me feel more exhausted. This time I rested until I could breath again. Today is the first day i actually feel completely better. Today will be the first day i go back to my exercise program. it's amazing to me also, that honouring what your body tells you helps get over things faster, make you feel better in the long run and gives you the presence of body and mind to understand there isn't anything lazy about getting sick.
I'd love it if everyone began to become more aware of themselves. Finding what it is you truly want in life, and being tuned in enough to understand what your body is really telling you.
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