Talk. Not Treats: A Powerful Manifesto

My brilliant client, entrepreneur Karri Flatla, recently penned a manifesto borne from her personal frustration as a parent to two young children, as a participant in a society that tends to take the easy way out by bribing with “treats” versus taking the time to talk and get to the core of what children (and the rest of us!) REALLY need.

I just read it and have massive goose bumps. Well said, Karri.

Here it is: Talk. Not Treats.

How do you handle the “treats vs. talk” situations you find yourself (and your children) in?

Hey, United Airlines! Need my help designing your gluten-free menu?

An open invitation to United Airlines. Call me! 1.415.595.5775

Dear United Airlines:

My husband Andy (a recent 1K member) and I (formerly Premier Exec, currently trying to adjust to life as a non-status flier) were recently on an international flight returning home.

I am sensitive to gluten, so I had naturally requested a gluten-free menu. All was well… until breakfast. So here’s what went down:

I’m starving.
My tray arrives.
I look at the tray. I look at Andy. I look back at the tray.
I say, “They must be bringing the rest of my breakfast separately.”
I wait. I wait some more. Tired of waiting, I ask a flight attendant.
We’re told, “This is your breakfast.”
I snort out loud, I’m laughing so hard.

Mixed Feelings About National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day

is Today.

I have mixed feelings about it. The information trumpeted out is helpful, the awareness and support is undeniably fantastic and much, much needed,… but it’s not the full picture as it’s skewed towards western (allopathic) medicine.

If 5% of my healing was thanks to western medicine, 95% of my healing was thanks to “alternative” medicine (with is not my “alternative” – it’s my default when it comes to my chronic conditions).

These include:

- Naturopathic medicine, including pharmaceutical-grade supplements to rebuild my deficiencies, get rid of my antibiotic-induced gallstones without surgery, plus oral chelation for heavy metals, and homeopathy for a host of other things

Uh-Oh. Great Coffee. (And is it ok for your health?)

I think I may have just found the perfect coffee.

1. It’s shade-grown and songbird friendly (which supports my love of songbirds… see this post: Tweet Tweet
2. It’s decaf. SWISS WATER PROCESS decaffeinated to boot! So hard to find… Why is this so great? With clean-body living, it is necessary for me given my health and low-to-no tolerance to chemicals to seek this out, because this decaffeination process is 100% chemical free. Click here to learn about what this safer-than-conventional decaffeination process is all about: http://www.swisswater.com/
3. It’s organic. Yay.
4. It’s priced comparably, if not cheaper than other good quality coffees.

Yay for the Downturn in the Economy! A.k.a. Who are YOU?

It’s already happening. I hear more people talking about spending more time together, rather than spending more money.

I, for one, while I feel for everyone who’s been affected by the economic crisis (really, who hasn’t?), feel that it was time for a reality check. And not just about how much and possibly how frivolously we were all spending, buying, consuming… but also a reality check for how fast we’re living, always gunning for more, better, faster… and ruining our health in the meantime.

And what have you got if you haven’t got your health?

The Power of Words… and Pain

It’s way past bedtime for me but I have such a buzz that I can’t get to sleep.

No, not that kind of buzz!

The best kind – a natural high. I spoke in front of 500 people (and had a great time doing it!) but that wasn’t even the best part. (I actually asked for some red wine tonight but just realized I didn’t even take a sip… I don’t drink anymore… my body doesn’t like it.)

Taking Stock

It’s been a rainy few days here in San Francisco. And with the 3-day weekend, super quiet. Even the confused too-early spring buds have retreated again.

For me, different ribbons of experience have been converging and making this a time for taking stock, not just of this past year, but the past 2.5 years:

Isn't it funny?

Have you ever noticed how we tend to be uncomfortable when people are smiling / laughing / chuckling to themselves?

And yet we, by default, consider it perfectly normal when people walk around with a frown / scowl / worry on their face?

Is that funny? Or sad?

I noticed this when I had a lot of introverted, observing, quiet time riding on buses between my myriad medical appointments, sometimes dozens of hours a week.

Look, watch. You’ll notice.

So be bad and smile a bit today. See who’s watching and smiling back.