The Weight of Objects-Clearing a Space for Change & Growth!

The Weight of Objects
Clearing a Space for Change

We hold onto material objects because we think they make us feel secure, when in reality they are cluttering our lives.

In life, we tend to have an easier time acquiring possessions than we do getting rid of them. Just as we harbor emotional baggage that is difficult to let go of, our lives can tend to be filled with material objects that we may feel compelled to hold on to. Most people are not conscious of how much they own and how many of their possessions are no longer adding value to their life. They fiercely hold on to material objects because this makes them feel secure or comfortable. While it’s true that the ownership of “stuff” can make you feel good for awhile, it seldom satisfies the deep inner longings that nearly everyone has for fulfillment and satisfaction. It is only when we are ready to let go of our baggage and be vulnerable that it becomes possible to recognize the emotional hold that our possessions can have on us.

It’s not uncommon to hold on to material objects because we are attached to them or fear the empty spaces that will remain if we get rid of them. Giving away the souvenirs from a beloved voyage may feel like we are erasing the memory of that time in our life. We may also worry that our loved ones will feel hurt if we don’t keep the gifts they’ve given us. It’s easy to convince ourselves that unused possessions might come in handy someday or that parting with them will cause you emotional pain. However, when your personal space is filled with objects, there is no room for anything new to enter and stay in your life. Your collection of belongings may “protect” you from the uncertainties of an unknown future while keeping you stuck in the past. Holding on to unnecessary possessions often goes hand in hand with holding on to pain, anger, and resentment, and letting go of your material possessions may help you release emotional baggage.

When you make a conscious decision to fill your personal space with only the objects that you need or bring you joy, your energy level will soar. Clearing your personal space can lead to mental clarity and an improved memory. As you learn to have a more practical and temporary relationship to objects, positive changes will happen, and you’ll have space to create the life that you desire. 


(Wanted to share my today's Daily Message) As I can definitely relate to this as some friends/family are...how do I say this politely: Pack Rats!! People need to know that a Cluttered life has NO room to grow!! Please make space so you can blossom to the fullest & best of your abilities!! 

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4 Important Exercises Every High-Heel Wearer Should Do

There may be benefits to working out in heels, but those leg-lengtheners can also be bad news for your body. Constant heel wearing can lead to a host of problems, from inflamed nerves to long-term joint problems. Scary stuff, right? I'm a high-heel fan, but after listening to a long explanation (read: lecture) about the horrible effects of high heels from my trainer last week, I've been trying to combat a bit of the damage. Read on for three important types of strengthening and stretching exercises for anyone who is head over heels for high heels.

• Calves. Hoofing it on heels leaves your calf muscles in a shortened position, which can mean weakened muscles when the heels come off. Remember to stretch out your calves after wearing heels in order to give them relief.

Find three more important areas every high-heel wearer should strengthen after the break.

• Ankles. Walking on stick-thin stiletto heels is no small feat. To help prevent a tumble and serious injury, incorporate simple exercises that strengthen your ankles, like walking on your tiptoes and doing squats on the Bosu.
• Balance. The lift you get from wearing heels also challenges your body's sense of equilibrium, which can mean a lot of muscles are working to keep you upright. This can lead to more pressure on your lower back, so add a few yoga moves to your morning routine, trace the alphabet with one foot while standing on one leg, and focus on ab-strengthening exercises in order to help your body reposition itself correctly when you've strutting with those four-inchers.
• Achilles tendon. If you're a regular heel wearer, switching abruptly from heels to flats can cause Achilles tendonitis — when your Achilles tendon, which attaches to your calf muscle, becomes inflamed. Make sure you keep your Achilles tendon happy with a few strengthening stretches like this one: stand on a step or curb with your heels hanging off, and rise up and down on your toes.

Source: Thinkstock

Essentials of LIFE: 9 Best Times To Drink Water

 9 Best Times To Drink Water

Are You Drinking Water When You Need It Most

By Rose Alexander
How do you feel about drinking water? Naturally, you probably drink some water in the course of a day. Even if you don’t have a glass of clear water, you can find more limited sources of drinking water in beverages like tea and coffee, and in foods such as soups and stews. Did you know that drinking water could be a lifesaver? Pure, clean drinking water does much to keep your body running smoothly and to guard your health. Want to drink more water to benefit your health? Try these tips for identifying nine times that your body needs drinking water most.

1. Drink water when you first get up.

Imagine walking into a dark room and looking for something. Chances are you will stumble and maybe even fall unless you turn on the light. Or consider starting your car in sub-zero temperatures and putting it into gear without waiting for the engine to warm up. Either situation can lead to problems or even disasters. The same is true of the human body. Without water to “wake up and turn on” the body each day, you may be running on empty, especially if you skip breakfast altogether. Have a glass of cool water right after you wake up in the morning to tell your body it’s time to get started. Like a gently flowing stream that pushes along debris and rocks, your circulatory system needs fluid to get rid of stubborn free radicals and residue from burned calories that were used during the night’s metabolism. Refresh your system with a drink of water.

2. Drink water before each meal.

Drinking water before a meal helps you feel fuller, so you may be less likely to attack your meal like a starving person. Water helps prepare the stomach for the food that will follow, waking up taste buds on the tongue and moisturizing the stomach lining so brittle or acidic foods won’t be uncomfortable. Having a glass of water clears your mouth of dryness or leftover tastes from earlier dining, drinking, or smoking in anticipation of the food that is coming.

3. Drink water with a snack.

Between meals, if you feel hungry, try some fresh drinking water first to see if you are dehydrated. Sometimes people think they are hungry when they really are just thirsty. If you shop at the grocery store or supermarket while dehydrated, chances are you are going to spend more to subconsciously fill that empty urge. Drinking water before a snack, or with one, will help you feel full faster and perhaps eat less, a habit that could benefit two-thirds of our nation that is considered overweight or obese.

4. Drink water before a workout. 

Depending on the temperature, humidity, and your body’s fluid levels, you may need one or several glasses of water, each about eight ounces, to arm yourself against dehydration during an indoor or outdoor workout.

Whether you play for a sports team or simply jog for personal fitness, hydration is essential to help guard against heat stroke in warm weather and frostbite in cold temperatures, as your body’s circulation plays a protective role in both seasons.

5. Drink water after a workout.

Following your exercise session, drink up to replace fluids lost by sweating and physical labor. Don’t drink too much too quickly, or you could induce stomach cramps. But make sure you drink enough so you don’t stay dehydrated.

6. Have water with your medication, if allowed.

If you are allowed to take water with your medication, do so. Water helps to dissolve the medication and spread it throughout your digestive organs for rapid absorption. Water prepares the tissues to receive the substance and put it to work right away. Water also helps medicine work its way through your system and out the other end, which can be beneficial when you take harsh medications with side effects.

7. Drink more water to prevent illness following exposures.

If you are around sick people in the hospital or at work and school, drink a little more water than usual to wash away germs and viruses that your body may have picked up from exposure to these people. A well-hydrated body helps to move along any invaders before they settle down and multiply in your system. Drinking water each day before or after going out in public can help to prevent certain types of viruses, or lessen their severity.

8. Drink more water when you’re ill.

When you do become ill, drink plenty of fluids—the old-time recipe still works. Most experts recommend drinking eight glasses of water each day (eight ounces per glass), in addition to other fluids like tea, juice, and soup.

People in the hospital often have an IV dripping water into their vein continuously so they can keep hydrated as well as maintain a line to your body if medications are needed.

9. Have a glass of water when you’re tired.

Feeling tired? Fatigued? Need a nap but can’t take one? Have a glass of water. Because of its ability to move quickly throughout the body, water can reach your brain and activate it right before a meeting or other situation where you need to pay attention. Cold water, especially, will wake up your body to keep you alert.

Drink pure, clean water without contaminants.

People who live in urban areas that have their own water supply may be able to drink tap water with no problem. Others that live in more rural areas and rely on well water or ground water sometimes decide to purchase processed water to avoid possible chemicals in drinking water. They may also be avoiding pollution from farm runoff, industrial landfills, and other toxic sources of contamination. If you don’t buy bottled water, you can get a filter for your kitchen faucet that will remove up to 99% of local contaminants to purify your drinking water. Contact your local public health service for a referral to water testing systems that can come and check your water as well as advise you how to treat it or take precautions if any are needed.

Stop drinking water two hours before bedtime.

If you don’t like getting up at night to use the bathroom, avoid fluids two hours before bedtime, and visit the bathroom a couple of times before you go to bed. You can keep a glass of drinking water close to your bed in case you wake up thirsty at night, but keep in mind you might have to get up and use the bathroom before daybreak.

There is no replacement for clear, pure, natural drinking water. Over the past few decades, it has gotten scarcer, with the result that more and more people are choosing to buy processed water or installing filters in their homes. Water used to be a free or cheap resource; not so any longer. Nowadays you have to check the water for bacteria and toxins before you can safely use it in your home for everyday activities like cooking, bathing, and cleaning. Don’t take your water supply for granted. Find out if your drinking water is safe, and if not, what you can do to make it usable.