Saving A Life In About An Hour
A remarkable and moving story ~ a handful of people on a small boat save a whale’s life and are richly rewarded.
Be inspired in 8 minutes….
Thank you Gayle for sharing this video!
Space
I’ll hold the space
For you and me
To reach our personal
Ultimate potentiality
And then I’ll stretch
Myself a little more
And hold the space
For my community to soar
By then I’ll see
I was thinking small
So I’ll create the space
For my country to serve all
At an eagle’s height
I’ll gain perspective
Certain the world can transform
With the pure power of the collective
At full stretch I’ll hold the space
For our world’s greatest good
With expansive faith in a state of grace
Heaven on earth will be here, as it should
~~~
anne marie daniolos ~ july 2011
Principles For Creating The Ideal Environment For Children To Thrive
“Wherever your heart is, that is where you’ll find your treasure” (Paulo Coelho, “The Alchemist”)
We’ve all heard the phrase ‘there’s no manual for raising children.’ I know I heard this so many times that I believed it and was left feeling doubtful that I could ever be an effective parent. Then I had my daughter and realized they were wrong and I was wrong for believing them. I wish we would stop telling the ‘no manual’ story and instead, empower folks to know they most certainly can be great parents, no matter where they are in the parenting stage by tapping into innate or ancient wisdom available to all of us, all the time.
The very first piece of meaningful advice I received while pregnant was ‘all you have to do is love them.’ I thought, well I can do that! Love became my foundation and everything I needed to learn, understand and every skill I needed to develop was built on the unshakable foundation of love.
I discovered that there is a manual on parenting, it’s written in our hearts but we don’t think to look there because we’ve ‘outsourced’ this job to the experts, for a variety of reason. Outsourcing is helpful for some things, but not for the core elements of parenting. Experts are important but inappropriate use of expertise can override the heart and gut instructions we are constantly receiving about what our children and our particular circumstance requires.
I found that when I start with my inner guiding system the experts aligned with what I already know to be true show up. I am then able to back up what I epistemologically know with the appropriate research, science and PhD’s. The same guidance system will alert me when something is off with expert advice from family, friends and doctors. That’s when I dive into research until I find the answers that my gut can say ‘yes, that’s it!’
Following my inner guidance has allowed me to create an environment for my daughter to thrive and blossom as a whole person. As conscious parents we have the opportunity to create the best environment for our children to develop great habits, positive beliefs and express the best in themselves. Here is a short list of the core principles necessary to create the ideal environment.
Surrender ~ Be committed and in service to your child, let go and let the divine be your co-parent. There is nothing as powerful, liberating and rewarding as allowing yourself to fully receive the awesomeness of the gift of a child. To surrender enables you to give your best and to fully embrace all the elements of parenting. Resistance creates feelings of overwhelm, surrender allows joy. A release process is helpful remove any blocks that may be in the way.
Clearing ~ In order for us to operate at optimal levels, toxins and clutter must be cleared away on both the physical and metaphysical levels. On the physical level, toxins and chemicals found in food, cleaning supplies and body care products should be replaced with natural and organic products as much as possible. This is also means the materials in our homes and offices where possible should be natural and environmentally conscious products. Declutter your home, purse, office space as regularly as possible.
On a metaphysical level, take stock of any toxic people in your life and avoid them where you can. These are the folks that live in the negative and their toxic comments and beliefs fill the air like second hand smoke. Even if you don’t smoke, you’ll be sure to breathe some in. Take regular inventory of any toxic emotions you may have and go through a process of forgiveness and letting go. There are several journaling and visualization techniques you can use.
Clearing on all these levels will add vibrancy to your life, make you feel lighter and leave space for what’s important. These are habits your children will carry with them as they grow into their own life and have a better chance at success. From the womb, they can feel what’s going on and patterns are set in so the sooner you are able to apply the clearing principle, the greater experiences you will all have.
Engagement ~ Children don’t need things they need our engagement, our time and presence. Children need rich experiences, time in nature, stimulating their senses and rich experiences. They teach us to be in the moment, if we let them. Toys can either be used to enrich the engagement with your child or they can be used as a baby sister, having everything come to life can be done without any toys at all. ‘Less is more’ can be a de-stressor worrying less about having the money to spend on your children and create more space for what’s most important in your lives.
We all know that children will have hours of fun with a cardboard box, our hands, feet, voices and bodies and can be used as instruments, we can learn to count and learn the alphabet using everything around us (chairs, houses, signs, etc). Going inward, using creativity and a love for life will give you constant access on how to provide rich experiences for your children. Don’t get me wrong, toys and such are useful and necessary but only if we have the principle of engagement in place.
Self Care ~ I love the analogy of the oxygen mask on airplanes, emergency instructions advise that the oxygen mask be placed on the parent before the child. Women are most often accustomed to taking care of everyone else before taking care of themselves. It’s in everyone’s best interest if women can incorporate the principle of self-care into their daily lives. In this context, active self care can prevent emergencies, reduce stress, enable emotional management, mindfulness and create the internal environment to be a calm, centered and effective parent. Modeling self care is the greatest gift we can give to our children.
The order of the principles can be shuffled depending on what you feel you can work on first or which area needs more attention. I come back to the principles regularly and deepen my experience as I’m able and ready to do so.
“I AM”
You know, we spend so much time peeling away the layers of the onion to find out who we really are, we take courses, read countless self-help and spiritual books and that’s all good, but it’s complicated.
Sesame Street keeps it simple. I love this:
As a side note, I learned to speak English watching Sesame Street. Some time ago while reading Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point, I discovered that the creators of Sesame Street invested an enormous amount of research to ensure they were educating children as opposed to distracting them. Well, it worked for me then and it’s working for me today!
Live!
Live
Forgive
Choose Life
Breathe in Joy
Buy a little less
Let go of status quo
Worry and stress can go
Realign, recalibrate, reassign
Dig deep for your ultimate purpose
Saviour desires placed in your heart
Nourish your mind, body and soul
Take time to unplug from noise
Plug into to higher self often
Act on meaningful goals
Love yourself whole
Keep life simple
Exhale pain
Let go
Live!
The Smart Hanger
An interview with Leigh Meadows of The Smart Hanger reveals how one commitment can blossom into a garden of positives for the environment, industry, non-profits, children, women and much more. A real example of an invention that’s solving a landfill issue, creating profits, inspiring children and industry, all done with grace and balance.
Leigh walks us through her inspiring journey of how the The Smart Hanger was sparked by a suggestion made by her 8 year old son, the work involved in bringing to life this innovation and the motivation that keeps her on track when challenges arise. Leigh also shares her secret recipe for outlining and achieving goals and what she hopes to see happen for the green industry.
A few surprising (but so true!) nuggets of conversation about listening to our children and writing down the legacy we want to leave for ourselves and our children.
Spend 30 minutes listening to this interview to be refreshed of all the possibilities available to us when we step into our values, passions, motivators and an I can mindset.
http://www.thesmarthanger.com/
Raw Food On A Budget
Today’s delicious interview with Brandi Rollins, founder of Raw Foods on A Budget defines the connection to whole, live foods with our overall vibrancy, mental clarity and health.
Brandi’ reveals a few surprise connections along the way in her raw food journey which include financial flow through her strategy of “‘buy what you need and eat what you have”, reducing her carbon footprint by buying local and suggests defining your purpose in life to begin your own raw food journey as opposed to starting with a meal plan.
Brandi’s journey and revelations are foundational ingredients for the management and use of our global resources and raw materials. More on this subject in future post….
I do believe that supporting our local farmers is a must for the global survival of our food sources however, I also believe that existing grocery retailers have the ability through their volume buying power and systems to empower the local organic farmers. A shift in their mindset would allow an incredible integration of what’s good for people and the planet flowing through an organized means.
Changing the world starts at home.
And, you can do it on a budget.
Thank you Brandi for this beautiful interview. For more great information and recipes from Brandi or to buy her book, visit: http://www.rawfoodsonabudget.com/
Listen to our interview. We’d love to hear your comments.
Non-Violence : Reverence for Life
“The rush and pressure of modern life are a form, the most common form, of its innate violence.
To allow oneself to be carried away by a multitude of conflicting concerns, to surrender to too many demands, to commit oneself to many projects, to want to help in everything is to succumb to violence.
The frenzy of the activist neutralizes work for peace. It destroys the fruitfulness of work, because it kills the root of inner wisdom which makes work fruitful.” (Thomas Merton )
~ apply this to everything from our day to day, health, parenting and the environment ~
Anticipating Joy
When my daughter sees a dog or a playground or anything she’s come to associate with joy, she goes into full body excitement mode, in complete anticipating of the fun she’s about to have. Big smile, squealing, legs kicking, arms flailing and pointing … the fun begins before we even pet the dog or get on a slide. It’s amazing and inspiring. If only we adults, could see life as the anticipation of joy then we would know how to play while we live.
I was inspired to jot this down after speaking with a friend who is expecting baby number 2 in a few short weeks. I thought about the pure joy experienced once my daughter was born and the energy of love gave me all the fuel I needed to make it through the marathon (fresh whole foods and physical activity help tremendously).
Now that I know what’s its all about I would worry less and anticipate the joy more.
I wish to express this message to all woman who are thinking about having children and those expecting their first, above everything else, it’s all joy. Worry less, relish in the anticipation of the most creative, courageous and rewarding adventure of your life….
Power of the Heart
I’m so grateful that someone has researched what I, and am certain many others,
experience but cannot explain.
Thank you Coco, for the Universal Channel
A Promise To Our Children
I promise to be the very best version of me
And guide you along to be the best you can be
I promise to nourish my mind, body and soul
And teach you to love yourself whole
I promise to honour you, treat you with respect
Be kind to myself and others, the example I will set
I promise to listen to you when expert advice conflicts
Co-parent with divine guidance, to sweet surrender submit
I promise the planet to clean up and protect
Fresh air and water you will have, not toxic effects
I promise to build a strong foundation of love
May you blossom my joy, a gift sent from above
- anne marie daniolos
Inspiring Spring
Had to share this beautiful painting I came across on facebook by Kathryn Graham Wilson
David Wolfe on Radiation Protection
Information you are unlikely to find anywhere else.
David Wolfe makes specific recommendations on what we can eat and do
to aid our bodies and deal with radioactive material.
Please share this information.
Click on the link to listen:
David Wolfe on Radiation Protection
(this is an audio, 30 mins)
Our Beliefs Can Either Kill Us Or ‘Live’ Us
We must pay attention and learn to observe and train out thoughts. I love the opening reference to Einstein, make the decision that the universe is supportive or hostile. Watch and absorb:
Change Your Brain
A SIMPLE walk through of a complex topic … brilliant.
Party Snacks For Little People
One of my new found favourite things to do is attending parties for little people. Refreshingly authentic, little people will keep any party ‘real.’ But what I want to focus on is the food. The end of year Christmas party at the parent and tot school program my daughter and I attend was serving a variety of chips, cookies and Timbits as party treats which could be found at any party for any age group, this is what we most often serve!
I probably know more than I want to about the effects of food on our bodies. My daughter has never tasted a chip or a Timbit. I find alternative snacks that are sweet and healthy. In my heart I feel that the food put out there is killingus and not sustaining us as it is intended. As far as I’m concerned it’s criminal to be making and selling the most common kind of snacks and treats on the market. Adults have a choice and know better but it pains me to see our little people being offered the very foods that are making us physically and emotionally ill.
I share my discomfort with a friend and he says ‘well, did you say anything?’ I explain to my friend that no, I didn’t because in this classroom, the teachers are the most nurturing, patient and loving folks I have come across. Any child is absolutely privileged to be and grow in their environment. They are doing the most valuable work on the planet. They get paid the least and have very little time or energy left over at the end of the day. The truth is, eating healthy is time consuming and expensive. The learning curve on what to serve and how to make it is long, the price tag is high and even though the long term benefits far outweigh the initial time and financial investment, these wonderful individuals simply don’t have either!
The easiest and cheapest thing to do is go out and get some chips and cookies! The market sets it up this way. I know that no matter how healthy my daughter is eating right now, once she’s in school she will be exposed to all these treats and will enjoy them. She will likely love the taste more than the celery or dried apples she enjoys now and will want chips and such at home. I can only hope that the foundation I’m setting and making her aware as she gets older will help her make better choices when I’m not around.
I do believe the industry is changing and we can continue to propel that change through our buying power. If the consumers are demanding healthier snacks the industry will respond. Where you can, please think about your guests and your little people, serve foods that are nutritious, look for the recipes and ingredients that are healthier. Go back to basics, veggies, dried fruit, fresh fruit and nuts are sweet, savoury and jam packed with goodness. You don’t need to know all the details of how the processed food is damaging us but pay attention to how you feel. Experiment for a few weeks by eating healthier then go back to eating the processed stuff, you’ll see a dramatic change in your energy levels, clarity of thought, mood changes and much more. Most importantly, remain compassionate to those that have not made the change knowing that the current system makes it harder to be healthy.
Most importantly, make the healthier choices for our little people. They deserve healthier beginnings.
