Shape-up or Shake-Up?

Shape-up or Shake-Up? « Holistic Lifestyles Radio

Shape-up or Shake-Up?

by Holistic Lifestyles Radio on May.18, 2011, under Home

Relationships are the Primary Meal

Carol Harblin (CHHC)

Pre-teen and teenage girls do not need any more help having body image disturbances. We need to encourage authenticity and attaining a true self. Of course it is nice to feel good having a body that is in shape, but it we should not base our existence on our outward appearances.

The new Shape-Up sneakers are causing an uproar today in the media. They are being marketed to pre-teen girls and teen girls via cartoon commercials on the TV channel Nick. These commercials are sending messages to these impressionable girls to look like these skinny girls on TV in stead of appreciating themselves for who they are and embracing their unique body image.

It is important to be active. I am the first person to tell a person the importance of walking and being active outside or in a gym or with a sport; however, at the same time, we should not knock ourselves out trying to fit that societal image just to please others and the status symbols.

When we try to please others to fill these roles and images we are setting ourselves up for disappointment and possibly an eating disorder or even a chemical addiction.

The Shape-Ups for girls are only marketed to girls….but why not boys? Don’t we want to see them shape up too? If these shoes are meant to help reduce that childhood obesity then let’s market them for boys too. But first and foremost, it’s not about the special shoes…it’s about portion control and staying active. Do not portion out adult size portions to your kid and expect them to clean their plate. Kids stomachs are much smaller than an adults.

The idea that the marketing was slanted toward girls also makes it somewhat sexist too! It’s almost telling us and the children to maintain that image or you won’t be liked anymore.

Girls are going to look at the fashion magazines and teen girl magazines soon enough – it’s human nature….we all perused those magazines. What’s important is that they know enough to NOT compare themselves to those airbrushed images.

Learn to love who we are and appreciate our friends and people around us for who and what they are.

Mother’s Day Healing

Mother’s Day Healing « Holistic Lifestyles Radio
Mother’s Day Healing

by Holistic Lifestyles Radio on May.11, 2011, under Home

Relationships are the Primary Meal

Carol Harblin (CHHC)

When it is Mother’s Day, what is it that we all think about – besides honoring our moms?

We think about how we can treat them in a way that is relaxing or with some sort of honor.

Many moms get breakfast in bed or go out to a brunch special….they get massages or flowers and other sweet presents too.

Why not give mom a flower or something nice every day? Why do we only think about self-care or mom-care one day a year? Whether we play board games with our mom, or play cards, or share a meal….it’s enriching to connect with our mom (and parents) on any given day.

If we can bring back the family meal at home then why not bring back honoring parents and grandparents every day by just being with them?

I know it’s hard to always connect because life throws is a metric wrench in with our SAE wrenches and nuts….but we still have to figure how to work it.

Don’t we love it when people come to us and share with us after a long time? Just think how others will feel when we come to them? Human contact and sharing is more valuable than any gift or dinner.

Electronic mail, snail mail, texting, phone calls, are all good to have and thank goodness we have these modes of communication….but physical human contact is very special an meaningful. No photo can ever capture its essence and its warmth. That connection and the feeling stays in our hearts and our souls. It’s the bond that connects and stays with us.

Here’s your prescription for healing your soul: Take a hug at least four times a day.
Prescription for your heart and productive longevity: Have a heart-to-heart conversation at least two times a day.
Prescription for a strong soul: Have a belly laugh one to two times a day.

Share the love.
Strengthen our bonds.

An Easter Basket of Happiness

An Easter Basket of Happiness « Holistic Lifestyles Radio

An Easter Basket of Happiness
by Holistic Lifestyles Radio on Apr.25, 2011, under Home

Carol Harblin (CHHC)
Easter is one of those holidays that really FILLS a person completely. There is always plenty of food, almost like Thanksgiving part one, and there is family around too.
Family days like these are so filling, more than a cherry pie and a chocolate bunny. Why do we get so full and yet so calm and content by day’s end?
For Easter, many of us begin a day with God and then it dominoes into all our other family and friend relationships. That is two major primary foods that feed us and nourish us more than our secondary food we consume.
Spirituality and relationships take up more than 75% of the day. On top of that, we still manage to consume copious amounts of lunch or dinner (which almost feels like a Thanksgiving dinner).
Are we tired and full yet?
After eating our meals, the topper of the day would be to go for a family walk. This would fulfill the other primary food of activity!! By walking or even bicycle riding, this makes moving the body fun and it makes the eating worthwhile too.
After a family and spiritually-oriented day, we feel quite satiated and happy. These are the days that allow our bodies to fall asleep with minimal effort.
Imagine if we allowed our every day to encompass family and activity and spirituality/God…then we would have a fulfilling day of events which would allow us to have proper night’s sleep. Who needs sleep aids when we have our primary foods?

Spring into Spring Foods

Spring into Spring Foods « Holistic Lifestyles Radio

Spring into Spring Foods
by Holistic Lifestyles Radio on Apr.18, 2011, under Home

Carol Harblin (CHHC)
Ayurveda is the science of life. Much of the food consumed is dependent upon the current season. Ayurveda is about the natural life of Earth and its elements. It is important to consume simple whole foods from the Earth.

Now that Spring has arrived, what foods are the BEST to eat at this time of renewal?

During Spring, dried fruit is the BEST fruit to eat. Of the vegetables, the cruciferous vegetables are very good, as well as sprouts and peppers.

Lentils and kidney beans are very good to consume during Spring also.

Spring time is a season when pitta gears up its energy for summer. Pungent spices are best to use also, such as, cloves, cayenne, coriander, cardamom, and ginger.

Think about how energetic we become in the Summer months. Spring is the time when we increase this limitless energy potential.

There are no bad foods. Our addictive personalities and compulsive behaviors create our bad habits which bring on the negative effects of certain food items. Remember that moderation is the key to consuming any kind of food.

Bounce into a healthy summer from an energetic Spring. Let’s store up some unlimited potential energy.

One of the best ways to eat with your season is purchasing foods at Farmer’s Markets. This is a good way you will obtain those appropriate seasonal foods that will benefit your best and healthiest body!!

More to Om About

More to Om About « Holistic Lifestyles Radio

More to Om About

by Holistic Lifestyles Radio on Apr.11, 2011, under Home

Carol Harblin (CHHC)

Meditating seems to intimidate people and even feel daunting. How do people continue its practice?

How do people begin to meditate?

Don’t think of it as a formal practice. Meditation is when a person needs to find clarity within their thoughts and heart. The art of meditating is actually a place a person can visit so that they can feel peace and contentedness.

You do not have to go anywhere to meditate. You do not have to go to a meditation class or workshop. It is nice to participate in a workshop, but you can also find a corner of your bedroom or your home to sit quietly and find your inner voice.

The first thing people complain about when they first start meditating is that they always have thoughts that distract them from feeling peaceful. We will always have thoughts. We cannot prevent them from entering into our heads, but we can keep them at bay while we meditate.

How?

Repeat a mantra. Sometimes certain words or short phrases help to keep your thoughts centered.

A popular meditation mantra that Deepak Chopra talks about is “So Hum.” At the inhalation you would say to yourself “So” and at the exhalation you would say “Hum” to yourself.

Repetitive short words like this help to ease out those repetitive thoughts and worries that may dominate our minds.

Some people may repeat their kids names, or even the words “In Love and Light.”

When you wake up in the morning, people routinely go to the bathroom and brush their teeth. It just happens because of habit. There are no formalities. That is how meditation can be practiced. After eliminating your bladder in the morning, find a sacred quiet place, sit down, close your eyes, and find your inner voice….your inner calm.

The more you meditate, the more you yearn to do it and the more you want to find the time to seek out that special place in our hearts and minds.

Faith is Pro-active

Faith is Pro-active « Holistic Lifestyles Radio

Faith is Pro-active

by Holistic Lifestyles Radio on Mar.28, 2011, under Home

Carol Harblin (CHHC)

I was watching Little House On The Prairie this weekend and one particular episode made me really stop and think. It was the episode when Laura and Almanzo are expecting their baby….but tragedy ensues their little home life.

First, Almanzo suffers a terrible illness that leaves him paralyzed and a hail storm wrecks his crop….
Then a tornado wipes out their house….

But let’s examine the positives. There may not seem like there is much to be happy about, but there is.

Almanzo’s physical paralysis and the crop disaster are a part of Almanzo’s depression…but all while he suffers, he has Laura’s presence and her prayers and faith as they get by.

Then the tornado wipes out their home and then Laura becomes emotionally paralyzed. It’s Laura’s turn to give up…and it’s Almanzo’s turn to step up and give her prayers and miracles.

Laura and Almanzo and the whole family present them with spiritual support and prayers. Faith is much more than a word to say, it’s the act of living each day with pro-active positive steps. Faith is not about isolating and giving up. Faith is about working hard and working with your loved ones.

Almanzo gave up trying to walk as long as things were done for him. But then he realized that he had to help himself to help his wife and baby. He could no longer feel sorry for himself. Laura needed him more than ever.

A marriage is built upon the equal strength of the wife and the husband. One hand washes the other. When the chips are down, the unity and the loving partnership enhances more.

Faith was alive and well in the Ingalls family. They never gave up on each other and the more tragedy fell upon Laura and Almanzo the more love was given. Faith helped Pa Ingalls and Almanzo rebuild their house. Faith supported their love. Love supported their faith.

Faith is pro-active as we keep walking our journey with positive loving steps.

Fight the Flu with Ashwagandha

Fight the Flu with Ashwagandha « Holistic Lifestyles Radio

Fight the Flu with Ashwagandha

by Holistic Lifestyles Radio on Mar.22, 2011, under Home

Carol Harblin (CHHC)

Ayurveda has so many wonderful herbs…..but the one that comes to mind right now is one that is most useful right now, for the winter months and also post-holidays.

Ashwagandha is an herb that has been used for thousands of years and used in Ayurveda. It is used to treat inflammation, fevers, and to protect against infection. It has also been used to boost the immune system, and improve memory.

It is also used to reduce stress and anxiety.

Ashwagandha is a very potent herb, but it is important to also practice other techniques that help reduce stress also.

It is important to always practice pro-active ways to de-stress ourselves. We shouldn’t just pop something in our mouths in a passive approach.

To every problem we should include a passive and an action.

So what can be done concurrently with a regimen of Ashwagandha?

• Meditation
• yoga
• take your mind off stress by riding a bike
• read a book
• take walks
• ride a bike
• dance (or any other fun, active cardio workout)
• cut back from caffeine (especially after 3 pm)
• do not drink excessive amounts of alcohol
• do not smoke

Remember to always take one step at a time and one day at a time. Try not to take on too much at once. Overwhelming a moment is what creates unnecessary tension. Keep positive thoughts instead of negative thoughts.

….and deep breathe.

In the Moment

In the Moment « Holistic Lifestyles Radio

In the Moment

by Holistic Lifestyles Radio on Mar.22, 2011, under Home

Carol Harblin (CHHC)

Being in the moment is very essential to life. I know that we get distracted by our thoughts of the pressures that reality can hand us, but it is important to stay in the moment of where you are.

Don’ give in to another persons opinions or demands if it does not coincide with your plan. If you have a plan to do something or if you have a dream you want to fulfill, then don’t let anyone set you back.

If that person is setting you back then chances are they were set back as well and they probably don’t want you to prosper either. Misery loves company. So that is when you have to leave misery alone.

When you truly embrace the moment you are in, the energy of the Universe takes over and guides you and embraces you fully.

In order to be where you want to be or who you want to be, envision yourself exactly as you want to be and be that way NOW!

Getting out of that comfort zone means you have come alive and you are taking positive risks that will be making a positively phenomenal impact on other people too.

Know that after a storm, the sun will come out and warm the world again. Put “act” in active.

Spring Cleaning with De-cluttering

Spring Cleaning with De-cluttering « Holistic Lifestyles Radio

Spring Cleaning with De-cluttering

by Holistic Lifestyles Radio on Mar.22, 2011, under Home

Carol Harblin (CHHC)

Cleansing through de-cluttering your space. This has been an on-going task for me within the past few weeks. I started my Spring cleaning early. I have been going through every drawer and every piece of paper…..I see the memories, and for each item that doesn’t serve a purpose I throw away or give to good will.

This process is quite emotionally draining but it is also rewarding and liberating. For each drawer and cabinet I clean out, I can actually breathe better!! And I feel lighter as well.

De-cluttering is very cleansing and healing. It makes you re-evaluate what you own and where you are in life. Some things are like re-visiting a time capsule and after going through it you toss some and keep others for your future.

Don’t give up halfway through a drawer. Stick with it and follow through. I know it feels daunting, but you have to see what is serving you and what isn’t serving you.

…………and think about how much MORE space you will have when you are done!! It literally makes you breathe better!! How healing is that?? It’s the best feeling ever!

Step by step, inch by inch, work your way closer to a cleaner living space or working space.

Appreciating Family Hour

Appreciating Family Hour « Holistic Lifestyles Radio

Appreciating Family Hour

by Holistic Lifestyles Radio on Mar.14, 2011, under Home

Carol Harblin (CHHC)

In light of the Japan tragedy, we should be viewing family in a different way. Is it sad that after any sort of tragedy we tend to value family more?

It’s not only family that we value, but our humanitarian side. After the 9/11 attacks, there were many people who donated blood, helped clean up ground zero, and even helped counseled the victims.

Why does it take a crisis to help people and create unity?

Why don’t we treat every day as though it’s Christmas and treat people with goodness and sincerity?

Having children is more than just a tax break or a rite of passage, but it is also a way of life. Children in a home create the word family. First there is a couple, then the children enter the equation and they create the family life.

Dinner hour is an important part for families. Research has shown that when families eat together the children are less likely to do drugs when they are older. By having dinner together we create a unity among each other. Even when there is no talking at the table it still gives a message of togetherness.

During the day, the parents and children are all in different areas of town or city, and by the end of the day the family is brought together by the grace of God and celebrate it with dinner. Before dinner, there should be a moment where there should be a mention of gratitude or appreciation of the togetherness and the food.

After dinner if there is time, get together and play a game.

Let’s bring back the family hour. Appreciate each other and love each other up!
Thank God for our loved ones!