THOUGHTS ON AGING GRACEFULLY

To some experts and mental health advocates, the phrase “aging gracefully” means to accept the changes that are coming your way as you grow older each day. 

To some degree, they’re right. There’s no way to stop time completely, and to panic about every wrinkle or gray hair you see only bolsters the chances that you’ll succumb to depression and increased stress – which ultimately fast forwards the aging process. 

To go to extreme lengths to look better, for example – like where you suddenly adopt the nickname “cat lady” because you’ve stretched your face with plastic surgery so far that you’re unrecognizable – isn’t necessary, or a good idea. 

But there’s no reason you have to lie down and take it, either. There are many things that happen to us as we age – not because they’re inevitable – but because we don’t take precautions to ensure they never happen.

We go on about our day accepting defeat when it comes to aging and our looks, our energy, our optimism, etc. It doesn’t have to be that way. In the Growing Younger Anti Aging Plan, you can discover many options you have to fight back against the aging process.

These aren’t opportunities to slow down aging – they’re ways you can turn back the clock, eliminate signs of aging. What are some things that make you feel old right now?

It is seeing lines on your face? There are ways to reverse that. Is it a lack of energy in your body? Again, you can change that so that you bound out of bed every morning ready to take on the day. 

What about your health? Do you have “older person” diseases like diabetes? That’s something (with type II anyway) that typically occurs in older people. But it’s reversible if you take steps to improve your health, and it can help you regain your youth! 

Aging gracefully should be about loving yourself enough to treat your body and mind with kindness and compassion. It’s about looking in the mirror and seeing how you can love yourself more and take care of things that don’t have to happen. 

It’s not about self hatred and disgust in how you look or sadness about how you feel. Start getting empowered so that you can shave 5, 10, or even 15 years off of your aging process. All it takes is knowledge and action, and you have access to both of those! 

The Secret Life of the Dandelion

As I write this I am looking out my window at a lawn covered with a lawn of green with yellow flowers.  No, not daffodils, but one of the first plants to herald the arrival of spring.  Dandelions.  That’s when I’ll take a big bucket and a digger and head out to fill my bucket because Dandelions have a secret life.

Dandelions grow virtually worldwide and are one of the healthiest edible greens and they are one of the newest additions to the list of reputable herbal remedies.  Dandelion greens are an all natural way to promote health if used wisely.  Considered to be one of the top four green vegetables rated for overall nutritional value according to the USDA Bulletin #8, Composition of Foods.  Dandelions are also so well respected that they appear in the U.S. National Formulatory, and in the Pharmacopeias of Hungary, Poland, Switzerland the Soviet Union, and are also one of the top six herbs in the Chinese herbal medicine chest. Their leaves contain vitamins A, B, C and D and several minerals including salt, iron and potassium.  It is particularly rich in fiber. The plant also contains luteolin, which is an antioxidant and beneficial as an immune system enhancer.  A great thing about the dandelion and its antioxidant properties is that there is no toxic effect on cells associated with it.

A promising aspect of the dandelion is that it contains lecithin, a lipid that contains chorine.  Lecithin elevates the brain’s acetylcholine, which helps the brain function.  Some researchers believe it may help slow down or stop the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Another reason not to put chemicals on your lawn.  Let the Dandy’s grow and eat them regularly

 One cup of dandelion leaves amounts to 112 percent of the daily recommended requirement for Vitamin A, 32% of Vitamin C, and 535% of Vitamin K.  It also contains 1030 mg of calcium and 1.7 mg of iron.  Put that in your pot and cook it.

And to cook them, the best greens are picked early, before they flower.  They are tender and less bitter.  I simmer them in some chicken broth and serve with butter or vinegar.  If you cook older greens, then parboil them first in water then simmer in chicken broth and serve.  As for the blossoms, they are great fried in seasoned bread crumbs (dip in egg wash first), and they make a delicious wine.

I’ll bet you didn’t know that the dandelion got its name because its leaves resembled the tooth of a lion.

The misguided still believe that dandelions were and still are a sign of an homeowner who didn’t take pride in his lawn and neighborhood.   They are considered a nuisance by many.  So before you decide to eliminate those “weeds” consider the health benefits of the dandelion.

JUST AN HOUR A DAY

I saw this in my local newspaper.  It is my Horoscope for today.  It is so appropriate for everyone.  I hope you will take a moment and read it.

One hour a day many not seem like a lot, but over time it will be enough to write a novel, lose weight or complete another amazing feat that otherwise would rest solidly in the "not going to happen" category.

An Online Presence

I have been reading many articles about freelance writing and they all in one way or another that it is important to maintain an online presence.  Which, of course, I have not.  The articles say you should use your blog to talk about your specialty.  Well, I don't have one.  I am an eclectic freelancer.  I write about almost anything which I why my blog is about everything.

However, I do have to post more often to keep myself in the limelight (oh I wish) so to speak.  Now keep in mind that I am making this vow to post more 5 days before I leave to see my kids down south.  But never fear, I have my handy netbook and ipad to post with.  That is assuming that I can get either wireless or Verizon.

But that aside, I hope everyone has a safe Memorial Day.  And not forgetting why we are celebrating this day.  When I was growing up (this will date me) Memorial Day was called "Decoration Day".  The day we went to the cemetery and planted flowers, etc.

I'm not going to battle the crowds today but tomorrow I will put some flowers on my parent graves and try to plant some flowers.  Unfortunately they chose to be buried is very, very hard earth.  Don't have to worry about body snatchers on that front.

And to end this epistle I will bring you up to speed on my day.  First thing I did chipmunk burial detail (I have cats), the chippy was buried at sea.  (Creek in my back yard).  Then I have been attempting to sync my ipod and my ipad with my itunes.  I say attempt because I'm not sure the ipad is right.  I also printed out a To Do list for my trips - now I have to write on the to do list.

GOALS OR DREAMS - YOU DECIDE

I can guarantee that every writer has goals.  As a writer we may set a goal of writing 500 words a day, a blog a day, week or month.  We set our bar very high.  We will get that manuscript done in a month, the book in a year or less.  Articles will fly from out computer to editors and be accepted.  These are all good things, but they are not actually goals.  They are dreams.  Its good to have dreams, but you need goals.

A goal is something that you, yourself, have the power to make happen. A dream is a goal without legs.  You need both dreams and goals, but you must be able to tell the difference.  If you mistake your dream for a goal and don't succeed you will be disappointed and possibly lose your motivation.  Your goals should support your dreams.  In other words take those dreams apart and make them manageable goals.  Instead of dreaming of writing an article a day, realistically determine what you can do and what you can't.  What you can do will be your goal.  Clarify it.

To clarify your goal you need to provide details so that you will know when you get there.  The goal should be specific.  Be sure you really want to achieve that goal and have a strong desire.  Toss the thought of failure out the window.  Have confidence and faith and persevere until you reach your goal.

Practice What You Preach

I just had one of those "ha ah" moments, as I was rushing around my house to get things ready to decorate.  The only light I had on was a small one in the kitchen and my small office light, but I didn't even notice as my focus was centered on the coming holiday.

The "ah ha" moment came when I realized I was doing exactly what I preached in my last article to a conservation magazine.  That is using as little electricity as possible.

My article was centered on a "Greener 2012" and I gave several numbered suggestions for the reader to think about and apply to their lives.

The same principal applies to our writing.  How many times have we told someone writing can be hard work and ideas sometimes fly away like dust in the wind.  The problem is we don't always listen to ourselves.  We become discouraged when the perfect idea or character, etc., doesn't immediately find itself on paper.

The writer has to focus on the project, maybe by freewriting, looking at our research, or just plain starting the project whether we have to through out the first few pages or not.  At least we are writing and somewhere in those pages we are bound to find that nugget that will carry on with the project.

Not As Easy As It Sounds

I write articles - nonfiction articles.  Sometimes historical fiction.  Its fun, I like the research, actually sometimes more than the writing.

And there lies the crux of the matter.  I find myself so immersed and caught up in the research that I lose sight of exactly what I wanted to write about.  Actually, what has happened is I have over researched the project leaving me with mounds of material to sift through.  Most of which doesn't even apply to the topic I started on.

However, there is a good in all of that.  When I sit down with my yellow marker and hi-light the facts, etc., that are pertinent to my present article I find I have plenty of material left over to create another article or another slant to the one I'm doing.  So my time wasn't really wasted.

Some writers would say my time was wasted and break it down into dollars per hour.  But if I can use that research for another article that sells, then my dollar per hour increases.

As the title to this blog says, all of this is not as easy as it sounds.  The research is time consuming,  it can be tiring, and sometimes not all of it can be accomplished on the internet.  Believe it or not you actually have to talk to people.

When I have all my material hi-lighted I spend some more time crafting a query letter to the magazine of choice.  I let the editor know what I want to write about, what slant I am taking, how many words, why it will fit in his/her magazine, and why I'm qualified to write it.  I may leave out the qualified to write part if I've only done research and I'm really not a clown in a rodeo.

After I have sent the query I wait, and wait and wait, and sooner or later I will get a acceptance or rejection.  Lately its been more rejections, but I will keep going and urge all of you to do the same.