(90-Day Detox) Day 90: Hitting a Home Run!

I just got my spirit crushed by a customer service NIGHTMARE! I do not believe in automated telephone recorded message systems. These should be abolished! I never fit into their “options” and can’t find the escape route to a real human before I lose my marbles.

I was just trying to get my electricity bill sorted out. You’d think that would be simple enough. But now that I’m on the verge of tears having spent 40 minutes trying to penetrate the wall of telephone terror at Hydro Quebec,  I had to escape.

I had to run away somewhere that makes life feel good again. Whatdya know!

I found myself here.

The last 90 days have been interesting and action-packed. I’m sure I lost a few pounds and put on a few pounds again. I learned a few things that I’ve forgotten already and some that I’ll hold on to forever. Now that we’re here at the finish line,  I have an opportunity to say a few things–to celebrate the success and satisfaction of getting to the end of our 90-day journey and a job very well done! I have the opportunity to take a few minutes and reinforce what this program was all about in the first place and so I thought I’d do just that.

I started this detox because I wanted to get my feet back into the Divapond. I said I wanted to dust myself off and get my sparkle back. I’d spent months working on a project that was related to other people and other people’s dreams and so this 90-Day Detox was supposed to get me back on my own turf–prioritizing the things I believe in. Supporting the people who have supported me.

Remember this?

• 1. When faced with an inner battle between popularity and personal integrity, personal integrity should always win.

• 2. You can eat all the raw, healthy food you want! Avoid dairy and gluten but it STILL won’t bring you more love, peace or happiness than honest communication, compassion and a sense of your own spiritual existence.

• 4. It’s not what someone else does to you that causes you to dislike them, it’s what you do to them!

• 7. Validate the things you want to create more of. Let the cruddy stuff go.

• 13. It’s more important to be honest and ethical than it is to eat green smoothies.

• 14. Money is a totally uncreative form of exchange. Whoever thought it up really missed the boat!

• 15. I feel like a sister to women I’ve never “met” in person. I loooove you! (Yeah! You too!)

• 16. I’d rather lose money and fame than my self-determinism.

• 20. Who you ARE is more important than WHAT you do.

• 22. If your heart breaks, avoid this song like the plague!

• 25. It’s a messed up world out there. Ritalin, processed foods, retirement funds and national debts make my head spin. Depression, anxiety, fibromyalgia, diabetes and those STUPID PINK RIBBONS sucking money for covert chemical warfare against women… Sometimes I hold my breath with fear about it all. But then I remember Thing I Learned #7, and I just kinda wonder if all those quotes about “Love Makes the World Go Round” and “All You Need Is Love” are true.

I love those.

They were posted on the main announcement page for the 90-Day Detox. I love it.

While a lot has happened in the last three months, I love that reflecting back on these ideas, I can see that I live them stronger now than 90 days ago. It’s been a productive time, emotionally, spiritually and otherwise!

In the last 90 days…

I changed my religion.

I changed my home.

I fell in love with Mr. Sooooo-Riiiight-For-Me!

I slowed down and found balance.

I discovered the joys of enemas, digestive enzymes and probiotics.

I met green smoothies again for the first time.

I devoted myself almost daily to a hot yoga practice for an entire MONTH!

I co-created an incredible 6-Week Detox program with Dr. Ritamarie.

I went for TWO pedicures and THREE trips to the spa! (Ooooh my!)

I became a better mother.

I became a better housecleaner which would make my mother very happy.

I stood in the integrity of the things and people I believe in more than ever and I reaped the benefits of feeling anchored in a community of fiesty, fearless women who are committed to living and loving the best way they can!

NOTE: Just notice how many of those items have to do with food.

I know this isn’t just about me… this is about YOU, too! I would love, love, looove to see YOU take inventory on your successes. I’d love to know what you learned, how you changed and what you gained from this experience.

I’m sorry that the regularity fizzled near the finish line, but I’m not going to beat myself up for 80/90 days well done.

Personal integrity isn’t necessarily doing every single thing you say you’re going to do. We would drive ourselves mad if we tried that (though I think it’s important to learn to be mindful of our commitments and work to achieve more harmony with what we say and what we do).

• Personal integrity is knowing what you know and having the courage to say it.

• It’s believing what you believe and having the courage to believe it.

• It’s taking responsibility for the problems you create and be willing to be “wrong” sometimes.

• It’s making choices for the good of others and the generations to come.

• Personal integrity requires an examination of how your actions in THIS moment change the way the world turns?  When you realize that you can make a difference, then personal integrity is having the courage to own that responsibility and do what it takes to make change happen in the world.

• Personal integrity is being straight-up about who you are, how you live and how you love the world.

I came here almost daily for the last three months, with all my frailties and vulnerabilities in tact, to share with you windows into my world. I came with overwhelm, fear, regret and disappointment. I came with bliss bubbles bursting, positivity, hope and optimism that overflowed.

And you, dear reader, when you did not sit in silent observation of my uncensored expressions, you came to share your own windows and for that I am grateful. Though there may have been things that have gone unexpressed, overall we’ve had a good time and learned a few valuable lessons along the way.

At the risk of sounding slightly parental, I just want you to know…

I’m “proud” of you!

You DID IT!!

You’re here beside me, smiling at the finish line! Whether you stopped and scraped your knees along the way, or whether you fell down and still haven’t quite managed to get up, you’re here.

THAT is something worth celebrating, because right HERE is exactly where you need to be to get to where you’re going next. And wherever that is, I hope you’ll stay connected. As for me, I’m going to embrace the un-numbered adventures of my days for a little while. I’ve got some exciting things up my sleeves, a glorious new transition taking place and sooooo much to be grateful for.

Not the least of which is you. So thanks for being here, loving me and learning to love yourself even more as we adventure in health together.

Love and gratitude, blessings and bliss bubbles for your next 90 days and beyond…

Tera

P.S.

Don’t worry, Sunshine. The fun hasn’t ended. Chances are very good it’s only just begun…

(90-Day Detox) Day 89: The Final Countdown

I laughed last night as I watched myself eating something I wouldn’t “normally” eat.

I giggled at the idea that this detox was designed to help me not be so obsessed about what I eat.

Here we are at the end of the program and I can say for  certain that while I am still an intense creature who will continue to live out some extremes related to food and diet, I feel MUCH less obsessed with my foods than I did about 90 days ago.

I’ve learned a lot in the last 3 months and so much has changed!

I’ve been on TV twice.

I met Mr. Right!! (You know what’s kinda neat about that–I had said when I moved into this apartment that before I move I want to have found the person I spend “the rest of my life” with. I know we can’t really predict the bumps in the road, but I can say that things with Mr. Right and I feel SoooooooooOOoooOOoOoOoOooo right that I can easily see happily ever after. Anyway, it happened juuuuust as I’d hoped. I’m moving in one week and stumbled upon him just 6 weeks ago!)

I finally did a day of juice feasting! One day. I know it’s not everyone’s miracle, but I sure was happy to finally get a day in! Who knows, maybe I’ll try more.

I’m moving! That’s very exciting.

I’ve discovered the joys of enemas, probiotics and enzyme supplementation.

I fell in love with green juice, but then after trying to do a 3-day green juice fast, I fell out of love with them again!!

This morning I’m going to make myself a big jug of fresh water with lemon in and I’m going to stick to that until I’m called to something else. My goal was to do 3 days of green smoothies or green juices, but yesterday’s surprise picnic invitation kinda threw that out the window. Today I’m going to keep it simple and then when I’m ready for food, I’ll get on the green smoothie bandwagon.

I thought about including an update for Days 88 and 87, too, but realized that I just need to plough through to the finish line.

Day 87 my computer died when I came to write my update. That had me racing out to the Apple Store to get some much needed equipment and then the day disappeared. Day 88 I barely looked up from my boxes. I’ve been packing and get ready for my move! I’ve not been feeling terribly inspirational, but far more inspired by what is coming around the corner.

I’ve enjoyed this process and bringing it home to a conclusion has been… well… interesting in light of all the other things going on. And that’s the whole thing, isn’t it… I mean, regardless of what happen, what invitations come up or how life sweeps us off our feet, we do have to establish a few guidelines for ourselves–principles to live by and love by.

We’ve covered a lot of different topics over  the last few months and I’m excited about more things to come. I’m excited about having a turf to play on… a new apartment, a fresh beginning. I confess that love in my life has sucked some time out of my schedule, but after years of what feels like a work-a-thon in progress, this is a refreshing taste of balance.

I’m going to leave you with sunny thoughts for the start of this week.

it’s our day to make commitments. Hmmm…

I loved what Nicole did last week. No commitments.

I think this week my priority is getting things all organized for my move. That’s the most important thing for my week and given all the other things I’ll have to fit in around that, I think that’s enough.

REMINDER! Tonight is a teleseminar with Angela Elliott! Very excited about this and hope you’ll join us! Here’s the link!

http://tinyurl.com/r8oavw

This call is a retake on the one we tried to do a week or so ago. How to succeed as a Raw Foodist in a Cooked Food family/environment. There should be lots of helpful tips and suggestions! Hope you’ll join us!!

Love and hugs,

Tera

(90-Day Detox) Day 86: Piling up on probiotics

I never really gave much credence to the whole probiotic thing. I think some disillusioned doctor once upon a time told me that it was all a bunch of hog wash. Well, if that hog wash is the reason my bowels are singing a happy tune this morning, then roll me in mud and call me, “Porky!”

*grin*

Day 86. Maybe if I pull that old Day 86 1/2 trick this detox will never end.

But alas, all good things must come to an end. (Just so that other, better things can happen, too!) Can’t wait to show you the Raw Mom Summit!

I had a date last night. A date with Mr. Right. We got together to watch the Moulin Rouge because it’s got a redhead with blue eyes and the prince in the movie is a writer. Mr. Right could also be Mr. Write because he’s a writer, too. Anyway, I started this meandering blog post with the intent of talking about PROBIOTICS! You know–the food that’s filled with little critters that are good for your bowels!

Well, last night, when I showed up at Mr. Right’s place, the table had been set as a surprise and LOADED up with treats from our local raw food restaurant. And yes, that sweetie McGee had even bought me some PROBIOTICS!! Kombucha was my “wine” on the side! If you’re not including the following foods in your menu these days, I propose you get on the good bacteria bandwagon and make it happen:

Kimchee

Sauerkraut

Kombucha

Miso

Home made fermented seed cheeses and stuff!

hmmm… what else? The others escape me, but you get the idea. I’ve been doing my best to include a lot more of these in my menu and I’m really quite happy about it. I can feel it makes a difference. I’ve also been dosing up on chlorella.

So… I think we should do a special teleseminar with Angela Elliott on fermenting because she’s the QUEEN of fermented foods. She really knows her stuff. Speaking of Angela… she’s coming back on Monday for a redo of the last teleseminar we tried to do on how to survive as a raw foodie in a cooked food family!

Did you check out this week’s issue of Health in High Heels? Did you get it in your inbox? Was I too risqué with that subject title? You know me, I’m such a word goof, I sometimes get carried away. Let me know if you think it was too much.;-)

I’m off to get the kids! Tonight I’ve got some packing to do and bills to pay and lots of things to get in order before I move next week! YIKES! I can’t believe I’m moving!!!

Hope you’re having a fabulous day. Remember that we’re going to start a final green smoothie challenge on sunday. Even if you just do ONE day of green smoothies, that would be great. Let’s just finish off with a team boost of green lovin’!

I’m sorry this isn’t more interesting, but tomorrow I’m sure divine inspiration will strike again. Right now my clock is strking that it’s time to go get the kids.

Really do hope you’re having a spectacular day!

Smooches and sunshine,

Tera

(90-Day Detox) Day 85: Parasite Patrol

Gooooood morning, Sunshine!

Yesterday computer glitches kept me from loving you as I would have liked, but in this morning’s battle with destiny I won, so my computer is being cooperative this morning. I’d love to get in a productive day and then it would appear my computer is going to need to be sent in for its own detox!

Coming back home has actually felt more challenging than being on vacation and I have to admit that given some of the things we’ve been discussing in the 6-Week Detox…

…I think I have parasites!

*gasp*

Yesterday was interesting, because I spent a lot of time and money buying bacteria to put in my body and then buying supplements to help take bacteria/parasites out of my body. I hope all these things I’m taking know the good guys from the bad guys in there. I guess we’ll find out. The signs are all there for me and have been since moving back from Costa Rica. The late night eating is the biggest one, for sure. Anyway, I’ll keep you posted. I’m having a hard time being interested in green juices right now, but maybe that’ll come back soon. I know a $1000 angel juicer would certainly make a difference. Sometimes I’m just put off by the mess of juicing.

Anyway, today I started a 15 day protocol for busting some parasitic butts.

I really appreciated your blog comments about commitments. Trust my over-zealous side to get all enthusiastic about committing and then fall through on most of them the next day. I looooved that Nicole made NO commitments. Anyway, I kinda delayed mine a day longer than expected, but I find it really is helpful to me at the end of the day to be reminded that I committed to sleeping in pajamas and taking care of myself. It’s the little push I need to get me all tucked in, rather than crashing on the couch, or something like that.

While in Toronto I had the most luxurious bath you can imagine. It was in a beautiful cast iron (?) bath tub and loaded with bubbles. I totally fell asleep leaning back to soak up the warmth. I decided that leading into this parasite purge, I’m going to need to find other ways to spoil and pamper myself. There are some little raw chocolate treats I like to get for myself after my yoga class, but for the next few weeks, those need to be off the menu. Loading up on fruit isn’t going to cut the mustard, either. All the sweet treats are going to have to move to the back burner so I can restore my guy health and do some critter control. Yesterday, when I was buying food for Mika and Sebastian, I was feeling a little bit sorry for myself and decided that if I can’t have the food I want on the inside of my body right now, that I will treat the outside of my body. I bought bubble bath, a beautiful, new hand and body lotion and that feels and smells great! I had a bubble bath last night, then woke this morning and started to dose myself up on parasite busting pills and concoctions.

I can feel them taking effect already.

5 days left of our 90-day detox. Hmmm…

I would like to propose that the last 3 days be another green smoothie/green juice cleanse. I think it would be great to finish off on a good note. So, tomorrow and the next day would be the prep days (Day 86 and 87),  then 88, 89 and Day 90 will be the final three days of the program. So, we’ll finish next Tuesday!

Then what are we going to do around here?

I was thinking I would try and stick to the idea of interviewing someone regularly.

Do you like the interviews?

What about guest bloggers and articles and stuff? Part of me wants to keep the blog kinda chatty and save articles for the Health in High Heels Newsletter.

I guess inspiration will strike when the time comes. Funny thing is, that after almost three month of writing every day, I have to admit that I’m not likely to disappear. It’s become a bit of a rhythm for me. Even my family members know that if they want to find out what’s going on in my life, the blog is the best place to come. (sorry, Mom!)

I’m going to whip together a fresh issue of Health in HIgh Heels today. I tried last week, and when I was about 3/4 of the way done and had 2 hours until my departure time for Toronto, the entire issue was erased by accident and lost. *pout* I was going to try again, but decided destiny didn’t have it in the cards.

This morning it’s a beautiful morning. The sun is out in its full glory and I literally can’t see a single cloud in the sky.

I’d like to make this a productive day so I’m off to get things done. I’ve got some packing to do, as well, because I’ll be moving apartments in just over a week!! Sooo many changes it’s hard to believe, but it’s all good. I’d love for you to take inventory on what’s happened in the last 90 days of this adventure. The highlights, the victories the hiccups along the way. I’ll also be soliciting some of you to share your stories, too!

Okay, Sugarplum! I gotta fly! Hope you’re doing well and having fun!

Love and hugs,

Tera

(90-Day Detox) Day 84: “Honey, I’m Hoooooome!”

Did you miss me?

I missed you. Seriously. I really did.

I had a beeeeaaaautiful time and for a Canadian feel fortunate to have finally seen Niagara Falls. They were fantastic and powerful and definitely impressive, but I’m always pleased when, upon reflection, I realize that the moments I enjoy the most are the quiet, park bench moments–the ones that don’t cost a penny and could happen anywhere-even my own backyard.

On the way home Mr. Right and I were asking the girls (I told you he has 2 daughters, right?) what their favorite part of the trip was, and for both of them it was playing in the park one morning when we went to exercise before leaving to Niagara Falls. It wasn’t the candy store, the toy store, or the amusement park. It wasn’t the restaurants or visits to special friends. It was the morning we took 45 minutes to stop, pick flowers, play, stretch, chase, run and laugh in the sun together.

I love that.

When I look back at the moments of my life at the end of my days, it won’t be my clean counters or any of the wonders of the world that fill me with gratitude and satisfaction for a life well lived. It won’t be my account balance that puts my mind at ease, but the fact that I took time, no–made time to love and play and laugh and let Life sweep me away,

I hope I can keep some of that spirit of play while getting back into the swing of things around here. Mr. Right has been good for my self-indulgent side mostly because he’s someone I’m so happy to stop and put things aside to be with, to learn from, to listen to and to love. It’s when I let go that I find myself stuck in a moment of infinite gratitude. It’s an instant when the idea strikes me that “if my life ended in THIS moment, I die fulfilled.”

Do you ever get the feeling that you’re chasing something? An RRSP? a bank account balance? maybe just some idea of what you think life “should” be like? It’s like an arm-wrestling match between “what Life is” and “what you think Life should be” and I’ve never found it to be a road that leads to happiness.

I thought MAYBE I might have access to a computer and time to connect online this weekend, but it didn’t work like that and it was probably the first time in 2 years that I “officially” disconnected from the internet. I didn’t even touch a computer for 3 days. Hopefully having spared myself all those electro-magnetic frequencies will make up for where I did not achieve my dietary objectives this week.

I did manage to get a green smoothie in every day and I didn’t actually sit down to a “cooked food meal” (outside of some sautéed mushrooms and tomato sauce!! Mmm…. )but I did manage to get caught by a passing sugar train that came out of nowhere and kinda dragged me along the rails a bit before dropping me off at Candida Station.

Fortunately for me, we’re moving into the next phase of our 6-Week Detox and my lovely liver is going to be getting some MAJOR pampering and an internal spa treatment.

So I can’t say that while whirling in a post-vacation spin my Life feels blissful right now, but I can say that I choose this moment and my ability and willingness to experience it fully. I choose to be where I am, RIGHT NOW, with the hummm of the fridge and the tapping of keys and the sound of bike chains whirring past my window. I choose to be okay with where I’m at and how that feels and I know it will change.

I just finished up a teleseminar with Dr. Ritmarie. Those calls always leave me feeling dosed with sunshine and good news. I’ve got a few things to do for myself to get back on track and here’s what it looks like:

I need to hit a yoga class.

I need to start my laundry and empty my suitcase.

I need to drink a lot of water with lemon juice and cayenne.

I think I’m going to get me some spirulina or some other green injection into the pipes really soon.

I’m going to get my hair cut, my dishes packed, and my body feeling back in tip top shape. I’m going to lay off the chocolate and lay on the greens and soak in the sun and celebrate just how gosh darn lucky I am to have you in my Life.

Thank you SOOOOO much for your beautiful comments, your support and well-wishes. Hit me up with a dose of “ooomphf” for the next couple days and I’ll send you a megablast of love and good vibrations, too!

This week, I commit to loving myself in spite of all apparent reasons not to. I commit to pajamas at bed time and to folded laundry, cuddled muffins and flossed teeth. I commit to communicating my needs without being “needy” and to water with lemon in the mornings. I commit to a chocolate free week (starting today) and at least 3 classes of hot yoga.

And I commit to stretching all over again the boundaries of what it means for me to love without limits.

That’s what I’m gonna do and I figure that’s going to make for one heck of a week. What about you?

Tera

P.S.
I didn’t bring the e-bag, Nicole, and I held up okay despite pipes being backed up, but let’s just say that all systems are go and happy to be back “home”. And I totally love and appreciate you, too! ALL OF YOU!!  *Smooooch!*

(90-Day Detox) Day 83: Healthy People Taste Good!

Yikes! The countdown has begun.

We have ONLY ONE WEEK LEFT for the 90-Day Detox! I love some of your suggestions about what should come next on the blog. Thank you for sending in your thoughts and ideas. Grrrreat help and clearly I’ll have to make some decisions about that this week.

I’m still in Toronto and probably showing off some tricks with my Blendtec blender. Maybe some banana ice cream, or chocolatey carob cake. Maybe some raw tomato sauce and zucchini noodles. Yummm…

Not too long ago I was talking about the fact that Mr. Right is a bacon and egg eating humanoid. Not even vegetarian. Not even considering vegetarianism. And I’m not planning a conversion strategy any time soon, either. This won’t be a situation of us trying to “change” ourselves to be approved by the other.

I admit that it makes me wince a bit to watch him put prosciutto on his sandwiches, buuuut in the last week alone, he’s tried 3 different fruits he’d never tried bfore some people might consider this a bit intense, you know. I mean, we’re supposed to match ourselves up with someone who shares our goals and interests. Right?

Well, one of the things that excites me the most in life is trying to figure out how to get something as extreme and unconventional as “the raw food diet” into the hands of Joe Smith the consumer. Or at least present it in a way that they don’t feel we’re speaking another language. It’s not always easy to know how to bridge the gap of different realities and understanding about something as personal and vital as diet.

The thing that interests me the most is making the world a better place and I think there are a lot of ways to do that. My new salami-eating boyfriend brings more love, compassion, patience, understanding and creativity to the people in his life than any leaf-eater I’ve ever met. The way he validates who I am and how I live and communicate with the world is more fulfilling than green juice ever could be.

I thought it would be interesting to bring up these ideas, especially while chances are good that right now while you read this, I’m sitting at a table with Captain Crunch, 2% milk and some bacon and eggs on the side. And you know what the coolest part of it is?

I bet you $10 I’m having a GREAT time.

I’m not living my life to do anything other than make the world a better place as quickly as i can. I’ve dated a few raw foodists and I can tell you that chomping on the same salad does NOT make the relationship work.

Neither can NOT chomping on the same salad be reason to allow a relationship to fall apart.  We have so much to learn from each other and it’s often where things feel the most difficult to confront that we have the most to learn and the most room to grow.

Find grace today no matter who you’re with, not matter what they eat, and embrace the beauty of the human spirit which nourishes itself on courage, integrity, honesty, hope and loooooove sweet love. These things kick the pants of raw lasagna any day, Baby!

Enjoy your Sunday and get ready to renew some commitments and turbo charge the last week of our 90-Day Detox!

Love and SUNshine,

Tera

(90-Day Detox) A Constipation Conundrum and a Scavenger Hunt

Okay, while you’re reading this I’m probably waking up in the morning wondering if I’m going to be able to POOP!

I know, I know. Trust me to get all personal and graphic, but the truth is that for as long as I can remember I’ve had a terrible time with regular movements when I’m in new places with new people.

In our teleseminar with David Rainoshek he talked about what happens to sphincters when someone is exposed to certain things (like, loud noises, etc.).

A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do, so chances are quite good that I will be packing my enema bag on the bottom of my suitcase, or at the very least a bowel booster herb blend.

Funny thought! This string of consciousness just made me recall living in Japan where we had pink heated toilet seats in fancy hotels. And some people had them in their homes, as well. It can get quite cold in Japan and with no central heating, a heated toilet seat is quite a luxury. Anyway, they have funny buttons on the panels of japanese toilet seats for all kinds of things. (water spray at different temperatures and pressures, etc.) One of the buttons is to make a “fake” flushing sound so that a grunting, gas-producing bowel movement won’t embarrass anyone.

But it’s so funny because everyone can tell the difference between a fake flushing sound and the real one, so it’s almost more embarrassing.

Oh well!

There’s a great kids book out there called, “Everybody Poops!” They should make an adult version.

While I’m in Toronto, I’m bringing my blender with me and I’ll keep food simple. I’ve been getting into the water and lemon thing a bit in the mornings, so I might keep that up.

Was grrrreat to have the support call with Dr. Ritamarie yesterday on the 6-Week Detox. I really love being able to have someone like her to learn from.

Aside from my little constipation conundrum, I’m quite sure I’ll be having a spiffy good time and while I would like to be able to write you from Toronto, I’m bringing my computer to catch up on some writing, but I won’t be able to get access to internet very easily. I wanted to keep my commitment to our 90-day detox and so I wrote this before leaving and it will pop up with wishes for a fantastic weekend!

I’m getting ready for a 7 hour car ride and one of the things that has helped me pass time in the past is playing scavenger hunts and games like “I Spy…” in the car. And so I decided that today, in the spirit of adventure, I challenge you to a scavenger hunt!

***Your Saturday Scavenger Hunt***

Write what you find below:

1. Look around or scoot around and find something GREEN! What is it?

2. Find something with holes in it. What is it?

3. Find something that moves on its own. (Speed doesn’t matter.) What is it?

4. Find something purple. What is it?

5. Recall a moment when you felt really good about something you had achieved. Tell us about it!

Now, have yourself a spectacular Saturday! This particular Saturday is dedicated to Sparklepuffs like you EVERYWHERE!

Smooches and sunshine,
Tera

(90-Day Detox) Day 81: I’m Going on a Mini Vacation!!

Hey, Whoooooa Nellie!

It’s Day 81. If I had faithfully written every day it would have been even further along. We’ve got 9 days to take this to the finish line and then what?

I’d like to know what you’re thinking we should do from here. This blog has become a cozy little community hub, but maybe there’s a way we can pump up the volume around here and start doing something funky.

Would YOU like to be a regular contributor to the blog?

What do YOU think we should put out here one this 90-Day Detox comes to an end officially?

I love the daily connecting–like a heartbeat (even if it is slghtly irregular).

I love the simplicity of just posting where I’m at, and what’s happening in the moment. No other agenda but to connect with you. Like a love letter.

Today I’ve got to whip together another issue of Health In High Heels. I’ve got a support teleseminar and some packing to do, because I AM GOING ON VACATION!

Poor Keely! I haven’t even warned her, yet. Anyway, for the first time in 2 years I’m going to unplug myself. (I didn’t say I won’t bring my computer and get some work done, though. I’ve got a lot of writing to catch up on!) I will spend less time online and more time enjoying the sun and good people. In general, I’ve been doing a lot more of that than I did at the beginning of this detox program, that’s for sure. I’ve definitely detoxified and unhealthy stress nad manupl Fortunately I can preschedule my blog posts for the weekend.

Mr. Right and I are going to Toronto for a few days. Last night the whole team (4 kids, 2 gerbils and a fish) got together for dinner and a sleep over and it was AMAZING! Soooo easy and fun and I was almost shocked when we arrived 15 minutes early for school. Peddlin to school on bikes this morning was one of the cutest things I’ve ever seen. Like ducks in a row, I tell you, it was ADORABLE!

I NEVER arrive 5 minutes early for school.

Teamwork is a beautiful thing. It’s pretty neat to watch how easily it all fits together–as if the pieces we held separately were part of some cosmic puzzle just waiting to fall in place.

So, I’m off to Toronto and feeling a wee bit nervous about the idea, to tell you the truth. Do I pack my enema bag? *gulp* I want to, but I never would. Thank goodness for Dr. Ritamarie recommended herbal bowel boosters.

Today’s Friday! Finish off your week with a bang and let me know what you think we should do around here. I’m off to the support teleseminar then packing for my weekend away. The smell of freedom is in the air and the weather says all is well in the world.

Love and hugs,

Tera

(90-Day Detox) Day 80: The Middle Path

Yesterday’s message took a left turn from what I had wanted to share as I felt my entire being needed to focus on gratitude and gratitude alone.

Do you ever get that feeling like the weather is somehow manifesting your inner space? Or maybe it’s the reverse? Your inner space–emotions and thoughts–are somehow takin orders from the electricity in the air?

Today it’s windy. The kind of wind that humbles you with a reminder that Nature does have the upper hand. Though we do all manner of interesting impositions upon her space, her form, her plan for things… when the wind hits, when the rain strikes or when electricity rips white light through the sky, then you know who’s boss.

Sometimes is takes a mighty wind like this to remind me how insignificant some of my “problems” really are. While I won’t go singing “Dust in the Wind” just yet, I think there’s something to be said for thinking outside of the circle of our own little world.

When a big whipping wind come and rocks your world you can’t help but be affected by it somehow. Today on my bike I’m going to take the things that stress me out, the things that hold parts of my negative attention and I’m going to donate them to the wind. Maybe she’ll find some way of putting them through Nature’s rinse cycle and transforming them into something better. But I’ve decided the wind has come to whip something away, so I’m gonna clip wings on my crusties and let them all go.

*grin*

Don’t Be So Obsessed About What You Eat Detox.

Hmmm…

We were supposed to kick off this week with a Green Smoothie Revival. 3 days of green smoothies or green juices.

How did you do?

I made it through the first day of juices, as I believe I mentioned. Then at the end of the second day, I decided that it had been enough.

I needed to take back the reins and do what made the most sense for me. One of the things that’s really easy to do is get on a binge-fasting roller coaster. I wanted to avoid that kind of scenario, so once I realized that I had handled my not going to bed at night, my late night eating and overeating and other questionable habits… Once I realized my cyst has shrunk some, my skin softened, by mood improved, I said,

“Well done, Tera.”

And satisfied with my improvements, I got off the juice wagon. I admit the juices no longer had much appeal to me anymore.

I want balance, not perfection.

Overeating, bingeing, eating late at night–these things cause my system grief and are behaviours I’d rather avoid. The Green Smoothie Revivial did good things to get me back on track with my attention on something besides food for a while.

And I’m not perfect but I’m not trying to be. I feel like I made the right choice for myself, because I didn’t roller coaster into a ravenous binge or overeating session. I got back in control and I’m going to stay there for a while.

Today, my love buttons, a salute to the middle path–to knowing YOUR limits and having the courage to respect them.

• Here’s to making change on a gradient, YOUR gradient.

Here’s to keeping a spirit of play alive and well in your life. Don’t take stuff too seriously. Roll, play, giggle a bit more. Fall down, but get back up and take the steering wheel back on YOUR life. We don’t need to measure success against the accomplishments of others as much as we need to measure progress against our own experiences.

That’s what I like about you, Sunshine. You always come up with the good ideas.

Keep on chuggin’ along. I’m totally on your side.

Looooooove and windy wishes for warm spring kisses,

Tera

(90-Day Detox) Day 79: Gratitude

Sometimes life dishes out days like today.

Maybe it’s because TODAY is the day we decided to do the Emotional Detox teleseminar for the 6-Week Detox that Life thought it would be a good exercise for me to experience the full range of human emotions in one 12 hour period?

Maybe it’s because my moons are in Saturn, or something?

Either way, one of the things that I know for sure is I can’t go wrong with an attitude of gratitude. And so it is, my dear Sparkle Puff of looooooove, that I thought I’d take the time to soak in some of that good stuff.

Care to join me?

1. I’m grateful for my bike ride this morning with the kids. I laughed and smiled the whole way to school. They were beautiful and so many people who passed us smiled or made comments about how happy we looked. Parc Lafontaine felt like an enchanted forest. It was a truly magical morning.

2. I’m grateful for the kids I saw playing in the park this morning. They were so small and SOOOOOO BEAUTIFUL. I couldn’t figure out why the morning had gone so “wrong” until I saw those kids and then thought…”Ahhh… maybe it was all just so I could arrive in time to catch THIS moment.” It was beautiful. They were beautiful. Tomorrow’s presidents were practicing a 2-year old’s version of tennis in an open field surrounded by dandy lions that roared a brilliant yellow back to the sun.

3. I’m grateful for how many times and how many beautiful ways Mika told me she loved me today.

4. I’m grateful that I kept my promise to buy the kids fruit popsicles despite the fact that it was way past bedtime by the time we got to the store.

5. I’m grateful for Sebastian who, this evening, when I was feeling frazzled and impatient for him to get in the bath, caressed my hair and head lovingly with both hands and said, “I know, Mom. You’re having a hard time. It’s okay. I know. It’s not about me, Mom. It’s the popsicles.” I love that kid.

6. I’m grateful for the smell of lilacs and the color of the sky as Mr. Right toured the kids and I on bikes in a park near his house.

7. I’m grateful for every single email that reaches my inbox and doubly grateful for the ones that come with declarations of victory, hope and inspiration attached.

8. I’m grateful for another humbling opportunity to confront myself today and the wide open spaces within me leaving plenty of room for growth. I’ve come a long way, but still have a long way to go.

9. I’m grateful for feeling “back on track” with my food, my sleep and my late night nibbling patterns.

10. I’m grateful to all those people who, in spite of fears, insecurities, doubts and other assorted open wounds, take the time and make the risk of reaching out in love to trust, to hope, to heal, and to believe.

These are the people who make life better–they commit to making things go right and things go right. These are the people who  believe in their dreams despite all the apparent reasons NOT to believe, and they live them. They make magic happen. I’ve met a lot of people like that around here. Perhaps you’re one of them, Dreamin’ Diva.

Go on! It’s your turn. What are YOU grateful for?