What would it be like?

It was a special night last night, as we geared up to listen to one of Primerica’s key note speakers, Gary Kornegay at another business expansion meeting that took place at the Doubletree Riverside Convention Center. This individual is a $700,000 dollar earner in the company, and by the end of the night, I believe we all wanted to idolize him just a little bit more. He was inspiring to me, as he shared his story. Gary was a man who grew up in South Central Los Angeles, with a father who was a pastor at one of the local churches, and a mother who became a school teacher. He is the second oldest boy of four sons, and all three of his brothers have all since been incarcerated in the state Penitentiary. Here is a man who wanted nothing more than to succeed, and become somebody special, with purpose. He talked about his non-formal education, and the fact that he had to re-take his last year in high school all over again, his $5.00/hr. job as an EMT, and the tiny home he and his wife lived in. Beginning his Primerica career in 1988, he has climbed up the financial ladder of success, making him one of the most successful leaders today. He has written a book called the Preacher’s Kid, addressing every aspect of his life including, gangs, God, drugs, and business. It tells of his journey toward success while overcoming the streets of Los Angeles. He helped us understand that although we are just average, ordinary people just like him, we can all do something great no matter how much education we’ve had, and regardless of our personal and financial background. We look forward to these big events, as they continue to motivate us in the right direction, pushing us closer to our goals and dreams.

Healthy Tidbits

I have recently acquired some simple, yet mind-altering advice that I feel would be beneficial at the start of this New Year. I say that it is simple because we’ve heard this information a dozen times, but it’s somewhat mind-altering, because you must train your brain to develop a routine centered on this life-saving advice. Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD specializes in heart replacement surgery, minimally invasive cardiac surgery, complementary medicine, and healthcare policies. He is annually elected as one of the best physicians in the United States, and I would have to agree with the statement that he is “The Best and Brightest”, stated by Esquire. He is known as the health expert on the Oprah Winfrey Show, and when he makes his appearance on the show, he shares volumes of restored knowledge about the human body and our health in general. I have taken much of his advice and ran with it, taking every opportunity to get myself in the best shape of my life and remain a healthy person. For this New Year, Dr. Oz compiled a list of 10 ways to live healthier. 2009 is the year you should put yourself back on your to-do list.
The Ultimate Health Checklist:
Step 1: Find a Doctor and Schedule a Checkup
Step 2: Know the Five Ingredients to Avoid
Step 3: The Healthy Foods to Add to your Diet
Step 4: Take a Multivitamin Every Single Day
Step 5: Know your Numbers
Step 6: Find a Health Advocate
Step 7: Organize your Medical Records
Step 8: Get the Medical Tests you need
Step 9: Start Exercising
Step 10: Get Seven to Eight Hours of Sleep Each Night
As a guide, you may use the American Medical Association Doctor Finder, when looking for a physician. You should avoid eating foods with ingredients like High Fructose Corn Syrup, Sugar, “Enriched”, Trans Fat, and Saturated Fat. The foods you should add to your grocery list are anything with Antioxidants, Omega-3 Fats, Fiber, and Olive Oil. If you are a young, premenopausal woman, you should take a multivitamin that contains iron and no more than 5,000 units of vitamin A. If you are a postmenopausal woman or a man, you should take a multivitamin without iron and no more than 2,500 units of vitamin A. Know the numbers that pertain to your health such as, waist size, blood pressure, cholesterol, resting heart rate, blood sugar, vitamin D, c-reactive protein, and thyroid stimulating hormone, or TSH. When you are under the care of a doctor, you should find a health advocate. That person may be your spouse, child, relative, or friend to help you understand the process and takes notes pertaining to your health. Get an updated copy of your medical file before you leave the doctor’s office, so you will have records of your medical history. Everyone should get an annual checkup, see their dentist every six months, and get an eye exam every two years. The other health tests will depend on your age and gender. Check out the Medical Work and Tests by Age. You should set a goal to get up to 10,000 steps a day, but start out walking at least 30 minutes a day, which will result in about 3,000 steps. Get your heart rate up, so you are sweating for at least 60 minutes a week. Stretch for at least 5 minutes every day, to increase flexibility, and perform strength training exercises such as, weight lifting or resistance training for at least 30 minutes a week. Getting seven to eight hours of sleep each night, will generate growth hormone that makes us stay beautiful and energized. Create a plan for a good night’s sleep. To achieve this, you should sleep in a cool, dark room, without any laptops or TV. You should add white noise, like a fan or sound machine, dress appropriately, establish a standard wake-up time, and get the best mattress.
Now that you have Dr. Oz’s 10-Step plan for 2009, it’s time to put it to the test! Let’s all get healthy together!
If you would like to learn more about the 10-Step plan, or about the famous doctor Oz, click this link: http://www.oprah.com/article/health/wellnessandprevention/oz_resources_bio/1

Wisdom Teeth Extraction

If you have ever had your wisdom teeth removed, you know all too well the agonizing pain and the recovery process of it all. I have always wondered why those seemingly, pointless teeth so deeply impacted are called “wisdom” teeth. About 90% of the time, they must be removed anyway, so what purpose have they ever served? I found the answer to this question after my husband just had two of his wisdom teeth pulled, just two days ago. I learned that wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars a person will get in their late teens and early twenties. Hence, the reason they are called wisdom teeth. A person in this age group is supposedly old enough to have gained some “wisdom”. I think it is rather silly, but it is what it is. Sometimes, they can actually be useful to the mouth if properly aligned. However, in most cases they are not, and when misaligned, they require removal as they can damage or crowd adjacent teeth, the jawbone or the nerves. Needless to say, my husband is now home recovering, and although he is feeling better, he still has quite a bit of swelling, which has resulted in the look of chipmunk cheeks, which I have found to be adorable. He would beg to differ. I thought about posting a picture of him with his chubby cheeks, but I knew he wouldn’t appreciate that much. I can feel for him though, as I have had all four of my wisdom teeth removed, and I know it is not much fun. At least it is over and done with, and he will not have to worry about them anymore. Aside from the everyday routine, that is the latest update. I will keep you all posted.

Snowy Days Ahead

I really never thought I’d see the sight of snow again, after the last storm we received over Christmas. It had all melted, and the days seemed a bit warmer with no sign of snow to appear. I was excited at the thought of that, as I don’t much care for the snow anymore as I get older. I get very apprehensive at the thought of icy roads while I drive, and I don’t have the time to enjoy it anyway. I was feeling unsatisfied when I looked out the window this morning, only to find a blanket of snow to disrupt my day. I don’t know too many people who are fond of Mondays, but it can really be a rather depressing day of the week, and when the snow gets stirred up in the mix of it all, it’s no good. Since it is the busiest day of my work week, I found the snow to be a bit daunting, since I had to shovel it for three hours this morning, which in turn shaved off a good amount of time to be doing the other tasks I find to be more important. Although, I can’t say that it was so bad, as I did have a kind, old gentleman help me with my shoveling in order to get the parking lot clear for traffic and customers. Though, there are many advantages to the amount of snow we just received, as it means there will be good water runoff this year, and those who are avid skiers and snowboarders will be quite pleased. I also see it as a good form of exercise, since that has been absent in my daily routine since winter has settled in. Aside from the snowy weather, I have to say I have been feeling very inspired on many levels. It’s hard to describe in words, but I feel that this New Year will bring about many positive changes in our lives, that will get us heading in the right direction. My office is coming along, slowly but surely. I just got the curtains put up last night, and I’m in the process of finding the accessories and the other necessities to pull off the finishing touches. I’ve been looking forward to every moment I can spend in that room; conjuring up the many ideas I have to create a fun, successful business. We will soon get ourselves in a routine that includes exercise, daily meditation and study, as well as quality time to spend together, as all of those things are important. In the meantime, I will endure the snowy days ahead. Have a great day!

Thought of the Day

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and a happy New Year. I received an email this morning that I felt I should share with all of you. With all of our new year's resolutions and goals, I do hope that we include prayer at the top of our list. I felt inspired by the photo below. We can learn a lot from this little boy, and if his dog can do it, so can you!