Don't get out of your comfort zone, get into your adventure zone

We've had a busy start to the year. Lots of work but plenty of play too. We went skiing as a family for the first time (a day trip to Glenshee), my eldest son entered his first diving competition and my youngest son jumped into water out of his depth for the first time, in preparation for diving lessons. I have also spoken at several events (not new but I still need to push myself!). What these all have in common, is that they were in our "adventure zone", which is the theme of this post.

Quick Quote

"When you're safe at home you wish you were having an adventure; when you're having an adventure you wish you were safe at home." ~ Thornton Wilder

Get into your adventure zone

Would you like a change? Some people are more inclined to take action to move away from something they don't like and other people are motivated by moving towards their goals. Whichever you are, getting out of your comfort zone is a well-worn phrase which doesn't sound particularly attractive. It is moving away from something, but most of us quite like our comfort zone! "Get into your adventure zone" is more positive, exciting and attractive. I would like to challenge you to:

• Get into your adventure zone at least once a week (stretch target once a day!)
• Think ahead of time what your adventure will be, look for opportunities or, if you prefer, do something spontaneous
• It doesn't have to be parachuting out of a plane (although it is a fantastic adventure!). For some people it might just be having a different sandwich for lunch or going to a different cafe/restaurant. Why not try a new exercise class or hobby, talk to someone you haven't spoken to before or wear a different colour or style to your usual attire?

If you would like to share your adventures (large or small) I would love to hear about them below.

Health or wealth?

Question:
Dala Lama was asked what surprised him most about humanity

Answer:
Mankind because ...

• He sacrifices his health in order to make money
• Then he sacrifices his money to recuperate his health
• Then he's so worried about the future he does not enjoy the present
• The result being he does not live in the present or in the future
• He lives as if he's never going to die
• and dies never having really lived

Are you saving something for a special occasion?

A friend of mine opened his wife's underwear drawer and picked up a
silk-paper-wrapped package:
'This,' - he said - 'isn't any ordinary package.'
He unwrapped the box and stared at both the silk paper and the box.
'She got this the first time we went to New York , 8 or 9 years ago. She has
never put it on, was saving it for a special occasion.
Well, I guess this is it.'
He got near the bed and placed the gift box next to the other clothing he
was taking to the funeral house; his wife had just died.

He turned to me and said:
'Never save something for a special occasion.
Every day in your life is a special occasion.'
I still think those words changed my life.
Now I read more and clean less.
I sit on the settee without worrying about anything and just relax.
I spend more time with my family and friends and less at work.

Money is to be spent not saved.
I understood that life should be a source of experience to be lived up to,
not survived through.

I no longer keep anything.
I use crystal glasses every day.
I'll wear new clothes to go to the supermarket, if I feel like it.
I don't save my special perfume for special occasions, I use it whenever I
want to.

I go out with my friends whenever I want to rather than thinking I don't
have the spare money or time.
The words 'Someday...' and 'One Day....' are fading away from my dictionary.

If it's worth seeing, listening or doing, I want to see it, listen to it or
do it now.
I don't know what my friend's wife would have done if she knew she wouldn't
be there the next morning, this nobody can tell.
I think she might have called her relatives and closest friends.
She might call old friends to make peace over past quarrels.  
She might have told everyone how much she loved them.
I'd like to think she would go out for Chinese, her favourite food.
It's these small things that I would regret not doing, if I knew my time had
come.
Each day, each hour, each minute, is special.
Live for today, for tomorrow is promised to no-one.

Real mothers often have sticky floors, filthy ovens and happy kids

Happy Mother’s Day!

Real Mothers don’t eat quiche;
They don’t have time to make it.

Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils
Are probably in the sandbox.

Real Mothers often have sticky floors,
Filthy ovens and happy kids.

Real Mothers know that dried play dough
Doesn’t come out of carpets.

Real Mothers don’t want to know what
The vacuum just sucked up.

Real Mothers sometimes ask ‘Why me?’
And get their answer when a little
Voice says, ‘Because I love you best..’

Real Mothers know that a child’s growth
is not measured by height or years or grades…

It is marked by the progression of Mummy to Mum to Mother…

The Images of a Mother
4 YEARS OF AGE – My Mummy can do anything!
8 YEARS OF AGE – My Mum knows a lot! A whole lot!
12 YEARS OF AGE – My Mother doesn’t really know quite everything.
14 YEARS OF AGE – Naturally, Mother doesn’t know that, either.
16 YEARS OF AGE – Mother? She’s hopelessly old-fashioned.
18 YEARS OF AGE – That old woman? She’s way out of date!
25 YEARS OF AGE – Well, she might know a little bit about it!
35 YEARS OF AGE – Before we decide, let’s get Mum’s opinion.
45 YEAR S OF AGE – Wonder what Mum would have thought about it
65 YEARS OF AGE – Wish I could talk it over with Mum.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears,
the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair.

The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes,
Because that is the doorway to her heart,
The place where love resides.

The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole,
but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.

It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows
and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!

I love this poem - gives me a great excuse for my dirty oven too!
Pass it on to other great Mums out there today and boost them too..

Thanks to parenting expert Sue Atkins for this lovely poem

Food Glorious Food

I was bringing my son home from football practice the other day and gave him his “treat of the day” (an established house rule of one sweet thing a day) in the car – a toffee. I asked him if he would like some music on, or prefer it quiet. He said “quiet please because then I can concentrate on my sweet”. He innately knows how to really enjoy food and appreciate his experience of taste. I wonder if we all started that way. This coincided with some training I received on helping people with weight loss (see current offerings if you are interested in this) so, in this newsletter, I offer some simple suggestions on how to enjoy your food more whilst maintaining a healthy weight.

Quick Quote
"A good meal ought to begin with hunger" ~ A French Proverb

Simple suggestions to enjoy food and maintain a healthy weight

1. Wear a blind fold, or close your eyes when you are eating – yes, you read that right! By taking out our sense of sight, it heightens our sense of taste and helps us focus on the taste and enjoy our food more. You don't have to wear a blindfold all the time, just try it once or twice. Get someone to feed you for fun!
2. Eat slower (and sitting down) – as above, it helps us focus on what we are eating so we can enjoy it more. Have you ever eaten on the run and realised that you have not enjoyed it or even realised you have eaten. It just happened. By sitting down, creating time (ideally 20 minutes per main meal), and consciously eating slower (put your cutlery down between mouthfuls) we can enjoy it more. In fact, a study as shown that eating too quickly can contribute directly to over-eating: study on eating too fast
3. Eat smaller portions – wearing a blind fold or closing your eyes when eating has been shown to help us eat the right amount for our body as we can perceive when we are full easier. Better still, cook less than you need and fill up on fruit afterwards. If you do cook too much and “don't want to waste it” then accept that putting it on your “waist” is not helping either. Put it in the fridge for tomorrow or compost it and recycle the nutrients.
4. Eat breakfast every day. Add some dried fruit, some chopped fresh fruit and a glass of juice and you've already eaten 2 of your 5 a day – bonus! (If you don't have time for breakfast, get up 10 minutes earlier - it will give you energy). Eating breakfast has also been shown to help with over-eating later in the day: eating breakfast-fact vs myth
5. Exercise and fresh air– I always think food tastes much better when you've had some exercise, especially if you have been outside. It also means you are less likely to put on weight of course! Try and exercise at least 3 times a week doing something you enjoy.
6. Carry round healthy snacks for you, and your kids if you have them, so that you are less tempted to buy junk when you are out and about. Convenient snacks to leave in your bag are dried fruits, seeds, nuts (not roasted or salted), oatcakes. Please tell me your favourites.
7. Don't deprive yourself – allow yourself one treat a day (a couple of squares of good quality chocolate or the occasional bag of baked crisps is ok, as is the odd glass of wine). I had one lady who lost lots of weight just using this one principle!
8. Be drink aware – A couple of glasses of wine is about the same as a mars bar. Add up the calories in the drinks you consume in a week, including all alcoholic and soft drinks. It can be surprising. This may be helpful: drink aware tools

I asked a friend of mine who had lost quite a lot of weight, how he had kept it off. He said “when my trousers get a bit tight, I don't buy the next size up, I eat less because it becomes uncomfortable. So the trick seems to be “listen” to your waist band.

If you have any suggestions or success stories, please share them

Don't let Marketa's life have been lost in vain

It is with a heavy heart that I write this as a lovely lady who I coached on her business and through her cancer and who became a friend, has passed away leaving a young daughter. During her final year (although she was positive about recovery) she was an inspiration. She had always wanted to play the piano, so she started learning. She loved yoga and made time to enjoy her yoga with the sunrise whenever possible. She spent time with horses as this gave her peace and strength. And as a means of staying in touch with many friends she wrote a blog with positive, inspiring thoughts. In one of her last photos, she is laughing with her daughter, enjoying precious time with her.

Quick Quote
 

“There are many wonderful things that will never be done if you do not do them" - Charles D Gill

Questions which could change your life

Imagine that you only had 1 year to live. What would you do over the next 12 months? What if you only had 1 month?

• What would you stop doing? If you first instinct is your job, then the question is, could you do a different job that that would provide the same level of income? Alternatively maybe you don’t need as much income as you have – down-sizing has made many people happy as they focus on the important things and simplify their lives (whether they chose this route or circumstances forced it). Which chores are you doing that aren't essential (people who know me know I am on a mission to stop people ironing!)
• Who would you see or spend time talking to? Who are the important people in your life. How often do you see or speak to them? Do they know you love them?
• Do you have an unfulfilled dream? Somewhere you would like to go? A skill that you would like to learn? Maybe you could ask for vouchers for Christmas?
• When are you happiest? When do you feel most at peace, in the zone, free?

Obviously there are practical considerations given that, hopefully, you have a lot longer to live, but take action as a result of any insights you have had from these questions. If you find yourself making excuses, then give me a call – my clients will tell you - I will help you overcome them!

My friend no longer has the chance to fulfil any more dreams - but you do...