An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day. ~ Henry David Thoreau

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Say Yes to Life!

By Bruce Elkin

Do you ever gripe and complain about life? About what happens to you, or what you have or do not have?
I used to, a lot. I hoped complaining would make things better. But it didn't.

In spite of my tendency to whine, I was a doer. I did not like teaching public school. So I left and created programs for
environmental education and wilderness leadership. I started to write. I set up my own business.

Although I liked what I did and was good at it, it was difficult. It drained me. I felt like I was climbing a mountain with an extra 50 pounds of rocks in my pack. I had to force myself to take action. Along the way, I moaned
and groaned. I thought, "Life should not be so hard." I worried about burning out. Or worse.

A New Approach

One day, I met an old friend, who had created a truly successful life.

John had been a top architect, but fought a trend to bland,"money-driven design." In spite of awards, he left his
profession, its politics, and a sprawling city. He designed and built a house in a beautiful rural valley, and rebuilt his life
as an artist, teacher, and family man. When we talked, John had a wonderful long-lasting marriage, and
two great, self-sufficient children. His paintings had changed from pretty but commonplace nature scenes to vibrant, life-filled
paintings of people doing things they loved.

I asked him why he thought things had worked out so well."It was difficult at first," he said. "But it all got a lot
easier when I started saying 'Yes' to whatever came along." "What do you mean?" I asked.

"Instead of worrying about every decision," he said, "if an opportunity popped up, I took a look. I tried it out. In spite
of fears or doubts, I said, 'Yes,' and went for it. It was great. I felt I was living without regrets.

"But," he added, "there was a downside. Saying 'yes' to everything can be hectic. I often had a lot going on. Too much,
sometimes. I had to learn to say 'yes' to the most important things to make space for them to grow.

"I learned to let go of less important things. I discovered letting go is part of saying 'yes' to change and endings. When I
started saying 'yes' in that way, it all started to flow. I didn't have to force decisions or actions; results seemed to come
naturally. I took life as it came. I relaxed, finally at ease with change."

I came away from my chat with John inspired but confused. Although I was making progress in my own life, things did not
flow for me. I had to force myself to make decisions, and take action. I tried to wrestle into being the things I wanted. The 50 pounds of rocks still took its toll.

The Word in Our Heart

After pondering John's words for a while, I finally grasped the wisdom in something I had read, but not fully understood.

"Each of us carries a word in our heart," wrote positive psychologist Martin Seligman in his book Learned Optimism,
"a 'no' or a 'yes'."

What, I wondered, was my word?

As I thought about it, I realized, although I focused on creating positive results, the dominant word in my heart was still "no."
In my attempt to better myself, and my world, I focused mostly on problems. I wasted precious energy trying to get rid of things I did not like and did not want.

Although I knew "creating" usually generated better and long- lasting results than problem-solving, I still saw my creations
as solutions to problems, rather than things I loved and wanted to bring into being.

Trying to force creations into being, I used willpower manipulation. I tried overpowering the forces in play with my
will. That worked sometimes, but it was draining! Worse, the results rarely lasted.

I also used conflict manipulation. Feeling sorry for myself because creating did not come as easy as I thought it should, I
whine and complained. Doing so not only drained me; it irritated others, and often led to conflict.

I wasn't like that all the time. I got things done. I took the lead in creating a mountaineering school. I developed leadership
programs, wrote articles, gave speeches, and started coaching others. However, after chatting with John, I realized "Yes" was
not yet the primary word in my heart.

When I made it so, things changed dramatically. Saying "Yes" to Whatever Life Gives You

I gradually let go of my need to solve problems. Instead, I focused on creating what I truly wanted in my life and world.
I stopped imposing my will on others, the world, and myself. I began to do as the poet Rumi suggests; I let myself be silently
drawn by the stronger pull of what I really loved.

Suddenly, life got a lot easier. It was as if someone removed that 50 pounds of rocks from of my pack. My legs felt stronger,
my step lighter. I felt as if I was striding relaxed and easily up the mountain of my life.

Yes, I still had problems. I still faced obstacles and adversity, but I accepted them instead of fighting against them.
I embraced difficulties as "givens," raw material out of which to create what mattered to me. I learned from adversity, and rose
above it. I started saying "yes" to whatever came along.

It was a great day when I realized I could create success and happiness with whatever life gave me. I reinvented my business
to reflect my new insights. I interacted better with clients. My writing became easier and more effective. And, in no time, I began to feel the flow John had talked about.

My life, I realized, was very good. Yes!

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Bruce Elkin is a 20-year life coach. He works with high potential people who are stuck, stalled, or drifting. He can
help you create what matters—in spite of problems or obstacles. * Read how in his new ebook Emotional Mastery: Manage Your Moods and Create What Matters Most—With Whatever Life Gives You! at:
http://www.BruceElkin.com

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Wandering Monk Cards Reduced to $5 per set

Prison is a cruel and selfish place filled with people who have failed in life.... But prision can also be educational. If one learns how to do their time, instead of letting time do them, one can become strong---in a good way.... In the past, I had added nothing but confusion, judgement and a horrible act of violence to the world.

Now, I try to add compassion, kindness and understanding to it, along with selfless service." - Lupe Rodriguez

Please help the Prison Dharma Program at the Zen Center of Denver.You can make a 100% tax-deductible donation to assist in this effort todevelop and expand the Prison Dharma Program. Note cards, a set of five different "Wandering Monk images, designed by Lupe Rodriguez are available at the Zen Center of Denver for a minimum donation of $5.

Internet orders are available now by check or credit card.

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An Exercise Routine That's Right

By Peter Hilsper

Any exercise, no matter how small, will help you, so keep at it!

You will get the most out of exercise when you enjoy doing it so you should pick an activity that you'll enjoy doing. There will be time to wonder if its the most effective exercise you could be doing later.

Most people have a tendency to jump in the deep end when it comes to exercise routines - to pick the most difficult one they can find and often one that doesn't include activities they enjoy. This is a big mistake, because people start out excited they will keep it up for the first few days, but after a few weeks with the momentum and excitement gone its very difficult to keep going.

The result is that they burn out quickly and quit exercising altogether because they can't keep up their chosen exercise routine.

It is impossible to overstress how important it is to avoid doing this. An exercise routine you enjoy doing and completing is invaluable starting out. A little exercise can make a difference in your health and fitness, countless studies have shown that people who only get one hour walking a week have better health than those who get no exercise at all.

Of course, you'll probably want to increase the amount of exercise you're doing after a little while, but you should pick something easy and fun to do at first. If you like riding a bicycle, then you should start going on short bike rides every other evening. Eventually, you'll probably find that you're able to ride further without getting tired. Once you start getting into shape, you might want to extend your riding time - or ride more often.

Perhaps you already get some exercise every day and you feel confident and happy with your ability to complete your designated exercise. You should consider stepping up your exercise program - exercise more and do it more often. For example if you go for a short walk three times a week then try to find the time to do the same walk four or five times a week.

You can also change the type of exercise that you're doing if you're getting used to it. In fact, this is recommended if you're starting to get used to whatever exercise you're doing. After all, if you get used to it and it becomes boring, you might not want to continue.

If you're looking for a good type of exercise, you should look for something that works your entire body. For this reason, it might be a good idea to invest in a small exercise machine, or in a membership to one of your local gyms. By exercising all of your body, you'll be able to increase your muscle tone everywhere - which will generally make you feel healthier.

The most important lesson is don't get discouraged. If you are in an off mood and can't bring yourself to exercise, then accept that this happens everyone - it's your body's way of saying it needs a day off! But the important thing is to not let that day off become a break, don't break your exercise routine for more than a few days or it will be very difficlut to get back into it.

Even if you find yourself not exercising anymore always remember that all is not lost! You can still go back to your old routine, or start a new one at whatever level you want, it is never too late to exercise. So no matter what level of fitness or level of exercise you are at, remember that few activities are as rewarding as exercise. Good luck!

About the Author:

Peter Hilsper is a writer at ROAR Exercise Inc which is crammed with the best in health information, links and articles. Read more at: http://www.roarexercise.com/

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Find information and support at Exercise Your Willpower

Exercise Your Willpower Support Group Mailing List

If you need more motivation and some group support, feel free to subscribe to the Exercise Your Willpower mailing list. There is a great group of people who help motivate each other. To get more information, visit the website at: http://www.exerciseyourwillpower.com

Online Fitness and Health Tools

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Make Every Day A Green Day When You Choose Healthy House Plants

By Wesley Berry

Want to make your day a Green Day? Okay, you could run out and purchase a CD by the band Green Day, but you can only listen to one CD for so long and it won't provide added benefits like cleaner air in your home and a beautiful home decorating element. To keep the beauty of green in your life, why not add a lovely green or flowering plant to your home décor?

Now, for a florist, choosing the right healthy plant for your home seems pretty easy. But, I know that there are many people
out there who feel they have a "brown thumb." For them, the thought of picking a plant that will work well in the space they
have available and then caring for it to keep it looking gorgeous and green can be positively frightening. The easiest way to
ensure you're choosing a healthy plant is to visit your florist and ask for help. However, if you choose to strike out on your
own and find the green plant of your dreams, there are some things you should look for:

* Look for signs of insects. If the plant is infested with bugs, you probably don't want to bring it into your house. And,
    since the insects are probably living off the plant, it may die quickly or develop an unhealthy appearance such as brown
    spots or holes in the leaves. Look at stems, leaves, and the undersides of leaves. Don't forget to check the potting soil
    for insects as well.

* Avoid plants that show symptoms of disease. If leaves appear yellow, brown, or crunchy, leave the plant on the shelf. Look
    also for brown spots on leaves and stems. Look for plants that are full, sturdy, and have an overall healthy color and
    appearance.

* Don't buy plants whose leaves are too shiny or that have been extensively pruned. Leaves that have an unnaturally shiny
    appearance have been treated with a chemical to make them appear more lustrous. This could be masking signs of disease
    and may lead to ill health of the plant as the chemicals sink in. Also, if the plant appears to have been pruned to a high
    degree, it's probably not very healthy. Store employees may have clipped off leaves and stems that showed disease.

* Buy plants that show evidence of new growth. If the plant is a flowering plant, choose one with a few opened flowers and
    lots of new buds. If you purchase one that is already heavily flowered, it's blooming period may be nearing the end of the
    cycle and you won't have the opportunity to enjoy the flowers for very long. New buds and leaves show that the plant is
    healthy and growing.

Of course, choosing a healthy plan won't be the only key to your plant growing success. You'll also need to choose plants that are best suited to the light available in your home and understand how to provide the best care for the plant. That's why I
recommend that novice plant owners seek the assistance of their local florist who will be able to choose plants that will grow
well, are easy to care for, and will be able to provide some information about how often to feed and water the plant. And,
they're always just a phone call away if questions should arise.

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Wesley Berry is the President of Wesley Berry Flowers, a successful multi-million dollar business that was established in 1946. He is also the Headmaster of the Professional Florists' Institute, a floral design school located in Michigan. Visit Wesley Berry Flowers on the web at http://www.wesleyberryflowers.com.

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Healthy Relationships Create a Healthy Life!

By Ray Kelly

Is your relationship with your significant other, mother, father, or friend making you sick? Believe it or not, there’s scientific evidence to suggest that our relationships can actually contribute to illness. Therefore, in order to achieve a healthy life, it is important to make our relationships healthy.

There have been studies to suggest that people who are married often tend to live longer. Experts reason that marriage provides a nurturing environment for individuals, enabling them to better fight off disease. The support of a loving spouse can make all the difference in the world, especially when one is facing a serious illness.

Maintaining healthy relationships can help to lower our stress. Stress is considered to be an important contributing factor for illness. By improving our relationships with other people—particularly with family members—we can cut down on the stress which can sap our strength, making it difficult for us to ward off infections.

But it is not enough to know that healthy relationships can make us healthier. It is also critically important to know exactly how we can ensure that our relationships are healthy. Psychologists contend that the key ingredient of a healthy relationship is communication. Unless we feel safe to communicate our feelings, we will be unable to thrive in our relationships. If you don’t like to confront people, you might find it more difficult to communicate. Therefore, you must learn effective communication skills.

Before you can communicate in your relationships, you must know your goals and desires. In other words, you have to know what you want before you can articulate it to another person. You should try to keep an open mind, listening carefully to what the other person has to say. If you are bothered by a person’s behavior, try to avoid saying something like, “You are always late.” Instead, say something to the effect that, “When you are out and I don’t hear back from you, I worry.” That way, you are telling the other person how his or her behavior makes you feel. It is also vitally important that you admit your mistakes and apologize for them. Such a simple action shows that you are really concerned about the other person’s feelings.

Healthy relationships also depend upon setting limits for yourself, and respecting the limits of other people. You should never tolerate abuse in a relationship, whether it is emotional abuse or physical abuse. At the first warning signs, you should seek distance from the abuser. Such distance is critical for your emotional well-being and long-term health.

About the Author:

Ray Kelly is an Exercise Scientist with 15 years experience in the health and fitness industry. Check out his Free Exercise and Meal Planner at http://www.free-online-health.com or http://www.trainingdiary.ws

Articles and Web Sites Worth a Look

Save the Rain Forest

(click to help -no cost to you)

Fortune Society

Amnesty International

Gaiam - a lifestyle company

Vita-cost. Save Up to 75%on Vitamins.

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"Great is the matter of birth and death,
Time passes quickly.
Wake-up! Wake-up!
Don't waste a minute."

-on the wall outside of the Zendo at the Zen Center of Denver

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We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect. ~Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac

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If you would like to submit an article, or place an advertisement in this newsletter, or if you have any questions or comments, send them to the Editor.

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Disclaimer

The information in this newsletter is not intended in any way to be a substitute for medical advice. Always see your doctor before you begin any exercise routine or make drastic changes in your diet.

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Go to Two Compassionate Hands Website

May 2006

Volume 2, Issue 5

Say Yes to Life!

An Exercise Routine That's Right

Make Every Day A Green Day When You Choose Healthy House Plants

Healthy Relationships Create a Healthy Life!

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