Compassion Exercise – Practicing Love, Forgiveness and Joy

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Honesty with one’s self leads to compassion for others.

Love is the best thing in the world, and it's free!

Love is the best thing in the world, and it\’s free!

OBJECTIVE: To increase the amount of compassion in the world.

EXPECTED RESULTS: A personal sense of peace.

INSTRUCTIONS: This exercise can be done anywhere that people congregate (airports, malls, parks, beaches, etc.). It should be done on strangers, unobtrusively, from some distance. Try to do all five steps on the same person.

Step 1: With attention on the person, repeat to yourself:
“Just like me, this person is seeking some happiness for his/her life.”

Step 2: With attention on the person, repeat to yourself:
“Just like me, this person is trying to avoid suffering in his/her life.”

Step 3: With attention on the person, repeat to yourself:
“Just like me, this person has known sadness, loneliness and despair.”

Step 4: With attention on the person, repeat to yourself:
“Just like me, this person is seeking to fulfill his/her needs.”

Step 5: With attention on the person, repeat to yourself:
“Just like me, this person is learning about life.”

Variations:
To be done by family members to increase understanding.
To be done on old enemies still present in your memory.

Try it today 🙂 We will all benefit from more compassion in the world!

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Venezuela Bans Coke Zero

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No Unhealthy Foods Allowed - Yeah!

No Unhealthy Foods Allowed – Yeah!

The Venezuelan government has ordered Coca-Cola to withdraw its Coke Zero beverage from the South American nation, citing unspecified dangers to health.

The decision follows a period of increased scrutiny of businesses in South America’s top oil exporter. Health Minister Jesus Mantilla said the zero-calorie Coke Zero should no longer be sold and stocks of the drink removed from store shelves.

“The product should be withdrawn from circulation to preserve the health of Venezuelans,” the minister said in comments reported by the government’s news agency. Coke Zero contains artificial sweeteners.

See the full article plus comments at mercola.com.

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Fasting Day 9 in Koh Samui, Thailand

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Follow Jennifer’s progress during her most recent cleanse. Hear what type of detox cleanse she is doing and learn for yourself how you can use the Arise and Shine products yourself at home. Some people define a ‘fast’ as a water only fast, but in this case, Jennifer is describing a colon cleanse fast using fruit juice, coconuts, psyllium husk powder, bentonite clay, probiotics, Chomper and Herbal Nutrition herb blends. The island of Koh Samui, Thailand is a great destination for doing your cleanse or detox as the weather is warm, the beaches are nice and there are a lot of detox spas on the island. When you break your fast, you can enjoy lots of fresh tropical fruits and raw foods as well!

All information in this article is for educational purposes only.
It is not for the diagnosis, treatment, prescription or cure of any disease or health condition.

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Steve Jobs, Autistic children, War in Iran, Weather Woes – What’s happening??

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Is anyone else out there seeing how insane the world has become?? Looking at today’s headlines makes me realize why I do not own a television and why I am happier not reading the news!! And the word thing of all is that we have created this mess!

Steve Jobs, an inspiring and successful man by many accounts, has failed completely in the department of taking care of his health. Did stress lead to his condition? The daily rise of autistic children, poisoned by additives and chemicals to the point where their brains are short-circuiting…and what do we do? We give them drugs!!! The latest war, which sadly enough, has turned into a sadistic form of entertainment, with people talking about murder and violence over a cup of coffee! And the weather…Mother Earth herself is even suffering from the pressure of it all, showing us that she can’t even handle it anymore!!!

Back to the basics...slowing down

Back to the basics…slowing down

We have to change this. It’s completely out of control. Just think if we lived in a slightly better world…it’s not that hard to imagine, and realize how we would all benefit together. There is no ‘us and them,’ we are all the same, so we have to start taking care of each other! If you are not part of the solution then you are part of the problem! Let’s start by trying to only share positive stories with each other and get rid of the gossip. Done. Gotta get back to the basic with diet, nutrition and lifestyle…you can try to fight this one but in the end you will see that natural, whole and pure is the only way to go! Don’t wait until you lose your health like Steve before you start to make change. Prevention is Healthy Bliss! And we’ve gotta give back to our precious weary and battered earth…we just have to, because no one wants to live in a rubbish dump. Hmmm, are we simply just gearing up to 2012? I don’t know, but I definitely see the critical mass thing happening.

OK, sorry about that rant 🙂 what to say…I never read the news, and now I know why! My own reality is a much happier, peaceful and healthy place! Come to Thailand, do a detox, cleanse or fast, eat some raw foods, practice meditation and start enjoying life again 🙂

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Rasayana Raw Food Vegan Restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand – Yum!

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Rasayana Retreat, Bangkok

Rasayana Retreat, Bangkok

I’ve just got to tell you guys about this amazing restaurant in case you didn’t know, yes there is a 100% raw food restaurant in Bangkok – Rasayana Retreat, just off of Sukhumvit Soi 39 near the Emporium Shopping Mall. It is well worth the trip.

Raw Thai Pasta

Raw Thai Pasta

They have great juices, soups, salads, mains and desserts – all at very reasonable prices.

My favorites are the Hawaiian Pizza, the Thai Pasta, the Thai Lemongrass (Tom Kha) Soup and the Strawberry cake, just to name a few.

The Thai pasta noodles are made from strips of coconut flesh and zucchini; the sauce is made fresh using tomato, beet root, chili, garlic, ginger, raisins, macadamia nuts and kaffir lime leaf. It’s a must-try for raw food visitors to Thailand!

Always something new to try!

Always something new to try!

The Tom Kha soup is a blended raw soup made with coconut water, coconut flesh, lemongrass, galangal, lime, kaffir lime leaves, avocado, miso and salt to taste. Wow!

You’ve gotta taste it to experience it for yourself! They offer daily specials as well.

Nice healthy outdoor setting

Nice healthy outdoor setting

Best of all is they do great takeaways, so what I normally do is go there on my last night in Bangkok and order takeaways for my long flights, that way I have beautiful fresh raw food for my plane journey. They give you all the salad dressings in separate containers and I’ve never had a problem taking any of it on the plane.

Rasayana also some yummy raw snacks for sale like Macadamia Nut Bread, Raw Brownies, Raw Donuts, Beet Root Cookies and Seed Bars, so stock up while you’re there!

You can find healthy food in Bangkok 🙂 Let’s all support Rasayana so they stay around for a long time to come!

To get to Rasayana Raw Food Vegan Vegetarian Restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand, take the sky train to Phrom Prom station, and exit towards Soi 39. From Soi 39, you can take a tuk tuk taxi directly to Rasayana for 30 Baht. It’s about a 5-minute ride or a 15-minute walk.

Tell the manager, Norah Jones, that J.lo from Koh Samui sent you 🙂

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Eyes – ‘The Mirror of the Soul’ According to Dilbert

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dilbertstrip

Good stuff, thanks @travelhappy! In Iridology, we like to say that the eyes are the ‘windows to your health,’ but the ‘mirror to your soul’ is also a good analogy!

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Another reason to Avoid Processed Food – e.coli in Nestle cookies!

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NEW YORK, June 19, 2009

Nestle Recalls Cookie Dough Over Illnesses

E. Coli Reported Along With Nearly 70 People Sickened And 25 Hospitalized

ecoli

(AP) Food maker Nestle USA on Friday voluntarily recalled its Toll House refrigerated cookie dough products after a number of illnesses were reported by those who ate the dough raw.

The company said the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control are investigating reported E. coli illnesses that might be related to the ingestion of raw cookie dough.

In a statement, the FDA said there have been 66 reports of illness across 28 states since March. About 25 people have been hospitalized, but no one has died.

The FDA advised consumers to throw away any prepackaged, refrigerated Nestle Toll House cookie dough products in their homes. Retailers, restauranteurs and employees at other food-service operations should also not sell or serve any of the products.

Nestle spokeswoman Roz O’Hearn said “this has been a very quickly moving situation,” adding the company took action less than 24 hours after hearing of the problem.

O’Hearn said the company will “cooperate fully” with the FDA’s investigation.

The recall includes refrigerated cookie bar dough, cookie dough tub, cookie dough tubes, limited edition cookie dough items, seasonal cookie dough and Ultimates cookie bar dough. It does not affect any other Toll House products.

E. coli is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration and, in the most severe cases, kidney failure.

Click here to view the original article from CBS news.com.

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The 45 lessons life taught me…

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This is something we should all read at least once a week!
Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I’ve ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

Life teaches us many lessons

Life teaches us many lessons

1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.

8. It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

Serenity

Serenity

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.

12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.

Enjoy the simple moments!

Enjoy the simple moments!

19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ‘In five years, will this matter?’

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

Learn to let go...

Learn to let go…

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.

35. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative — dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.

from Donita E. Wagler, Keppel Sarawak School, Owen Sound, Canada

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Words to live by – The Four Agreements

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Don Miguel Ruiz in his Toltec Wisdom Book: The Four Agreements states it so well:

Simplicity in Life...

Simplicity in Life…

(1) BE IMPECCABLE WITH YOUR WORDS.

Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

(2) DON’T TAKE ANYTHING PERSONALLY.

Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.

(3) DON’T MAKE ASSUMPTIONS.

Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

(4) ALWAYS DO YOUR BEST.

Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstances, simply do your best and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.

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Ingredients for Green Smoothies in Thailand – Increase Fiber, Minerals & Alkaline-Forming Foods

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This video shows you just a few of the many beautiful greens we can choose from here in Koh Samui, Thailand for the most delicious Green Smoothies ever! By the way, that unidentifiable ‘vine’ turned out to be morning glory! Jennifer Thompson shows you what is available to buy at the local markets of SE Asia for your healthy blended drinks.

Enjoy this smoothie for it’s high fiber count, variety of minerals and wonderful alkaline effect on the body. Just one Green Smoothie every day can help the body naturally detox and cleanse – you can lose weight, feel better, gain energy and finally start to experience natural health within!

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Green Smoothie Recipe & Video Demonstration

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Watch for yourself how the wonderful magic of Green Smoothie Making unfolds! Jennifer shows you how to use a blender, fresh fruit and dark leafy greens to make this perfect raw food snack or meal, so easy to add to your daily routine at home!

Green Smoothie Love!

Green Smoothie Love!

Consider trying the Green Smoothie for breakfast or lunch, especially if you are looking to gain energy, lose weight, increase minerals, detox, add more fiber to your diet and live more in tune with Mother Earth.

Why would you not want to try!

Filmed in Koh Samui, Thailand, a great tropical island destination for fasting, cleansing, detoxing, raw foods, meditation and natural healing!

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Raw Food Recipe for Thai Green Papaya Salad or ‘Som Tam’ Salad – Video

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Fast, simple and easy Thai Green Papaya (or som tam) salad – what a treat! But, I think I forgot to add fresh lime juice in the recipe, so just remember to add that at home kids, thanks!! In Thailand, green papayas are sold everywhere, but if you do not have access to them at home, try using shredded cucumber or zucchini instead. Our favorite raw food tool to make the shreds is sold right here on healthybliss.net – go to the store to buy one now!

The ingredients you need for this recipe are: fresh garlic, fresh chili, lime, green papaya, tomato or cucumber, Bragg’s Liquid Amino Acids and some Himalayan salt to taste. Green papaya is full of digestive enzymes and is very good for a healthy, strong digestive system!

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