I took piano lessons when I was a kid. On the piano sat the metronome. "Clack, clack, clack, clack..." It helped me keep the beat for the piano piece I was attempting, er  learning to play. Each note had a value of beats. Even the rest notes. My favorite was the whole rest. A four count rest.  "Clack, clack, clack, clack."
I still appreciate what I learned about music rhythm and theory so long ago as I see it played out and through life's daily and seasonal rhythm.
There is no doubt a rhythm to our lives,
a special beat, a great symphonic musical if you will as unique as our DNA.
Our lives are played out with those quirky fast beat highs, those low, long whole notes and yes, even the seemingly silent half and whole rest notes.
"Clack, clack, clack, clack."
As a kid playing the piano I  liked the whole rest notes best because they gave me time to figure out the next few notes I'd have to play ("'All Cows Eat Grass', Okay, that's an E! Here I go!")
I admit now that I'm an adult I tend to forget that "whole rests" are still an important part of my life. It's frustrating to be in a "rest" when you'd rather be running through a series of exciting, fast paced (presumably) happy notes.
But it's in those "whole rests" that we find our foundations, our character, our true self. This is incredibly important to the entire scope of our lives. They are that which carry us through and solidify the fast paced times of our lives.
If you are in a "rest note" period appreciate it for what it is, a beautiful part of your life that you may well learn and grow in the most. 
Given time you will see that the "rests" were the important breaks you needed between two movements or chapters in your life.
"Clack, clack, clack, clack..."

"Stop dwelling on past events and brooding over times gone by;  I am doing something new;  it’s springing up — can’t you see it? I am making a road in the desert, rivers in the wasteland." Isaiah 43:18-19
Are you 'rear-view window' driving? How's that working for you?
The only time that works is when you are driving backwards or are backing up, right?
     If you are frustrated, feeling all you are doing is going backwards in your life then it's time to put on the brakes, stop, and start driving by looking forward out the front window. There IS a road provided for you to move forward out of your present circumstance, there ARE sources of nourishment and refreshment even in your present predicament. Using your rear-view windows are only helpful for backing up to get around something, so to is looking at your past to use what you learned to get you around present obstacles and back onto the right road.
Can you see it? Even right now it is springing up in front of you! There is a new thing waiting just for you, so stop looking at your past, be refreshed with the hope of your call and provision, and drive forward on the road paved just for you.
Enjoy the ride!

They that wait upon the Lord shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31
It is in times of great turmoil, drought and famine of heart, body and soul that I must remind myself of and rely upon His great promises.
Waiting is hard when it's not done right.
But when I wait on Him, His timing, His Provision, His Light upon my path, I'm renewed, I'm refreshed, I can see clearly the path my feet are to take.
Waiting = Resting.
If I wait on Him, THEN I mount up with wings, moving forward without growing weary.
How do I wait on Him?
I find my Hope in Him.
I give up all control to Him.
I release all of my fears to Him.
I call upon His Love to cover and uphold me.
I find my Joy in Him, for His Joy is my strength.
I rest. I meditate. I rejoice at His Goodness and recount all of His blessings, past and present.
And then I am renewed.
I mount up with broad, strong wings like an eagle, able to ride the winds of His Presence.
I can clearly see from a great distance. I gain His Perspective.
I run without growing weary in this race called life.
I walk His paths of rightness, His Light strewn upon me.
I walk and am no longer weary, instead refreshed.
Wait and Rest.
Let Him bring you above your circumstances.
Wait on Him.

    Definition of COURAGE : mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty.
    Notice that the definition does not  include 'lack of fear.' It's more of a definition of doing something, 'in spite of the fear of ______ (failure, rejection, public speaking, trying something new, forgiving someone who has badly wounded you... you fill in the blank).'
    I'm not telling you there is nothing to be afraid of in this world. Sadly, there is more fear in our world shouting at us from every angle in this time and age than there ever has been (terror-ism, financial collapse, disease, etc).
    No, I'm not even suggesting you get to a place where you do not fear (though that would be great and in itself requires massive amounts of courage and trust and is a great growth goal to obtain).
    Rather, I'm inviting you to address your FEARS (F.alse E.vidence A.ppearing R.eal) of everyday living and have the courage to change your circumstances, your thinking, your perspective, your life, to properly 'grow up.'
                                It takes courage to grow.
    I've been told by more than one person that they 'do not want to grow up!' Not, "they don't want to grow old" (that's a given) but that they don't want to mature, to become fully developed human beings. Child-likeness is one thing, and is a requirement for faith and belief and yes, even courage. But desiring to stay a child ("I may be 45, but I have the mindset of an 18 year old..."), enabled, incompetent, unwise (which is really what these people were saying they wished to do) is so sad to hear and see. And the root of it is fear (fear of responsibility, failure, success, etc). Calm down my 18 year old friends who are reading this! No doubt you are amazing and much more mature than your peers. Keep on  developing and maturing and growing!
    This is a symptom of the  "Toys R Us" generation. "Arrested Development" is not a good thing. (I can hear some of you from my grandparent's generation <The Greatest Generation> saying, 'hear! hear!')! My intent is not to go into the history or the malady of my generation, but to 'sound the call to courage'.
    Courage to grow. Courage to do the inner personal work of self-discipline, responsibility, integrity, diligence and fortitude. To respect and honor who you are and who you are to become. To grow up. To face your fears and shine the light of Truth and Love on them and see them for the shadows that your fears really are. To own up. To wake up. To be aware. To allow your wounds from 'a world of hurt' to be tended to, forgiven (and forgiveness granted), to release bitterness, anger, anxiety. To seek wholeness, healing and grace. To contribute the best version of who you are to be to yourself, your loved ones and your society.
    When asked who my heroes are, my gut-level honest answer is this: those who have the courage to grow up, to own up, and to be wholly who they are Divinely Created To Be, not majoring on the difficulties or hurdles (we ALL have those) but on the victories big or small.  I have a lot of heroes who've overcome the odds!
     While growth is for the most part an internal progression, it is best achieved by partnering and having the influence of other heroes in your life. As children, our growth is largely shaped by those more mature than us (siblings, parents, grandparents, etc.). Not all of us have heroes around us that can help us achieve our growth goals. That's where mentors, coaches, and teachers play such an important role.
    Are you my hero in the making?
   

I posted this picture/quote on my Facebook page today and it immediately received many "likes." I believe this is because so many of us are in the midst of great difficulties. Be encouraged, the Truth is that your breakthrough it about to happen. Do not give up. Do not lose focus. Keep your aim steady and sure. Stand your ground. Do not let your gaze falter, for your "Goliath's" are about to fall!

    Have a dream? A goal? Is is just floating about on the edge of your consciousness or have you written it down?
    I received what I call a "download," a complete idea, vision of what I felt I was called to do with my life about 12 years ago. I wrote it down. I outlined it. I researched it. I cut out pictures of it, I bought a filing system to store all of the ideas that went with it, I bought books on the best way to obtain it, I tweaked it, tweaked it some more, I prayed about it, I talked to people about it, I daydreamed about it and I dream of it still. I am living in the part of this Scripture, "Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come."
    Sometimes I'm patient about it, sometimes I get frustrated and ask, "Why not yet?!" Then I release it back to Him again, as I believe it came from Him in the first place, and when He knows all is ready, then 'it will surely come.'
    "Write the vision and make it plain on tablets (chisel it on something permanent - wow!), that he may run who reads it." (Emphasis mine). I know I feel like running forward when I read over all that I've written down. It's inspiring and invigorating and gives me the hope to keep moving towards it believing He will bring it to pass.
    The point is to write it down.  Write down the idea, the dream, the goal. Pray for Wisdom, direction, timing, resources and patience. And daily work on growing into the person you must be in order for the vision to be seen. Remember, "For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come."
    What dream, vision, goal do you need to write down, research, pray about? I encourage to begin by writing it down, stick it in your fridge, pray about it daily and you will *soon* see it come to pass.

    Remember, when keeping your promises to others, don't forget to keep your (good) promises to yourself also. You are important and keeping your promises to yourself is important too! So, buy those new clothes when you get down to that healthy size that you've worked so hard to obtain by eating healthy and moving your body, take that vacation to that dream destination you promised yourself you would take when you reached that goal or anniversary, get that education you promised yourself you would get so you can fulfill your dreams of being ___, take that mental break and read a book or take a short nap after too many hours at your desk. You've got the idea! What are some promises you made to yourself that you haven't fulfilled yet? I encourage you to start keeping them, work on the small ones daily and you'll not think twice when it comes to the big promises.

    Have you thought about and put into practice those things that help you stay free from the body, soul and spirit-taxing, strength-zapper called STRESS (see previous post)? Have you thought about or figured out what keeps you in that much desired state of homeostasis?
    Here is my list, completely condensed into three categories: spirit, soul and body. I find if I daily practice these three categories it is very effective at alleviating and 'casting off' the anxious thoughts, tense body and immune-weakening burden called STRESS. Feel free to add these to your STRESS-busting arsenal.

1.  For my spirit, I daily practice fully embracing Shalom. Shalom: Taken from the Hebrew verb shalam, literally means to make whole or complete. The noun shalom has the more literal meaning of being in a state of wholeness or with no deficiency. "What I am leaving with you is shalom - I am giving you my shalom. I don't give the way the world gives. Don't let yourselves be upset or frightened." John 14:27 CJB  (emphasis mine)
    How do I fully embrace Shalom? I receive it as the gift that it is. I do this through prayer and opening my heart to Jehovah-Shalom (The Lord IS Complete, Whole, with no deficiency, The Prince of Peace).  I take "captive" the thoughts/lies that invade with the intent to steal the Shalom I've been given, then I throw them away, choosing to stay in His Presence, His Calm, His Peace that only He gives. I slow down, stilling my mind and heart and listening for His soft whisper of a reminder that He has me and won't let me go. I can relax and trust His arms to carry me through that moment, that Season, that trial or tribulation or just plain stressful situation. I am in perfect homeostasis when I relax and know that with Him in control, all is going to be Okay. "Feed your faith and your fears will starve to death" Max Lucado

2.  For my soul (thoughts, will, emotions) I daily practice aligning my mind and heart up with, "Finally, brothers (and sisters), whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things." Philippians 4:8 NIV
     For me this includes reading Scripture (memorizing and deeply contemplating His transformational words), listening to beautiful music, singing positive songs, avoiding the news (not to be ignorant, but to avoid sensationalized fear=stress promoting information that has no bearing on my life or sphere of influence), reading material that helps me grow in my mind and heart into a more whole, balanced person.
    Another great tool is journaling my thoughts. This is incredibly helpful in identifying what direction my mind is trying to take me. Being AWARE, slowing down enough to capture the thoughts and impressions whizzing by, blocking out that which is not MY internal dialogue, but outside "voices" (cultural pressures, etc.). Then I know what to embrace and what to reject.
"Don't believe everything you think." Take it captive, label it and delete it if it doesn't bring Freedom; fully embrace Truth.

3. For my physical health, I maintain homeostasis or quickly get back to it by losing that tight feeling in my chest, the back of my neck, headaches, stomachaches, backaches, aches, aches and more aches that stress brings on by being again AWARE of what my physical body is telling me.
    I practice "body checks" throughout the day. These physical clues tell me if I've let stress in without knowing it cognitively. I start at the top of my head: I rub my scalp (my hairdresser taught me to do this, ideally my scalp should be "loose") is it tight? Sore? If yes, I know I'm tense.  Then I check my lower jaw, moving it gently back and forth. Is my jaw stiff? Sore? Locked? It's amazing how stiff it can become in just seconds of encountering an even mildly stressful situation or conversation. This leads to my neck (the back of my neck which is the nerve center for hormones, emotions, etc). If it aches, I know I've either embraced stress or am sitting/standing in the wrong position. How are my shoulders feeling? My chest, is it tight? Am I BREATHING?! I often find I'm holding my breath when I'm stressed (or holding my breath, causing stress, LOL)! Taking deep (up from my thoracic diaphragm) slow breaths is SO relaxing, I can feel the rest of my body losing tension. Oxygen is our friend, right?! This leads to my abdomen. Is it tense? Does it feel like a rock is sitting on it? It is "upset"?
    As someone who deals with certain food intolerance, I have to be careful about what I consume as many foods can cause intestinal distress. I practice consuming stress-free foods like dark green veggies (see past post on the awesome Green Smoothie), lean, organic, all green-fed meats, free range poultry and wild caught fish (some eat only completely raw foods (no meats) and find this to be the best stress free food for them) and fresh fruits, organic and high in antioxidants. This keeps my body up on it's proper nutrients, enzymes and pro-biotics (I also take certain supplements to fill in what I'm not getting from my food intake). 
    What's the best way to get my whole body relieved of tight, achy stress? I get outside and walk, simple as that! I don't "power" walk, I don't jog, run or do anything else that causes ME stress (I know, those can be a great stress reliever for many reading this, it just isn't for me). I find the greatest physical stress relief when I walk somewhere that I find pleasing to all of my senses. I breath deeply, gently stretching before and after. If the weather is not suitable for outdoor rambles, I head to the gym or turn on some of my favorite dance music and get moving! The point is getting the body moving, having fun and "feeding the senses" while doing it is a fantastic physical stress relief. "If you don’t do what’s best for your body, you’re the one who comes up on the short end." – Julius Erving

    My final thought on stress relievers (besides hanging out with loved ones, taking educational classes that feed your passions, taking naps, getting a massage and many other physical things we can do to alleviate stress) is the importance of LAUGHTER. “A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.” – Proverbs 17:22 Amplified  Have you laughed today? Got laughter?! It really is so important. I believe laughter is a gift, the fruit of Joy, which is an amazing spiritual fruit. It doesn't even require watching a comedy, though that works, too. I find that if I really open my eyes and look around me, I can find much that brings me Joy to the point of laughter. Life is one giant treasure hunt of His Goodness.
    This is how I maintain equilibrium, staying stress-free as I embrace His Shalom, keeping my mind on Him and by getting out there and enjoying His Goodness.  I'm SO grateful (another way to stay stress-free) for all of His Goodness.
    So, how do you maintain your homeostasis?

    I know the topic of STRESS is nothing new to anyone. We can all agree that we each experience it to some degree if not every day, then more frequently than we'd like.
    There is what some might call "good stress," this could be a deadline that if wasn't there, then whatever needed to be finished wouldn't ever be finished (speaking to some procrastinators right now, maybe?) or say, the physical stress of working out, putting physical stress on your muscles making them grow.  Even being taught a new subject can put some "good" stress on your mind as you are building new thoughts and neural pathways.
    The STRESS I am addressing is, by definition, basically any stimulus that brings you out of your perfect state of balance (homeostasis). This unbalance can throw your physical and mental body into an anxious and even immune-suppressed state. Not good stress. BAD Stress.
    How can we avoid it? Live off-grid in the beautiful wilds somewhere? Become hermits never seeing another soul?
    I'm pretty sure it cannot be avoided. So how do we MAINTAIN the perfect balance that is homeostasis while dealing with the constant daily stimuli called Life?
    It's completely individual. As I have to deal with Sensory-Processing Sensitivity being a "Highly Sensitive Person" (deals with how I handle over-stimulation - see http://www.hsperson.com for more information) what may cause me stress may not even begin to overstimulate someone whose homeostasis involves seeking out constant stimulation in order to be balanced (though even Sensation Seekers have their limits).
    But I know there are ways we can HANDLE stress by not allowing the stimulus to affect us in negative ways (either mentally, emotionally or physically - each unique, yet intertwined).
    I'm making a list right now of what works for me in maintaining balance (keeping bad stress/anxiety away). I'll share my list in my next post. Meanwhile, what works for you?

It's easy to become overwhelmed by all of the new information about GMO's or toxins in our food, or "fake" food, or "pink slime" is it not? I encourage everyone to become informed and make immediate changes that are "doable" - easy to incorporate into their daily routine. For example, let's take a look at breakfast: typical breakfasts lack proper nutritional balance (if one takes time to eat breakfast at all, right?! Why eat when a large cup of coffee fills you right up and gives you that nice caffeine kick)!

Well, here is a better and healthier alternative - not only does it taste delicious, it also gives you a great start on getting all of your veggies and fruit into your diet that day! Introducing the Green Smoothie! The Superfood Drink of Champions! Give it a try, let me know what you think! And if you are already a great fan of the Green Smoothie, tell us all why!

Here is a great article for green smoothie beginners. I like to use coconut milk, organic banana, organic baby spinach, organic kale, wild frozen blueberries and chia seeds. What's in your green smoothie?

http://www.incrediblesmoothies.com/smoothie-basics/smoothie-basics-how-to-make-a-delicious-fruit-smoothie/