Common Sense Living

Black Friday is supposed to be an accounting term. It’s when the company becomes profitable for the year. That is scary in and of itself.

Black Friday means something else entirely to the people who actually have to work in the stores. It means the beginning of long crazy hours, and hoards of rude, overwhelmed and frustrated shoppers.

And this year, one was killed. Trampled to death by people so focused on beating each other to the 5 available TVs, or whatever – that they couldn’t even stop to help a person up.

In years past, the violence was limited to shoving people out of the way, or even grabbing the item right out of somebody’s hands. Many times you would see people actually sitting on their treasure just to keep someone from trying to get it away from them.

But as our world continues to get blacker, it’s really only a matter of time before people will be shooting each other over the coveted item. There was a shooting in a Toys-R-Us store, but it was apparently gang related and had nothing to do with the merchandise.

You wonder how things got like this.

It’s getting harder to care. It seems that no matter what you do, you’re screwed.

You work hard all your life, only to get laid off a few years before retirement with no hope that anyone will hire you at your age, or

You’ve worked hard, and you’ve been successful. You’ve socked away money in your retirement accounts, only to watch it evaporate – poof., or

You’ve always been a hard worker. You’ve been willing to do practically anything to make a living for your family, but now you can’t find a job to save your life.

Not enough experience, too much experience, too young, too old…

People find comfort in food, and escape in the TV.

No one really wants to be fat and sick, but they don’t really care enough to come out of the comfort place.

The thought of death? I don’t think it has such a hold anymore. What the heck – Life isn’t that grand.

As people care less and less about themselves, it’s not likely they’re going to take much thought about anyone else. Everyone is concerned about protecting what they have left, or just trying to survive and find a way to pay the next bill.

But if we’ve sunk so low and gotten so desperate that we are willing to overlook someone suffering just to get a deal – what’s next Christmas going to be like? 

Are you feeling guilty about all the food you ate yesterday?

If you read my last post, you shouldn’t feel too terrible. But if you’re anything like me – that food just kept calling my name.

Oh sure, I worked off a lot helping clean the kitchen. And I still had to walk hyper-dog when I got home, but did I really need 3 pieces of lemon meringue pie? I couldn’t help it. I had to eat that last piece before I went to bed…

But I don’t feel guilty. A few days a year, I indulge in stuffing myself silly – but today I’ll return to my normal healthy eating.

Is your guilt part of a bigger problem?

Are you trapped in your own lifestyle? Unhealthy habits that have developed over the years that have grave consequences? Eating too many of the wrong foods, not getting any exercise?

Are you worried about diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, or cancer? Worried that if you don’t change your unhealthy habits, your life will be more painful, and much shorter?

The truth is, our self-inflicted injuries accumulate over time.

Little things start to go wrong – blood pressure, sugar levels, cholesterol, and arthritis. One more prescription here and there. 

How much longer do you want to live this way because you are captive to your own unhealthy habits?

As with many things in life – True change comes from within. Whether its quitting smoking, or making a million dollars, or losing weight and getting healthy – it all starts with a decision.

Decide today to make the change.

For weeks I hear people moaning about how bad the Thanksgiving Day Dinner is. I say – Hogwash!

When the foods are prepared fresh, this is a power packed meal filled with nutrients!

You’ll find - ALA, antioxidants, vitamins A, C, D, E, K, B vitamins, beta-carotene, calcium, carotenoids, fiber, folic acid, folate, ferulic acid, iron, magnesium, niacin, protein, potassium, phosphorus, phytochemicals, flavonoids, LArginine, indole-3-carbinol, isothiocynanates, Lutein, oleic acid, oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs), resveratol, riboflavin, saponins, Selenium, sulforaphane, theophylline, thiamin, and zinc.

So as you’re mapping out your plan of attack, look for these healthy foods –  

They all have health benefits, from preventing heart disease to fighting cancer, or just stopping a cold! There’s something for every inch of your body in this one meal.

You didn’t know healthy eating was so great, did you? You can stuff your family full of vitamins and they won’t suspect a thing!

And while it’s true that this meal contains a whole day’s worth of calories, you don’t want to show up with a sluggish metabolism. Eat breakfast and at least a healthy snack earlier in the day.

Eat smart. Load up on the goodies you don’t normally get. Skip things like bread and mashed potatoes.

Start with just a spoonful of everything. You’ll be amazed at how fast that plate fills up. If you have seconds, make it just a small bit more of your absolute favorites.

Talk a lot. The longer you take to eat, the fuller you’ll feel. Relax and enjoy yourself.

 
Have a warm and wonderful Thanksgiving!

Carole

Grab your copy of High Energy Eating to find out more about great healthy eating! (if you’re reading this on Thanksgiving Day – be sure to grab the special!)

My friend called the other day and said, “ your turkey is always

sooo good. I love the way you let the natural flavors come

through. I don’t understand why my turkey never tastes so good.”

I asked her how she cooks her turkey. Here’s what she told me –

Step 1: Go buy a turkey
Step 2: Take a drink of whiskey (scotch) OR JD
Step 3: Put turkey in the oven
Step 4: Take another 2 drinks of whiskey
Step 5: Set the degree at 375 ovens
Step 6: Take 3 more whiskeys of drink
Step 7: Turn oven the on
Step 8: Take 4 whisks of drinky
Step 9: Turk the bastey
Step 10: Whiskey another bottle of get
Step 11: Stick a turkey in the thermometer
Step 12: Glass yourself a pour of whiskey
Step 13: Bake the whiskey for 4 hours
Step 14: Take the oven out of the turkey
Step 15: Take the oven out of the turkey
Step 16: Floor the turkey up off of the pick
Step 17: Turk the carvey
Step 18: Get yourself another scottle of botch
Step 19: Tet the sable and pour yourself a glass of turkey
Step 20: Bless the saying, pass and eat out

If you’ve never cooked a turkey before, or if you’re tired of dry turkey, be sure to grab your copy of Dance Through Thanksgiving and make the most delicious juicy turkey you’ve ever tasted!

To quote Chance in Homeward Bound…”Turkey, Turkey, Turkey!”

You know I don’t have TV. But, there’s always YouTube! I decided to settle in and watch a few episodes of How Clean is Your House?

That show just amazes me. I’ve seen bad houses before, but nothing that comes close to the houses they find. I can’t even imagine beginning to tackle one of these dumps. Of course, they have a whole team, but just the thought…OMG. And the way Kim smells things – ARGH. And they touch the grime with bare hands! ICK!

And there was the one with the cat vomit. The woman says, “No one can tell me why the cat vomits all over.” Even the vet said “duh.”

I watched episode after episode where you just knew the people were lazy slobs and it wouldn’t be long before their houses were trashed again. These people just seemed content to live that way. All were overweight. And one of each of the couples said they had asthma. It made me sad.

But then I clicked on one more. The title was “Blame it on the Kids.” It was about a single mom, and things had gotten to be too much. She really seemed grateful. And the kids were so happy with their new clean surroundings that they kept their own room clean – even making the beds every morning. They didn’t have to be embarrassed to have friends over any more.

Finally, one that seemed to have a happy ending.

Okay. I can go to bed now and not have nightmares. Maybe.

Carole

P.S. You can get the house clean once and for all, and keep it that way >>>