by bringmebliss | Aug 1, 2016 | Inspiration
My husband and I just celebrated our 30 year wedding anniversary and I felt this was worth sharing. Here’s our story:
We met playing spin-the-bottle in junior high school at a friend’s house whose parents weren’t home. Jim and I kissed on that day and it would become a memory locked in our minds and hearts that we’ve laughed about often. I had braces; Jim smoked cigarettes. I was a cheerleader; he hung out with at-risk kids. We were an unlikely pair.
Fast forward to high school when I applied for a job at Walgreens. Since Jim had kissed me once and he thought I was kind of cute, he told the manager to hire me. Once behind the cashier’s counter, our eyes met and we giggled, remembering our awkward past kissing encounter. We became fast friends at Walgreens but because I was dating someone else, we didn’t become romantic for many years.
Circumstances and friendship kept us close and by the time I was 20, I had fallen madly in love. I had actually been engaged to someone else earlier on and to this day I thank God I didn’t get married then. My best friend was still available and we finally decided to become a couple. That was back in 1978.
We dated for a long time. Eight years! So as we are celebrating our marriage of 30 years, it’s really like almost 40! Anyway, dating was fun and while we got to know each other over the years, we continued to get an education and prepare for the future that would become fulfilling for both of us.
Two kids, some birds, a hamster, guinea pig and dog have rounded out our family.
We reared two great kids and still marvel at how fast the time has gone. We so enjoyed every moment of parenting and we miss our little kids. But now we have these fun adult friends and still enjoy them, so it’s all good.
After much consideration, we decided to take a cruise on the Crown Princess to Alaska to celebrate our milestone. We have been having such a great time – eating whatever we want, drinking our favorite drinks and touring some beautiful landscape.
As always, I suffer from motion sickness, but was aided by these very cool wrist bands. Between those, my Ginger Essential Oil and some sea sickness medication, I’ve done very well. If you are planning a trip, I highly recommend these bands for starters!
I titled this article “Reflections on 30 Years of Marriage” because I wanted to look back and see just how we made it this far. While it hasn’t always been perfect, it sure has been pretty great. Here are my secrets to a long and successful marriage:
Marry your best friend!
Make sure you know each other. Red flags usually appear before the wedding.
Set an intention for a long, happy and successful marriage.
Lower your expectations for perfection.
Give each other s p a c e.
Spend time together.
Spend time away from each other.
Trust.
Nurture. Talk. Stay romantic.
Have your own interests.
Be forgiving.
Control your tongue and wait for wisdom.
Make time for intimacy.
Keep your fire aflame.
Ask for hugs, love, help, affection when you need it.
Be respectful always.
Never stay angry. Work issues out.
Get professional help, if needed.
Put spouse before kids, family, friends, business.
Keep your mind, body and spirit healthy.
I was just reading this book called The Willpower Instinct. Author Kelly McGonigal says that people who practice self control will generally be happier, more successful, have better marriages, etc. Educating yourself on the differences between men and women, relationship tips and other ideas will help to keep your relationship strong. Determine to always stay together for better or worse. I always had the attitude that it was me and him against the world! The world can be tough and it helps to have a partner with whom you can navigate the rough waters of life.
Now, just so you don’t think mine is a fairy tale marriage, let me confess that we have had our share of tough times. We haven’t always agreed and we have had our frustrations; however, we have been open enough to talk about our issues and work them out. Sometimes through compromise; sometimes through screaming! I don’t recommend the screaming part. You can definitely talk things through if you keep your emotions in check and work to have a positive outcome.
Never stay together if you are being abused or mistreated. There are good reasons to separate – for the health of you and your children – and especially to halt abuse. But also I recognize that some people just make the mistake of marrying the wrong person. If you are incompatable and there’s no joy in the marriage, there’s no point in staying together. I would however, get some counseling before making the decision to divorce.
Marriage is a partnership and commitment between two individuals. Don’t expect your spouse to make you happy. Find your own happiness! Strong, happy individuals make a great anchor for a healthy and successful marriage.
Remember that life is short. If you treat each day as if it could be your last, you will leave a legacy of love. This is the most important way to treat your marriage. If you have kids, they will reap the benefits of your commitment.
So that’s it! Our trip is almost over and we have been enjoying each other as always. Thanks for letting me share some personal stuff with you today. Have a wonderful weekend!
For a great recipe this weekend:
Spicy and Delicious Green Beans (used witih Ginger EO)
Get your essential oils here:
www.mydoterra.com/bringmebliss
by bringmebliss | Jul 19, 2016 | Inspiration, Mind/Body, Self-Care Strategies
You don’t know people until you talk to them.
It has been a blessing to me that Byron and Gwen Holler have been attending my yoga nidra classes for a couple of years.
It wasn’t until recently that we had time to strike up a conversation. I thought it was very cool that this couple would attend yoga nidra regularly. Many students do come often. They discover the very tangible benefits of conscious deep sleep – the ability to “let go” and connect with the healing core of their being.
Yoga nidra is spiritual, physical and practical. It’s a guided meditation that offers great healing powers. We don’t move. In fact, we remain as still as possible while journeying through the body until we are in the space of “turiya”, what the ancient yogi’s call pure consciousness…fully present, yet in deep rest. There are many positive effects from a yoga nidra practice. i.e., physical and emotional healing, better awareness, a relaxed and calm disposition, deeper rest and more energy to name a few.
Often after attending yoga nidra, Byron and Gwen will stay for the next class, a level one yoga class designed to engage people in the fundamentals of yoga. It occurred to me that it was kind of special that they would stay for another hour or so to expand their practice and even expend their energy after a nidra session.
One day recently, we started talking. They told me that they not only do yoga often, but also have a massage every other week. Both of them! Together! In fact, they’ve been having massage therapy for 20 years. It started as once per month and now they have it every other week. Byron eventually built a couple of massage tables, so they often massage each other on the perfect apparatus.
When I learned about this serious commitment to self-care, I had to ask them some other questions to see how they had arrived at this point.
Byron and Gwen just celebrated 30 years of marriage. To celebrate, they are going to Italy in October for a yoga retreat. 🙂
It was Gwen who first started a yoga practice and Byron followed several years later. Gwen has scoliosis and from the time she was young, suffered with back problems and a lot of pain. She learned early on that certain physical movements such as exercise were helpful in the management of her pain, so she has always stayed active.
She started practicing yoga 15 years ago at her office and found that it helped her back and gave her some peace.
Byron had his own health issues. He has been a house renovator as a master carpenter and master cabinet maker since the early 70s. He suffered a lot of injuries. In addition, he contracted Lymes disease and dealt with chronic fatigue. Back in the 70s, Byron practiced Transcendental Meditation to cope with some of his issues. It helped him deal with life and gave him peace, but he quit after about eight years.
Slowly but surely, through the practice of yoga, they have adopted a healthier lifestyle. They no longer eat meat – except for fish. Gwen walks three to four miles per day and attends yoga classes four to five times per week. She is 59-years-old and feels better than ever.
Byron said that yoga nidra, in particular, has been a tremendous help to him. Gwen affirms that when Byron is consistent in his practice, he is calmer, nicer and less reactive. He credits his practice of yoga nidra for getting back to his meditation practice. He feels he’s a better person and can deal with situations in a calm manner. It also helps him to get a deeper night’s rest and let go of worries or concerns.
He uses a mantra that was given to him back in the 70s by a master meditation guru. He doesn’t know the meaning, but continues to use it and he’s confident it’s assisting him in his spiritual journey. Since re-igniting his meditation practice, Byron has become keenly aware of certain things like receiving special messages from beyond. He’s a very practical guy, but he also listens to his deepest self to determine what his actions will be. At 65, he is fit as a fiddle!
While most people view massage as a special treat, those who are educated on the subject know that it is more of a therapeutic tool, much like yoga. Gwen and Byron both used to see a chiropracor regulary but don’t anymore. Yoga and massage have been the tools that help keep them pain free. Gwen feels her back “self-adjust” while doing yoga and credits the practice with keeping her back healthy.
The couple are looking after Gwen’s mother who is older and needs a lot of care. They are motivated to stay well so they can be care givers (in addition to working) and remain healthy and happy as long as possible.
I asked them how they have stayed together for so long. They both agreed couples need to keep trying. Keep working at it. Gwen’s philosophy is to always be willing to use these three words: Please, Thank you and I’m sorrry. Byron’s philosophy is to always communicate, compromise and treat people with respect.
This self-care couple is an inspiration to me. I will be sticking with my yoga and getting more massages for sure!
by bringmebliss | Jul 13, 2016 | Uncategorized
This is pretty self-explanatory. I just had to share!
by bringmebliss | Jul 13, 2016 | Fun Food
I’ve just fallen in love!
For some reason, I can’t say I have ever fallen in love with quinoa – except for now. I think that some of the quinoa dishes I’ve had were made up of too much quinoa and in and of itself it’s not the most amazing tasting food. It really needs something.
But yesterday, after a perfect yoga class, I shared a salad with my girlfriend and it was equally perfect! So when I got home, I checked to see if I still had the quinoa I bought forever ago at Trader Joe’s. Sure enough, it was still there. I happened to have all the ingredients that were in the salad I ate yesterday, except there are some minor differences.
Here’s what I put together, and I will bet if you do this combo, you will love it. I am going to start adding quinoa to my salads from now on because it’s such a great and healthy protein. So here is my recipe:
Spinach or Spring Mix – about 2 cup fulls
Quina – about 1/4 cup or more to your liking
Chopped red onion
Chopped red pepper
Cucumber, sliced thin and chopped
Chopped tomatoes
Garbanzo beans – just a small handful
Feta cheese – 1/8 cup
Slivered or sliced almonds (small handful, quick toasted on a fry pan)
Avocado (1/2 cut up)
Olive oil (a swirl) and balsamic vinegar (another swirl)
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste (be light with this)
Cayenne pepper (a few shakes – I like it hot)
Everything is optional and of course, you can add other items as well
Toss in a big bowl and consume! This is some healthy food!
by bringmebliss | Jun 17, 2016 | Nature's Way
A Calming Monthly Blend for Women
Otherwise known as Clary Calm by doTERRA, this blend can be very soothing to the senses.
Here are the ingredients: Clary Sage, Lavender, Bergamot, Roman Chamomile, Cedarwood, Ylang Ylang, Geranium, Fennel, Carrot Seed, Palmarosa, Vitex.
Each of these oils has properties that may support the body in different ways.
Clary Sage is often used to help balance estrogen and other hormones associated with PMS and menopause symptoms.*
Lavender is widely used for its calming and relaxing qualities. It helps to ease feelings of tension. Most people think of Lavender when they hear the word aromatherapy.
Bergamot helps relieve feelings of stress and agitation, relieves tension and helps balance emotions. It has a calming and soothing aroma by itself.
Roman Chamomile has calming and relaxing properties. It is often used to help balance emotions and relieve symptoms related to menopause. It may also help to support healthy immune system function.*
Cedarwood is calming and helps sooth nervous tension. This tree oil reminds me of days gone by when my parents had a cedar chest. To this day, it soothes me to see a cedar chest or inhale from the bottle.
Ylang Ylang has calming and sedative properties. It brings a feeling of self-love, confidence, joy and peace and is often used to help balance hormones.*
Geranium may support hormonal balance. It has a calming influence and is used in easing discomfort associated with PMS.*
Fennel is often used to help alleviate issues associated with menopause and pre-menopause. It has hormone balancing properties, and may be helpful in soothing symptoms related to PMS. It is also often used to help alleviate skin issues related to aging.*
Carrot Seed is often used to help regulate menstruation and soothe symptoms related to PMS.*
Palmarosa helps reduce stress and tension and uplifts the emotions. It is often used to help alleviate many different skin problems.*
Vitex has been studied for its abilities to regulate estrogen levels, and to alleviate symptoms associated with PMS and menopause.*
- During your menstrual cycle, apply to abdomen to experience a soothing and calming massage.
- During moments of heat, apply to the skin for a cooling, soothing effect.
- Diffuse for a calming aroma that helps soothe heightened emotions.
- Helps balance mood throughout the month.
- Provides a soothing and calming effect during a woman’s menstrual cycle.
- It’s the best oil for your worst week, period!
Not all essential oils are created equal. To get the best oils – 100% Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade, CLICK HERE or fill out the form below for more information.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information on this page is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
