Reasons to Avoid High Fructose Corn Syrup

With many people looking at different ways to improve their health and overall diet, there is one additive in most processed food and drinks that is often overlooked due to its prevalence and universal use.  High fructose corn syrup can be found just in just about every processed food you can imagine. Scientific studies have looked into the health impacts of this sweetener and show many reasons why you should avoid it.

What Is High Fructose Corn Syrup?

This name designates a large group of sweeteners derived from corn syrup.  Corn refiners will use an enzymatic process to cause the corn syrup to change some of the glucose into fructose, increasing the sweetness.

This sugar substitute is found in a large amount of products, especially those sold within the United States and Canada.  It is commonly found in soft drinks, breads, cereals, soups, condiments and other highly processed foods and drinks.

It is considerably cheaper to use instead of table or cane sugar, mainly because of tariffs imposed on sugars imported into the US.

Is High Fructose Corn Syrup A “Natural” Product?

The Corn Refiners Association has spent considerable energy trying to convince consumers that high fructose corn syrup is a natural product, since it is derived from corn.  Critics argue however, that since the corn has been heavily processed to increase sweetness, it should not be considered an all-natural product.

As of September, 2010, the Corn Refiners Association has attempted to change the name to “corn sugar,” by arguing that it makes labeling clearer for consumers.  Critics have shot back that such a change is only attempting to deceive the public into thinking that the product is a true sugar.

High Fructose Corn Syrup Linked To Obesity and Diabetes

Many studies have taken place to find any links between the growth of obesity and diabetes in the past 50 years to the rising usage of high fructose corn syrup during the same time period.

All but a few have shown striking links to obesity when high amounts of food and beverages containing high fructose corn syrup are consumed.  Tests sponsored by the American Beverage Institute, the Corn Refiners Association and Tate & Lyle, a large corn refiner, found that the rate of obesity, diabetes and other diseases is no higher when consuming HFCS as it is with other sweeteners.

Studies have also shown that a diet rich in high fructose corn syrup will lead to a reduction in insulin sensitivity, a risk factor in type 2 diabetes.

Mercury Found In High Fructose Corn Syrup

Mercury is a toxic element to the human body; even minor amounts can cause many health issues.

Studies regarding high fructose corn syrup have revealed that trace amounts of mercury may be found in the sweetener.  One study, done in 2005, showed that nine out of twenty samples of high fructose corn syrup contained mercury.

It appears that the mercury can be traced to certain chemicals being used to create the sugar substitute, including sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid.  Whether the mercury was derived from the chemicals used in the process or is a by-product of making HFCS is unknown at this time.  More studies are underway to find this link.

Other Considerations

High Fructose Corn Syrup consumption has also been linked to cardiovascular disease, due to the buildup of uric acid it creates, and metabolic syndrome.  Metabolic syndrome, suffered by nearly 50 million Americans, is a high risk factor in the onset of diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.

The rates of these diseases has increased at the same time that HFCS has increased, leading many scientists believe that the two are closely related.  Ongoing studies are being conducted to investigate the links.

For those people trying to improve their health and control their weight, consumption of high fructose corn syrup should be avoided.  Though studies are still underway to prove positively the links to obesity and other health related problems, the evidence is rapidly mounting. 

Treat your body like a spiritual entity and food as a sacrifice to honor it. Careful consideration should be given before consuming any processed foods. Natural, whole foods, or foods that are organic in nature are easier for your body to process. Look for sodas that contains real sugar (such as Throwback Pepsi, which is made with the original recipe before they turned to HFCS to cut costs), and make an effort to drink water instead when possible. Small dietary changes add up throughout the course of a lifetime.

5 Ways to Become Financially Stable

Due to the rising and falling global economy, many people have found themselves in difficult times.  Between job loss and the rising costs of goods, home loans and bills are being defaulted on every month, and people are feeling the pressure.  Becoming financially stable is critical to overcoming these problems, but what can be done to help?

Find the Best Deals for What You Use

Most manufacturers will offer discount programs for repeat customers, and even grocery stores have joined in on this. If you haven’t already, consider applying for an Airmiles card or a Sobey’s points card, and be sure to take advantage of the many great sales that arise at those stores.

Saving even a small amount of money on items that you commonly use can go a long way to helping you become financially stable.  Find ways to buy in bulk or wholesale; be sure to buy long dated product (not soon to expire), and freeze what you can.  An advantage to this is that you will not have to pay for gas to get back and forth, as well.

Work Smarter, Not Harder

It can be tempting to get a second or even a third job to meet your financial goals, but that can bring problems of its own.

Not only will your health and home life be affected greatly by working so much, you will also have to consider the costs of transportation and the amount of extra eating on the go you would do.  The costs of this can more than use up the money you are earning at the job.

There are many companies using outsourced and contracted workers from home in many different fields.  Working from home in this manner can bring a significant amount of cash to the household, as well as saving costs of transportation.

Or, if you have a lot of extra stuff that you’re willing to part with, consider selling it at a garage sale or on eBay. Items such as video games, movies, books and jewelry are cheap to ship and can bring in a pretty penny.

Set, and Keep, Financial Goals

One of the best ways to become financially stable is to set goals for the future.

These goals do not have to be large, but having a plan to work through can help you to focus on what is required.

For example, if you are behind on your bills, but you make enough income to be able to cover them all, find out what you are spending that is forcing you into the debt.  If you are spending a lot more at the grocery store than you intend, start shopping smarter by buying generic products or cutting back on junk purchases.

If you do not have enough income to cover all your bills, ask yourself what bills you can drop.  The basic necessities are all that is required; you do not have to have cable television or an extra cell phone contract. Internet is often available at work or in coffee shops. Determine what you need and cut what you don’t feel you will miss.

Cut Your Credit Cards

Remember that if you are using credit cards to meet your needs, you are putting yourself deeper in the hole with each use.

No matter how good the interest rates are on a credit card, it is still creating more debt for yourself.  It is during those times that the need to buckle down and cut back on expenses is crucial.

Many people who were deep in debt have become financially stable because they stopped using credit cards.  Either get rid of them altogether, or put them in a safe place for emergency use only.

Learn to Think Like You Are Stable

It is true that when your outlook is positive, positive results will occur.

If you are currently financially unstable, the one factor that will help you achieve success is to realize that it is possible to become debt-free and financially stable.  It will not happen overnight, but it will happen if you work towards it.

Many people have been in the same position as you throughout history, and have found their way back to financial stability.  Being responsible, cutting back on expenses and having goals will help you a great deal in getting yourself there.

5 Tips to be Well Prepared for a Job Interview

Since the economy took a downturn, many people have found themselves looking for a new job.  With so many people searching out these new jobs, competition has grown fierce over any openings that appear.  What can you do to make sure you are well prepared for a job interview, enough that you can land that new job?

Believe in Yourself

If you do not have confidence in yourself and your abilities to do the new job, it will show.  Your potential employer will be quickly turned off from your lack of belief in yourself and will simply consider the next applicant.

If you do not believe in your abilities, why should your employer?

Dress For Success

It may be a cliché, but the truth is, your appearance is a large part of your interview.  Dressing like a professional will help your potential employer see that you care enough about the job interview, and likely will about the job, as well.

If you go to the interview dressed in ripped jeans and tee shirt, what does that say about you?

Research the Company

The internet is the single largest source of information in the history of mankind, so put it to good use by researching the company you are applying for.

When an employer is interviewing a potential hire, they like to hear questions regarding the job and work environment.  If you have done research, you can intelligently ask questions that you already know the answer to, simply to appear as if you are interested.

For example, if you are applying for an insurance firm, asking questions about how they treat different situations that might come up will do wonders for making it appear that you hold an actual interest in working for them, instead of just being desperate for a job.

Don't Badmouth Your Former Employer

Nothing turns an employer off faster than to hear you bash your former employers.  Even if they were the worst company you have ever worked for, never badmouth them to the interviewer.

The reason is simple: if you are willing to trash-talk one employer, you are able to do it to them, too.

If you left the former company in bad circumstance, you can explain the situation, but do it in a tactful, intelligent and reasoned manner.  You do not have to make it a sob story or make it seem you are holding a grudge.

Have a Strong Resume

Your resume says a lot about you, and the more it says, the better.

It is a smart idea to tailor your resume to match what a potential employer is looking for.  Don't just have one that you copy for every job interview; take the extra time to create a new one for each one you are applying for.

If you lack job experience in the field you are applying for, you can “pad” previous experience to fit the job requirements a little better.

For example, if you are applying for a data entry job, but lack data entry work experience, but have worked as a waitress, you could put down in your resume that a part of your duties as a waitress was entering customer data into the menu-tracking system.

Even if you only wrote down the customer's order on a pad of paper, it appears that you have data entry experience.

Of course, some potential employers will ask questions about this type of thing, but most do not, and those that do usually find it quite humorous.

In the end, it all comes down to exuding confidence, making sure that you understand what the employer will need from you, and being professional.  Of all the things potential employers look for, these five will take you far in your search for your next job.

Murphy's Law, Occam's Razor and Optimist-Pessimist-Realist Question

When asked the question “Are you an Optimist or Pessimist,” I’ve often heard people give the cop out answer of “Realist.” In the past, I have answered “realist” to that question myself. It’s not so much an answer as it is an attempt at a clever retort. Rather than admit to being cheery or dreary, you acknowledge only that you believe that your worldview represents “reality.”  Not embracing positivity, nor negativity, this statement clings to neutrality and the assertion that one’s own worldview is the one true analysis of life.

Sorry guys. Realists are pessimists in zebra stripes; sporting black and white hockey referee garb only thinly veils the cynical, pessimistic nature of the so-called realist. Neutral arbitrators they are not, but they are most certainly playing the role of non-interfering spectator in the game of their own lives.

For the record, I see an optimist as someone who solicits happiness by making positivity a part of their way of life. A pessimist is their own worst enemy; a naysayer, doomsayer and magnet of stress and negativity. What, therefore, is a realist?

Reality is subject to interpretation. Is your glass half full, half empty, or the wrong size?

A so-called realist is a life analyst. They view life as a spectator sport. They tend to create self-fulfilling prophesies which are then reinforced with outcomes that they themselves create. Being a realist is not so much an outlook as it is a word designating a creator of subjective reality.

Like a hockey ref, as hard as they try, they just can’t help but get in the way. Usually, their own way.

In short, realists are usually pessimists. The only exceptions to this rule are the people who create positive self-fulfilling prophesies. Yes, this can in fact be done. In personal development circles this is often referred to as the law of attraction or LOA. You can manifest positivity in your life by telling yourself that you can rather than that you can’t.

Rather than subscribe to Murphy’s Law (which states that what can go wrong will go wrong) or Occam’s Razor (which recommends that the simplest answer is often the correct one),  give Deepak Chopra’s theory a chance. In his book, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, he offers seven guidelines that help to create a positive change in your life to increase success in your life.

Although reading through Seven Spiritual Laws is difficult at times due to complex manner in which Chopra describes these laws, which can be a little clunky, it’s worth a read. A slow read, perhaps a chapter a day with time in between to mull over the ideas expressed.

In the end, there is no such thing as a “realist”.

The optometrist asks the realist, “Better or Worse?” 

Regardless, the answer is subjective depending on your own outlook. Better or worse than what? Blindness?  Is the glass half empty of half full? Half empty or half full of what? A half empty glass of water is still better than a half full glass of poison. Your situation can always be better, but it’s also pretty good right now if you think about all the reasons why.

You are capable of success if you try. If you disagree, then you won’t try, and you’ll create a situation in which you make yourself right. I’d rather be successful than right. There’s no reason to sabotage your own success by not trying.

Try.  Believe.  Success follows.

Video: Scott Stratten on Slowing Down - "Keep Going Until We Stop"

I attended an amazing pirate social yesterday. I don’t often overdo it as I did last night, but much fun was had, as was much rum. There’s a lot to be said about the experience of a hangover. It’s something like being sick, and although I don’t enjoy working while sick, I am deeply in tune and appreciative of the manner in which the body handles recovery:  It slows down. It’s not the illness that causes your runny nose, your sore throat or that feeling of groggy love for your bed, where you want nothing more than to crawl in, hug a pillow and sleep it all away. It’s your body fighting it off and telling you what it needs. Rest. Take it easy and slow it down.

With this in mind, in lieu of a regular post this week, I’ve decided to share a video I stumbled upon some time ago.  

At this TEDxTalks in Oakville, Scott Stratten shares an amazing anecdote in which he explores persistence, what it means to be a big deal and the realisation that it’s time to slow down. This is one of the most brilliant, personal and meaningful videos I’ve ever seen on YouTube. Peppered with occasional light-hearted jokes, Stratten is an amazing speaker with an important message to share. Enjoy.

The Return of the NHL: Welcome back to Winnipeg... Go Jets, Go!

The biggest news in Winnipeg this week is of course the return of NHL hockey. How could it be anything but?  Losing the Jets was a big deal to Winnipeg. Winnipeggers did everything in their power to attempt to keep them the first time around, but it just wasn’t enough. I suppose it shouldn’t come as a surprise that with the looming return of an NHL franchise, we did everything in our power to make it happen.

Now, I love Manitoba. Our local economy is thriving, our unemployment rates are among the lowest in the country, property values have risen dramatically, and we have a ton more disposable income than we did when we lost the Jets in the first place.

All of this has been covered in the local media to a degree that, and for me, it’s beginning to induce numbness. Call it “local anesthesia”. Here are a few less recycled Winnipeg Jets ideas that I still find somewhat fresh.

Winnipeg needs something to do!

What people elsewhere don’t understand is that Manitoba is a great place to be in the summer. We get more heat and more sun than Vancouver, and we have beaches all over the province. This year, with all of our beachfront under water, and enough stagnant water to breed mosquitos to a degree that brings to mind the Stephen King movie, The Mist… well, it’s really awesome to have the return of the NHL to look forward to.

Cory Schnieder and Dustin Byfuglien

I’ve been a Canucks fan for a few years now, the Manitoba Moose being their AHL affiliate team. I’ve enjoyed watching Ryan Kesler and Cory Schneider climb to the biggies. It would be fantastic if True North was able to bring Cory back to Winnipeg, now that Winnipeg has climbed up to the big league to meet him.

As a Vancouver fan, Dustin Byfuglien royally pissed me off when they eliminated the Canucks in the 2009-2010 playoffs. This past season with the thrashers, he scored a franchise record for goals by a defenseman. As my loyalties realign with my new NHL hometown pride, I’ve found new respect for the man. There’s something deeply satisfying about the fact that he scored his first career hat trick against the Phoenix Coyotes; the Jets of old whose new members didn’t want to come back to Winnipeg. Whether he plays left wing as he did for the Blackhawks or defense as he did in Atlanta, I have no doubt that Byfuglien will be welcomed here with open arms.

Ticket Availability

To those who did not support the Manitoba Moose, who didn’t support the rising talent of the NHL when tickets were $20 per game and seats for a full season were only $800 in the lower bowl, I have little compassion. Now, tickets are five times the price and some of you have sour grapes about not being able to attend a game. If more people had attended Moose games, it may not have been a 15 year wait for the return of NHL hockey to the Peg in the first place. The production value of an AHL Moose home games was high, as was the entertainment value, and you all missed out. There’s more to hockey than the NHL. I was lucky enough to attend a Canucks game earlier this year in Vancouver, and I’ll admit that there is a somewhat noticeable difference in the level of talent between the two leagues. To me, it only means I’ll be able to appreciate the talent of our new NHL franchise all the more when I watch the many NHL home games this season.

Go Jets, Go.

On Jack Black, Kung Fu Panda 2 and Being Open Minded

At heart, I’m just a big kid and I’m the first to admit it. Jack Black is a big kid at heart too. I watched the new Gulliver’s Travels movie with Jack Black not too long ago. The movie being a modern adaptation, it was vastly different. There was one particular change I found to be noteworthy however, probably largely due to my recent time awareness crusade. I was a very minor detail from the book. The Gulliver in Jonathan Swift’s book had a habit of constantly looking at his watch; so much so that the Lilliputians believed it to be his god. As true as it was in Jonathan Swift’s time, we are ruled by the clock. The Jack Black Gulliver had an iPod instead. I suppose the iPod could represent the modern preoccupation with constantly keeping busy and need to make use of every minute.

Last night I went to see Kung Fu Panda 2, also starring Jack Black, with my lady friend and her family. I greatly enjoyed the movie, and think I’ll watch the first Kung Fu Panda movie again in the near future.

One particular quote from Kung Fu Panda 2 stuck with me; The soothsayer goat at one point tells the evil peacock that he is trying to fill a bottomless cup. Here’s a look at that expression, and  some other expressions that it brought to mind:

Trying to fill a bottomless cup.

In the movie Kung Fu Panda 2, the evil peacock has an unquenchable thirst for power. The goat asks him, after he takes over China, what then? The cup he is trying to fill has no bottom. He will never be satisfied.

Many bottomless cups exist. In psychology, this is the foundation of Maslow’s Theory of Human Motivation. We are driven to fulfill our needs in a specific order. With most of our needs met, most of us struggle with needs related to esteem. We attempt to fill this need the wrong way, with more stuff or more power. Sometimes we confuse the need and seek to fill it with food, retail therapy or empty sexual relationships. These pursuits are unsatisfying. They are bottomless cups.

I believe the way to truly fill this need is to discover what Po did in Kung Fu Panda the first. There is no secret ingredient. The Dragon Scroll is Blank. The answer is all inside you.  Esteem comes from within.

Empty your cup.

I was first introduced to this phrase by way of the movie Forbidden Kingdom (with Jackie Chan and Jet Li, 2008). The concept is that if you believe you know everything, if your cup is full, you cannot fill it anymore and it overflows. You reject new ideas. If you empty your cup, if you become open to new ideas, you are open-minded and thus able to learn. If someone tries to teach you something new, seek first to understand. Instead of determining why someone’s idea is wrong, try to understand why they could be right.

The cup is not half full or half empty; it is the wrong size.

Do you see the cup as half full or half empty? Maybe that old chestnut is a trick question. The answer depends largely on what your motivation is. Motivation is a concept rooted in the past or in the future.  Was it full or empty to begin with? Do you wish it were full or empty in the future? Perhaps the liquid is not the problem. Perhaps the cup is. The cup represents your way of thinking. Maybe you simply need a different cup. Be satisfied with what you have rather than focused on what was or what will be. Everything is subjective.

It’s similar ancient Chinese parable about Good Luck vs. Bad luck, which illustrates this subjectivity.

Parable of a Chinese farmer:

A Chinese farmer gets a horse, which soon runs away.
A neighbour says, "That's bad news." The farmer replies,
"Good news, bad news, who can say?"

The horse comes back and brings another horse with him. Good news, you might say.

The farmer gives the second horse to his
son, who rides it, then is thrown and badly breaks his leg.

"So sorry for your bad news," says the concerned neighbour.
"Good news, bad news, who can say?" the farmer replies.

In a week or so, the emperor's men come and take every
able-bodied young man to fight in a war. The farmer's son
is spared.

Good news, of course.

Now, to blow your mind, here are some bottomless, empty cups that become full.  Please enjoy this video of a weird machine that fills beer cups from the bottom to the top.

The Secret to Breaking Bad Habits: Stop Hitting Yourself

When I was young, my older brother would occasionally grab my arms and proceed to whack me with my own hands. Quit hitting yourself, he’d tell me, as big brothers do. When he stopped, so did I. I wasn’t really hitting myself, obviously, nor did I want to.

To this day, I still don't want to whack myself in the face, so I don’t. It’s not a complicated concept. It’s silly to think that if we are perpetuating a behaviour that we wish was not a part of our repertoire, that we are somehow doomed to repeat it. So, if I really want to stop biting my nails, or start exercising, why don’t I?  I’m fairly convinced that it’s simply because I don’t want it enough.

When we don’t want to rock the boat, when we’re satisfied with the status quo, we choose the easy road. We medicate in various ways. It’s easier to treat the symptoms of our problems than it is to solve them.

I was raised in a family that didn’t believe in pills. Growing up, when I fell sick, I stayed home from school, slept, and maybe had some cough candies. Today, my illnesses last longer but I’m sure it’s as a result of my approach to healing. I drag myself out of bed, drag myself to work and drag myself through my day with the help of some bright orange day-time cold relief pills the unnatural colour of Cheese-Whiz. What I should be doing, what my momma taught me to do, is stay home and let my body recover. Instead, for some reason contrary to good sense, I pride myself on not being phased by obstacles. Suck it up and power through. Crash when the weekend starts. I never liked to miss a day of school, and now that I’m free to make my own choices, I’m free to make bad ones.

There is no cure to the common cold. What we have is an arsenal pills that treat the symptoms instead. Pills don’t make us better, they make us feel better. If you have a runny nose, or a cough, or a headache, or a sore throat there are all kinds of choices you can make to stay your symptoms. Pills of all colours. Green, orange, purple and red. A rainbow of quick fixes.

What you really need is sleep. Kill the lights, drink some juice for vitamins, some Gatorade for electrolytes and come chicken soup for sustenance. Give your body what it needs. If you can’t sleep as result of your congestion or cough, try classic red Nyquil. A shot of Jack Daniels yields the same result with less chemicals. But Nyquil won’t heal you, and neither will whiskey. There is no cure, recovery comes from your body. Give it what it needs: Food and rest. Almost everything else just gets in the way by making you feel better than you are.

A habit, every habit, works the same way. Can’t sleep? Take a Unisom at night and coffee in the morning. Stressed after work? Have a beer. No time to cook? Take out. No time to exercise? Just don’t eat.

Or maybe, you need to stop looking for quick fixes. Maybe too much coffee is making it hard to sleep. Maybe your poor diet is the cause of your weight gain. Or maybe it’s stress. Maybe alcohol is making your sleep less restful and making you irritable. Perhaps you’ll be better off without so much help. Black coffee, Red Bull, Pabst Blue Ribbon and the golden arches. Different rainbow, but quick fixes just the same.

Try listening to your body. Cut the crap you’re putting into it. If your line of work is the cause of your disharmony, due to long hours and high stress, you’ll never have the clarity to realize it until you listen to what your body has to say. Putting yourself through Hell with the help of chemicals is still putting yourself through Hell. Seek clarity of thought, then seek a better path.

Find it tough to stop drinking? Need that coffee in the morning? You’re not too weak. Want it. Don’t stop trying. You’re in control. Your hands are free. Stop hitting yourself.

The FREE, No B.S. Guide to Personal Development Secrets

...Because Implementation is All You

I love the notion of personal development. The idea of improving yourself to be better, more successful and happier is a powerful one. The problem with real personal development is a lot like the problem with real weight loss solutions; quick fixes have more appeal than proven methods. There’s a popular aversion to healthy eating and exercise, but a billion dollar market for quick fix diet pills.

I don’t believe in quick fixes; however, the idea of real fixes quick does hold a certain appeal.

Although “slow” has really been more my thing lately.

Here is a quick, concise Free Guide to Personal Development:

The Secret to Making Money:

1.       Find a product or service that a lot of people want to buy.

2.       Sell it to a lot of people.

Note:  The Secret to Making Money Online is to do this, but on the internet.

The Secret to Becoming Rich:

1.    Make money (see previous secret)

2.    Spend less money than you make.

3.    Don’t buy stuff you don’t need.

The Secret to Getting Everything you Want:

          Want less. Be grateful for what you have.

The Secret to Personal Efficiency

1.    Take it slow.

2.    Do it right.

3.    Be proud of what you do.

4.    Ask for help when you need it.

5.    Offer help when you can.

 The Secret to Managing Stress:

1.    Breathe deeply.

2.    Take it slow.

3.    Get it done.

4.    Alcohol, caffeine and nicotine make matters worse, not better.

5.    Always make time for the important things: Family, friends, food and sleep.

The Secret to Breaking Bad Habits:

1.    Acknowledge that what you’re up to is causing more harm than good.

2.    Want to stop.

3.    Really. You need to want to stop.

4.    Stop believing that it’s out of your control

5.    Ask others for help.

6.    Fight hard for the first few days. They’re always the toughest.

7.    Think about it rationally once you’ve stopped for a while. If you don’t believe things are better now, it’s time to get the rest of your life in order. You may have been using your addiction to escape your problems. Quitting was a step in the right direction, but you have more work to do.

The Secret to Weight Loss:

1.    Eat right.

Focus on fruit, fibre and protein from lean or white meat. Make your own meals, and buy organic if you can.

Stay away from sugar, salt, trans and saturated fats. Also avoid the 4 Bachelor’s food groups: Fast, Fried, Canned and Instant.

2.    Exercise. Here are some ideas:

Bike to work.

Go for a walk in the park with your partner.

Don’t have a partner to walk with? Adopt a dog. They’re an excellent source of exercise and companionship.  It may even help you meet someone.

Take up running.

Adults: Pick up a copy of THIS BOOK

Unless your weight gain is caused by an outside medical condition, this method should work if you work hard at it.

The Secret to Life:

1.    Life’s not fair. No one said it was supposed to be. Just do the best you can with what you’ve got.

2.    There are no magic answers. There are the answers you know, the answers you’re willing to look for, and what you believe to be true.

3.    Spiritual Practice. You don’t have to pray, just find beauty in the everyday and be grateful. This is open to interpretation.

What you should keep in mind is that these are the answers, but only a few of them. The methods required to achieve results are personal and are best discovered by you for optimum understanding and relevance. There are a ton of personal development resources available for free. Any that I’ve been convinced to pay for have been, and will continue to be, reviewed here on this blog at no cost. Here, practical application matters and will always be taken into account.

Impermanence: Nothing Lasts Forever

I write this post today with a heavy heart.

There is a principle in Buddhism that suggests that the source of all unhappiness is attachment. The concept of anitya, the Sanskrit word for impermanence, observes that everything is in a constant state of change; nothing lasts forever. Everything grows, evolves and eventually, breaks down into its composing elements. Those composing elements eventually combine with other elements anew, to form new matter and new life. Consciousness aside, this is reincarnation explained scientifically. With this concept in mind, decay can be beautiful.

The water is currently high all over Manitoba, from the rivers to the lakes they spill into. With every spring thaw, the water level rises reminding us that we are always at the mercy of nature. It doesn’t matter what your land title deed says, land can’t belong to you. We belong instead to the land. It has been here before us, it’ll be here long after time comes for us to return to it. We are the land, the elements and minerals that comprise us, only ours for as long as we are able to use them.

The way you own land is the same way you own beer; it’s a rental, not a purchase.

The water is noticeably high all along St. Mary’s road, though the street is high enough to observe the placid brimming banks with ignorant awe. Elsewhere, the landscape is filling as turbulent waters spill from the dyke broken to save 850 homes, demolishing 150 others.

Up south of Lake Manitoba, Twin Lakes Beach spills into cabin country. The beach where I once spent a weekend watching pelicans and existing complacently, living slowly before I consciously know what I was doing, now rests at the bottom of an expanding lake. The shoreline creeps into the cabin where I once slept, washing away evidence of collected memories, some I share and some unknown to me.

I never anticipated a return to that special place, but I am saddened that such a return is now strictly impossible. Such sadness is irrational, but this sadness is one thing I do in fact own, and it too will return to nothingness, such is the nature of all things. Nothing lasts forever; both a blessing and a shame.

Slow vs. Simple: Competing Philosophies?

For the last few weeks, I’ve been putting forth an effort to stop rushing. Rereading my previous post, a book review on The Power of Less, I realize that some statements I made seem to be somewhat contrary to my current goals.

The book review was actually written 3 months ago, lying in wait for a case of writers block to ensure I have a post ready each and every week. In this review, I mention that I skipped through a few chapters of the book due to redundancies and repetition on the author’s part. Such an action is not really in tune with the slow philosophy.

 If my new time management philosophy has taught me anything, it’s that slow works. As a result of putting into practice the concepts contained in the book, In Praise of Slow, I have:

·         Stopped biting my nails

·         Worked less overtime

·         Drastically decreased my caffeine intake

·         Slept better

·         Been less irritable

·         Gotten more work accomplished pertaining to my own personal projects

With that in mind, I stand by the comments made in my previous post, though I do plan on rereading The Power of Less to ensure I didn’t miss anything. The “goal map” idea (see previous post) has been quite beneficial to me personally. Maintaining focus on your goals is a pillar of most personal development programs. Laying out and organizing all of your own goals complete with a personalized action plan (which is how the goal breakdown functions) is a direct approach to the abstract concepts of the “Law of Attraction” or the “Law of Intention” discussed in books like “The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success” by Deepak Chopra. Books like Chopra’s are interesting in their fantastic New-Age, open-to-interpretation idealism, but actionable ideas like Babauta’s quite likely have a higher success rate.   

Consider making time today to sit down and type out the many goals you want to accomplish in your life.  Start by typing them all out, then organize them in a way that they can be tackled in bite-sized pieces. I agree in taking things "one step at a time" and believe that "slow and steady wins the race", but for those concepts to work, you need to be continuously taking steps.

Good luck with all of your pursuits.