by Erin Owen | Dec 20, 2011 | General
If I were stranded on a desert island and could
only take 6 food ingredients with me, what would I
choose?
Strangely, I’ve been pondering this question
lately. Why? I’m not sure. Perhaps it’s the
universal transformative time we’re all a part of.
Or the fact that I’ll soon turn 40 and feel its
approach as an important call to grasp life by its
horns and move forward stridently. Or perhaps the
prevalence of television shows focused on being
stranded on an island (though, truth be told, I’ve
never watched a single episode of one).
Whatever the reason, I’ve been thinking about
this question lately.
What 6 food ingredients would I take with me if
stranded on an island?
Why 6 and not 5 or 7? Why 6 and not 2 or 10? I’m
not sure. But, 6 has a nice feel to it. In
Chinese, the word six is “liu” (pronounced like a
quickly slurred “Lee-oh” on an uphill climb). And
another word in Chinese with the same
pronunciation but different meaning is the word
that means “to flow”. As in, to be in the flow of
life. Abundance flowing into one’s life. And so on.
So, in Chinese, the number six corresponds to good
things coming into one’s life.
What 6 ingredients?
1. Onion.
2. Garlic.
3. Brown rice.
4. Black beans.
5. Avocado.
Ah, but the sixth? I arrive easily at these first
five. On any given day in our house we have these
ingredients. There is almost always a freshly made
pot of seasoned black beans and freshly cooked
brown rice. While not always perfectly ripe,
avocados sit in one of the bowls or baskets in our
kitchen. Either the hand-carved wooden bowl we
purchased on the island of Zanzibar on our
honeymoon to Tanzania. Or, the dark woven basket
that sits on the black shelves against the bright
orange wall.
And, onion and garlic? I can’t imagine cooking
anything without them. Even though the Buddhist
diet discourages them as inciting the sexual
nature, I simply find them to bring delicious and
almost essential flavor to any dish.
Avocado? So creamy, so nourishing, so healthy.
And oh how I wish I lived in a climate where the
avocado grew right outside my back door.
If someone dared me to live a locavore diet,
focusing solely on what grows or is raised within
a 100-to-150 mile radius around my home, I would
clearly be in despair.
The sixth ingredient? It varies by the day and
the season. Sometimes I simply add salt. Not
really a food, but an incredibly important
ingredient in preserving food. Other days I pick a
practical fruit like banana or apple. Sometimes I
entertain the idea of picking a type of animal
protein or fish, but one never makes my imaginary
list. Finally, I settle on fresh water.
Yes, water.
It’s not a food, I know. But, if I were on an
island, I’d most likely be surrounded by salt
water (though I do know there are islands in the
middle of large bodies of fresh water).
Without water, I’d be lost. After fresh air,
water is the second most important nutrient for a
human being. Heck, a living creature of any kind.
And so the list is final: onion, garlic, brown
rice, black beans, avocado, water.
How about you? What’s on your list?
by Erin Owen | Dec 9, 2011 | General
Are you ready to “Get Your Holiday Zen On Without
Missing Out on the Fun”?
Then, check out this first tip that might just go
easier on your wallet, make gift giving more
enjoyable, and even be good for the planet.
TIP #1: Simplify gift giving in one of the
following ways:
(1) Donate to a cause of your choosing in the
name of your friend, family member, neighbor or
colleague, instead of giving them more stuff!
(2) Give him or her a gift card s/he can use for
everyday necessities (groceries, vitamins, even
paying a bill)
(3) Create a homemade gift certificate for
cooking them a meal
(4) Bake a delicious, nutritious treat that is
free of refined sugars and trans fats
(5) Make a date to volunteer together, rather
than exchange gifts
(6) Agree to a reasonable limit on the number of
gifts or money you’ll spend – then stick to it!
Look for more tips over the coming days so you
can live your life:
- more “on your terms”, no matter where the holidays take you
- more peaceful and authentically relaxing, no matter how much work you have to do
- and more lightness, ease and feeling on your A-game, no matter what people serve you at the table
And if tips aren’t enough, then give yourself the
gift of a special 75-minute private Breakthrough
Session with me.
Only 1 (one) discounted session left on Monday,
December 12 before I take my holiday break!
More details on special holiday discounts here
by Erin Owen | Dec 8, 2011 | General
“It Gets Better With Age”
These were the words ironed-on with felt letters
on my mom’s t-shirt when I was a kid. I read these
words with a deep desire to understand what it
meant. All the grown-ups would tell me was
“someday you’ll understand.”
Well, now I do! It does get better with age.
I’m quickly approaching my 40th birthday — the
same age my mom was when she wore that t-shirt.
And I’m not sure I’m interpreting the “it” in that
statement the same way those grown-ups did, but
here’s what I know.
What is better overall is my understanding of the
world at large. My knowledge of my body and what’s
best for it — whether it be types of exercise,
different foods, how much sleep I need (when my
boys let me sleep), what times of day my libido is
strongest, and so on.
I encourage my clients to create a “platinum
practices” list of what they know for sure best
supports their personal performance. On my list
are things like starting the day with something
warm — whether it be lemon ginger tea, or
steel-cut oat groats. On baby days (days when I’m
home with my youngest), allowing myself to nap or
put my feet up and watch a cooking show. On work
days, building in breaks between clients to eat a
nourishing lunch and stretch my legs. And so on.
What’s on your list of platinum practices?
What ways of living, being, eating, exercising,
working, relating, serve you best in performing at
your optimum level?
by Erin Owen | Dec 6, 2011 | General
My son’s favorite “subject” at school is Choice.
It’s the only part of his day where he gets to play with whatever toys he wants to, and decide whether or not he wants to do it alone or with other kids in his class. He likes it as much or even better than recess.
Some days he plays with Kinex and makes a toy spaceship. Other days he works out a drama with his friends and enacts a play. Each day is different.
And the best days of all are the days where, for whatever reason, there are two periods of Choice. Oh, the joy! He openly shares about how great those days are without us having to prod him for details about his day at school.
The real reason he likes Choice is that, like most of us, he’s in charge and he gets to say and do what he wants.
In essence, he feels like he is in control.
We human beings, we have free will. So we like the idea that we can be in charge and
be in control.
And even though it’s mostly an illusion (and by “it”, I mean control), one wonderful way we can feel in control is to choose what we do with our lives.
But, the Old Way of Living and Working — the one we’re used to (because we’re in the habit of doing it this way) — is to agree to continue with how things already are, feeling that we can’t make a
change.
It’s often living and working in a model that was constructed based on what we thought we “should” be doing. What we were raised to think was the “right” or “best” way of living. The right kind of job, making the right kind of money, living in the right neighborhood, driving the right car, etc, etc.
Sound familiar? How’s it working for you? And what about what YOU want for your life?
The good news is, you can make a choice to switch to the New Way of Living and Working.
In this case, it’s about saying yes to what makes you happy. It’s about saying yes to saying no. By that I mean, letting go of the shoulds. Letting go of what others think is right for you. It’s about giving yourself permission to let go of external expectations and obligations. To, in essence, do less and feel better about doing less for others so you can do more for you.
No, it’s not about becoming a hermit or letting people down. It’s not about hiding in a corner or pretending you’re sick to give yourself a break.
It’s about acknowledging that you are a human being with free will. And you have the gift of choice. Wonderful choice.
By doing so, you will be choosing to live your life in the flow, without resistance and without stress. By living a life of choices that are in alignment with what you envision for your ideal life, you’ll be in a state of happiness and ease and satisfaction.
So, what Choice will you make today to live your life? (Not someone else’s idea of what your life “should” look like.)
How will Choice shape your New Way of Living and Working today?
by Erin Owen | Nov 21, 2011 | General
Today’s Tip for
Melting Stress,
Refocusing Your Energy and
Refueling Your Spirit FAST:
Give yourself permission to unplug.
Be a rebel and turn off your cell phone.
Dare to not check your email.
Let it go.
Maybe just for three hours.
Maybe for the entire day.
(Look, if they really need to reach you, they’ll find you.)
I’m doing it.
(For 8 whole days while I’m away! Beat that!)
So, come on along and follow my lead.
And breathe a huge, long sigh of relief.
Trust me, you’ll feel like a new person.
And let me know how it goes!
