According to the American Cancer Society, it is estimated that 250,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, and one out of every six men will be diagnosed with the disease in his lifetime.

With these growing statistics, it’s become even more important to raise awareness around the risks of prostate cancer, and informing the public about the necessary steps for prevention.

Risk Factors:

The greatest risk factor for prostate cancer is age, increasing significantly after the age of 50 in white men who have no family history of the disease and after the age of 40 in black men and men who have a close relative with prostate cancer. About two-thirds of all prostate cancers are diagnosed in men age 65 and older.

Genetics also play a role. Having a father or brother with the disease more than doubles your risk for prostate cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Screening for prostate cancer should start at age 40 for these men.

Race is also a factor; with about 60% more reported cases in African American men than in white American men. Interestingly, Japanese and African males living in their native countries have a low incidence of prostate cancer, with rates for these groups when they immigrate to the U.S. Some experts suggest a connection to the standard American high-fat diet, less exposure to the sun, and an increased prevalence of smoking.

With regards to diet, research suggests that high dietary fat in the form of saturated and hydrogenated fats may be a contributing factor prostate cancer. The disease is much more common in countries where meat and dairy products are dietary staples, compared to Asian or Mediterranean diets that consist of whole grains, soybean products, and vegetables.

Nutrition As Prevention

Proper nutrition is powerful offense! Taking a proactive role with your dietary habits could save your life, and prevent you from costly defensive measures once the cancer is diagnosed. There are also promising studies taking place to show how plant-based diets and the addition of a whole-food based concentrate may reverse the progression of cancer and reduce your chances of re-occurrence.

You can take control now, with these powerful nutritional steps:

Eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables: Men who eat 9-13 servings of fruits and vegetables every day can reduce their chances of getting cancer by 50 percent! You can achieve this by adding one fruit and one vegetable to every meal and snack. Spinach, carrots, green beans, and cabbage are high in folate and good for prostate health, so eat a spinach salad or throw a handful of baby spinach in your morning smoothie. Snack on carrots, or shred them on a sandwich. Steam some green beans and sprinkle them with a bit of sea salt, and top your fish tacos with shredded cabbage for a crunchy addition to your meal.

Cut down “bad” fats, increase “good” fats: Eating red meat 3-5 times per week could double your risk of prostate cancer. Rather, choose foods containing high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which have been found to combat cancer. Switch out beef for salmon, herring or mackerel to get the benefits of omega-3s or opt for plant-based sources of Omega 3’s such as the Salba grain which you can sprinkle on your oatmeal or add to tasty smoothies – see www.salbasmart.com for recipes.

Enjoy Red Wine: Studies published in The International Journal of Cancer report that men who consumed four glasses of red wine per week reduced their risk of prostate cancer by 50 percent. Among men who consumed four or more 4-ounce glasses of red wine per week, we saw about a 60 percent lower incidence of the more aggressive types of prostate cancer. This is due primarily to the compound in wine called resveratrol, an antioxidant which is abundant in the skins of red grapes but much less so in the skins of white grapes. Keep in mind that more than two drinks a day for men has shown to increase rates of cancer.

Take Vitamin D: Some studies support that getting sufficient levels of vitamin D can help to prevent prostate cancer. Few foods have vitamin D but fish liver oil and egg yolks are two good options. Check with your doctor about getting tested for vitamin D deficiency. Safe dosages range from 2,000 – 10,000 mg. per day, so it’s best to get an accurate account of the dosage that’s best for you.

30-Minutes for Exercise: Although obesity has not been directly linked to prostate cancer, it has been proven that obese men have a greater risk of dying from the disease as well as contracting a more aggressive form of the cancer. Exercising for 30 minutes per day, at least four times per week helps to prevent obesity. Men who engage in high levels of activity have less of a chance of contracting aggressive cases of prostate cancer than men who do not exercise.

Regular Checkups: Getting regular examinations can catch prostate cancer early before it progresses to a more advanced stage. Staying in regular contact with your doctor can about prevention and risks is important. In addition, your doctor may give you a digital rectal exam (DRE) or prostate-specific antigen (PSA) that may help to discover any traces of prostate cancer at an early stage when treatment can be most effective.

I love to cook.  It’s relaxing, therapeutic, and a great way to connect with friends and family.

I also love to eat.  So trying new recipes and cooking with fresh ingredients allows me to enjoy the experience without questioning calories or content.

The biggest payoff to cooking is presenting a freshly prepared meal to a loved-one.  I get huge satisfaction in providing sound nutrition and a joyful experience to a friend – one that goes way beyond the sandwich or protein bar they ate for lunch!

And like many of you, I am busy.  I understand that cooking, and the subsequent clean up, can appear time consuming.  You may also feel you lack the skills, or the familiarity with your kitchen, to prepare healthy meals.

I am empathic to your position. I also know these are excuses you can overcome. Why do I say this?  Because preparing healthy meals for you and your family is a required habit if you plan to live healthfully for a lifetime. And I know that’s your plan.

So let’s get present to the benefits.

First, cooking at home helps to control weight. According to researchers analyzing National Weight Control Registry data, the majority of people who have lost weight and kept it off prepare 90% of their own meals.

Other benefits of cooking include unwinding after a long day and tapping into other creative talents.  When cooking with vegetables, fruit, olive oil, and fragrant spices, your body and your brain come alive ~ just like the food you are working with!

You also have better control over portions, and can avoid too much sodium, preservatives,  unhealthy fat and all ingredients that thwart health and cause fatigue, inflammation, brain fog and weight gain.

I know none of you are surprised by the listed benefits. I also know that your biggest issue is how to accomplish this in a busy world.

The answer is simple…You PLAN.

Planning ahead is the critical element.  You don’t need gourmet recipes, elaborate cooking tools or even a fancy kitchen.  You just need time.

Which leads us to the next question, “Where do I get more of this precious commodity?”

We all have 24 hours in the day.  It’s up to you to decide how you are going to utilize those 24 hours. In creating more time for yourself, you need to create more space in your schedule.

Here’s how you do it.

Today I want you to decide what you can take out of your schedule every week to make room for the following:

1) 20 minutes to plan meals at home for four nights
2) 10 minutes to make a grocery list
3) 45 minutes to shop for groceries (including drive-time)

That’s 75 minutes per week.

Now I want you to decide what you can <i>take out of your schedule during the week</i> to make room, four nights a week, for the following:

1) 30 minutes to prepare a meal
2) 30 minutes to sit and enjoy your meal
3) 5 minutes to clean up

That’s 65 minutes a night (four nights a week) to prepare and enjoy your evening meal.

Your total for the week is 335 minutes.  This is less than 6 hours a week where you are planning, preparing and enjoying freshly prepared meals at home.

Now, here are suggested activities you can eliminate to open up those 6-hours:

1) 60 minutes of TV 6 nights per week = 6 hours

2) 60 minutes of Facebook or Internet 6 nights per week = 6 hours
3) Wake 30 min. early and end your day 30 min. early 6 days per week = 6 hours
4) Six hours of tasks assigned to your spouse, friends or other family members:
Laundry/Folding – 60 minutes
Running Errands – 60 minutes
Tidying the house – 60 minutes
Yardwork – 60 minutes
Getting kids ready for school – 60 minutes
Driving kids to and from sports – 60 minutes

5) 60 minutes of chit-chat with a friend 6 nights per week = 6 hours (instead, invite them to dinner!)

When you commit to this process, I guarantee your life will change. You will get more pleasure out of cooking and eating fresh food than you will from the “time-killers” that currently consume your day.

If you’re looking for quick and easy recipes to get you started, check out the recipes on this blog.

Create space in your life TODAY. Then have fun, and Bon Apetite!

Stay tuned for my book launch in October – sign up on my website now for the Five Strategies to Live Your MaxLife, and enter your name in the book launch contest for 3-months of free coaching!

A Colorado Celebration  Of Women in Transition

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Denver Botanic Gardens

8:30 to 4:00 PM

KOSI’s Jackie Selby~Afternoon Emcee!
Keynote Speakers:

Julie Hammerstein – Family Wellness and Nutrition Expert

www.juliehammerstein.com

Debra Fine- Internationally recognized speaker and author of The Fine Art of Small Talk.

www.debrafine.com

Julie Pech – Chocolate Therapist

www.thechocolatetherapist.com

Mitch Powers- Growing Your Investments

www.investsg.com

Deb Sheppard- Finding Clarity and Peace

www.depsheppard.com

A Wildflower Women’s Makeover

Clothes by Bling of Castle Rock

Hair and Make up by Ed Gillespie, Over The Top Salon

The $75 tax-deductible ticket price includes a catered lunch, silent auction, and admission to the Botanic Gardens.

For more information and to order tickets, please go to www.wildflowerwomensfoundation.org and click on Events.

You’ve heard me say that nuts, fruit smoothies, yogurt and whole-grain breakfast bars are decent meal and snack options for achieving a healthy weight.  This is true.  They are certainly better choices than candy, chips, fries and other sugary and fat-laden snacks.

What you may not realize is that wholesome choices can also be packed with calories.  This is fine if you’re paying attention to serving sizes and how you pair things like nuts with fruit, rather than other calorie-dense options like granola.   Generally, you want to keep snacks between 100-200 calories, whereas meals will fall between 300-500 calories (depending on weight, metabolism and health goals).

The important message is to watch serving sizes and to have a general sense of high-calorie foods and their lower-calorie counterparts.  Use this guide to switch out these eye-opening, calorie-dense options with my suggested alternatives for healthy-weight:

Saboteur: 1 cup of trail mix

Calories: 693

Solutions: Keep your serving size to about ¼ cup (174 cal) for a quick snack or try eating ¼ cup walnuts and ¼ cup raisins (280 cal).

Saboteur: 2 tablespoons olive oil

Calories: 239

Solutions: Olive oil is super healthy, so just watch your portions.  If making as salad dressing, use 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar or lemon with a little bit of sea salt (133 cal).

Saboteur: 1 cup granola

Calories: 597 calories

Solutions: Keep your serving size to about ¼ cup (150 cal) and use it as a topping to Greek yogurt and fruit as opposed to eating it in a full bowl of cereal.

Saboteur: Most commercial smoothies

Calories: 600

Solutions: Make your own smoothies using almond milk and 1 cup of your favorite frozen fruit. For added protein use Greek yogurt or a suggested serving of protein powder (I use JuicePlus+ Complete vanilla) (350 cal)

Saboteur: ¼ cup peanut butter

Calories: 400

Solutions: This is a great source of protein and generally liked by all, so it’s an easy snack.  Just be mindful of your serving size, and stick to no more than 2 tablespoons (200 cal) per serving.  It’s best to eat peanut butter with low-calorie fruit, like an apple, rather than adding extra calories with bread or crackers.  As an alternative to peanut butter you can use ¼ cup hummus (108 cal).

Saboteur: Jumbo whole grain muffins

Calories: at least 400

Solutions: Split a muffin with a friend or opt for a small slice of whole wheat banana bread. (200 cal)

Saboteur: Whole wheat bagel

Calories: 480

Solutions: Eat ½ a bagel, or skip it all together and eat one slice of whole wheat bread (120 cal)

Saboteur: 3 oz. yogurt covered raisins

Calories: 390

Solutions: Have 5 small squares of dark chocolate instead (170 cal)

Saboteur: 1 cup Ben and Jerry’s Fudge Brownie low-fat frozen yogurt

Calories: 380

Solutions: If having a treat, be mindful or portions.  Remember, most serving sizes on ice cream packages are for one cup.  You can often cut calories by eating an all natural fudgesicle or frozen fruit bar (100 cal).  You can also add plain cocoa powder and a 1/2 teaspoon honey to plain Greek yogurt for a treat that’s under 200 calories.

Saboteur: 6 oz bag of vegetable chips

Calories: 840

Solutions: Portion control! Put a small handful on a napkin, equaling a 3 oz. portion (420 cal),  or have 2 cups of no butter popcorn sprinkled with sea salt and or cinnamon (61 cal).

Saboteur: 1 medium avocado

Calories: 300

Solutions: Avocado is an amazing food and a super healthy source of fat that will keep you feeling full.   Keep your intake to no more than ½ an avocado per serving (150 cal). We enjoy it sprinkled with a little sea salt or Mrs. Dash.

Saboteur: 1 cup almonds

Calories: 817

Solutions: Almonds are a great pick-me-up snack, with lots of fiber and nutrition.  These are a perfect snack to keep in your purse, at your desk or in your car, as long as you don’t mindlessly graze.  Instead of loading up on a cup of this tasty treat, eat 10 almonds and ½ a banana (120 cal) instead.

Saboteur: 1 cup Grape Nuts

Calories: 408

Solutions: This was my favorite cereal as a teenager, and I used to eat huge, heaping bowls every morning.  No wonder I struggled with my weight! If you’re craving Grape Nuts, mix ¼ cup (102 cal) with ½ cup of a lower-calorie cereal such as whole wheat flakes (100 calories).

Saboteur:  6 oz. strawberry yogurt

Calories: 180 (and 32 grams of sugar!)

Solutions: I’m not so worried about the calories here, just the sugar content.  Stick to plain fat-free Greek yogurt and add your favorite fruit and a small drizzle of of honey (150 cal) to cut the sugar calories in half!

Saboteur: 2 cups orange juice

Calories: 224

Solutions: This is also high in sugar, so use this tip with your kiddos:  Pour 1/4 cup orange juice and dilute it with water or soda water (60 cal).

I’d love to hear your comments about how you have learned to watch calories and portions, while still enjoying your favorite, wholesome foods.

Trail mix can be a healthy-weight saboteur if you don't watch your portions

I heard a wonderful quote this weekend:

“Inaction is not only the RESULT, but the CAUSE of fear”.

This really resonates with me, as I see this all the time with my clients.  They blame their INACTION on their fear, when really it’s their FEAR that is creating the inaction.

Consider this…

This summer my son Max went off the diving board for the first time.  We tried to get him to jump the previous summer, but no chance!  He was just too scared, and after several attempts, we let it go and made the commitment to do it THIS summer.

So this year we’re out at the pool, and he decides, “This is the day!”.  Great, got the camera and we’re ready to go.

He slowy climbed the ladder.  He inched his way to the end of the board, body crouched over, and hands tightly held against his chest.  I could feel his fear as his body language screamed, “This is terrifying!”.  He stood on the edge of that board for what felt like an eternity.  I started to get impatient, frantically thinking of ways to get him to jump.

Then I stopped.  I paid attention, and realized that the more he stood there – in INACTION – the more fearful he became!  His fear the year before was the CAUSE of his INACTION, but now I was clearly seeing that his INACTION was just causing more FEAR.

This is a big concept for a 6-year-old, but I tried it out on him.  I said, “Hey bud, what are you thinking about?”

He said, “I’m just afraid that when I jump in that I’ll sink down too far.”

So I continued, “Well is that what you were afraid of last year?”  He said no, that last year he was afraid the water would hurt when he jumped in.

So I asked him, “Are you afraid that the water’s going to hurt when you jump in this year?”  He kind of smiled and said “No mom, I jump in the water all the time from the side of the pool.”

I smiled and said, “So you imagined it was going to hurt last year, then when you tried it, you knew it didn’t hurt.”   He said yes.  So I continued, “Well, just know that sinking down too far is also in your imagination.  So rather than focusing on sinking down too far, just keeping saying to yourself “the water feels good, the water feels good.”

He stood there a little longer (again, what seemed like eternity), and then he jumped.

Now, it could have been that his friend Ethan jumped in first and spurred him on.  Max did admit that when he watched Ethan pop right up without sinking, that it encouraged him to jump on his own.

So this made me think…if we stop focusing on what we imagine to be a bad outcome (i.e. sinking down too far), and go with what we know to be true (i.e. the water feels good), and then follow the examples of others who are succeeding (Ethan did it and it all turned out great) then we will be lead to ACTION.

And ACTION eliminates the fear!

Do you think Max was afraid to jump off the board again?  NO, because he eliminated the fear of jumping by actually jumping!

Now, he may choose not to jump off the board because he doesn’t like it, or he’s not in the mood. But do you see how that is a much more empowered choice than choosing from a place of fear?

It is the same with your health.

You choose not to “jump” into healthier habits because you imagine a bad outcome.  Possibly you are afraid that if you choose to eat healthy that it will be too hard to maintain.  Or you’re afraid that if you try that new yoga class you won’t enjoy it.  But just like Max…IT’S ALL IN YOUR IMAGINATION.

The more you stand on the edge of the board focusing on being afraid of something that you don’t even know to be true, you will stay stuck on the edge of the board, watching everyone else jumping and having fun.

Because being healthy is so much FUN!  So rather, focus on what you DO know.  Meditate on the last time you ate a healthy lunch and actually felt leaner!  Recall the last time you went for a walk and felt relaxed and energized.

Do those memories invoke fear?  No, they don’t.  So focus on these thoughts as you are reviewing your new, healthy meal plans, or when you are signing up for that yoga class.

In this place of ACTION, you will eradicate the fear and make decisions based on experience and personal will.

YOU choose, fear does not choose for you.  And then you get to joyfully jump off the board with the other brave people who have successfully chosen HEALTH.

Have a wonderful day!

I am so excited for this week!  I’m heading to California with Max to visit family, and I can’t wait to plop down on the beach and play in the ocean! As I write this, I’m actually looking at an ocean scene which I loaded as the backdrop to my Gmail page.

I love the water!  Yet strangely, I have recurring dreams about being in the ocean, trying to get out from under huge waves that threaten to take me down.

Okay, so this may sound “out there”, but I was listening to a Zig Ziglar interview this morning, and had a realization.  Watch this first, and then I’ll continue.

What struck me was his quote, “You don’t drown by falling in the water, you drown if you stay there.”

That really resonated with me. I love that he states this with a big grin, as if to say, “Look my friend, here’s your situation, now swim like heck and get out of it!”.

So it occurs to me that these dreams about being “under the wave”, are metaphors for when I’m faced with a tough situation.  Maybe I’m feeling overwhelmed by everything on my plate.  Maybe it’s when I’m in conflict with another person, or trying to figure out a parenting snafu.  I’ve never really stopped to see what’s going on in my life when I have these dreams, but it appears they come up when I’m trying to “sort it all out”.

So here’s the realization…I always get out from under the wave.  I never drown.  And so it is in my life.

How many times have you felt you were “under the wave”?  You have all experienced situations that seems unmanageable, unfair or downright scary.  Yet you’re all still here, right?  You survive. You have the resources to swim out from underneath it all, and come out alive.

So as Ziglar is saying, find the strength, courage, determination and skill to rise up and overcome whatever it is that’s keeping you trapped.  Letting the wave win is not an option!  Especially when you know that your dreams are much bigger than the 20-foot wave that threatens to bring you down.  The life you envision, is actually your life-saver.

So I finally got it.

You know why I never drown in my dreams?  Because I see all the amazing things that await me on the shore.  Now SWIM!

“The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment” ~ Vince Lombardi

Often times when you hear the word “commitment”, you think of commitment to other people.  By being “committed”, you are making a promise to someone or something outside yourself.  Committing to a relationship for example, or possibly a project or a scheduled event.

In keeping that commitment, you show others they can rely on you – that you “walk your talk” and can be trusted.  In breaking the commitment, your actions raise doubt and disappointment, and people start to question whether they can truly count on you.  You know the difference.  You know how it feels when you stay committed and see things through to completion.  You also know how it feels when you break a commitment.  It may feel different for everyone, but deep down, you know it doesn’t feel good.

You know why?  Because in breaking a commitment to others, you break a personal agreement with yourself.  You sever the internal thread that binds you to personal integrity.  Ouch.  Just the thought of that hurts.  To break with your own integrity means breaking with the essential part of you that knows abundance, prosperity, connection, love, joy, and accomplishment.  Without that connection, you move through life in self-doubt, blame and possibly anger.  These are all feelings that come up when you feel you are not getting what you want out of life.

When you stay committed, and keep agreements with yourself and others, you will be amazed at what you can accomplish.  Even by committing to a simple phone call, you will tap into the flow of personal integrity that leads you to greater actions.  You will also start to attract commitment-oriented people….so, be in the world who you want to bring into your life.

Here’s another lesson.  It’s okay not to commit to everything.  You have the absolute right to decide which things are worthy of your commitment.  If you decide not to commit, then you can say with integrity, “no thank you”.  But the moment you say “yes”, you are committed and the flow of personal integrity is in place.  This can be useful once you start to feel the need to break the commitment.  Just refer back to how good if felt to be in the flow of personal integrity.  Once you sever it, you will see that it creates a split in your very Being.

Pay attention to this if it happens.  It’s okay if it does…you are human.  But ask yourself why, and commit to not doing it again.  In doing so, you will start to opt for staying committed, and that’s where your quality of life will be defined.

Have a wonderful day!

I want to talk to you today about tough love.  What is this really?  For some, “tough love” has a negative connotation -  where you believe that by being tough and enforcing structure and discipline, you need to withhold love and relinquish care and affection.

It’s really just the opposite!

When you practice tough love, you actually provide a loving catalyst for profound change!  Whether this be with your partner, your kids, or your colleagues, setting limits and enforcing consequences is all about compassion.  These are the most loving steps you can take to help others live into their highest good.

You know why?

Because as humans we are naturally compelled to break the rules. I’m not referring to the BIG rules like tax evasion or causing bodily harm.  I’m referring to the little rules that are easy to manipulate.  Things like eating fast food every day and convincing yourself you won’t gain weight.  Or believing you can cheat on a test and still know the material.  Or that you can manifest your dreams by envisioning them, without taking the steps to get there.

If you are witness to someone who is being inauthentic, you can do two things.  You can ignore it and let the people in your life (including yourself!), get away with deception and denial.  Or you can intervene with a tough but loving bit of advice.  This, my friends, is love.  When you will risk your own standing in someones life, by taking a stand for theirs.

There was a time when I thought that being “tough” was being mean.  But there’s a distinction.  When you’re tough without the love, then you are just being angry and resentful.  But when you witness someone struggling – because they don’t see the truth in their actions – then your intervention is a genuine act of kindness.  You can choose to say to them,  “If you keep walking this path, you are going to hurt yourself and others, and I’m not going to let that happen.  So make a choice.”

Powerful.  In this moment, you not only define yourself, but you defend others.  Your character shines through by giving people a choice they may not have otherwise been given.  You present the option to create different outcomes.  You take their hand, walk them to the starting line, and say, “Now go”.

So what about you?

Are you willing to take a stand for someone in your life today?  Are you willing to practice a little tough love with someone who needs to take better care of themselves?  What are you going to say to that special person who’s stuck in a rut? You really can be a catalyst for change.  Remember, it takes courage to show someone their ways, so empower yourself with solutions.

If you’re looking for ways to support a friend or loved one, consider gifting them my monthly newsletter and blog.  They will receive my free email mini-course, “The Five Strategies to Live Your MaxLife!”, which is an easy way to move people into action.  The gift is timeless, and people will thank you.

Be a powerful force in the world today!

And I’ll look forward to your comments and stories.

Happy Monday!

“We’ve all heard that we have to learn from our mistakes, but I think it’s more important to learn from successes. If you learn only from your mistakes, you are inclined to learn only errors.”

~ Norman Vincent Peale

Think of times in your life when you’ve come to a fork in the road.  A moment where you could choose a path once taken, or choose the new path with new territory. Did the path once taken produce the results you want in life?  If not, would you still take that path, if given the chance, simply because it feels familiar?  Where in your decision are you giving yourself the OPPORTUNITY to take the new path?

In the above quote, the writer asks us to learn from our successes, rather than focus on our mistakes.  Here’s another way of looking at it.  Start by recalling what you did the last time you made a mistake.  You felt disappointment, regret and loss.  What did you do?  You probably found the wisdom, creativity and strength to move on and start anew.  In that, you said with conviction, “I’ll never do THAT again!”.

So here you are again.  Faced with the same path. But rather than remind yourself of the shame and guilt you felt the last time you took this path, focus on how you successfully moved on from it the last time.  Here’s where you give yourself the OPPORTUNITY to do it differently.

You know why?

Because shame, guilt and the statement, “I can’t believe I am here again!”, just lead you down the old path. Those words are incredibly dis-empowering and keep you stuck in the mind-set of failure and old patterns.  Instead, use your WISDOM, CREATIVITY, STRENGTH and CONVICTION – the success traits you used to get you out of this situation the last time – and apply them on the front-end.  Let them be your guides.  In doing so, you successfully turn to the new path, and start walking.

Today I have a decision to make.  Thank you for allowing me to write this for you!  In doing so, I know what I need to do…

….choose the new path.  The path of open communication, trust and a willingness to step outside of judgment and accept people for who they are – and the paths they have chosen.

Have an amazing week!

I went to a funeral service for a friend on Wednesday.  One of the messages that stuck with me was something the bishop described as the “in between time”.  This is the period we must go through when something ends, and we await a new beginning.  He talked about how real growth happens during this “in between time”.  We have recognized the ending, but have not fully realized the beginning.  So, there we are, in the time where we must decide – what am I going to do?

In my interpretation of this, I feel like the In Between Time is what defines the human spirit.  Whether this time is 2 days or 2 years, these are critical moments that shape who we are and what we are made of.  This time reflects how we generally move through our lives.

I see it this way:

Endings are finite, and tangible.  This is the end – not much to debate.

Beginnings are expansion, and joyful.  This is the beginning – there is hope and direction.

In Between Time is murky, and unstable.  This is the in between time – what should I do now?

Let’s look at that question again?  “What should I do now?”

HOW COOL!

“What should I do now?” leaves the door WIDE OPEN!

What should I do now says “DO ANYTHING YOU WANT!”  Why not?!  This is the time to create EVERYTHING from nothing.  This is the time that says “anything is possible”.  You are at the helm.  You can’t go back and change an ending.  It’s done.  And once the momentum of a beginning takes hold, you are in that movement forward and going with the flow.  The In Between Time is where the work is, but it’s also where YOU create the payoff.  You get the chance, in every moment, to create your best life!

Consider your relationships, your diet, your finances, the death of a loved-one, even the end of a vacation.  How do you deal with the transition of moving on to the next moment?

The In Between Time is where YOU get to know YOU.  Don’t do it the same way you did the last time something ended.  Sit with it for a while.  Sit in the murkiness and decide how to get clarity.  Call on the available resources we all have within us – that of courage, creativity and most important, integrity.

Are you in an In Between Time?  Are you in that critical space of shifting from the old to the new?  Are you willing to grow during this time rather than repeat old patterns?

In doing so, you will define who you are.  I feel confident you stand in the realm of possibility and greatness.

Have a wonderful day.