Tag Archives: better life

Cool Beans, Motivational / Inspirational

Why Everything Gets Better With Coffee

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You had to know it was coming, There’s no doubt by now dear readers, that you know I’m a coffee junkie. I thrive on the smell, the taste, that eye opening first smooth sip at the crack of dawn. Before there is movement from any of my natives, I have sucked down enough caffeine to rev my engines. I often wonder if instead of blood, there is coffee running through my veins. I live on caffeine and adrenaline, and admit it my friends, most of you are the same.

Coffee is the most amazing drink around. I know very few people who can can get by without their morning beans, and perhaps even a pick me up cup or two later in the day. No worries my friends, it turns out science has proven that the humble coffee bean (roasted, soaked, ground, dripped, pressed or heaven forbid – instant) has some serious health benefits. Not only does that Java juice perk you up in the A.M., but it’s good for you! Finally, a good addiction. ☕️

Ladies, let’s talk first about those all powerful antioxidants. In 2005, a study showed that no fruit or veg comes close in the pursuit of antioxidants. Move over blueberries, the human body is believed to absorb the most antioxidants from coffee. As an added bonus, coffee has essential nutrients, and if like me you’re enjoying 3,4 5 or more cups per day, you’re doing yourself a HUGE favor.  And now forsome numbers! sorry dear readers, but just to prove the point. According imageto the US RDA (recommended daily allowance) an 8 ounce cup of joe contains 11% of the RDA of Vitamin B2, 6% RDA Vitamin B5, 3% for manganese and potassium, (move over Chiquita Banana) and 2% RDA of magnesium and B3. Bottom line, when you reach the bottom of cup #4, you’ve reached your vitamin intake for the day.

Staying within the boundaries of health benefits, perhaps you have heard that drinking coffee lowers the risk of Type 2 Diabetes. Studies show that those who drink the most coffee (note my ever present IV, ha ha) have a 23-50% lower risk of developing this disease. Each cup consumed daily is associated with a reduced risk of 7%, and 7 is my lucky number!

Next, Dementia and Alzheimer’s. Serious coffee drinkers reduce their risk by nearly 65%! And the other nasty, Parkinson’s ? Well, coffee drinkers have a 60% lower chance of developing this neurodegenerative disease. NOTE: decaf drinkers do not fall into these categories.  Black water is not beneficial, so keep on caffeinating!

So onto the Big C. Yes, coffee. I adore it, the smell, the taste, all these healthy benefits. Coffee can help prevent the Big C. It appears that the humble coffee bean and it’s caffeine content helps protect against liver and colorectal cancer, AND, my sun worshiping Goddesses, skin cancer as well. But please friends, if you have a family history, don’t give up the doctor visit.

imageAll my GNO peeps, yes you my tequila, vodka and G&T drinkers – protect your liver! Keep those $15 pitchers coming, because drinkers of the magical bean have a much lower risk of developing cirrhosis. So raise that mug and toast to good friends, good times, margaritas and of course the morning after morning beans!

 

OK, now this is my favorite benefit. Not only does coffee wake you up, energize you and taste yummy, but it can make you smarter! The caffeine in the bean is the most commonly consumed psychoactive substance in the world. Coffee drinkers of the world unite and we can save mankind and the planet! The caffeine blocks Adenosine, (not one of those happy hormones, it’s an inhibitor) and it lets all those neurotransmitters run rampant and rapid fire synapses and cause big ideas! Amazing! Many controlled trials have proven that coffee improves memory, mood, vigilance and energy levels. Also reaction times and general cognitive function is improved. All bonus rewards in my book!

Now ladies, listen up. Coffee helps burn fat. All natural, it really imagehelps. Honest. Metabolic rate can be increased up to 11%. So before that A.M. Run or night at the gym, chug-a-lug a mug of pure hi-test. Black is best, stay away from the sugar. Your benefit? Caffeine increases epinephrine levels, you know, the fight or flight hormones?   Intense physical activity is now enhanced. So drink up and push yourself a bit….you can do it!

Coffee makes you happy. Period. Harvard University published a study in 2011 that found women who drink 4 or more cups of coffee a day have a 20% lower risk of depression. My friends, I am obviously the happiest girl in the world! Coffee de-stresses me (and you, admit it), in fact, just a whiff of those delightful beans can change your mood.

TO those of you who still think coffee is a nasty druggy habit, back off. While the caffeine does increase blood pressure, it’s such a teeny tiny bit. For regular imbibers, it levels out. There is also evidence that women who partake in the daily ritual of morning beans have a reduced rate of stroke and heart attack. Great news for all moms of teenaged demons. Keep it pure though, it increases longevity.image

So to all of you non- caffeinated, black water drinking coffee lover imposters, beware. Those of us indulging in the ritual of morning beans are poised to be here for a long, long time. And we’ve only been getting smarter and healthier and happier. We kick butt at the gym, so don’t mess with us! Fellow java junkies rejoice, indulge, increase consumption of the magical elixir. Now that you know the benefits, will you step,up and drink more? Iced, hot or made into granitas, what’s your plan? Share your bean-y love and I promise rewards of virtual caffeinated coffee hugs.

Motivational / Inspirational

Transforming Self-Criticism to Self-Love

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I had a drive to be perfect, especially in English class.

In grad school, I ended up in the psych department, stressed to maximum capacity. They suggested that I might be depressed. After several sessions, it was found that the ‘B’ I was receiving in a class on Shakespeare, my passion and subject of my BA, was the cause. My need for perfection in what I thought I had mastered, was making me slide into darkness. Turns out the ‘B’ was a punishment from the Professor – I apparently knew much more than he did.

I was a mess during the time period of figuring this all out, and I was afraid. The thoughts in my head kept reeling- ” you’re not good enough, not smart enough.” I was on a cycle of self-destruction. My adviser, the wise Dr. Diane Kutzer, finally took me aside. She told me that I was causing myself unnecessary suffering. She sat me down and asked me, ” Why are you so critical of yourself ? It’s obvious you have succeeded in your academic journey, but now you need to focus on your motivation.”

Pocomoonshine Mountain, Adirondack Park, NY

I was lost. I didn’t understand. Luckily, I lived in the Adirondack Mountains. There is a trail on the mountain Pocomoonshine, and I know it very well. After our meeting, I took a drive, and then a hike. At the summit I looked out over the lake and I screamed. Loud, long, guttural – from the pit of my belly. First, because I realized that I had lost the trail and scaled the rock face without the proper gear, and second, because I knew then that I would always strive for perfection. I realized I would need to learn to stop being so perfect, so self-critical if I was going to truly succeed. As I climbed down the trail, I tied to leave the worst doubts up on top, bringing a new determination back to my small apartment on the Saranac River.

We all have moments where we criticize ourselves. Have you ever been preparing a cup of coffee, and you spill the milk? You tend to berate yourself, even inside your head. I can drop a spoon and hear my brain saying “What is wrong with you – Butterfingers?” But I know this is just the negative critic in my head. I can be my worst enemy. I have learned that when I was younger, fear of the negative was what motivated me, and I paid a high price. I learned to stop. To just stay present and focus and breathe. I had to learn how to change myself, not to be so critical, not to self-hate or beat myself up. I would never be perfect (I’m only human after all)and why did it matter anyway?

Instead of punishing myself (which is really what all that stress was about) I have learned to motivate myself with little pats on the back. Praising the little things. I am excited when I see a new comment or follower. I am thrilled when I remember my grocery list, even though it is home on the kitchen counter. I feel better about what I actually accomplish and I am calmer and happier. If you need to shift your own self criticism, you need to stop trying so hard. You are not broken and don’t need fixing. Try a little love.

“I know quite certainly that I myself have no special talent; curiosity, obsession and dogged endurance, combined with self-criticism, Have brought me to my ideas.”
– Albert Einstein

I want you dear reader to do something for me. (Now I’m becoming interactive) The next time you notice that you are putting yourself into that box of critical self loathing, stop. Push the pretend pause button in your mind and give yourself a little love. Learn to accept yourself with all your failings. Give yourself a me hug. Come on- you know you want to.

Once you start to love yourself with all your faults, shortcomings and inhibitions,you will feel more at peace. Compassion and self-love will shift your actions and your moods. So what if the house isn’t white glove spotless, or dinner came from the take out place. You are happy, at peace and fulfilled. You wrote your article, painted a masterpiece, or even just got up and got dressed. We don’t have to be perfect to be happy on our journey through this world.

I believe that the happiest people are not necessarily the ones with no carry on bags; they have just learnt to stow it safely in the overhead bins, and to enjoy the ride. The more self-love and self-compassion we generate, the easier it is to feel love. This in turn makes it easier to give love, and enjoy the amazing trip on this planet called life.

I don’t hike anymore (well, it’s hard since a mountain in Florida is simply a speed bump), but I remember the day atop Pocomoonshine. It was a game changer for me, and I hope my experience helps you to have a lighter load. I’m far from perfect, but I am happy, (most of the time) and that has spread to others in my life. So tell your clothing piling, dust bunny hoarder, write, painter, crafty self that it is OK to make a few mistakes. A little self love makes it all worthwhile.

Motivational / Inspirational

The Miracle of Morning Rituals

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www.morningbeansblog.com

Every morning is a challenge. Like you, I have insomnia. My brain turns on at 2:00 AM and I am forced to leave the gentle pastures of the Land of Nod. So I’m tired, and a coffeeaholic. In truth, I love my coffee, and I am particular about it, but that’s for another post. So how to I deal with the stress from the combination of teenagers, carpool, stressed hubby and schizophrenic maltipoo? It’s all about finding my rhythm.

Mornings can be chaotic under the best of circumstances, but I have found ( thank you to several online gurus) a way to keep myself calm and relatively put together. Of course it is coffee first, but dear readers, I am going to enlighten you. Not only is being happy an art, but a morning routine is an art form and a salvation. It will help you to be happy (or at least calmer and task orientated). Morning is your most important time of day – it’s the foundation for the whole day ahead. Without the proper mortar, your day will crash down around you. So build it correctly, and you will know before you finish that first cup of joe, how your day is going to play out.

First things first. The wake up. I do hope you are not the jump out of bed sorts, but if that works for you- by all means keep jumping! I try and stay horizontal until my alarm goes off, somewhere in the 5:00 AM range. Quickly muting the noise, I stretch. Learn from your pets – every muscle, every part that moves- stretch it, crack it, bend it – roll your eyes if you feel you have to, but stretch. I love waking up before the rest of the house. It is still dark, peaceful, and the day is ripe with possibility. Chaos has not yet descended in my corner of the planet, and I like it that way. I advise everyone to wake up first. It is liberating and you can set your own schedule.

Onward. Those following me know that I have repeatedly said I am a new student of meditation. Thanks to websites like sonima, I am learning to breathe and to begin every morning with gratitude. It is a privilege to be alive, and the very first morning prayers I learned as a child thank God for letting me have this privilege. So traditionally, we admit, acknowledge and thank. The Hebrew prayer of Modeh Ani -literally I am thankful basically translates to: “I thank you ever present and living King/God, for returning my soul graciously to me. Even Shakespeare hits upon this theme. Hamlet discusses sleep as a mini-death.

“To sleep; perchance to dream: aye there’s the rub;
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,
Must give us pause.”

Though Hamlet is clearly upset about Ophelia and her permanent state of sleep, he recognizes that we need to realize how precious life is. That we leave our mortal bodies every night, and fate or the Heavens above return us to the “mortal coil.”  So dear friends, be gracious and grateful. Stretch languidly and breathe deeply. Meditate for just a few moments on the privilege of being able to move, to see, to think, to feel, to have something to look forward to, even if it is your immediate cup of coffee. Happiness is made from all these little parts of your life, so to get the happy hormones flowing, feel grateful. Make happiness a habit – notice all the good stuff about the day as you wake from  hopefully a sweet, restful slumber.

Back to the stretching. It seems so logical, but often we are in a frantic rush to start the day. Sometimes we oversleep, or have been plagued by thoughts of things we must do all night, and we toss the covers back and literally run from the bed. STOP! So simple to keep the stress of morning at bay right here. When you stretch, not only are you increasing mobility in your joints (a good for you!) but you help your coordination. For me, this is a plus. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked into the wall as opposed to the bathroom or closet. Stretching has actually been proven (I promise) to increase mental and physical energy levels.  Heck, I stretch periodically throughout the day now, but always in the morning. Can’t beat those benefits! If you are yoga inclined, I hear there are some great stretching how to videos on YouTube.

Next, be present. Pace yourself so that you aren’t rushing about between the kitchen, the laundry, the emails, etc. Humans by nature are goal oriented. When we complete a goal, we release endorphins (yup, happy hormones) so that we can smile in the morning. Funnel your early morning energy into the right things, but not the urgent things. Those emergencies will keep until after you have taken your morning coffee and some time for yourself. Keep the morning simple. For me, it’s about the to do list, now second nature. Before 7:15 AM, when the kids need to be shuffled out the door, there’s a list. It is my wake up (can’t rush that – it sets my tone for the day), lunches, walking the dog, and coffee. If the kids need anything, now is the time. We have it down to a science so that I can usually spend about 20 minutes enjoying a peaceful coffee or two in the quiet darkness. That’s our routine.

Finally, establish a routine. Writing gives me a lot of freedom, however, I find that like everyone else with a desk job, I need a set, scheduled block of time daily to write. That doesn’t mean you won’t find me furiously scribbling on a discarded napkin in the car, a gum wrapper from my purse or on the back of my shopping list at the market. Writer’s brains never turn off, and when the words have to flow from the mind to the paper, there can be no time other than the present. It’s all about remembering the details.

So my routine. After the kids are gone, it’s quiet. I take my time working through my pot of coffee, and I meditate. I use guided videos sometimes, or since I am lucky enough to live in Paradise, I sit out on the terrace and let the stillness of nature work it’s way to my often jangled nerves. The point here my friends, is to do something that moves you. Read a little, write a little (journal?), perhaps you enjoy the morning crossword or nice reflective walk. The early mornings should be a gift to yourself. Once the sun rises, it’s pretty much intruded into your to do list, your job, appointments and other banalities. Make a ritual for yourself to begin your day with positive vibes. It will increase your happiness factor and you will be more productive on your daily journey. Don’t forget that happiness is a choice we make for ourselves every day. (see my post The Art of Being Happy)

The difference between a stressed out morning and a relaxed morning is not magic. It’s all in your perspective, your rituals and just a teeny tiny focus on time management.

  • Get an Early Start on the Day – If you’re up first, you can wallow in the beautiful silence.
  • Stretch – Limber up – open your circulation, move those muscles, especially the eyelids.
  • Hydrate – We can dehydrate at night. I take my water poured over some dark grounds – oh yeah – coffee! it counts)
  • Be Grateful – Just take a moment to thank whatever Deity you believe in for giving you another day.
  • Do the Stuff that Can’t Wait – This should not be anything more than lunches, walking the dog and shoving those kids out the door. By the way- if you play your cards right, walking the dog can be meditative, quiet time as well.
  • Meditate or Exercise – This depends on your nature. I enjoy walking, but truthfully, I prefer sedentary exercises. usually ones that include books and coffee. I’m learning to breathe and be positive and stress free. (OK, but it sounds better than I like to be lazy for a hour or so every morning.)
  • Keep It Simple and Streamlined – DO NOT fill the morning with things you have to do….the groceries can wait an hour. Early morning ( between 5-8 AM which is what  I’m talking about) is for things you want to do, not things you should do. For me- again, it’s coffee, a little reading, some social catch-up.

How do you like to start your days my friends? Challenge yourself if your mornings are hectic. Try something different, even if it is waking up 20 minutes early. You will appreciate your time, your peace and your day. What helps you to start your day on the right track? Feel free to share your morning rituals. Leave me a comment – I’ll answer in between the java sips.  Perhaps together we can all get off to a better start daily.

And don’t forget to enjoy your morning beans – I prefer mine strong, french pressed and black!