It’s Easy Living Green
March 3, 2010 by Julie Urlaub
Filed under Earth, • Feature
Green living means different things to different people. For those with broad eco awareness and who are well versed in environmental concepts, living sustainably may be very different than someone just beginning to make those first eco life changes. By viewing eco change from a personal perspective, a sustainable lifestyle becomes a more manageable pursuit.
A primary aspect of pursuing a sustainable lifestyle is the recognition that every action is part of a larger whole and even the smallest change can make a difference. Getting started and gaining momentum in green living is what it’s all about.
Start by setting personal goals that have impact and are easily achievable. Set yourself up to succeed. Feelings of joy from achievement will provide reinforcement and a stepping stone to something new.
• Build action plans that support success.
• Define and focus on sustainability concepts that are uniquely inspiring to you.
• Be mindful of unfair comparisons.
• Incorporate sustainable actions that easily fit into your current lifestyle.
• Place actions that become difficult on the shelf until they match your lifestyle.
• Focus more on the process and less on the results of sustainable living.
• Remember that it will never all be done; it’s a journey.
• Find the joy in making sustainable changes.
Just thinking about sustainability or even a sustainable lifestyle can be daunting subject to anyone when viewed in its entirety. By making incremental changes that are inspiring and manageable relative your current life, the process of incorporating sustainability becomes much easier.
VividLife.me Contributor
Julie Urlaub: Founder and Managing Partner of Taiga Company, Julie began her career campaigning for clean air legislation with Citizen Action in Washington, D.C. Expanding into Energy Management Services and later, a small business owner in the Oil and Gas Industry, Julie leverages over 15 years of Consulting and Business Development experience in the Energy, Medical, and Information Technology industries.
Today, as a sustainability consultant, Julie speaks, writes, and advises clients on a variety of issues related to the intersection between environmental stewardship, sustainable business practices, and sustainable living.
Life is a Love Affair
Life is meant to be a love affair, an actual love affair. Life, as it truly is, is in fact, a love affair. Now you can choose whether or not to experience life as such, whether or not to join in the dance. But no matter what, life itself always remains a true love affair, an intimate dance in each and every moment.
Every desire for love, every desire to love, is simply the longing within you to experience the reality of life, the truth of what you are. Your longing for love is your longing to know and experience yourself as the love that you are in reality.
Each and every human experience of love is designed for the sole purpose of showing you what you truly are; it is designed to illumine the nature of you true beauty.
The mistake that people make is thinking that love comes from some particular experience and is dependent on a particular experience. The human mind creates the illusion that love comes from an experience or an interaction with a particular object.
In reality, love is inherent in every experience. Love is what is actually happening in every experience. Most people miss this because they think of love as a feeling; they think of love as something that comes and goes. But true love is the very ground of existence. It cannot come and go because it simply IS. Love is what is in every experience. Whether your experience is pleasurable or painful, good or bad, friendly or unfriendly, what is happening is still love.
This may sound like a tall claim, an extreme claim, even an impossible claim. But if you think about it, even for a moment, you will discover that it can be no other way.
You do not exist as a separate individual but exist only in communion with the entire cosmos. You are appearing as what you perceive of as “you”, as a particular body-mind. But in essence, “you” has no independent existence at all. You are the same as the flowers, as the dirt, as the air, as your friends, as your lover, as your cat, as your dog. You are the same essence.
As you realize and experience this, every interaction becomes a kiss; every interaction becomes intimate. When you are open, when you are available, every experience is a kiss from the divine in its myriad forms.
- When you walk through the park, notice the trees, the flowers, the ocean – they all stop to smile, wave, and embrace you, if given half the chance.
- Instead of judging your body for its perceived flaws and imperfections, practice dropping into it and fully experiencing it. Your body is always alive with love.
- In every interaction, whether with pleasant or unpleasant, let yourself experience the love that is underneath the pleasure or the pain.
Love is what is happening all the time. Simply let life love you. That is what it is designed to do, if given half the chance.
So instead of thinking that love comes from a particular experience, use every experience where you feel love to remind yourself of what is already and always the case.
When you experience a moment of love, a hug from a friend, an embrace with your lover, a smile on a child’s face, let that remind you of the love that is always there, always available, all the time. Use that experience to remind you that life is love happening, and you are an intrinsic, indispensable, an exquisitely beautiful part of the cosmic love affair.
VividLife.me Contributor
Sarah Maria, author of Love Your Body, Love Your Life, outlines her 5-step process for helping you feel great in and about your body. Her work embraces the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual, for true, lasting healing. Purchase your copy and begin to love your body today. Visit: www.sarahmaria.com or for more about Sarah Maria’s work, please visit: www.breakfreebeauty.com.
Be the boss when you give birth – a want list to the birth clinic
March 3, 2010 by enlightened
Filed under Parents, • Feature
Initially I wanted home birth, but for medical reasons this was not possible. I had to accept the facts, but still I wanted to be the boss – I wanted to do it my way. The health professionals were going to do what they were educated for….which was to assist me.
To the Birth Clinic
Hønefoss Hospital , Norway
The summer 2005
WANT LIST FOR PEARL SHANTI LODUR-LIONHEART
OPENING PHASE:
I want to be in control of my own birth process
I want to move about, take a shower/bath whenever I like
I want everyone to be quiet around me
I want to be disturbed as little as possible by doctors
I want to give birth in a room without birth chair, steel equipment etc… I am afraid of hospitals and these things disturb me
I want to meditate and do yoga
I want to give myself aroma therapy and be able to do rebirthing, conscious connected breathing
I want to receive from my husband, Andiran Lionheart, reflexology, massage and help with rhythmic movements
I want to receive natural, pain-relieving therapies, like acupuncture, from the birth clinic, if necessary
I want to bring my own CD`s, to listen to relaxing and soft music …
I want people to speak with low voices, because I will focus all my intention within to connect with my Power to find the strength to give birth in joy, I wish that no-one talks to me before spoken to
I want the lights to be dim
TRANSITION PHASE
I want to have all my intention within….everything quiet..it is enough to know that you and my husband are there
I will focus on breathing and visualization
If I can be calm in this phase, we can prevent “tearing”.
THE EXPULSION PHASE
I want to give birth in water
I want to listen to drumming during the expulsion phase
I want to give birth according to the techniques of Dr. Frederic LeBoyer, the French obstetrician
I want to experience complete peace and harmony within
I want to be in full control
I want my husband to be in the water with me
We will receive our child in total peace and harmony
We will lift the baby slowly to the surface, and we only want whispering voices around us
I want the baby to be on my stomach…and in my arms all the time
I want the lights to be dim
I want the umbilical cord to be cut when there is no more pulsation
The baby needs both his lungs and the placenta in order to start breathing
We want to be in the water until we feel like leaving
My husband will cut the umbilical cord when it is ready
We want the medical examination to wait at least 3-4 hours
I want no breastfeeding help or bottle feeding
AFTER THE COMPULSION
I want no hormone injection
I want the placenta to slide out when it is ready…no infringement by anyone putting pressure on my stomach in order to press it out
We would like to have the honor to look at the placenta and the fetal membrane, which has nourished our child for 9 months
I want no vitamin K injections, or other vitamins, vaccines and injections
In my breasts I have all the natural vaccines and vitamins my child will need, and this milk contains all the antibodies, fatty acids, nutrients and vitamins my baby needs in order to strengthen the immune system and counteract infections
LATER
We want our son to be weighed on a scale of fabric, instead of steel
We do not want our son to be stretched in order to measure the height. The baby`s back needs not to be stretched, it is easy to use a tape measure and follow the natural curve of the baby
We want to be present when the doctor examines our son
We do not want him to be turned upside down
We want to bath and take care of our son ourselves, and we want to use our own clothes, clothe diapers, soaps and ointments.
I want my son to be with me all the time – he will not be taken anywhere without me.
I want to go home as soon as possible after the birth, preferably the same day, if everything happens according to the plan.
We have another child waiting at home.
I realize that a birth not necessarily happens according to a plan. I am open for change, and I accept the natural development of the birth process. This is the 3 rd time I give birth, and I have a strong desire to give birth in love, freedom and joy. I want to take control over the birth process this time..it will be beneficial for both the child and me.
This time I am looking forward to the birth process – because I know I will give birth in joy and bliss !
Yours Sincerely
Pearl Shanti Lodur-Lionheart
SO HOW DID ANDIRAN FEEL ABOUT THIS ?
To become a father is an awesome experience – the greatest event in life.
And I was very proud when my wife sent a several page want list to the birth clinic.
We were very happy when the director of the birth clinic approved our list, and she even added that they wanted more parents like us who took 100 % responsibility for the birth process.
Because of the list we were treated with the utmost respect and attention, and it gave me great pride to observe how my wife went trough the birth process.
When Alex was born 10 years earlier, the doctors made some serious mistakes, and both Alex and my wife were clinically dead for a short while. Because of this , the doctors recommended a ceasarian operation this time too, especially since my wife gives birth to BIG babies. (She is only 1.50 m).
However, my wife has a strong willpower and chose to give birth in a natural way without medication – but instead in meditation…
Andiran Lionheart
VividLife.me Contributors
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Balance comes from the ROOT
Working with people all over the world, it becomes more and more obvious that the Chakra energy system relates to everyone. I have used this as a tool for assessing the people I work with and helping them overcome their life challenges. I also use other tools, but I really want to discuss the Chakra system because it seems increasingly important for people in our society to know more about it.
There are 7 main Chakras and many systems that work with them. Below is information about each, in order from bottom to top.
First Chakra “Root” – Located between the genitals and anus. The colour associated with this Chakra is RED. This Chakra is the growth stage of standing up for yourself between of the ages of 0 and 7 years old.
Second Chakra “Sacral” – Located at the lower abdomen, between navel and genitals. The colour associated with this Chakra is ORANGE. This Chakra is the growth stage of challenging motivations based on social conditioning between of the ages of 7 and 14 years old.
Third Chakra “Solar Plexus” – Located between the navel and base of the sternum. The colour associated with this Chakra is YELLOW. This Chakra is the growth stage of self-esteem/self-confidence between of the ages of 14 and 21 years old.
Fourth Chakra “Heart” – Located at the centre of the chest. The colour associated with this Chakra is GREEN. This Chakra is the growth stage of forgiveness and compassion between of the ages of 21 and 28 years old.
Fifth Chakra “Throat” – Located centrally, at the base of the throat. The colour associated with this Chakra is Blue. This Chakra is the growth stage of personal expression between of the ages of 28 and 35 years old
Sixth Chakra “Third Eye” – Located above and between the eyebrows. The colour associated with this Chakra is Indigo. This Chakra is the growth stage of emotional intelligence above the age of 35.
Seventh Chakra “Crown” – Located on the top of the head. The colour associated with this Chaka is violet, gold, white. This Chakra is the growth stage of selflessness above the age of 35.
want to give you this so you get a base of knowledge of what the chakras represent. If you are having a challenge in life, you can see if it relates to a chakra. If it does, it could be manifesting itself physically, causing pain in that area. For example, if you’re having pain in the neck or shoulder area, it could be related to communication issues, be it at work, family, relationship, etc. Knowing the cause can help you to start working towards a solution.
There are different ways to balance out the Chakras (depending on what the challenge is): crystals, incense, oils, exercises or drills. Whatever area you are trying to balance out in your life, take your time and enjoy the process. Each person’s situation is different, and what works for one person might not work for another. Try a few different ways to balance out yourself and your Chakras. If you don’t feel a difference, I would be more than happy to answer any questions you might have. E-mail me at info@knssconsulting.com with your questions and I will personally answer them.
Balancing out your Chakras/lifestyle is extremely beneficial. By having your nutrition, relationships, finances, exercise and spirituality in harmony, you can enjoy the journey of life by living your legacy each and every day.
VividLife.me Contributor
Brandon Krieger H.L.C 2, C.M.T.A
3-months I healed my back without surgery & even the doctors were asking me what kind of crack I was on. Now I coach people how to do the same
http://www.twitter.com/Brandon_krieger
http:/www.youtube.com/knssconsulting
Are You Socially Inadequate in Your Business?
March 3, 2010 by Alison Prentice
Filed under Business, • Feature
Do you think Facebook is a joke and who wants to read about other peoples’ personal business anyway? Is Twitter for twits and LinkedIn just another way to hook you in? Are you ignoring these and other forms of social networking and social media because you think it is a waste of your time?
Then you my friend are socially inadequate in your business - at least as it pertains to social media and the impact in today’s business world.
Whether it is to support or influence sentiment about your business, or to generate sales, social media even today remains a phenomenon that many businesses are not using – or using effectively.
Did you know that a Fan page is searchable by Google while a group page is not? So why are people still using group pages?
Check out some of your friends Facebook pages – do they also use their pages to drive their business? What does their picture look like? Is it blurry? Is it a webcam photo where their forehead looks 3 times larger than their body? Is it one of those pictures where all you can see is an eye? Is it a professional photo? Are they mixing up family and business photos and content on the same page? How does that reflect their brand?
What about the florist, who really is an outstanding florist, who posts a picture of themselves with their dog on LinkedIn? How does that support the brand? Have they trained their dog to create flower arrangements?
- 80% of companies use LinkedIn as their primary tool to find new employees. Are you there?
- 80% of Twitter users tweet (post their message) outside of Twitter – what would that mean if you had a great customer experience? How fast would a bad customer experience get around?
- Facebook has over 300 million users. More than 1.5 million pieces of content (web links, news stories, blog posts, notes, photos, etc.) are shared on Facebook…daily.*
That is a lot of content my friends. And a lot of ways you can get your message out to your customers and potential customers each day. Not by “selling” them anything – oh no! By engaging with your customers. By offering content (information). By allowing them to post their own messages on your page so you get instant feedback on how well you are doing – or not. And if someone does have a beef … how quickly and appropriately you respond to resolve the issue (that does not mean deleting posts you do not like!).
If someone searches for your company on Google – do they get only your website?
What if you were coming up on Fan pages? On blog posts? On ezine articles? What if other people were blogging about you? So now your company is showing up on 5, 10, 20 or more pages. Now you are showing a “presence” on the web that goes beyond your web page.
And once you get the hang of it, it is really not that hard to maintain your social networking site as long as you make the commitment. For example, on our own Fan page I am up at 7 am to check posts and add a new post to the page…every day. It might be a link to another interesting article. It might be a quote. It might be a post about an upcoming event.
The point being that I am committed to make our Fan page a page that engages our customers or potential customers. One that has someone saying “I like this quote – it reflects my own life right now” or another commenting on the taste of one of our products. Or an article that gives a new perspective on an old problem.
Our Fan page (on Facebook) is linked to our Twitter page, which in turn is linked to our LinkedIn profile. So a single post on the Fan page goes to 3 places instantly. Our blog is also linked to the Fan page – so a blog post goes to 4 places instantly. The Fan page is also linked to our website home page – and you can “Become a Fan” right from there.
Other sites are similar – Intent.com posts can be linked to your Facebook AND Twitter accounts. YouTube videos can be embedded in your blog…which goes to your Fan page…which goes to your Twitter account…which goes to your LinkedIn profile…do you see how this works?
There are literally dozens and dozens of networking and social media sites. You should search out the ones most appropriate to your business, and get cracking on setting up your pages.
Here are some more statistics*:
- 25% of search results for the World’s Top 20 largest brands are links to user-generated content
- 34% of bloggers post opinions about products & brands
- People care more about how their social graph ranks products and services than how Google ranks them
- 78% of consumers trust peer recommendations
- Only 14% trust advertisements
- Only 18% of traditional TV campaigns generate a positive ROI (return on investment)
Learning about Facebook and other social media is not a “when I have time” activity. It is something to prioritize now, for the life of your company, your cause, your brand.
*Statistics sourced from: Socialnomics by Erik Qualman
VividLife.me Contributor
Alison Prentice RN BScN
President
Creo Mundi Inc.
(905) 571-3663
(New) www.linkedin.com/pub/alison-prentice/10/a91/0
All Natural Creo Mundi Intentional Protein ¾in TIME magazine March/April 2009 and voted Fan Favourite on The Dragons’ Den season 3 (episode 8)! Available in Loblaw Company stores (in the Natural Value Section) across Canada; working on getting this into the US… ask your local stores to carry us!
Let Go and Become All You Might Be!
March 3, 2010 by Janice Chrysler
Filed under Spirit, • Feature
“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” Lao-Tzu
“When I let go of what I am”…..not an easy step for most of us to take is it? In order to let go, first we have to have a relationship with ourselves. Does our belief in who we are rely on our name, where we live, our job title or what others think of us? If so, what happens to us when these things are taken away from us or truths are uncovered that we would rather have been kept secret? In order to really discover our true identity we need to go within on a very personal journey of self discovery. This is a trip we need to do alone for only we hold the key to unlock our purpose and we alone make the choices along our path. Too often we hide behind the fear of change forgetting that it was through our inquisitive nature as a child that we learned new things. Had we not followed our inner voice of pure innocence, curiosity and longing to learn we would not be where and who we are today. When we were children, we had not yet taken on the burdens of preconceived ideas, fears and limitations. We knew only that we were here to learn, grow and to expand our awareness of all things. Being one with the Universe, we were and still are filled with endless potentiality. The limits we have in our lives are ones we have placed upon ourselves.
When we refuse to move ahead in our life, whether it is taking a different job, meeting new people, reading a different book, learning anything new so that we can expand our mind and spirit, we lock ourselves in the past. To continually repeat things we know is to stay in the past. After all, that is what knowing is…. things you have already learned. Why do we choose to stop learning and trying new things? Have we decided that this is it for us, there is no more that we need to do or can do in this lifetime? Do we hold fast to the false hope that things will change yet take no action to make it happen? Clinging to the fears from yesterday and refusing to venture into unknown territory only robs us of any joy we could be experiencing today.
Letting go of the past is a huge step forward but we are not through yet. Holding onto yesterday often goes hand in hand with worrying about the future as we huddle where we “know” what will happen next. This worry will stifle our desires and growth from manifesting in our lives. Precious “now” time is spent worrying about things we have no control over. Is this negative energy what we want to manifest in our future? Remember we become what we think! Allowing negative energies today to be part of our being will develop into the worry of the future and once there, not having lived our dreams will become the regrets and remorse of yesterday.
Each of us has the power within ourselves to call upon the Universe and the Divine to create a life of learning, growing and contentment through the expansion of self-love. We need to spend time with ourselves and recover that innocence we once had for life and self. By believing that we can manifest whatever it is we desire in our lives, with the intent for the higher good, we put forth positive energy and love to the world as well. There are no limits to what we can achieve if only we take that first step and believe. How else will we ever know what we could be?
Do you want to be at the end of your life wondering, “what if, should have, could have, why didn’t I”? The one thing worse than failure is never having tried and being filled with regrets. Life is full of lessons just waiting for us to experience. The sooner we realize we have the control within ourselves to break the chains of the past we open the doorway to endless possibilites. The only limits we have in this life are the ones we put upon ourselves. We need to take this precious moment, this time of “now” and live it to its fullest potential. By taking the following steps, we can be well on our way to becoming all we might be!
- Upon rising each day and before going to sleep each night give thanks for your many blessings.
- Take time to meditate if only for ten minutes twice a day (thirty minutes is better). This takes you inward to discover who you really are, your desires and your purpose. You feel calmer and connected to the Divine.
- Think about what really makes you happy, what you enjoy doing then bring that into your life. By bringing joy into your life you will find happiness and through happiness success. This positive energy will attract more of the same into your life.
- Watch those thoughts! Are you always putting a negative spin on things? Rethink in a positive way otherwise you will attract more negativity to you.
- Be aware of the magnificence of Mother Earth. Take time each day to be in nature and truly breathe in its beauty and feel your connection to its energy.
- Know that you are endless potentiality. What is it you desire? Put it out there through your meditations, vision boards, write it in your journal then be prepared for the Universe to provide – not always the way you expect though!
- Let go of grievances, remorse, regrets, anger and hate. There is no room for both sorrow and joy in your heart. These things are past, learn from them and move on. It is not always easy but the benefits are life changing.
- Do not worry about the future. Put your desires out to the Universe with the faith that it will sort out the details for you. Watch for the signs and opportunities when they arise, accept the challenge when it comes and give thanks when things are manifested in your life.
“The greatest danger for most of us is not that we aim too high and we miss it, but that we aim too low and reach it.” – Michelangelo
VividLife.me Contributor
Janice Chrysler: Through Hypnosis, I assist others in bringing a sense of control back into their lives and then they are able to make changes necessary for their personal growth. Past Life Regression has helped many people, including myself, to understand our fears, habits, and life lessons we need to learn. These are things which have brought me to where I am today - practicing Hypnotherapy and Reiki from my Marmora office, providing private and group sessions and workshops along with weekly meditation classes.
Life is a learning field for all of us and we are all on a journey. Through out the trip we cross each other’s path for a reason. I am grateful for all my life’s experiences as I feel it has taught me to become who I am today and I know, the trip is far from over!
Who Do You Think You Are?
Sometimes when I’m about to take a big risk, go for something important, or “step out” in a bold way in my life, I notice the judgmental question, “Who do you think you are?, will pop up in my head. Does this ever happen to you?
This is one of the many ways that the feelings of “not good enough” or “unworthy” show up in our lives and get in the way of our success, fulfillment, and authenticity. Sadly, as most of us know, this question doesn’t come from our true self; it comes from our “Gremlin” – that little monster in our head whose only job is to keep us out of perceived danger. The more we listen to our Gremlin, the more allow him or her to sabotage our life.
However, this question, “Who do you think you are?, while often asked in a negative, critical way and something that we allow to stop us from doing, saying, and going for important things in life – is also a very important question for us to ask and answer honestly. When we look at it on deeper level, we see that our answer to this question has a lot to do with how we experience life, in general.
How life is for us has a lot less to do with our circumstances or situations, and much more to do with how we relate to them and ultimately the thoughts we have. Some of the most powerful thoughts we think and the ones that have the most impact on us are the thoughts we have about ourselves (i.e. who we think we are).
Each of us has a “story” about ourselves and our lives. These stories are often dramatic, funny, scary, inspiring, sad, intense, boring, enjoyable, tragic, and more (usually a combination of many of these things). In most cases, the story we have about ourselves changes a bit – depending on how we’re feeling about life and ourselves at any given time.
One of the things we sometimes forget, however, is that we’re the author of the story of our life – not simply the main character. We often think that our story has to do with all of the things that have “happened” to us, the qualities we were born with or have cultivated, the stuff we’ve done or haven’t done yet, etc. But, when we remember that our story is a function of our thoughts, most specifically the thoughts we have about ourselves, we can be empowered to consciously transform not just our “story,” but our life as a whole.
Here are a few things to think about and do to enhance your thoughts about yourself, and therefore enhance your experience of life:
1) Notice when your feelings of “not good enough” or “unworthy” show up – In other words, pay attention to when the question, “Who do you think you are?” stops you in your tracks and takes you out of the game of your life. As we’re able to notice this, be honest about, and have some compassion for ourselves, we can take our power back from our Gremlin in those moments and step more fully into who we really are.
2) Ask yourself more deeply, “Who do you think you are?” – Go deeper with this question, beyond the judgment and really inquiry into how you relate to yourself. What’s your story? The more honest we can be about the story we have about ourselves, the easier it is for us to acknowledge it, own it, and ultimately change it. Remember, these stories are not “true,” they are simply our interpretations, judgments, and beliefs. We created them, so we have the power to transform them at any time.
3) Upgrade your “story” about yourself – In the specific areas of your life where your story is not empowering, inspiring, or fulfilling – see if you’re willing and able to “upgrade” it in an authentic way. This basically means we change our thoughts, words, and feelings about it, genuinely. Because we often get so attached to our stories and tend to defend them passionately, this “upgrading” process can be challenging for many of us. It sometimes takes support, feedback, and coaching from others in order for us to move beyond our story and remember that we have the power to upgrade it whenever we’re ready.
Who we think we are is one of the most foundational aspects of how we relate to life and ourselves. As Henry Ford said in his famous quote, “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.” This simple quote is so wise and profound. And, whether we think we’re great or we’re not, we’re always “right” – it’s a function of who we truly think we are.
VividLife.me Contributor
Mike Robbins is a sought-after motivational keynote speaker, coach, and the bestselling author of Focus on the Good Stuff (Wiley) and Be Yourself, Everyone Else is Already Taken (Wiley). More info – www.Mike-Robbins.com
Finding a Way Home
Muna Farah (Nisreen Faour) trades in her job as a bank officer for a White Castle uniform, and a life on the Palestinian West Bank for a new beginning in northern Illinois, in the comedy-drama “Amreeka,” now available on DVD. Photo courtesy of National Geographic Entertainment.
“Amreeka” (2009). Cast: Nisreen Faour, Melkar Muallem, Hiam Abbass, Yussef Abu Warda, Joseph Ziegler, Alia Shawkat, Jenna Kawar, Selena Haddad, Andrew Sannie, Daniel Boiteau, Brodie Sanderson, Glen Thompson, Miriam Smith. Director: Cherien Dabis. Screenplay: Cherien Dabis. www.amreeka.com.
Anyone who has ever gone hunting for a new house or apartment knows how taxing it can be to find a suitable place to hang one’s hat. So imagine what it might be like if that notion were applied on a larger scale, to find a community—or even a country—to call one’s own. And, taking that idea to an even greater extreme, consider what’s involved in finding oneself at home in one’s very own skin. Those are some of the challenges explored in the comedy-drama “Amreeka,” now available on DVD.
Teenager Fadi Farah (Melkar Muallem) struggles to fit in at his new school after emigrating to the US from the Palestinian West Bank in Cherien Dabis’s “Amreeka,” now available on DVD. Photo courtesy of National Geographic Entertainment.
Life on the Palestinian West Bank in 2002 is often frustrating for Muna Farah (Nisreen Faour). As a single mother separated from her philandering husband, she struggles to raise her teenage son, Fadi (Melkar Muallem), under trying circumstances. Just being a working mom is difficult enough, but add in Muna’s two-hour commute from her home in Bethlehem to her job as a bank officer in the Palestinian territory (facing intrusive scrutiny at government checkpoints all along the way), and the routine of her everyday life becomes that much more arduous. She’s also preoccupied with shedding some pounds, an undertaking where the losses seemingly involve everything but weight. Clearly, Muna is ready for a change.
That opportunity arrives somewhat unexpectedly one day when Muna receives a notice that her application for a visa to visit Amreeka (the Arabic word for “America”) has been approved. The news comes as a surprise, since she had all but forgotten filing the application, having done so when she and her ex-husband were still together and making plans for a once-hoped-for future. She’s initially unsure what to do, but when Fadi reminds her of all the everyday difficulties she faces, Muna agrees that a fresh start is the best course. And so Muna and Fadi relocate to rural northern Illinois to join the family of her émigré sister Raghda (Hiam Abbass) and brother-in-law Nabeel Halaby (Yussef Abu Warda).
Despite the promise of a new life, however, Muna and Fadi find that making the transition isn’t always easy. For instance, Muna’s job search doesn’t live up to her expectations; even with her years of banking experience, she’s forced into taking a job as counter help at the local White Castle. Meanwhile, Fadi struggles to fit in at his new school, where prejudiced classmates unhesitatingly show off their cultural ignorance, often to the new arrival’s detriment. And even the well-meaning support of Raghda’s family sometimes isn’t enough, as they, too, face acceptance challenges of their own, despite having been established in the U.S. for years. But if that weren’t enough, all of the protagonists run headlong into the simmering anti-Islamic sentiments that arose in early 2003 during the opening days of the Iraq War. But this is an irony if there ever were one, since Muna and her family aren’t Muslim (Muna’s family’s religion is never definitively identified in the film, but it’s been suggested that they’re Palestinian Christians, given that they originally hailed from Bethlehem).
As time passes, however, Muna and Fadi find allies who help ease their transition, most notably Muna’s nerdy co-worker Matt (Brodie Sanderson), Fadi’s principal Mr. Novatski (Joseph Ziegler) and, to a certain extent, even Raghda and Nabeel’s daughters (Alia Shawkat, Jenna Kawar, Selena Haddad). But the assistance of these newfound friends doesn’t stem so much from what they do but from what they say and the attitudes they exhibit. They’re all clearly comfortable in their own skin, and the new immigrants gradually pick up on this. The seemingly perennial outcasts, who never really felt at home in their so-called homeland and have often felt even less so in their new country, begin to feel more at ease by drawing on these examples. As their perspectives shift, Muna and Fadi realize that what they call “home” ultimately begins with them, with what they believe constitutes home and not just their physical surroundings (or, in Muna’s case, even with her own body). They grow into their new environment, making the home they want for themselves, based on their beliefs, just as what anyone would do in any other conscious creation/law of attraction undertaking.
Sisters Raghda Halaby (Hiam Abbass) and Muna Farah (Nisreen Faour) begin life anew together when reunited in the charming independent film “Amreeka,” a story based on the family life experiences of writer/director Cherien Dabis. Photo courtesy of National Geographic Entertainment.
“Amreeka” is a charming independent film, full of warmth, heart tugs and gentle humor. And others apparently agree; the film captured the FIPRESCI Prize of the International Federation of Film Critics at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, and it has been nominated for three awards (including best feature and best female lead) at the upcoming Independent Spirit Awards. Admittedly, the film’s writing and editing could have been a little tighter in spots, but all in all, this is an engaging and delightful little picture. It makes a good choice for alternative viewing at this time of year, when many of the new theatrical releases often leave much to be desired.
The next time you’re looking for a new place, check the classifieds and the real estate listings, as you ordinarily would, but be sure to check your beliefs, too, for that’s where your new home really gets its start. Pay particular attention to beliefs related to your innermost heartfelt feelings and emotions, because they’ll help guide you to the place where you’re supposed to be. For in the end, you’ll find, just as Muna and Fadi ultimately do, that home truly is where the heart is.
Copyright © 2010, by Brent Marchant. All rights reserved.
VividLife.me Contributor
A lifelong movie fan and longtime student of metaphysics (with an emphasis in law of attraction/conscious creation principles), free-lance writer/editor Brent Marchant is the author of Get the Picture: Conscious Creation Goes to the Movies (Moment Point Press, www.momentpoint.com, available in soft cover and Kindle formats). His additional writing credits include contributions to www.beliefnet.com and to Divine Revolution, Sethnet Journal and Reality Change magazines. Brent also maintains an ongoing blog about metaphysical cinema at www.getthepicturebrentmarchant.blogspot.com, which includes listings for the internet and broadcast radio shows on which he frequently appears as a guest. He holds a B.A. in magazine journalism from Syracuse University and resides in Chicago. You can email him at brentmarchant@momentpoint.com.
Compassion: The Double Edged Sword
The phrase, “Don’t charge hell with a squirt gun,” quickly took on new meaning for me in my beginner days of energy-healing. My lack of experience was quickly exposed, as I eagerly attempted to remove pain and suffering from others.
As a result, I not only got ill, but experienced the most intense drain of my own energy.
How could this be happening? After all, isn’t helping another person favorable in the eyes of the Divine? I was sensitive and compassionate to the suffering of others. I wanted to save the world.
Many well-intended practitioners of Eastern and Western medicine have experienced this drain. My practice is filled with allopathic doctors, nurses, psychologists, and psychiatrists that are absorbing energies from their patients and have no idea why. It’s possible to absorb outside energies in any lifestyle without knowing how or why.
Most natural-health practitioners are familiar with the effects of energy on our physical bodies. They, too, can be overwhelmed by outside energies if they don’t take it seriously, upheaval that can be experienced both physically and emotionally.
This is exactly what happened to me until my self-awareness and personal growth reached a level of deeper understanding. In my experience, the drain was intense, nothing like I’d ever experienced.
I started out in holistic medicine studying the chakras and how blocked energy can affect physical health. My eagerness to help others only forced me back to working on myself, which is “lesson one” in energy-healing. My first experience with energy drain was none other than getting too close to the double-edged sword called compassion.
My heart was pulled in every direction, and I felt that it was my duty to save my husband, Howard, who at the time was a new love interest in my life. We had just started dating.
He was suffering with headaches and back pain, and was going through a very difficult family crisis. Emotionally he was suffering from a broken heart.
Suddenly, as I held him, I could feel his emotions passing through me. I felt a strong punch to my chest that took my breath away.
Immediately, Howard was pain-free and color came back to his face.
I was feeling as though a large boulder had hit me. I was literally ill for two weeks. Not everyone will experience energy absorption this way, but it’s important to understand that it’s possible.
To understand this, you need to understand energy, which radiates from all living things. Energy (our thoughts) moves matter (our physical bodies). Our thoughts are energy that becomes our reality if we act on those thoughts.
Dr. Bruce Lipton, a cellular biologist, describes in his book, The Biology of Belief, how energy affects us on a cellular level. His groundbreaking discoveries proved in a petrie dish how our thoughts, emotions, and our environment can affect our health. He exposed cells to negative energy such as anger, aggressive music, etc., and the cells became unhealthy. He then exposed the same cells to positive, healthy energy such as laughter, joy and calm music and the cells responded by reproducing healthy cells.
Scientific research states that health is directly linked to your state of happiness. People that are truly happy are living healthier lives with less illness and disease, while depressed and unhappy people tend to have more physical pain and chronic illness.
This suggests that our environment, positive or negative, will affect our health, and that it’s a personal choice as to how healthy we want to be. Our personal boundaries are important to protect our environment from what we may absorb, such as someone else’s anger or negative energies.
I discovered a spiritual connection to the movement of negative energy. This is where compassion was a double-edged sword for me. I lost perspective on what was mine to process and what was another’s. My boundaries were now compromised. What I thought was compassion for another, was consumption of Howard’s energy. I attempted to live and process his personal journey, and avoided my own.
I had plenty of time to reflect and learn from the experience while recovering from the onset of illness after the transference of energy occurred. Why did I get sick when I was trying to help another?
After several days of prayer and meditation, asking and listening for answers, insight made its way to my heart, in a soul lesson.
This was not about me doing anything. Energy-healing is ignited from within the individual’s soul, where the spark of God lives, and where miracles do happen. It wasn’t intended for me to absorb Howard’s energy, but to be a vessel for Divine healing, connecting this inner spark to the seat of his soul. This was about what he needed at that exact moment and not interfering with the Divine. My heart awakened and I saw that true healing lies in the faith to completely surrender to the Divine for both the healer and recipient.
The events that I experienced were the catalyst to launch me into my work as a healer. The lesson I had to learn was to completely trust and allow God to move through me and release not just Howard, but me, as well from all the energy of pain and suffering. In other words, “To let go, and let God.”
It took several years of learning for me to understand the power of energy-healing and the miracles involved, learn to observe and keep my ego in check, and allow the full surrender to the Divine.
Science is currently researching the effects of energy more than ever. For me, the answer lies in a spiritual faith that cannot be seen, heard, or proven in a lab. To this day, I still learn and grow on my own personal journey as I help others find their way. I’ve learned that to help others, you must always help yourself, first, for you can only give others what you have in your heart.
Your soul will take you to realms you never thought possible, and this is where my experiences prove to me that true healing comes from within the soul, the part of us that is truly where the spark of God resides.
BIO: Dr. Jennette Royster, D.DIV., is an intuitive energy and spiritual healer, teacher and writer. Her focus is healing from within and guiding others to find their true path and happiness in life. She is currently a contributing author for Vividlife.me, maintains a Natural Health and Spirituality Blog, and reviews upcoming books releases for Hay House, Inc. on her blog.
She is the founding owner of The BodyZone Natural Wellness Center in Virginia Beach, VA. and offers her specialties to clients by private appointment in The BodyZone office or by telephone. Jennette’s clients span across the United States from coast to coast. Beginning in Spring 2010, Jennette will be begin offering group tele-classes on energy healing and self care through Motivational Whisperers.
“We are all connected, yet we are unique expressions, with gifts to share with the world.” -Jenn Royster
VividLife.me Contributor
Contact Jenn on the web
The BodyZone Natural Wellness Center
Jenn Royster on The BodyZone blog
ROBIN ARMSTRONG’S ZODIAC PREDICTIONS FOR MARCH 2010:
ROBIN ARMSTRONG’S ZODIAC PREDICTIONS FOR MARCH 2010:
ARIES: MAR. 21 to APR. 20:
In small matters there will be success. Matters of the heart will improve as the month evolves. In big concerns, you will feel weighted down and even held back. The large solutions must wait. Be patient. For this month, it is in your best interest to live in the moment and follow the call of good cheer.
The New Moon of March 15th will be a relatively insignificant one. Control your financial impulses. The Full Moon March 29th will bring contradictory energies to the surface. Hurry up! Take your time! Curb the inclination to be rowdy!
TAURUS: APR. 20: to MAY 21
If you go with the flow, there will be success, but if you rush or force matters, there will be arguments and delays. Your best energy will come in the first half of the month. If you align with good, good will result. Trust your own tastes and principles. Much can be gained by showing appreciation to others.
The New Moon of March 15th will be a positive one. Smile and express yourself! The Full Moon March 29th will be an uneventful one for you. Do what you feel is right!.
GEMINI: MAY 21 to JUNE 21:
Do what you are inclined to do, but do not explain yourself to others. Success will come from putting out energy. Complications and misunderstandings will abound in the first half of the month. You will find more appreciation and listening ears in the last half of the month. A fool and his or her money will soon be parted.
The New Moon of March 15th will be a difficult one. Be wary of the self-righteous! The road to hell is lined with good intentions! The Full Moon March 29th will be a positive one. Stay happy and you will have a good effect on those around you.
CANCER: JUNE 21 to JULY 23:
You will have smooth sailing for the first half of the month, at least socially. Align with those of good understanding. Smile and express yourself. If you put out positive, you receive abundantly. If you obsess on your worries, you will alienate many. Suring the last half of the month you are inclined to be restless and easily irritated.
The New Moon of March 15th will be a very positive one. Go with the flow and trust your instincts. The Full Moon March 29th will be quite stressful. Don’t let little comments get the better of you.
LEO: JULY 23 to AUG. 23:
The Force remains with you. Many obstacles will fall away. You must make an effort to let go of old disagreements and move on! The first half of the month you will have a tendency to go out on tangents and dissipate your energy. The last two weeks of the month will see your charm and charisma shining brightly.
The New Moon of March 15th will be a mild one. There is not likely to be any untoward situations. The Full Moon March 29th will be a positive one. There will be good cheer and good company.
VIRGO: AUG. 23 to SEP. 23:
The best laid plans of mice and men will often go astray. This is a month when you will not feel appreciated. People will get on your nerves. Your ideas and comments will not find much support. Keep busy and avoid the hearsay and opinions of others. You are inclined to exaggerate. There is no need to be hard on yourself, just a little quiet!
The New Moon of March 15th will be a significantly difficult one for most Virgos. Don’t respond immediately! Sleep on it! The Full Moon March 29th will be much easier. No big hassles. The tide is turning in your favour.
LIBRA: SEPT. 23 to OCT. 23:
Be careful about the little things that you say and do. What seems like a simple comment on your part could easily stir up more discord than you intended. Strive to be patient and avoid small talk. Keep your comments to yourself, or you might have to eat your words later. Keep busy but don’t try to explain.
The New Moon of March 15th will be a mild one. Keep your financial concerns to yourself. The Full Moon March 29th will bring contradictory energy your way. Do not trust you impulse to buy things!
SCORPIO: OCT. 23 to NOV. 22:
Don’t push the river, go with the flow! The more you push, the more resistance you will encounter. Trust your feelings and others will open up to you. A little consideration will go a long way in making the right impression. Smile and the world will smile with you! This is an excellent month for networking and expressing yourself.
The New Moon of March 15th will be a positive one. Enjoy the ambience! You will attract sympathetic responses. The Full Moon March 29th will be relatively uneventful and stress free. No big ups and no big downs!
SAGITTARIUS: NOV. 22 to DEC. 22:
During the first half of the month you will be inclined to put your foot in your mouth, or at least eat the words you say; and anything else that comes your way. Your perspective will be distorted until the 17th when Mercury goes into Aries and trines your Sun. There is a very positive build up of charisma and energy in the last half of the month.
The New Moon of March 15th will be a difficult one. Too many options and too many judgments. Don’t make promises. The Full Moon March 29th will be a very positive one. Get out and network. Follow your impulses.
CAPRICORN: DEC. 22 to JAN. 20:
You will be productive for the first half of the month and easily irritated after that. Set your plans in motion early. In the last half you need to avoid any impulse spending. Several opportunities are rising. Choose well and follow through. If someone doesn’t carry their portion, you will have to pick it up.
The New Moon of March 15th will be a positive one. Reach out and make the most of it. The Full Moon March 29th will be a stressful one filled with confrontations and delays. Maintain control as well as you are able to.
AQUARIUS: JAN. 20 to FEB. 19:
You will need to be patient, especially in the first half of the month. Your vision is starting to grow, but it will not be apparent until the last half of the month. Be consistent, especially if others around you are not. Don’t force issues. Wait for the opportunity to come to you before you speak or take action. Try to help others.
The New Moon of March 15th will be a relatively insignificant one. Be courteous. The Full Moon March 29th will be a positive one, good for communications.
PISCES: FEB. 19 to MAR. 20:
Lady luck smiles on you this month. Opportunities surround you. You need to follow some of your ideas and put them in motion. If there is a special person you want to connect with, this will be the month to try. Times of good fortune are auspicious and if you work with them, great and significant things can result.
The New Moon of March 15th will also be the most significant and sensitive one of the year for Pisces. The is a most beneficial lunation. Trust your instincts. Go for it! The Full Moon March 29th will be relatively uneventful. Move away from fools that come your way!
Robin’s predictions are meant for entertainment and insight. Any serious decision made by astrology requires a full personalized horoscope to be calculated and studied.
VividLife.me Contributor
For a personal consultation with Robin Armstrong, or to inquire about his School of Astrology or speaking engagements, or to be put on his email list, email Robin at info@thewakingdream.net or phone (905) 841-8565, or visit the website at www.thewakingdream.net.
Every month 3 lucky winners will be chosen from Robin’s email list. The prize this month is a thirty page interpretation of your horoscope. For a chance to win send an email to Robin. Once you are on the list you will be eligible win every month.
