Strawberries

Are strawberries really made out of straw? Or is that a really southern way to say 'strong berries'? You know, they do look rather strong... :P

A Bicycle Built for Two...Not a Bowl of Pasta!

Has anyone else noticed that in America, while our wallets may be shrinking, our portion sizes certainly aren't? At restaurants today, dinner for one usually means dinner for two (one real person, yes, and one imaginary friend), and dinner for two really does let you feed your souls...with their own portions, of course! Even a single serving of salad is often large enough for two people or at the very least, one and a half. Including the half a person you're going to grow once you eat all of this food. Hmmm...maybe they were just thinking ahead? ;)

But what happened to the days of just eating what our bodies intended for us to have? In the olden days, Coke came in a little bottle (eight ounces, or twelve tops) and water was a drink of choice, steak portions really were the size of your fist, and a bowl of soup was actually a bowl of soup (and not a man-made lake of soup). This may sound funny, but I'm completely serious: it's a major problem and restaurants, advertising, and societal "norms" today are not doing much to help.

Our instincts tell us that we need to eat food. And we've learned to be polite. So when Olive Garden puts a massive plate of Ravioli in front of us, we're going to dig in. And dig in. Until we've eaten half a day's worth of food in one sitting. Believe me, I've seen this happen more often than not. And you might think that eating all this food would make us happy, but it doesn't. Not really. Look at the obesity rates in America today, a combination of sedentary lifestyles and HUGE portion sizes. Something needs to be done, and I have a solution that's easy and filled with happiness. Ok, in my world it is, but in yours you are free to form your own opinion.

Spirit Wolf's Simple 3 Step Plan
Step 1: Reduce portion sizes.
We can do this ourselves at home, but if Yogurt Mountain still continues to provide those huge "small" cups for yogurt, then we don't have to fill them all the way up. It's cheaper, and still satisfying to eat less than a full cup, no matter what their advertisements might tell you. And when a restaurant puts the world's largest veggie burger in front of you, then just eat what you feel like, and take the rest home. Or share it. What you *feel* like is the key here, because often your body will give you signals that it is full, signals that don't have to include the sudden acrobatics of a button flying through the air, liberated from your newly-expanded pants.

Step 2: Stay Active or Become Active.
This is much much much easier than it sounds. Being active includes just walking every day, taking stairs, dancing around with friends, playing with your dog, playing chase with your cat (probably more like playing where is the cat), and just moving in some way.
So again, staying active can be as simple as JUST WALKING. Walking combined with smaller portions works wonders. Don't believe me? Try it! And for older adults (and others) for whom walking might be difficult, just moving in any way is good. No matter how small the movement, it most certainly counts. But for those who can handle it, WALK! I say this with love, not as a drill instructor.

Step 3: Don't give up.
Yes, there will be times when you eat too much, when you eat the whole tub of Chocolate Ice Cream (shout out to my gram, I love you ;) , and when you don't feel like walking or moving much. That's ok, but never give up. Every day can't be perfect, but most changes don't happen overnight. We change our lives in little ways, by not giving up and believing in ourselves. Then one day, we'll wake up and be a whole new person. In comparison to where we were a year ago. I'm striving for this myself, in many ways, so I know what I'm talking about.

So basically, the next time Papa John's brings you that lovely, scrumptious large pizza, have a slice. Or two. And a delicious, healthy salad on the side. Then save or share the rest and walk away. Ha, it sounds like a plan to get out of danger, but don't worry. There is no immediate danger, just a chance for you to know even more happiness and health than you ever have before. And cold pizza tastes amazing!

What is Love? (poem and *aside*)

Real love is a rare gift.
It is more than passion,
More than friendship,
Yet these are contained within it.
It is desire and affection,
Physical and spiritual,
Attraction to body and soul.
Real love knows no age, no limit, no expiration date.
It does not fade with time, but
Grows stronger with each shared moment.
Two souls in love need not fear the years, for
Passion is strong when hearts are connected.
Love is not infatuation, not a sickness of obsessive desire.
Real love takes time; it is built with care and tears.
Heart ache is part of love, as real life can hurt.
Fantasy is pressure free, a harmless dream,
But not real.
Many hide behind such fantasies,
To protect their heart and shield off hurt.
Real love takes courage,
Because here a soul must stand alone.
There is risk of hurt, fear of pain,
But without courage there cannot be love.
Real love is a risk and life's most precious gift;
For if it is found, it is a light that lasts forever.

**As an aside:
Love can be wonderful and cruel. I've been in love myself, as many of you probably have as well. Twice, actually. And I've known heartbreak, deceit, thoughtlessness, and deep hurt. Ironically, I've never known what it feels like to have someone love you back. I mean truly love you back. But I'll share what I have learned. Real love cannot be one-sided, it cannot be rushed, but I believe it can be overlooked at first. Because in order to happen, both people need to be brave and recognize it. That's where time comes into play.

And love and insincerity do not mix. I know excessive flattery and flirty sweetness are usually meant in fun, not intending to hurt anyone. But what if the other person believes you? I speak from experience. Someone once wrote me that it was fate that brought us together, fate and music, and it scared the crap out of me. But then I chose to believe them and see them in a different way. I just wish that it had been sincere, as I later realized that it probably wasn't. Anyway, things happen, life goes on, yada yada yada.

And one more piece of advice. Please don't feel that you have to use beautiful words and over-the-top flattery or craziness to get people to like you. Don't get me wrong, craziness is cool, beautiful words are cool, and sincere flattery is great -- but you have a beautiful heart. People should like you for who you really are, and if they can't see that, then it's their problem. Just believe in yourself and be true to who you are...and if craziness ensues, then by all means go for it! Just remember that sometimes, it's ok to slow it down and put away the mask. You might even find new sides of yourself along the way.

When Tomorrow Comes

When tomorrow comes,
Let it be for good.
No more hiding from the sun,
No more crying in the rain.
The seasons will pass,
The world will change,
And life will happen.
Be true to yourself,
Embrace the future.
Through the love and pain,
Listen to your heart,
Even when it aches.
Don't stop moving, and
If you fall, get back up.
Even if it takes many tomorrows.
Life is like a budding love,
Fragile, unsure, yet with limitless potential.
Embrace it, for each day
Is a chance to live once more.
It may not always be easy,
But the sun is that much more beautiful
After a cloudy sky.
When tomorrow comes,
Be ready.
Time is a gift and each day, a blessing.