Are you really LIVING?

2009-04-24T09:40:00-07:00

Ask yourself that questions and really think about your answer..........

As a working mother my whole life I know how difficult it can be...living I mean, not just "existing". I really don't even know how that's even possible for families to achieve in this day and age. We are constantly on the go, food and gas prices have skyrocketed, we are exhausted when we get home. Who has enough energy to steam vegetables, cook some lean meat, do the dishes, bathe the kids, help with homework, vacuum the floor, walk the dog for some exercise, do laundry, get lunches ready for the next day? And the list goes on and on day after day.......how can anyone say "wow, I've had a great day; I can't wait to do that again tomorrow!" we are human beings, not Superman or Wonder Woman!

Stress.....we all have it in some form or another. Each of us deal with it differently and those who don't deal with it at all...it turns into depression. We let ourselves fall into this dark hole and just "exist". It is a horrible, horrible feeling....I know because I have been there. The feelings of hopelessness, fear, and numbness are inescapable when in this state of mind. If you have experienced this you know exactly what I am talking about. I remember months going by with these feelings running rampant in my mind....just existing, just hoping to get through the day.

Looking back, I see myself just barely getting through an 8 hour day at work, stopping in for a pizza or fast food because it was easier than going home and cooking, getting home eating bad food, doing the bare necessities for me and my family, and then falling into bed. That was my life for years.....I hate thinking about those days. I know there are people, men and women alike, who are living like this right now and my heart bleeds for you. I just want you to know that I made it through and so will you. Things always do get better; sometimes that means taking a chance, but it's better than the alternative.

How did I get through the dark times....number one I was put on an antidepressant which made a big difference. Number two I started taking time out for myself, you really can't care for your children or anyone/anything else unless you can take care of yourself. Number three I started doing what I wanted to do....not what others said I should and would do. I took charge of myself and my future. My experience is that when you feel trapped and "out of control" of your destiny that's when depression sneaks in a takes over. By being trapped I mean like in a dead end job or a bad marriage, etc. These are the biggest aspects of our life; they affect our day to day life in a huge way day after day and if you are not happy in any of these areas you will suffer.

It takes courage, self-confidence and just plain guts to make major changes in your life but sometimes you have to unless you just want to "exist". My motto is "I get only one life and I'm not going to spend it just existing". There's way too much out there; I don't plan on letting it pass me by! Society has us trapped in dead end jobs, living at the poverty line and just "existing"; it's just not right! People are afraid of change; it's just easier to stay in your little safety zone of "existing". Well, no it's not! The economical world is changing rapidly today and will continue to do so for the next few years. It's not like it was 40 years ago when you would get a job and stay there for 30 years then retire. I can tell you right now that those people are suffering today due to our economic status and it's too late for them to make changes. I worked in the health care industry for many years and just this last February elderly patients would come in with only Medicare insurance. Most of them had been employees of GM or Ford and after putting in their 30-35 years of their hard work these companies canceled their supplemental insurance they were promised upon retirement! How rotten is that!

We need to provide for ourselves! Nobody can depend on any company for a future! YOU have to depend on yourself and no one else. Nobody else really cares (job wise that is); they care only about their bottom line! I have learned to make a decent income online and would love to share my ideas and techniques with anyone looking for a way out of just "existing". There really is a way out believe it or not! I will teach you how to find a good, solid company to promote, how to advertise it, etc. There are so many opportunities out there and some are free! All it takes is your time, determination and self confidence!

If I can help just one person to start "living" again then I have begun my journey of giving back. Please feel free to email me anytime with questions or if you just need someone to listen.....sometimes that's all you need.

Take Care & Rock On!
Melissa Sheehan
melissa@freespirit68.ws

Guilt Free Chocolate!!!

2009-04-02T17:55:11-07:00

Can Chocolate Be Healthy? YES IT CAN!

Since the invention of chocolate, the heavenly delight of that first neuron impulse of the taste buds informing your brain that it’s time to party, chocolate style, has been tinged with a sinister feeling of decadent guilt that you are about to be really fat. How can something so small and beautiful be so dangerous?

A lot of people don’t know that chocolate can be healthy; quality chocolate has many vitamins that do wonders for your body. But the calories and the additives are what make the lesser quality chocolate level a military style assault on your thighs and hips. Healthy chocolate, that is what it is called, please allow me to share with you the veritable cornucopia of epiphanies I have uncovered in my quest to make chocolate a food group that stands proud and alone, right next to fruit and poultry!

I came across this article about a doctor by the name of Steve Warren, please visit his site for all of the awesome benefits of chocolate at http://mydrchocolate.soundconcepts.com/qa/index.htm

He talks about the benefits of eating chocolate; I was amazed to see this question and answers section of his site:

Q: What vitamins and minerals are in healthy chocolate?

A: Actual percentages change from batch to batch. There is some literature which outlines the main nutrients found in the components of healthy chocolate:

Raw cocoa contains calcium, phosphorus, iron, thiamine (vit B1), riboflavin (vit B2), niacin, nicotinamide (vit B3), pantothenic acid (vit B5), pyridoxine (vit B6), ascorbic acid (vit C), magnesium, copper, zinc, manganese, and vitamin E.

RIBOFLAVIN
It is a vitamin which helps with energy production. It is what makes your urine very yellow.

PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE
It is a form of vitamin B6. It is a very important vitamin in more than 100 body reactions. It is important in protein metabolism, red blood cell formation, carbohydrate and fat metabolism, neurotransmitter formation, hormone production, and immune function.

ASCORBIC ACID
This is a form of vitamin C. Vitamin C is needed for collagen formation, antioxidant, iron absorption, immune function, and formation of some hormones. Vitamin C needs to be obtained from our diet and cannot be synthesized.

THIAMINE MONONITRATE
It is a form of the vitamin thiamin, which is useful in the metabolism of carbohydrates and BCAAs for energy. It is important for the transmission of nerve impulses and formation of neurotransmitters.

ZINC
It is a mineral required for many body reactions. It stabilizes many cell walls and is involved in many body reactions. It is important for the immune system.

MAGNESIUM OXIDE
Magnesium is vital in building protein, bone metabolism, enzyme actions, muscle contractions, nerve conductions, maintenance of teeth, and helping the heart rhythm.

COPPER
Copper is a helper in many body functions. It helps form collagen and helps repair connective tissues. It is an anti-inflammatory and helps form myelin around nerves. It is an antioxidant along with zinc, SOD (superoxide dismutase),and ceruloplasmin.

PANTOTHENIC ACID
It helps with many body chemical reactions and is very important in the cellular metabolism of carbohydrates and fats to release energy. It is the“antistress” vitamin. It supports the adrenal glands to increase production of cortisone and other adrenal hormones to help counteract stress. It is thought to prevent aging and wrinkles.

MANGANESE
Manganese is used in many body reactions, especially carbohydrate metabolism.

VITAMIN E
It is a fat-soluble antioxidant

CALCIUM
Provides bone and tooth structure, blood clotting, nerve conduction, and is necessary for muscle function.

NIACINAMIDE
It is an active form of the vitamin niacin which helps in many body reactions and is especially important in the metabolism of glucose, amino acids, and fatty acids.

So, do you sacrifice taste for health where chocolate is concerned? Probably, maybe? Well, you would have to taste all the healthy chocolates to form a reasonable opinion. Why would anyone eat bad tasting chocolate for the health benefits,that’s crazy! You could just eat fruit if that was the case. Vegetables are tasty sometimes, but who wants to eat the 6 pounds of vegetables everyday to get your recommended daily allowance?

The fact is, I need chocolate. When I am at work and have a fifteen minute break I need to be transported to a wondrous fantasy land of unicorns and chocolate rainbows, so I rip into a hunk of chocolate and let its smooth, silky, seductive, melting euphoria take me away. Taking the guilt from this experience took but a click of the mouse. I have found Camelot, the garden of Eden if you will, the mother lode; I have found healthy chocolate that tastes like a Hershey bar with six pack abs!

The name of this miraculous chocolate is Xoçai (pronounced shu-sigh, because you just sigh when you eat it). I truly believe this is the way of the future as far as our diet is concerned. With our fast paced lifestyles it is very hard to ensure we all get our daily recommended nutritional needs. But with Xoçai all it takes is three little pieces of chocolate! Please email me if you would like further information about this awesome superfood!

Each piece of chocolate costs about $1.35 which may seem like a lot but when you think about going to your workplace cafeteria and spending $2.49 for a small carton of melon, it’s really not. Think about how much you spend on fresh fruits and vegetables that end up going bad in your refrigerator. Plus this company offers an affiliate program so if you sign a couple of people up under you, you get your chocolate for FREE! This company is family owned and rather new to the US. It started out in Canada and then to the US and just a few weeks ago launched in the UK. I am very excited about this opportunity because I am the first affiliate in my area. I have the pleasure of introducing Xocai to my friends and community for the first time! Please click on the link below if you are interested in this fabulous, new product!

http://mxi.myvoffice.com/superfood3586

I offer a free Mentoring Service for anyone looking to start network marketing and would be more than happy to teach you how to get those couple of people. I truly believe in helping others in order to achieve success together! Please email me anytime.

I hope you enjoyed this article and hope to hear from you soon!

Take Care and Rock On!
Melissa Sheehan
Internet Mentor & Chocolate Enthusiast
Lake Ann, MI
xocai3568@gmail.com

The Healthy Hut

Are you really LIVING?

Guilt Free Chocolate!!!