Hi {!firstname_fix}
Ok, I am back home, fully certified as an elder and think about the rest of my life. The week was simply beyond my expectations. I am rested, restored and ready to go as soon as I get my voice back. My only casualty of the trip was a case of laryngitis. No fun, that.
I have an interesting question for you all. As you know, we recently changed our website and the header for the newsletter. I have had a few people remark that they think the photo is dark and gloomy. This surprised me since what I see is MOUNTAIN and light, the two reasons I love NM so much. But, since our community is an interactive one, and since I am truly interested in your opinion, I would love to have a dialogue on this. Come on over to the community forum and share your thoughts on this. I am going to start off by writing in this week's newsletter about what *mountain* means to me.
Classes will resume this week. I will be back to the ones patiently waiting while I was off in New England. The new ones will be starting on Wednesday. This change will allow everyone to get signed up and over to yahoo without feeling panic that they are missing the beginning.
Dealing With the Holidays (Christmas) is our annual discussion of how to transform eggnog and green tree sugar cookies. This will be about families and expectations and food is love and all those sorts of things that come up for many of us this time of year.
Step 2: Journal: An Introduction is the basic class for learning to journal. I will be adding some new material into this class. Even if you have taken it before, you might like to have a redo - I will be testing the material I am going to put in the new workbook.
Doing the Steps: An Overview will give you a good sense of all the steps and how they fit together. If you are just starting, this is a nice way to get the big picture and the facts. We connect the information from all the books so you get the most up to date instructions.
Using The Resources of the Community is the introductory guided tour for the community. The last edition got stuck midtown. Those of you already in it will get the updated version. And if you are new to the community, come over and learn what is here for you.
We will be doing the Step 2 Building Skills class again after this round on the intro course.
You can see an updated schedule for the future by clicking here.
A number of you have asked me how the classes work. Check the class list page for more information on this. The classes are done online with one lesson each day. You do not have to be at your computer at any set time.
Please feel free to pass this week's newsletter on to your friends and family. Don't forget to let me know what you like and would like to see me cover.
Be sure to visit our Radiant Recovery® website and Community Forum regularly.
Warmly,
Kathleen
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November 28, 2005
** Quote From Kathleen **
You don't have to do years of therapy to get results. You can start changing what you eat and see the effects very quickly.
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** Testimonial for the Week**
This week marks my 4th anniversary on this wonderful journey. All
week I have been thinking about the many changes in my life since I began
to "do the food."
One of the biggest changes for me is that I am satisfied with just
three meals and my spud. I no longer keep going back out to the kitchen to
look for "something" to eat after dinner.
I no longer get up in the middle of the night and go out to the
kitchen to eat. Usually if I wake up I don't even go out for a drink of
water. I
have begun to keep a bottle of water beside my bed.
I never eat between meals except on a rare occasion. That will happen
if I for some reason I do not eat enough food at my meal. Then I will have
a program friendly snack because I don't like feeling hungry.
Last night I slept through for six and a half hours. This is
happening more and more often. Before I began the steps I would wake up
every forty-
five minutes to make a trip to the bathroom. Many times I would then go
out to the kitchen and have a snack.
I have worked on the same job for over thirty years. For the last few
years before starting the steps I hated my job. Now I wake up every morning
excited to go to work. I love my job again and that makes me very happy.
From the time I was twenty I took medicine for high blood pressure.
For the last two plus years I have had normal blood pressure and I no longer
take medication to control the pressure.
I suffered for years with migraine headaches. Now I never even get a
regular headache.
I used to have swollen feet and ankles that just about brought me to
tears. Sometimes my feet swell up a little. Usually they are fine now. I
even have space between my toes.
No longer do I suffer from backaches or IBS. Both of which I suffered
with for many years.
I am not cranky and my moods are very steady. All along I thought I
was cranky because I was getting older.
My choices in clothing colors has changed quite a bit over the last
two years. Before starting on this journey I wore black all the time. I
would have a black blouse with some color in it, but for the most part black
was
my color choice.
Now I choose bright colors and pastels.
I had some highlights put in
my hair and doing that made me feel like a million dollars. For the most
part
I take care to dress and look my best. Of course I still have some days
where I don't care so much how I look (smile). That is an indicator that I
need more rest or more protein.
I have energy and enjoy life. I love to get up in the morning and
watch the sunrise. I find joy in the smallest of things. I socialize more
than
I did in many years. Life is good and as I work the steps, it keeps getting
better. I laugh frequently and rarely cry. The total opposite of how I was
before I began this journey.
I can pass up dessert and not feel deprived. I can walk past a bakery
and never even glance in the window. That is what I call freedom!
When I was told all of these things were possible I didn't really
believe it. I didn't really believe eating breakfast would make such a huge
difference in my life. Every night I say a prayer of thanks that Kathleen
has
done this work and given us all a chance at radiance.
Hugs,
Ann
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**Recipe of the Week**
ROASTED VEGETABLES
- 2 medium green zucchini, cut into chunks
- 2 medium yellow squash, cut into chunks
- 1 medium eggplant, cut into chunks
- 1 lb. small button mushrooms
- 1 red bell pepper, cut into chunks
- 1 orange bell pepper, cut into chunks
- 1 large onion, cut into 8 wedges and each layer separated
- 4 garlic cloves, cut in half
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
- 1 tsp. oregano
- 1/2 tsp. sea salt
- 1/4 tsp. black pepper
- 3 T. olive oil
- 2 T. apple cider vinegar
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place all the vegetables in a roasting pan. Sprinkle with the basil and spices. Mix oil and vinegar together and pour oven the vegetables. Bake uncovered for 45 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
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**Your Last Diet: More Than What You Think**
I have to admit I have been blown away by listening to our senior folks make their weight loss plans around the holidays. As you all know, we always in the past thought of this as *lost time*. We would think, I will get back on track in January. But that is not what is happening in YLD these days. I am hearing talk of strengthening the program, planning special options for family gatherings. Whew, what a group of role models.
We will be wrapping up the weight loss class in the next couple of weeks to be ready to start the next one in January. We are also planning a complete revision for the Introductory process. Our YLD team leaders are crafting an incredibly exciting process that I will share with you next week.
Remember that your membership in YLD is lifetime. No renewals, simply a one time fee. Here is a quote from Cin about why it's a great option:
Your money gets you into the inner workings of the community , where there is deep and intimate healing happening. That is not to say that it isn't happening on the free parts, because the forum will attest to some great healing and interaction regarding people's programs. But in addition to that, you get this intimate environment, and to work one-on-one with Kathleen and other wonderful moderators, such as Vicki Gold from the main yld list.
Also, as Vicki said, you are able to avail yourself of the chats and the special classes, which are only offered to members.
For those of you who are not yet YLD members, click here if you are ready to change your life or just plain ole have fun.
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**
David's Corner **
A number of you tried the wild rice stuffing for Thanksgiving. I have been getting rave reviews. This week, I thought you could get ready for the next round of holiday cooking.
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Get the cookbook - it has great holiday recipes in it. |
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Get Wild Rice from the White Earth Reservation. I guarantee this does not taste like any wild rice you have ever had.
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When you order it, get the little rice cookbook. I know that Kathleen cooks from it all the time. She especially loves making a little rice pudding as a special treat. Heres has no sugar, and it is really yummy. When we were in Maine last week, we were talking about family favorites. I think her rice pudding has taken the place of the grape nuts pudding my dad loves. |
Next week I will be posting our holiday specials, so plan your gift shopping for then.
Thank you for your patience while I was gone. I just sent out all the orders for last week. They were piled high in the storage room.
Please send questions and suggestions. I love hearing from you and truly want to help you do your program better.
