I live in Austin where a river runs through downtown. There are rowing and kayaking businesses that offer access for everyone. If you are a novice, they will teach you. If you know how to row, you can go off on your own. They also offer events where you can start at one end of the river, and row down to the other end and watch the bats come out of the Congress Ave. bridge to fly south for the evening to feed. It’s fascinating, especially seeing it from the water. Austin has one of the largest bat populations in the nation.

So for $15 – $25 you can enjoy the peacefulness of the water, the sound of the boat gliding over the surface, or the majesty (also a little creepy) of millions of bats swirling into clouds and shooting down the river.

Something about the calmness of the water, your gliding past cliffs and trees, the resistance of the paddles against the current, puts you back in your place in this Universe. It’s symbolic of our powering our way through life, meeting the resistance we all face when working toward change.

And yet, it’s that effort that allows you to get to your destination successfully. Your body feels taxed, but it also feels good. Just like the energy exerted when changing the direction of your life toward a new path and a new goal. You derive satisfaction and enlightenment from your journey.

You have to put in the work, but the payoff is incredible. It takes effort, energy, and vision. It takes being consistence, persistence, and resistance. You know, the CPR approach I told you about that Jeff Herring came up with. You have to be consistent in your actions, persistent in your drive, and resistant to setbacks and those people who tell you that you can’t do it! Memorize this! It will keep you on track and sane.

Imagine, all that, and a good time too!

Explore your area for what it has to offer. You never know what you will get out of it!

Happy Living!

Christia Sale

The Most Selfish Woman in America!

You need to do something that takes your breath away!

I’m talking about one of those experiences where you find yourself squealing like a little girl . . . OK, work with me here!

This week I took “flight” on a Skycoaster. It is a cross between skydiving and hang-gliding on the end of a cable. You are harnessed onto the end of a very long cable and pulled up 183 feet to the top of a very tall pole. Then after you make peace with what you must do, you pull a “rip cord” and start diving/falling straight towards the ground until the cable swings you out and up to it’s pinnacle. Then you fall back from wince you came, just to do it all again. You swing like a pendulum, back and forth, until your momentum is completely spent, and you are left dangling and in awe.

The whole experience is thrilling and invigorating! And yet, somehow you feel peaceful when it’s over. It’s like being pushed to the edge and then finding a calmness in the aftermath.

I did this at Schlitterbaun in New Braunfels, Texas, but I’m sure you can find them nation-wide. I’ve also seen similar rigs at ranches that offer team-building challenge courses, so I know they are out there.

It’s worth finding one in your area. It’s not expensive and well worth the thrill. And this is exactly the kind of activity I’m encouraging you to do. Step outside of your comfort zone and do something that will take your breath away! You need experiences like this to catapult you out of your old life and into your new life. It is very symbolic, not to mention confidence building.

It is important to live each day on purpose! Enjoy each day to the fullest! Experience as much life as you possibly can!

It’s your turn!  It’s your time!  You deserve it!

Now, Go Girl, Go!

Happy Living!

Christia

The Most Selfish Woman in America!

Attitude is everything! I repeat:  Attitude is everything!

It’s what separates the good from the bad, the strong from the weak, the happy from the sad.

And happiness is a choice, not a side effect of a circumstance. It is all in your control.

You can dictate the outcome of almost any situation by how you choose to respond to it.

The way you react to what happens to you is completely in your control. Yes, bad things happen to good people. Life happens to everybody! But the way we respond to it reveals our true character.

You can choose to whine and pout, still not changing what has already happened, and making yourself feel miserable. Or you can choose a positive response to a bad situation, making yourself feel less of a victim, and more in control of the outcome. This choice will accelerate your recovery from whatever life dishes out.

You will never make a successful recovery from your divorce if you continue to feed energy to that old phase of your life. Every time you talk about it, you are perpetuating it’s power over you and giving it a life line. And it doesn’t deserve it! Flip off that life support Sister! Quick!

The sooner you take that power away from your old life, the sooner you will feel the positive power of your new choices. Like I said, happiness is a choice, not a side effect.

It’s good to be happy for a change! It’s good to feel in control! It’s good to be a SELFISH WOMAN!

Happy Living!

Christia

The Most Selfish Woman in America!

Whether it was creating a non-profit organization, a specialty retail business or deciding to share wisdom they learned from their own experiences, they are considered entrepreneurs. The word entrepreneur comes from the French word to “undertake.”

When you re-invent yourself, you “undertake” a new vision for your future. You dare to see yourself differently. That can be scary.

But the reality is “why not?” Why not live the life you dream of living? Why not do exactly what YOU want to do, not what someone else wants you to do? Because as you recall, IT’S YOUR TURN!

You are lucky enough to get a second chance to make your dream a reality. You are lucky enough to know by now what your strengths are and how to make them shine. You are wise enough to know that the outcome is in your control. It’s all in how you choose to respond. And you aren’t going to let anyone totally control you again, am I right?

When you create a career or business that will enable you to be independent, you will see the world differently. You will be stronger, happier and successful in everything you do. You will bring your own personal power to the table with each new adventure. You will be a Selfish Woman in the true positive sense of the word.

You will handle situations with the confidence that has been hidden inside you all this time. You will be prepared to deal with anything that comes your way. You are stronger and more in control. Now THAT’S what I’m talking about!

It’s there… inside you… waiting to get out!  Let your true SELF shine!

Happy Living!

Christia

The Most Selfish Woman in America!

Open the windows, trim the plants, get the cushions back on the deck furniture, look in the mirror… OH MY GOD! Who’s THAT!

The winter has not been very good to me.

Should I choose to list all the reason why the Winter has not been good to me, we would hear the faint sound of violins playing in the background which would increase in volume as my excuses got more dramatic.

But the bottom line, and I mean bottom, is that now it’s time to do damage control. FAST!

Everything about Spring is inspiring. The plants and animals come back to life, the days get longer and there is growth all around.  I always feel revitalized and motivated this time of the year.

But think about this:  recovering from divorce is a lot like coming out of the darkness of Winter and moving into the light of Spring. It’s like being brought back from the dead and being given a new chance to live.

Symbolic, don’t you think?

But (or should I say butt) back to the bottom line. Spring is also a time to clean up our act. The house, the yard and our waistlines. You handle the first two, and let’s talk about the last one…

I need to get my body’s attention! Snap it out of the comma it has been in. So I’ve created a plan of attack and here it is.

I am focusing on nutrients and protein. I am making an “elixir” of veggies to eat for the next five day. And for protein, I’m going to eat two to three ounces of fish, eggs or chicken four times a day. I will also drink 100 ounces of water each day. Some of the water will have fresh lemon juice and a little cayenne pepper mixed in. The lemon and cayenne, along with the shear volume of water acts as a diuretic, as does the elixir. I will post the recipe for the elixir on the Eating on Purpose page.

So that means, doing the math, if I don’t eat past 7:00 p.m., I would eat every three hours. Now I will be the first to say that this will take some planning! I tend to get busy and forget to eat. So I will make a big pot of elixir and precook my protein ahead of time. I will also plan around working and meetings. But for five days I can do anything. And to get back to my fabulous self will be well worth it.

The goal is to clean out my system and rev it up at the same time. And if this doesn’t do it, I don’t know what will!

With this approach, I will still be giving my body well needed nutrients and sustain my muscle mass while purging out the sludge collected over the Winter. It will also get me back into the habit of eating clean, lean, unprocessed foods.

I am not a believer in complete fasting. For those of us who have ruined our metabolism from yo-yo dieting over the years, fasting can do you more harm than good. Once you start back eating, your body stores more fat incase you get the crazy idea of fasting again! I hate it when my body tries to protect me from me!

I’m going to get back into my cute Spring clothes if it kills me (or heals me!)

Join me, won’t you?

Happy Living!

Christia

The Most Selfish Woman in America!

I admit it – I’m the worst! To expect me to stay down for two weeks is insane. To expect me to not bend over for four weeks is absurd. To expect me not to exercise for six weeks is down right crazy!

But when you look at the big picture, it is so worth it!

Just like reinventing yourself… it may be hard to stick with the initial changes necessary for a complete recovery, but if you do, the rewards are exponential.

Same with recovering from divorce.  I don’t know about you, but I had to surgically remove my Ex from my house and my life, and I’m still recovering!

The similarities are creepy.  Physically and emotionally being down for the count… literally feeling physically unable to keep up, emotionally spent and completely exhausted.

But remember this: with every day that passes, you are getting stronger and closer to a full recovery. Really! I’m proof!

Now I must admit that I get really board and antsy when I have to take it easy, for anything. Vacation is one thing, I can get into that, but down for 6 weeks… that’s another thing altogether.

But that healing time is necessary, and if you try to circumvent the process, it will come back and bite you in the butt. HARD!

If you don’t give yourself the necessary healing time from a divorce, just like with surgery, you will never heal properly. You need that time alone to search your soul for what you really want out of life. You need to think of your wants, desires and aspirations first for a change.  You need to lick your wounds, and give yourself time to “mourn the dream”.

This process can’t be rushed.  If you do, you may very well end up in the same situation you were lucky enough to escape from. Our goal is to learn from your mistakes, not repeat them.

This necessary time for healing will pass… and you will be better, stronger and wiser for it.

Don’t forget:  IT’S YOUR TURN! YOU ARE WORTH IT!

Happy Living!

Christia

The Most Selfish Woman in America!

As you remember, the F in SELFISH stands for the food you fuel your body with. Clean, lean, organic, non-processed foods. That’s it!

If you can hunt it, catch it, pick it, or pluck it (I got that from Dr. Jonny Bowden), you are good to go. Just not processed. Nothing that needs to be processed to be able to eat, like pasta, bread, chips, pretzels, or anything made in a factory.

Now don’t get hung up on the small stuff. “What about potatoes, rice…?” Just remember the more that has to be done to the raw food, the less beneficial if is to your body. If you are eating a rainbow of colors at each meal, you won’t have to worry about whether you eat potatoes or not. If you can adopt the idea of straight from nature, cleaned, cut up, maybe cooked, then eaten, you will be getting the most nutritional bang for your buck. Period.

Yes, there are a few exceptions:

• Tomatoes, which are great for you raw, but when cooked with oil, the lycopene is more easily absorbed, so tomato sauce and tomato paste from cans, as long as they are organic, are still good for your body.
• Olives have to go through a process to be eatable and not bitter. This is obviously worth the processing because of all it’s omega-3 qualities.
• Beans are another food that can retain their nutritional benefits and still come from a can.
• Cheese is another food that goes through a process, but as long as it is a minimal, natural process, and eaten sparingly, it’s ok.  No processed cheese spreads, blocks, or whizzes! I mean it!
• Almond milk and soy milk are also processed but still good for you, so stick with the organic varieties.
• And of course there’s wine, which goes through a process to be drinkable, but what can I say… it’s the elixir of life!

So you get the idea. The less done to the natural state of food, the better it is for your body. You just have to get use embrace that mind set, and make it your default. Your question at each meal is “How processed is this food?” If the food is just seasoned, sauteed, sauce made from the pan drippings, a squeeze of citrus, and it’s on your plate, you are good to go. If it has been chemically processed to look a certain way, or taste a certain way, or came from a can or package, run… run like the wind!

It is a simple as that!

Cheers to your health and happiness!

Happy Living!

Christia

The Most Selfish Woman in America!

I want to open your eyes to easy, healthy foods that will make you think clearly, and feel fabulous.  I want you to have enough energy to accomplish your goals. To make your Dream Life a Reality! Because that’s what this is all about anyway, right?  Being the best you can be? Taking control and making your dreams come true?

Your physical well being has more power in your daily life than you realize.  It gives you physical energy, emotional balance, and a personal power that you can’t buy anywhere! It also gives you an inner peace that you can draw on in those stressful times that find us all.

And the fact that you will fit in your favorite clothes… please! You’ve got to love that! This is an area that you have probably been neglecting during your challenging battle with divorce. But all of that is over! Over I say!

This is the F portion of the word SELFISH, in The Most Selfish Woman in America. As you recall, each letter in the word SELFISH means something positive. F is for the foods you fuel your body with. It is all about clean, lean, natural foods. No more processed, chemical laden convenience foods. No drive thrus. No more frozen dinners, no matter what manufacturer makes them. And definitely no vending anything (except water)!

With a little planning, you can have everything you need without all the added toxins in processed foods. You just have to change your mindset. Believe it or not, it will actually save you money. It costs less to make your own than when you add up all the boxed, canned, frozen, foods plus the cost of eating out. Save the eating out for a special occasion.  Save the money for organic foods.

When you make your own food, you control what is in it. It’s that simple. And you can control your food budget by controlling what you buy. If you will only buy clean, lean, organic proteins, fruits and veggies, you will be taking control of your current and future health. You will begin repairing the damage your history of food intake has caused your body. And it’s not to late. Our cells replace themselves from every few hours, to every few years. The foods you give those cells to use now dictates what type of cells are created to replace the old. It’s never too late to make a difference.

Your New Year’s Declaration:

I will take control of my body!

I will take control of my health!

I will take control of my LIFE!

Until tomorrow, class dismissed.

Happy Living!

Christia

The Most Selfish Woman in America!

New page, new day, new chance to create your Dream Life. New chance to live the life you were meant to live.

And if that weren’t enough, it’s about to be a New Year. I’m talking clean slate, start over, make it happen!

I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to breath easy again. This last year has been from Hell. What’s that about? It’s been a reminder of “be careful who you marry.” Need I say more? I mean really, go away already! Get on with your life! (This is my current chant -over and over.) They’re like stink on your shoe… you can wash it off but the smell still lingers….

New year, new Me! I’m devoting 2010 to Me! The Year of Me! It’s got a ring to it, right?

• I’m going to put my book on the market, promote it, share it, live it!
• I’m going to do whatever it takes to get paid for what I love doing!
• I’m  never going to be financially dependent again!
• I’m going to seek out the pleasure in each day!
• I am going to let the people in my life know just how important they are to me!
• I’m going to live and love more than ever!

As you can see, I’m going to be busy. But I can’t think of a better way to live my life than with purpose.

And as we all know, It’s My Turn!

It’s Your Turn, Too! Join me, won’t you?

Happy Living, and Merry Ho! Ho!

Christia

The Most Selfish Woman in America!

I feel like I’m flapping parallel to the ground, holding on to a flimsy flag poll. I need to catch my breath.

What ever happened to moderation? You know, things in small, manageable pieces? I need another vacation!

Now is when I have to remind myself that “this too will pass.” My new mantra.

Now is when I need to be faithful with my affirmation, my positive reinforcing statements of gratefulness. My frame of mind seems to change for the better when I do my affirmations.

For example: “Thank you God for my health, thank you for my discipline, and thank you God for my courage, conviction and determination.”

Or: “Thank you God for my health, thank you for my discipline, and thank you God for my determination, success and happiness.”

The idea of affirmations is that the first statement is being thankful for something you have already accomplished. The second statement is being thankful for something you are currently working on. The third statement is being thankful for 3 things you want to accomplish.

Again, this needs some soul searching. Be honest with your choices. No one has to know. But the power of affirmations is documented, and well worth the exercise. The act of reinforcing your goals is a constant reminder of what you want to accomplish. It seeds the goals into your subconscious, where they are worked on behind the scenes. The more you open yourself up to accomplishment, the sooner it will happen.

Recite your affirmations in the morning before you get out of bed, sometime midday when you can focus on them, and at night before you go to sleep. These statements need to be the first thing on your mind in the morning, and the last thing on your mind at night.

Think of it, focus on it, and make it happen!

Happy Living!

Christia

The Most Selfish Woman in America!