Frances, Author at Life, Thoughts & Coffee

March 26, 2012September 22, 2014

Anita Moorjani, Bob Olson, Cheryl Richardson, Lilou Mace

Have you listened to Anita Moorjani being interviewed by Bob Olson, Cheryl Richardson, Lilou Mace? – that’s not all; there’s more to watch. In every video interview her words continue to amaze, and the interviewers bring out different parts of her story for discussion.
www.anitamoorjani.com

In his two interviews with Anita Moorjani on her website, Bob Olson shared parts of his and his wife’s interesting journey into healing when Anita discussed her bout with cancer. He has an easy going style, and yet his questions and knowledge set the stage for a rather profound conversation about healing and her NDE. Wonderful listening! Bob Olson’s website is:
www.afterlifetv.com

Cheryl Richardson brought up some important insights pertaining to Anita’s NDE. The answers to questions asked of Anita could greatly benefit any one listening. If you’ve read her book The Unmistakable Touch of Grace, you understand the reason listening to her interviewing Anita Moorjani is indeed wonderful listening.
She has this to say about her book: “This book tells the story of how grace has transformed my life as well as the lives of others. While some stories may seem unbelievable, all of them are true. Once you finish the book, the way you view your life (and the people in it) will be changed forever.” So true; I’ve read it and can vouch for it. Her most recent book, YOU CAN CREATE AN exceptional LIFE is co-authored with Louise Hay.
www.cherylrichardson.com

And Lilou Mace’s questions highlighted other aspects of Anita’s story which were all related and relevant to the other interviews. Again, wonderful listening. Lilou Mace’s Juicy Living Tour website has its own absolutely top-notch videos by way of Lilou Mace traveling around the world to interview the shakers and movers who – how to say this? – well, let’s just say, help us get from here to THERE. Click on and listen. There’s a huge chance you won’t regret it. And while you’re there, check out Lilou Mace’s full- of-adventure life and how she creates it.
www.juicylivingtour.com

Normally I resist being glued to a computer. However, today was different, and although it was lovely outside, I didn’t mind staying in for most of Sunday afternoon – the remarkable interviews on the above-mentioned websites had me mesmerized. It’s impossible to listen to one video and not want to hear another and then another.

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“a clear mind can see many more options – unlimited options. It can act efficiently, effortlessly, intelligently, in the present moment, and not be stuck in its deadly stories of past and future.” – Byron Katie

March 21, 2012October 23, 2014

Dying To Be Me by Anita Moorjani

Have you heard of Anita Moorjani’s Near Death Experience (NDE), and her book, DYING TO BE ME? An amazingly different NDE was what she had, unlike any other on record. And the kinds of things she learned while in “the other realm,” and later wrote and talked about in interviews are making the heads of people swirl. The gist of her story is that she had lymphoma cancer for four years, and from the base of her skull to her abdomen everything was swollen, and all through her body she had tumors the size of lemons. Her body was ready to die. And so she did, more or less. In the NDE she was able to know what was happening on earth also. So when she returned to her body she filled in all the details, leaving family and doctors completely baffled. A few days later, she had fully recovered. I’m thinking that DYING TO BE ME must be one enthralling book – a book unlike any other. From watching videos and reading interviews, and without yet reading her book, I can only imagine how her story can expand all of our views about life and death, and possibly teach us to see it all in a new and exciting way.
www.anitamoorjani.com
www.nderf.org

Sweet dreams everyone. I used to say: Don’t let the bed bugs bite, but, since twice getting them, I don’t say that anymore:-)

March 19, 2012April 16, 2012

egg whites, they’re not just for eating

Lilian, my friend in Malta, forwards information that simply has to be passed along. Will we ever need to use egg whites in this way? One never knows, does one?

The story:

*A young man sprinkling his lawn and bushes with
pesticides wanted to check the contents of the barrel to see how much
pesticide remained in it. He raised the cover and lit his lighter; the
vapors ignited and engulfed him. He jumped from his truck, screaming..*
*His neighbor came out of her house with a dozen eggs and a bowl
yelling: “bring me some more eggs!”* *She broke them, separating the
whites from the yolks.* *The neighbor woman helped her to apply the
whites onto the young man’s face.* *When the ambulance arrived and the
EMTs saw the young man, they asked who had done this. Everyone pointed to
the lady in charge. They congratulated her and said: “You have saved his
face.” By the end of the summer, the young man brought the lady a bouquet
of roses to thank her. His face was like a baby’s skin. * *A Healing
Miracle for Burns:*

*Keep in mind this treatment of burns is being included in
teaching beginner fireman.* *First Aid consists of first spraying cold
water on the affected area until the heat is reduced which stops the
continued burning of all layers of the skin.* *Then**, spread the egg
whites onto the affected area.* *One woman burned a large part of
her hand with boiling water. In spite of the pain, she ran cold faucet
water on her hand, separated 2 egg whites from the yolks, beat them
slightly and dipped her hand in the solution. The whites then dried and
formed a protective layer.* *She later learned that the egg white
is a natural collagen and continued during at least one hour to apply
layer upon layer of beaten egg white. By afternoon she no longer felt any
pain and the next day there was hardly a trace of the burn.* *10 days
later, no trace was left at all and her skin had regained its normal
color. The burned area was totally regenerated thanks to the collagen in
the egg whites, a placenta full of vitamins.* *Since this information
could be helpful to everyone: Won’t you please pass it on?*

March 8, 2012April 16, 2012

food intolerance

Have you heard of Elana’s Pantry? If not, click right here and treat yourself to, well, you’ll see: www.elanaspantry.com If you have an intolerance to any food, maybe you’ll let Elana’s Pantry guide you.

Are you sensitive to wheat, soy, corn, or have celiac disease, or in a situation of always having to be on the look-out – closely examing almost every food item in case it contains the above ingredients? Rest assured support in the form of very appealing cookbooks and websites is in your midst, and enjoyment of eating comfortably without any accompanying distress is in your hands – Elana’s Pantry will prove that to you.

I’m glad I had the presence of mind to jot down her website address because this week after preparing almond milk from 1 cup of almonds (It was a very satisfying activity), I looked at the lovely creamy almond pulp left over from straining, and my question was: What to do with it? That’s when I remembered the Elana’s Pantry website. It was a nice surprise to click on and see mouth-watering recipes for the almond pulp, and so many other kinds of recipes. Definitely it’s no ordinary website; it’s dedicated to helping people.

Also, should you, or anyone you know, have a wheat intolerance, the January/February 2012 issue of Spirituality & Health magazine: www.spiritualityhealth.com has an article titled “What Went Wrong With Wheat” By Matt Sutherland. It’s definitely well-worth reading. As a matter of fact, the entire magazine is.

When looking through some notes on this subject, I found an important article in www.energytimes.com titled “Goodbye Gluten – Digestive troubles are among myriad health risks for people sensitive to this problematic grain protein.” by Linda Melone. In it she cautions about buying packaged gluten-free foods because they’re “not necessarily healthier than those made with wheat.” as they can cause a rise in blood sugar due to the starches used. The article is chock full of helpful information. Also, the following are not-to-be-missed websites:
www.wheatbellyblog.com
www.celiac.org

We’re always learning in this ever-changing world; it’s a fascinating one, indeed.

Let’s have an outstanding day.

March 6, 2012April 16, 2012

emailing and letter writing

I miss letter writing, a lot. I know there’s email, it’s simply not the same though. A month ago I was looking for an exquisite pen; it was a gift and I’d misplaced it. I began looking on one of the shelves (I’ve five very long shelves). After looking for a few seconds, a very familiar looking box got my attention. It was a box with a bunch of old letters, and the bunches were tied with the loveliest of ribbons, and they seemed to be, well, waiting, I thought. And I asked myself, waiting for what? There was no answer. So I reached for the box that for many years was carted from one place to another, now seemed the perfect time to take a look at what the past might reveal.

For the most part, reading the letters was wonderfully entertaining. Some of the people who wrote those letters have passed away, and the people who are alive are all leading very different lives. The letters ran the gamut of emotions, and, of course, they had an entirely different affect on me than when first read many years ago. I’ve changed, along with everybody and everything else. Again, what was revealed that evening was that everything is always changing. It wasn’t sad; it was just, wow, that all happened?

Although we are privy to many historical intimate letters, somehow when the letters of a long time ago are from people personally known, written in their own handwriting, and allowing the recapturing of memories, if only for fleeting moments, a different feeling arises. It’s a very nice feeling; I’d call it calming because somehow I sensed that everyone was fine – right here, right now; dead or alive; they’re all fine.

I’m sure many people would be excited to open their mailbox and see, along with junk mail and bills, a handwritten, personal letter on beautiful stationery. And, as for the one writing the letter, I remember it’s very satisfying, and tends to put things into perspective. Oh, yes.

I haven’t found my pen yet.

Sweet dreams, everyone.

March 4, 2012April 16, 2012

detoxing {:-)

You’re not bored with reading about detoxing, are you? I’m posting about this subject again because it’s important to share this particular treasure box. Have you experienced detoxing yet? There’s a marvelous list of things that happen to mind body emotions spirit when we commit to detoxing and to breaking old habits of dependency on foods that don’t serve us well. The detox journey, written about in the book CLEAN by Alejandro Junger, is a perfect guide for 21-days of cleansing. And the CLEAN website allows for connection to a community of like-minded people, and, additionally, a professional and friendly support team is ready to answer any and all questions needing answers.
wwww.cleanprogram.com

A list of foods need to be eliminated when beginning the Pre-Cleanse, and the reasons why are thoroughly explained in the book. On the Pre-Cleanse, meals are chosen from the menu section of the book, and three full meals a day are eaten for three days. It’s a nice head start before starting the Cleanse which consists of two liquid meals and one full meal a day. I’m enjoying shopping for, buying, and bringing into my kitchen a delightful array of foods not tried before, and embarking on an unfamiliar way of eating. When first looking at the food selections in the book, I didn’t realize how much fun it would be to completely change a way of eating. Change is good!

Before beginning the program, the thought occurred to me to skip the three-days of Pre-Cleanse, but daughter Sumi said, “I think you should do it.” I’m glad I did; Sometimes it’s good to heed advice. Truthfully, as far as the Pre-Cleanse was concerned, I was ready for ghastly headaches occurring from being deprived of coffee and caffeinated teas. The only thing that happened was being in a state that hovered between foggy head and stupor. It was only for three days though. Of course, everyone will have different experiences.

Today is my third day on the Cleanse (Hallelujai!), and I’m thinking that more of an understanding of body mind emotions spirit is coming into play, and I’m beginning to feel that following the Cleanse to the letter, brings an experience unlike any other.

I think it’s vital to read the book with a fine tooth comb, so to speak, because therein lies the powerful motivation for wanting to do the Cleanse. Once the book is read (and reread throughout the Cleanse), and an understanding of how toxins, sickness, healing, health happen, a whole new world opens up. And that is nothing less than empowering.

I hope your day was all you wanted it to be.

Sweet dreams.

February 26, 2012October 17, 2014

joshua bell and an experiment

Rush hour in many major cities is an intense time. This story though is about so much more. Last year I experienced “rush hour” when waiting for someone at Grand Central Station. I was standing in front of a store window when suddenly many people raced by – a stampede is what it was. They began brushing up against me; I started to think I had become invisible. I was occupying a small space and moving a few inches back wasn’t a possibility. I won’t say anymore except that the insanity will stop when we fully understand the power of the present moment.

This remarkable story has been traveling around by way of email.

“A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the
violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for
about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was r…ush hour, it was
calculated that 1,100 people went through the station, most of them on
their way to work.

Three minutes went by, and a middle aged man noticed there was
musician playing. He slowed his pace, and stopped for a few seconds,
and then hurried up to meet his schedule.

A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman
threw the money in the till and without stopping, and continued to
walk.

A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him,
but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he
was late for work.

The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother
tagged him along, hurried, but the kid stopped to look at the
violinist. Finally, the mother pushed hard, and the child continued to
walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by
several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced
them to move on.

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and
stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money, but continued to walk
their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and
silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there
any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the most
talented musicians in the world. He had just played one of the most
intricate pieces ever written, on a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.

Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a
theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro
station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social
experiment about perception, taste, and priorities of people. The
outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour:
Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize
the talent in an unexpected context?

One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be:

“If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best
musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many
other things are we missing?”

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“It’s foolish how we rush through life and cry that time is on the wing. We’re living in eternity, and time is just a clockmade thing.” – R. McCann

February 21, 2012October 17, 2014

essene market&cafe, and the house of tea, ltd

This past weekend I meandered over to Essene Market&Cafe in Philadelphia to buy chick pea miso and wheat-free Tamari at WWW.ESSENEMARKET.COM”>WWW.ESSENEMARKET.COM On the way to, and directly across the street from Essene was a shop called THE HOUSE of TEA.Ltd. The shop’s window beckoned tea lovers by enticingly displaying some teapots and accessories from around the world. Yerba mate was on my list so I went in and took a place on line. It was a small shop and it felt as though it had history. I didn’t mind standing in that particular line listening to customers ordering. There were many wooden bins filled with teas I’d not heard of, and customers easily paid much more than I was used to paying for a few ounces of tea. Quality tea, I thought, as I continued to wait. I bought yerba mate and left knowing it wouldn’t be my last time in that little shop.

Now this is what I want to tell you. A few days later I checked the website of this small shop with history: WWW.HOUSEOFTEA.COM and was treated to a wonderful biography of the founder of the tea shop. And all I want to say is that if there’s any one reading this who can’t decide what to do in life, as odd as this sounds, you just might find inspiration when reading about the life of the founder of the small tea shop. Click “Our Heritage” and read about “Nathaniel Litt, architect, circus clown, magician, chef, jam-maker and tea shop owner – changing careers seemed as easy as changing his socks. If he got interested in something, he simply did it.” And I want to add that he didn’t do anything half way; he trained at some of the best places.

Ah, life, how very interesting it all is.

It’s another beautiful, warm and sunny day where I am, and I hope it’s the same for you.

Let’s enjoy.

February 19, 2012October 23, 2014

a thought for the day

“Looking at the stars always makes me dream, as simply as I dream over the black dots representing towns and villages on a map. Why? I ask myself, shouldn’t the shining dots of the sky be as accessible as the black dots on the map of France. Just as we take a train to get to Tarascon or Rouen, we take death to reach a star. We cannot get to a star while we are alive anymore than we can take the train when we are dead. So to me it seems possible that cholera, tuberculosis, and cancer are the celestial means of locomotion. Just as steamboats, buses and railways are the terrestrial means. To die quietly of old age, would be to go there on foot.” – Vincent Van Gogh (as researched by Australian director Paul Cox)

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February 18, 2012April 15, 2013

clean by alejandro junger

I’m preparing for the clean program. You, too? I’m so excited! I’m thinking that compared to the starkness* of the lemonade diet, this will be quite doable. After reading the book and understanding more about the body and sickness, nothing can keep me from experiencing the benefits of getting rid of all the toxins in my body, some caused by me, and some caused by our environment. Dr. Junger has written in detail and what he says is easily understood – integrating body mind emotions spirit – he’s left no stone unturned – and the workings of it has become extremely clear. Dr Alejandro Junger is at 470 Broome Street, New York, NY 10013, and he has a retreat center in Costa Rica.

Of course, coffee has to go. And I have to ask myself why I purchased Trader Joe’s Costa Rican Tarrazu last week when I was considering the Clean Program. What a contradiction; ah, well, some habits are deeply embedded. BUT, that’s okay, my chant for the day is yerba mate.
www.traderjoes.com

It’s another beautiful day where I am, and I hope it’s the same for you.

Let’s all have an outstanding Saturday.

*starkness” because . . . I stayed on for 21-days, and that was not good judgment on my part – there were signs that said stop. Silly me!