MIXED BAGGAGE

[MajestyJo]

Self Massage

There are simple massage techniques you can do it yourself. This is a great "pick-me-up" after a hard day of work. You can also get benefits of massage by immersing yourself in a Jacuzzi with the water doing the massaging.

Many massage and wellness centers offer workshops on massages and partner massages. It may be worthwhile going for a workshop to get some familiarity with this technique.

For the exercises given below you don’t need anything other than a few tennis balls, a quiet corner and your own two hands.

Head

Pressure points in your skull can relax your whole body. There are two very significant acupressure points at the base of the skull on what's called the occipital ridge. If you apply consistent pressure there, you can achieve total relaxation.

How do you find these points and apply pressure on those spots? There is a simple solution. Put two tennis balls in a sock and tie the end. Lie on your back on the floor and place the sock behind the upper neck, so that the two balls each touch the skull ridge that's right above the hollow spot. Stay like that for 20 minutes. If you like, you can listen to soothing music. The pressure on those acupressure points send messages down the spinal column to relax all the muscles and it is very effective.

Face

Just touch your face. There's no need to knead it. With a very light touch, cup your cheeks and temples with your hands using no more pressure than the weight of a nickel. Hold your hands there for a minute. The warmth of the hands relaxes the muscles and connective tissue, bringing on an overall sense of relief.

Jaw

Pull the sides of your ears gently straight outward, then straight up, then straight down. Or, with your index finger, press the tender spot next to your earlobe where it attaches to your head. Press and release. Now do it on the other ear. Repeat, alternating ears, 10 to 15 times.

Torso

Get a quick boost by rubbing the area above your kidneys. That's at waist level where the tissue is still soft. Rub briskly with your fists in a circular motion. This energizes the whole body.

Feet

Foot massage is very soothing. After you try the following techniques on one foot, switch feet and repeat.
Sit on a chair and place one foot on the opposite thigh. Rub some massage oil or lotion onto your foot if you like. Apply pressure with your thumbs to the sole of your foot, working from the bottom of your arch to the top near your big toe. Repeat five times.

Make a fist and press your knuckles into the bottom of your foot, moving from your heel to your toes. Repeat five times.

Massage each toe by holding it firmly and moving it from side to side. Extend each toe gently out and away from the ball of your foot. Then apply pressure to the areas between your toes.

Hold your toes in one hand and bend them backward holding them there for five to ten seconds. Then bend them in the opposite direction and hold for five to ten seconds. Repeat three times.
Press and roll your thumbs between the bones of the ball of your foot.

=============================

Tip of the Day for March 08, 2004 from the Five As

Still sounds usable in March 25, 2013

Nothing soothes like a hot rice pack on the back of your neck or
wherever aches you most. The simplest way to create one is with an intact tube sock or pillow case. Just pour in several cups of dry, raw rice--any rice except instant rice works fine. Tie the sock or pillow case closed with a good knot.

Toss your sack in the microwave for about two minutes or so, until it reaches the perfect hot temperature to relax any muscle spasm.

Heating time depends on the size of your sack and the strength of
your microwave. When it begins to cool, place it directly on your
clothes or skin. Rice sacks heat up more intensely than electric
heating pads and are much safer. Their flexible consistency is
particularly soothing.

(Source: "Ten Tips on Living with Fibromyalgia Syndrome" by Deborah A. Barrett, Ph.D.
www.paintracking.com.) This tip provided courtesy of
ImmuneSupport.com

[MajestyJo]

Exercise: A Healthy Habit to Start and Keep


How much exercise do I need?
Talk to your doctor about how much exercise is right for you. A good
goal for many people is to work up to exercising 4 to 6 times a week
for 30 to 60 minutes at a time. Remember, though, that exercise has
so many benefits that any amount is better than none.

How do I get started?

Sneak exercise into your day
a.. Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
b.. Go for a walk during your coffee break or lunch.
c.. Walk all or part of the way to work.
d.. Do housework at a fast pace.
e.. Rake leaves or do other yard work.

Start by talking with your doctor. This is especially important if
you haven't been active, if you have any health problems, or if
you're pregnant or elderly.

Start out slowly. If you've been inactive for years, you can't run
the Boston Marathon after 2 weeks of training. Begin with a 10-minute
period of light exercise or a brisk walk every day and gradually
increase how hard you exercise and for how long.

How do I stick with it?
Here are some tips that will help you start and stick with an
exercise program:

· Choose something you like to do. Make sure it suits you
physically, too. For instance, swimming is easier on arthritic joints.

· Get a partner. Exercising with someone else can make it
more fun.

· Vary your routine. You may be less likely to get bored or
injured if you change your routine. Walk one day. Bicycle the next.
Consider activities like dancing and racquet sports, and even chores
like chopping wood.

· Choose a comfortable time of day. Don't work out too soon
after eating or when it's too hot or cold outside. Wait until later
in the day if you're too stiff in the morning.

· Don't get discouraged. It can take weeks or months before
you notice some of the changes from exercise.

· Forget "no pain, no gain." While a little soreness is
normal after you first start exercising, pain isn't. Stop if you hurt.

· Make exercise fun. Read, listen to music or watch TV while
riding a stationary bicycle, for example. Find fun things to do, like
taking a walk through the zoo. Go dancing. Learn how to play tennis.

Making exercise a habit

a.. Stick to a regular time every day.
b.. Sign a contract committing yourself to exercise.
c.. Put "exercise appointments" on your calendar.
d.. Keep a daily log or diary of your activities.
e.. Check your progress. Can you walk a certain distance
faster now than when you began? Or is your heart rate slower now?
f.. Ask your doctor to write a prescription for your exercise
program, such as what type of exercise to do, how often to exercise
and for how long.
g.. Think about joining a health club. The cost gives some
people an incentive to exercise regularly.

How can I prevent injuries?
Start every workout with a warm-up. That will make your muscles and
joints more flexible. Spend 5 to 10 minutes doing some light
calisthenics and stretching exercises, and perhaps brisk walking. Do
the same thing when you're done working out--until your heart rate
returns to normal.

Pay attention to your body. Stop exercising if you feel very out of
breath, dizzy, faint or nauseated, or have pain.

Benefits of regular exercise
a.. Reduces your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure,
osteoporosis, diabetes and obesity
b.. Keeps joints, tendons and ligaments flexible so it's
easier to move around
c.. Reduces some of the effects of aging
d.. Contributes to your mental well-being and helps treat
depression
e.. Helps relieve stress and anxiety
f.. Increases your energy and endurance
g.. Helps you sleep better
h.. Helps you maintain a normal weight by increasing your
metabolism (the rate you burn calories).

What is a target heart rate?

Measuring your heart rate (beats per minute) can tell you how hard
your heart is working. You can check your heart rate by counting your
pulse for 15 seconds and multiplying the beats by 4.

The chart to the right shows the target heart rates for people of
different ages. When you're just beginning an exercise program, shoot
for the lower target heart rate (60%). As your fitness improves, you
can exercise harder to get your heart rate closer to the top number
(85%).

What is aerobic exercise?
Aerobic exercise is the type that moves large muscle groups and
causes you to breathe more deeply and your heart to work harder to
pump blood.

It's also called cardiovascular exercise. It improves the health of
your heart and lungs.

Examples include walking, jogging, running, aerobic dance, bicycling,
rowing, swimming and cross-country skiing.

What is weight-bearing exercise?
The term weight-bearing is used to describe exercises that work
against the force of gravity. Weight-bearing exercise is important
for building strong bones. Having strong bones helps prevent
osteoporosis and bone fractures later in life.

Examples of weight-bearing exercises include walking, jogging,
hiking, climbing stairs, dancing and weight training.

What about weight training?
Weight training, or strength training, builds strength and muscles.
Calisthenics like push-ups are weight-training exercises too. Lifting
weights is a weight-training exercise. If you have high blood
pressure or other health problems, talk to your family doctor before
beginning weight training.

What is the best exercise?
The best exercise is the one that you will do. Walking is considered
one of the best choices because it's easy, safe and cheap. Brisk
walking can burn as many calories as running, but is less likely than
running or jogging to cause injuries. And it doesn't require any
training or special equipment, except for good shoes.

Walking is an aerobic and weight-bearing exercise, so it is good for
your heart and helps prevent osteoporosis.

O M S H A N T I

Love, Samuel

Please include a link back to The Antesian Road To Enlightenment
in forwarded material, Thank you.

antesianroadtoenlightenment-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

EXPANDING CONSCIOUSNESS

==================================

We may not be able to do all of it, but we can do some.

It is important to keep our mind and body, exercised as well as our spiritual.

Doing the things mentioned above can help us stay centered and balanced.

Self-Care is important. What good is getting sober, if we fall apart and don't learn to become whole.

[MajestyJo]

Friends Forever Near



As we walk along our path of life,
We meet people every day.
Most are simply met by chance,
But some are sent our way.
These become the special friends,
Whose bond we can't explain...
The ones who understand us,
And share our joy and pain.

Their love contains no boundaries,
So even when apart,
Their presence still embraces us,
With a warmth felt in the heart.

This love becomes a passageway
Where even the miles disappear,
And the special friends life sends our way,
Remain forever near.

- unknown

[MajestyJo]

Yesterday I met a stranger... Today this stranger is my friend.
Had I not taken the time to say hello, or return a smile, or shake
a hand, or listen, I would not have known this person.

Yesterday would have turned into today and our chance meeting
would be gone.

Yesterday I hugged someone very dear to me. Today they are
gone... and tomorrow will not bring them back.

Wouldn't it be nice if we all knew tomorrow would be here? But
this is not to be, so take the time TODAY to give a hug, a smile,
an "I love you."

JUST FOR TODAY... smile at a stranger, listen to someone's heart, drop a coin where a child can find it ...learn something new, then teach it to someone ...tell someone you're thinking of them, hug a loved one, don't hold a grudge!

Look a child in the eye and tell them how great they are don't
kill that spider in your house, he's just lost so show him the way
out.

Look beyond the face of a person into their heart make a
promise, and keep it.

Call someone, for no other reason than to just say "hi"
...show kindness to an animal, stand up for what you believe in,
smell the rain, feel the breeze, listen to the wind use all your
senses to their fullest cherish all your TODAYS.

- - unknown

[MajestyJo]

Tonight while starting my meditation, I found myself reaching for a little figurine I have on my desk, a little penguin, with a red hat with a yellow tassel and a blue scarf.

The penguin as a totem means:

http://www.whats-your-sign.com/image...guinFacts1.jpg

Colours:

http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/chak...akraSounds.htm

Look at what colour you are wearing. Look at what colour your eyes are drawn to, perhaps your body is in need of it.

Listen to your body, what is it telling you? What is around you? Are there messages from the Creator put in your path. Did God put an ant in your path telling you to be patient?

[MajestyJo]

From time to time, I will share my own personal awareness on a topic and the gift that has been given to me as a result of working my program. It is just my experience, strength and hope, and isn't meant to represent any one fellowship. It is my truth, not someone else's or my interruption of what I heard or read.

From Alkie Speaks:

I realized I had a body which can't tolerate alcohol, which is OK. except that I had a mind that can't leave it alone. I'd always said that I could take it or leave it alone - I couldn't do either.

- Doug D.

Because I had a high tolerance for alcohol, I thought I wasn't an alcoholic. I labelled my dad and my ex-husband as alcohlics because they passed out, fell down, staggered, were violent, couldn't walk or drive a straight line. I once said to my dad, "You drove in that condition?" He had just come from his girlfriend's. He looked at me and said, "Well I certainly couldn't walk and proceeded to fall flat on his face and I had to help him to bed.

The reality was that I could match them drink for drink, drive them home, function and resented them for drinking all the booze, before they passed out. I wanted to party and there wasn't much for me. That is when I started hiding my booze. I couldn't have consumed all that liquor and been sober although I never saw myself as drunk. There was only a couple of times that I recall taking the stairs on my hands and knees.

When I saw myself in my dream, because I was wearing red high-heeled shoes and walking a straight line, I was sober. Then I saw myself in living colour and saw the person I changed into when I did drink. It wasn't what or how much I drank. It was what it did to me when I did drink it.

[MajestyJo]

Some people are not capable of listening and there are others who do not care. I was chairing a meeting at my home group one night. A member shared, then proceeded to clean out his wallet, making a lot of noise and fidgeting in his seat. When the person sharing paused, I said, "Excuse me," I said, to the person making the noise, "When you shared, the rest of us did you the courtesy of being quiet and listening, I think it is only right that you do the same thing." I apologized to the person sharing for interrupting, although I had waited until I thought they were almost finished before doing so. This was done at the beginning of the meeting and I saw people giving the guy looks, and I didn't want people getting up and leaving. Our primary purpose is to carry the message of recovery.

The next time I saw him, he was using the church phone, which we were not permitted to do, and I had to call him on that. He told me to make like a duck and flock off. The next time I saw him was very embarrassing. I was talking to a man who I had never seen before. I had just shared my story. He came up to me, put his arm around me and called my Jo Hun, can you loan me a quarter? If look could kill, he would have been dead. I never saw the man again.

We are all human. Thank God for this program.

[MajestyJo]

IT'S STRANGE ISN'T IT

1. Isn't it strange how a 20 dollar bill seems like such a large amount when you donate it to church, but such a small amount when you go shopping?


2. Isn't it strange how 2 hours seem so long when you're at church, and how short they seem when you're watching a good movie?


3. Isn't it strange that you can't find a word to say when you're praying, but you have no trouble thinking what to talk about with a friend?


4. Isn't it strange how difficult and boring it is to read one chapter of the Bible, but how easy it is to read 100 pages of a popular novel or ZANE GREY book


5. Isn't it strange how everyone wants front-row-tickets to concerts or games, but they do whatever is possible to sit at the last row in Church?


6. Isn't it strange how we need to know about an event for Church 2-3 weeks before the day so we can include it in our agenda, but we can adjust it for other events at the last minute?


7. Isn't it strange how difficult it is to learn a fact about God to share it with others, but how easy it is to learn, understand, extend and repeat gossip?


8. Isn't it strange how we believe everything that magazines and newspapers say, but we question the words in the Bible?


9. Isn't it strange how everyone wants a place in heaven, but they don't want to believe, do, or say anything to get there?


10. Isn't it strange how we send jokes in e-mails and they are forwarded right away, but when we are going to send messages about God, we think about it twice before we share it with others?


IT'S STRANGE ISN'T IT?


This email was cleaned by emailStripper, available for free from http://www.papercut.biz/emailStripper.htm

[MajestyJo]

A Recipe From Heaven


Mix sugar 'n spice 'n everything nice
With a helping of kindness, sifted twice.


Combine with caring and generous loving
tenderly shape, and warm in the oven


Sprinkle on hugs with wide-open arms,
trim with a smile, for even more charm.


Glaze with joy, and when it's all through,
It'll be one sweet cookie . . .



THAT'S YOU!

Life is sweeter because of you!

[MajestyJo]

How aware are you? Here is another tip on "getting control" from Higher Awareness.

The shocking fact is that most of us are unconscious of 80% of what we do, think and say. WE'RE NOT AWARE of our defenses, our emotional reactions, our beliefs and deep-seated habits. Of our fears, negative self-talk and judgments.

Why is this so important? Because THESE UNCONSCIOUS FORCES ARE RUNNING OUR LIVES! When we're not aware, we stay stuck in patterns that limit our ability to enjoy life. In fact, we stay stuck in patterns that cause us pain. Without awareness, we don't know how to think, create, love and reap the bounty of our world.

If you want to gain more control in your life, you will need to cultivate greater awareness. It's the MOST POWERFUL RESOURCE we have to effect change.

To be aware, we must STOP AND PAY ATTENTION. We must pull back our perspective to impartially observe what we are doing, feeling and thinking and what is going on around us. This detachment allows us to recognize our automatic patterns and reactions. And new insights let us break free of our patterns and defences. This allows us to choose something different for ourselves, if we want.

If we are unconscious, our future is created from our past, through patterns in our subconscious. If we are aware and conscious, our future is created anew in each moment.

Do you want to go through life on auto-pilot, letting old tapes dictate how you act? Or do you want to truly live life by clearly seeing the choices before you, and claiming your power to choose what you most want? It's up to you.

"To acquire knowledge, one must study; but to acquire wisdom, one must observe." -- Marilyn vos Savant

=======================================

As I have grown in recovery I have found that there have been stages where I seemed to get a shot of awareness, and I have to look at things, and do something about them. If I don't then I become uncomfortable in my own skin, and I can end up substituting other "things" and start looking for something or someone outside of myself to make me feel better.

For me, my conscious contact with my Higher Power is a connection I can not afford to lose or even slacken even a little bit. My disease is cunning, baffling and powerful and it just seems to be waiting for that moment that it can sneak back into my life. I don't have to physically pick up to have a relapse.

As we detox, go to meetings, listen to others, work the steps, and we heal and get to know ourselves and our Higher Power and His will for us, our life unfolds and we grow into the person He would have us be, one day at a time.

[MajestyJo]

How aware are you? Here is another tip on "getting control" from Higher Awareness.

The shocking fact is that most of us are unconscious of 80% of what we do, think and say. WE'RE NOT AWARE of our defenses, our emotional reactions, our beliefs and deep-seated habits. Of our fears, negative self-talk and judgments.

Why is this so important? Because THESE UNCONSCIOUS FORCES ARE RUNNING OUR LIVES! When we're not aware, we stay stuck in patterns that limit our ability to enjoy life. In fact, we stay stuck in patterns that cause us pain. Without awareness, we don't know how to think, create, love and reap the bounty of our world.

If you want to gain more control in your life, you will need to cultivate greater awareness. It's the MOST POWERFUL RESOURCE we have to effect change.

To be aware, we must STOP AND PAY ATTENTION. We must pull back our perspective to impartially observe what we are doing, feeling and thinking and what is going on around us. This detachment allows us to recognize our automatic patterns and reactions. And new insights let us break free of our patterns and defences. This allows us to choose something different for ourselves, if we want.

If we are unconscious, our future is created from our past, through patterns in our subconscious. If we are aware and conscious, our future is created anew in each moment.

Do you want to go through life on auto-pilot, letting old tapes dictate how you act? Or do you want to truly live life by clearly seeing the choices before you, and claiming your power to choose what you most want? It's up to you.

"To acquire knowledge, one must study; but to acquire wisdom, one must observe." -- Marilyn vos Savant

=======================================

As I have grown in recovery I have found that there have been stages where I seemed to get a shot of awareness, and I have to look at things, and do something about them. If I don't then I become uncomfortable in my own skin, and I can end up substituting other "things" and start looking for something or someone outside of myself to make me feel better.

For me, my conscious contact with my Higher Power is a connection I can not afford to lose or even slacken even a little bit. My disease is cunning, baffling and powerful and it just seems to be waiting for that moment that it can sneak back into my life. I don't have to physically pick up to have a relapse.

As we detox, go to meetings, listen to others, work the steps, and we heal and get to know ourselves and our Higher Power and His will for us, our life unfolds and we grow into the person He would have us be, one day at a time.

[MajestyJo]

A Life of My Own

When we do for other people what they should do for themselves, we both stay stuck.

Perhaps it's human nature to grow and change only when we have to. Unrelenting pain can serve as a motivator. Sometimes ultimatums are effective too. But making excuses for others or taking over their responsibilities, even when it's for their benefit, never inspires change. Most of us came into the program because we wanted someone else to change! Now we're learning that the only change we can be certain of is one we make in ourselves.

One of the first changes we can make is to let go of others: their opinions, their behavior, their responsibilities. Our need for them to fulfill our expectations is related to our insecurity, not theirs. Every time we preach or take on others' duties, we must recognize that we are preventing much-needed growth, ours and theirs.

Our intentions might always have been good. But the time has come to let others live their own lives. It's quite enough to take care of ourselves.

I will not do someone else's task today. Growth comes from each of us being responsible for ourselves.

When we take care of others before meeting our own needs, we get sick. I was told that I need to top up myself and only give away the overflow.

Many times over the years I found myself using 'recovery and service' to not look at me and deal with my own issues. It was so much easier to help you with your stuff, than look at my own.

[MajestyJo]

12 Ways To Be Happy:



1. Make up your mind to be happy.
Learn to find pleasure in simple things.

2. Make the best of your circumstances.
No one has everything, and everyone has something
of sorrow intermingled with gladness of life. The trick is
to make the laughter outweigh the tears.

3. Don't take yourself too seriously.
Don't think that somehow you should be protected
from misfortune that befalls other people.

4. You can't please everybody. Don't let criticism worry you.

5. Don't let your neighbor set your standards. Be yourself.

6. Do the things you enjoy doing but stay out of debt.

7. Never borrow trouble. Imaginary things are harder
to bear than real ones.

8. Since hate poisons the soul, do not cherish jealousy,
Avoid people who make you unhappy.

9. Have many interests. If you can't travel, read about new places.

10. Don't hold post-mortems. Don't spend your time brooding
over sorrows or mistakes. Don't be one who never gets over things.

11. Do what you can for those less fortunate than yourself.

12. Keep busy at something. A busy person never has time
to be unhappy.



GOD BLESS

[MajestyJo]

Count Your Blessings



When you are in trouble, do you find
that you feel you are all alone
When your heart grows heavy with burdens
and you feel you can't go on

When you think you are the only one
that has this pain
Count your blessings and look around you
and don't you dare complain

I complained about having no new shoes
to put on my feet
I grumbled that my wages were just not enough
until I looked around and saw a blind man holding a cup

Reach out to the man who needs some help along the way
Think little more of others
and not so much of yourself
If you have two coats and a man has none
God will surely bless you
for giving him one

So count your blessings one by one
and Thank God for most precious gift of all
His Precious Son
He's there to comfort us in trouble and sorrow
if we stop and Thank Him for all He has done.


Inspirational poetry from
Gayle's Garden
짤 2005 used with permission
Gayle Alatia

[MajestyJo]

WELCOME EACH DAY AS IT COMES. IT IS A NEW BEGINNING AND ANOTHER DAY TO PRACTICE THE PROGRAM. REMEMBER IT IS PROGRESS NOT PERFECTION.





ENJOY! MAKE THE MOST OUT OF YOUR DAY. THE SPIDER SAYS, "GO WITHIN," YOU HAVE THE ANSWERS.



HUGS, LOVE, KISSES, AND SMILES



REMEMBER YOU ARE ONLY HALF A HAND SHAKE.