Cardiovascular disease has become one of the key causes of death in our century because of bad dietary habits, particularly in the United States. Fortunately, middle eastern foods are more healthy because they are more nutritious. If you want to prevent cardiovascular disease, consider juicing fresh fruits and vegetables in innovative ways. Any Google search about juicing, juicing fruits, or juicing fruits or vegetables will provide over a million options and there are many published juicing cookbooks.

We have all been taught that fruits and vegetables should be the key ingredients in any diet for the sake of balance.  Sometimes, fruits and vegetables require lots of preparation.  Juicing them reduces that preparation and handling time.  Fruit and vegetable juices are so nutritious and support heart health.

Here is a list of fruits and vegetables that can be combined in various ways for tasty drinks to keep your heart healthy. You can make a batch for each day and have it easily reachable.

Fruits: orange, orange, grapes, pomegranate, apple, cranberry, red grapefruit, strawberry,

cantaloupe (muskmelon), watermelon, blueberries, kiwi. These will together help lower blood pressure, improve blood vessel cells, prevent blockages of the arterial walls, reduce cholesterol, act as an anti-inflammatory, lower triglycerides and prevent the formation of fats.

Vegetables: beetroot, aloe vera, carrots, tomato, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumber, red bell peppers, celery, cabbage, parsley. These will together reduce blood pressure, lower cholesterol, strengthen arteries and veins, increase blood circulation, act as antioxidants, help hunt down free radicals, and work to prevent blood clots.

Here are two juice blender recipes for you to enjoy.

ABC

2 Asian Pears

2 Apples (Choose any variety!)

2 Beets

2 Carrots

1 cup Cabbage (Choose any variety!)

6 handfuls Chard 3 cups

Apple Cabbage Greens Juice

2 Apples

1 wedge Red Cabbage

2 large Carrots

1 piece Ginger (thumb sized)

6 leaves Swiss Chard

1/4 lemon

It might be a wise idea to substitute one or two of your meals (or at a minimum augment them) with a fresh-blended glass of fruit or vegetable juice. You know what they say about “an ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure.”  Many lifestyle illnesses can be controlled by a dietary change and although we think juicing is a great way to prevent cardiovascular disease, be sure to run this idea before your doctor first if you have a cardiovascular condition.  Enjoy your juicing!

There are good reasons for and good reasons against using daycare for your child. It is a great mental relief for working parents if you think you’ve found a good service. Some parents both have to work, and this leaves little choice about using daycare. But what are the effects of daycare on your children?

Negative Effects of Daycare

Your child might experience some negative effects depending on several things:

• The quality of the daycare provided
• How much time your child spends in daycare
• How old your child is
• The level of home environment quality

If a child has to spend long days in daycare, he or she might suffer from parental separation anxiety, but it has been shown that this kind of stress dissolves over time. It’s been particularly difficult for shy children who might not open up as easily as some others and who might find it challenging to interface with more outgoing other children.
The influence between a mother and her child cannot be denied, and if the mother has to place the child in daycare for longer sessions, he misses the bonding that gets formed with his mother. This might make the child bond to the daycare teacher, because, bond he will! The mother in this situation has to work on deep bonding at home when she can spend time with her child, because the strength of that bond establishes the support for all his relationships to follow in life. Without this bond established at home, the child might express behavior problems, moodiness, and have a difficulty adjusting into later years.
Some kids in daycare may feel vulnerable or unprotected, and unless there is a daycare teacher with keen insight as to the “why” of a child’s crying or behavioral problems, it will make the child feel even less safe. This is a signal for more mother-bonding at home so the child won’t display insecurities because he feels more secure.

Some children in daycare might show a tendency to become sick more often. This might happen for a wide variety of reasons and if a parent sees this get-sick-tendency, he might check on other sick kids at school, how clean the school facility is, whether hygiene practices are encouraged, what the child’s own immunity level is, etc.  Again, a strong mother-bonding encourages the growth of immunity.

Positive Effects of Daycare

Does this mean that I think a child should not go to daycare?  No! The benefits of daycare far outweigh any problems it may incur. Daycare contributes strongly to the overall development of a child for his mind, his emotions, and his habits. He receives social stimulation and guidance. He learns basic facts like colors, shapes, numbers, letters, as well as drawing and movement skills.

If a child is in daycare with a teacher-student relationship that allows for much personal attention from the teacher, where there is cleanliness and friendliness, your child will gain from the experience and his development will be enhanced.

It’s nearly summertime and if you’d like to give your backyard an interesting facelift, here are some great backyard design ideas to make that happen and give a new twist to enjoyment during our hottest months.

Create an Outdoor Shower. That’s right! You can have one right in your backyard.  Just find the closest water source and a plumber will install one for you. It might be a stand alone shower with a round shower curtain around it for privacy. It might be up against one of the walls on your house with a wooden lathe surround and floor.  There are books on Amazon.com about outdoor showers. Plumbing suppliers sell outdoor shower kits. Imagine the joy of showering your kids outside during the hot summer nights; and imagine the joy of having them all be asleep while you luxuriate in your own outdoor, evening shower, maybe with their daddy in the warm summer air.

Build a Fire Pit.  Picture your family hunkered down around a fire pit roasting marshmallows this summer.  Is there a perfect spot in your back yard for a fire pit?  Be safe when you create your newest entertainment feature.  Do a little bit of research.  Your local hardware store can give you the highlights and they might know a contractor who can build it for you.  There are dozens of designs online. Be sure your city doesn’t have laws against fire pits before you start this project.  Your new fire pit can be the beginning of sleeping outdoors as a family; a regular gathering spot for dinners with friends, and certainly, a beautiful feature for your backyard. Be sure to keep water nearby to extinguish the fire at the end of the day.

Outdoor Kitchen.  How much of your kitchen can you move outside this summer?  Would a simple pass through from a convenient window do the trick and make eating outdoors easier? Would a new barbeque and some form of refrigeration for cold drinks do the trick? Perhaps you have room and the means to build a complete outdoor kitchen.  There are design professionals and construction professionals who can help you with this project. Look up “Outdoor Kitchen Designs” on the internet and see what seems best for you.  You’ll find so much enjoyment out there this summer.

How About a Gazebo? – Gazebos are defined by Wikipedia as gazebo is a pavilion structure, sometimes octagonal, that may be built, in parks, gardens, and spacious public areas. They date back to the 18^th century and provide a shaded area where you can read, meditate, have a band concert, simply relax, have a shaded play area for your children, or have a cool drink in the evening.  A screened-in gazebo will keep the bugs out, and, they’re most affordable.  Close your eyes for a moment and imagine what a gazebo in your backyard can do to enhance your enjoyment this summer.

I hope you’ll act on one of these great backyard design ideas so that your summer is new, different, and enjoyable this year.

Who has crafted the status quo for your life? Was it you? Was it your parents or a teacher? How long ago was it created?  Do you want it to remain the same for the remainder of your life? How do you feel about taking risks?

It’s interesting to notice that many of us step inside the perimeter of our status quo, quietly pull the gate shut behind us, and walk around the inside of the concept wondering why we might not feel fulfilled, alive, successful or happy?

Are you capable of re-opening the gate, taking a Big Risk, and do some of the smartest things ever to become outstanding for yourself?

Not taking risks is one of the Biggest Risks you can take!

When I got behind the idea of Being the Change, my comfort zone got slightly uncomfortable, but once I began the practice of taking risks and changing, that became my new comfort zone. In order to accomplish risk taking and being the change, I had to foster two things in my life:  How to become a Critical Thinker, and How to Achieve a Competitive Transformation.  I had to keep stepping forward in my life into areas that I didn’t know about.  I had to learn so many things and it became fun to discover the answers I was generating.

Have you ever run a marathon, or have you ever cheered on the runners in a marathon? Only those who run can win and the folks on the side-lines never cross the finish line.  And it is the same in life:  those who only look and cheer never get the promotions, never enjoy the success, never have dreams that fulfill themselves.  Only those who push themselves to run the race will enjoy the results of their action, action being the keypoint.

Or are you shipwrecked on the toughest rock to avoid: the rock of mental laziness? You may not see all of the action steps you will have to take to become successful, but if you fail to begin to take some steps, any steps, you are doomed to remain shipwrecked.

When did you last do a deliberate mental inventory to learn the facts involved in improving your products or services? When did you last make a decision to Be the Change and discover the steps to craft a strategy that will give you the winning edge? Have you ever worked with a Coach who can guide you through this process? Do you buy the “latest and greatest” whatever, and it sits in your house, unused?

Today’s spiritual writers say that RIGHT NOW is the only time you have to examine your life and to establish a strategy for changing and improving it. You ought to consider that the future does not exist; only today exists, and only today can you DO SOMETHING. It’s only what we do today that shows up in our future, right?

I’d like to recommend that you shake yourself loose from what’s become ordinary in your life.  Dream a big dream for yourself.  What would you have to achieve to think of yourself as successful?  Okay now:  what steps would you have to take to achieve it.

Promise yourself that you’ll be your best, do your best, live your best life TODAY and then all your tomorrows will be better automatically. Don’t be afraid of taking risks. Do it TODAY.  Do it NOW.

Just what is communication?  It is an auditory form of sharing your innermost thoughts. Good communication is a highly developed skill that makes your life more successful and harmonious.

Here are some tips for effective communication that will work in interpersonal as well as business situations.

Establish Trust
Some people operate from a basis of “What’s the other fellow thinking?” I recommend that you come out and say what you want to begin establishing trust without concerning yourself about the other guy. You can try to reassure the other you are not a threat, but if you are cordial and ethical, your professionalism and consistency eventually wins the day.

Listen Attentively

Effective listening requires concentration, tolerance and sensitivity. Focus only on what the speaker is saying. Keep an open mind to what the other person is saying, vs. being judgmental or defensive. Take into account both the feelings and the words. If stressed, you are less likely to listen well. Ask the speaker to repeat what he or she has said if you don’t understand. Being a good listener is a key skill for proper communication.

Speak Clearly and Concisely
Speaking clearly can be a problem since not everyone actually takes the time to improve in diction or word usage. You can practice speaking before a mirror and record yourself for playback. If you make a conscious effort to use proper diction, you’ll achieve clarity. And don’t sigh if you have to repeat something for someone else who’s trying to enjoy clear communication, too.

Recognize Problems in Communication
Some of the barriers against effective communication are: language, presupposing meaning, distorting a statement, or deliberate provocation for a negative reaction.  Sometimes, sarcasm or humor aren’t understood and can lend offense. Think about your audience before you say something to see if your meaning will be the same for them. Humor should be simple, obvious and not lead to offense through being flippant.

Interpret body language. Nonverbal communication is a main form of communication. Watch for clues in his or her movements and don’t ignore those messages. When you are talking, watch your partner for signs of understanding, distraction, confusion or boredom and adapt your behavior accordingly. If you see crossed arms and avoidance of eye contact, you might need to alter your approach. And if you see a reaction that you don’t quite understand, ask your audience what their movement meant.

Form No Assumptions without Clarifying

Never assume—most people do not see things they way you do, and they don’t have the same feelings as you do. The less you assume, the better. This falls under the category of making sure that your communication is always clear.

Recognize Problems caused by Technology
Email is a terrible way to communicate, because flat words on a page DO NOT convey your meaning, sarcasm, the “wink-wink” you can see visibly. Voice mail messages can be misunderstood due to static.  Remember, email and voice mail don’t allow for non-verbal clues, so be sure to clarify what you think you heard.

Other barriers to effective communication may be keeping biases and stereotyping groups of individuals based on their race, sex, nationality, age or religion. Every man or woman should be given the chance to prove him or herself based on his work. What can’t be denied is that with more diversity in the office comes the possibility of major cultural differences and personality clashes and might require sensitivity training.

A successful person does not drift through his or her days. They focus their mentality on what they believe to be important, they take the time to make deliberate choices and they are disciplined in their emotions.  They are living by design.

A person who lives by default is less focused, accepts whatever comes his or her way, doesn’t have a master plan, and allows their emotions to run rampant.

Which are you? Deliberate or Default? Here’s an illustrative quote from Alice in Wonderland.

`Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?’
`That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,’ said the Cat.
`I don’t much care where–’ said Alice.
`Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,’ said the Cat.

I’d like to think that I want to actually LIKE where I end up, so I’d like to be in charge of where I want to get to, don’t you?

Our lives are so busy these days, that we get very caught up in the busyness of the moment and seldom ask ourselves if this is truly the place we want to go toward or end up at. This is living by default.

It doesn’t matter where you are in your life right now, nor does it matter how you’ve lived it up to this point. If you want to live a deliberate life and be living by design, you can consciously bring meaning to your day and add purposefulness to your life. All you have to do is to give it some thought.

How would you like your career to look in the next five years?  What would your marriage be like?  What about your finances?  Is there a master plan for your finances that gives you a sense of comfort and control, or are you living paycheck to paycheck? What is there in your life that absolutely sets sparks off when you think about it? What is there in your life that lets you know “Yes, this is the life I was meant to be living right here and right now!”

Many wise individuals have recommended that you mentally take yourself to your own death scene and ask yourself those deeply-thought-out questions. Remember, Abraham Lincoln said: “And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” Here are some of that type of question.

• Who have I loved and what did I do about it?
• Am I working at something that matters?
• What am I doing to help others?
• Am I the good person I want to be?
• Am I living a life of passion, health and energy?

It’s never too late to polish up your life a bit and make it shine more….for you! Can you tweak your resume and go get that new position you so ardently desire? Could you register for a class to learn some new skill? Can you sit quietly and make a list of everything in your life currently that is good and that you so appreciate?

Your dreams are worth dreaming, worth working toward, and worth enjoying. You CAN Be the Change! You can be living by design!

~  Napoleon Hill

In the era of “big data,” we will be called upon to retrieve information frequently. Having a computer filing system can be a big help.  Keeping it as simple as possible also helps.

You can always use the “search and retrieve” function on your computer, but knowing where things are is a lot faster.

How do you file your paperwork? In categories, and then alphabetically? Some other manner? If this is how you retrieve paperwork, it would be simple to use the same system (categories and then alphabetically) in organizing computer files. The more you use these same categories, the easier it is to find things in both places.

Generally, your business automatically lends itself to categories for example: clients, accounts payable, sales, marketing, shipping, etc. Whatever those categories are in your paper files, use the same ones to label your categories, folders and subfolders. Once you have these folders established, you can simply drag what you currently have into the new computer filing system.

Develop an effective naming strategy for your documents. You should be able to tell at a glance which document is the one you are searching for.

Do you remember in the “old days,” file names had a limited number of characters you could use? It’s so nice that they’ve expanded that. Nowadays, you can use a really long string of characters. You can put things in the file name like a description of what the file is about, its version number, the date created, who created it—whatever information you’d need so that looking at the name identifies the file without opening and closing it. This can be a major time saver. If you’ve ever opened up a folder full of documents and you had to open and close every single document to find the one that you’re looking for, you know how much time you can waste doing that.

Decide on a naming convention for your documents that you can follow going forward. Use that structure for any files that you create; that way all of your new documents will be organized in a manner in which it’s much easier to actually find them and retrieve them later.

And if or when you have time, go back to your older files, rename them per the new naming convention, and integrate them into your new computer filing system.

A lot of people talk about the attitude of seeing a glass half full vs. half empty. Which do you most generally see? I’m sure you already know that you can change your attitude.  If you generally see it half empty, you can change it to half full, and visa versa. It’s a matter of how you view a life challenge. Is it an opportunity in disguise?

One of the bigger attitude changes you can make is in the way you view a life challenge.  Do you see it as an overwhelming burden that’s just in the way (half empty), or do you view it as an opportunity to unfold a bit more of the wonder that is you (half full?) I like to think that some humorous form of divine wisdom likes to look down and “stir the pot” every once in a while, just for grins.

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could view these challenges with a grin on your face, and with an “Oh, yeah? Well, watch this!” in your heart?

Challenges can be an incredible “next stately step” that reveal ideas that might otherwise remain hidden, save but for that challenge. A positive attitude allows you to welcome challenge as an key piece of the success journey as well as a crucial aspect of developing your decision-making skills.

Does it seem wise to you that challenges are going to be there; nobody is immune from them; everyone has them, and that you may as well figure out a better way to handle them? If you can answer “Yes,” you’ve just taken the first step toward embracing challenges as opportunities and taking whatever steps are necessary toward your own success.

Successful individuals understand and are comfortable with the inevitability of a life challenge and of some kind of transitory failure. They see both challenge and failure, as just one of the necessary steps forward, one of the risks you have to take in order to ultimately succeed.

Because harmony is life’s natural state, we are most comfortable with success and not failure. We’re programmed to become security seekers, rather than risk takers; and until you can stop being afraid of being bopped on the head for your failures, you will remain locked in the place you are in now.  There’s so much more!

This year, you might ask yourself one wonderful question when a challenge arises: What good does this hold for me? If you can honestly conjure up a few good reasons that are good, you’ll be well on your way to creating wonderful solutions (and an opportunity in disguise) that move you forward toward success.

With just this small shift, you can change the same event, from seeing it as overwhelming and unmanageable and turn it instead into a marvelous opportunity. It is amazing how quickly you can change things in your environment, by simply changing the way you view these invariable challenges. If you want 2012 to be your year for incredible success, accept the truth that you are capable. You can have anything you want, if you will allow yourself to see all the possibilities available to you.