TRAVEL BLOG

When it comes to getting a healthy fit body, it is not about making it complicated, extreme, and it is far from a science project.  There are so many confusing messages hitting us square in the face about the “right” diet and the “right” fitness fad exercise program to create what we so long to become.  Even further, people rush in droves overspending on pills, powders, gimmicks, videos, extreme fitness programs, and anything that promises a smoking hot body in two weeks or less.  Sadder still, there is no consideration of the negative effects on the body when such choices are made.  It is the dive blind and hope for the best philosophy and that would scare the crap out of me. Think about the word health and what that means to you personally. I live a life of health and fitness and teach it as a lifestyle of quality that includes eating healthy foods, exercise and stretch on a regular basis.  It is also important to reduce pain in our bodies, and stress in our l...

This is such a difficult write and I have been away from my blog for several weeks spending time with my family, and my beautiful Mother-in-law who passed away June 18.  She was my second Mom, I loved her dearly and I still struggle with the realism that she is no longer here physically.  I miss her… The journey of life holds such beauty and pain, and it is in the experience of death, and being present during that last breathe of a loved one that truly brings into full light the appreciation of the gift of our life and how we spend every moment.  My Mom-in-law is in heaven now, able to breathe, walk, laugh and exist in the perfect form of her spirit in the presence of God and those who have passed before her that she so loved.  At the same time, I struggle with my human feelings of this “is all not real and weird.”  I expect to go over to my in-laws’ and see her, looking forward to one of our many girl talks.  I can still see her and hear her in my mind, an...

Just ME If I did not have a GREAT relationship with myself, I would be a complete mess.   This is just not a physical existence for me, but a very deep spiritual bond with God, and being truly content with me and my life.   The healthy lifestyle that I maintain comes from how I treat myself, how I allow others to treat me, how that is perceived, how I grow from my journey, continually being enlightened by both positive and negative experiences, setting healthy boundaries, and wrapping all that up into how I respond to life’s circumstances.     As I have journeyed through this life, I have suffered physically and emotionally and would not be honest if I did not say that I have felt the sting of both from time to time even now.   The difference in the now is my past experiences have been a life education on how to love myself enough to see things and handle things in a healthy way, and navigate through boundaries that I now have to take care of me.   A great...

Balance of Life, part 3 When it comes to Simple is Healthy, I have come to appreciate a balance of work, rest, play and pray.   I used to be a “YES” person with A1 personality type that first, could not say “NO” and second, the “busier the better”.   Always seeming to not be good enough, never satisfied, and always striving for that something that often times I did not understand “WHY”.   Can you relate to that?   I think it stems from feeling unappreciated in my early years, or just not feeling accomplished...going “Darla Deep” here.   Fast forwarding to the Darla of today that has shed that ugly skin…YEAH!!!! Life’s journey has definitely taught me to love myself in every way and to accept that life is about enjoying it.   Think about that concept…I ENJOY MY LIFE.    I definitely do not want to breathe my last breathe with any regrets, and missing out on the important stuff in life, the real meaningful things that money just does not buy. ...