June 2010
Inspired Path Inc. E-Newsletter
 
(425) 785-5389     www.inspiredpath.com    [email protected] 
 

Photo of Nola Drazdoff

Nola Drazdoff
In This Issue
Welcome to June
Inspiration for the Path
Mind Flood for Good
Inspirational Song
Nola's Movie Pick
Useful Links
 
Join Our Mailing List 

Inspired Path Dragon Fly Image

Welcome to June!

I'm excited about this month! I'm taking on a couple of projects that I think, no let me rephrase that, I KNOW, are going to have a profound and positive impact on my life!

I'll talk about the "mind flood for good" project later in the newsletter. The other project I'm taking on is to clean up my physical diet in one very important way. You probably already know that the recommended daily intake of fruits and vegetables is between 5 - 13 servings. I'm betting that most of you don't accomplish this on a regular basis. I know that I certainly don't!

It's just too easy to grab what's fast and convenient, rather than what's best for us. I intend to change that this month and hopefully cultivate some new habits that will last me a (long) lifetime.

I intend to get at least 5 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables every day this month.

In order to accomplish that, I'm going to need to do some preparation in advance to make sure that I always have plenty of fresh fruits and veggies at my fingertips, washed, sliced and ready to be eaten.

I'm really excited, because I believe this will bring about some dramatic, positive improvements in my health and the way that I feel.

Would you like to join me on my 'quest to ingest' the proper amount of fresh produce? Or on my "mind flood for good?" I'd love to have the company. Let's get inspired, healthy and 'on track' together!

One way to get started, if you are a member of facebook, is to come to my new facebook page and become a 'fan' (by clicking "LIKE.") I share inspirational and encouraging materials there each and every day. I'll also be discussing some of my own journey, as I work on these projects this month.

Nola Drazdoff @ Inspired Path, Inc. Facebook Page

Join me in making this a month, and a summer, of renewal and growth for body, mind and spirit!

~ Inspiration for the Path ~

"Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid
torch which I am permitted to hold for the moment,
and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible
before handing it on to future generations."
~George Bernard Shaw

"Self-acceptance is my refusal to be in
an adversarial relationship to myself."
~ Nathaniel Brand
 
"Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit
of happiness and just be happy."
~ Guillaume Apollinaire

Mind Flood for Good

Steeping Your Mind in the Truth

 
This month is an exciting time for me! I am using this month to refocus my mind on what I know to be true about God, the Universe, myself and my world. It is all to easy to get swept up in the dominant paradigm and thought processes of those around us! Unfortunately, a lot of the ideas and beliefs swirling around us at any given moment are flat out wrong and frequently destructive.

Some recent events in my life caused me to realize how far I've drifted from my spiritual roots and basic beliefs. I've allowed myself to be 'pulled off center' by the beliefs and thoughts of those around me - even when I know they are not in alignment with my own truth.

In recent times, my own thoughts have been more negative, and more 'pessimistic' than I care to admit. I know better... and have known better for the past 25 years!

I decided that this month, and throughout the summer, in addition to working on improving the health of my physical diet, as I mentioned above, I am also going to work on my mental diet!

I have a large collection of teachings and sermons by beloved Unity minister, Jack Boland. Last month I put all of these teachings onto my computer, so that I can download them to my MP3 player. All summer, I will be hiking and gardening while I listen to Jack Boland (and a few other spiritual teachers of mine). I want to completely flood my mind with the type of thinking that I want to live in and from. It will help to form a protective spiritual shield for myself - to keep me from absorbing the types of thinking I want no part of!

To remain on track when there are so many influences around us that would pull us off, is not trivial. It takes work and effort to keep one's mind fixed on the truth. When other people criticize you, judge you, or try to convince you of 'their perspective' it is not easy to take your own road. Feeding our minds and fortifying our higher intuitive self is the only way to stay the course.

Is there anything you could take on as a summer project to help keep your mind fixed on healthy, positive thoughts and ideas? Reading, meditating, listening to inspiring, uplifting music or motivational and inspirational speakers are all excellent ways to program ourselves for the types of lives that we most deeply desire.

How about joining me in a 'mind flood for good' this month? It is a powerful way to set your life on the course you most desire!

Inspirational Song

Anyway
Martina McBride
 
Music is a huge part of my personal and spiritual growth process. I use music every single day for motivation, inspiration, and as a tonic when I need comfort and encouragement.

This song captures the energy of an indomitable spirit. I love the essential message of this song which is that our actions and efforts in life are valuable in and of themselves. We can't rely on the outcome to validate what we do and how we live. Storms come. People leave. Dreams sometimes evaporate. We are called to pour our hearts into life... anyway. The rewards of doing so are far greater than the hoped for outcomes. Do it anyway! 
 
Here is an excerpt from the song lyrics:

You can spend your whole life buildin'
Something from nothin'
One storm can come and blow it all away
Build it anyway

You can chase a dream
That seems so out of reach
And you know it might not ever come your way
Dream it anyway

God is great
But sometimes life ain't good
And when I pray
It doesn't always turn out like I think it should
But I do it anyway
I do it anyway

Listen to the song here on Youtube: 

Nola's Movie Pick

Mask

 Mask DVD Cover

Movies are one of my favorite ways to relax and inspire myself! Many movies have profound messages for us, embedded within the stories they tell.

 

Mask is the true story of Roy Lee (Rocky) Dennis, a 16 year old boy who is afflicted with the very rare disfiguring disease called

craniodiaphyseal dysplasia. He is born to a biker mom who flies in the face of convention in both her wild lifestyle and her fierce protection and defense of her son's right to live a full and healthy life.
 
The tag line of the movie is: "They told 16-year-old Rocky Dennis he could never be like everyone else. So he was determined to be better." He became an inspiration to many who knew him or knew his story. Cher was chosen to play Rocky's mom, Rusty Dennis. Eric Stolz was cast in the role of Rocky Dennis. 
 
One of the things that touches me most about this movie, is that this kid was born to such a wild and defiant mother. Her lifestyle, while fraught with drug and alcohol addiction and other destructive behaviors was part of a 'package' that made it possible for this woman to protect her child while at the same time ensuring that he was not denied any opportunity to live his life as fully and normally as possible. A more conventional, polite person might not have been able to pull this off. She was the perfect mother for this little boy. Her good (and not so good) qualities actually made her the right person for this job.
 
This is a wonderful, inspiring story about dealing with the cards life gives you as best you can and finding joy and fulfillment amidst great struggle and sorrow.
 
Rocky Dennis and his mother Rusty
Photo of Rocky Dennis and his Mother
 
Inspired PathLiving Blog
Each week day, I use my blog to share my thoughts and spiritual perspective on this thing called life.
 
I invite you to check it out:

www.inspiredpath.blogspot.com
This is your life. The only moment you truly have is NOW.  

Grab hold of today's opportunities with both hands.

I hope you'll join me this month in the 'quest to ingest' and the 'mind flood for good' projects.

Ready.... set.... GROW!
Nola Drazdoff
Inspired Path, Inc.