March is Women's History Month as well as National Nutrition Month.  I am going to put a little bit of a different spin on their celebration and observance.

This year, I will celebrate the living history of the women I know...my mentors, friends and family members.  If you acknowledge it or not, you are making history yourself, everyday.  Please don't misinterpret, I am by no means ignoring the strong women on whose shoulders we stand, but also want to acknowledging that there are those who will stand on our shoulders.  This takes me back to one of my passions...writing our own history.  I think we should write about our experiences in a way that future generations will be able to get a true picture of what life was like years prior to their existence...we will be their ancestors.  They should not have to dig through genealogy archives to try and find out information about us...we need to leave it for them.   I suggest our life lessons, our passions, our lifestyles, travel experiences, our work/jobs/business, our relationship with technology, our charitable work, noteworthy news stories, and generally how government programs and policies affect us and our families. We can do this through words, articles and photos.  I urge you to change your routine and 2014 and begin, if you haven't already, writing your own history, your family history.

Additionally, in reference to National Nutrition Month, as has been reported, women are the primary heads of household today, and with that said, women have the primary responsibility for the health and nutrition of their home.  Women are the ones who do most of the meal preparation.  So, please I ask all women, and men, to consider the food choices you make for yourselves and your families.

I believe you already know that most of the 'chronic' illnesses, and obesity are caused by our lifestyles and the food we eat. The food industry has focused more on profits than health and nutrition... with all the GMO's and such.  I won't go to much into that topic right now, but I urge you to start your transition to healthier and more nutritious food choices.  Start making conscious choices to assure there are no pesticides, herbicides, additives and GMO's in the food you eat and serve. 

My personal experience is a prime example of how healthier food choices can have a direct effect on your health. Not in this newsletter, but I will go into more detail, probably on my blog, and share with you some firsthand information about my unknowingly experience with some poor food choices. As you have seen my stories about my excellent level of health, at age 65 without any medications or drugs of any kind, accomplished with healthy lifestyle choices!  I know there are others like me out there as well...let's make history and together produce strong, healthy families and communities.

Let us take the month of March to celebrate women of the past as well as women who are making history today.  They/we are living history. Let us acknowledge and celebrate the accomplishments of all women. I implore you to acknowledge your family history and the accomplishments of the women in your life, those who have had an impact on our life, and thus impacted our history.   Let's all use this month to show and tell our children and grandchildren and others about the great accomplishments of women in our lives.

 

Check out the information below about the upcoming fun tours, trips, activities and adventures...all with fantastic, friendly, and just plain ole wonderful people! 

 

 

My wish for you, is the best of health, and that as you savor in the spices of life, you enjoy a life full of love, peace, and joy.

 

Live Life to the Fullest!!!

 

 
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I am so happy about life!  From time to time, I smile to myself, laugh, sing out loud, and dance like no one is watching! (Hopefully no one is watching :)

Monitor your thoughts!  I try to have positive, feel good thoughts all the time.  When I try for all of the time, I have them most of the time.  Whenever other thoughts creep into my mind, I consciously acknowledge them, consider the source from where they have come, conduct a quick evaluation, and move on to more pleasant thoughts, something that will at the very least put a smile on my face!  I always feel hopeful that the best is yet to come.

My Healthy Habits:

1. I alone am responsible for my Happiness...make it happen! As a result, I attract those who share my happiness. 
2. I am Hopeful of my future, and I move forward with a positive mindset that it will happen.
3. I am Helpful to others...I believe that when you give others what they want...you get what you want.
4. I live Harmoniously.  I go with the flow.  It is not moving in the direction that I think it should, I reassess and adjust accordingly! 

Recently a friend announced that she is engaged to be married.  He proposed on Valentines Day. The gentleman was someone she was initially skeptical about.  I was one who encouraged her to have an open mind and enjoy his company at the very least.  He made her happy, and he was very helpful in many ways to her and her family.  What she shared about him, it was obvious that they had harmonious spirits, that could not be denied.

Well, that was just several months ago.  I was very happy to hear her announcement, and to also know that as we get older, it does not take a long time to know if someone is right for you.  You must be open and honest, with yourself, and the other person.  She was found by the man of her dreams, and I must add, apparently, she is the woman of his dreams! 

This story helps me, at my ripe age of 65, to still be hopeful and believe that the man of my dreams is out there, he just hasn't found me yet!  I will enjoy life where I am, be happy, continue to savor in the spices of life, and live in harmony with my surroundings...and hope to be 'found' by the man of my dreams...one day.

"Hope is a waking dream." - Aristotle

Join me and others for a weekend full of adventure and fun in beautiful Gatlinburg.  This weekend getaway is designed for anyone who wants to

From a previous Weekend Adventure Getaway

experience a weekend of fun, frolic and friendly people.  It is full of activities for the adventurer, or plenty of time to relax if you just want to getaway. 

 

Space is limited and if the previous trip is any indication, this trip will sell out, so don't wait until the last minute and get left out...take ACTION ASAP!   

  

 Review the itinerary on the attached flyer, register and pay your deposit to reserve your space.  Only 10 seats are left, as of publication of this notice.  

Click here to register.  

 

If you have questions or want more information, contact me by return email, or give me a call at 678.231.4973.   

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Join us as we travel to Selma, Alabama to commemorate 'Bloody Sunday' with a Jubilee Bridge Crossing, and to demand voting rights protection laws be reinstated by Congress.

Bloody Sunday (Selma, AL 1965)

Speakers include Rep. John Lewis, and others.  Space is limited on the bus.   

Click here for more information and to book your seat.   

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Mar 1          Annual Women's History Hike - Unicoi to Helen
Mar 8          Bridge Jubilee - Bloody Sunday Commemoration Day Trip
Mar 15-16   Flint River Paddle at Montezuma Bluff - Georgia Conservancy
Mar 17        Banff Mountain Film Festival
Mar 17        Full Moon Hike with REI - Stone Mountain
Mar 22        Tellus Science Museum - Geeky Day Out
Mar 22        Wilderness Survival Skills Class - REI
Mar 28-30   Altamaha River to Sea Paddle - Georgia Conservancy
Apr 16         Full Moon Hike with REI - Davidson Arabia Mountain
Apr 20         Kayak Tour with REI - Chattahoochee River / Bulls Sluice Lake
Apr 26        SuperHero Scramble - w/African American Adventurers Meetup
May 17       Sky Diving - w/African American Adventurers Meetup
Jun 20-22   Adventure Fun Weekend - Gatlinburg, TN
Aug 8-15    Salvador da Bahla, Brazil - more info to follow
Sept 2014  Yosemite National Park Annual Birthday Adventure - more info to follow
Oct 16-26   Senegal and the Gambia, Africa - more info to follow
Nov 14       Sapelo / Cabretta Island Weekend Adventure Trip
Nov 8-19    Johannesburg and Capetown, South Africa - more info to follow
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Love much, Laugh often, Live Long & Strong!

Download a copy of the suggested Day Hiking Checklist from REI.  Click here to download a copy.

Layering your clothing is a tried-and-true way to maximize your comfort in the outdoors. The beauty of this simple concept is that it allows you to make quick adjustments based on your activity level and changes in the weather.  Each layer has a function.

Click Here to read the article and see the video from REI.

You want to be sure you know the options when choosing hiking boots.  Read this article from REI.

Your body is more than 60% water, and even light physical activity can deplete that percentage. No fluid means no function!

This loss of fluid is called dehydration. And hydrating, or adding fluids, is the key to keeping it from happening to you.

 

 Click Here to read the article from REI.

For any activity that involves more gear than you can carry in your pocket, especially for hiking, you need a daypack.

 

Daypacks may look similar at first glance but have lots of functional differences. Read the article from REI that is designed to give you some helpful tips on finding the right one  for your needs.

 

 Click Here to read the article from REI.