On To Newer Pastures!

As of Summer 2010, this blog will be transitioned into my two main blogs:

• Michael on the Move: follow my travels as I continue to travel the world, meet people, and write about it (oh, and take pictures of it as well!)
• The Balance Factor: check in as I post insights about finding more balance in mind, body, and spirit. Also check my web site for workshops, coaching, and other educational opportunities.

Namaste,

The Ambassador

Time to Go Green

"Do not wait for extraordinary circumstances to do good action; try to use ordinary situations." — Jean Paul Richter

If you stop and think about how much goes to waste in your life on a daily basis, you will notice that our waste adds up fast... and if you think about the formula we're creating: more garbage + more pollution = higher expenses = less money, it's not a pretty picture. Perhaps you've heard my favorite muppet, Kermit the Frog, crooning his song, "It's not easy being green." Lately I've been thinking more about the green movement, but it didn't really hit home until I realized that unlike Kermit's words, it's rather easy to do. Going green isn't a fad; it's a change in your behavior... and it's really very simple to do once you raise your awareness and start paying attention.

There are a plethora of resources out there about greening your life, but allow me to highlight some simple habits if you don't know where to start.

Tips for Heading Towards Greenville:

• First, and foremost, start paying attention to what you use, keep, and throw away. Remember the 3 R's: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
• Use a washcloth instead of paper towels to wipe up spills.
• If you like using paper towels, buy the half-sized perforated style which uses half the amount of a regular towel each time you tear one off (makes great napkins!)
• Reuse the unused and gently used paper dinner napkins as handy wipes for wiping food from dirty dishes, greasy pans and for quick clean-ups.
• Use the backs of previously printed papers in your printer. Most of what we print out are not final pages of a doctoral dissertation, so just save the new paper for the important stuff.
• You know those cute little Ziploc bags? Unless you're filling them with pudding or peanut butter they can be reused.
• Ask for a ceramic coffee mug at your local coffee shop - stay in, relax, and enjoy your java.
• Try replacing your coffee with green tea (blended with jasmine or lemongrass rocks!) It's green and it's good for you.
• Turn off non-essential lights.
• Buy electronics with rechargeable batteries instead of disposable.
• When possible, walk, bike, or carpool instead of drive. It's better for you, the environment, and saves money.
• Reuse hotel sheets and towels. Do you change your sheets and towels every day at home? Then don't do it when you're on vacation.
• Buy reusable shopping bags. Save a plastic tree!
• Reconsider bottled water. Consider purchasing an aluminum refillable bottle and going back to the tap. Seriously - the whole bottled water craze is more of a fad than a fact. Did you realize they're slowly raising the prices for bottled water? Retailers are smart. But you are smarter.
• Consider going greener by using non-chemical cleaning supplies and supplementing your health with essential plant oils instead. Young Living is a fantastic organization I've been working with for years to help support you and your families' health with greener choices. 

Green Resources:

Personally, I like National Geographic's Green Guide, which gives a consumer a heapin' helpin' of stuff on everything from home and garden to personal care and product buying guides. There's also:

• Going Green Resources
• Worldwatch Institute 
• Oprah's Going Green Resources
• And lots more! Just Google "going green"

I strongly encourage you to think about where you can Go Green by reducing, reusing and recycling more in your life. You'll feel good about the planet and your pocketbook. And by showing Kermit that you understand what being green is about, you'll make him a happy frog.

Namaste,

The Ambassador

Wake Up, Already!

Okay, so I never really thought I'd admit this, but I love waking up early. There, now I said it. 

Have you ever explored the benefits of waking up early in the morning? It's amazing! Now I'm not saying that I've never gotten in the habit of rising before the sun; in fact, for quite a long time I would only sleep for 5 hours at a time - heading to bed around midnight and waking up by 5:00am - but that was during a period of my life where I was operating at a super-high frequency and it worked well to sleep less. Now, I must admit, the body's churning at a slightly different speed and I need just a little more shuteye, so more like 6-7 hours of sleep is better.

There are many benefits to waking up early and you can discover what works best for you. But let me highlight a few that I've found make sense to me:

• It's QUIET (need I say more...?) Peace, quiet, solitude, calm... do these words sound appealing to you? Yes, these experiences, and more, can be found in the morning!
  
• Since it is quiet I can get twice as much done in half the time without interruptions (*key)
• It is, indeed, a profound event to watch the sun rise in the morning... as amazing a watching a sunset :o)
• My mind is clear and my thoughts flow much easier since I haven't yet accumulated the "noise and clutter" of the day.
• I can take time to think about what I want to accomplish today, who I want to "be" today, and what I'd like to reflect upon tonight as I'm reading myself to sleep.
• I can get my best writing done (and I can recall my dreams quickly if I choose to process them) - and the best way to prime the pump is to write morning pages.
  
• I can hydrate my body slowly by drinking water and herbal tea therefore bringing me my natural appetite by mid-morning for a great breakfast!

* A quiet environment (outside) allows the quiet voice within you (inside) to be louder and easier to hear. I refer to this quieter voice as spirit. If you can tune into your spirit, you can hear amazing things!!

Now you may not find yourself to be a "morning person" - I never was growing up... but thank goodness people change, and if you are willing to explore a new side of yourself you may be surprised how wonderful it can be to enjoy the benefits of the morning. Try it! I did.

Make it a great week.

The Ambassador