The Ultimate Christmas Gift

BY: Denise Carter

At a Christmas party recently, I received the ultimate gift.  It’s something I had always wanted, from the first moment I laid eyes on it.  My clients forced me to stand in the middle of the room and laughed excitedly as I opened the gift.  I nervously peeled back the wrapping to find exactly what I dreamt they’d get me…the ultimate workout machine.  Ladies and gentlemen, I am now the very proud owner of a SHAKE WEIGHT!  Every single person had to get up and do his or her impression of the product’s commercials.  You know…the one that comes on TV, and leaves you feeling uncomfortable. The Shake Weight was definitely the centerpiece of the party.  It was perfect.  And to prove that it DOES have merit as a muscle toner, I sent a “did you know?” email to all employees the next morning, complete with facts on my new gift.  They claim you can burn up to 18.4 calories a minute with this filthy thing, so who’s laughing now??  Don’t think I’m not using it!  I may even take it to my next circuit training class…

Patience Pays Off

BY: Jennifer Zvirzdin (Salus Coach)
The smile on my face in this picture conveys the happiness and relief I feel right now. Months before I got married I replied to an Ad for free Engagement and Bridal pictures... I won! I was excited, but never knew what a disaster it would turn into. The Engagement and Bridal photo shoots went well so I hired the photographer to shoot at my ceremony. The photographer was late and never found us for the ceremony. I was devastated, thank goodness I hired a videographer last minute. The wedding went on and I waited six weeks for my pictures. I never received any pictures and the photographer would not return my messages. I was upset so I sent the photographer an ultimatum email, send my pictures, refund me or I'm going to small claims court. The photographer replied that the pictures had been sent to my parents over a month ago. My parents never received anything. I still don't know what happened to those "pictures" that were sent to my parents house. After many emails I finally got the photographers address and today I drove an hour and got my pictures, six months later! FINALLY, the bridal pictures dispute was over. I consider myself a patient person, but this tried my patience and raised my blood pressure one too many times. Although, patience does pay off.

Yoga Re-fuel…

I went to Yoga on Wednesday night, and it could NOT have been more necessary.  I’m going to tell you something now that I will later deny saying if you ever bring it up; I hadn’t worked out in 3 weeks!  I hate admitting that, but it’s true.  I’ve been working too hard, and putting in too many hours, and of course, whenever that happens, the body suffers.  I was a mess…barely surviving.   I didn’t have nearly the energy I usually have, either physically or creatively.  What a bad example I am!

But I went to Yoga (I have photos to prove it), and the change in how I feel is amazing.  I feel so much better!  Seriously, if there’s a person out there who believes that exercise does nothing for them, they must not be connected at all to what the body really needs.  Physically, exercise gives me the boost I need; mentally, my head is cleared and I can be creatively inspired again.  Thank god for Yoga…running…the gym…whatever your medium of staying in shape.  I’m sorry, little body, for neglecting you!  It will never happen again.

I Hate the Aging Process

I’m getting older, and this fact is thrown in my face every time I ‘forget’. 

I love my coffee…LOVE it.  I look forward to it every day, and every once in a while, I spoil myself a bit with something delicious from Starbucks.  So, a couple weeks ago, I decided to head for the drive-through window and order one of my favorite treats.  I had a busy day ahead, and it was going to be the perfect way to start.  I paid for my coffee and drove away to enjoy my day.  I ran a few errands, and headed to my mom’s to help bake some pies for Thanksgiving.  Later that evening, I picked up my girls, and we started the drive home.  On the way, something struck me; I couldn’t remember enjoying that warm cup of deliciousness earlier.  Yes, I had paid for it…but that was all.

How does that happen?  How is it that, despite my excitement for a cup of coffee, I gave a Starbuck’s employee $5…then promptly drove away without anything to show for it?  And how is it that it took me several hours to come to that realization?  Surely, I should have heard the laughter of the Starbuck’s staff from miles away, but no.  Maybe my hearing is going, too.