Tender Loving Care of the Body and Spirit is key in Living Well

I have spent this afternoon at the most wonderful spa! This is my second visit here and it is my intention to make it a quarterly ritual!

Its not expensive! $35 for a day pass, which includes unlimited use of the heated pools, saunas and heated themed therapy rooms. Saturdays they are open from 9am-midnight! $5 for unlimited tea throughout the visit, in the charming tea room! What a bargain! $40 for a FULL day of relaxation, rest, care, luxury!

There are lots of special services that of course cost extra and are wonderful! But, not necessities for every visit. The full body scrub/exfoliating treatment is, I think my most beneficial extravagance here!

Today has been a wonderful experience to work on heating and loosening tight muscles guarding my hip. LOL! You would laugh knowing me because I've been doing "hot yoga" in the heated therapy rooms when there aren't too many others, but this robe is restrictive, so I just used it as my yoga mat.

I'm also focused on exfoliating my skin to silky softness. Soaking in the 104 degree tub and rinsing with mugwart before scrubbing rough dry skin away. I bought myself a special body scrubbing cloth and a half pound of mugwart for at home.

Connecting body, heart, mind and spirit here is easy. Opening the flow and connection, open to receiving what G.U.S. has for me today. Journal near by to document His gifts for me. My heart is full and grounded!

I have chatted with some delightful ladies and love the fact that here, we are all beautiful, all equal. We're all wearing the same pink and white cap and the same mint green stripped robe. This is the part that feels the most extravagant and luxurious! Connecting with other lovely spirits!

My husband is at the drag races with his brother, so, no time constraints for me! Im luxuriating. I'm meditating. I'm pampering. I'm journaling. I'm loving. I'm...

Living Well
Love,
Suzi~Q

Sent from my Windows Phone

Living Well with Chronic Pain

I have no way of knowing how many of you live with chronic pain. I have no way of knowing what it might be caused from. I have no way of knowing how long you have dealt with it.
 
I can, however, share my experience! And perhaps provide some encouragement. Some commaderie. Some ideas.
 
As many of you know, I have a birth defect in my right hip. It's called Congenital Hip Displaysia. Yes, that picture is an x-ray of my right hip. I'm totally open and authentic with you here! I'm not making this stuff up. The joint is not the right shape, and doesn't fit together correctly. All of my life this has slowed me down, but not stopped me from doing what I wanted to do ... mostly.
 
I have never been able to run well (learned as an adult that my hip does not camber properly, so no wonder I've never even walked like other people nor been able to run!). I've never been able to do the splits, or most other full leg stretches. But there is much that I can do, and that has always been my focus ... I love to hike and I used to lift weights when I was in school and it was the season for spending the entire PE period out on the track running (uh ... ya, not gonna work for me). As an adult, I just uncontiously adjusted ... I've never really thought about it, it's just how I was made. Even so, I swing dance with my husband, and can even twist allthe way to the floor and back up again!

In recent years, however, the wear and tear has really started to take more effort, more energy to manage. Most of the time I get to stay in control. Most of the time, people don't even notice that I have a limp. It is very important for me to maintain symmetry in my posture so as not to injure the other hip, or my back, or my knees! But every year or so, it catches up with me, and the last month or so has been one of those times. My energy level has been low, and my pain level has been high. I've had a difficult time sleeping.

A friend of mine brought it to light for me this way: She is a runner, and sometimes she gets hurt. When this happens, not only is she dealing with healing, which takes energy, but with pain, which takes energy, and every move has to be calculated, which also takes energy. She made the "uh, duh" very obvious statement (that I was too close to to see) that I have to do all of those things all day every day of my entire life! HOW EXHAUSTING! And that is so true!

Every couple of years, it just gets to me, it wears me down. I'm tired, I'm emotional, I hurt. And this has been the case for the last month or so.

I've done some research on anti inflammatory foods, and fish oil came back on my radar screen! Now, why was it that I stopped taking it a couple of years ago?? Hmmm ... So, I'm back on the fish oil now, 1400 mg three times a day, in addition to all of my other vitamins! I notice a difference! So I'll keep doing it! Highly concentrated fish oil contains eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid which are crucial elements in fighting inflammation ... which arthritis is.

I know that I can control so much with my diet and exercise, and I know that I really have to have a more disciplined routine and stick with it ... it is as important as taking blood pressure medication everyday!  So I'm refocused, and adjusting. and So thankfult hat my husband is so supportive and thoughtful about my care!

Being in charge of how I feel and knowing that I have that power, and dare I say responsibility is yet another very important part of ...

Living Well,
Love
Suzi~Q

P.S. Your thoughts and comments are important, please share them with us here! Love SQ

Growing and Blossoming with Living Well

I've been blogging for a couple of years now. I have found it to be a wonderful outreach, and a great way for me to share my story and encourage others to keep seeking their own healing process. I have gotten good feedback from those that have been encouraged by my words, and I have felt inspired to continue increasing my sharing. Which in turn increases my efforts to stay focused on the never ending process of my own healing and learning and growing.
 
All or most of us have gone through some kind of difficult times, but how many of us come out the other side of those experiences better than we were to start with!? That is a decision that we have to consciously make! That is what I can teach you how to do! One little thing at a time. One huge thing at a time! It doesn't have to cost a lot of money. It doesn't have to take a lot of time. It is a decision to not be a victim of circumstances. It is a decision to be a better human BECAUSE of the things we have gone through! It is a decision to be IN CHOICE everyday, because that is where our power of individuality is!
 
This is what I teach. This is what I share. This is how I attempt to live my life every day.
 
I'm human. I get snarky at my day job sometimes. Sometimes I eat foods that are not good for me. Sometimes I sit more than I should and sometimes I'm just plain lazy! I can be bossy and I can be sarcastic. But I don't stay in those attitudes very long. I don't beat myself up for stumbling now and again. I just stop. Breathe. Apologize as necessary. Cry as necessary. Identify what triggered that behavior (without spending too much time over psychoanalyzing myself) and devise a realistic strategy for the next time (and there will always be a next time)!
 
Through my process of healing and growth, the other wonderful aspect is that I continually have more quality information to share with you, and I am now in the process of offering some of those resources to you! I am very picky about what I will recommend to my readers. I love you, I care very much about your well-being, and want very much for you to learn and heal and grow, therefore, if I have read a book, or tried a product or service, and not felt I received great benefit, it is not likely to show up here! (Unless it is so awful that I feel the need to warn you to stay clear!) I have not shared a great deal regarding specific products and services over the years, but to increase the value that I offer you, I have decided to start doing just that!
 
Lots of changes will be showing up over the next several months (or more, as new ideas come to me!). I am adjusting the blog layout a bit, in an attempt to make it easier to read on your computer screen, as well as on your mobile device. I have done a tweak or two here and there a little at a time.
 
I am excited that there is now an option to subscribe via email, so try it out! Keep in touch! Comment and be part of the conversation!
 
For the month of April, I have committed to The Ultimate Blog Challenge! Daily posts, and daily sharing, spreading the work about Living Well, and building our community. I have lots of great developments that I am working on, so stay tuned and be part of this growing movement, be part of this burgeoning community!
 
This is where the cool kids hang out, so why wouldn't you want to be part of it!?
 
There came a point when it was more painful to stay tight in the bud that it was to just blossom! It is spring people, it's time to blossom! Show your colors, breathe deep, dance in the rain, love, laugh, and everyday ... more and more ... be...
 
Living Well,
Love,
Suzi~Q

Book Review: The Man Who Saved the Union, Ulysses Grant in War and Peace

In the spirit of Living Well, improving your mind is absolutely at the top of the list of important tasks! In my day job, my current task is pretty sedentary, and has given me the opportunity to utilize audio books. I have really been enjoying this opportunity to enjoy some old favorites, and dive into some educational materials.

One of the recent tomes really got me excited, and I just knew that I had to share it with you! The Man Who Saved the Union, Ulysses Grant in War and Peace is one of THE best dialogs on U.S. history that I have ever read, by far! I truly believe that it ought to be required ready to every voting citizen of this country. I believe it ought to be a central part of all U.S. history courses!

I began the book more familiar with Grant's role in the Civil war only, and was pleasantly surprised to learn that before the war, in his early military career he was stationed in my beloved Pacific Northwest! And even considered resigning his military post and moving his family to the Portland/Vancouver area! The utilization of pieces of letters he had written to his wife truly made him more human.

Author H.W. Brands does a great job of describing what is happening in the United States in the 40 years before and after the Civil War. While the time line is focused on Ulysses role in the stabilization and development of our country, there is an equal and balanced account of a great number of powerful players during that time.

His presentation of the years following the Civil War were very enlightening for me regarding our current political culture! I was able to really see how little has changed in 125 years, as far as the undercurrents and motives of the parties. I was able to see the seeds of current attitudes. And recognize how those early patterns are still present, though they are more covert. I see now the roots of oppression and how it is still so present, and covertly upheld by the source.


I cannot say enough good things about this book! And I'm making it your homework assignment!

A week after finishing the book, my husband and I took a day trip to Portland. On the way home I pointed out a building that I have been fascinated by since my childhood. He took the next exit and searched out the location so that I could experience it. As it turns out, it stands on the ground of Fort Vancouver. It was late in the day, but we were able to spend about an hour exploring around the reconstructed fort sight, and as Grant was stationed there, it really brought it to life for me.


Knowing our roots, and understanding how they continue to play such a huge role in who and what we are as a country is an important element in

Living Well!
Love Suzi~Q

P.S.

 I am so excited about this book, readers, that it inspired me to do something new and different for this blog! I have partnered with Amazon to bring this book to you! Please use the link below to order your copy today!

Beautiful Delicious Food (Chicken Tortillini Soup)

Food is fuel.

This is a difficult concept for this food addict to truly LIVE by! Over the last 15 years I have worked so hard to really get that and really live that. and while I'm still addicted to food (not just cause it's a necessary), I still think about food all of the time. I still plan my next meals before I have even finished the one in front of me. The difference now is that I crave healthy food options.

I do not eat any of the popular extreme diets such a paleo, or vegan, or raw, and I applaud those that have the discipline to live that life style.

I love eating colorful, simple, nutritious and delicious food! I always feel like I am Living Well when my meals are healthful and cost effective! I feel so good doing things that take care of my husband, and allow him to get out in the last bits of the evening sunshine and putter at his projects!

This soup is inexpensive, filling and healthy, quick to make up! Use what ever kind of other veggies that appeal to you! Can be served with sour cream if you like, and as usual, I do not add salt!


Gather together:
2 quarts chicken broth
2 raw boneless chicken breasts chopped into bite sized pieces
6 carrots
1/4 onion
2 mushrooms
4 stalks asparagus
1 cup chopped cabbage
3 mini bell peppers
1-1/2 cups fresh tortellinis

Chop the veggies in big bite size pieces.
Get the broth simmering and drop in the chicken chunks.
Simmer about 3 minutes, or until the chicken is just cooked.
Turn off the heat.
Drop in all of the veggies and the tortellinis, and stir gently.
The residual heat will cook the veggies just enough to make them bright and hot, but not mushy!

ENJOY!
Healthy foods provide us the energy that we need to
Live Well!

Love
SuziQue

Follow Rural Girl SuziQue as she shares crochet designs and tutorials, healthy food, exercise, fun adventures, wise budgeting experience, living with congenital hip dysplasia, and so much more that will challenge, inspire and encourage you to truly live your life as fully and wonderfully as possible!

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