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FYI Friday, May 17: Week in Review

LIFE

Stash-Shorts1 Keep Your Gadgets Dry With These Waterproof Shorts

Many of us protect our gadgets from clumsy falls and nicks with protective cases. But when your precious smartphone gets wet from the elements or from an unfortunate drop down the toilet, sometimes there’s no going back. Salt Lake City-based Stash Incorporated has designed waterproof pocket shorts that are designed to keep your phone and other pocket items dry. It could be convenient for those summertime activities: relaxing at the beach, a trip to the water park or for mindlessly running through the sprinklers. FULL ARTICLE.

ENVIRONMENT

imgres-1 People Can Actually Afford “That Expensive Electric Car”

You know the Tesla Model S, the $70,000 (and-up) electric car that “nobody can afford”? Well, evidently, more than a few people can afford it. In fact, in the first quarter of this year, more people bought a Tesla Model S than bought any of the similarly priced gasoline-powered cars from the top three German luxury brands, according to data from LMC Automotive. About 4,750 buyers bought a Model S while just over 3,000 people bought Mercedes’ top-level sedan. FULL ARTICLE.

HEALTH

chefWhy It’s Important to Cook Your Own Meals

When was the last time you made a great meal? From-scratch prep, serious gratification result. This morning? Last week? Last month? Although I imagine Primal folks cook much more often than most non-Primal types, we all get caught up in the busyness of life. Eating – even healthy eating – often gets boiled down to convenience and strategy. I get it. Few of us have the luxury of basking in culinary ventures at every meal (myself included), but I do find real cooking to be an underappreciated indulgence – and there’s the rub. FULL ARTICLE.

FOOD

mayrecipes-sm.jpg.662x0_q100_crop-scale 15 Easy recipes for eating local and vegetarian in May

Eating healthful meals during busy weekdays can be as easy as throwing a few in-season ingredients into a casserole dish and putting it in the oven. We’ve gathered 10 great late-Spring recipes from soups and sautés, from salads to breads. Enjoy! FULL ARTICLE.


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Something to Ponder…(or, Tick & Flow)

You probably don’t even have time to read this post. Given all the things you have to do today, (the big priorities, the mundane minutia, etc.) this 2-minute brain break is probably welcome, but also rushed.

“There’s just not enough time.” As a 2013 culture, we are always on the go. Even when we’re “relaxing,” there is always a good chance we are still mentally “going” long before we actually unwind. For many professionals, the key perceived scarcity is time.

Time is certainly valuable. But when we schedule a thousand things, when we cram so much in, attempting to make the best of our time, a lot of that value falls though the cracks.

We end up missing out…big time (no pun).

Luckily, we have something for you to consider as a solution…

Tick & Flow. Scheduling &  Synchronicity. Head-Time & Heart-Time. Coming from the Greek concepts of  “chronos” (calendar/clock time) and “kairos” (synchronous/the “right” time), these two measurements of time are each very important. Both practices are essential for gleaning the full value of our time that we have. The problem isn’t that we aren’t doing enough…

…it’s that we’re doing too much.

And, too much stuff that we not only don’t want to do, but also stuff that doesn’t actually serve us anyway. With this kind of imbalance, we burn out. It’s overwhelming; too much “Tick,” not enough “Flow.”

When we take time to check-in with ourselves, and realize the options we have moment to moment, life simply gets…better! Whether it’s a meditation/yoga practice, eating a slow and mindful meal, or simply practicing deep breathing, “Flow” practice can come in multiple forms. And we get to choose what works best for us.

We invite you to allow space for this type of quality time with yourself. The goals are: 1. to quiet your many thoughts (or, as the Yogis call it “monkey mind”) and 2.

…simply be.

Try it! You may be happily surprised with the results. 🙂

Namaste.

–@cjpatryck


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Something To Ponder…

Our friends at World Observer Online have cultivated a list of 15 Things You Should Give Up To Be Happy. It’s funny how once we give up the things we “think” we want, that we start living joyously, with more than what we could have ever wished for.

Read the list. What comes up for you? Consider…is there a way you might start releasing any one of these items today?

Thanks everyone! And Namaste. 🙂

 

Picture 3

 

Here is a list of 15 things which, if you give up on them, will make your life a lot easier and much, much happier. We hold on to so many things that cause us a great deal of pain, stress and suffering – and instead of letting them all go, instead of allowing ourselves to be stress free and happy – we cling on to them. Not anymore. Starting today we will give up on all those things that no longer serve us, and we will embrace change. Ready? Here we go:

1. Give up your need to always be right. There are so many of us who can’t stand the idea of being wrong – wanting to always be right – even at the risk of ending great relationships or causing a great deal of stress and pain, for us and for others. It’s just not worth it. Whenever you feel the ‘urgent’ need to jump into a fight over who is right and who is wrong, ask yourself this question: “Would I rather be right, or would I rather be kind?”Wayne Dyer. What difference will that make? Is your ego really that big?


2. Give up your need for control. Be willing to give up your need to always control everything that happens to you and around you – situations, events, people, etc. Whether they are loved ones, coworkers, or just strangers you meet on the street – just allow them to be. Allow everything and everyone to be just as they are and you will see how much better will that make you feel.

“By letting it go it all gets done. The world is won by those who let it go. But when you try and try. The world is beyond winning.” Lao Tzu

3. Give up on blame. Give up on your need to blame others for what you have or don’t have, for what you feel or don’t feel. Stop giving your powers away and start taking responsibility for your life.

4. Give up your self-defeating self-talk. Oh my. How many people are hurting themselves because of their negative, polluted and repetitive self-defeating mindset? Don’t believe everything that your mind is telling you – especially if it’s negative and self-defeating. You are better than that.

“The mind is a superb instrument if used rightly. Used wrongly, however, it becomes very destructive.” Eckhart Tolle

5. Give up your limiting beliefs about what you can or cannot do, about what is possible or impossible. From now on, you are no longer going to allow your limiting beliefs to keep you stuck in the wrong place. Spread your wings and fly!

“A belief is not an idea held by the mind, it is an idea that holds the mind” Elly Roselle

6. Give up complaining. Give up your constant need to complain about those many, many, maaany things – people, situations, events that make you unhappy, sad and depressed. Nobody can make you unhappy, no situation can make you sad or miserable unless you allow it to. It’s not the situation that triggers those feelings in you, but how you choose to look at it. Never underestimate the power of positive thinking.

7. Give up the luxury of criticism. Give up your need to criticize things, events or people that are different than you. We are all different, yet we are all the same. We all want to be happy, we all want to love and be loved and we all want to be understood. We all want something, and something is wished by us all.

8. Give up your need to impress others. Stop trying so hard to be something that you’re not just to make others like you. It doesn’t work this way. The moment you stop trying so hard to be something that you’re not, the moment you take of all your masks, the moment you accept and embrace the real you, you will find people will be drawn to you, effortlessly.

9. Give up your resistance to change. Change is good. Change will help you move from A to B. Change will help you make improvements in your life and also the lives of those around you. Follow your bliss, embrace change – don’t resist it.
“Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors for you where there were only walls” Joseph Campbell

10. Give up labels. Stop labeling those things, people or events that you don’t understand as being weird or different and try opening your mind, little by little. Minds only work when open. “The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don’t know anything about.” Wayne Dyer

11. Give up on your fears. Fear is just an illusion, it doesn’t exist – you created it. It’s all in your mind. Correct the inside and the outside will fall into place.
“The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.” Franklin D. Roosevelt

12. Give up your excuses. Send them packing and tell them they’re fired. You no longer need them. A lot of times we limit ourselves because of the many excuses we use. Instead of growing and working on improving ourselves and our lives, we get stuck, lying to ourselves, using all kind of excuses – excuses that 99.9% of the time are not even real.

13. Give up the past. I know, I know. It’s hard. Especially when the past looks so much better than the present and the future looks so frightening, but you have to take into consideration the fact that the present moment is all you have and all you will ever have. The past you are now longing for – the past that you are now dreaming about – was ignored by you when it was present. Stop deluding yourself. Be present in everything you do and enjoy life. After all life is a journey not a destination. Have a clear vision for the future, prepare yourself, but always be present in the now.

14. Give up attachment. This is a concept that, for most of us is so hard to grasp and I have to tell you that it was for me too, (it still is) but it’s not something impossible. You get better and better at with time and practice. The moment you detach yourself from all things, (and that doesn’t mean you give up your love for them – because love and attachment have nothing to do with one another,  attachment comes from a place of fear, while love… well, real love is pure, kind, and self less, where there is love there can’t be fear, and because of that, attachment and love cannot coexist) you become so peaceful, so tolerant, so kind, and so serene. You will get to a place where you will be able to understand all things without even trying. A state beyond words.

15. Give up living your life to other people’s expectations. Way too many people are living a life that is not theirs to live. They live their lives according to what others think is best for them, they live their lives according to what their parents think is best for them, to what their friends, their enemies and their teachers, their government and the media think is best for them. They ignore their inner voice, that inner calling. They are so busy with pleasing everybody, with living up to other people’s expectations, that they lose control over their lives. They forget what makes them happy, what they want, what they need….and eventually they forget about themselves.  You have one life – this one right now – you must live it, own it, and especially don’t let other people’s opinions distract you from your path.


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FYI Friday, April 26: Week in Review

LIFE

url-4 Conscious Business, Crowdfunding and Social Impact Investing

Crowdfunding thought leader Rose Spinelli and Richard Branson Award Winner Shayan Nahrvar, CEO of Raise5.com, were ready to talk about funding in the new capitalism at the Conscious Business Network last week, formal presentations in hand.

Powerpoints were quickly abandoned as they chose instead to offer basic introductions and then quickly begin to answer members’ penetrating questions. “What about the migration of ‘investing solely to make more money’ to investing from both heart and bottom line? FULL ARTICLE.

3003586-slide-slide-4-6-simple-rituals-reach-your-potential-every-day 6 Simple Rituals to Help You Reach Your Potential Everyday

It’s Tuesday morning at 8 a.m. Two San Francisco entrepreneurs are pitching their ventures to potential investors today. They’d both agree that this is one of the most important days of their lives. This is the story of Jane and Joe…

Jane was up until 4 a.m. putting the final touches on her deck. In fact, she spent the entire weekend fixed in her apartment, preparing the presentation. This morning, she woke up late and rushed putting together her most “investor-worthy” attire. She slammed a shot of espresso, grabbed her computer, and ran out the door feeling hungry and tired. She arrived right on time but felt anxious and flustered about the events of the morning. Joe, on the other hand…FULL ARTICLE.

news-510x286Not Watching the News as a Spiritual Practice

Yesterday morning, on Google+ (my social network of choice) I shared a newspaper article by novelist Rolf Dobelli, called News is bad for you – and giving up reading it will make you happier.

The lede of the article is “News is bad for your health. It leads to fear and aggression, and hinders your creativity and ability to think deeply. The solution? Stop consuming it altogether.” That’s the story in a nutshell. FULL ARTICLE.

ENVIRONMENT

suntech-china-0076-5396-b_lg.jpg.492x0_q85_crop-smart  Solar Power Accounted for 100% of New Energy on U.S. Grid March 2013

Granted, it was only 44 megawatts. According to the latest data from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), March 2013 was a very special month for the U.S. power grid. For the first time ever, all of the new capacity added during the month came from solar power. Granted, it wasn’t quite an ordinary month for the grid: No other sources added any capacity, and solar officially grew by 44 megawatts, a respectable amount for a single month (that’s more than half a gigawatt annualized). FULL ARTICLE.

bike4.jpg.492x0_q85_crop-smartSandwichbike Finally Rolls Out to Market

Le Corbusier once wrote that “creation is a patient search” and for industrial designers before the age of Kickstarter and Indiegogo, it really was- a search for funding, for marketing, for manufacturing capabilities. It can take years. TreeHugger Warren first described the Sandwich Bike in 2006, writing, “Inspired by IKEA, the Sandwich Bike comes flat packed in a cardboard box…”FULL ARTICLE.

HEALTH

ribsHow Much Protein Should You Be Eating?

The answer – wait for it – depends on who (and what) you are. Your goals, your age, your activity levels, your size, and your health status all impact how much protein you need. And although individual protein requirements ultimately depend on dozens of variables that we can’t really know, there are some baseline intakes that can serve as a foundation for different groups. Let’s take a look… FULL ARTICLE.

Picture 3 These Wooden Kitchen Knives Look Amazing, But Would You Use Them?

This pair of knives are a concept by FDRL, an Ottawa-based design consultancy. There is absolutely no denying that, resplendent in sleek Maple, they’re beautiful objects—but who the hell would use them?

The guys at FDRL explains that the “knife gives the appearance of being lightweight; however their weight is balanced to ensure that they can be used by any level of chef”. It also claims that the wood is sealed and food safe to allow for easy cleanup. All of which is great!FULL ARTICLE.


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FYI Friday, April 19: Week in Review

LIFE

PattonOswaltGettyPatton Oswalt’s Powerful Boston Marathon Post Inspires on Facebook

Of all the pontificators and pundits reacting online and off, it was comedian Patton Oswalt who perhaps provided the most poignant take on the Boston Marathon bombing Monday afternoon.

In a post to his Facebook page, Oswalt wrote that while violence such as Monday’s tragedy exemplifies the worst of humanity, it’s easy to lose track of the bigger picture. The post reads in part: FULL ARTICLE.

google-glass-brain-effect What Will Google Glass Do to Our Brains?

Humanity is about to undertake a bold experiment. If all goes as Google hopes, many of us will be strapping on Google Glasses later this year. The post-PC era in effect since the introduction of the iPhone in 2007 and the iPad in 2010 could give way to a the wearable computing era prompted by Glass.

Though there’s always a chance that the technology could fail miserably, it could also, as Sarah Rotman Epps, an analyst with Forrester Research suggests, be “the next Pinterest plus Amazon plus Facebook plus the iPhone put together.”  FULL ARTICLE.

FB-Fan  A Facebook Fan Is Worth $174, Researcher Says

A Facebook fan is worth $174 to a brand, up 28% since 2010, according to Syncapse, a social media marketing firm.

Syncapse worked with research firm Hotspex on a survey based on data    collected from more than 2,000 U.S. panelists in late January and early February. The study compared Facebook fans and non-fans based and their corresponding product spending, brand loyalty, propensity to recommend, media value, cost of acquisition and brand affinity to arrive at the figure. FULL ARTICLE.

ENVIRONMENT

Non-Hazarous.jpg.492x0_q85_crop-smart Clean-up or cover-up? Latest in Exxon oil spill Reveals Big Questions

In the weeks following the rupture of the Exxon Mobil Pegasus pipeline that spilled hundreds of thousands of gallons of oil ( or tar sands diluted bitumen) into a Mayflower, Arkansas neighborhood and lake, the news about the spill was just one depressing story after the next as we learned that wildlife had been oiled, local residents, including children, were becoming sick, contaminated water was pumped into the lake, the media was being intimidated to reduce access and coverage and that Exxon may have known about the spill earlier than they are letting on. FULL ARTICLE.

HEALTH

hurdles 10 Psychological Hurdles Keeping You From Losing Weight (and How to Overcome Them)

Habits become ingrained in our days and in our brains to the point where it just doesn’t feel right without them. Now, if your habits take the form of regular exercise, eating plants and animals, and getting good sleep, you’re in good shape. If your habits look a little different, you might not be:

The coffee and crueller (stat!) on the way to work. The handful of candy beans every time you pass the candy-loving receptionist’s desk. The nightly six pack. The propensity to plop down on the couch and stay there for hours after work. We’ve all got some bad habits, and depending on their composition, they can disrupt our ability to lose weight. FULL ARTICLE.

JJH_1479-1.jpg.492x0_q85_crop-smart Roasted Brussels sprouts with orange butter sauce [Vegetarian]

The mark of a truly great cookbook is one that you pick up and, as you thumb through the pages you notice yourself thinking of every single recipe, “I want to cook that.” That was what happened when I picked up Susie Middleton’s Fast, Fresh & Green cookbook. Often, you scan through a cookbook and find a handful of recipes you want to make, and even fewer you’re actually likely to make. There are precious few that cater so perfectly to your own personal taste and cooking style. For me, that is this veggie-centric cookbook by Middleton.FULL ARTICLE.

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