A NEW EARTH - Part II

Did you miss last week's inaugural webcast for the 10-week "A New Earth" class? Not to worry! If you weren't able to participate last Monday evening, or if you tried to participate but had connection problems, don't give up! Oprah and Eckhart Tolle are committed to making this free course available to everyone, regardless of your schedule, because if you are unable to participate in the live Monday evening program, you can simply view the webcast at your leisure via Oprah.com and iTunes. Each week, the Monday night webcast will be available the following day on both sites. On iTunes, you can download the audio podcast or video podcast. On Oprah.com you can simply stream the video and watch or listen from the comfort of you own home, at your own pace.

Are you concerned that you won't have time to finish the book? Again, not to worry! The class is designed for 10 weeks because only one chapter per week is discussed, so again, you can do it at your own pace, regardless of how busy you are.

I urge people to participate because this is a great opportunity that doesn't happen very often. It's free or charge, but extremely valuable. See what all the buzz is about... and become part of the worldwide "New Earth" event today!

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IMPORTANT DATES

Here's a list of important dates that are coming up. Want to be inspired? Check these out!

March 18th - April 22nd
"Nutrition Made Simple"
6-week nutrition course at the Boston Center for Adult Education
Is your New Year's Resolution to eat healthier stuck in a rut? Kick-start a healthy new you without making drastic lifestyle and diet changes you can't stick with. Holistic Health Counselor Kathleen Moriarty, will work on deconstructing your cravings, learning how to understand food labels and identify healthy food choices in the aisles of the grocery store, setting practical goals and how to eat for energy and optimum health, even if you're pressed for time, have a demanding schedule or have very limited experience in the kitchen. Achieve your ideal weight, and feel better in your body and mind. Become more confident in choosing and preparing food, stop cravings and binges for good, and experience a remarkable increase in your energy and vitality. If health is wealth, this class will make you a millionaire!
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

March 26th
Sugar Solutions: How to Tame Your Sweet Tooth
75-minute workshop at Healthworks Porter Square, Cambridge
You don't have to be a member to attend, but you must pre-register!
Non-members register with me at kathleen@kmoriarty.com
Members register at the front desk -- SPACE IS LIMITED!

March 28th - March 30th
Down:2:Earth Sustainable Living Expo
Hynes Convention Center in Boston's Back Bay
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

April 21st
The Boston Marathon
Be inspired! Watch the marathon, live, in-person right from the sidelines!
Many places to watch along the 26-mile route, from the suburbs to the city

April 22nd
Earth Day
This will be the 38th annual celebration of Earth Day! Google your local Earth Day events, as it is typically celebrated throughout the week, not just on the 22nd!

April 23rd
Sugar Solutions: How to Tame Your Sweet Tooth
75-minute workshop at Healthworks Back Bay, Boston
You don't have to be a member to attend, but you must pre-register!
Non-members register with me at kathleen@kmoriarty.com
Members register at the front desk -- SPACE IS LIMITED!

May 13th - June 17th
"Nutrition Made Simple"
6-week nutrition course at the Boston Center for Adult Education
Is your New Year's Resolution to eat healthier stuck in a rut? Kick-start a healthy new you without making drastic lifestyle and diet changes you can't stick with. Holistic Health Counselor Kathleen Moriarty, will work on deconstructing your cravings, learning how to understand food labels and identify healthy food choices in the aisles of the grocery store, setting practical goals and how to eat for energy and optimum health, even if you're pressed for time, have a demanding schedule or have very limited experience in the kitchen. Achieve your ideal weight, and feel better in your body and mind. Become more confident in choosing and preparing food, stop cravings and binges for good, and experience a remarkable increase in your energy and vitality. If health is wealth, this class will make you a millionaire!
REGISTRATION WILL BE AVAILABLE IN APRIL

June 1st
AIDS Action Committee's AIDS Walk Boston
Once again, I will be raising money for the AIDS Action Committee. To sponsor me, please CLICK HERE. To learn more about this wonderful organization and this very worthy event, or to register to walk yourself, please go to www.AAC.org

A NEW EARTH

By now, you are bound to have heard about the free 10-week teleclass that is being offered by Oprah and Eckhert Tolle, based upon his book, "A New Earth". This is a great opportunity for anybody and everybody to participate. All you need is the book and a computer with an internet connection and most importantly, the desire to change your life for the better. You don't even need to leave your house to attend! If you were to take this class or a similar in-person seminar with Eckhart Tolle, you'd pay a lot of money. This valuable 10-week course is being offered free. Class begins on Monday, March 3rd. Haven't started reading yet? Not to worry. You have time. I haven't even reached page 100 yet myself. My sister recently told me that over 365,000 have registered. Want to be part of something huge? Want to start living your life in a way that brings you more satisfaction? Then I encourage you to consider being a part of this important, global event.

To register, go to Oprah's website by CLICKING HERE.

Winter Wonderland

If you live in the Northeast, you are probably experiencing a very snowy day. I live in Boston, where it has been snowing since dawn. The snow was light, but steady, until about 3:00 PM when it began falling more heavily, and as of 9:15 PM, the city is fully covered under a blanket of snow, approximately 7 inches thick and the snow continues to fall. As children, snow meant a possible day off from school and a chance to play outside, build snowmen, go sledding and maybe have a friendly snowball fight. In our younger days, we were excited at what this winter weather meant for us. As adults, however, the snow becomes an inconvenience; we all endure a longer and more stressful commute (whether you walk, drive, bike ride or use public transportation), we're assigned shoveling duty and for city dwellers who own a car, it can mean having to suddenly find something to do with your car, when the city declares a snow emergency and you have to move it off the road. Next time you find yourself feeling inconvenienced with the snow, slow down and appreciate it for it's beauty and it's wonder. Focus on it's positive attributes, instead of looking at how it may be negatively impacting you. This is Mother Nature at work and snow is winter's gift.

DailyOM has a great perspective on winter and reading this may help you appreciate this chilly season:

Stoking The Inner Fire: Turning Inward During Winter

In the depths of winter, we can forget that bare trees will once again be full with foliage, and grass and flowers hidden beneath a blanket of white or a deceptive covering of hardened earth will burst forth once again. While they slumber, nature is continuing its work at the center of each living thing. We can think of our blankets and warm clothes as similar protection—like the cocoon that surrounds a changing caterpillar—while we undergo our own inner transformational work. In the meantime, the lights that twinkle and the fires that warm us can serve to remind us of the flame of life that burns within us.

In order to stoke our inner flame, we can use the time indoors to focus our attention on our homes and families. We can become distracted by the world outside and forget that we need to nourish the lights that warm our hearts. Interacting at a soul level can be done by sharing stories from our hearts, doing projects together, dancing, or playing games. Devoting energy this way helps us build a stronger bond that will sustain us once the world allows us each to pursue our individual goals again.

Winter allows us to feed the flame in our own centers by reading or researching to nourish our dreams and plans for the future. This can mean catching up on all the quieter things we wanted to do but didn’t have time for, like reading books, watching movies, or listening to music. We may have set aside creative pursuits such as painting or writing that can be brought back to the center burner now. It is also a great time to do some journaling to look back on the year that has passed and perhaps the years before this one in preparation for forward motion in the coming year. Nature’s wisdom offers us opportunities to nourish our inner seeds of hope in preparation for our future, so let us enjoy the inner warmth and be grateful for it all.

Note: This appeared in DailyOM on January 9, 2008.

THE FUTURE OF FOOD

"The Future of Food" is an excellent documentary that I had the pleasure of seeing at The Brattle Theater back in October 2005. I now own the DVD. I highly recommend it and now viewing it is even easier; no DVD player or TV necessary. And no trip to the video store. But alas, you must have a computer and a good internet connection. Oh, and a subscription to Netflix is also in order! Thankfully, "The Future of Food" is available as a "Watch Now" option on Netflix. You can view it online, using your computer. As Netflix subscribers know, regardless of your plan, you now have unlimited access to watch as many movies on your computer, without awaiting for the DVD and without paying any additional fees. Why is "The Future of Food" so powerful? I have many reasons and most important is this: knowledge. Americans are very disconnected from their food. Convenience foods, pre-packaged and highly processed foods have unfortunately become the norm in the modern American lifestyle. People don't know where their food comes from and many of us accept this, when in fact, we should actually be very alarmed by it. If we don't know where our food comes from, how it is made and what it is, is it really safe and healthy to eat? If you're accustomed to reading food labels, surely you've seen ingredients and wondered what exactly they are; especially the plethora of chemical ingredients that are unfamiliar to the average person that are now so prevalent. And if you're not reading food labels? Start now. If you have a chronic condition, food allergies or sensitivities or digestive issues, you definitely need to read labels carefully so you can better manage your symptoms and to be in control of your health.

"The Future of Food" focuses on what is being done to our food supply, not just in America, but across the world. This affects not only our health, but also our global economy and of course, our natural environment. Essentially, it impacts EVERYTHING. One of the biggest threats (if not THE biggest) is Genetically Modified Organisms, known as GMOs. In America, GMOs are prevalent in our food supply. However, most Americans don't realize that, because it is not indicated on our food labels and it is rarely talked about by mainstream media. This lack of disclosure furthers the problem. Unlike the European Union and many other places, the FDA doesn't require labeling. In fact, they'd rather keep it mum. If you eat foods made by Kraft, General Mills , Hunt's, Betty Crocker, Kellogg's, Hershey's, Nestle, Coca Cola, Conagra, McCain, Lean Cuisine or thousands of others, you are consuming GMOs. Due to GMOs, most of the world's food supply is being controlled by only a few corporate conglomerates. This domination is not a good thing either.

For the health of yourself, your family and this planet, I urge you to get educated about food and a good place to start is the GMOs.

For an excellent brochure explaining GMOs and for an impressive, comprehensive Shopper's Guide, which details which foods do and don't contain GMOs, please CLICK HERE

For "The Future of Food" documentary website, please CLICK HERE

For further reading about GMOs, check out "Seeds of Deception" by Jeffrey Smith and "Stolen Harvest" by Vandana Shiva. There are many books regarding GMOs and these are two good ones to start with.

Interested in lobbying to get the FDA to listen to American's concerns about their food and truth-in-labeling? There are many organizations that can help you. Below, are two links to get you started:

THE CAMPAIGN
THE CENTER FOR FOOD SAFETY

And finally, don't forget to log on to your Netflix account and queue up "The Future of Food".

Finally! A Raw, Vegan & Organic Restaurant in Boston!

As many of you may have already heard, Alissa Cohen will make history this month by opening Boston's first raw, vegan and organic restaurant. Set to open on the 13th, "Grezzo" (Italian for "raw") is located at 69 Prince Street in the historic North End. Grezzo plans on using local, seasonal ingredients whenever possible as well. This is a long overdue and very welcome entry into the Boston dining scene. Every time I got to New York I am blown away by all the various healthy eateries (organic, raw, vegan, vegetarian, locavore etc.) in all five boroughs. I always wondered why Boston couldn't host the same menagerie of these eclectic and yummy restaurants. Never been to a raw food restaurant? I encourage you to try it. And here is your chance! A little unsure of eating raw? Let me assure you, raw chocolate desserts are so yummy; so reward yourself after your meal (think of it as a little incentive). Let's support this new local venture; put a visit to Grezzo on your social calendar today! To see Grezzo's website and menu, CLICK HERE. For more information on chef/owner/raw food enthusiast Alissa Cohen, CLICK HERE. Remember:

"One cannot think well, love well, sleep well,

if one has not dined well."

- Virginia Woolf

Attitude Check

We all know the importance of attitude. But knowing it and applying it are two different things. Need an attitude adjustment? Or just a bit of motivation to keep your positive attitude in check? Check out this great 3-minute movie and be inspired!



Would you like to own the book and DVD? CLICK HERE

Thought for Today

I just got a wonderful email message from "Thought for Today". So succinct, so simple, yet so brilliant!

Spend so much time improving yourself that you have no time left to criticize others!

If you'd like to receive daily messages such as these, you can register for a free subscription at http://www.thoughtfortoday.org.uk/

Upcoming Workshops with Kathleen

Do you struggle with sugar cravings and want to understand why and learn how to manage your cravings better without feeling deprived? Then my Sugar Solutions Workshop is for YOU.

Wednesday, January 16th @ 6:00 PM
Healthworks Back Bay
441 Stuart Street, Boston
Members: Register at Healthworks front desk
Non-Members: Register with Kathleen directly
Space is limited. Workshop is free, but you must register.
DIRECTIONS TO HEALTHWORKS, CLICK HERE

Tuesday, February 5th @ 6:00 PM
Healthworks Porter Square
35 White Street, Cambridge
Space is limited. Workshop is free, but you must register.
Members only; register at front desk.

Sunday, January 27th @ 1:30 PM
"Celebrate Being" at Bedford COA Building
12 Mudge Way, Bedford
My mini-presentation is at 1:30 PM. But the event takes
place 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Cost: $8 / $4 for seniors

The COA, a department of the town of Bedford, invites the community for a day of learning, fun, and exploration in the world of alternative healing arts. You will enjoy an individual and personalized 20 minute session plus be able to participate in many other things (1st come, 1st serve). If you have been curious about alternative health but feel hesitant about where to begin or what to try, Celebrate Being is the perfect event for you. Here is a rare opportunity to sample from a smorgasbord of different kinds of energy work and healing modalities such as reiki, homeopathy, flower essences, mediumship, shamanic journeys, massage, and many more. Celebrate Being will offer a wide variety of classes, lectures, readers and healers to help warm hearts, strengthen tired immune systems and, in the heart of a New England winter, tap into deep sources of joy. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CLICK HERE

Also, in March, I will be facilitating a nutrition class at the Boston Center for Adult Education at 5 Commonwealth Avenue in Back Bay at the Gamble Mansion. Details and registration will be made available in mid-February.

MOTION AFFAIR PLANNER
Looking for another tool to help keep you organized, track your progress and keep track of your schedule, all the while with a hip and creative, funky flair? Then MAP Boston, aka the Motion Affair Planner may be just for you. This is how the creator of MAP, Morgan First, describes her beautiful, colorful and very handy calendar and planner:

Whether you just moved to Boston or you have been living here several years, its hard to successfully navigate the city, planning your daily life and making time for new adventures. Its easy to get bored with your typical routine but not know where to turn for new ideas. We created MAP to help you incorporate adventure into your everyday life. You can MAP your city, MAP you life by keeping track of your schedule right next to cool ideas of places to visit in Boston each week. All of the locations have been picked because they are local hangouts or off the beaten path. MAP BOSTON will help you explore Boston more without feeling like a tourist.

I love my planner and definitely recommend it, whether you're a new Bostonian or a native (or someone who is planning a visit to our great city!). For more info, go to HERE and HERE.

GOAL SETTING

Have you read my January 1st blog posting yet? If not, be sure to read it, then refer back to this January 7th posting, when you're done. Have you started mapping out your goals for 2008 and putting plans in place to help you achieve them? If not, don't beat yourself up. Don't spend time or energy lamenting the fact that you've not done it yet or that you've done it, but haven't done anything beyond that. Instead, take action and do it now. Don't react. Just act. When formulating and writing down your goals, don't forget this helpful acronym: SMART

Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Relevant
Time-Based

Instead of a vague idea, create a SPECIFIC goal, which is MEASURABLE (how else can you track your progress?), likely ATTAINABLE, very RELEVANT and TIME BASED (give yourself timelines and a deadline).

And what about accountability? What kind of person are you? Do you respond well to situations, such as this goal setting, in which your accountability is tracked by someone other than yourself? You could relate it to having a personal trainer, to help you reach your fitness goals. A lot of people put extra effort into their workout sessions, because they don't want to disappoint or "get in trouble" with their personal trainer. Though this approach may seem overly simplistic, it is not. Most of us are more accountable when others are counting on us. We follow through better than when we don't have to answer to anyone but ourselves. So, does it make sense to turn your support system up a notch, by finding a friend, colleague, online buddy or a coach who will hold you accountable?

Lastly, I will talk about VISUALIZATION. This is another key in achieving your dreams and most people never really do it. As I stated on January 1st, BELIEF is crucial. You must believe you can have what you want. A step beyond that is visualizing the realization of your dream. What will your life look like once you've attained this goal? How will you feel? What kind of clothes are you wearing? Where are you living? What kind of people are around you? To someone who has never done this before, it may sound silly. You may ask "What different does it make what clothes I am wearing?". What I am getting at is this; what will your life really look like? What things have been improved by you reaching your goal? Visualizing this, really seeing the possibilities that lay ahead of you, will motivate you to achieve what you want and will imprint on you the belief that you can and you will have it. And once you achieve that goal, all other goals, dreams and desires will also appear to become even more achievable to you. If you can't visualize it, you can't achieve it. So, it behooves you to believe and to visualize; really see it happening. You will begin living the life that you truly want.

When I graduated from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, as part of our graduation weekend, we had to spend one afternoon acting as if it was 5 years in the future. We had to talk as if we had already done this and that. It was a fun exercise, but beyond that, it was an important task. See, by talking as if it had already happened, we gain confidence, we believe it's possible, we have the fuel to make it happen. At the Jack Canfield lecture I attended in July, he advocates the same exercise; spend an evening talking and acting "as if". He even suggests inviting friends over and having an "as if" party. If you don't believe it works, try it. I invite you to really give it a try. Maybe one of your goals for first quarter 2008 will be to have an "as if" party and you and your friends can discuss what you've done in the past 5 years (2008 - 2012), after all, at your party, it will be 2013. I can just hear the conversations now.....

"Back in 2008, when I ran my first Boston Marathon..."

"Well, in 2009, my book was published. When it reached the top of the New York Times Bestseller List in 2010, well..."

"In 2010, when I adopted my son, he was so tiny! I can't believe he's already 3!"

"When I opened my business in 2011..."

"Since I've been promoted to CEO..."

"I've been a homeowner for a few years now...."

"That vacation to the Grand Canyon was amazing..."

Let the conversations begin!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Yes, it's 2008 already. Another year has flown by! What are my wishes for 2008? Well, my wishes, desires and goals on a daily, weekly, monthly basis are very consistent; good health, peace, balance, happiness and to live mindfully and with passion. What do you want? Sure, we all have goals and people still make resolutions every year at this time, but forget about what you "should do"...... what do you want to do? We spend much time and negative energy and worry on composing lists of what we think we should do or what others expect of us or trying to keep up with the status quo. How about spending time focusing on and pursuing what we want to do, what nurtures us, what truly brings us joy? When you pursue something with passion, you usually succeed. When you pursue something you don't truly want, typically it's a half-hearted, passionless effort, which results in, (surprise!) failure. Once again, remember what Paulo Coehlo says in "The Alchemist",

"When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it."

Try not to think of resolutions, but rather, goals. Daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, yearly goals. Set measurable, specific goals for yourself and check in on your progress. When you say "I resolve to eat better", how do you measure whether you're achieving that? You can't. How about saying instead "My goal is to eat 5 servings of vegetables per day" or "My goal is to have only one cup of coffee per day". You can measure your progress and your results, which in turn, will keep you on the road toward success.

As I stated earlier, my consistent wish, desire, goal is to have good health, peace, passion, balance, mindfulness and happiness. These are actually generalizations. To reach these goals, I need to break them down in to more specific measurable goals. When goal setting, you must also consider the obstacles you will encounter and how you will overcome them. Think strategy! Another must for success is support. How will you find support in helping you achieve these things? What kind of support works for you? An online support group? A likeminded friend or family member to check in with? A book or weekly podcast? Your church? A local community group that meets every Wednesday evening? A professional coach? Find the support you need to help you realize your dreams.

And remember, BELIEF is crucial. You must believe you can have what you want!

Create goals for all the various areas of your life:

• Finance
• Career
• Relationships
• Health & Fitness
• Fun & Recreation
• Personal Growth
• Contribution / Legacy

And finally, some quotes to help you maintain your motivation;

"A dream is just a dream. A goal is a dream with a plan and a deadline."

"Many fine things can be done in a day, if you don't always make that day tomorrow."

"If you want to have what you have not, you must do what you do not."

And from Stephen Covey:

"The best way to predict your future is to create it."

Many blessings and best wishes for a peaceful and passionate 2008! Do something that brings you joy every day. Create your future and love it!

With love,

Kathleen

Holiday Gift Giving

In very modern times, the Christmas season has changed a lot. For me, personally, the consumerism and materialism of it has become very overwhelming and over recent years I've gradually withdrawn from it. To celebrate in the current and "commercial" way, of purchasing gifts for everyone and their brother, spending money that I don't really have for presents that people don't actually really want or need (or that they could readily and easily buy themselves) and becoming stressed out about it all, while spending time in busy and crowded shopping malls, where I don't actually witness much kindness or Christmas spirit, feels very disingenuous to me and leaves me feeling drained, not happy or particularly generous. Now before people start accusing me of being a Scrooge and shouting "Bah humbug!" at me, let me explain.

When I was in high school, my exceptionally healthy mother, very unexpectedly, suffered a stroke in the week leading up to Christmas. While it took me a few years afterward to finally and to truly understand it more thoroughly and appreciate it in its entirety, I realized that the timing of her stroke was no coincidence. At the time, my mother, then a mother of 10 and a grandmother of 2, was especially busy. Besides being a very busy organist, playing in multiple church services and school productions, was also overextending herself in preparing for the upcoming holiday; besides buying and preparing food for the big party on Christmas day, she was also running around trying to buy presents for all of us (her kids, their spouses and significant others and her grandkids) and ensuring they were all wrapped and that dozens of Christmas cards were in the mail. Did I mention that, at this point, she was already in her 60s and accomplishing all of this ALL ON HER OWN, without any help of any kind?

Holidays such as Christmas, I believe, should be celebrating times of peace, kindness and "goodwill toward men", reaffirming our faith and participating in acts of charity. Instead, Christmas now seems like a time of great stress for many people; very much a burden. Gift giving seems more obligatory than genuine, which to me, defeats the purpose of the season and the true origin and meaning of the day is completely lost. And you know what? We brought this on ourselves; we created this. We took a Christian day and made it into something very secular that promotes materialism over the spiritual. But we don't have to participate in that kind of Christmas anymore. We can choose to go back to our roots and celebrate Christmas in the way that feels most authentic to us and leaves us feeling peaceful and connected to others and to our Higher Power. We shouldn't allow clever and relentless marketing or feelings of guilt or peer pressure, bully us into participating in a holiday, in a way that doesn't feel good to us.

If you genuinely enjoy giving Christmas gifts, no one says you have to stop doing that. But consider giving something different, more meaningful, something that cannot be bought in a store, such as . . . . .

THE GIFT OF YOUR TIME
Time is the great equalizer. Time is a finite commodity. It's valuable, alright, but you can never trade it on the Stock Exchange. Each person is given 24 hours in a day; what we choose to do with those 24 hours determines the quality of our life. Have you thought about giving someone the precious gift of your time? A son or daughter may soon forget about that video game or that DVD that they received once it is no longer popular, but how long will they remember that weekend you spent together, where you had long heart-to-heart talks, reminisced and really enjoyed each others company? Another great way to gift your time is by volunteering for a cause you believe in. How do you feel when your friend opens that present that you got them? It is a fleeting joy that pretty much ends in a day or two. But imagine how you will feel when you spend time volunteering for a charity, working to create opportunities and happiness for people who are less fortunate. That joy, that sense of humanity, does not evaporate; it stays with you and reverberates where ever you go. An even better idea? Bring someone with you; a friend, a colleague, a family member. Make it an experience for the both of you, while making it an experience for the other people you are helping, to make an even greater impact. Anyone can send off a check to a charity or even donate online (what could be easier!), which is wonderful, but to give of your time is an even more generous contribution.

THE GIFT OF EXPERIENCE
A sort of running joke with my mother was the perpetual question she was asked "Ma, what do you want for your birthday?" or "Ma, what do you want for Christmas?" or "Ma, what do you want for Mother's Day?". And what was Ma's perpetual answer?

"Peace and quiet."

Except, of course, this was not really a joke. Genuinely, that was what she wanted. (And I think she still might actually be waiting for it!) But as kids or teenagers, how could we give her that? I'm sure none of us realized how earnest her answer was, until we had matured and could really appreciate where she was coming from. Instead, we continued to give her more trinket boxes than she could ever use, more pajamas and slippers and more and more Heaven Scent perfume and Jean Nate. But now, as an adult, I realize how important, how vitally important, alone time and quiet time is. This is when we can stop, breathe, check in with ourselves and be on our own agendas and not be on everyone else's. "Me Time" is extremely important and most people don't get enough of it, if any at all. How can we recharge our batteries, if we're not allowed to slow down? Giving the gift of an experience to someone can be almost synonymous as giving the gift of time, but think of what else the recipient may get out of this. Do you have a friend who is overwhelmed with the demands of their job and family and running their household? Offering to babysit their children, while they go out and do something that entertains or nurtures them, is a priceless gift. Does your elderly parent have a hard time keeping up with their household chores? Going over and doing their laundry and tidying up, while helping them prepare a meal, while they take a nap or while the two of you chat, can make a world of difference. Never underestimate what a small act of kindness can do for another person's spirit.

Do you want to do a more "grand" gift of experience? Take someone to a show or lecture or to a beautiful place you want them to see (maybe a garden or to a stargazing observatory perhaps). Creating experiences and sharing them is what memories are made of. On their deathbed, does a person reminisce about that cool computer gadget they received? Or do they talk about that day you went to the lake and saw the beautiful swans and the baby ducklings and ate a picnic lunch?

THE GIFT OF INSPIRATION
Still want to buy a tangible, wrappable gift that someone can open up in front of you? Well, how about a gift of inspiration? Is there a book, magazine, music or movie that has inspired you? How about sharing that with someone else who might also be inspired by it? Pay it forward, as the saying goes. One of the favorite gifts I've ever given to someone was a book that I created myself. I took many inspirational quotes, poems and stories, paired them with art that I liked and created a book on my computer. I printed it myself, then brought it to a printer to be professionally bound and had the front and back covers laminated, to strengthen it and increase it's durability and longevity.

THE GIFT OF CHARITY
As already mentioned, this is the time of year to consider being more charitable. Instead of spending money on a gift for someone who could afford to buy it themselves (and who probably has more material possessions than they know what to do with), why not spend that money on someone who does not have the same opportunities and resources that we do? Giving money in your own name, or in the name of someone else as a gift (or anonymously) is always a good choice. There are so many charities, doing great work, that always need help; whether it's a local agency in your community or a national or international non-profit, working to help people, animals, the environment. Think about this: who needs your gift more? Your cousin who lives comfortably in a 3-bedroom home on an acre of land in a safe community, making $100K a year? Or the abused, sick refugee in Sudan? Or the AIDS orphan in Kenya? Or the homeless child at The Pine Street Inn shelter?

I hope we can begin to make more mindful choices with our time and with our money, during this season and throughout the New Year. Most people's hearts are in the right place, but our priorities have become mixed up, as we are bombarded with misinformation and our values have changed. Remember, material possessions do not create long lasting happiness or fulfillment the way that love, kindness, generosity, faith and interconnectedness does. Let's create more of the latter in our lives and the abundance that follows will quell our desires for more of the material.

Much peace, love, blessings and good health to all of you in this season and in the New Year!

Sincerely,

Kathleen

PEACE ON EARTH BEGINS WITH PEACE WITHIN YOURSELF

PEACE

It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.

What is Success?

Success can be defined in many ways .... just ask a few people what success means to them and you will get as many different answers. One of the definitions of success that resonates with me is this:

SUCCESS: the progressive realization of a worthy ideal

The most successful people usually didn't get where they are by happenstance. It took time and effort. It requires the act of setting goals and coming up with strategies on how to achieve those goals and overcome the obstacles. It is important to have goals, so that we are always reminded of what we want to achieve and we can measure our progress, by having a timeline and a deadline. And goal setting should encompass all areas of your life. At the Jack Canfield lecture I attended in July (which airs on PBS) he encouraged us to have goals for our finances, our career, our relationships, our health and fitness, our fun and recreation and for our own personal goals, such as learning to play a musical instrument or a foreign language. The final goal, he talked about, was our legacy; our contribution to the world. How did we want to be remembered? How did we want to contribute to the greater good?

Take some time to think about what success means to you and start writing down your goals for all the different areas of your life and commit to living the life you really want. You can have your heart's desire. Anyone who is familiar with Paulo Coelho's famous book, "The Alchemist" knows that when you really want something, the Universe conspires to help you achieve it.

For more motivation, please watch this brief movie called "The Strangest Secret" by clicking here.

Upcoming Workshops with Kathleen

Are you constantly craving sweets? Would you like to know why? Better yet, would you like to gain control over your sweet tooth and manage your cravings without willpower or deprivation? Then register for one of my informative (and fun!) Sugar Solutions Workshop. With the upcoming holiday season approaching fast, why not learn some new strategies now to keep your sweet tooth at bay, while still enjoying the holiday festivities and avoiding weight gain? Space is limited, so please sign up with me today. Oh, and the best part? These workshops are FREE!

Thursday, November 15, 2007 6:00 PM

"Sugar Solutions" Workshop at Healthworks Back Bay, corner of Stuart Street & Dartmouth Street, Boston. Accessible by Green Line (Copley) and Orange Line (Back Bay Station).


Monday, December 3, 2007 6:00 PM

"Sugar Solutions" Workshop at Shape Up Personal Training Studio, 111 1/2 Inman Street, Inman Square, Cambridge. Accessible by multiple bus lines, including CT2 and 1. Approximately 15-minute walk from Central Square T. For more information regarding personal trainer extraordinaire and the founder of Shape Up Personal Training, Jess Perkins, please visit her site by clicking HERE.

Please pre-register for all workshops, by contacting Kathleen. SPACE IS LIMITED. Remember, these are free events!

If you would like me to give a workshop at your company or to your organization or group, please contact me at kathleen@kmoriarty.com or 617.909.0328 ~ many topics available!

444 Days

According to my "Bush's Last Day" countdown clock (which was a gift I received from my sister back in January) there are 444 days left in Bush's presidency. For approximately 75% of Americans, this is 444 days too many. According to the most recent poll, Bush's approval rating is a mere 25%. This record low, polled in October 2007 ties with July 2007 - more results (and detailed information) can be found by CLICKING HERE.

I've never been a fan of complaining, without taking action. We can lament all we want about our government, our leaders and public policy. But, like the saying goes, unless we are part of the solution, we are part of the problem. So, if we don't like something, how can we, as citizens, change it? Are we powerless? Is the saying, "You can't fight City Hall" really true?

One of the most powerful ways to contribute as a citizen is by voting. Voting at the polls every election, of course, but also by voting with our consumer dollars. Every purchase you make can either contribute to the greater good or to the further breakdown of our economy or our society. Purchasing goods made in America using American materials, purchasing local produce cultivated by local farmers, purchasing items made by workers who are being treated fairly and being paid a living wage (whether in this country or a foreign country), purchasing products that are made without the use of toxic chemicals or harmful carcinogens and buying products that do not harm animals or the environment are just a few examples. And what about investing our money? Instead of investing in funds that we know nothing about, that typically invest in weaponry (think: war) or dangerous agricultural practices or only serve to perpetuate slavery, war and exploitation in underdeveloped nations, how about investing in some of the "green funds" that promote socially responsible and conscious investing?

And what about other ways we can contribute to society and lobby for change? How about contacting your state representatives, senators, mayor and governor about issues that you care about? Phoning and writing in is often referred to as being an "armchair lobbyist" and I am a big fan of it. When is the last time, if ever, that you contacted one of these people? Remember, they work for you. Whether you voted them into office or not, they won the election and now represent YOU. Make the most of that! Even simply writing a Letter to the Editor of any newspaper or magazine that you read can create an impact. So many people have strong opinions about various articles they read, but never think to actually respond to them in writing.

Be an active part of your community, get involved and raise awareness! One of my favorite quotes is by Margaret Mead:

"Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

If you're part of the 75% of polled Americans who don't like what George Bush's administration is doing, then be sure to commit to educating yourself and others about the the candidates for the 2008 presidential election, get involved in the issues and support the campaign of the person you think can best do the job. If we don't learn from our past - and present - history, we are doomed to repeat it.

444 days and counting.............. January 20, 2009 we eagerly await you

For information about socially responsible investing, go to PAX WORLD MUTUAL FUNDS.

To learn about divestment and if your investment firm is funding the genocide in Darfur, please CLICK HERE.

For presidential candidate debates, go to YOU TUBE'S YOU CHOOSE CHANNEL.