"...it is wrong to state that war does not cause lasting mental effects, but we are also wrong to think that all the effects of war are negative. It is true war can have detrimental affect on the mind or psyche, but this can also teach the soldier to appreciate life away from war's bedlam. War gives understanding and in the midst of conflict gives the soldier cause to be noble. It teaches the combatant to channel his strength, and encourages the warrior to exhibit his best qualities of faithfulness, bravery and selflessness."

These wise words of wisdom were written from an unlikely source. You might be picturing a war hero, someone who was in the trenches stating the value of being a warrior, but you would be mistaken. These words come from a young woman of 15 years! I personally know this young warrior and she eloquently captured what I have been stating for years. This life requires those among us who will stand against evil, to selflessly sacrifice themselves so others can sleep in peace and freedom. We often see that only a select few of our culture possess the strength to take up arms against an enemy, but I tell you that within us all there lies an innate warrior spirit. I believe it is the duty of all people to cultivate this spirit to empower themselves to call upon this strength during their time of need.

Through training we discover hidden treasures within ourselves that we did not know were there. We all have these treasures to one degree or another. Will you take the time to find them? Think now about how you could bring out these treasures. Perhaps you could start a martial art, or get a group of friends together to start a new path toward empowerment. Use your imagination and take the first step. This is the time of year for renewal and time to fuel our spirits to greater potentials. After all, if a mere 15 year old girl can grasp this concept and discover her warrior spirit, can't you? Seize the day!

Thank you K'yala for this wonderful contribution!

Welcome to our Forum section of Ready Force Inc. This is where you can sound off on any number of different topics, a place where we can all learn from our experiences. Each month I choose a topic to comment on and invite you to post your two cents as well. Remember, this is yet another way to access information that will enhance your warrior spirit and personal safety. I respond to just about every posting, so feel free to let fly! If you have not yet signed up to participate in the Forum, the process is simple and only takes a couple of minutes of your time. I look forward to your comments!

This months Talk the Talk centers around Personal Safety and awareness. Just follow the link to the following entry; http://www.readyforce.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=43#43

One of the most important things you can do for your personal safety is to keep your threat level at orange. In my Personal Safety and Awareness classes we learn about the four threat levels, white, orange, red and black. Level white is the average person in America today; totally clueless about their surroundings they are taken by surprise when they are presented with a threat. This is simply an unacceptable way to live your life.

I encourage my students to take their awareness levels up a notch to level orange. This level is not about living in a deep paranoia where you go through life with a hair trigger of tension, ready to spring in an instant. What a terrible way to live your life! Level orange IS about empowering you innate warrior spirit toward a level of awareness that is relaxed, at ease, but able to identify when "things just are not right."

This means we are actually stopping, looking and listening to the world around us and taking in the information that the Universe is sending to us on a constant basis. This means we do not dismiss the clues that point toward danger and that we ACT when necessary, following the direction of our intuition.

When we live our lives in this manner we are far less likely to become a victim of circumstances and we empower ourselves to take control of our lives instead of waiting for someone else to do it. Ask yourself as often as possible if you are in level orange until it becomes part of your second nature, as natural as possible. This will turn you from a potential victim into a survivor when life comes knocking.

There are many things wrong with our world. It hit me the other day that we have really become terribly fragmented as a society. Our culture breeds competition, not unity. "I need to get mine before you get yours." It's a dog eat dog world out there, and as Norm on Cheers said; "and I'm wearing Milk Bone underwear!"

How much more could we accomplish as a society if we were all working toward a greater good? How much less stress would we have if we never had to worry about keeping ahead of the Jones'? How much more wise would we be if we listened to the teachings of our elders instead of trying to learn the same lessons over and over. Our world situation is so very predictable and therefore so very preventable. How? Read on!

A good friend of mine supplied the following example of Bushido, the seven laws by which Samurai live. I will tell you that this world would be a much better place if these truths defined who and what we are. If you want a template for living a good life, apply the following for the rest of your days:

• Honesty and Justice. Be acutely honest throughout your dealings with all people. Believe in justice, not from other people, but from yourself. To the true samurai, there are no shades of gray in the question of honesty and justice. There is only right and wrong.
• Polite Courtesy. amurai have no reason to be cruel. They do not need to prove their strength. A samurai is courteous even to his enemies. Without this outward show of respect, we are nothing more than animals. A samurai is not only respected for his strength in battle, but also by his dealings with other people. The true strength of a samurai becomes most apparent during difficult times.
• Heroic Courage. Rise above the masses of people who are afraid to act. Hiding like a turtle in a shell is not living at all. A samurai must have heroic courage. It is absolutely risky. It is dangerous. It is living Life completely, fully, wonderfully. Heroic courage is not blind. It is intelligent and strong.
• Honor. A true samurai has only one judge of honor, and this is himself. Decisions you make and how these decisions are carried out are a reflection of who you truly are. You cannot hide from yourself.
• Compassion. Through intense training, a samurai becomes quick and strong. He is not like other men. He develops a power that must be used for the good of all. He has compassion. He helps his fellow man at every opportunity. If an opportunity does not arise, he goes out of his way to find one.
• Complete Sincerity. When a samurai has said he will perform an action, it is as good as done. Nothing will stop him from completing what he has said he will do. He does not have to "give his word." He does not have to "promise." Speaking and doing are the same action.
• Duty and Loyalty. For the samurai, having done some "thing" or said some "thing," he knows he owns that "thing." He is responsible for it and all the consequences that follow. A samurai is immensely loyal to those in his care. To those he is responsible for, a samurai remains fiercely true.

Thank you Amanda for this wonderful contribution!

I recently saw Sylvester Stalone's new movie, Rocky Balboa. It was a great movie from a number of perspectives, and I would recommend it to anyone. Stalone is inspiring because he has kept himself in great shape. I was not too crazy about his training program, especially for a man his age, but it had pizzazz and got you fired up! However, for the sake of this newsletter, I want to focus on Rocky's Warrior Spirit.

Rocky's journey has always been difficult. Always battling his way through life like a sledge hammer and always moving forward, not matter what. That's the essence of the Warrior Spirit. The Warrior Spirit acknowledges that things don't always workout the way we want them to and sometimes things workout perfectly. The point is, whatever the outcome, it does not matter. The only thing that matters is that we keep moving forward, learning our lessons and finding our place.

We have all been placed here to learn, to grow, to discover who and what we want to become. We all can project our grandest vision of ourselves and strive to become that vision. No path is easy; no path is without hard lessons. That is the beauty of this life. Perfection is just out of our grasp, but it's also close enough for us to keep on doing and in doing we continue to evolve, grow, learn and live. Cultivate your warrior spirit so you too can stand strong when facing adversity and, and Rocky would say; "just keep moving forward!"

Choose Heart-Smart Nutrition By Lynn Ravazzini, Owner: Nutrition Within, Lynn4nutrition@sbcglobal.net

Although you may not realize it, your everyday lifestyle choices-such as the types of food you eat-can greatly influence cardiovascular health. Unfortunately, the typical Western diet is high in refined carbohydrates, sodium, and artery-clogging fats, while deficient in several heart-health promoting ingredients. The good news is that you have the power to include healthier options in your diet, starting TODAY!

First, try to consume a variety of whole grains, legumes, and vegetables (especially dark-green, leafy vegetables) on a daily basis. Also, scientific research shows that many patients benefit from concentrated levels of certain nutrients-at doses that are difficult to obtain from diet alone-to support their overall cardiovascular health. More information on these natural approaches is detailed below.

Daily Supplements for Cardiovascular Health: If you're interested in supplementing your diet with heart-smart nutrition, consider these popular choices. Of course, it's crucial that you first improve the quality of your diet, and then use supplements to ensure that you are getting all that you need.

• L-Arginine. The amino acid L-arginine is a precursor of nitric oxide, which causes blood vessel relaxation. Evidence suggests that enhanced levels of L-arginine support healthy blood flow.
• Magnesium. Research shows many Americans do not consume the daily recommended amounts of magnesium. And a lack of this vital nutrient may be a factor in many common health problems. For example, scientific evidence suggests that magnesium may play an important role in healthy muscle contraction and relaxation. Also, adequate magnesium states may be associated with healthy heart rhythms.
• Folate. Researchers have found that higher levels of blood folate are associated with lower levels of the amino acid homocysteine-a key factor in maintaining circulatory health. But like magnesium, most adults do not consume adequate dietary folate. Also, research shows that as many as 2 out of every 5 people experience difficulty metabolizing folate due to genetic variability. Therefore, enhancing folate nutrition with three forms of folate-folic acid, 5-formyl THF, and L-5-MTHF-may be the most effective way to receive the profound health benefits of folate nutrition.

Not All Supplements Are Created Equal. It's important to keep in mind that all products are not alike-no matter what the label or packaging may claim. Make sure you choose high quality products that are handled in facilities that are certified for good manufacturing practices (GMP). Because the difference in quality can mean a big difference in your health.

If you're interested in heart-healthy nutrition, please schedule an appointment at my office. We can create a flexible dietary plan that includes targeted nutrition to improve your cardiovascular health now and for a lifetime.

Snowmobile for Fitness...Part II by Starr Brown, Owner FEEL Fitness, www.feel-fitness.com

Physical changes in the body are not only dependent on the body movements themselves but also on the psychological state while moving your body. Too often I see people gaining weight as they are riding their bike several hours a week or consistently going to the gym each morning before work. How can this be possible? How can someone get fatter with so much exercise?

What happens is that for these people their workouts have become another "to do" item on their already overflowing to do list. The workouts are actually stimulating a stress response which can then trigger more hormonal imbalances and increase food consumption to falsely fuel them for the task of working out. What may be a better solution for these overloaded people is to choose a more gentle form of a workout such as a walk in the woods or light stretching. These less taxing activities may add the balance that their "go - go" lifestyle is missing.

In return they may be better able to control their food consumption as they will not be grapping for sugar to get them through the workout that they do not have any authentic energy to perform. As you enjoy and love your chosen methods of body movement you are most likely to continue moving your body yearlong. The benefits will not only include aesthetics but a more balanced emotional, mental, and psychological state which then yields more energy for more movement - it is this wonderful synergistic circle that is the recipe for fitness success.

Best wishes for your 2007 personally enjoyable and consistent body movements.

This month's mantra is:

"I am controlling my own destiny."

Have you fallen into the trap of blaming someone or something for the struggles in your life? I know that I have done so on many occasions. That's a copout on life because it means the only hard work we have to do is place blame, throw our hands up and walk away. Not good enough! The truth is we are all in control of our destinies. We, and no one else, determine how we react to whatever circumstance or challenge we face. Once we understand this and begin to live it, life becomes so much easier. Picture yourself manifesting your own destiny! This is how a warrior lives.

Now, sit or lie back comfortably. Take three deep breaths, pausing after you inhale and then exhale fully and completely. After you have taken your first three breaths, just breathe normally. Close your eyes and let any tension you may be holding in your muscles just begin to melt away. After you center yourself and you feel your breath quite down, repeat the mantra; "I am controlling my own destiny" to yourself for the next five minutes. See yourself accomplishing the changes you have set for yourself and believe with all your soul.

As many times as you can throughout your day, stop what you are doing, take one deep breath and repeat this mantra. You can do this when the phone rings, or when you look at your watch, or anytime you feel the need to just slow down for a brief moment and focus. The power of setting a positive intention throughout your day should not be underestimated. It can literally change your life. Make this short time commitment everyday and begin on the path of empowering yourself to survive.

Well, that's all for now.

Stay trained, stay tactical, stay safe!

Rodger.