Are you willing to look in the mirror? This is an imperative question, perhaps the most significant question you can ponder. The metaphor relates to something that causes unprecedented fear for many of us, for if we look at the path we have taken in life and discover something we don't like, the prospect of making significant and lasting personal change becomes an intense reality. It has been my experience that change, in and of itself, stimulates a fear response in the body and mind and this causes many of us to walk an ordinary, unchallenging, but safe path.

If you are one of those brave souls willing to take a good hard look in the mirror; what will you see? Does the reflection show a life of joy, happiness and love...or something not quite so inspired? If it is the latter, will you have the strength to take charge of your life and by so doing invite the often difficult path of change, or will you decide to avoid this challenge and live life by default, just hoping it all works out in the end? I will promise you this; if you learn to challenge this fear, to look in the mirror and make changes that will lead to personal growth, the reward will far eclipse the discomfort of traveling the path of change. You will find a life of joy.

Everyone, and I mean every single person on Earth, is seeking joy. From the heroin junkie shooting up in a dark alley, to the Raja Yogi sitting in solitude in the Himalayas, all of us are seeking something that brings us lasting happiness. No two people are exactly alike in this search for a "perfect life" and in many cases the things that bring us temporary joy yield to the bigger picture, that the reality of lasting joy sought in the temporal is often an illusion.

How are you seeking your joy? Do you seek escape from your life with destructive coping mechanisms, abusing your body, mind and spirit, or do you search for the life of a balanced and "Ready warrior"?

This journey through life can be extraordinary. Like you, I have had to face many challenges. Some I enjoyed and others I despised. But what has taken me decades to understand is that all my experiences, especially the most challenging, have served to help me grow in ways I could not have imagined or believed at the time I went through them. With the reflection of time and detachment from the intense emotions of the experience, I now realize that each challenge was a special gift, another lesson learned. Far from perfection, I try every day to look in the mirror and evaluate myself. My lifelong goal is to achieve a state of true balance in my body, mind and spirit, to truly become a "Ready Warrior".

I wish you all a journey of joy!

By Lynn Ravazzini, Owner: Nutrition Within, Lynn4nutrition@sbcglobal.net.

Put Out the Fire with an All-Natural Approach.If you've ever stubbed your toe or suffered a minor paper cut, then you're familiar with the effects of inflammation. The heat, redness, and swelling you experienced following that minor injury was the result of acute inflammation, which is part of your immune system's natural response to trauma. But there's another kind of inflammation with which you may not be aware. Unlike acute inflammation, which usually involves pain and is short lived, chronic inflammation can be a "silent fire" and last for weeks or even years.

In fact, most people don't even realize they're "on fire" until they're diagnosed with a serious disease. This may be why chronic inflammation has been identified as a factor in such diverse disorders as autoimmune diseases (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis), Alzheimer's diseases, Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

So, what is chronic inflammation? And more importantly, what can you do if you are suffering from it?

Inflammation is an integral part of your body's natural defenses. When threatened by harmful substances, such as a bacteria or viruses, your immune system sends wave after wave of white blood cells and chemicals to seek and destroy the offending organisms. This "inflammatory cascade" produces the heat, redness, and swelling which characterize acute inflammation. Once the offenders are destroyed the inflammatory cascade stops and healing begins.

During chronic inflammation, however, the inflammatory response is continual. Any number of factors can cause chronic inflammation.

• Hereditary and environmental factors. Both may have a causal effect on autoimmune disease, such as inflammatory bowel disease or rheumatoid arthritis. In an autoimmune disease, your immune system mistakes its own tissues as "foreign," unleashing the inflammatory response.
• Typical Western lifestyle. Excess fat and cholesterol, the products of sedentary lifestyles and diets rich in sugars, fats, and cholesterol, may promote the production of inflammatory chemicals.

The "Fire" in Your Belly.Most people aren't aware of the major role our gastrointestinal (GI) tract plays in our immune health. Besides digestion, our GI tract is home to nearly seventy percent of our immune system. It is a major source of lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell that plays a large role in defending the body against disease, and mast cells, which release histamines and other chemicals as part of an allergic response.

Calming the Flames- A Natural Approach.As home base for the majority of your immune system, your GI tract plays a vital role in your inflammatory response. By paying attention to your gut, you can minimize the effects of inflammation naturally. The following natural approaches can help:

• Omega-3 fatty acids, such as EPA and DHA may help decrease your risk of cardiovascular disease and support a healthy immune response. Although the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids are oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, and sardines, non-fish food options include flaxseed, flaxseed oil, walnuts, canola oil, soybeans, and soybean oil.
• Ginger and rosemary have been shown to support the healthy metabolism of inflammatory chemicals.
• Turmeric extract inhibits the activities of a wide range of enzymes implicated in pain and inflammation.
• Rice protein has been shown to have a lower allergy potential than other protein sources, making it a safer alternative.

You can also minimize chronic inflammation by eating a healthier diet and getting regular, moderate exercise. Both will reduce the amount of fat in your body, which research suggests may incite the inflammatory response.

If you're interested in finding out more about natural approaches to chronic inflammation, please schedule an appointment at my office. We can develop a multi-dimensional approach that includes dietary choices, moderate exercise, and targeted medical foods and supplements.

If you are interested in something "new" in the fitness world, check out kettle bells. Although they have been around for a long time, they are catching on again in the West. I had a good buddy of mine, Kenny, an avid blog writer on the Ready Force website, bring up some kettle bells to play with. We went to a local park near my house and started right in. Because I have a significant back injury I always approach anything new with caution, but I was pleasantly surprised at how gentle this workout was on my back. Kettle bells use the body's natural motions to swing them into different positions. They build strength (joint and muscle), they elongate muscles thereby reducing tension and freeing more energy, they increase flexibility, and if you do them long enough they also build cardio endurance. I just purchased my own set and I will be adding this to my training program.

If you are interested in learning more, just do an internet search on "kettle bells" and you will find plenty of information: schools, DVD's, places to purchase, and so on.

To your health!

This month's mantra for your affirming pleasure: "I am balanced in my body, mind and spirit."

It is not enough to simply seek balance in life without a plan and without action. Using this mantra daily will help you to set the resolve in your mind to challenge yourself toward higher and higher levels of personal growth in order to achieve the grandest vision of whom and what you wish to become. This will help you to paint your life as the masterpiece it was intended to be from the beginning!

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 balanced in my body, mind and spirit" 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.

For those of you who live locally in the Sonoma County area I thought I would feature one new business each newsletter where I know the person involved and have done business with them in the past. The people featured in this section are so exceptional; they come with my highest recommendation. A different service will be featured each month for your review.

I recently switched to a new person to prepare my taxes. I was not convinced that the last person I had hired for this mundane task was really up to the job. In other words, I did not feel like "he had my back". That's where Mr. Dan Christensen fits into this picture. I met with Dan and realized immediately that this was a person who was passionate about his work. He leaves no stone unturned, listens to all concerns, insists on educating all of his clients and gets it done on time, every time. But what really set Dan apart was when I received one of those dreaded letters from the IRS stating that I owed some money from some years prior, BD (before Dan).

Dan took this challenge, wrote letters, made calls, made sense out of the tax lingo that I could not understand to save my life and in the end saved me THOUSANDS of dollars! No doubt, this man comes with my stamp of approval. I know it is not yet time to think about taxes, but I would recommend you give Dan a call to discuss having him on-board for next year. Without a doubt, Dan will have you back!

Dan Christensen,
Christensen Accountancy Corporation
1017 College Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
(707) 546-8512

Well, that's all for now. May the Warrior Spirit guide and protect you always!