What motivates us to take action? Think about the last time you took significant action in your life. Perhaps it was beginning an exercise program, or making a commitment to eat better. Perhaps it was putting more time and energy into your personal relationships, doing something to help family or friends. Perhaps it centered on your chosen career and a project needing completion at work. Perhaps you formed a neighborhood watch program. What motivated you to take action on any of those things?

Have you ever noticed that for many of us significant action is stimulated from a place of pain and fear? Your doctor tells you are pre-diabetic. You come home and your family has moved out. The boss called you on the carpet for sloppy work and attention to detail. Your friend was beaten and robbed while jogging alone after dark. Name the scenario; it all still boils down to the same core issue, reacting after the fact.

I teach information to people on a variety of subjects that can all help to relieve unwanted pain. However, typically my services are urgently requested as the result of an event that caused significant pain and suffering, triggering a massive fear response that demanded "something is done" NOW! Why do we wait for an event to initiate a knee jerk response to action? Is this human nature or just a sign of our culture? Regardless, nothing creates a call to action more than the suffering of a significant event.

When analyzing a specific event, one thing has become crystal clear to me over these many years of teaching. In virtually every case the event, whatever form it has taken, was predictable. If we know that is something is predictable, then without a doubt it is also preventable. I can't tell you the number of people who approach me after one of my training seminars that have told me the signs for "their event" were sitting right in front of them the entire time. Signs that pointed toward developing cardiovascular disease, hypertension, obesity, vulnerability to attack, a nervous breakdown, their significant other leaving...you name it!

I tell you that there is nothing worse than the crushing realization that you have contributed to your own situation or victimization. Nothing! It drives to the core of one's being and can take years to resolve once the damage is done.

Please, just take just five minutes right now to reflect on an area of your life where an unwanted outcome is likely without some action. Stop waiting for the other shoe to drop. Quit living your life by default and take control over your destiny. Develop a plan and then take some action BEFORE something happens. Yes it takes effort, yes it can be difficult, yes it can be inconvenient, but the potential savings has a value beyond the minor discomfort you may feel at having to take the action. Hire a personal trainer, take a training seminar, go back to school, start a martial arts class, hire a nutritionist, get a medical exam, start a neighborhood watch program. Just take action, it just may save your life!

Type 2 Diabetes: Are You Heading Down a Dangerous Road? By Lynn Ravazzini, Owner: Nutrition Within, Lynn4nutrition@sbcglobal.net

Diabetes in the United States and around the world is at an all-time high. According to the World Health Organization,

• At least 171 million people worldwide have diabetes, and that number is expected to double in the next 20 years.
• Diabetes is one of the world's leading causes of premature death; every year 3.2 million people die from diabetes or its complications. That's approximately 6 deaths per minute!

In the United States, about 21 million people have diabetes, including 6 million who don't know they have it. Another 54 million people have pre-diabetes (blood glucose levels that are higher than normal).

A Dangerous Destination

Diabetes occurs when a person's body cannot produce enough insulin or utilize the insulin it produces, causing a buildup of potentially damaging blood sugar in the bloodstream. People with diabetes have a very high risk of developing:

• cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and stroke
• blindness
• nerve damage
• kidney damage
• ulceration and subsequent limb amputation
• other harmful complications

Different Types of Diabetes

While there are different types of diabetes, type 2 diabetes (formerly called "adult onset" diabetes) is by far the most prevalent, accounting for 90%-95% of all cases. Type 2 diabetes is the result of diets high in refined, processed foods loaded with simple carbohydrates, or sugars, and sedentary lifestyles. Fortunately, it is considered highly preventable.

Other kinds of diabetes include type 1 (which occurs in people whose bodies do not produce sufficient insulin and who require daily injections to survive) and gestational diabetes, which may occur during pregnancy. Women with gestational diabetes have a high probability of going on to develop type 2 diabetes.

Rarely, diabetes may also be caused by surgery, drugs, malnutrition, infections, and other illnesses.

Contrary to what some people believe, there is no "mild" form of diabetes; all types are potentially life threatening and require care and attention.

Warning Signs That You May Be At Risk

Many people are unaware that they are diabetic. That's because in its early stages, type 2 diabetes is a silent disease with no outward symptoms.

If you have the following, you may already have, or be on a road to developing, type 2 diabetes:

• hyperglycemia (elevated blood sugar)
• central obesity ("apple shape")
• hypertension (high blood pressure)

The Importance of Early Detection

The good news is you can reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes naturally with a therapeutic lifestyle that includes a healthier diet and exercise. Additionally, there are medical foods and supplements that specifically support the nutritional needs of people with this condition.

If you are interested in learning more about natural approaches to preventing or managing type 2 diabetes, call my office today. Together we can develop a plan to help you get back on the road to good health!

Want to wake up your body in the morning? Want to supercharge your oomph. Want to create a blast of energy that can help you boost your immune response? Try a Russian Shower! I'm sure this has created a potentially disturbing word picture in your mind, but let me assure you this is safe, good, clean fun. I learned this from training with my Russian Systema (martial arts) friends. It's called "dousing".

What is required is going out onto the snow covered ground, dipping a large pail into nearly frozen lake water and then pouring it over your head. Now, doesn't that sound fun?!? OK, granted, in Russia this procedure is a bit harsh, so I'm going to give you the American version...AKA, the one most of us can live with in our soft, candy-ass real world.

While you are taking your normal shower just enjoy the temperature any way you like it. At the end of your shower, right before you get out, turn the hot water completely off. Wait for the cold water to come on fully, and stand under the chilling stream for about 5 seconds. Trust me, it is not as bad as it sounds and the results are amazing. You will feel immediately energized, not from shock but from this huge release of energy from the core of your body. This actually creates an instant, short burst of increased temperature in your body as a response. You will simply be fully alert, awake and energized to start your day. The Russians believe this is one of the keys to helping prevent colds and other disease in the body...I don't know about all that, but I can tell you it is a fantastic way to start your day!

This month's mantra for your affirming pleasure:

"I have the vision, strength and purpose to take action now!"

Sometimes taking action feels like a huge step. It can be difficult to add anything to our overfilled plates in life. One more thing sometimes feels like it just might push us over the edge! But in most cases this is just coming from the place of thinking like a victim not a survivor. Once you indulge this victim thinking, it spirals into all aspects of your life until you are living in quite desperation. This mantra, "I have the vision, strength and purpose to take action now!" is a empowerment mantra that can help you to gain the inner conviction to take action on that aspect of your life you want to change.

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 have the vision, strength and purpose to take action now!" to yourself for the next five minutes. Say this mantra with conviction and emotional content! Get fired up! 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.

Edge Carpet Care is one of those owner /operator carpet and upholstery cleaning services. I personally look for owner / operator companies because the quality of work is always better than the chains who hire questionable people making very little money to do their work. I don't know about you, but having someone you can trust come into your home is pretty high on my priority list! Edge Carpet Care is owned by Eric Rasmussen and he is offering tremendous specials for the holidays. I've seen this guy get stains out that were...well, I'll just leave that to your imagination!! Tell Eric you heard about his business from me and he will take good care of you.

Edge Carpet Care
Eric Rasmussen - Owner / Operator
(707) 292-7644
Serving Sonoma, Marin and Lake Counties.

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

Rodger.