Healthy Boomer Lifestyles

Redefine your New Year's resolutions

As the third week of the year’s opening month crawls near, inaugural goals enthusiastically set for 2010 already are waning.

It is a common phenomena and frustration, according to experts across the country, who say that most all New Year’s resolutions are useless if the person setting the goal does not understand or commit to the change.

Among the top of such resolutions is weight loss, and for the plus-size community, the pressure to shed extra pounds is even greater.

“Sometimes we believe in our society that happiness has a look,” said Andrea Scott, an Atlanta-based psychotherapist and women’s empowerment coach, who discourages her clients from setting New Years resolutions. “We need to see you happy and smiling at a size 16, 18 or a 20,” Scott said. “We need to constantly be redefining how happiness looks.”

Vicious cycle
Scott said the pressure and the problem is the result of commercialism and the fact that, “mainstream fashion magazines define what’s beautiful.” Couple that with unrealistic New Year goals, and the result is “a vicious cycle” of failure.

“Four to six weeks in, you’re realizing that you’ve already failed. Now you’re depressed and now you’re returning to those habits that got you where you are in the first place.”

Veteran life and health coach Joyce Dillon said the impetus of frustration from abandoned resolutions comes from a lack of understanding about one’s self.

“You’ve got to figure out what is going on in your life that you don’t already have what It is that you want,” Dillon said, who is the CEO of Atlanta-based Healthy Living and Balance, a coaching, training and personal development company. “A lot of people feel like they are a victim, like they have no control over what is happening in their life. You’ve got to get out of that mindset.”

Being aware
Dillon offered three main tips for a healthy body image:

1. Be aware of what you are eating. Ask yourself, “Are my cabinets and refrigerator filled with unhealthy food?”

2. Determine one thing you can do to start to change. Simply put, start slow.

3. Watch what you say to yourself about yourself. If you look in the mirror everyday and say, “God, I’m fat”, you are just putting back into your mind and body negativity.

Scott, who describes herself as a “laws of attraction believer”, had similar advice and said that “what people give attention to is what they receive."

“When we are in the mirror focusing on our love handles, our bellies, our thighs, that’s the energy that we’re putting out there. It’s at that point that we start to appreciate our bodies is when we can gain control over it and mold it into what we want it to be.”

Get healthy
Both women are proponents of a healthy lifestyle regardless of the size.

“I know a lot of bigger women who are plus-size, and they still eat healthy and exercise. If plus-size is your natural Godly body then that’s fine. I like women who look like themselves who are natural and feel great about it and be who we are.”

ABOUT OUR EXPERTS
See Andrea Scott, MS, NCC, LAPC, this Saturday, Jan. 9, from Noon to 2 PM for her Vision-Building Workshop from 12-2 PM in Atlanta. Visit her website for more information.

Joyce Dillon, RN, M.N frequently hosts retreats and workshops in Atlanta and across the country. Visit her website for more information on her services.

As written by Stephanie Arnold of the of Examiner.com

A Meeting Of The Hearts: The Dalai Lama And The Thirteen Grandmothers

A number of indigenous cultures have foretold a time when humanity, our future, and the earth itself were at stake--due to human folly. In a typical fairy tale, folk legend, and in our hopes and dreams, at such a time "a hero" would come forth to save us.

But suppose the hero wasn't a knight in shining armor, or all-seeing officers at an omnipotent military command central--no, suppose that the hero, or heroes, came from every corner of the earth, spoke eight languages and represented thirteen different traditions. Some traditions portray them as thirteen grandmothers, indigenous healers, called forth by dreams and prophecy to join together in prayer for the earth and its people.
 
There is in fact a counsel of thirteen elder wise women-- called the Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers. They have circled the globe, meeting with the Dalai Lama, leading healing ceremonies and prayer circles in India, Nepal, the Amazon, Alaska, Mexico, and Nicaragua. Last week they came to New York City. On Friday night, the film, For the Next Seven Generations in which filmmaker Carole Hart documents their extraordinary work, made its New York debut at the Urban Zen Center, the welcoming downtown gathering place, founded by Donna Karan. Over the weekend, the Jivamukti Yoga Center hosted the grandmothers in two evenings of prayer and healing.

In welcoming the grandmothers to Urban Zen, Donna Karan revealed that, "To be able to celebrate this film and be with the Grandmothers is a dream come true for me. Urban Zen nurtures the wisdom of the past (in wisdom and indigenous traditions), the present (in health and wellbeing), and the future (through empowering our children). The Grandmothers remind us to celebrate the spirit of Mother Earth."

Alison Rose Levy
Health journalist, coach, and advocate,
Media Director, Friends of Health
Huffington Post

Writing Wrongs™

As 2009 comes to an end it is critical for all of us to think about the thoughts, actions, behaviors and memories that are holding us back from living our life as we deeply desire.

Life and Empowerment Coach, Joyce Dillon, RN, MN and Writer/ Producer Roberta Brown- Malary have teamed up to produce the forthcoming series, Writing Wrongs™; a series about forgiveness which is currently in pre-production.

In the spirit of Writing Wrongs, Joyce has offered to facilitate a short colloquium, accompanied by a release exercise to help us all let go of any situation or person we need to forgive so we can energetically move forward in 2010.

We are inviting you to come join us to be part of this transformational film that is being created by all of us.

Come as you are- we’ll take care of the rest!

Join us at:

Date: Saturday, December 19, 2009
Time: 1:00pm- 2:00 pm
1071 Piedmont Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30309
Location: Piedmont Park (toward the end of the park- off of Monroe St at 10 Street-by the Park Tavern.) Free parking available by the restaurant.
Atlanta, Georgia

Please RSVP as soon as possible to Roberta at Roberta@shesezholdings.com . When you arrive we will have you sign a release form to be in the video.

If you have any questions about the ceremony please call Joyce Dillon at 404-881-1322 or e-mail her at jjdillon@mindspring.com.

We thank you in advance for your participation and for your support! We look forward to seeing each and every one of you.

Joyce & Roberta 

Embracing Your Divine Essence: A Group for Women in Change in Atlanta, GA

Monthly Group Starts Wednesday, October 28 - March 28, 2010 7:00-8:30 p.m.  
Are you ready to step into the next stage of your life?  This spiritual support group is for women 40 and older who are transitioning within their careers, relationships, aging processes, or spiritual paths. Our group will help women find ways to create a daily spiritual practice in meditation, prayer, sacred ritual and energy work. The group will discuss what is happening on the earth and why, and offer ways to manage the accelerated level of change that is occurring now which is manifested in each of our lives.

We will delve into questions such as:
• How can I live my entire life in alignment with my mind and spirit beliefs?
• How can I liberate myself from the patterns of my past so I can live fully in the moment?
• How can I let go of fear and doubt so I can live fearlessly?
• How can I contribute to the world?

This group will meet monthly at 275 13th Street, NE, Suite 502, Atlanta, GA 30309  The fee is $30 per month for the group session which is limited to 10 people. To participate, call 404-881-1322 ASAP to reserve your spot.

A Seven-Day Retreat in the Rainforests of Costa Rica

Healthy Living and Balance, a leading edge coaching and personal development company, announces the Consciously Living Your Life: Women’s Empowerment Retreat, held in Costa Rica,
March 5 – 11, 2010, exclusively for women.

The retreat promises participants an opportunity to relax, renew, and reinvent their life in the lush, natural surroundings of Costa Rica. At the conclusion of this seven-day retreat, participants will be able to:
• Gain clarify about your life’s path and how to let go of your past
• Use intention, energy, and meditation to change their lives
• Remove obstacles and eliminate hidden beliefs and behaviors that sabotage success
• Rewrite their life plan to include their passion and purpose

Retreat leader Joyce Dillon, RN, MN says, “There are 37 million midlife women like me out there, and we’re all at an important crossroads in our lives. We’re all looking for the best, most rewarding way to live the rest of our lives, and we want to make smart meaningful choices for self-fulfillment, spiritual connection, healthy living, meaningful career, and empowering relationships.”

Dillon is a midlife expert, author, certified life and mind-body coach, energy practitioner and CEO of Healthy Living and Balance. www.Healthylivingandbalance.com

Women tend to take on the responsibilities of generations – of our children, our parents, and ourselves. To fulfill these ambitious, even selfless goals, we need to remain vital and healthy, free in spirit, and masters at reinventing meaning and purpose in our lives.”

For the past 15 years, Joyce Dillon has helped men and women awaken to healthier, more balanced, and spiritually connected lives. Her latest effort – the Consciously Living Your Life: Women’s Empowerment Retreat – is an intimate, experiential retreat that helps women understand their powerful transitions, and how to navigate through the challenges of this spiritual, physical and emotional time of life.

Dillon says, “You are on the threshold of becoming the person you were born to be. A more authentic, deeply-living, real human being, and you are being challenged to decide how you will live the rest of your life.”

Dillon combines a Masters Degree in Mental Health Nursing, nursing consultation, and education with twenty years’ clinical experience and extensive training in coaching, mind-body medicine, meditation, energy medicine, and transformational teaching. Joyce is the author of the forthcoming book “Transformational Change at Midlife”.

She sees the Women’s Empowerment Retreat as an opportunity for women to celebrate life; gently return to deep inner power; reach their potentials; and to return energized, clear and eager to live the life they desire.

Find out more about the Women’s Empowerment Retreat at http://www.lifeempowermentretreats.comor www.Healthylivingandbalance.com or call Joyce at 404-881-1322.

Paul McCartney Rocks Green Concert in Piedmont Park, Atlanta, Georgia!

 

Outstanding show!!! 40,000 people attended, multigenerational audience, kids and grandparents dancing and having a fabulous time. Great musicians, great event. The best audience I have experienced in years. It brought back the Woodstock days  (without drugs), 150-plus minutes of music, 30-plus songs, a 67-year-old playing with the energy of a 23-year-old and poured his heart out.

Rock on Paul McCartney…

Costa Rica deemed happiest place on Earth

Recently, the second annual Happy Planet Index (HPI) named Costa Rica the happiest place on earth. Instead of using indicators like the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the HPI looks at three areas to arrive at its conclusions:

1. Life expectancy
2. Happiness (how satisfied with their lot the citizenry says they are)
3. Ecological footprint

Being a fan of Costa Rica, is doesn’t surprise me that it scored so well, but what I find interesting is that 9 of the top 10 positions were snagged by Latin American or Caribbean countries. Here are the top three:

1. Costa Rica

2. Dominican Republic

3. Jamaica

In thinking about why that part of the world scored so well, I’m wondering if the area has been able to approach first world standards in terms of health—with enviable infant mortality rates, life spans, and health care—while remaining “third world” in terms of values: favoring family over work, pleasure over duty, and environmental sustainability over destroying the land in the name of profit.

I’ve often heard it said that you can’t have economic growth without environmental degradation and an erosion of values, leaving a populace with disposable income but also a disposable culture, rootless and anxious. What I like about the results of the latest Happy Planet Index is that it suggests that developing countries might be able to pick and chose from the smorgasbord of development, sampling the good stuff (improved health, better environmental protections), while leaving the unappealing dishes untouched.

As far as how other countries did, sub-Saharan African countries didn’t fare well, the United States was number 114, China clocked in at number 20, and India at 35.

For more information on retreats in Costa Rica go to www.lifeempowermentretreats.com or e-mail jjdillon@mindspring.com

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Life changing retreat for Boomer women - Vibrant Nation

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Create a New Level of Consciousness

The Living Life to the Fullest Empowerment Retreat: Costa Rica,
August 7-13, 2009

 

Create a New Level of Consciousness

The Truth about Change

From financial recovery to personal health, people all over the world are creating powerful new beginnings.  When you increase personal potential, you affect positive change. But real and lasting change is rare.

 

Build Lasting Change Now

The Living Life to the Fullest Empowerment Retreat is a transformative pathway that builds the firm foundation you need for lasting change. Your journey includes:

 

·   Clarifying what matters most to you

·   Designing your blueprint for change

·   Consciously creating the life you want

·   Releasing old patterns and beliefs

Renewing your body, mind and spirit

 

Reach Higher Consciousness Discovering, choosing and controlling your life direction sheds outdated thinking and stimu-lates a higher level of consciousness. That’s the foundation you need for lasting change.

Relax and Refocus

in Costa Rica

Reinvent yourself in the heart of the rainforest at the Sueno Azul Resort, located in a 2,000-acre private nature reserve in Costa Rica, at the convergence of the Sardinal and Puerto Viejo Rivers.

Joyce Dillon

Retreat leader Joyce Dillon, RN, MN, is a certified life, health, and wellness coach, mind-body practitioner, trans-formational teacher and energy healer with twenty-five years of clinical experience. As CEO of Healthy Living and Balance, she helps midlife entrepreneurs, small business owners, and professionals discover their life calling and create a practical "life map" to navigate life more successfully.

Register now www.lifeempowermentretreats.com

SEVEN DAYS THAT CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE!

A Week of Deep Personal Transformation to Empower Women in
Midlife to Find and Live an Authentic Life

Join Joyce Dillon, RN, MN, Coach and Transformational Teacher

SEVEN DAYS THAT CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE!
August 7-13, 2009, Central Valley, Costa Rica

Are you at a crossroads in your life and struggling to make a
change in your career, relationship, health or deepen your
spiritual connection?

This experiential, hands-on retreat will help you navigate the
challenges you are experiencing in your journey. Our world is
experiencing turbulent times as we all shift our level of
consciousness. You are on the threshold of becoming the person
you were born to be, a more authentic, deeply living, real human
being.

You are being challenged to decide how you will live!

We would like to extend a special invitation for you to be part
of an exclusive group of women who have the opportunity to work
closely with Joyce and a group of powerful midlife women in this
life changing experience.

Special VIP registration discount offer of $1,997.00. This is
$400 off the regular rate. (Your )You must make a deposit before
May 31, 2009 to get the discounted rate.

Space is limited and we recommend you (your) reserve your space
now.

Go to www.Lifeempowermentretreats.com for trip details or call
404-881-1322.

I look forward to seeing you in Costa Rica!