Category: Self Improvement / Healthy Living

Self Improvement / Healthy Living

Special Introduction to the Landmark Forum for Veterans in NYC

Michael Anthony

On Wednesday, June 27, an introduction to The Landmark Forum will be held in New York City for military veterans and their friends / families / communities.  The Landmark Forum is a 3.5-day seminar centering on a unique and seldom-studied area of practical philosophy known as “ontology.” In independent research, more than 94% of participants surveyed reported that The Landmark Forum made a “profound and lasting difference” in their lives. In addition to the benefits participants expected to receive, they reported entirely unexpected benefits, including:

*More satisfaction, peace of mind, happiness, and enjoyment in their jobs, studies, and other pursuits
*Better relationships with co-workers, families & friends
*Renewed ability to create career opportunities; clarity to make important decisions regarding one’s future career
*New ability to be fully self-expressed; freedom from resentment and regret
DETAILS: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 2012 FROM 7-10 PM AT THE LANDMARK CENTER IN NEW YORK CITY (317A W.33RD ST–33RD AND 8TH AVE).
COST: FREE OF CHARGE
SPACE IS LIMITED; TO SAVE A SEAT, email Jim Day at jim.day@1998.usna.com
http://landmarkforveterans.wordpress.com/

 

Related Posts:

Landmark Forum – A Thorough Review.

Landmark Forum – Videos from Veterans.

Self Improvement / Healthy Living

Vegan Infant and her Grandmother…

Michael Anthony

Just read this funny advice article and watned to share it.  A grandmother wanted to give her granddaughter some non-vegan food.  It ended up taking a weird, funny, sad turn.  Let me know your thoughts in the comments section.  Was the grandmother right or was the daughter-in-law right?

Emily Yoffe, aka Dear Prudence, is on Washingtonpost.com weekly to chat live with readers.

Emily Yoffe: Good afternoon. Let’s get to it.

Q. Vegan Baby: My ex-daughter-in-law has full custody of my 18-month-old granddaughter “Kimmy.” We always had a strained relationship, even more so after the bitter divorce she and my son went through, but I was able to get her to agree to let me visit my grandchild once a month. Last month I took her out to a park and fed her a nutritious lunch and snacks. When “Irene” found out I had fed Kimmy meat and cheese, she chided me for not respecting her decision to not feed Kimmy animal products. I am convinced that depriving my grandbaby of nutritious meat and dairy (except for her mother’s milk) is abusive, and I called the authorites. Now Irene won’t let me see Kimmy anymore, but the authorities haven’t done anything either, as far as I know. I’m so sad and angry. And worried for my sweet little Kimmy! What can I do to make sure she gets well fed and taken care of?

A: That was quite a lunch, Grandma. It has ensured that instead of being a loving presence in your granddaughter’s life, and a bridge to her father’s family, you are probably forever persona non grata. All because of a Happy Meal. You have turned a single visit into a reason Irene will probably one day tell Kimmy that sadly her grandmother is a dangerous person who tried to have Kimmy taken away from her, so that’s why she can’t see Daddy’s family anymore. After a bitter custody battle, your daughter-in-law graciously allowed you visitation—something she was not obligated to do. You needed to be extra careful not to say or do anything that would sever this delicate connection. Instead, in response to a “chiding” by Irene for deliberately flouting one of her child-rearing requests, you called the authorities to report her an an abuser. I’m not surprised that Child Protective Services hasn’t acted—lack of ham and Swiss doesn’t rise to the same level of concern as beating and molestation. Yes, it takes special attention to nutrition to raise a vegan baby, but probably half the children in Berkeley, Calif. would be removed from their homes if this constituted child abuse. For the sake of shoving a milkshake and cheesburger into your grandkid, you’ve deprived her of the sustenance of a relationship with her grandmother. But given the obliviousness of your letter, perhaps this is for the best.

Link to the actual article: Link.

Self Improvement / Healthy Living

Interview with Lindsay Nixon the Happy Herbivore – Part 2

Michael Anthony

Lindsay Nixon the happy herbivore interviewLindsay Nixon is a chef and the author of two vegan cookbooks: The Habby Herbivore and Everyday Happy Herbivore (and a third one is on the way: Happy Herbivore Abroad).  You can follow her blog at: HappyHerbivore.com.

Q: Your second book was recently released which is another great cookbook, Everyday Happy Herbivore, and I know that you’ve been a blogger for some time now, but how did you make the jump into becoming a best-selling author? What was the process like for you?

A: You can read about how I got my first book deal here:

http://happyherbivore.com/2011/12/how-i-got-my-book-deal/

and read about my life as an author here:

http://happyherbivore.com/2011/10/how-i-make-living-hint-its-not-blogging/

I attribute all my success to my fans and their word of mouth campaign. They made me a best seller.

Q: I know what it’s like to publish a basic non-fiction book—a lot of going back and forth with editors, fix this, change this, get rid of that—but what is it like for a cookbook? Does the editor or someone at the publishing company have to try the recipes before they make it into the book? Or is that just a bonus for them?

A: I have a team of testers so by the time my publisher gets my manuscript all the recipes are fully tested and ready for print. All I do with my publisher is discuss layout, the design for the cover and my copyeditor cleans up my grammar where necessary.

Q: For those vegan and vegetarians who have recipes of their own, what tips do you recommend if they want to get their cookbook published?

A: It’s a really tough business and there’s no money in it, even if your book is a best-seller. The market is so over saturated with vegan books that you have to have a totally new idea– something that hasn’t been done yet. You also have to have a large and very supportive fan base; you need their help to get the word out about your book and you need them for a publisher to find you attractive.

It also has to be about passion — I can’t harp on that enough. It can’t be about fame or money. Most books don’t make it. Most authors don’t see much money for their work. To have a successful book, you have to work harder than you’ve ever worked and with the sobering reality that your book still might not make it — and the only way you’ll do that is if you have unrelenting passion.

For those who are really serious, check out the 2012 Guide to Literary Agents and prepare for lots of rejection.

Q: What was the hardest part of the publishing process?

A: self-doubt.

Q: What was the best part about becoming an author?

A: Knowing that my books are helping people eat better. I get to play a small part in changing peoples lives. That is the most rewarding gift of all. It’s why I do what I do.

Q: Both your books combined give us over three hundred recipes. That’s an insane amount of options, and it seems like you’ve already covered everything–there can’t be too many things that you haven’t already put in the books. So is that it, or can we expect more great recipes in the future. Anything good you’re working on now?

A: Happy Herbivore Abroad will be here December 4, 2012 and I’ve just signed on to write three more cookbooks.

 

Read Part One Of This Interview: Part One of an Interview with Lindsay Nixon The Happy Herbivore

 

Best Of, Self Improvement / Healthy Living, Self Improvement / Healthy Living

Interview with Lindsay Nixon the Happy Herbivore

Michael Anthony

Lindsay Nixon the happy herbivore interviewLindsay Nixon is a chef and the author of two vegan cookbooks: The Habby Herbivore and Everyday Happy Herbivore (and a third one is on the way: Happy Herbivore Abroad).  You can follow her blog at: HappyHerbivore.com.
Q: Your first book, The Happy Herbivore, features over 175 healthy vegan recipes, which is a huge number of recipes—most people, myself included, probably only know a dozen—so I’ve gotta ask, what keeps you going recipe after recipe?

A: What keeps a painter painting? Exactly 🙂

Q: What’s would you recommend for someone who wants to start coming up with their own recipes?

A: Get in the kitchen and try. Find your own style and vision. Don’t be afraid to fail.

Q: Your recipes are all healthy and vegan, but sometimes it’s hard to get someone to eat something healthy, and I’ve heard the best way to do it is a little bit at a time. So if you were trying to convince someone to start eating healthy, what’s the first thing you’d tell them to do; give up sugar, give up meat, give up dairy or wheat, etc?

A: If nothing else, give up dairy. It’s the worst. It’s a good starting point, too but I find most people have better success (long-term) when they make a total 180 rather than take baby steps, but we all have to do what’s best for us.

Q: You’ve mentioned to me that your father and brother-in-law both served in the military, and for all those veterans who are vegans/vegetarians or are thinking about becoming one, what tips can you give for when they’re out in the field or are deployed to a secluded area where a Whole Foods, or any grocery store for that matter , aren’t available? (I.E. What vegan snacks/foods would you recommend for a very, very, very long camping trip?)

A: A friend of mine is a vegetarian in the Army. He’s been deployed twice and both times they had vegetarian options in the field, which I think is fantastic. He also has a lot of care packages sent from the states. I sent him instant oatmeal, granola bars, trail mix, packets of peanut butter.

I’d have sent canned beans if they weren’t so heavy!

Another friend of mine works for the UN and spent about a year in rural Africa doing humanitarian relief work. She stayed vegan the entire time; she got by eating the vegetables and grains she could find (including digging yuca roots from the ground) and she took a suitcase full of mori-nu tofu.

I also took a class last summer on edible wild plants and will never look at the ground the same. Anyone who is camping or being stationed abroad (assuming it’s not the desert) absolutely should take one of those classes. You’ll never go hungry if their are leaves, weeds, flowers and roots to eat. Some are quite tasty!

Q: When you’re working on a new recipe how long does it take before you’re happy with it?

A: It depends. Most recipes I nail it on the first try. Others take a second go, a small tweak or something. A small handful took over 5 tries, but I really wanted it to work so I kept trying. Usually if it’s not a win first time I move on to something new.

Q: How do you decide which recipes make it into the book?

A: I have a large group of testers. Their feedback determines everything.

Q: Favorite recipe from The Happy Herbivore Cookbook?

A: Asking a chef to pick their favorite recipe is like asking a parent to pick their favorite kid 🙂

Q: You’ve got another book that recently came out, Everyday Happy Herbivore; what can we expect from your new book that wasn’t in your first?

A: EHH came out last December- – and I have a new book coming out this December, Happy Herbivore Abroad.

My first book (HHC) is all about comfort foods — recreating healthy and vegan versions of foods we grew up with like “fried” chicken, or “meatball subs” or pizza. EHH is more of a streamlined “back to basics” cookbook. HH Abroad, as the name suggestions, is international cuisine.

Q: Any last tips for someone trying to cook a healthy vegan meal?

A: Stick to the basics: fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes.

Read Part Two Of This Interview: Part Two of an Interview with Lindsay Nixon The Happy Herbivore

Blogishness, Self Improvement / Healthy Living

Landmark Forum Video’s From Veteran’s

Michael Anthony

I’ve had a few posts about the Landmark Forum, my first was a thorough review, and the second, most recent one, talked about how Landmark is holding free forum’s for Veteran’s.  Well, recently, I came across some videos with veteran’s talking about their experiences with Landmark and I thought it’d be relevant to share.

The first video is Tim Maloney a Vietnam Veteran:

[tube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzXKgxGYDPk&[/tube]

 

The Second one is Gary Rideout a Desert Storm Veteran:

[tube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVltnOyhY8Y&[/tube]

 

Related Posts:

The Landmark Forum for Veterans

My Thorough Review of the Landmark Forum

 

Blogishness, Self Improvement / Healthy Living, Uncategorized

INTRODUCTION TO THE LANDMARK FORUM FOR VETERANS

Michael Anthony

Where:  317A W. 33rd St. (in Manhattan—33rd and 8th Ave near Penn Station), New York, NY

When:  Monday, March 26, 2012 at 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm (all guests are requested to arrive by 6:45 pm)

Cost: Free of charge

The Landmark Forum is a 3.5-day seminar centering on a unique and seldom-studied area of practical philosophy known as “ontology.” In independent research, more than 94% of participants surveyed reported that The Landmark Forum made a “profound and lasting difference” in their lives. In addition to the benefits participants expected to receive, they reported entirely unexpected benefits, including:

• More satisfaction, peace of mind, happiness, and enjoyment in their jobs, studies, and other pursuits.

• Better relationships with co-workers, families & friends.

• Renewed ability to create career opportunities; clarity to make important decisions regarding one’s future career.

• New ability to be fully self-expressed; freedom from resentment and regret.

In this evening you’ll have the opportunity to learn about the Landmark Forum, connect with other Veterans and potentially discover some of the decisions you’ve made in your past that, the knowledge of which, will have a profound impact on your future.

Your family members, friends, co-workers are absolutely invited as well.

As indicated in the flyer, this Special Introduction is being held on Monday, March 26th, at 7:00 PM (arrive at 6:45 PM), at Landmark Education’s Manhattan location: 317-A West 33rd St. (between 8th & 9th Aves.) (closer to 8th Ave., on the North/uptown side of 33rd St.)

To reserve a seat, email Karen Aramino at: karamino@landmarkeducation.net

CLICK HERE TO READ MY REVIEW OF THE LANDMARK FORUM

 

Best Of, Blogishness, Blogishness, Self Improvement / Healthy Living, Writing

Five Tips to Writing an MFA Personal Statement

Michael Anthony

writing an MFA personal statementSo, I’ve decided to get myself an MFA in creative writing.  I’m applying to four different universities and I’ve been killing myself for the past few weeks trying to write my personal statement.  I’ve been scouring the web, reading books, talking to people and doing everything possible.  I’ve done over a dozen drafts and here’s what I’ve learned so far:

1)     Like all writing, you’ve got to catch the reader’s attention.  The professors who search through the hundreds (or thousands) of grad school applications, and personal statements, are going to need something to remember you.  It’s easier to remember a grad school applicant who stands out than someone who doesn’t.  And sometimes it can be what you write, the way you write, or what you don’t write.  I read a story about a grad school applicant whose entire personal statement consisted of: I want to go to your school because I want to learn from the best and be the best.  He got accepted into a program at Stanford.  But even if you just pepper in some casual, but interesting, information, it’d work just as well.  Tell them about that 400lb fish you caught.  Tell them about your year backpacking across Europe.  It’s best to not only focus on your academics, but also do something, anything that catch’s their attention and makes you stand out.

2)     A grad school application and personal statement should be flawlessly written.  You’re not writing a blog post or an essay for freshman English.  You’ve already got a degree, and now they’re expecting perfection.  This could be one of the most important essays that you ever write.  The difference between a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s is huge, so put in the effort.

3)     Don’t come off as a braggart.  The application and personal statement is about selling you, but it still has to be done in an unobtrusive manner.  Don’t just tell them how great you are; show them by explaining your accomplishments and sharing personal stories…which brings us to…

4)     Put yourself in the essay.  Don’t try to make it sound too academic.  The people who are going to be looking through the essays want to know who you are.  As stated in above, add in little tidbits about yourself and make them personal.  Don’t just mention the award you won or the paper you published, talk about how your father influenced your writing or how you mother believed in you.

5)     As always, rewrite, rewrite and rewrite.

Deadlines aren’t for another few weeks, but as soon as I find out I’ll give an update on whether or not my techniques worked.

Update: Just to let you know, I got accepted into every grad school program that I applied to.  So the techniques work!

Related Article:  Is it worth it to get an MFA in creative writing?

Best Of, Blogishness, Self Improvement / Healthy Living, Self Improvement / Healthy Living

20 Ways to Improve Your Mood and Enjoy Your Life

Michael Anthony

We’ve all had those days when we “woke up on the wrong side of the bed,” and we just couldn’t help but be miserable. Sometimes, this mood will last days, or even weeks, and it begins to take over our lives. With so many potential causes of stress (i.e. job, family, finances, etc.) it can be difficult to look beyond the stress and see the good in life, but it is
important that you try. A happier mood can start a positive cycle in your life, and a better outlook can, in turn, make you feel better.  When you are happy, others want to be around you. A happy mood can improve your health and help you get better sleep. Work can seem easier, more fun, and your day may appear to go by faster. This change in mood doesn’t have to be difficult. There are many small things you can do to improve your mood each day.

Exercise
– This is definitely the best way to improve your mood. Exercise releases chemicals in the brain that make us happy. It doesn’t have to be an intense workout either. Simply taking a walk or strolling through the mall will help.

  1. Meditate – Spend 10 to 15 minutes just sitting in a quiet room. Turn off your phone, close the door, and just focus on your breathing.
  2. Get Organized – Marginal chaos is unavoidable, but too much clutter can cause stress, anxiety, and even depression. Take on one space at a time, and before you know it, your home, office, car, and everywhere else you go will be neat, and you can find a space to relax.
  3. Set Achievable Goals – Sometimes big projects can seem overwhelming, but breaking them down into smaller tasks can be a bit more manageable. When you achieve each goal, you can feel a sense of accomplishment and make yourself happier in the process.
  4. Call a Friend – Actually pick up the phone and call someone. Talking to and laughing with a friend can make even the worst day better.
  5. Write a Letter – Don’t just email; actually sit down with a pen and write a letter.  Write to someone you haven’t talked to in a while and tell them whatever will make their day. Let them know how much you care and it may cheer you up as well.
  6. Take a Bath – Even if you have already showered for the day, sitting in a warm bath in a quiet room will help you relax and let go of any tension.
  7. Start a Journal – Putting your thoughts onto paper can help you deal with the struggles and celebrate the accomplishments in your life. Writing it all down can help you let go of bad thoughts and start fresh.
  8. Plan an Event – Plan a lunch date or a dinner party with your friends and put it on your calendar. With the event on paper, you will have something to look forward to, and you can physically see some of the blessings in your life.
  9. Start a Hobby – Try painting, photography, scrapbooking, or whatever else may interest you. Use your hobby to escape and forget about your stress for a while. Make sure your hobby doesn’t become a chore. Have fun.
  10. Let in the Sunshine – Go outside or stand in a sunny window for a few minutes and soak up the vitamin-D. It’s been proven that sunshine on our skin releases hormones that make us feel good.
  11. Volunteer – You may think that you don’t have time or that you don’t have the skills, but the truth is, everyone has the ability to help other. I’m sure there are two or three hours every month when you have some free time. Even this small amount of time could make a huge difference in someone else’s life.
  12. Donate to Charity – Giving to charity will definitely make you feel better about yourself. Even the smallest amounts ($5 or $10) can help make a dent in the funds necessary for these charities to be successful. Just pick which cause you want to support and send in any amount you can afford. You will be glad you did.
  13. Listen to Music – Listening to my favorite song always puts me in a better mood. Whether you prefer upbeat pop or soothing classical music, your favorite tunes are sure to help your bad day.
  14. Dance – You don’t have to be a professional or dance in public, but if you just move around and release some of your tension, your mood will improve.
  15. Laugh – It really is true that “laughter is the best medicine,” especially when it comes to your mood. Laughter or simply smiling will release endorphins to cheer you up.
  16. Touch Your Toes – Most people store their tension in their hips. Bend over and touch your toes, or get as close as you can, and hold that position for a few moments.  Then roll up slowly and think about releasing all of that tension.
  17. Read a Good Book – Find a relaxing place to sit and read. Get lost in the story and set aside your worries for a while.
  18. Forgive Yourself – We all have something we regret in our past. Think of all of those pitfalls, write them down if you have to, and let them go. You deserve forgiveness, and you shouldn’t hold on to your regrets.
  19. Think About Tomorrow – Even on your worst days, you can always remember that tomorrow will be new. Spend a few minutes reflecting on your accomplishments and what you hope to accomplish in the future. There are many blessings in your life, even if you may not feel blessed now. Let go of the bad, and start again tomorrow.

Vanessa Lang is an author who writes guest posts on the topics of business, marketing, credit cards, and personal finance.  Additionally, she works for a website that focuses on educating readers about http://www.paydayloansonlineresource.org/average-interest-rates-for-payday-loans

 

Blogishness, Self Improvement / Healthy Living

Allergies: Neti Pot, EFT, Vitamin C, Local Honey and Allergen Removers – Update

Michael Anthony

So, I’ve been committed to getting rid of my allergies for the past two weeks, and here’s what I’ve come up with.  I decided the best approach to take care of something is to  do the burning head approach.  (Think of a person with their hair on fire, they’ll do whatever it takes to put the flame out–so that’s how I attacked my allergies.)  I tried out a Neti Pot, EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) Acupuncture, increased Vitamin-C, new hypoallergenic pillow and a new allergen remover/air purifier.

(I’ll break down each technique and then let you know what worked, didn’t work, how it may help you, and how my allergies are now doing.)

Neti Pot: A salt water mixture that you pour down your nose that’s supposed to clear up your sinuses.

Everyone talks about how great the Neti Pots are.  Although I wasn’t excited about pouring water down my nose, I figured I’d give anything a shot.  For the first few days the Neti Pot worked great and whenever I wanted to clean my nose (right when I woke up and right before bed) I would use half a packet of Neti Solution.  The Neti pot helped me clean out my nose when I was really stuffed… However, after a few days, my nose started to feel really weird and I felt as though I were getting a sinus infection–once I stopped using the Neti Pot, the feeling went away.  I haven’t used one since.

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT): A technique where an EFT trained practitioner taps Meridian Points throughout your body and asks you to say things, and think things, while they tap the points.

This technique did not work for my allergies, at all; however, it did work really well for a spout of writers block that I was experiencing–seriously, it works great for writers block.  I’d give this a shot again.  Maybe not for allergies, but for other issues like procrastination, etc.

Accupuncture: A trained practitioner sticks needles on different Meridian Points throughout the body.

I was debating on whether or not to do acupuncture considering that the first session, on average, cost $150.00–that seemed like a pretty steep price considering that I had no idea if it’d work or not, and considering that most acupuncturists said that things like allergies would take multiples session, and even after multiple sessions it could still not work.  Finally, though, I found an acupuncturist who offered a trial session for $50.00.   The woman stuck needles in my hands and feet (none of them hurt except for one in my hand) and then I sat on a table and slept for a half hour.  The session was pretty relaxing, but it didn’t help my allergies.

Increased Vitamin-C: Helps with your immune system.

I’ve read a lot of research about how Vitamin-C is one of those miracle vitamins that taken in hair dosages can help cure a whole spectrum of illnesses (since it’s water soluble you don’t have to worry about taking too much as long as you’re drinking water).   I started taking 1,000mg of Vitamin-C, a day, and so far it’s working really well.  I used to have to take medicine every day for my allergies (Claritin, Zyrtex, Allegra, etc) and now I don’t need any thing, I just make sure I take plenty of Vitamin-C.  Even with my increased Vitamin-C, though, I still do sneeze a lot and occasionally I still get watery and itchy eyes (occasionally versus I used to get it every day) but for the most part there is a drastic reduction in symptoms.

Hepa Allergen Air Purifier: Helps clean pollen, dust and allergy related particles from the air.

It’s hard to tell what”s having the biggest improvement on my allergies, either the increased Vitamin-C or my new air purifier.  Although, I don’t use the air purifier every day (I find its not necessary every day) on the days that I do use it, I can definitely feel the difference and it definitely helps me sleep better at night.

Conclusion: In the past two weeks I’ve had a significant reduction in my allergy symptoms, one I’ve never seen since I’ve had them (ever since I got back from Iraq) and I credit an increased about of Vitamin-C and a good air purifier.

It’s important to remember, though, that different things work for different people.  Acupuncture, Neti Pots, and EFT didn’t seem to work for me, but they might work for someone else.  What I would recommend is giving everything a try.  Again, imagine a person with their hair on fire, they’re going to do whatever they can to put the fire out; to get rid of allergies you/we need to do the same thing.  Try everything (within safe bounds) and anything to get rid of these damn allergies.

So…although I still have allergies, my symptoms have severely decreased.

Michael Anthony is an Iraq War Veteran and is the Author of: Mass Casualties: A Young Medic’s True Story of Death, Destruction, and Dishonor in Iraq.