This has been a reality check for many if it hasn’t hit home yet.  She is young and a beauty,  but she has been faced with a challenge that many of us have not yet.  A superstar in her own right and nothing less than pure talent.  I came across her story at least a years past and marvel in her strength and ability to surpass.

Her name is Measha Breuggergosman and she is a Canadian Vocal Artist.   She has struggled through and dealt with a dibilitating heart condition at a rediculously young age. Most of us as ladies don’t expect it until we’re much older but Measha has proven it wrong  …and that can be rediculously scary.

“Usually they find that you’ve had an aortic tear in the autopsy; it has an  87-per-cent mortality rate,” says Brueggergosman, now 34. “So I’m in the lucky  13 per cent.”
Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/Healthy+heart+happy+heart+Soprano+Measha+Brueggergosman/6185471/story.html#ixzz1nBNXHwA5

Simply put, she is very lucky to be alive!   She has transpired her diagnosis!  …So,  here is a treat! … Love is the  ultimate power!  Passion surpasses!  We are fortunate to have her vocals amongst us.

Click on the link to hear something special.

http://youtu.be/Vqwls2dMTyw

This week I wanted to take your mid week motivator and focus on Love itself. Well what is Love exactly you may ask? Kathleen McDonald has a wonderful book out there called How to Meditate. In it she defines love like this. “Love, also called ‘loving-kindness,’ is wanting others to be happy. …Genuine love is universal in scope, extending to everyone, without exception.”

Here’s a quick rundown for you but if you do not already own her book, it’s a great addition to any collection.

-Imagine all living beings around you… those who have and have not hurt you.
-Consider how nice it would be, for yourself and others, if you were able to love all beings.
-Generate a feeling of love in your heart.
-Love yourself. Before you can truly love others you need to love yourself. Forgive yourself.
-Meditate on love for others. Start with those close to you.
-Now meditate on some people you are not so close to.
-Turn to those now whom you have difficulties with.
-Concentrate on this feeling of love to all others around you.
-Know that you have the potential to love everyone.
-Conclude and dedicate your meditation to all beings, ‘with the wish that they find happiness and enlightenment.”

Enjoy the clip below for a guided Metta/Loving Kindness Meditation!

Form: Lie sideways on an exercise mat. Extend your bottom arm. Place your foot next to the thigh of the bottom leg. Slowly lift your bottom leg as high as you can (Note: range of motion will be very short).

Return to the starting position, perform on opposite leg and repeat.

I had definately shed a tear or a couple more when I had learned of his passing. His presence at a conference I was at was tangible even though his brain tumor only allowed him to be present via sattelite.

He was the pioneer in discovering the mind-body-Heart connection. Deepak and him had worked together for over 20 years and have given birth to many programs, seminars, at the Chopra Centre, written many books and have presented around the world.

His mind was genius and he had a connection to the Universe that was visible.

Here are a few lines from one of his favorite poems by Hafiz.

The Sun Never Says

Even
after
all this time
the sun never says to the earth,
“You owe me.”
Look
what happens
with a love like that —
It lights the whole world.

So sign on to the Chopra Centre via email or facebook and join a sea of people who will do the meditation challenge to improve the practice in their lives, but will do it in rememberance of Dr. David Simon.

See you in the Gap!

Here is a heart healthy recipe for your kids… and you! No need to look any further this evening. Go ahead and enjoy an extra few minutes with the loved one’s in your life!

Bon Apetit!

Turkey and apple meatballs

Serves 5

Apple works well with turkey, giving it a subtle sweetness. These meatballs are sure to be a hit. Serve them with applesauce to dip or over whole-grain noodles or brown rice.

Ingredients
■1 lb (500 g) extra lean ground turkey
■1 cup (250 mL) panko (Japanese breadcrumbs) or regular dry breadcrumbs
■1 cup (250 mL) grated, peeled apple (about 1 apple)
■2 eggs
■1 tsp (5 mL) onion powder
■½ tsp (2 mL) black pepper

Directions
1.Preheat the oven to 400º F (200º C) cover a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
2.In a large bowl combine all the ingredients and mix very well. Using an ice cream scoop, form the mixture into balls, smaller than a golf ball. Make 15 meatballs.
3.Place the meatballs on the cookie sheet and cook for 15 minutes. Flip them over and cook for an additional 10 minutes and until they are no longer pink inside.
4.Serve immediately.

Nutritional information per serving
(3 meatballs)
■Calories: 225
■Protein: 20 g
■Total fat: 10 g ■Saturated fat: 3 g
■Dietary cholesterol: 134 mg

■Carbohydrate: 13 g ■Dietary fibre: 1 g

■Sodium: 111 mg
■Potassium: 235 mg

Developed by Nadine Day, RD. ©The Heart and Stroke Foundation

I sure am looking forward to this book! I hope you enjoy!

Louise L. Hay, the author of the international bestseller You Can Heal Your Life, is a metaphysical lecturer and teacher with more than 50 million books sold worldwide. For more than 30 years, she has helped people throughout the world discover and implement the full potential of their own creative powers for personal growth and self-healing. She has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and many other TV and radio programs both in the U.S. and abroad. Websites: www.LouiseHay.com® and www.HealYourLife.com® Facebook page: www.Facebook.com/LouiseLHay
…Amazon…

Of course we know that when we work out we need to hydrate more than if we weren’t. But how much is enough?

Interesting information via Health Canada gives us great guidelines to follow.

For adults 19years and older:
Women need to drink 2.2L (approx. 9 cups) of fluid per day.
Pregnant women need 2.3L (approx. 10 cups) of fluid per day.
Men need to drink 3L (approx. 13 cups) of fluid per day.

If you’re highly active or sweat a lot “you will need even more.”

“Studies show that cool drinks are more satisfying to the palate and thus encourage exercisers to drink before, during and after physical activity”.

Next time you head in for your workout, double check that you have enough and have had enough to drink!