Reflecting on...

At the beginning on this course, when I first found out that we'd be submitting a piece of writing for publication, I grew really nervous. I've always enjoyed writing and have always wanted to be a published writer, but didn't think I'd submit something so soon. Now, having done it, I'm excited to continue writing and continue submitting my work to various publication outlets. Instead of submitting an article for publication, I ended up submitting a poem I wrote two weeks ago about a very emotional occurance within my work environment that emotionally crushed a lot of people.
This class reawakened my writer within, and I'm excited to continue moving forward with my writing. I hope to write a natural healing and/or holistic nutrition book some day, but I'd also like to get a lot of my creative writing published as well.

Smile. And have a happy heart.

For some, life is but a dreadful battle amongst the living
An unenjoyable task to live the day to day life of pretending
A crying soul, unheard
Drowned out by our own commotion

Had she seen a flower, her fate may have been different
Instead, robbing herself of her life is what she chose
Fallen leaves lay upon her, a sad soul set free
Now only a memory, need remember, you are never alone

A Compilation of Thoughts

I don't know what to write. I don't know what to write. I don't know what to write. My mind is blank. I can't think of what to write. My brain thinks too much when trying to fill these empty, white lines. No words are good enough for the paper or for this assignment. I'm too hard on myself when it comes to my writing. I need to quiet my mind and let my pen do the task of writing, rather than my brain. There's plenty of time to go back and recreate what was written. Why is this such a struggle? I want to let them all out somehow. I'm tired of listening to these thoughts screaming while they're drowning inside my heart. I've always liked writing, so why can't I let myself just write? Instead, I have to think about every single word being written. It's a blank slate. Fill it with whatever I want. I don't know what else to write. The timer is still counting down. I'm having a battle with myself. I need to meditate and do yoga again, like I used to. Maybe that'll help with my writing. I'll be more relaxed and just let my thoughts flow and pour out of me, rather than overthinking it. Three, two, one...

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASENovember 4, 2012

For more information contact:
Dana Marsh
The Prajna Center
1109 Main St, Suite 329
Boise, ID 83702
boisesangh@gmail.com

Gather for Meditation

BOISE, ID - Every week, The Prajna Center will be hosting meditation gatherings. On Sundays, at 11:00
am - 12:30 pm and on Tuesdays, at 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Meditation and Dharma Talk will be hosted by Dana Marsh. Gatherers will meditate together for twenty minutes, then follow with tea and conversation for ten minutes. On Mondays and Thursdays, at 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm, Heart of the Dharma will host Simply Meditation. All will sit together and open their souls to the divine. If you need to leave early or don’t want to stay as long, you can quietly leave at any time.

Anyone is welcome to join, whether you’re a beginner or a long time practitioner. Heart of the Dharma offers teachings and meditation to assist others in overcoming suffering and living a life of peace. Dana is the teacher for the Heart of the Dharma, and has 25 years of teaching experience. She’s also spent many years meditating and studying the dharma.

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Health and Apple Cider Vinegar

For centuries, apple cider vinegar has been used for food and medicine for people and their pets, but the benefits from this vinegar are becoming more well known by many in today’s day and age. Apple cider vinegar has several healing properties because it’s not pasteurized, it’s fermented. It’s made from organically grown apples, then goes through two fermentation processes, allowing it to produce enzymes and other life-giving nutrients, turning it into the "mother of all vinegars".

Be careful not to confuse apple cider vinegar with clear vinegar, as they are two very different things. The biggest difference between these two substances are one is alive and one is dead. Clear vinegar has been processed and distilled, stripping away all nutrients, and has the ability to be detrimental to your health due to the fact that it’s dead. On the other hand, apple cider vinegar is full of healthy bacteria and live nutrients that are actually visible in the bottle.

Besides making you feel and look better, and giving you more energy, apple cider vinegar is a good remedy for heartburn, regulates blood sugar levels, improves bowel irregularity, clears skin and gives it a healthy glow, creates sleek, soft hair, may help with joint stiffness, breaks down fat so that the body can use it for energy rather than storing it, assists in weight loss, and cleanses and detoxes the body. For pets, apple cider vinegar is beneficial for controlling fleas and promotes a healthy, shiny coat.

A few of the nutrients in apple cider vinegar and their benefits are as follows:

Potassium - prevents brittle teeth, hair loss, and runny noses
Pectin - helps reduce blood pressure and bad cholesterol
Malic Acid - antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal
Calcium - helps create strong bones and teeth
Ash - an alkaline property, which aids the body in maintaining proper pH levels

A good way to take apple cider vinegar is by mixing it with raw, organic honey for quick dose of energy and to help strengthen your immune system. Another simple drink is mixing one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with 32 ounces of water. Adding lemon juice to this mixture is tasty as well. I, on the other hand, like to mix one teaspoon of cayenne pepper with one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, and shoot it. However, this method is quite strong, so it may be easier to mix it with water when first trying it out. Apple cider vinegar is also available in capsule form, however it doesn’t contain the living properties in this form as it does in liquid form. A great brand to use is Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar, and is the healthiest on the market.

Happy health.

Words

My source of inspiration differs between my daily life and my writing. My smiling daughter, my bright future, my dreams and my goals are what get me through my hellish days at work, listening to my boss drone on about nonsense, and dealing with my daughter's father who was once my beloved man, but is no longer. They're what keep me on my path toward success and happiness rather than lingering through a dark forest.

Writing, on the other hand, comes from a different source, releasing itself elsewhere from within me. My love is a beautiful writer. His work, his words, inspire me to release my thoughts and emotions as they are guided through my fingertips, crawl through the pen, and melt onto the paper. When I borrow his eyes, I see my true ability to free myself from myself, into the paper, and out of my soul.

Though he allures me with each word he writes, his inspiring me is not what creates what you see of mine. My own writing creeps through a place buried deep within my soul, a place absent of light, a place of solitude.

Words are trapped inside my heart, pushing against my chest, feeling as if I can't breathe. My thoughts keep them hidden inside of me, because my words aren't good enough for the paper, or even for me. Screaming for freedom, unable to breathe, drowning deep in my soul, they'll hopefully, one day, be set free.