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The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin ~ FOLLOW ------ The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom ~ FOLLOW

Author and Publisher's Twitter Accounts will be featured here! For special requests, please send me an email. :)

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The Kaizen Plan for Healthy Eating by Lynn Johnston

Who says eating healthy has to be boring? A few days ago, I got a book entitled, "The Kaizen Plan for Healthy Eating ", by Lynn Johnston. This book will remind you that there are ways on how you can EAT healthy without torturing your taste buds! On a greater note, this book also covers such an admirable success story of someone who took charge of her own life and made those baby steps into a noticeable positive change.

The author, Lynn Johnston, was diagnosed with fibromyalgia --- a  disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues (Mayo Clinic). She was told that there was no cure for fibromyalgia and she would need to take antidepressants and painkillers for the rest of her life. Instead of just sitting around, Lynn did an extensive research on treatments and holistic antidotes to help herself with her condition. Lynn took her condition as a motivation to improve her eating habits. After four years of slowly improving her diet, Lynn reached a point where she didn't have any symptoms of fibromyalgia at all.

QUICK VOCABULARY:
"Kaizen" is a Japanese word meaning "continuous improvement" and it is used in the business world to describe the approach of accomplishing things by making a series of small, simple changes that result in gradual improvement.  

The Kaizen Plan , like how the author described it, is a set of small doable steps taken one at a time. Each step addresses some aspect of the problem you want to solve or the goal you want to achieve. Kaizen Plan isn't like any other diet plans out there! I was amazed on how she structured her plan for healthy eating. Aside from sharing her health journey, I think it was also important that she talked about certain Psychological blocks that hinders people in achieving their goals. As a reader, that section of the book reminded me that we do have the ability to control these psychological blocks, and all we need is proper self-discipline and motivation.

The 26 steps of this program include mental techniques for building willpower and staying motivated, behavioral techniques that make eating healthy easier, and lots of ways to eat healthy without sacrificing flavor.

SNEAK PEAK:

This book also includes:

- Tricks for sneaking more fruits and vegetables into your diet
- How to train your taste buds to like healthy foods
- Suggestions for treating your "vegephobia"
- The simple technique that makes the food you’re already eating more nutritious


No radical changes, no throwing away half the food in your cupboards, no sugar withdrawal. You’ll create a flexible, personalized plan that gently eases you into better eating habits.

So, if you are one of those people who wants to embrace a healthy lifestyle and clean-up their diet quite a bit... I highly recommend reading this book to guide you in your healthy eating journey! Remember, it is better to take baby steps to achieve a goal, than taking a huge leap and not achieve anything at all!

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The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin


This post is about "The Happiness Project" written by a lady who wants to research and see if she can make her happy life even better.  She notes in the beginning that she wasn’t unhappy, nor did she have the luxury to change her life in some drastic way (she has a husband and two young daughters). But what she could do is focus on the little things in life to try and find more joy in every day.

I’ve always wanted to read The Happiness Project for a long time now, not because I’m unhappy, but because it fits with this general trend in my reading of looking for books about different ways to live your life. I have found that  reading books like this makes me more aware on how I could avoid living life in a way that would place myself in a quicksand of false happiness.

While most of us might say that what's written in this book are things we could have figured out on our own,I bet there are still some who haven't figured some things out yet. Sometimes it takes a book or someone else’s perspective (in this case both) to make you think about how your life is.Yes, you may have considered yourself happy, but it doesn't mean that you couldn't get any happier. 

At some point, she talked about the need for reward and acknowledgment. I think most of us would love to be acknowledged with great things we've done, especially if we worked so hard, no matter how minor it is. I can however, see how some people would disagree with the need for acknowledgment.... I respect their opinion.. :)

Additionally,  she also talked about the "marriage" month. She worked on learning to “fight right,” nag less, and do small things to show her affection for her husband; often, the flaw of a relationship starts with these negative gestures. The conscious effort to speak more positively to her partner took a lot of work and concentration, but the results were worth the mindfulness.

One more thing I liked about Gretchen's approach was that she picked one particular area to focus on each month, and then added a new area the next month. It seemed like that kept it from being overwhelming. I definitely recommend adding The Happiness Project to your reading list! If you loved Eat.Love.Pray, I am sure you'll like this book!



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Dance in the Bliss of Life!

Although your life may not be as perfect as you'd like, you can always look around and find people who are worse off than you. I am not asking you to feel glad that they are feeling a bit more miserable or messed up in life....I just want you to realize and be grateful for the problems you don't have. Take some quiet time away from the noise and haste, and count your blessings each day. Take inventory. Start with the people in your life who bring you joy and satisfaction; they are a gift to you.

Be thankful for the choices you've made, both good and bad. Accept your mistakes and go on. You can't change them anyway. Learn from them and apply what you've learned. Don't allow them to have more influence on your life than they deserve. They're just mistakes; they're not your final grade. Besides, making them now may keep you from making bigger mistakes later in life. Use them to help you with other choices so you won't keep doing the same things again.


Go outside and touch the sky. Enjoy the colors of the landscape; romp and play on the grassy ground. Smile at the world, and marvel at the wonders of the universe. Embrace the air; be thankful. Don't allow any negative feelings to creep into your consciousness. Feel the power of your own acceptance. Put a positive spin on every thought you have.

Bask in the glory of awareness. Experience the joy of praise. You're ALIVE! Appreciate the GIFT of your LIFE!


Oh, and if you're reading this... I just want you to know that you're one of the many reasons why I feel so blessed... I appreciate the time you've spent here in my blog... Thanks dear reader! :)

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Eject Rejection: Push that button (Motivational Monday #1)

Have you ever been rejected by someone? How often do you feel rejected? Have you ever stopped asking for something because you have been scared of hearing the two-letter word of rejection--- "NO"? Well, guess what? You're in good company. Whether you were rejected as a child, as a member of an organization, rejected from your dream university, or a marriage proposal, you are not alone. 

I, too, have been rejected in life for countless times. May it be about the events I have proposed within a group, an idea I presented, or about my application to a group where I've always wanted to be a part of... it doesn't matter... The truth of the matter is, everyone rejects and is being rejected. Some may feel a sense of rejection at least sometime in their life. It's not easy to ignore the feeling after being rejected; However, we should face it, or at least reject the negative thoughts caused by it. Always keep in mind that rejection is a natural part of life. I personally believe that everything in life ,may it be good or bad, has great lessons to be learned. Let me share with you a few things I learned after being rejected for countless times....
Everything stays the same after a rejection.  If you submit an application to a company and you don't get in,  here's one fact that I want you to think about... You WERE NEVER in that company before you turned in your application,and you are NOT in that company after you applied. So... Have you lost anything at all? Your life didn't get better and it didn't even get worse.... It stayed the same... The only thing that will make it worse is if you choose to gather all the times when you have been rejected, took everything in general, and let the negative emotions bind it altogether.. 

Rejection has no real meaning, unless injected with thoughts and emotions. I came to realize that rejection is just a concept that we unconsciously design in our mind, and this what makes us think and view everything differently after being rejected. 

Quit assuming! Some people, including me, tend to assume things after being rejected. For instance, friend A asks friend B to hangout one night... Unfortunately, Friend B rejected Friend A's invitation. Now, Friend A feels like Friend B rejected her because she's not fun to hangout with. Who knows? Maybe it's not you that they didn't like... Maybe it was just your proposal, your idea... or better yet, it's possible that the reason is not you at all!

Rejection SHOULD make us better. This can only happen if we take rejection positively. Learn from it, and never let it be the reason of your downfall in life. Use it as a free Learning tool. Never let rejection give you a wrong  definition of who you really are. If it did had the chance to define you, re-define yourself. 
Keep the 3 SWs in mind. Some Will, Some Won't, So What! If a person said yes, then great! If a person said no, SO WHAT! There are a lot more opportunities out there! Somewhere, there are good, better, and even great things that awaits you. Just hang in there, my friend. 
After a rejection, learn from it... move on.. push yourself forward... Keep in mind that it's not the very last opportunity available around the world because there's a lot more around you, and you just have to keep on trying and searching for more... Believe in yourself! There's always a great deal of a value to you. Take an imaginary eject button with you, anywhere you go, and always remember to push it when you have to. 

Behind every rejection are better opportunities. ~ trish <3

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The Journey (How To Live By Faith in an Uncertain World) by Billy Graham

I got this  book as one of my 18 treasures during my Debut Celebration(year 2008). This was given to me by a family friend.

The title of the book, "The Journey",  is apt for someone who has journeyed so far and long with Christ.  I think this is a good book because we can learn so much from a few people in history, like Billy Graham, who have gained so much wisdom on Christianity through their journey in faith. While the book is mostly focused on Christianity, I'd say that it also serves as a reminder for most of us who lose track of what we believe in and live for because we often focus more on our careers that takes up most of our time and attention.. The good part of the book is that there are nuggets that were really interesting and inspiring.

My favorite part is chapter 27... Passing the Baton...

In this chapter, he talks about families...  According to Billy, parents shouldn't just be a provider of any physical needs as necessities for their children. They must also be prepared to help their children develop mentally and emotionally...For without this, children will enter adulthood ill prepared and doomed to failure... Let your children grow freely, knowing that they will make mistakes along the way, don't hammer it too hard on them as it will only break their confidence in giving themselves a chance to move on and make the best out of it. Make them realize that with mistakes, comes valuable lessons. Mental and emotional development doesn't just happen in a snap... It takes deliberate effort and positive support on both parties. He also reminds his readers that being wise parents, we must accept the fact that every child is different... every family is different... and every day is different.. As a future parent to my children, I think this is what most of us should keep in mind.

I recommend this book to everyone, especially to those who are starting out in faith in Christ or anyone who is seeking a devotional book that will remind them of the basics of Christianity.

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The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

After a productive activity I had with my Psychology friends at NIU, we toured around Evanston and visited a few stores.... We found a small book store that sells books by pound and at a good price. As I was searching for books, I found the book "The Five People You Meet in Heaven". I briefly scanned the book and have found it really interesting....

The Five People You Meet in Heaven is a novel written by Mitch Albom. It secrenates both the life and death of a simple yet dignified old man, Eddie. After dying in a tragic accident, Eddie finds himself in heaven where he encounters five people who have significantly affected his life. Each of which grants a share of wisdom unto him, instilling a deeper comprehension regarding the most intimate facets of life.

Eddie meets the "Blue Man", or Joseph Corvelzchik. He is a member of a carnival freak show at Ruby Pier. Joseph Corvelzchik attained his status by using silver nitrate treatment for his nerves as a child, resulting in argyria. At first, Eddie was afraid that Joseph might seek for revenge against him after causing his death. However, it was not the case. Joseph didn't do anything to harm Eddie, but instilled one valuable lesson that all of us should always put into consideration.... "Everything we do may affect others."

The Second Person Eddie meets in heaven is the Captain, from whom he learns about sacrifice.  In this chapter, the Captain tells Eddie how he died. Not only that he had stepped on a land mine while trying to get Eddie back to safety, but also, he did this to save most of his fellow comrades from the explosion. Also, the captain reveals who fired a shot to Eddie's leg during a mission, not to harm him, but to save his life... 

The Third Person Eddie Meets in Heaven is Ruby, the wife of a wealthy man who built Ruby Pier many years ago. In the midst of their conversation, she shares her innermost secret.... her wish that the pier was never built... Ruby’s story reflects the idea that events before we are born still affect our lives, as do the people before us. Through sharing the story of her father, Ruby stresses the importance of forgiveness.We cannot remain angry at one other for things in the past. Although we may be under the impression that we can damage someone by upholding hatred for them, the reality is that we are harming ourselves even more than the ones we hate. 

After another touching conversation with Ruby, Eddie then meets the fourth person in heaven.... his wife Marguerite. Eddie discloses everything Marguerite missed over the final 40 years of his life. Not long after, it led up to the discussion about her death. From there, Marguerite reveals another lesson to Eddie....
It is never easy to deal with the loss of a loved one, and nearly impossible to cope with the premature death of a spouse. Although life is finite, love is eternal. Marguerite explains to Eddie that even after a loved one dies, the feeling of love lives on. In the absence of a physical connection, another emotion grows stronger than before.. It will forever be stored, filled with emotions, will always be shown in a highly defined projection, sealed with the bond created by every meaningful moments.... memory. 

Lastly, Eddie meets a young filipina girl, Tala, where it turns out that she was the shadow he saw in the burning hut. Eddie explains to her that he was sad because he feels as if he didn’t do anything meaningful with his life, and that he feels guilty that he wasn't able to save the girl. To this, Tala responds by sharing with him his purpose on earth. “Children. You keep them safe. You make good for me. Is where you were supposed to be...” (p. 191).

This is the first book of Mitch Albom's that I've read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It made me think about things in a different way. It was well-written, graceful, and just an all-around good book. Such a wonderful piece of literature!

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Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson M.D.

As I was browsing the books we have in the basement, I took this book out from the pile and just went through the whole book briefly. I saw the photos, and looking back at the title itself, it seemed like it was just a childish book... but when I started reading the book, the 12th page of the book caught my attention...

Written by Dr. Spencer Johnson, it deals with 4 fictional characters... 

The two mice: are the creatures to be admired, as unlike men they are not lazy and constantly on a move. They are sharp, perceptive and always ready to move.
Sniff - Who sniffs out change early
Scurry - Who scurries into action

The two little people: 
Hem - who denies and resists change as he fears it will lead to something worse
Haw  - who learns to adapt in time when e sees changing can lead to something better.

The story shows how these four imaginary characters face change in their lives & how each one of them deals with it differently. The moral of the story supposedly, is that change is a part of life and in order to survive it is necessary to be constantly on high alert and be innovative enough to deal with it.

The cheese is symbolic for power and money that is in the hands of the those who mold our world into a maze where we, like the four imaginary characters, cannot see what's beyond the tall solid walls. We, as average people, have left the right of molding and creating cheese in the hands of a few powerful people, who control and manipulate us in some shape or form. On a more serious note, the book is symbolic of the tragedy of modern life. We live in a world in which we somewhat have a few limits here and there when we are to consider the entire world we're stepping on for which also has control over our lives. The world appears like a confusing maze, surrounded with tall walls where we spend our entire lives running around them, trying to find the cheese.

This book somewhat serves as a reminder that change is a part of life and in order to survive it is necessary to be constantly on high alert and be innovative enough to deal with it. Our roles change,  situations change, people change, we change jobs& careers, we change places, not only the physical part of it but also the way/culture of living, in this fast moving world of technological development, everything is changing and changing at such a fast pace!


I think it's a good book! It only took me about two hours to finish it... I recommend it! :)


Side note: I can't help but think.... that if we only keep on convincing people to accept life as it is without at least  trying and taking actions that could somehow help them deal with each situation, changing with the conditions, instead of changing the conditions that create such conditions, I doubt that people will still come up with a question that may help them deal with changes and difficult circumstances.... A question I came up with after reading the entire book ---“Why can’t I make my own cheese? Better yet, can I make my own cheese? How can I make my own cheese without being too dependent on changes? ” 





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