Brian Thayer

Many people think that to be healthy and to lose weight, one should avoid fat. This simply is not true. Our bodies need some fat. But it is important to learn the difference between good and bad fats.

Even with all the no-fat and reduced fat foods that line the shelves of the supermarket and are purchased every day, we still have an obesity trend in this country.

Check out this article which discusses some of the problems with low-fat diets and how to incorporate healthy fats into your diet:

Taking the Fear Out of Eating Fat

Karma Chow is a great website with recipes and nutrition/health resources from Tony Horton’s personal chef, Melissa Costello.

While I am not a vegan, I know many people who are and will enjoy this recipe. Heck, I will enjoy this recipe. It sounds/looks delicious.

Here’s an interesting article from Yahoo Health:

The Truth About Your Weight Gain

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that American men eat 7 percent more calories than they did in 1971; American women eat a whopping 18 percent more—an additional 335 calories a day! But the harder question is this: Why do we eat so many more calories? Are we suddenly more gluttonous?”

Find out what the author has to say about fast food hamburgers, yogurt, peanut butter, and bacon. There are some facts that you should know.

Then, check out the book he refers to in his article:

I had to post this here. This is my current favorite YouTube video. I have watched it over 10 times between yesterday and today and am sure I will watch it again.
Very, very clever.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do…

Here are two new books that I am very excited about.
Check them out for yourself or as a great holiday gift.

Early Monday afternoon I was out and about running errands. I was heading home from the post office near the main intersection here in downtown Northampton, when an acquaintance ran across the street shouting my name. He is a very well known and respected bodyworker here in town. We met once a few years ago to get to know a little bit about each others’ work. Since then we have brief conversations about work when we run into each other.

When he caught up to me on the street he said, “I’m glad I ran into you, I have a question for you.” And he reached for his bag, unzipped it and reached inside. I, for a brief moment thought, ‘Wow. He’s going to ask my advice/opinion about something; Or show me something related to our common interest in bodywork.’ I had a moment of feeling proud and respected that he was going to ask ME something.

I stared down at the bag he was reaching into, wondering what interesting information he was going to show me and ask me about. How quickly these feelings come and go …

Out of his bag he pulled an empty supplement bottle asking, “Do you guys sell these at Cornucopia?” And with that, my heart broke a little and my ego deflated.

For those who don’t know, I have worked at Cornucopia for just over 1.5 years. It is a part time job that I got after my husband and I separated so I could have some extra money to help me adjust to my new single income life. I work primarily in the vitamins, supplements and body care section of the store. It is a job that I really do enjoy and I have learned so much over the past 19 months. But first and foremost, I consider myself a CranioSacral Therapist.

So, in that brief moment on the street I began to question my career identity in this town. It got me thinking over the past few days about what I am doing to build my practice and my reputation as a CranioSacral Therapist. I don’t in any way mind that people know me and associate me with my work at Cornucopia, but I want that to be second to them knowing me as a bodyworker.

I’ve been in practice for just over 7 years in Northampton. I am very grateful for the clients I have. But in a city with over 200 bodyworkers, it has been challenging to build a private practice and become a recognized name. I will say that I am fairly well known within the CranioSacral Therapy community, and I am very thankful for that fact. The struggle is getting more potential clients to know about me and my work.

The positive outcome of this interaction is that it has got me thinking about my marketing, my business plan, my goals, and my dreams. I’m very happy at Cornucopia and thankful for the income support it provides. I’m fortunate to have a second job that I enjoy and don’t dread going to because I have to make money. But on some level it has led me to a place of complacency and because of this I have neglected my passion: my work.

I am good at what I do … you can ask clients and colleagues and they will tell you the same. I now know that I must focus more on getting out there and getting known in the community. I have been brainstorming and have many ideas that I need to refine. I now must begin to take action.

I know that I will be successful. I know I can achieve my goals. I believe it is all possible.

the door was left open a crack
giving the opportunity for you to step in
to explore what’s on the other side

maybe just a foot at first
a chance to test the waters
of something new
set within something familiar

you stood just outside
perhaps placing your palm
upon the door
reluctant to open it any further
resistant to my offer

i stood inside
placing my palm
upon the door
searching for movement
to give me a sign

we stood still
an impassable barrier between us
that we could not see through
or feel through

“good night”
were your final words
before you closed the door
and walked away

Woke up singing this song this morning. It’s always been one of my favorites.

I love all the lyrics in the song, but without a doubt my favorite lines come at around 2:34 in this video.

“I am walking on the bridge
I am over the water
And I’m scared as hell
But I know there’s something
Yes,  I know there’s something better
Yes, I know
Yes, I know
Yes, I know”

Video: Paula Cole – Me (official music video)

(I apologize for the external link. I could not get this video to embed properly.)

just inside the doorway
i am stopped
complete silence
holds me against my will

first external
no fountain in the courtyard
no cars passing by
no people in conversation

moving internal
no song
no joy
no hope

i stand in silent stillness
unable to scream
to talk
to move

tears no longer accessible
lungs struggling for air
a heart barely able to beat

silent and frozen
in disbelief
i realize
i am alone

Yes, he’s a few years older than most of the others but he is right there whenever I need him; he is in pretty great shape and his performance still excites me.

I’m talking about my car, people … get your minds out of the gutter.

This past weekend was my first Sunday off from work in quite some time. Seriously, I can’t remember the last Sunday I had off. I requested this day off many weeks ago so that I could attend my BFF’s baby shower. (It was a ‘Jack and Jill’ type shower so guys could go too.) I was looking forward to my day off and being there to support my BFF, but was not expecting to re-fall in love on such a beautiful fall day.

Living in downtown Northampton, I don’t have to drive very much. I can walk to everything in town and even if I do drive, it tends to be in the surrounding area and not very often. For the most part my car just sits in the parking lot. I’ve only been living downtown for just over a year so it hasn’t always been this way.

In my previous job of 11.5 years, I used to be a serious commuter. I had commutes of over an hour each way many times throughout my employment with that company. While there were moments when I hated driving that much and would want to just be home at the end of the day, for the most part I enjoyed my drive time. It gave me time to put in a CD (pre-iPod days) and unwind from the stressful day. I really enjoyed driving and still do; I just don’t do it very often anymore. (Plus, my car needs some work and I don’t feel comfortable driving it very far right now.)

Sunday arrives and I spend the morning hanging out for a bit with a friend who needed some support. The shower started at 1:00 and I spoke to my BFF earlier to tell her I would be a little late. So after spending some time with my friend, around 12:30ish I got back home, changed and headed out to my car.

Because he has been sitting more than driven, I went to the gas station and took a few moments to check a few of the basics … got gas … checked the oil … checked tire pressure. Yes, there is part of my father in there somewhere. I actually did have to add oil so I am glad I checked.

My BFF lives about 30 minutes south of where I live … almost all highway. I really like ‘back road’ driving to get around the area. But part of me still enjoys getting on the highway and just floating along at 70mph enjoying good music. That’s what I did and the love began to resurface.

I love my car. Seriously LOVE my car. It’s not new or flashy or high tech or sporty. It’s a 1992 Volvo 850GLT … big, boxy, tank-like, safe … and I love it. I have admired this specific make/model since 1992 when it was first introduced to the US. Because of my love and admiration, I knew that someday I would own a Volvo … I never expected it to be the exact year, model, and color that I had always dreamed of owning. It took about 15 years to manifest, but I did it!

You are probably thinking, “YIKES! You bought a 1992 car in 2007?” To which I say, “Absolutely!!”

The short story is that I needed more reliable transportation. For shits and giggles, I was seeing what was out there for a used Volvo that I could afford (which was not much). That’s when I found it and I couldn’t believe my eyes. I IMMEDIATELY picked up the phone to call the auto dealer to clarify what I read:

1992 Volvo 850GLT in great condition … here’s the kicker …

… are you ready? …

… I certainly wasn’t …

… ready? …

ONLY 77,000 MILES!!!!! HOLY *&$% !!!!!!

I went down to Connecticut THAT day and it was love at first sight. The test drive was like a first kiss, I was nervous and excited. I put a deposit on it to hold it while I moved some money around in my accounts and decided what to do with the vehicle I was driving. I will always remember the following week when I signed the papers, got in the car, drove down the road to get some gas, and headed north on my 1+ hour highway drive home with my new love. I will admit, I cried a little on the way home … I was so happy.

It’s been almost 3 years now and there is still under 100,000 miles on my car. I am still happy every time I get into my car. Yes, there is some work that needs to be done but it still runs well and the body is solid with no signs of rust and very few, very minor dents & scratches, and the interior is in great shape. This was truly meant to be my car.

So on Sunday we reunited (and it felt so good). Hitting the highway and remembering how much I love my car and taking him for a nice highway drive with the sun shining, windows down, and iPod playlist on shuffle. I feel there is something almost therapeutic about driving alone in one’s car on the highway (as long as there is no traffic). The floaty feel of driving 70mph … the hypnotic repetition of the broken white lines …

For me it becomes a therapy session where I can think things through, find the appropriate song(s) to express what I am feeling, and sing out the emotion(s) at the top of my lungs. I don’t care what others think. Everyone does it at some point and I love seeing people singing in their cars. Much better than road rage, right? And I don’t have to pay a therapist for the session.

Sunday was a great day. I was with friends all day (went out for food/drinks when I got home) which is very important for me right now. And as an added bonus, I had some wonderful therapy time driving and singing in my car … which I love.

I predict another driving date is in our immediate future.