Talking with my Traveling Sanctuary Sisters Video Series - Bouncing on Kandi's Face!

There's nothing more fun than boucing on your virtual assisstant Kandi. How can you be in a bad mood when you're boucing? Good thing Kandi is a good sport.

There's a Genie in my Head, Gut and Butt.

As I begin to write I search for words floating in a thick soup of brain fog.




Pausing......



Searching..........



Hey, give me a moment.... rubbing my temples as if the Clarity Genie will magically appear.



You can only go so fast when you're traveling along in the fog. Ok, I'm approaching a stretch of clarity. Perhaps my eyes are playing tricks on me, but I swear I'm witnessing the fog forming into an actual genie-like figure. Where was I? Oh yah, brain fog. "It's about time you seriously examined this issue with your soupy brain," exclaims the Clarity Genie. She's decked out in some trendy exercise outfit. Whatever! She's one of "those" types. You know the type, all healthy and fit. Secretly I want to be one of those types, but publicly I am almighty on exercising my creativity. Well as long as she's here and given the fact that I am in a bit of a minor crisis, maybe she can be of service to me. "Oh great Clarity Genie, are you here to grant me three wishes?" "No, not really. Its more like I have three wishes for you, which involves your head, your gut and your butt. You have some committing to do, sister. " I'm thinking to myself, I did start this whole thing and she did come out of my ear, so she must be a smart, caring friend.

"First you must understand what is going on (or the lack there of) inside "our" brain, so onward to GOOGLE. Wow! There's no lack of information on "brain fog". We discovered a virtual smorgasbord of causes.

I'm sharing this information because by the looks of it, this condition is at epidemic proportion. Don't feel like you have the condition? Read on, so you don't fall victim in the future. I'll start with a short list of causes and weigh in on my particular circumstances. I will share my own personal de-fogging commitment plan. I find making these types of plans public adds weight to the accountability scale. Lastly I will provide links to the information I found helpful in my own analysis.

#1 - Stress - Over stimulation is not always good. If somebody is suffering from Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome their gland, that controls you body's ability to cope with stress, is not functioning. My stress is not overwhelming, but I will commit more time to quiet meditation.

#2 - Fatigue and sleep deprivation - SOCK ME IN THE HEAD, GUT AND BUTT. This one hits home with me. I will commit to being in bed no later than 11:30 each night.

#3 - Poor nutrition - I certainly could do better in this category. I will commit to eating less white stuff and more green stuff. I will start taking a supplement.

#4 - Candidiasis - This is a systematic overgrowth of yeast in your body. After some further research into this condition I feel strongly that I have this. If you have the following symptoms you may want to take this survey: depression, anxiety, sudden mood swings, lack of concentration, headaches, drowsiness, and/or fatigue. Warning: The survey does lure you into purchasing their products, but it did appear to be comprehensive. I personally went to my local health food store for advice and the appropriate approach for me. I will do a Coconut Oil Cleanse.

#5 - Chronic viral infections. To my knowledge I am not suffering from any viral infections.

#6 - Metal Toxicity - I am not exposed to these metals so I will discount this one: aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury.

#7 - Blood Sugar Issues - Consuming protein in the AM can help to regulate your blood sugar and eating health small meals/snacks throughout the day.

#8 - Artificial Sweeteners - KICK ME IN THE HEAD, GUT AND BUTT - I haven't had a Diet Coke for 6 days. There are many articles on the ill effects of artificial sweeteners. GOOGLE it for yourself and come to your own conclusion.

#9 - Menopause - My baby apartment was removed a few years ago increasing the likelihood of earlier onset of menopause with the partial hysterectomy.

#10 - Constipation - You feed it via the mouth on your head. It makes it way through the gut and hopefully eliminates regularly out the butt. All of my other commitments will keep it all flowing. I have started taking a probiotic supplement.

There's a short list of causes of brain fog to contemplate if you are so inclined. In regards to my genie reference, she represents one of the 7 Chakras, which spans your head, gut and butt. They are all dependant on each other. All for one and one for all. Here is a fun, no brainer guide to your 7 Chakras, 7 Courses of Living Fully. My brain fog is caused by a combination of many things. My awareness and willingness to address it has centered me back to being aware of all the areas of my mind, body and soul that need proper fuel and care. Like I said earlier, the fog causes the the Traveling part to be slow and sometimes dangerous.

5 Causes of Brain Fog

Brain Fog Causes

Born to Pursue the American Dream?

Sometimes I could just kick myself. What the heck was I thinking? Have I been brain washing to believe I was born to pursue the American dream. I now believe much of it is just a hoax to hypnotize us into CONSUMING? The whole realization that we've been programmed to mindlessly consume makes me want to vomit!

Let's take a mortgage. Wikipedia claims mortgage comes from the Old French "dead pledge," apparently meaning that the pledge ends (dies) either when the obligation is fulfilled or the property is taken through foreclosure. Ok mortgages are not evil, but when you are handcuffed to your mortgage and it influences your life and decisions to the point that it prevents you from pursuing your born belief and purpose that is a serious problem.

We were not born to "work" for 40 years so we can have a happy retirement. We were born to enjoy life, you know the ebb and flow of life. We were born to have mini retirements throughout our lives, but when we are handcuffed to a mortgage that doesn't give us the flexible to experience life, it buries and weighs us down.

Start thinking about your beliefs. Are they your own beliefs? What things have buried your own beliefs. What beliefs have your bought or borrowed?

Ogres Are Like Onions

Today I share a piece I wrote nearly a year ago. I was writing about one of my BB's, my Born Belief, which is at the core of our existence. This core is not unlike the universally accepted core values held by religions, societies, organizations, movements etc. My BB (baby, born belief), Modern B*a*g Ladies, simply applies my own language to express this core that connects us all. With the utmost sincerity I tell you that coming back to your core is the most exhilarating and hardest undertaking one can pursue.

Life, people, and mostly our own negative thoughts apply (buried beliefs) many layers (bought & borrowed beliefes) over our core. You have one. Its in there. You know when you've reached it. It's that OH Yes feeling. When you find that place, no matter the timing or length, it's a washing of warmth and knowing. Note the actions that lead you there and repeat the action. This is where a journal or audio recorder comes in handy, as the mind can be cluttered making ti difficult to recall.

From this core we must have the courage to venture out and travel as well. It is the hard part of discovering your core and learning its purpose outside of it.

I'm high. I'm low. I'm high. I'm low. I'm fast. I'm slow. I'm in. I'm out. I'm in. I'm out. I whisper. I shout. I'm happy. I'm sad. I'm glad. I'm mad. I thrive. I survive. I'm left. I'm right.

Maybe my hormones are out of whack. WHERE DID MY MIDDLE GROUND GO? Is that the wishy washy place to be? Ugh, I am so confused. Lordy, I almost feel like I'm having an adult case of adolescent mood swings along with the rest of America.

A Place Of Extremes......

If the media is a reflection of how America is doing (questionable at times) we are becoming a nation of extremes. The hope President Obama choruses over the air waves, yet predators ready to pounce at the first sign of failure. His stimulation plan not received well by Republicans and everyone is ready to write off bipartisan forever. The whole notion of the permanency of anything, whether for the good or the bad. The middle ground just doesn't seem to be the "COOL" place to be these days.

As I wallowed in a state of confusion over my middle ground, preparing this week's newsletter I arrived at this conclusion...

"If I were a tree, standing tall and straight, I will allow myself to yield to the winds that pull me from left to right, from this extreme to the next. My yielding, centered by my core, is not due to a force that bends me. It is a a graceful yielding motivated by innocence and wonderment. I lean to understand. I lean to observe. I come back to my "middle" to reflect. As I lean to and fro I maintain my young flexibility. The winds will not break me. The winds will teach me."

Our trees are trees weathering a formative storm today. It will require us to be flexible and sometimes yielding. If I insist on being rigid in my core (middle) I may break. Gracefully we must yield, yet always returning to our core. The time spent at the core is not important. It's only important that you have it and know your way back.

Finally I realize that I have not lost my middle ground. It only feels that way because my stays are shorter, but always within sight.

I think this hard rock Dancing B*a*g Lady just tried on the leotard of an interpretive dancer.

Be Strong. Be Graceful. Be Flexible. Be an Interpretive Dancer?

Talking with my Sisters Video Series - Traveling Sanctuary Passengers

My son Gavin joins us in this episode. He added quite a bit of color to the topic. Enjoy! Like we always say , "Have Fun because it is!"

Sisterhood Giving Spirit in a Very Unflattering Pair of PJ's

The giving spirit of one sister (in-law) fuels the innate giving spirit of another. Let's fuel each other with stories and taking Action. It's the most eco-friendly, infinately renewable fuel source.

(Don't know why this is so blurry, but it is my first episode in my new video series.)

Share your giving spirit with Traveling Sanctuary Project www.modernbagladies.com. How do you show your giving spirit? Why do your sisters love to hang with you?

A Bag Full of B*a*g Book Notes

If you're like me you generally read stuff based on your friends and family recommendations. I haven't posted B*a*g Book Notes in a while, so I want to cover 3 great books I've read in recent months. I frame my experience with books in the terms of Modern B*a*g Ladies lingo and philosophies. You can't go wrong with these jewels.

Coming of Age in Mississippi by Anne Moody provided a lesson in how fear colors people's worlds. When I say "color" I mean literally colors their world a definite black and a definite white.

Anne Moody's autobiography describes her awareness and acknowledgment of the fear that surrounded her in a very matter of fact way. In many ways, she shreds fear with her anger towards it. She took her baggage and turned into B*a*g (believe act go) in a defiante way, maybe the only way in her circumstance.

I have no doubt that the only way to have survived the depth of prejudice in Mississippi was to have faith in God, together as a community which easily came together within the four walls of their sanctuaries, but not so easily out in the open. They were encased in the thick murkiness of fear. The ultimate legacy of abuse. I'm amazed anybody could have broken free. I recommend reading this book, so you can travel into a world of understanding, compassion and empathy. You will be inspired to take a stand for your beliefs, that you were born to express and defend.

The Help by Kathyrn Stockett is a novel that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. As with Coming of Age in Mississippi, it was a book sent to me by my sister-in-law, Carmen, who also gave me a three page list of book recommendations. SWEET!

This book sits in Mississippi as well and during the same era, which made for in interesting comparison between fact and fiction. Nothing is made from nothing. Kathyrn Stockett grew up in Mississippi and drew from her experiences to write this novel.

The story covers, as with any good story, the full range of spreading joy, shredding joy, shredding fear, spreading fear, having fun and not having fun. It stretches suspense throughout the whole story and in many different settings. I never wanted to put this book down and had me telling the story to friends and family.

Kathyrn Stockett has guts and grace all at the same time. I love that combination in a writer. By the way, anytime you tell your own story from a place of honestly and sincerity you can't go wrong.

Now for my latest read. Searching for Angela Shelton by Angela Shelton. First I watched the documentary and read the book within 2 days of watching the documentary.

Finding Angela Shelton is a memoir of courage, survival and faith. It is the journey of a young woman who discovers herself in the stories of other women who share her same name and coincidentally share experiences of violence and abuse that plagued her own childhood. Through her physical journey across the country she is thrust into her own emotional journey. She embraces each woman she meets, is strengthened by their connections, confronts the father that molested her, and ultimately finds faith, divine purpose, and wholeness.
All I can say is that you need to go to Angela Shelton's website and soak it in. This lady is real as it gets. She's funny, smart and somebody you can relate to. You know there are certain times in your life that you instantly know you are a loyal supporter. I'm there and will sing her praises and everything she stands for. What I wish for you is that you find those few things in your life that you are certain about, that touches the core of you.

Angela gets the cart before the horse, which thrusts her into having faith. This is a common thread with another amazing women I adore and know. Her name is Terry Grahl, Founder of Enchanted Makeovers, a nonprofit that transforms shelters into places of peace and possibility for women and children. Hey, it's an inclusive sisterhood and everyone is welcome. Let's guide each other with joy. And you know what they say about joy. It can not coexist with violence. It's like Angela says, "Just live a joyful life." It's that simple, really! Seek it out.

Growing up I did not read, but it's never too late to teach an old dog new tricks. Traveling the world from my bed, easy chair and bench, waiting for my son to finish hockey practice, is a gift. I find my soul on these trips. AH, its heavenly.