Divine Grace - The Gift of Forgiveness

An Open Letter in Extension of Divine Grace - A Christmas wish for all.

Dear Friends and Readers, This is my Christmas wish for you …

"May you always find the Grace in your heart to be forgiving, for it is by Divine Grace that we are forgiven in the eyes of God."

…..

Grace is a little understood concept in Christianity - if we waited until people deserved to be forgiven for their misdeeds, there would be little forgiveness in the world at all.  Grace offers forgiveness at no cost to the individual being forgiven; hence we forgive the debt they "owe" for their trespasses and set them free.  Forgiveness frees us because we are no longer looking back in anger or holding on to grudges or resentment surrounding the individual who harmed us.  Instead, we choose to live in Divine Grace, and extend undeserved grace to our enemies or perpetrators.  

I have found that after a period of time mulling over someone's offenses, if no suitable act of contrition or apology is forthcoming, then I must actively work to extend the grace of forgiveness.  The most effective way I have found to do this is to sincerely pray for the health and well being of the offending party, and summon gratitude for their positive characteristics.  In quiet meditation I ask for the help of the Holy Spirit to redeem all offending acts as forgiven and then bless the offender.   I do this in the conscious knowing that we ALL fall short of perfection and because we are human, we err and make blunders and mistakes.  But for the Grace of God, there go I.

I have had some truly powerful results with this simple formula.  I have seeded peace in others and found an inner peace I did not know was possible.  I have grown in my inner capacity to love unconditionally and give without expectations, all because I have found this inner peace and tranquility is the substance of true miracles.  And in the process, I AM HEALED.

May the Light of Divine Grace be bestowed on you as my Christmas gift, and may you find the peace we all desperately yearn for as your constant companion.  May you forgive and be forgiven, and be blessed!  Happy Holidays my friends!

All Content Copyright 2019 LLCC  (originally published 12/16/19, pre-Covid 2020)

An Apple a Day Keeps SAD Away: Winter Comfort Food - Brown Apple Betty Recipe

Make Winter Weary, Winter Cheery

It's cold.  It's dark.  It's dreary.  Yes, it's winter and the spectacular fall colors have faded into memory, as the days grow shorter and shorter and gray overcast days seem more like one long lingering night.  If you're feeling down or depressed, you may be experiencing a touch of seasonal affect disorder (SAD) - a condition brought on by a lack of sunlight and shortened daylight hours.  Life can seem like a chore getting through the days waiting for spring.  The moon hangs low in the sky above the snow, a tiny beacon of light.

The single quickest, easiest thing you can do to alleviate the "winter blues" is to get outside for at least 15 minutes a day.  Bundle up and go for a quick walk (even if it's cloudy), the natural light will boost your mood and get you moving in a forward direction again.

Also, SAD tends to exacerbate and magnify any issues or struggles you may be going through.  Life can seem overwhelming for many people at this time of year.  Grief, loss of loved ones, hardships, etc., can feel unbearable and you can't participate in the holiday spirit.  Coaching or counseling can help bring things back into their proper perspective.   

Learn more about SAD here:  
What is SAD? Diagnosis and Treatment - National Institute Mental Health

You may also experience the need to over eat, especially over the holidays.  A full belly of holiday cheer feels good.  Warm comfort food offsets the chill and baking becomes a pleasant past time.

After grocery shopping one cold December night while dinner was cooking, I whipped up a new recipe I call, Brown Apple Betty, from inception to finish in about half an hour.  Some bruised and aging apples called from the bottom of the frig, so I concocted this perfect recipe for apples a bit past their prime for just eating.

Indulging in dessert can be made healthier with a few adjustments to those old time recipes Grandma used to make.  My Brown Apple Betty is Vegan Friendly - no animal or dairy products and gluten-free!  And it still tastes like Mom's good ole fashion apple pie (minus the crust).  Enjoy hot straight from the oven or cold as a quick midnight snack.

Brown Apple Betty - Vegan Friendly, Gluten-Free

Ingredients:

• 8 medium sized sliced Apples of the sweeter variety, with the skin

• 3 TBSP Lemon Juice

• 1/3 cup Organic Raw Turbinado Sugar

• 1/3 cup Buckwheat Pancake Mix

• 1/3 cup  Old Fashion Rolled Oats

• 1/3 cup chopped Walnuts

• 1/3 cup Crisco Shortening (or 1/2 stick Butter, for non-vegans)

• 1 tsp Cinnamon

• 1 cup cold water

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 325°.

• Lightly coat the bottom of a 13 x 9 ceramic or glass baking pan with olive oil.

• Place one layer sliced apples at the bottom of the pan, spread evenly.

• Sprinkle 1 TBSP lemon juice over apples and toss to mix.

• In a separate bowl, combine the sugar, pancake mix, Crisco, cinnamon and oats

  (can substitute granola OR muesli).

• Cut Crisco into dry ingredients until well blended and pebbly.
• Add walnuts and mix well.

• Spoon mixture over the apples in the pan. Place another layer atop this using
  remaining apples.

• Sprinkle 2 TBSP lemon juice over apples. Spoon remaining mixture over the apples.

• Cover with aluminum foil forked with tines to make holes and vent.

• Bake on 325° until apples soften, about 25 - 30 minutes.

• Add 1/2 cup water and toss apples to moisten. Add water if needed.

• Bake until mixture becomes bubbly about another 15 - 20 minutes.

• Add 1/2 cup water (more if needed) and toss apples to moisten.

• Bake until mixture becomes soft, bubbly and apples are tender to fork, about another 

  15 - 20 minutes.

• Remove from oven and allow to cool 10 minutes before serving.

• May be served warm or cold, and can be topped with ice cream or whipped cream.

* Makes 10 servings Brown Apple Betty

Healthy Particulars:

• For this recipe, I used Honey Crisp, Cortland, and Empire apples, sweeter varieties that allowed for using less sugar. 
• The Buckwheat pancake mix and oats add lots of healthy fiber and are gluten-free. 
•  Vegan Friendly - no dairy or animal products.
• Walnuts add essential Omega 3 fatty acids. 
• Baking longer at lower temperatures, 325 degrees, and covering the pan maintains the moisture content which merries the different ingredients together more slowly and creates a thicker, richer flavor than baking at 375 degrees or higher.

• Coating the bottom of the pan with Olive Oil reduces the Crisco content with a healthier unsaturated fat. 
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If you think you have SAD, reach out for help.  Many resources are available, call your PCP doctor, get counseling, etc. If you don't where to turn, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) free hot line:

SAMHSA’s National Helpline – 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

Learn more about SAMHSA's mental health resources here

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If you enjoyed this recipe or this article please leave a comment below. I'd love to hear from you!  I'm here to help! I'm available for counseling and coaching - simply reach out here with your request.

Having a Bad Day? Have Thanksgiving Every Day

Bad Day? Life not going the way you want it to?

This is the season of gratitude and family gatherings.  It may seem stressful, but it's all in your mindset.  Remember, you can start your day over anytime... You can change your life, and push reset anytime. One way to do this is to find gratitude for what is working - start by making a mental gratitude list of what is positive RIGHT NOW. Then move in that direction with action that improves the quality of your life or day immediately -- even if it's just a change in thought or attitude.

For instance, my gratitude list for the moment looks like this:

1.) It's been a milder, sunny November so -- the utility bills will be lower, yeah! There's only 4 months til spring, and it's been easy to get out without the snow.

2.) The Internet makes connecting with people a finger touch a way.

This doesn't mean we lie to ourselves about the challenging areas of our lives, rather gratitude keeps us from over focusing on the negativity. Often, a bad day is the result of over focusing on a bad moment.  This becomes a bad mood.  Then that becomes a bad day, that then creates the feeling that it's a bad life, a snow ball effect.

When we have mindful gratitude, tackling the more challenging aspects of our lives becomes easier, less stressful, and we acquire the good judgment necessary to make wise decisions that lead us toward improving our lives, even if it's only by not making a bad situation worse.

Try it -- let me know what you're grateful for this Thanksgiving  … in the comments below.  How have you turned a bad moment into a good day?

To Stop or Not To Stop? The Good Samaritan Question

Would you know what to do if you found a person in crisis on the side of the road or at home with a family member acting out?

Would you stop and help or just keep going?  This can be a difficult decision.  Especially, the way the world is today with the uptick in crime, gun violence, and scams. 

Here are few different options:

  

1. Stop, but don't get out of your car, and assist that way.  Keep 911 on speed dial and call for help.  Keep windows closed enough to be safe. Wait for help to come.

2.  For a mental health or drug overdose (OD) emergency or suicide - Call 911, and explain that you want the Mobile Crisis Unit for a person in self-harm danger or OD.  They should dispatch immediately; stay until they arrive, but call for own support, backup, family intervention, etc.  Don't get out of your vehicle alone. 

3.  Carry Narcan with in your car, just in case the person is passed out from an OD.  I have an Emergency Gear backpack in my car, with that and other first aid emergency stuff that the local Sheriff's Dept. put together and gave out to the public. 

4.  There is also a non-law enforcement option.  In New York state, call the 211 PIC (Person-in-Crisis) Hotline or 988 Lifeline Crisis and Suicide Hotline to ask for help.  See the pic below, for more details.  

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988 is more than just a suicidal helpline. It is a direct connection to compassionate care. Anyone can call, chat, or text 988 for support, including anyone having thoughts of suicide, is in crisis or emotional distress, is struggling with substance use, or is experiencing a mental health crisis.

If you or someone you know needs support now, call 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or text 988, or chat at:  988 Lifeline Chat

 

 

Many local people have stopped to help me when I've been stranded on the side of the road with car trouble.  Or needed help with stuff like air in my tires, or groceries.  I am always grateful for this kind support.  We can care and stay safe, and help maybe save a life.  Life is better when we become neighbors helping neighbors.  

Did you find this article helpful?  Please share your thoughts or suggestions!  I would love your feedback.

All Content Copyright LLCC

September Savored

September - Savored

 

September, too soon gone ... 

 

The Sun a deep butter-cream, that kind of yellow - yellow that highlights all the yellows of the world - the dandelion yellow stripes hidden in the green grass, waving in the golden tones of waning daylight hours ... 

 

The deep buttery yellow of the noon day sun, flashing summer cadences of August's dog days past ... 

 

All of life basks glowing in the arced sunshine.

 

Fairies trip through back woods golden rod catching the last few rays of summer in golden goblets meant for toasting the coming of harvest and the bounty of fall. 

 

Dream easy this evening, this is September ... when the air is still warm and seductive for sitting outside at sidewalk cafes, lingering over citrus tea with a lover until sunset. 

 

This is the last casting light of summer. 

 

Brief deep yellows light upon all the day touches, before nightfall gains a foothold and October brings orange to the crisp crunch of leaves. 

 

If you watch the lake water, even the gentle waves will beam yellow. 

 

Ah, September ... you will be gone too soon.

 

 

 By Cindy Brone aka Lady A.

All Rights Reserved, Copyright
Living Large Coaching & Counseling
It's Your Life. Your Evolution.

Living Large Coming Attractions - YouTube Podcast Trailer

It's official!  I just created the Living Large YouTube & Podcast Channel.  

 

A channel featuring all things health and wellness, personal growth and transformation, mind-body medicine, and spirituality. 

 

If you click below, the link will take you there.   Please view and subscribe! 

 

Living Large YouTube & Podcast Channel Here 

 

https://youtu.be/GFdIG6W6Kgc?si=7QXpNF9WRDdplrdE

Summer - Ice Tea 1950s Style - DIY Recipe

Summer's here! Thrift, health, and nutrition all come together … Take the time to go back to good ole fashion home made cooking, from the depression era.

Forget store bought ice tea!! It's loaded w/sugar … steep your own in your favorite tea flavors, add some healthy green tea, a dash of lemon juice, and float some fresh mango to sweeten.

This 1950s Pyrex coffee pot makes a half gallon of tea for literally pennies.  I purchased the coffee pot at Goodwill for about $3.00.

Boil the water, steep 7 or 8 of your favorite tea bags - or, mix and match, if you like.  This is Lemon Ginger Probiotic tea (4 bags) with Black Tea accent (2 bags) and healthy Green Tea (3 bags).  Steep for 3 or 4 hours, remove tea bags, and store in the refrigerator overnight so the flavors can meld and blend together.

Food!  All my conscious meditation is about food...REAL home made food, not franken food or fast food.  If I'm in the kitchen baking or cooking, or experimenting you know I'm in good space.

Lone Leaf

Lone Leaf

 

Lone leaf dangles,

high atop the oak

long past fall,

into winter
thru wind storms,
ice, hail, rain
the woodpecker knocks.

Lone leaf dangles
dark, torn, thickened,
weather worn and flapping
spring creeps in,
days lengthen

March winds blow warm and cold
a robin sings from its branch.

Lone leaf dangles
solitary, immovable
fixed against the sky
sunrise, sunset
deep into the night,
unseen
buds form,
a sparrow's nest is built in the evergreen.

Lone leaf dangles
the woodpecker knocks.

4/3/2019
Lady Avalon

___________________________________________________________________________

I write under the Lady Avalon persona and section of my work.
You can view my photography and artwork on Red Bubble in my online gallery.
It's also available for purchase, if you would like to support my work.

Lady Avalon Art Online Gallery

All Rights Reserved, Copyright
Living Large Coaching & Counseling
It's Your Life. Your Evolution.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Annual Mental Health Wellness Checkup Quiz

May is designated Mental Health Awareness Month.  Mental Health Awareness Month was established in 1949 to increase public awareness of the importance of addressing our mental health needs and to decrease the stigma surrounding the need for help. 

What does this mean for you?  Have you checked in with your mental health status lately?  Would you even know how to do that? 

Take my Annual Mental Health Wellness Checkup Quiz and see how you're doing.  

10 Questions - Covers Mental, Emotional, Physical, & Spiritual Health

1. How are you feeling today, really? How have you been feeling over the last 6 months?  Physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. 

2. What’s taking up most of your headspace right now?  What's keeping you up at night?  

3. How are your eating habits?  Are you taking time to eat nutritious meals or living on fast food and junk snacks?  Have you been drinking enough water? 

4. How have you been sleeping?  Is lack of sleep impacting your ability to function? 

5. What have you been doing for exercise?  Recreation?  Relaxation?

6.  Are you holding in a lot of anger, resentment, or unforgiveness?  Carrying grudges?

7.  When's the last time you felt really good about yourself?  Your life?  The future?

8.  Are feeling stuck or overwhelmed by what you need to do on a daily basis?  Or are you invigorated by each new day?

9.  Do you feel loved and supported by those around you or isolated and alone?  How often do you feel lonely?

10.  How confident do feel that you can cope adequately with a sudden reversal or setback that might come up unexpectedly?  This might be financially?  Career wise?  Family?  A sudden loss such as a death?  An unforeseen illness or natural disaster?

If you fall short on any the of questions above, it may be impacting your mental health.  Ask yourself:  What current obstacle is the biggest stumbling block getting in your way?  Prioritize your needs this way.  If you need a tune up or extra help, seek the aid of a professional.  Sometimes short term counseling is all it takes to get your life back on track.

My mission is to assist individuals in overcoming the stigma of seeking mental health services.  My goal is to help you create a healthier, more fulfilling life while navigating life's many challenges and transitions.  If you need to, we can do that together.

I offer a free 15 minute consult Discovery call to see if we would be a good fit working together. You can message me directly here or book an online appt. at the link on FB below:

Book an Online Appt. Here

The Living Large Blog features articles, resources, and links on personal development, psychology, spirituality, healing tools, healthy cooking, poetry, and inspirational writing. See links.

Living Large Blog & Website

As always, please share your comments and insights.  

Make your mental health a priority today.

All Rights Reserved. Copyright Living Large Coaching & Counseling

Living Large Coaching & Counseling
It's Your Life. Your Evolution.

A Memory Write - April 24, 2019

 Crossing the Time Warp!

 Holy Guacamole, Batman!!! The Universe has opened up at light speed moving us into the Cosmic Time Warp of accelerated motion, e-motion, and unconscious downloads. There are Cosmic Portals opening up everywhere, vast internal galaxies opening up for exploration, and astral dream states moving on internal hard drives. Fasten your seat belts!! We're in for one wild ride where distant dreams become eventual realities, and gun-toting Sheriffs become Sugar Plum Fairies. It's time to take it all to the Outer Limits - breaking sound barriers, and joining forces with alignments in parallel Universes. Let your Super Sonic hearing and your Emotional Compass be your guide as we fast forward in time from 1974 and "What-Could-Have-Been-Then", to miracles, and ultimate Yin-Yang pairings in the Mirror Universe of Love.

Just for fun, a memory write from April 24, 2019.   I also write poetry, and dash off creative blurbs and insights, like this, that come out of nowhere.  There's a sci-fi cartoon novella here somewhere.

________________________________________________________________________

I write under the Lady Avalon persona and section of my work.

You can view my photography and artwork on Red Bubble in my online gallery.

 It's also available for purchase, if you would like to support my work.

 

Lady Avalon Art Online Gallery 

  

All Rights Reserved, Copyright
Living Large Coaching & Counseling
It's Your Life. Your Evolution. 

 

Those Pesky Things Called Feelings

Turn a Bad Day into A Good Day - It's Your Decision

When life or people become frustrating or unmanageable, it's natural to feel emotional, annoyed, and even succumb to acting out.  But after wards we may experience a morning-after, "emotional hangover", when faced with the consequences of our ill guided actions.  In a fury of frustration, eating an entire bag of chips in front of the TV or sending out a nasty email feels so good in the moment!  Yet, what's left 24 hours later is mostly self-recrimination and collective misery.  No one feels good.  Like a compound fracture, an annoying situation becomes broken in two places - packing on the pounds or damaging a relationship only piles on icky feelings of guilt and remorse making a bad situation worse.  "What was I thinking?!!" is hardly a good platform from which to assess what happened in going forward.  Having a stomach ache or losing a relationship isn't helpful either.

Loss of control is the result of being hypnotized by the powerful pull of negative emotions and distractions i.e., eating junk food, spouting off, spending money you don't have, etc. Then, like any trance state, the momentary "high" wears off.  Those feelings of annoyance and frustration will eventually ebb away no matter what.  What do you want to have to show for it after, something positive or something negative?   It's totally up to you.  True power comes from self-control and positive distractions.  Take a deep breath, take a walk around the block. You get a time-out with the added bonus of a positive payoff - burn off a few calories.

Imagine feeling good, staying peaceful in the midst of frustrating circumstances.  It is possible!  However, it does require some effort and conscious thought that can be difficult to muster when you are upset.  Negative emotions induce a trance-like state that hinders good judgment.  Cultivating inner peace takes practice, but is absolutely worth it!

The secret is having positive distractions planned ahead to fend off making a catastrophic situation out of a bad moment. Then, when a negative emotion or situation pops up, it won't take over and kill your impulse control by making you reach for that bag of chips or lashing out in anger.

Plan ahead to positively distract yourself!  Stock the fridge with healthy foods, i.e., grab a piece of watermelon.  Or dark chocolate.  Share your frustration with an impartial individual who can offer good judgment and objective feedback.  Or, help someone out.  Random acts of kindness for yourself and others are a quick and dirty way to feel better and rack up time well spent.

Annoyances and frustration are an inevitable part of life.  Getting angry and making yourself (and others) suffer by making things worse is NOT.  Just ask yourself: How do I want to distract myself here?  How do I want manage myself and my emotions?  Positively or negatively?  The good news is it's up to you. Like a well developed muscle, peace takes practice.  And, I'm loving that watermelon.

The Fear of Becoming - Transformation

Who Am I?  What Do I Believe In?

When you're in the middle of a transformation, it can all seem very confusing.  You are in a state of "becoming"; you don't know who you are anymore, your identity is under going reconstruction.  You only know that who you "were" doesn't work anymore, but who you are becoming or need to be is vastly unclear; especially if you are dealing with a lot of past trauma.  

The age old metaphysical questions of:  "Who am I?  What do I believe in?",  are central in your mind every day.  You are tempted to go back to the "old" you because it is familiar, safe, and something you know.  It is comfortable, even if it's destructive. It's your comfort zone, habitual and easy to slide back into.   But,  somewhere deep inside, you know you are just circling around the same old drain.  Getting the same unfulfilling results and living half a life, stagnating like a pond overgrown with weeds and toxic chemicals.

This is where you must trust that scary, uncomfortable, and living in the unknown is right where you're supposed to be.  Clear the debris from the past, and excavate your unconscious mind so that the unconscious behaviors, emotions, thought patterns, and perceptual filters running your life on autopilot and creating your current illusion are revealed.

The current Narcissistic culture does not support this type of internal focus, reflection and renewal.  It uses distractions of all kinds to keep us "busy", frantic, over stimulated.  It encourages us to look "outward" for validation, when in reality we need to look inward to find the clues we need to be happy and live a purposeful life.

What this means is that we must take down time, spend time alone in contemplation. Solitude.  We have only our intuition to guide us along, which is a good thing.  The still small voice within is given a chance to grow stronger and guide us along.  The beauty of this process in living by intuition is that people will emerge who support you in your "becoming".  People you didn't really know were there.  They offer all manner of support and encouragement, bring you books to help you, talk you through your emotions and confusion; but most importantly, they offer up a space for you to be entirely yourself, without expectations, for you to become who you really are - not what society or other people think you should be.

These are the people who will come forward with you.   They require nothing from you because they "see" you for who you really are and accept you for the space you're in.  And as you pick your way along this unknown path, you become less frightened, you relax, and surrender to this transition because it is inevitable and resisting is only more painful than just plucking your way through this maze of figuring things out.  You come to live and understand that, "To know is, not to know."  And this journey is actually a gift, and an adventure to embrace because you will never live more in the moment than when you are in a state of "becoming". And, as you are being led to "something" in the unknown, the upshot is learning to trust what's going on inside of you, instead of listening to the "noise" of the external world.  Know that you're in a good place, you're open.

How To Use This Blog & Website (click here)

Welcome to the Living Large Coaching & Counseling blog and website!

Welcome to all the new people here!  This website is undergoing a facelift.  Please check back for new info and updates.

 

This blog is a self-help tool I created and am excited about sharing with you.

 

This multi-media website is published as a mental health resource as a means of providing you with the personalized help, coaching, and counseling you need for navigating life's many challenges.

You can get new blog posts and articles delivered directly by email by sending me a message request on the contact form found on this blog.

I am now doing counseling, life coaching, and consulting online. Just ask!

So...!  What's next?

Read the posts that appeal to you.  Respond to the ones that resonate with you most.  Let me know how you're doing with any life challenges you have.  Most importantly, leave a comment.  

 

Let me and other readers know if this blog has improved your quality of your life!  Was it the writing?  The concepts?  Or, just tell me what's been meaningful for you.

You can always contact me directly by sending a message here on the contact form, or book an appointment by going to my FB page at the link below:

Book an Appt. or Free Discovery Call on FB here

I'll be posting weekly here and on Facebook, as well.

Thanks for visiting!  Come back often!

Until then, Live Large!

Cindy

Founder, Life Coach & Counselor
M.A. Clinical & Health Psychology

Living Large Coaching & Counseling
Life Management & Behavioral Health Services

"It's Your Life, Your Evolution"
_______________________

Follow me on FB page for more info

 

NOTE: You do NOT need to subscribe to this blog to post comments or provide feedback.

Short Bio
I'm a writer and a life coach/counselor.  Like my FB page to read more about my mission in mental health and find more support.

I help people live transformative lives beyond the early conditioning of childhood or "baggage" we carry, and teach others how to get past being judgmental and live in peace in divisive times.  We're all in this together!

I've worked for many years with folks facing the most challenging life situations. Prison, criminal offenses, addiction, codependency, PTSD, and even sex offenders.

The gift I bring to my practice is an inner stance of non-judgment and loving kindness. When we learn to live from a place of non-judgment, life becomes an adventure in possibilities. I, myself, have faced and over come many huge life challenges and transitions.

May you find the resources you need here to live a miraculous life!

Cindy
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