The Day The World Changed; September 11, 2001

Three thousand fifty one children lost a parent on September 11, 2001. The most horrific day in the history of the United States. Even though it has been 10 years, I remember it as if were yesterday.

I was driving to work listening to the radio, it was short jaunt to work and as a manager my days consisted of dealing with problems but nothing could prepare me for what I was about to experience.

All of a sudden the music stopped and there was an emergency radio announcement I will never forget.

A radio announcer started talking with a shaky voice.. “There have been unknown terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers in New York and …” this was all I heard; I parked my car and jumped out, running as fast as I could.

Entering the retail store I was managing, an eerie chill went down my spine. This once bustling store was dead silent, no cashiers were at their stations, a large group of  people were at the back of the store. The only sound was the  television screens that were all portraying the ghastly event.

At least a hundred people stood frozen watching as the first airplane hit the tower. The sound of gasps broke the silence, people reached out, held the hands of strangers and some started to screem, others cried. The planes crashed the towers, black smoke billowing, it was worse than any horror movie.

With hands covering our mouths, eyes locked on to the television screens, the scene felt like a bad dream.

For anyone witnessing these events, the images still haunt our memories daily.

I couldn’t breathe. My parents were on a plane back from Boston and I knew it flew from Boston to New York before heading back to Oregon.

Pulling out my cell phone I started calling every one of my six brothers and sisters. “Where are mom and dad? What plane are they on, when are they supposed to be here in Oregon?

My questions were all met with the same response… no one knew.

The next twelve hours were the worst of my adult life, waiting for a call, not knowing if my parents perished in one of those planes.
 
Twelve hours past which felt like an eternity. The phone rang. It was my dad telling me he was stuck in Washington State and he was renting a car to drive home.

I, standing in my living room, collapsed onto the couch and sobbed for at least an hour. My daughter who was only seven years old at the time, said “don’t cry mommy, don’t cry.”

Collins English Dictionary defines Terrorism as 1. The systematic use of violence and intimidation to achieve some goal.  2.the act of terrorizing. 3. The state of being terrorized.

Well the intimidation worked, the state of being terrorized worked. I will never be the same, as well as millions of Americans will never be the same.

Our suspicious nature has gotten worst, our racial profiling, and stereotyping has increased to an incredibly high levels due to the horrific events of September 11^th.
We are angry and we haven’t forgiven and it shows. The days of preaching peace… have given way to that of demanding war.

The truth of this statement is sad; our world will never be the same, and in my lifetime it will more than likely get worse. I feel for the next generation…that of my daughter… who wants peace but only sees sadness and violence.

Never will I take for granted our freedom, my family, my friends. We owe it to those who perished  and to those families who lost loved ones, to never forget.

The people of the United States should all feel saddened …not just for the abundance of unspoken stereotyping, profiling, and terrorism, that this event caused, but for the loss of humanity that once existed in this great nation.

THE POWER OF THE MIND: The Best Tool in Being Fit

The one word that describes most Americans is autopilot. Our days are filled with rush, rush, rush. Stopping only to eat at a fast-food restaurant, and if we go to the gym the question is always, how fast can I get through my workout. Sitting in front of the television or computer, we eat never knowing how much, because we weren’t taught to pay attention. Our lives are mostly this...mindless.

The best tool anyone can use especially when it comes to fitness is mindfulness. According to Shauna Shapiro PH.D., associate professor of psychology at Santa Clara University, “Mindfulness is the awareness that arises when you intentionally pay attention in an open, accepting and discerning way.”

The idea is to learn how to live in the now, press the pause button and live in the moment.

The question is how do I eat, and train at the gym mindfully?

Did you know researchers at the Center for Mindful Eating show by eating clean and having six small meals a day is not enough. If you slow down and spend at least 20 minutes on each meal your body will not only speed up your metabolism, but will increase your fat loss.

When an individual eats more slowly, they eat less and make better choices with their food.

At the gym, the body knows the routine. However, getting your brain to go along with the exercises is a little more  difficult.Paying attention to your muscles when you workout is important. To be more efficient and take your fat loss to a whole new level, recruit your mind.

Muscles can have more than a 10 percent response by just imaging moving them. Take time before each workout to go through the exercises in your mind. Also, get in front of the mirror and flex each muscle, make sure you are isolating and contracting the muscles you will be using,

Doing this for a period of 12 weeks can actually improve your strength from 13 percent all the way up to 35 percent.

Working your mind as well as your muscles gives your body a more effective workout.

Some of the added benefits of engaging your mind is less stress, more energy, better immune function and a greater self-esteem.

So remember, the mind body connection is a powerful tool, whether you are trying to eat healthier or workout more efficiently using your mind will lead to a healthier you.

At a Glance
Tips for eating mindfully
1. Eat when your hungry. Sometimes cravings are the reason we eat. Take a few minutes to focus on what you are eating before you put a food packed with calories and fat on your plate.
2. Stop when you feel moderately full rather than completely eating the whole meal.
3. Try to discern each texture and flavor with each bite. This mindset allows you to stop eating  quickly   and you will feel more full before completing the meal.
4. Get rid of distractions, turn off the television, computer, stop texting friends when you eat.
5. Keep a log of what you are doing when you eat. This allows you to see a pattern and change it.

Tips for a better workout session
1. Instead of focusing on the whole set, focus on each rep and contraction. The quality of the movement is much more important than the quantity.
2. Take time before the workout to go through the exercise with your mind. Focus on how you will execute each movement, do this without the weights or equipment.
3. Get in front of the mirror. Flex each muscle that you will be working individually. Even the less strong muscles need attention, use your mind to give a stronger signal, especially to these.
4. Make sure you practice your breathing. For example when lifting a weight inhale for a count of two and exhale for a count of four when you lower the weight. Make sure you are not holding your breath when you lift.