The No-Sugar Gourmet Activists Want You!

I'm a progressive who also looks back. I'm up with Facebook and Twitter, but I don't text or even give away my cell phone number unless its absolutely necessary. I'm on Netflix and love it, but I canceled Cable -- just won't watch current TV. I love listening to podcasts in the car, but I rarely listen to current radio stations because they waste too much of my time.


When it comes to food, I'm a total reactionary. I look in history's rear view mirror and come to the conclusion that it's not normal or natural to consume feast portions every day. It's crazy to suck in sugar, fructose and corn syrup every couple of hours. It's sickening to forget about nutritional values and simply shop from the middle (chemical) aisles of the grocery store. It makes no sense whatever to carry home new plastic bags and bottles and packaging with every shopping trip when nice cloth totes are so easy to come by.


I can't see the sense of being a slave to Big Agri and Big Meat or to ignoring the pools of pig/cow poop at factory farms. I see a pattern to e coli turning up on food, produce that has traveled, laid on shelves and become virtually nutrient free. We pay low prices for unhealthy food and high prices for insufficient medical care, and I think something could be done about that: I think we could get mad as hell and refuse to take it anymore.


I'm a boomer with health issues for which I take responsibility. I make sure my food is fresh, chemical free and un-sugared. I take in very little salt, no sugar or corn syrup, no refined flour, no wheat, no gluten. I eat low-glycemic foods that don't spike my insulin levels and lead to disease. What makes me so strict? How do I do it? How do I handle cravings? My spouse and I have become No-Sugar Gourmet Activists!


I plan, Dennis cooks. Between us, we find ways to avoid the foods that trouble our digestion, our focus, our arthritis and our well-being. We eat only delicious, satisfying meals: We crave nothing we don't eat and eat nothing we don't find up to our standards. We eat better-tasting meals than we could get at our very favorite (and expensive) restaurants. If we want something, we create a recipe that suits our needs for flavor, health and satisfaction.


And you can do it too, because we share our finds, recipes and recommendations with you at: no-sugar-recipes.comno-sugar-recipes.com.

5 Ways to Stay Productive in a Slow Economy

Apparently, I have a way to go before I can present myself as a Master Worrier, as I did in my previous post. My sister commented: "You didn't mention the economy, the war, global climate change, invalid mom, child who lives [hundreds] of miles away, etc. And what is retirement, anyway? I hear folks talking about it, but I don't see it in my future."

 

Okay, okay -- we're all going to be fine. We'll be working forever, though, so we'd best be doing something we like. I like writing -- it's good work if you can get it, and as the song says, "You can get it if you try."

 

As a freelancer since 1998, I've seen that things do have a way of working out in unexpected ways. The catch is: You look around and see nothing moving. But the fact is: There are at least a million things moving around beneath the surface, gestating, sprouting, getting ready to make an appearance.

 

I fall into the pity pot whenever I think of myself as responsible for everything -- and myself as the Little Red Hen of the World. (This comes naturally to many women, especially experienced Moms.) When I come to my senses, however, it's clear that I'm only responsible for so much -- my duties are finite. What a relief!

 

Once I get to that place, a 5 steps come to mind:

• 1. Take care of yourself: get enough rest, do something fun, preferably outside.

• 2. Take 5 or 10 minutes in the morning to slow down the mind-chatter and create inner silence and receptivity.

• 3. Talk to friends and colleagues daily -- you need the spark of conversation to keep your own creative flame lit.

• 4. Do the best you can on every job for every client: No matter what happens, you'll be able to respect yourself and know you did everything you could.

• 5. Listen to other people -- you'll learn a lot about what's really going on.

 That's my story, what's yours?

 

5 Easy Steps to Useless Worrying

I've roamed all over gmail, twitter and facebook looking for ways to avoid writing today. I'm worried sick about losing my best-paying, largest freelance gig.

Yeah, I'm working as of now...but I found out my contract might run out in mid-May. I could be just another out-of-luck writer-editor...again.

My contract has already been extended from two months to six months. I could choose to be optimistic about my chances of being repeatedly renewed: They like me and my work, but...

...today my blood pressure shot up to "high normal" -- beyond its usual teens-over-70s range. My head aches. My guts are churning. My body is wondering if I should spend money on the Arizona trip we're planning for the end of May. I could be unemployed -- and I don't qualify for unemployment compensation -- when we get back. Could I live with the regret if I cancel the trip...again?

Will the housing market ever recover enough for Stuart to take over some of the bread-winning? Would that ease my mind, or would I just continue to worry? People say, Don't think about it, you'll land on your feet, you always do. How do they know? I don't recall ever landing on my feet, besides worry comforts me that I'm doing what I can.

And how can I help but feel unloved if I get laid off again? Losing my job last year meant anxiety, depression and low self-esteem. My sense of entitlement -- I should be able to retire and enjoy my life by now -- is apparently not strong enough to overcome this jobless economy.

Outside the marketing and business communications I currently produce for a large client, there's nothing doing for writers -- we're mostly being laid off.

I have a book I could write, but unless Stuart gets work, I can't afford to write it and don't have much chance of hooking a publisher.

When I was laid off in 2009, I had high hopes of finding ways to make money writing Web content, editing e-newsletters. But almost nobody even acknowledged my applications, resumes and cover letters. I found only found part-time employment through friends/relatives.

As everyone knows, it's who you know -- and I've already burned through the few resources I have. So, if I get laid off again, I plan to just go to bed and not get up. The gig I have now just came to me -- so I'll wait for my next job under the covers.

That's my story...what's yours?

5 Easy Ways to Keep in Touch With Your Fans

Tips for Baby Boomers in Business:

* Startup marketing

* SEO copywriting-content

* Online marketing trends

Q: Who can you trust - and who will trust you - when there are six billion people on the planet? 

A: Those with whom you have established a relationship.

In 2010, building relationships happens more and more online. Small businesses that establish their authenticity, transparency, openness - free of traditional "marketing ploys" - will be seen as trustworthy providers. 

1. In establishing online relationships, nothing beats building a list of blog or Web site subscribers who have given implicit permission for you to regularly contact them. 

2. Build an e-mail list by offering your fans a chance to sign up after making a purchase, in online sidebars and footers, and after downloading content from your page. 

3. Once you start a list, grow it organically by offering ideas, insider tips, or subscriber specials. 

4. Online networking groups also help you reach out to fans easily. Simple-to-use, free platforms such as Facebook and Twitter allow you to build a business page, create conversations, share ideas, and put a human face on your business.  

5. By giving your fans a place to gather online, you'll make it easy to quickly contact them with helpful news and updates.         

Solo Entrepreneurs/Professionals: 7 Truths to Master

Tips for Baby Boomers in Business:
* Startup marketing
* SEO copywriting-content
* Online marketing trends


I wasn't going to blog any New Year's resolutions - and I'm still not going to - but I am breaking my rule of always providing original content, because I found these 7 Truths from Scott Ginsberg (NametagTV.com) that I really must share. 


Many of us have already quit our cozy corporate jobs, and probably need to be reminded of these 7 Truths. They're not easy, and only a few of us actually have them all mastered when we go out on our own. But some of us are divers and some are toe-dippers. We'll all get there in good time.


Click on the link below to read Scott's full article:


Don't Quit Your Cozy Corporate Job and Go Out on Your Own Until You Master These Seven Truths

Happy New Year!