Religion and Dogma

Look up the definition of religion in the dictionary and you’ll discover several definitions under the one word. Here is one in particular: “something one believes in and follows; a point or matter of ethics or conscience.” When the concept of religion comes to mind I’m sure most people think in terms of an organized, specific, and fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a group of people or sects. But it occurred to me that with the above definition in mind everyone has a religion. Ask an atheist what his/her religion is and he/she will tell you, “I’m an atheist.” All religion really is, is a system of beliefs. But whether a person defines their beliefs by a known system such as Christianity, Paganism, Buddhism or Islam, or uses more abstract and vague terms to describe their own unique set of beliefs, or whether one flatly denies the existence of a higher power (this, I may never understand, although I am humbled by humanity’s endless diversity), how one views the nature of reality is really one’s religion.

There is certainly a substantial amount of unfavorable attention that has been had concerning the subject: Jihads and holy wars, hypocrisy, superstition, fear, fanaticism, ignorance, blind acceptance, self-righteousness, rigidity, inquisitions, dogmatism, cruelty, prejudice, persecution, animal sacrifice, human sacrifice, book-burning, witch hunts, conformity, morbid guilt, insanity, even genocide just to list some that fall under the broad spectrum of atrocities committed and conditions endured for the sake of religion.

How is it, I wonder, that an atheist might have a more highly developed sense of Christian morality, for example, than say, a Catholic who routinely attends mass or a Protestant who is faithfully attends church? The problem is not religion, the problem is people. People tend to be dogmatic. An atheist can be just as dogmatic about unbelief as a believer can about belief. Therefore, it is not religion or beliefs that we need to shake off, it is dogmatism.

If...

If you were the person you most wanted to be, who would you be? If you could be doing anything right now, what would you you be doing? If you could change anything in the world, what would it be?

If you were completely free to express your most dearly held dreams and visions, how would you do that? If you were wealthy enough to buy anything at all, how would you use and invest that wealth in a meaningful way?

If you had the time, the money, the knowledge, the energy and the resources to pursue your highest vision, what would you seek to do? If you were free from all the things that limit you and hold you back, in what direction would you go?

Stop for a moment and consider these things. Then consider this:
There is no need to wait a single moment longer. You can start now to follow your most compelling passion, to achieve your most treasured dreams.

Yes, there are obstacles that stand in your way, but when you're living with purpose and passion, you will find a way around any obstacle and beyond any difficulty.

XOXO

Marysinn

Snap Pea, Radish, Mint and Ricotta Salata Salad

Snap pea season is coming to an end. Here's a refreshing recipe.

You can substitute the ricotta with feta or even with blue cheese. A delicious and perfect side to a nice juicy stake and an ice cold lime margarita. 

4 servings

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes





INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons hazelnuts

Ice

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 pound snap peas, vine end trimmed

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

½ teaspoon flaky sea salt

6 medium radishes, trimmed and sliced into thin wedges

2 tablespoons crumbled ricotta salata

6 large basil leaves, roughly torn











DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 350°. On a rimmed baking sheet, add the hazelnuts and roast until toasted, about 8 minutes. Enclose the hazelnuts in a kitchen towel, then use the towel to rub the papery skins from the hazelnuts. Unwrap and set the hazelnuts aside to cool completely before roughly chopping.

2. To a medium bowl, add ice and water and set aside. Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil. Add the kosher salt and the snap peas and simmer until the peas are crisp-tender, about 1 minute. Drain the snap peas in a colander and immediately transfer them to the ice-water bath to stop the cooking. Once the snap peas are chilled, drain, then transfer the vegetables to a kitchen-towel-lined baking sheet pan to drain further.

3. In a large bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil and sea salt. Add the drained snap peas and the radishes and toss to combine. Sprinkle the ricotta salata, torn basil and chopped hazelnuts over the top and serve.


Enjoy

XOXO
Marysinn

Poor Eating Habits: A Century in the Making

What is making Americans gain weight? Which foods are responsible for the obesity epidemic? Is it soda? Fast food?


In the May 2010 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, I published a detailed analysis of how diets have changed over the past century, based on government records going back to 1909. The results were surprising—even sobering—and I thought I would share them with you. Here’s what we found:


Compared to a century ago, an average American now eats 75 pounds more meat every year. Although red meat made a big charge early in the last century, the recent increase has all been related to chicken. Convinced that chicken is somehow health food, Americans now eat more than one million chickens per hour. Perhaps surprisingly, its fat content is not much different from beef (about 29% for lean beef, 23% for skinless chicken breast, compared to less than 10% for typical vegetables, fruits and beans.)


Cheese intake back in 1909 amounted to less than four pounds per person per year. Americans had not yet discovered cheese pizza or cheeseburgers, or the fact that schoolchildren will happily munch on cheese day after day. Today, cheese intake is over 30 pounds per person per year. Unfortunately, typical cheeses are about 70% fat, as a percentage of calories, and most of that is saturated fat—the kind that raises cholesterol.


And along with our meat and cheese, we’re munching on French fries, which accounts for a 50-pound rise in oil consumption per person per year compared to a century ago. And we’re polishing our fries off with frozen desserts, particularly ice cream. The average American eats 20 pounds more ice cream per year than a century ago.


So, what’s behind these huge increases? Much of this change reflects the advent of fast-food and pizza restaurants, for which meat, cheese and fryer grease are staples. Also, government subsidies make meat, dairy products and sugar cheaper and more available than they would be otherwise, and government meal programs ensure that children consume these less-than-healthful foods in schools on a daily basis.


But what about sodas? They are commonly blamed for childhood obesity. It’s certainly true that soda intake is way up. But, among children, this rise has been partly compensated for by a drop in milk intake. Nonfat milk has about the same calorie intake as soda, and whole milk is denser in calories than soda. So, calorie-wise, it appears to be nearly a wash.


Bottom line: Americans were moderate meat-eaters a century ago, and are vigorous carnivores today. Cheese intake has exploded, and greasy, sugary foods are more prevalent than ever.


If we turn the clock back a bit, we might see the difference on the scale.


By Neal Barnard MD

A glimpse into the Aquarius brain

It never stops ......

Cult Logic

All my life I've been the slave of consequence

Wondering how this life could be so intricate

I wanna rewrite my heart and let the future in

I wanna open it up and let somebody in

Can you free me from the logic that I knew

I believe it even if it is not true

Am I falling asleep on my feet again?

I call out, is anybody listening

It's like I'm diving into emptiness

But at least there's something beating in my chest

    

                 Can you free me from the logic that I knew

I believe it even if it is not true.

XOXO
Marysinn

Slave to love

 

 Tell her I'll be waiting in the usual place. With the tired and weary and there's no escape. To need a woman you've got to know. How the strong get weak and the rich get poor. Slave to love. You're running with me. Don't touch the ground. We're the restless hearted. Not the chained and bound. The sky is burning. A sea of flame Though your world is changing I will be the same. Slave to love. No I can't escape I'm a slave to love. 

The storm is breaking or so it seems. We're too young to reason to grown up to dream. Now spring is turning your face to mine. I can hear your laughter. I can see your smile. Slave to love. No I can't escape. I'm a slave to love. Slave to love. no. I can't escape. I'm a slave to love. 

 XOXO 

Marysinn

SLOW DOWN & SPEED UP....

I find it amazing how you can sometimes get lost in someone else's company. I call that BEING IN THE MOMENT! It's those ahaaa moments that are just absolutely priceless. It's when you live in the moment, truly present in whatever is currently going on in front of you that you experience true happiness. Consciously putting yourself in that present state of mind is something that takes constant practice. In 2013, I invite you to be present in your life. Allow yourself to be your own focus. Too many folks spend their days figuring out how to fix others, never realizing that they are the problem. They need the help, the guidance, the peace and tranquility they perceive others to need. Self-­honesty is the key to peace and tranquility.

I also find it amazing when I look around sometimes and observe the world moving so fast and I see everyone around me looking like robots. Sometimes we forget to STOP, look up, take a deep breathe, and enjoy the moment, the second. I think that's why I have gravitated so much to kundalini yoga because it allows me to get in true contact with myself through my breath. 

Now that I write this it seems so simple to write yet so challenging to do. SLOWING DOWN seems like a difficult task in today's world. I don't mean slowing down your productivity, I mean slowing down your mind. You can and will be more productive when your thoughts exude balance, love, and tranquility. You will come more from a place of being centered. I am beginning to write things down because if not I forget them. My mind travels and moves so quickly at times that I must create a structure that works for me and that is writing things down, making a note in my phone, or recording a voice memo for myself! Sometimes in my voice memo's I record messages to myself as a reminder that it begins with ME! If I am not OK how will I possibly be OK with others?

So this New Year I challenge you to keep the focus on yourself. Many hear that and say "Oh well how selfish!" NO. Beginning with you means becoming willing to look at your entire self inside and out and say "I am a work in progress. I will love me so therefore I can love my kids, husband, or spouse better. I will embrace my flaws and defects and overall take the steps I can right now to improve as a person on a daily basis." Be aware of your behavior, your actions, and your words for they are all powerful tools you can use to create the life of your dreams.

Life is an adventure. Problems only arise when we disconnect from our source, our higher power, God! Some get weird with the word God. So you can reference him as the Universe, Buddha, the Divine or whatever he might be to you. Connect with him and remember he is guiding your path. 
They say "if you want to make God laugh tell him your plans", he is in charge at the end of the day. I love that he also gives us free will to live, make choices, make mistakes and learn lessons even though sometimes the lessons are hard but not unbearable. He will never give you anything you can't handle.

So my question is what do you want to improve on in 2013? How will this year be different for you than last year? What new habits will you be creating? What old habits are you letting go of? (Sometimes when you see your answers on paper and read your own writing it provides clarity for you. 

I encourage you go journal your answers and keep them somewhere only you can see them.)

We have a lot of work to do this year. 


Cheers to an incredible 2013

XOXO

Marysinn