I rang across this article that talks about how different food is today than it was in the past.
To be honest, I already knew this and it was probably because I was really privileged and at a lot fresh foods from gardens growing up. But, the truth is there is way more to it than just that.
My grandparents and parents got twice as much nutrition from some fruits and veggies as my kids and I are getting these days. TWICE AS MUCH! That makes my heart hurt. Especially since I have been so sick and then learning that the best way to fight illness and disease is fruits and veggies.
I have not always made the healthiest choices and because of that neither have my children. But, about 4ish years ago I made some major life changes. I started to eat whole food nutrition daily. I started to cut back on processed foods and sugars. And, truth be told, I thought that I was probably doing enough because I was eating more fresh foods.
Turns out I wasn’t doing as much as I could or should. And that makes me sad. Still, with all that being said I am now currently doing all I can and more for my family, daily.
That was when, after 8 years of watching a friend eat their daily capsules and chews I started my family on them. It has been life-changing. When you are immune deficient, it is scary. When you are allergic or sensitive to a lot of foods and some of those are put into medications, it is scary. When doctors run out of options for you, it is scary.
I recall going into my general practitioner’s office and trying to hold back the tears. She has been doing everything she could to help me and that included sending me to specialists. I am forever grateful for everyone who has ever taken time to listen and treat me because I am a very unique case and I know this. But I sat in her office and when she walked through the door the flood gates pushed open and I could not prevent the tears from flowing.
Each specialist either wanted me to try another new pill, have testing done I had already had done, and/or see another specialist. I didn’t think I could handle much more.
It wasn’t that long after that moment when I did give up and went to eating what Dana was eating daily. We have had some amazing developments since that time. Healing has occurred in many areas for me and is still happening inside of me. My children don’t miss nearly as much school (which if I am being honest, Jack David HATES). We have been able to take vacations because of not missing school and me not being as sick.
It has been pretty amazing. So, if you are curious as to what we are eating daily, I will gladly share it with you! The link is below. I also am going to share the article that talks about broccoli and how it was twice as nutritious 50 years ago. Why? Because education is so important for those we are currently living and those who have yet to be born!
This is scary in our day and age, especially with the flu and coronavirus spreading like they are! Do you want to read the article or learn about how I am getting more fruits and veggies into my kiddos and myself? Click here
The problem is so many people think and feel they should not have any difficulty going through life. The solution is we have to be willing to learn to be resilient because difficulty does exist.
Life is hard and I have been through my fair share of difficulties. Unless you are in my inner circle or personally in my life you probably do not know most of what I have dealt with and how I have overcome it.
The key though is I am resilient. I am emotionally resilient. I am physically resilient. I am mentally resilient. I am resilient.
I am pretty sure I have been most of my life but I didn’t always acknowledge it. But, if I am not willing to acknowledge that I do get knocked out and that there is something inside me that helps me get back up, I am truly missing out on helping others!
What is the hardest thing you have gone through? A partner cheating? Sexual abuse from someone you knew? Rape from someone you knew or even someone you didn’t know? A divorce? Abuse in a marriage or relationship? Financial ruin? Self-abuse?
The list of things is endless, how you respond is not.
I am a hot air balloon. I can be high up in the sky and see God’s artwork, which I am a part of and I can be down deflated on the ground where no one can see me but those who are close. But no matter where I am, I have the potential to fly high and go far, I just have to light my resilient fire.
Have you had times where you have no idea how you are going to keep on going? Maybe you are on the ground now and need help getting your fire lite again. Ask to join my inner circle by clicking here!
I started using the NLT version a lot more when I am using the YouVersion app.
Today in my 90 days of reading through the Bible I got to Proverbs and this just hit me. The Purpose of Proverbs!
It is beautiful…
“Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise.” We are so blessed! Have you ever thought about how in the old testament times they didn’t have the Holy Spirit in them. They had to memorize everything! Most days I can’t recall what I ate for breakfast how in the world am I going to memorize the O.T.?! And yet, we are so blessed! God left us this amazing gift, the Bible. It is God-breathed. It is His love letter to us. He wants us to be wise and He has left this wisdom for us to use and learn from.
“Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser.” Lord, I know I have so much room for growth and I am not as wise as I should and could be. Please use Your words to seep into my soul. Gift me with knowledge and wisdom and allow me to feel Your Holy Spirit within the depths of my soul. ~ Amy
Do you love learning? Do you love the Bible and discovering new things you hadn’t see before? Did anything jump off the page at you? Would you like to join my inner circle? Click here to do that!
Because I’m very curious, tell me what temperament your top two are. If you don’t know here is a link to a quiz for it: Temperament Quiz
Now some people feel this one is spot on and others feel it seems to be wrong and off. I did my first test a long time ago and this one gave me the same results as I had gotten back then!
So, tell me, what are your top two temperaments? Are you Sanguine? Are you Melancholy? Are you Choleric? Are you Phlegmatic?
Gossip is the problem and people are the solution.
I am sure you have been in this situation before because we all have. I was sitting in a restaurant and overheard the table next to me talking. I know, I can hear it now, that’s the pot calling the kettle black, you should not have been listening to them talk, it was a private conversation, and I realize all of this. Still, when my ears catch a word, I struggle to turn them off. And when you are in public anyone can hear anything you say.
She was talking about a friend. She wasn’t lifting her up. I would dare say that Susan really wasn’t a friend of hers!
I am the solution to gossip. I’m working hard to change my mindset so I am confident with who I am.
I once heard a story about a feathered pillow that went like this, “My mom held a feather pillow and said, ‘If I tear this open, the feathers will fly to the four winds, and I could never get them back in the pillow.”
I encourage you to keep your pillows together because you never know when you will need to lay your head down.
Do you want to learn solutions to combat gossip in your life? Click this link to be invited to my inner circle: http://bit.ly/LifeSynergyInnerCircle
So many people talk about things they want to change or how they plan on changing but then fall short. The solution is a mind change because nothing changes until you have a real inside change and that begins in the mind.
I know you have been here. You look in the mirror and are truly dissatisfied with what you see. It doesn’t have to be something major, it can be as simple as your hairstyle. But it is the discontent that stricks a cord with me. When you are dissatisfied and have discontent, something much deeper is going on. There is a huge difference between, “I want a new hairstyle.” and, “I hate the way my hair looks.” And this can be applied to anything in your life!
I want a change and I hate the way this looks are two very different things!
Change is hard but it is worth it. Change takes work, daily work, but it is worth it. It is the small steps that take you the furthest. It is the hard steps, that make the biggest changes.
The mindset is huge. You see, for years I believed I wasn’t good enough. I wasn’t skinny enough. I wasn’t healthy enough. I just wasn’t…..enough!The mindset is huge. You see, for years I believed I wasn’t good enough. I wasn’t skinny enough. I wasn’t healthy enough. I just wasn’t…..enough!
I would try to exercise. I would lose weight and then gain it all back plus some. I would try programs that included pills and shakes and I would look amazing and then it would all change and I would go back to where I was, plus some.
My health was in jeopardy. I was getting sicker and sicker each and every year. I was put on more and more and more pills. My reactions and side effects of each were getting worse and worse.
When I looked in the mirror I could not stand what I saw. Any of me! My hair, my weight, my looks, my smile. The list goes on but you get it. Basically there was nothing about myself I could enjoy. And I kept on trying to change my outsides but never bothered to touch my insides. I didn’t understand the importance of changing my insides before ever attempting to fix anything else about me.
When my insides were broken, nothing else could ever be fixed because I was broken. I was damaged. Even when I was my ideal weight, my hair cut was complimented all the time, people would tell me I was glowing and I would go home and cringe. I still saw all my flaws and my mind saw each and every broken thing about me. That is, except the brokenness inside of me.
Now, I may not look healthy on the outside but I am 100% healthier than I have been since I was 8 years old. My mind wins battles daily. I am even making daily healthier choices that are helping my body.
I still take capsules and I still eat shakes but they are not full of chemicals and fake things I can’t even pronounce. They are full of whole food nutrition and I know it benefits my body. I am getting into working out every day, and for me that means yoga.
Changing your mind is a battle but victory changes the outcome of the war.
Nothing changes until you change your mind and your insides. Are you ready to make a change? I am getting ready to do a 5-day stress release challenge. Really easy, no purchase necessary, and it is completely beneficial for anyone. Would this be something you are interested in? I have been doing this for a while for myself and it is one of the ways I began to change my mindset!
I am trying to expand the spices I use in my house. I have the typical things I use for everything.
My spice cupboard is 2 shelves full of things. However, most of them are full of things that are not good. A lot of them are mixes that have gluten in them, and I am tossing them in the trash. Plus, Jack can no longer have extra sodium so anything with sodium is tossed.
Help widen my horizons! I typically use garlic powder, AIP Powder (and their seasoned coating mix) and Italian seasoning. Help this mom and wife out!
What is your favorite spice and recipe to use it in! Comment below, I’m desperate.
One of our biggest problems is that we are afraid of the word healthy. The best solution is to define what healthy means to you!
Let me be perfectly clear, I do know how to live a healthy life. But it used to sound boring and bland (those darn teen years).
When I was little I loved fresh fruits and veggies. My grandparents lived on a farm and going into the garden was awesome! Then I turned into a teen and all my friends were eating junk so why can’t I enjoy junk as well? Let me tell you what happened very quickly. I was craving sugar. I wanted candy bars. I wanted pop. I wanted chips. I wanted junk. That is what my body wanted all the time. Not only is it what my body craved it changed how my body worked.
What Doors Are Waiting To Open For You?
Have you ever thought about what happens to the body when you make unhealthy choices? What happens when you eat mostly sugary foods (learn about that in my inner circle)? It can cause problems you never knew about, never thought about and didn’t realize was really going on causing health problems. How much sugar do you eat? What does it mean to be healthy for you? What doors would it open in your life?
When you sing and you sound like an angel but are always alone, no one hears you, and no one will ever be blessed. When you sing and sound like an angel and always sing in front of others you bless everyone. Are you singing alone or in front of others?
If you want to hear more about me and the little things I did ask to join my inner circle!
A couple years ago I wrote a blog post about the difference between a legitimate network marketing business and a pyramid scheme! This week, one of my awesome team members and friend wrote this amazing post about the same thing. The best part for you is that it is much shorter than what I wrote! (each link is a different post)
_______________________________
There’s a crazy myth floating around that I need to clear up once and for all.
I hope this doesn’t cost me any friends. (Maybe I’ll even gain some!) 😁 If this information somehow offends you, I’m going to put a link at the bottom of this post to an article posted by the United States Federal Trade Commission and you can see that I’m totally 100% on point with what I’m saying.
“Pyramid Scheme”
For some reason, this is a nasty stigma that cynical or uninformed people assign to others who:
– Have a home based business where they sell a third-party product – Assemble and train a team of others who have chosen to do the same thing – Earn income from both their own sales and the sales of some of their team members
Bottom line:
LEGITIMATE COMPANIES with a tiered payout and distribution structure are super-common, totally legal, and a fantastic, ethical way for companies to get visibility for their goods or services. It is sophisticated word-of-mouth “advertising.”
PYRAMID SCHEMES are illegal and get shut down by the government very quickly when they pop up. I’m going to paraphrase some of what is discussed in detail in the article at the bottom of this post.
So-called “pyramid schemes” promise members profits based primarily on recruiting others to join their program, NOT from selling any real goods or services to the public. Some pyramid schemes may sell a product, but they often simply use the product to hide the fact that the majority of the money paid out to participants comes from high buy-in cost for new recruits, not from end product sales to the public. Two things to be aware of that pyramid schemes are notorious for are (1) requiring new recruits to purchase a bunch of inventory up front that they won’t use and will probably not be able to re-sell and (2) money is made from the high sign-up fees of new recruits, not from legitimate product sales to the public.
In pyramid schemes, the people at the “bottom” spend a bunch of money on high buy-in costs and (possibly) a lot of products that sit in their garage, while the people at the top collect from everyone below, selling hype, and cracking the whip on people to bring in more and more new recruits at astronomical buy-in fees. In order to make any money, the newest recruits need to go and try to get a bunch of other people to spend a fortune to sign up, rather than actually getting customers who like the product and want to purchase it. It is very high pressure with a lot at stake.
Pyramid schemes are few and far between and get shut down quickly by the FTC. By far the vast majority of companies with a multi-tiered distribution and payment model is are totally legitimate. In the article below from the Federal Trade Commission, there is an entire section about successful, legal companies that use multi-level distribution and payment models.
I’ve been working with in this type of business for nearly 15 years and it’s been AHHH MAZ ING. Not perfect, but really, really great.
✅ Yes, I have a home based business. ✅ Yes, I market a product that my family has benefited from and uses. ✅ Yes, I help other people learn how to do the business if they think it’s a good fit. ✅ Yes, I receive commission if I do my job well and the people I have taught are successful. 🚫 NO, I am not gullible, brainwashed, desperate, foolish, lazy, or part of a pyramid scheme.
The “pyramid scheme” accusation used to hurt me. Then it would just annoy me. Now it REALLY ticks me off.
Why does it tick me off? It’s not because I can’t handle a little social pressure. I’ve developed a thick skin and can recognize misinformed people the second they start talking. It ticks me off because it hurts people I care deeply about. These are men and women who are taking more control of their family income and working hard with legitimate and thriving companies who are getting shaken up unnecessarily by the biting comments of people who don’t have a clue what they are talking about.
I hope this informed and well-researched post will help these people as well as those who may have never taken the time to learn exactly what the difference is between an illegal pyramid scheme and a legitimate business with a multi-level type distribution and payment structure.
In my opinion, companies with a multi-tiered distribution and pay-out model are the next logical “evolution” of authentic, decent, and ethical marketing.
Please let me explain why.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
HERE IS THE ORIGINAL “FLOW” OF PRODUCT DISTRIBUTION:
In the past, MANUFACTURERS would create a product in their factories and then ship it to NATIONAL WAREHOUSES. The NATIONAL WAREHOUSES would store the products until they needed to be shipped to REGIONAL WAREHOUSES. REGIONAL WAREHOUSES would keep the products until they were needed as inventory in LOCAL RETAIL SPECIALTY STORES. LOCAL RETAIL SPECIALTY STORES would put the products on the shelves. CUSTOMERS would see company-produced advertisements in media and come to the LOCAL RETAIL SPECIALTY STORE to purchase the product. In most cases up to 60% of what the customer pays is simply to cover the cost of moving the products from factory to warehouse to warehouse to store and to pay for the advertisement. That’s a huge expense.
(Example: Nike factories in China MANUFACTURE millions of Nike brand shoes. They ship tens of thousands of shoes to NATIONAL WAREHOUSES all around the United States. They are then sent out to REGIONAL WAREHOUSES so they are closer to the stores that will eventually purchase and re-sell them. Nike LOCAL RETAIL SPECIALTY STORES in your local shopping mall place orders from the regional warehouses for a few hundred pairs that end up on their display racks. CUSTOMER sees a $5 million 30-second Nike ad on TV during the Super Bowl, and the next day goes to a LOCAL RETAIL SPECIALTY STORE to pay $190 for their new Nike shoes. Approximately $114 [60%] of this is to cover the cost of moving the shoe from factory to warehouse to warehouse to store… plus that snappy ad he saw during the Super Bowl. 👟💸)
This isn’t the most fabulous system, but it is generally pretty standard marketing. And of course this isn’t just for shoes… you can substitute most any other type of physical product out there for the Nike shoes.
1950s EVOLUTION OF PRODUCT DISTRIBUTION
In the 50’s and 60’s there was an evolution. LOCAL RETAIL SHOPS were replaced with LOW COST DEPARTMENT STORES (think WalMart, etc.). Now you could buy shoes, and hammers, and mayonnaise in the same store instead of going to a shoe store, then a tool store, then a grocery store. Among other changes, they centralized distribution and found low-price suppliers. This also cut out at least one step at the end of the distribution process, saving money for the end customer.
1980s EVOLUTION OF PRODUCT DISTRIBUTION
In 1983 and 1984 Costco and BJs were founded and there was another evolution. REGIONAL WAREHOUSES were replaced by these MEMBERSHIP ONLY BIG BOX SUPERSTORES. Sure, there weren’t as many of them as the large department stores, but for an annual membership fee, you were allowed to go directly into the warehouse to do your shopping. You could buy the same sorts of things that were available in the large department stores, but in larger quantity, with less packaging, and the cost was even cheaper because the products didn’t need to be moved as much. Plus, advertising costs decreased with this step as well. Instead of needing to market to everyone in the country, a company would only need to market to the people who happened to be members of the big box superstore (think about that little Costco flyer that is sent to your house once a month. A lot cheaper and targeted than Super Bowl ads.) 📦💵
2000s EVOLUTION OF PRODUCT DISTRIBUTION
In the early 2000s, online retailers like Alibaba and Amazon swept in, connecting customers directly with manufacturers from their PC or smartphone. Websites like Etsy also popped up and allowed people to sell their wares to other customers. This was a MAJOR breakthrough in distribution because suddenly there was very little advertising or distribution costs. And with Amazon Prime, shipping was really affordable to people who used their service on a regular basis. It’s no wonder that a couple years ago Jeff Bezos, owner of Amazon, became the richest man in the world! He understood that if he could find a way to connect customers directly with manufacturers he could turn huge profits—and it was incredibly scaleable. He could sell other people’s products for slightly less than would be charged in another brick-and-mortar store and make a mega profit, plus the profit from under-utilized Amazon Prime accounts really adds up, too.
AND HERE WE ARE WITH THE LATEST EVOLUTION… THE MULTI-LEVEL DISTRIBUTION MODEL
These companies have been around for a long time and many have been fine-tuned for decades. A handful of companies (I can tell you which ones) have totally nailed it. These are consumer-to-consumer businesses, marketing fantastic consumable products that are both timeless and in demand by the public. These companies have created a business model that encourages customers to not only be educated about and use their products, but also to have the option to be compensated for sharing their own experiences with others if they wish. In return for a referred sale, the company pays the customer some of what would normally be spent on expensive advertising or the cost of moving products from warehouse to warehouse. The part I love the most is that customers who want to create a higher income for themselves can be compensated for effectively teaching other customers how to share company-created information about the product as well as their own experience. Advertising dollars from these companies are not spent on a expensive psychology-driven, hypnosis-inducing marketing campaigns that utilize just the right colors, sounds, and carefully crafted marketing messages that make you feel an irrational preference to buy their stuff over that of a competitor. No—with this business model, advertising dollars are paid out to customers who really like the products, can offer their own experiences with other people, give an honest recommendation, and share in some of the profits if the person they are talking to decides to make a purchase. It’s totally win-win-win.
Good companies get in trouble when their representatives start going crazy and exaggerating or making false claims. We’ve heard about a few of them in the news lately. Thankfully, the companies who I have kept my eye on are really monitoring their partners to make sure that no one is over-promising.
If you’re personally not comfortable buying from someone you know, that’s totally fine. But please don’t cry wolf on our businesses. It’s not classy. If you are leery of “pyramid schemes,” I hope that this little exposé of mine sets your mind at ease. Chances are your friend on social media, or your sister, or your co-worker is just sharing a product that they really like and are not in a cult. 😂
This is my story, this is my life! I have lived with many autoimmune disorders but I was never told that is what I was dealing with. After many medications and specialists a friend offered me nutrition. Slowly my life went from misery to victory.
I still have days where I struggle but I am living life on my own terms. I am able to provide solutions to others who have a need for health and financial relief. I am able to help families who struggle to get nutrition into children get nutrition into them with ease.
This is my story on how I found a solution that helps my health and our family.
Who came up with the idea to genetically modify our foods? So plants growing on their own, at their own pace, with nutrients from nature are not good enough!
I understand we are not the country we used to be. We do not live in small towns surrounded by farmers who we can buy fresh fruits, veggies, meat and eggs from. We do not can or freeze our fresh foods to store up for the winter anymore. We don’t have amish neighbors for fresh honey and real maple syrup anymore.
What we do have is convenience. We walk into a store and there is always fresh fruits and veggies. But at what cost? These foods are picked before the nutrients are there (foods get the most nutrients in the last 5 days of growth) because they have to be shipped hundreds of miles to get to the store! Some of these foods are even stored in warehouses for months to a year before they are put out for consumer sales (apples average 12 months).
Now add that we are modifying our foods, processing food and make them convenient, quick and easy. We have lost the ability to wait and be patient, we want what we want and we want it right this second.
When will it all end? When we will say this stuff is killing us and we need it to stop! We have allowed the changes that are creating all these cancers, autoimmune disorders and chronic diseases to run rampant.
Maybe as you read some of this it is resinating with you. Maybe you are thinking about some simple changes you can make but don’t even know where to start! If you click on the photo above you can learn more about what GMO is and learn how you can try and avoid it!
You see my newsletter come through but you might not really know me. Some of you came through my website and know I use and believe in essential oils. Some of you are customers of mine or team members so you know a little of my story. Here is a video that is less than 4 minutes that gives you a quick glance at what has gone on with me over the past 44 years!
Does our food system have a problem that needs to be fixed? Is this something we can fix by ourselves or is it something that the government needs to step in and help with?
Head on over to Spoon University to find out their take on what is going on!
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