Nurture Your Wealth, Health, and Future!

This post is part of Sara’s Sunny Sundays. Click Here if you would like to view all of Sara’s Sunny Sunday.

  I don’t know if you can tell from the picture below, just how delectable those little treats look, but in person they were amazing. Ricardo and I dined at a local Sushi Restaurant this evening as we try to do several times a month. I had to snap a quick picture of our plated meals because they looked simply irresistible. The atmosphere was a dimly lit, hibachi and sushi restaurant so the quality of the camera phone picture was not exactly what it was in person.

  Sushi is a Japanese style of prepared food. It includes mostly raw, but some cooked fish severed several different ways. The style pictured above is called Makis. There are also handrolls, sashimi, sushi and more. As a child my family ate an eclectic variety of cultured cuisine. From Korean kimchi, handmade Ukrainian pidhi (pierogies), Hungarian goulash and dobos cake, Japanese sushi, Portuguese frango and calde verde soup, various Jewish breads, and much more. You name it, we ate. I couldn’t be more thankful to have had the experience of different foods at such a young age because now, as an adult, my taste buds are complex and ready for anything.

  Sushi, however, is amongst one of the most complete and healthiest meal out there. As a child sushi was very expensive and only eaten on special occasions. Occasionally, I would bring left over sushi with me to school. Boy did I get funny faces on those days! Now, it seems sushi is more common than ever. It is eaten throughout the U.S. and the amount of sushi facilities opening is on the rise. Just what makes sushi so special, and why is it suddenly so popular?

  Sushi contains many heart healthy fatty fish. Fish like Mackerel, Salmon, Eel, and Tuna all contain Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. These fatty acids within the fish help to reduce inflammation amongst the body, increase proper blood circulation within the heart, strengthen our brains, and keep skin supple. The seaweed in which much of the fish lies in is full of Iron and vitamin B-12 which also help with blood production. The rice, which is now being often brown rice if ordered, helps to satiate us. The combination of starch to protein makes sushi a complete protein. The only factor to be aware of when dining out for Japanese, is the sodium content. Japanese cuisine tends to be on the salty side, and must be monitored. A good rule of thumb is “No added salt.” In other words, learn to enjoy the meal as it is! Take a moment to really taste the food, savor the creamy texture of the specially cut fish. Don’t just add soy sauce, you’ll hardly taste what you are paying for!

  Ricardo was quite a skeptic when it came to Sushi for the first few years of our relationship. I enjoyed eating it whenever I could, and often times, prepared it at home to lessen costs. However, we would always end up making him something different because he just could not stomach the idea of raw fish. After several tries he gave it up. Then, a few years later he tried a very common, and basic roll which does not include any raw fish, a California roll. He tried it at his own will one day, and it seemed it was not as bad as he remembered. Soon after, he tried it again. Then, the next day, oh, and the next. After a while he would not stop bugging me about sushi! My being a veteran to the cuisine, did not want to eat it everyday as he wanted to! The point is, he is an extremely picky eater, and never in 100 years would I had ever thought we would be dining at a Sushi restaurant, together, both eating sushi.

  It has been said that the taste buds may take up to 10 times to eat a new food item and decide if they truly like the item or not. I guess in Ricardo’s case this was exactly it. It may even be the same for you if you are weary. The health benefits are worth giving it a try. I encourage all to explore the many cultural food experiences that are out there. By increasing your knowledge, and experience you will be adding to your established completely rich lifestyle.

Warmly,
Sara Dawn

Health Coordinator @ NYW
Nutrition Specialist
TriVita Business Affiliate
Aspiring Yogi

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This post is part of Sara’s Sunny Sundays. Click Here if you would like to view all of Sara’s Sunny Sunday.

  What do you appreciate? Do you appreciate being able to afford the car you want or being able to eat at lavish restaurants? Do you appreciate you and your families’ good health or the quiet moments you have to sip some tea or coffee? What is it that you value enough to feel appreciative for? Do you find yourself ever stopping and really being in the moment enough to feel a satisfactory display of appreciation at all? Appreciation. Know it. Recognize it. Appreciate it.

&nsbp: While we have been discussing many topics that do entail money and health there is a certain level of mind frame that we must first discover before we can decide how and why money means something to us. For instance, as a child my family and I hardly ever ate outside of the home. It was a big deal to go out to dinner or buy food that was not made from scratch. Usually, when we did go out it was to a lavish restaurant because our taste buds were geared towards the highest quality and freshest, cleanest tasting of food. However, as I entered high school, and now age in my adulthood I find myself eating outside of the home more than ever. What used to be a big deal, and real treat, is now a regular social form of entertainment or a quick fix for meals when I am on the go. As my income grew so did the flexibility to unconsciously agree to eating at restaurants, cafes, lounges, you name it! For quite sometime I lost the sense of appreciation I once had for “dining out.” The ironic thing is, I hate dining out! I love eating at home. I value chopping the ingredients I cook with, and smelling the sweet sensations the food gives off as I prepare them with love. I appreciate eating at home.

  Like my situation with dining environments, we often lose the sense of appreciation for many things as they become easier to obtain, and more common. However, we must, must, go back to our roots. We must break things down to their most simplest cosmic form in order to reveal appreciation for everything that is a part of our lives. If we do not do this, we end up like many celebrities. Celebrities are a great example because we as outsiders see the changes that occur as they morph into super stars. Many celebrities who were once humble people working a common job who valued being able to have a car, and now nothing but stretch Hummer limousine will suffice.

  It is not material objects that bring joy to us. It is the most basic ways of life that bring joy and eternal happiness. A car will never bring happiness. A car can get scratched, dented, stolen, broken into, carjacked, totaled, repossessed, and is losing value every moment you drive it. When was the last time you laughed with a love one and lost value because you were laughing? Never. When was the last time you drank your cup of coffee or tea so slowly so you could taste each sip and feel it warm your insides enough to appreciate that particular moment in time? Probably not lately. When was the last time you made a fire at home or in the backyard, and consumed its natural warm energy? Who knows. Our lives move quickly, and so much of our time is stolen by inanimate objects or “things” that are never good enough to appreciate thoughtlessly. Appreciate the moments and things that have a true value and will reward you for the rest of your life, not just the moment. When you build an appreciative foundation for the simple things in life you are able to make more wise decisions for lavish and luxury items that you will appreciate.

Warmly,
Sara Dawn

Health Coordinator @ NYW
Nutrition Specialist
TriVita Business Affiliate
Aspiring Yogi

 If you have enjoyed this post, I hope you will Subscribe to my RSS Feed or Subscribe by Email to get daily updates from Nurture Your Wealth!

This post is part of Sara’s Sunny Sundays. Click Here if you would like to view all of Sara’s Sunny Sunday.

  So far we have focused on ways to incorporate the completely rich lifestyle by learning to become mentally sound, learning why we need money, and how to accept others as they are. Each of these focuses on the completely rich lifestyle because as we learn to involve them in our everyday life, they all develop the building blocks to live your life to the fullest.

  Today we learn how, and why being physically active must be a major factor during our existence as human beings. Our bodies were designed to perform many functions that seem like miracles in them selves. For instance, did you hear about the man who, when rock climbing, had an accident that left him being crushed by a 1,000 lb boulder? This is a true story that can easily be found by running a internet based search. The question at stake is, how was a man who weighed under 250lbs able to move a boulder large enough to cover his entire lower body? This small, yet incredible miracle was not miracle what so ever. His body knew that something was not right. He had an adrenaline rush that provided him with the strength and energy to move the stone enough so that his legs could be freed.

  Granted, this man was a regular hiker, who was quite physically active, and in good shape. The recommended physical activity level for adults are at least 60 minutes a day or 90 minutes for weight loss. What does this do? As we age, it helps us to maintain muscle mass, and obtain a lean, strong body. Being physically in shape is much more than feeling confident aesthetically. It carries out regular body functions such as digestion properly. When you are digesting food properly your energy levels raise, and your body is able to function properly. We need physical activity no matter what. Physical activity is what keeps us young. In essence it is the fountain of youth.

  We can pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to undo the damage that results from bad habits or aging. Whether it is illness related medical bills, cosmetic surgery, expensive creams, augmentations, or homeopathic remedies, we are wasting money when we do not have to. By being physically active each and every day of our life we put aging on hold, speed up our metabolism, and give off the radiance of a confident person. Exercising is the fountain of youth, and it does not have to be boring or strenuous. Find what you like!

  Ricardo and I are regular hikers, and are always searching for new mountains to tackle. You too can get a loved involved with something you both enjoy, and this I promise, will not feel like an exercise routine. Try yoga, bike ride, play with your children, go ice skating, or go for a simple walk. Don’t think you have time to do all of this? It takes as little as 10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes during the day to increase physical activity levels. Try parking your car further in a parking lot, scan the grocery store once, and then go back and actual pick up the items you want, make a mental list of what you will wear tomorrow and what your day will be like as you go for a 10 minute walk around the neighborhood. Anything counts, and everything matters.

The fountain of youth is at your doorstep, it is up to you whether you take it or leave it.

Warmly,
Sara Dawn

Health Coordinator @ NYW
Nutrition Specialist
TriVita Business Affiliate
Aspiring Yogi

 If you have enjoyed this post, I hope you will Subscribe to my RSS Feed or Subscribe by Email to get daily updates from Nurture Your Wealth!

This post is part of Sara’s Sunny Sundays. Click Here if you would like to view all of Sara’s Sunny Sunday.

Can We Be Happy Without Money?
  As a child, I learned what it was like to live on a budget. You know, using coupons, taking vacations rarely, hardly seeing your parents because they were working 9 am to 5pm for someone, other than themselves. If you have ever been in a situation similar to the one I have described then you know that money can, will, and does help. However, there is a fine line when it comes to money and happiness.

  When you have known what it like to live a life with a limited or strict supply of money you know how much stress it can add to your life and those you love. When your child’s birthday is coming up, and you want to give them the experience of having a “bowling birthday party” (for example) but you know that it was way out of the families budget how do you feel? It is not to say that you are a bad parent because you cannot provide, but you must be able to explain this to your child accordingly. Make sure you still plan something fun, yet thrifty so they have a memorable birthday. On the other hand, wouldn’t it be nice to not have to worry about finances at that moment? The stress that spending money we don’t necessarily have places on our bodies is enough to have worry over.

  There is a difference between having money to spend wisely, and having money to spend on items to compensate for other areas that may be lacking in your life. If you are the type of shopper who likes to go to the department store with only one item in mind, yet leave with 20 items you did not plan for, then this is the opposite of why we need to be financially sound. Buying unnecessary items that you did not plan for does not bring happiness. I will repeat this because this is the most important sentence of this blog post; buying unnecessary items that you did not plan for does not bring happiness. 9 times out of 10 we will leave with 20 items instead of 1 simply because we do not have the money. Yes, it is true that more affluent persons will not spend their money as a person who is limited. There is a certain sense of knowing we should not spend or cannot spend that makes someone who is struggling financially spend even more. We do not want to feel or appear as if we cannot have something we want. A person who is living comfortably rich does not have this same need to feel adequate to others. A person who is living a completely rich lifestyle (being physically healthy, mentally sound, financially stable, eating properly, and reducing stress when applicable) has an even easier time of handling spending habits.

  On the other hand it is easier to live a life where money is substantial for situations like the following: being able to buy your child the book they want from the bookstore without thinking twice, why? because reading will only help a child grow, and because there can never be too many books on the shelf as long as they are all being read!, being able to go for a massage when the pressure is really “on” in your life, why? because without managing stress by unwinding however suitable for you, you will eventually crash and not be able to work as you would like to, being able to send yourself back to school or being able to put your child through college with ease is something every parent should feel they have the ability to do. These are just a few of the reasons why we do need money. As long as we are putting our financial energy into places that have a deeper value than material items then we know we are not compensating for something that is lacking from our lives. We are taking stress out of our lives by earning a comfortable salary. Although salary may not be enough, there are many places to invest the salary we do earn. Places like real estate, affiliate programs, internet marketing, and much more are places that can help us earn a stable income and lead a completely rich lifestyle.

Warmly,
Sara Dawn

Health Coordinator @ NYW
Nutrition Specialist
TriVita Business Affiliate
Aspiring Yogi

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