Thursday, May 23, 2013

{Self-Care} The Other Lemon Water

It seems more people know the benefit of adding fresh lemon to drinking water and I'm one of them.  I learned things here and there over the years, but in the last few months, I've really understood how lemons can aid in the body's need to move toxins out of the body daily.

As my quest to drink a sufficient amount of water daily continues, I've tried all kinds of things only to remember it is always best to keep it simple.  Having a glass of lemon water in the morning has become second nature but I still needed to manage the rest of the day.  I decided to join the "fruit infusion" gang to bring to some flavor to my water.

Its the little things we do that bridge us to our goals.


After a few interesting combinations, I finally went back to where it all started for me : Cucumber. I first had water with cucumber over five years ago while traveling.  I made four trips to that water cooler in one hour, which I attributed to the hot summer day.  When SWAN and I started to drink a gallon in less than 24 hours, I knew it was giving me something my body needed.  So why fight it?



Cucumber is known to benefit the skin and I have noticed a difference in both my skin and SWAN's; however, I'm most excited that its helped me to drastically increase my water intake.   The beverage dispenser I used was the largest, most convenient container I had and it added a level of ease that is working for me.  Simplicity wins again.




Life, Health, and Prosperity.

Ashiya.





Thursday, May 9, 2013

{Self-Care} Water to Wine

Water.  Why is one of the most simple yet beneficial things we can do to improve our health also one of the most challenging?  We can't deny how much we need it or how much better we feel and look when we are properly hydrated.  During one of my many strategy sessions to "do better" with my water intake, I randomly thought:

"Why can't I drink water like wine?!"   

 

Seriously.  I can put a sizable dent in a bottle of wine in a few hours if I wanted to, but a bottle of water will stare at me all day.  I know I'm not the only one, so I took a closer look at my ritual of "having a glass of wine" to develop some consistency in my relationship with water.  



The Occasion

At one point, I couldn't imagine honoring a special occasion without a glass of something.  My birthday.  Holidays. Your birthday. Graduation.  A rough day.  Friday...  When I consider how much more I get from a glass of water, I realized it is life that I celebrate with each glass.  So at night, I place a glass of water beside my bed with the intent of celebrating another day of life in the morning.

The Selection

I'm not a wine expert, but I know what I like.  When I was younger, I was really open to exploring wine and could usually finish a glass even if I didn't care for it.  I would just add it to my "do not buy" list.  Water may not seem to have much variety, but I was really only limited by my creativity.  While I do prefer alkaline water when I feel I need some balance, but I enjoy spring water most.  When I want to flavor my water or bring more life to it, I add fruits, vegetables or mint.  The possibilities are endless and if I don't like something I mix up, I have practice finishing it anyway.

The Glass

At home, its all about the glass.  What's better than a wine from a beautiful glass specified for my selection?  Why shouldn't I drink my water from a beautiful glass as well?  If I have a glass for red wine and a different one for white, why shouldn't I have different glasses for my mood or for convenience?  Having different glasses and water bottles around for different parts of my day has been most effective in building a better habit. Each glass represents a different part of my day and drinking from it has become a way of honoring that moment.

More than anything, the time I took to laugh at myself raised my consciousness on a daily basis.  Instead of being frustrated at the end of the day,  I found ways to continuously remind myself of my needs, which I meet on a more consistent basis now. 



And with that, I raise a glass of water to life, health and prosperity!  Cheers!

Ashiya