Passion, plus!

"Not just existence, but really taking advantage of our time here on earth."

Dr. Mitra Ray

Live Life to the Plus+

pas·sion //ˈpaSHən //noun  1. Strong and barely controllable emotion. From the Latin verb patī meaning to suffer. Ex; "a man of impetuous passion". Wikipedia defines PASSION as a term applied to a very strong feeling about a person or thing. Passion is an intense emotion compelling feeling, enthusiasm, or desire for something.

SOMETHING?! How about somethings? 

Not everything, but there has to be a way to get it all in the same life, right?

No definition of passion is going to help me, or anyone, truly define what gets them out of bed everyday and I have to be honest; my passions are muddled. Not like a muddle cucumber to go with a deliciously chilled Hendrick's over ice. Muddled like, I cannot seem to separate my passions long enough to make sense of it all. WHYYY can't they work together?

"I'm learning patience" I keep telling myself. "One day, this will all make sense"

For 27 years I have been here on earth.

For 25 years I have been a swimmer.

For 15 years I have been taking JuicePlus+.

For 10 years I have been a representative for JuicePlus+, concentrated WHOLE FOOD.

For 9 years I have been a swim coach, specializing in young novice/non-swimmers & sprinters.

For 8 years I have been extremely inspired and intrigued by Sociology. 

For 6 years I have been eager to work with & assist professionals, small businesses & brands on their social media tone, strategy, on-line customer relations, and creative content.

For 5 years I have been focusing on leadership coaching & public speaking, especially to youth. 

For 4 years I have been looking for a legit career opportunity that will solidify my passions.

For 3 years I have been focused on making Raleigh NC my home base, but building bridges and relationships with opportunity New York City & The Netherlands.  

For 2 years I have been striving to understand where I fit in the marketing & public relations world.

And for the past year, I've been viciously spinning my wheels trying to rush the process. 

No more wheel spinning.

As I step back and asses my goals and know that I have the passion part down, I know what I know I love, but I don't know how to connect that to financial gain. Yet everything I am is focused on present intent & it seems that when I get money in the factor, people change, feelings change. Heck, I change.

How can I be passionate about my passions & be passionate about making money? How can I use the energy I have for loving into my daily life as to not get discouraged?

Click image to see the entire worksheet.

I found a great worksheet that encourages these 10 ways to incorporate passion into my career, whatever that may be;

1. Be (authentically) enthusiastic.  Authentic passion is attractive and demonstrates 

traits like commitment, well-roundedness and 

enthusiasm.

2. Say yes more often. Be an explorer as well, say YES passionately!

3. Find your bliss. The first step to incorporating passion into your work is determining what you’re passionate about. What activities, causes or topics are you most committed to? What could you talk about for hours? What makes you lose track of time? If you’re not entirely sure, dedicate yourself to finding out.

4. Get rid of the “shoulds” and “shouldn’ts”. If you think it’s “bad” or “unprofessional” to show our passion at work, you may be dealing with some predetermined fears that aren't necessarily true. . If you’re not convinced, read biographies of successful people and talk to professionals you admire—

you’ll likely find passion everywhere you look.

5. Be proactive. People who incorporate passion into their careers don’t just “fall into” this situation. They very deliberately incorporate their interests into their jobs. The more often you are seen in your element, the more likely people will find additional ways for you to shine.

6. Hang out with passionate people. Look around your life for other people who share your passion, or any passion.

7. Hang out with passionate people—online. For every possible interest there are a zillion LinkedIn groups, Facebook fan pages, online communities, listservs, Google and Yahoo groups, etc.

8. Give back passionately. No matter what your day job, one of the best ways to incorporate passion into your life is to volunteer your time and talent. Many employers will give you time 

off for community service and may even introduce you to new projects that uncover a hidden passion.

9. Support others. Another great way to find meaning in your work is through the relationships you forge with colleagues, clients and others. Be passionate about helping and supporting other people. Share job leads, event invitations, networking contacts, advice and moral support. “Paying it forward” makes you feel good and it’s bound to come back to you in wonderful ways.

10. Be curious. Read a magazine on a topic you know nothing about. Go to StumbleUpon.com and wander aimlessly through websites you might never otherwise find. Take a different route home from work. New passions can arise in surprising places.

This post was mostly for myself, as I prepare to suit up and swim a few yards before heading into my new bartending gig. Humble pie isn't always delicious, but I feel as long as I'm honest and I stick to loving what I love and being in my element... not too many bad things can happen.

Live life to the plus.

NSA

This past weekend I attended THE Padgett Bootcamp. It was the first time I had been there since 2003, when I was 17 and just being introduced to the JuicePlus+ grown-up business world, and my father (a passionate family physician) was adamant that I know and love the business from the ground up. He wanted me to not only understand "WHY" JuicePlus+ is so incredible, but to also see "HOW" others grew healthy families, friends and businesses and also "WHAT" they did to stand out in the Sea of Sameness that is now the wellness industry. (How many products are "World-Class", "Whole Food"... it's a mess, really)

My mother and father both understand and see the value in learning from others who have developed personal growth and financial wealth by being involved with a company that started out selling clean water (water filters I still to-this-day remember my father bring to vacations and being sure we were hydrated) and is now selling a glorious array of quality of life enhancing products. From fruits and veggies in a capsule to gardens to grow fresh fruits and veggies.

That may sound cheesy but it's not.

Water/Air Filters + Dehydrated Fruit & Vegetable Concentrate + Standing Hydroponic Gardens = NSA

To hear wonderful stories of success and pride in the company reassured me that I represent one of the best companies in the world and our products really can change lives.

Thank You, National Safety Association, for improving lives and inspiring health globally.

And thank you for always being the company who loves to make people healthy, happy & wealthy.

Negative what?

Negative calorie foods?!

This mind-blowing thought could help you create a salad that really DOES do your body good.

Instead of making healthy eating harder, 

a little "negative calories" (aka raw fruits and veggies) help you eat smarter, and give you the vitamins and minerals and antioxidants you need from whole food nutrition.

WIKIPEDIA SAYS; A negative calorie food is a food that is purported to require more food energy to be digested than it provides. That is, its thermic effect is greater than its food energy content.

While this concept is popular in dieting guides, there is no scientific evidence that any of the foods claimed as negative calorie foods are such.^[1][2] Foods that are claimed to be negative in calories are mostly low-calorie fruits and vegetables such as grapefruit, lemon, lime, apple, lettuce, celery, broccoli and cabbage.^[3] Celery, a commonly cited negative calorie food, actually requires only about 10% of its food energy content to be digested (due to the thermic effect).^[4]:88 Zero-calorie beverages, such as water, do take more than zero calories to process within the body, however they do not offer the dietary sustenance that other so-called negative calorie foods do in the form of fiber, carbohydrates, vitamins, etc. and as such, are not generally regarded as being negative calorie."

As a busy gal it's good to know what I can grab on the go and nosh on while not adding extra work for my body later on (saturated fats are like a hamster-wheel of wasted energy...so much so, you made need a nap after eating them). But not fruits and veggies, no sir-ee! Check out these yummies....

Here's a list. Hope it helps! 

Fruits 
apple 
cranberries 
grapefruit 
lemon 
mango 
orange 
pineapple 
raspberries 
strawberries 
tangerine 

Vegetables 
asparagus 
beet 
broccoli 
cabbage (green) 
carrot 
cauliflower 
celery 
Chile peppers (hot) 
cucumber 
dandelion 
endive 
garden cress 
garlic 
green beans 
lettuce 
onion 
papaya 
radishes 
spinach 
turnip 

  

Turnip your metabolism with these yummy guys!

Nothing fits in a breakfast bowl better than one of these guys!
GRAPEFRUIT!

Also, since it's hard to get the recommended 10 servings of fruits and veggies, check out my long-time love, Juice Plus+. Juice Plus+ does not substitute eating, it's like brushing your teeth, it's security that you're doing something everyday, but with thousands of living enzymes and antioxidants. 

All for less than a medium Soy Chai Latte.

www.victorialovesjuiceplus.com

Fruits and Vegetables prevent chronic disease. Dr. Bill Sears supports a JP+ lifestyle.
And with the Children's Research Study a child between the ages of 4-18 (or in undergrad) can get JuicePlus+
 for FREE for 3 years! The proof is in the results.

Dr. David Katz supports Juice Plus+ and it's movement to change families health.

17 Fruits, Vegetables, & Grains

Juice Plus+^® contains a wide variety of nutritionally dense fruits and vegetables reduced to juice powder concentrate using a proprietary process. Fruits and vegetables contain many phytonutrients, from such familiar vitamins as vitamin C and beta-carotene, to less widely known antioxidant compounds, including polyphenols and flavonoids. It also includes the carotenoids, beta-cryptoxanthin, and lycopene. Below are a few examples of the broad range of phytonutrients found in fruits and vegetables, but remember that there are many more than those listed here:

• Apple: Pectin along with a variety of polyphenols and other antioxidants
• Acerola Cherry: Vitamin C and anthocyanadins
• Cranberry: Flavonoid and phenolic antioxidants
• Orange: Vitamin C, folate, and several carotenoids including beta-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin
• Papaya: Vitamin C, potassium, and several carotenoids including beta-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin
• Peach: Vitamin C and several carotenoids
• Pineapple: Vitamin C and bromelain
• Tomato: Vitamin C, polyphenols, and several carotenoids including lycopene
• Oat Bran: Dietary fiber, vitamin E, several B vitamins, and minerals
• Beet: Folate, iron and calcium
• Broccoli: Folate, vitamin C, and several carotenoids including beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and glucosinolates
• Cabbage: Vitamin C, folate, and glucosinolates
• Carrot: Several carotenoids including beta-carotene, along with vitamin E
• Kale: Vitamin C, folate, magnesium, and several carotenoids including beta carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin
• Parsley: Vitamin C, folate, several carotenoids and flavonols
• Spinach: Folate, vitamin C, vitamin E, several carotenoids, iron, and calcium
• Brown Rice Bran: Dietary fiber, several B vitamins, and minerals

Live your life to the plus. 

These three products will change your life. You are what you eat.

Steering yourself

ANY direction you choose.

Dr. Seuss was a (sort of) friend of mine growing up.

His words were like candy to my sisters and I before bed.

His stories made up my dreams, and his images stayed with me from the very first moment I saw them. And his advice on life consistently supported the fact that dreaming big dreams are amazing.

And allowed.

Now that I'm 27, basically (almost) 30, I wonder how big my dreams are supposed to be. How big can I dream now?

Am I supposed to want a family and children? 

Am I supposed to hope to land in a career position that keeps me financially content and inhabits my 9am-5pm weekday hours?

Am I supposed to want to save money to buy a house soon?

I don't think Dr. Seuss would support this feeling of adult bewilderment. 

In fact, if he was still with us (bless his soul), I would hope he would be kind enough to support the dreamers he created and give us a few more words of wisdom when making that transition from childhood to adulthood.

I guess I am an adult now.

But back to Dr. Seuss. I discovered that he himself was a bit of a shape-shifter. Here's an exert from his biography on his website; www.seussville.com.

"The true story is also a good one, as we learn in Judith and Neil Morgan’s excellent biography Dr. Seuss & Mr. Geisel (the primary source for what you are now reading). During his senior year at Dartmouth College, Ted Geisel and nine of his friends were caught drinking gin in his room. This was the spring of 1925, and the dean put them all on probation for violating the laws of Prohibition. He also stripped Geisel of his editorship of Jack-O-Lantern — the college’s humor magazine — where Ted published his cartoons. To evade punishment, Ted Geisel began publishing cartoons under aliases: L. Pasteur, D.G. Rossetti ’25, T. Seuss, and Seuss. These cartoons mark the first time he signed his work “Seuss.”

As a magazine cartoonist, he began signing his work under the mock-scholarly title of “Dr. Theophrastus Seuss” in 1927. He shortened that to “Dr. Seuss” in 1928. In acquiring his professional pseudonym, he also gained a new pronunciation. Most Americans pronounce the name Soose, and not Zoice. And that’s how Ted Geisel became Dr. Seuss."

With that being said, I've decided I'm going on an identity search.

I'm going to rid myself of my self-pity and fear of commitment and do something. Create things, inspire people and decide...

What inspires me?

What drives me?

What can I contribute to the World, even if under a guise?

And I urge you to do the same. 

Do something that would make Ted Geisel proud.

Because we've all violated Prohibition somehow.

And I suppose it's not the punishment of the crime, it's the coping of the punishment, that defines who you really are.

Build your own Seussville.

A glimpse of Seussville. An office I wouldn't mind having for myself!

Mulberry Street Unicorn.
On of Ted's realistic creations.

An Untitled oil on canvas from Ted's private collection.

If you don't do it now when will you do it?

I've recently been gathering my energy from people around me who support me, who put wind in my sails. The friends who tell you what you NEED to hear and see you vision, and leave the nay-saying for the skeptics who don't see the heart of the matter.

The funny thing about these people?

They are not what you seek, but who you find.

Their power is not topical, you have to run with it, trust them.

They do not always make you "happy", but that is a perception issue.... change it.

Their support can help you change the World.

My sweet sweet friend Susanna had this folded up on her dresser as a reminder, I thought I would share, because from it you too can gather the inner strength to do what you want to do, say what you want to say, and be who you want to be. Let this be a light on the issue of feeling guilty, being scared, and not acting with the intent to make the life you want.

IT IS NEVER MY RESPONSIBILITY TO...

Give what I really don't want to give.

Sacrifice my integrity for anyone.

Do more than I have time to do.

Drain my strength for others.

Listen to unwise counsel.

Retain an unfair relationship.

Be anyone but exactly who I am.

Conform to unreasonable demands.

Be one hundred percent perfect.

Submit to overbearing conditions.

Meekly let life pass me by.

It is never my responsibility to give up who I am to anyone for fear of abandonment.

...authorunknown...

now please go and do what you can to change the World. make it the place you want to live in because you do.

Explore your soul.

How cool are kids?

They never cease to re-introduce me to what is really important in my life. The sunshine, very important. The freshly pollinated everything, makes a short walk a beautiful thing. And just hanging out and making life more fun. Kids keep me grounded, present, and the cool thing is....

I get to give them back.

How lucky am I?

I have these amazing children to help educate. To show them things I love and loved as a child, and to see their eyes light up with excitement is truly moving. Today I played Bob Marley, opened my doors wide open, told Nobles (3) and Jack (2) what an amazing jammer he was, even showed them a video of the musical soulful genius, and Nobles said "Is he crying?" I was kind of worried, because sometimes Bob does look like his own music has moved him to tears so I just said "He's crying out to the whole wide world for everyone to be friends and dance together." She then proceeded to show me her sick dance moves to "No Woman, No Cry". Epic in awesomeness.

We then continued to walk to pickup Chinese food from the infamous Red Dragon around the corner, and they practically skipped with joy the entire way.

As I am looking at these children, watching them search for the next beautiful flower and a "dandelion wisher", I call it, I'm amazed that more people don't stop to smell their surroundings.

People are so beautiful, Raleigh is so beautiful, Spring is so exciting and beautiful.

I don't really know why I am writing this, other than to plead with you to start your life right now. It is the only life you have, and tomorrow is no guarantee. It is simply a possibility. And quite possibly and frankly, you have not cherished your surroundings or your friends like they deserve. But the good news is, it's not too late.

love love love the life you lead. :) or change it.

My awesome Red Dragon fortune cookie told me today; "Nothing can keep you from reaching your goals. Do it!" I love you, fortune cookie. Thanks for being the best accidental advice of the day.

and thank you children, for reminding me how young I can feel with a little practice.

Forgive Me, Blog...

For I have sinned.

It has been 2 years since my last divulgence.

There was a distinct vow made; 2 years ago, upon arrival in Paris. Seeing all the glorious new people, new experiences and being kind of ridiculous. I knew that I was going to become a blogger. The vow stayed intact through my 2 week stay in La Courneuve, France and followed me to Leusden, Netherlands. It remained unbroken in Groningen. Survived the glorious city of Utrecht and the beauty of Amsterdam. And even as I waved goodbye to Paris and to a man I truly honored and loved, I had the intentions of putting my life out there for me to see and all to read. I bailed. Well, I bailed on doing it in a timely manner. How fun procrastination is.

"It will be good for my thoughts and to see what it was I saw and felt in the places I was lucky enough to witness. Like a photo-album, yet better." Yeah, right. Nice thought, Vic.

Thankfully Victoria's inconsistencies are incredibly amazing at saving up her energy for a HUGE LEAP, randomly. I like random. It's kewl, keeps it real. So this is like the photo-album (but better) assembling. I'm crossed-legged in the middle of my bedroom surrounded by memories I want to file. To remember what drives me, and the people and places that make me the person I know I can be. That reminds me, I need to work on my photo albums. You know, those things that come with negatives and you can hold just one in your hand. Photographs.

Anyway. That can come later, focus Victoria.

SOOOoo I'm back. For myself. This blog is not made solely for the eyes this falls upon or the deaf ears my emotional assessment of the World (some call it bitching, oh well.) reaches. Although hopefully it will help us both. I'll give ya some pics, so people don't think I'm lying. I'm trying to be true. True to you and myself.

This should be fun. Good 'ol fashioned, selfish fun.

My incredible father always says "It is not bragging if it is true."

Yet I know, from experience, that people have a hard time with the truth. I'm not going to point any fingers, guilt is not my style, yet it seems everyone's got an "opinion" and very few have the education behind said opinions to be a valid source. Delivery is everything in advising, in coaching, in learning. I'm working on it. I never have malevolent intensions, well, I mostly do not. Some people are too stupid to deserve much more than I am already giving them, or maybe it's too greedy. Either way, the World is an amazing creature and deserves to be cherished and studied and shared.

Honesty is the best policy, and sharing is caring...

So here's to truth!

And hopefully you won't be bored, I mean, whoever you are. I'm sure you're awesome, and I will try my best to entertain ya. Kay? Kewl.