November is one of my favorite months. It’s late fall but not quite winter, brisk and blowy but not downright freezing. We get to celebrate Thanksgiving here in the U.S.—and I love turkey day food. I overeat and don’t even care. It’s just one day and I plan to have it all.

The book review this month isn’t. Rather, there are a couple of books I’ve read recently that seemed noteworthy enough to mention. I didn’t have one that wanted a full review.

The article aims to show you just how deep the well of our resources is, especially when we use them responsibly.

I’m sparing you the Thanksgiving type recipe since everyone has plenty of those. Instead I’ve included a recipe that can either be an Hors D or a first course for a get together: Sizzling Singapore Shrimp.

Since the word “thanks” is featured prominently this month I encourage you to take a few moments each day to write 3 things you are thankful for (or 4 or 5 or 10). 

The Gratitude Journal is not new, I know. But it is a powerful process and I was moved to mention it here. So there, end of story. Thankful I am for all my readers.

Blessings to you and yours,
'Til next month,
Greg

On Sunday, October 21st of ‘07 The New York Times Magazine featured a story on the dangerously low levels of water in the Western United States, an area fast growing in population. Pictures of Lake Mead with a “100 ft-high bathtub ring left by the dwindling waters,” and others like it, made real a hard-to-fathom idea.

Thousands of miles away from where I sat reading, water rights were being bought and sold like pig bellies. Conservation efforts are fighting for survival, gasping at the edges of people’s consciousness like the fish who call these western waterways home.

This type of resource management may just be too little too late. No joke.

This in not an article about the conservation of our natural resources, at least, not directly.
First let’s have a look at what a natural resource is.

According to Wikipedia, natural resources are either renewable or non-renewable. Renewable resources are generally living resources like fish, fruit trees, and forests. They are able to renew themselves if they are not over-harvested and used sustainably.  Non-living but renewable resources include soil and water.

As humans we are most like fish. Work with me here; we are living and we can renew our species if war, famine, and the destruction of our environment are kept to a minimum.

Our piscine similarities probably end here. I don’t think fish, like humans, are born with an endless source of power to live fully and create a life of their choosing regardless of what life throws at them. If you are feeling more fish than fully-alive human right now then read on.

Outside of what nature offers, what two resources do all humans have at their disposal?

I think we all agree that the one thing we get in equal measure is Time. Time is precious because it is non-renewing. Once a minute passes it cannot be recaptured and done over. When our internal clock stops ticking altogether, the mother ship is not going to take us off the passenger list because we still have dreams to manifest.

Some manage their 24 hours, aware of its nature. Others are at the mercy of the clock and curse their perceived shortage, putting off things that matter to them or that would help improve their health or life in general.

The second and perhaps most important resource to recognize and learn to care for is energy.

We are energy. To quote Caroline Myss, a prolific author and medical intuitive, “we have arrived at a time in our evolution as a species at which we must now approach who we are…with the understanding that we are primarily systems of energy that must be integrated in a congruent form with the physical body.”

Here’s the really cool part about our energy bodies; they don’t age. Energy cannot age as it is “non-substance substance” as Caroline says. But it does ebb and flow depending on how we are treating ourselves both physically and mentally.

How well do you manage your two most precious resources?  Nancy, my mother-in-law is 78. She lives in England and I asked if she felt up to crossing the pond for Christmas. She feels it is too big a trip for her right now and shared a recent realization. “It’s taken me this long to know that when I have to rest I’d better do it if I want to enjoy the rest of the day,” she told me. “I just can’t go, go, go all day. I knew this when I was younger but I never listened to my body in those days,” she added, “and that often landed me in bed with one thing or another.”

Is she getting smarter? At long last, yes. We don’t have to wait ‘til we are in our 70’s to begin to listen to our bodies. We have books, spas,--here comes some shameless self-promotion--courses like the Mind and Body Tune Up, to clue us in on how to manage our energy thus giving us the best quality of life possible.

So, are you up too late watching re-runs of Seinfeld or VH-1’s Behind the Music? You know who you are.

Is there someone in your life that sucks all the air out of the room with their negativity and takes your precious energy along? When will you decide that your quality of life is more important than the long-term relationship? It’s just a matter of time right?

Are you still putting everyone on the to-do list ahead of you? How do you feel at the end of the day after living like this, probably for years? Tired? Resentful? Like you want to eat the couch?

Time, irreplaceable.

Your life, your creation. 

You must “get” how important renewal and management of time and your energy is. It is the difference between loving your day-to-day knowing you are at the helm and letting the ship take you somewhere and who bothered to look at the weather.

Wise use of the resources we’ve been given, whether water, fish, time, or energy will ensure that we’ve always got plenty of what we need to live fully alive. And if we each do it individually we are ensuring the supply of renewables for all.

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Want to use this article in your newsletter or on your web site?  You are welcome to do so, as long as you give full attribution below.  I would also appreciate it if you would let me know when you publish it.  You may contact me via email or phone call.

Gregory Anne Cox is a certified life coach who has been dishing up all-you-can-eat servings of women's health and nutrition information for years. Her Lifestyle Tune-Up course is a 28 day wonder seminar for women looking for the missing mid-life manual. You can find out more at Live Better Coach, send her an email, or call her at (631) 728-2456.  This article is copyrighted and you may feel free to use it as long as you include this paragraph when publishing it.

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Phone: 631-728-2456
gregory@livebettercoach.com

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Sizzling Singapore Chili Shrimp

This recipe in its original form can be found in Martin Yan’s Chinatown Cooking. He suggests serving these as part of a multi-course meal. I have changed the presentation and left out one ingredient—a scrambled egg added to the sauce—and use these as an Hors D served with tooth picks or skewers.

The flavor is bold and as such can be made as spicy as you like or not at all spicy. This would also make a great first course served on a bed of cucumber ribbons in a ponzu vinaigrette.

Be creative but do try these for your next gathering.

Ingredients

1 pound of 16-20 size shrimp, peeled, cleaned and tails removed
Season these with salt and pepper and set aside

Sauce

½ cup of chicken broth
¼ cup ketchup
3 Tablespoons soy sauce
2 Tablespoons chili garlic sauce
1 Tablespoon minced garlic
1 Tablespoon minced ginger
1 Tablespoon minced shallot
1 Tablespoon minced jalapeno (optional and will definitely up the heat factor by a lot)
1 Tablespoon peanut oil
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 Tablespoon corn starch
1 Tablespoon minced cilantro (optional but really adds brightness)

Method

You will need a large sauté pan or wok to do these all at once. Split them in two batches if you don’t think you can keep your pan hot when the shrimp go in.

1. In a small mixing bowl add all of the ingredients for the sauce except the oils, cornstarch, and cilantro.
2. Whisk these ingredients together 'til well blended then add the corn starch and mix 'til it dissolves.
3. When you are ready to serve them put your pan or wok over a medium high heat and add the two oils.
4. Once the oil is hot, carefully toss in the shrimp and cook for about 2 minutes. Keep them moving in the pan to cook evenly.
5. Lower the heat a bit, slowly pour in the sauce***, and using a spatula, or tossing, get the sauce to coat all of the shrimp.
6. Cook for about another 2 – 3 minutes depending on how big and thick your shrimp are.
7. Turn off the heat, add the cilantro, toss again, and pour shrimp out onto a serving platter or whatever you are going to use to present them.

***Stir the sauce before adding it to the pan to ensure that the corn starch is not sitting on the bottom.

Who needs take out?!

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This month I’m not reviewing one book. Rather I’m letting you know what I’ve read in the past month or so that you might find interesting and or helpful.

Power of An Hour:
Business and Life Mastery in One Hour A Week
by Dave Lakhani

I have done some work with Dave Lakhani and he is a master persuader and very successful business person. I love the set up here. Information followed by a bulleted list of things to do to move you forward all doable in one hour.

The 4-Hour Workweek:
Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich
by Timothy Ferriss

Definitely not for everyone, especially those of us with homes, jobs, and people who depend on us to be here, rather than half way across the planet. There are some great resources however and good ideas to improve time management, travel for less, learn a new language, and more.

Living an Uncommon Life:
Essential Lessons from 21 Extraordinary People
by John St. Augustine

St. Augustine has been in radio for 10+ years and interviewed 5,000 guests. He has put together bits of the interviews of some of the people who most inspired him over the years. If you love knowing the real deal of some of our cultural stars you’ll enjoy this. Everyone has had their share of stuff and that is comforting as well as motivating.

No B.S. Wealth Attraction for Entrepreneurs
The Ultimate No Holds Barred Kick Butt Take No Prisoners Guide to Really Getting Rich
by Dan Kennedy

For all you solo-preneurs—if you don’t have any of Dan’s No B.S. books start here. He is known as a the best marketing guy around in many circles because he gets results. This book is not for gentle souls. Here for instance is the title of chapter 10-Wealth Magnet 10-Do Something. And the worst of all wealth-defeating habits? YCDBSOYA, you can’t do business sitting on your ass! It got me to join my local women in business group and from the first meeting I attended I was asked to do a talk on the Missing Midlife Manual. I did something and not from the comfort of my home office.

If you have any books you’d like to share with us just send me an email with the title and tell me why you like it. I’ll share it on the blog.

Q&A
Be sure to send your questions to Greg so she can answer them here in future issues of The You Revolution.

Q: It seems that suddenly Vitamin D is the magic bullet for everything from cancer to bone health and even boosts the immune system. Is it possibly that good and how the heck do I get it? How much milk can one girl drink?

A: Drink as much milk as you like as long as it’s Organic, but don’t count on getting your daily D needs met here. One cup provides about 25% of the RDA for an adult. (For men and women over 50 the RDA is 400IU so milk provides 100IU) RDAs are generally lower than necessary to maintain optimal health. Doses of 1000 – 2000 IU per day are being suggested by docs practicing complimentary alternative medicine.

Why the increase and what’s it do?

Vit. D, as you might know, is important for maintaining and even increasing bone mineral density. Studies show that huge swathes of the world’s population—yes even in our rich nation—are woefully low in this important substance. Low Vit.D levels are associated with increased risk of cancer, hypertension, diabetes, macular degeneration, and more. According to the NIH, which recently held a 3-day, sold out, symposium on Vit. D, “In addition to calcium metabolism, accumulating evidence indicates other roles in human health, including immune function, reduction of inflammation, and effects on cell proliferation, differentiation, and programmed cell death.”

How to deliver the D?

During 20 minutes of sunlight exposure, the body generates approximately 4000 iu of vitamin D. For those of you who don’t do sun or who winter in not-so-sunny climes, you’ll have to get it in supplemental form or food. High on the list of D content foods is Cod Liver Oil, weighing in with 1,360 IU. Salmon, 3.5 oz, has 360 IU, one ounce of cheese has a mere 12 IU and an egg, 20IU.

The best form to supplement with is Vit D3. It is safe and inexpensive. A bottle of 250, 1000IU caps from Life Extension costs $12.50 for non members. I’m currently taking Jarrow Formulas Bone-Up which has calcium, D3, K1, Magnesium and more.

How to tell if you are deficient? Have your doc order a blood test for 25(O)D.

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First of all, The Lifestyle Tune Up has been renamed. From now on it will be called The Smart Woman’s Mind and Body Tune Up. I felt that the word Lifestyle was too ambiguous. Now the name reflects what the class is designed to do. In November there are 3 different time and day options for you to get in a Tune Up before the holidays are in full swing.

My grasp of the audio podcasting and delivery has delayed the weekly Tune-Up tips subscription I mentioned last month but I’ve hired an expert in podcasting to get me over the hump. Look for the offer in your inbox soon.

I’m in the process of remodeling my whole coaching business and I’m absolutely thrilled. The changes will all be in effect by our next newsletter. While I’ll still be taking a couple of one-on-one coaching clients at a time I’m moving towards working with groups and doing more online and live seminars. As long as you are on my list you’ll always get first crack at attending and always for the best price.

I wish all of you who celebrate it a very happy Thanksgiving. Use your resources wisely and often. After all, you are renewable.
Yours in joy,
Greg

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Thank you for reading. I know your time is valuable and that there is a mountain of information out there demanding your attention. My highest hope is that I've provided something of value for you. If you know someone who might benefit from any of the content please forward this.

Any recommendations of sites or products are items I have personally investigated and recommend with confidence.