I’m reading Terry Cole-Whittaker’s book: “What You Think of Me is None of My Business” and in it she’s talking about people who are suicidal and/or ill and here’s what she says: …”The irony is that they don’t actually want death; instead, they want more life, but don’t know how to get it. They want happiness, health and love, self-expression and abundance. They want to live, but they don’t know how. In effect, they say: ‘The only way to be free of an existence that is killing me is to die.’ So, they get the very thing they don’t want: death.” Pg. 71.

From the time I was 13 and up into my mid-40′s, I was suicidal. I’d created what was called “adult-onset asthma” in my late 20′s/early 30′s to the point where I almost died twice. About 1977, I started looking at my life. I felt I was too young to be so ill with so many little things that I started a search for health and happiness. During that search is when I created (unconsciously, of course) the asthma. 

In 1986, I found my teacher, Rocannon MacGregor. We did some work around food which I’d never found enjoyable. Eliminated meat and dairy and went on a plant-based diet. That alone knocked out the asthma by about 75%. But, what about the other 25%? That goes back to my first paragraph here. With all I was doing with martial arts, bodybuilding, etc., I still wasn’t happy. I’d thought doing those things would bring me health and happiness. They didn’t. I KNEW hanging out in bars playing pool most nights (I wasn’t a drinker) wasn’t getting it SO! what needed to be done?

Change my mind. We talk about brainwashing? Well, sometimes ~ done consciously ~ it’s good. We began washing my brain of all the fear of life that was holding me back, my self-doubt, my negative thoughts about myself and slowly, I began to learn that “I” was the one creating the asthma! I was the one creating my life the way it was! It took many years to undo what I, and society (with my agreement, however unconsciously) had done to me. 

I didn’t realize until many years later the cycle I had created. I wanted love, joy and happiness. I hated my life and so created a disease which kept me from living fully! How weird is that? Unless you’ve been there and are truly willing to give up the sickness and the despair you’ll probably not understand this. It was an incredible revelation to me.

This is why I now work with individuals as well as go out and speak on “Who Would You Be if Society Had Not Interfered?” and created my playbook “Revvellutionize Your Life in 30 Days ~ a Self-Empowering Playbook” and the playshop to go with it. Life has become FUN! I feel everyone deserves to live a life of fun and acknowledged choice. Without it, to me, life would be pretty dull.

I’d love to receive feedback on this. Thank you!

Revvell

Revvellations

Great Clothing

I teach and have taught quite a few classes and also have attended them over the past many years. Invariably, there will be someone who comes to the class to promote themselves. This is not only annoying, it’s rude AND, I’ve done it myself.

Many years ago I was in my teacher’s class. I forgot what it was I was promoting but after class I talked to HIS students about it. He pulled me aside and requested that I don’t promote to his students and how would I like it if one of my students came to my class to promote themselves? I wouldn’t and I don’t.

It seems to me that people who pay to go to a particular person’s class are paying for THAT person’s knowledge. The question is, if someone else answers the students/participants questions, is that a bonus or is that confusing?

Sunday, someone did that in my raw food class. For me, what she was promoting gave conflicting messages from what I was sharing. I’m talking about REAL food being the source for most, if not all healing, and that if there is enough variety/nutrients, most people can stop putting out money for supplements, pills, potions, etc.

Someone was asking about a particular health challenge she was having and before I could respond, this other person stepped in and told of a drug she could use. 

As I said, I’ve taken a lot of classes. One thing I’ve learned is, if I go to a class full of knowledge, it’s very hard for me to learn. When I pay for a class, I want to learn what THAT teacher has to teach. In most cases, I know how to take what I need and discard the rest. 

Actually, I’m remember being in one class where this happened to a teacher. I’d asked her a question and one of the students responded. Being who I am, I told the student directly “I’m asking the teacher who I paid to teach me and and whose information I am seeking.” 

Most people wont do that. So, what is it? Lack of awareness? A true intent of the “student” to try to “take away” the teachers’ students? Ego? Any or all of the above?

Consider this when attending a class. That teacher has taken the time to create the class, put it together, do the marketing and advertising to bring in the students and one person steps in to try and market themselves. There’s a difference between a networking meeting and a class. Someone may ask what one does for work but the conversation during class should be kept short and to the point before or after the class and not distract from the class itself.

Revvell

 

Revvellations

I’ve never been much of a drinker yet, I remember the saying about when people have a hangover to take some “hair of the dog that bit you”. l have no idea if that works for a hangover or not but I do know it works when one is sore from training in a way they’ve not trained before or over-trained.

Here’s my story. Yesterday, I went to an eight-hour kettle bell training with 6 others plus the teacher. It turned out to be a gorgeous, cool say up in the mountains of Malibu. The people who were supposed to be there, including me (although there were times I was questioning that). Our teacher was renowned kettle-bell/martial artist, Steve Cotter. 

Now, I’ve not used kettle bells much… at least not consistently and all I do when I do them is swinging. I’ve not done snatch, clean and jerk or any of those other moves. Well, we spent the first four hours doing those moves. After that, I was done. I watched the next four hours but didn’t participate. Everything was HURTING!!! I figure if I’m hurting this much already, what am I going to feel like tomorrow (if there is one?).

What’s been interesting about this is, my ego. It was running my brain around in circles at one point telling me I was a sissy for not continuing to train (what if there is not tomorrow? Stop projecting! Live in the moment! I was giving up.. blah, blah, blah!) and on the other hand telling me that I’d get more attention if I stopped; people would be concerned about me, etc. Guess my ego doesn’t know these people very well. Yes, my teacher checked to ask if I was o.k. (I was/am), told me I was over-working for where I was physically (acknowledged) and one of the women told me I was pretty burnt ~ so! o.k, stopping was a good thing. I didn’t even know how much of a toll going too far (for me, at that time) had taken on me emotionally. Once I got that, I figured I can just watch, and learn.

During lunch, my teacher, Rocannon MacGregor had a talk with Steve about what it was he really wanted him to teach us. After lunch, it was so much more fun. I was still too sore to partake but it was fun to watch the others, fun to watch Steve’s technique (having learned from one of the best and being a teacher myself, I’m wondering how someone can teach without looking at the students), and enjoying being up in the mountains with the wind, the sun, the clouds, the smells… 

So, today! After the class I came home and got in the tub with some salts and SunBreeze (Sunrider product), had some watermelon and fell asleep at 9. When my hunny came to bed, I remember he worked my back while I was sleeping. Felt SO good, I think. LOL

This morning I awakened at 5:45. Almost 9 hours sleep!!! That is SO unusual for me. Upon getting up, I could feel more sensation in my legs, back, neck and arms than I usually prefer so…”.. hair of the dog”. Gotta move!!! Got up, got dressed and headed out for a walk. After writing this, I’m going out for some body movement and Indian club training, then into the jacuzzi which is heating up as I write.

Many people make the mistake after training, of not moving. 2-3 days later, they’re STILL in pain. Most of mine will be gone by tomorrow which is usually the worst day. So, I’m off the computer, downstairs to work out a bit, into the jacuzzi and out to the farmers’ market.

Revvell

Revvellations, Inc.

Podcasts

Since I’ll be out all day playing with kettlebells, I thought I’d go ahead and make some Brawnies for everyone at the training. These are adapted from RP’s famous brownies and icing. Now the frosting is AWEsome! If you don’t make anything else, make that!!!

 

RP’s Brownies

1 C. Walnuts

1 C. Soft Dates

1/4 C. Raw Carob Powder 

Splash of Vanilla Extract

Splash of  Nama Shoyu

 

Place in food processor and blend until ingredients form a big ball. Press into whatever shape you want on a plate. Refrigerate until you can insert a knife and it isn’t too sticky. I put it on waxed paper to save cleaning the plate and for easy removal. 

This can be frozen (if it lasts that long). 

Options: form into a ball and roll in coconut; add chunks of walnuts to mixture and/or coconut after blending.

 

Icing

2 Small, Ripe Avocados

1/2 – 3/4 C. Agave Nectar (I used 1/2)

1/4 C. Raw Carob Powder 

2 T. Coconut Oil

1 T. Vanilla Extract

Dash of Sea Salt

Dash of Cinnamon (optional)

Banana or Strawberry Slices for Garnish or, Fresh Berries.

Place everything except garnish in a high-powered blender (I prefer VitaMix) or food processor and blend on high until very smooth. This should be mousse-like.

Keep stored in an air-tight container in the fridge.

This amount will cover two batches of the brownies unless you eat it out of the bowl. Can’t account for that.

 

This is soooo quick and easy as long as you’ve got the ingredients. Even non-rawfers like it. Let me know what you think to do with the frosting. We’re thinking just frosting and strawberries; frosting and nut-based whipped cream; chocolate cream pie… 

Comments welcome.

Enjoy! 

 

Revvell

Revvellations

“We fight against the world of our own creation and try to prove to everyone, including ourselves, that our world and it’s problems are real.” Lester Levenson, “Happiness is Real”

This is a very profound statement in my opinion. As I learn more and more about my life and how I’ve created it so far, I see how the ego will keep us in illness, lack, depression, etc. It will fight to the death! We view all these things as real BUT are joy, love, happiness, health and prosperity real? Not to the ego. 

How many times have I worked with someone (even myself) and seen how hard they “try” to hold on to their dis-ease. If they didn’t have it, who would they be? How many times have I worked with someone who claimed to be broke? If they were prosperous, who would they be?

It seems that we can really assuage the ego by being ill, being broke, getting people to buy into our story… what happens when we change our story? Who wins? We do!!! BUT you may ask.. is it that easy? Actually, it is! I’ve seen and felt it myself! 

At one point, I’d moved from a shared apartment. My share was $375/month plus have the utilities. My roommate decided she was going to move. I failed to get a new roommate so went out and found a lovely place at $650 per month plus ALL the utilities. Well, I was barely scraping by at $375 BUT, I saw the potential in this place where I could hold weekly classes. I therefore declared to the universe that I COULD afford this new home! THEN, I received a gift of a new motorcycle. THEN, w/in a few months, my teacher raised his prices. Well, I wanted to afford to ride the motorcycle, keep my car, go to class AND sessions, so, what did my ego come up with? Cut out 2 weekly session. That was about $150 at that time. Then something hit me! NO!!!! I will NOT do anything of the sort. I SAW how students would stop coming to class or clients come for sessions with me ~ The ONE thing in life they most enjoyed they were willing to cut out because they were coming from survival, not thrival. Then and there I told myself I WILL have that apartment; I WILL ride my motorcycle EVERY Sunday and I WILL have enough money to go to class, weekly sessions and monthly groups sessions (which was about $1,000 per month at that time. Just declaring that, the universe opened up and gave me more students and clients. I stayed in that apartment for 12 years; kept the motorcycle until I was ready to give it up and never missed a class, session or weekend. 

It take making a commitment to oneself! By doing all that, I supported myself, my clients and students and my teacher. Can you see the cycle? In return, my teacher supported me, as did my students and clients. Life works, if you work it.

Love to all,

Revvell