In addition to washing your hands, avoiding people who are sick and eating a diet rich in antioxidants, you may want to add a new strategy to your preventing-a-winter-cold list: getting exercise five days per week . . . and chicken soup.

I have not had a cold in 30 or 40 years. I do not get flu shots, mainly ’cause they made me sick when I used to get them AND because they protect you against whatever is prevalent at the time and not anything unusual. Because we travel frequently, a flu shot that is effective in the U.S. is not necessarily effective anywhere else. Of course, I avoid people that obviously are sick.

My daughter’s first cold was at age five. Her day school teacher was concerned because she did not know how to blow her nose; the teacher called me at work to find out why. She was shocked when I said, “she’s never had a cold.”

What’s our remedy? Chicken soup.

The cold-relieving health benefits of chicken soup are widely known. Soups during winter, especially home-made chicken soup, were always on the menu when I was growing up in San Francisco. And they still are. I make this soup every week during winter. It’s easy. What you need:

• A whole chicken (To make it easy, pick up a roasted chicken from your local supermarket)
• Chicken broth (fat-free, reduced-sodium)
• One red onion (I prefer them because they are somewhat sweet)
• Carrots – about one cup
• Celery – about one cup
• Egg noodles or rice (brown, wild, a combination); About 1/2 cup dry.
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• Spices as desired: Italian, oregano, bay leaf, touch of cayenne pepper, black pepper, salt . . . all of these add wonderful flavors and aromas
• Other vegetables to consider: peas, yellow squash, zucchini

Clean the chicken by taking off the skin. (If you use a fresh chicken, be sure to take giblets and such out of the cavity.) Place the cleaned chicken in a large stock pot, fill half with water and half with broth until about 4  inches from the top leaving room for the vegetables and pasta or rice to be added. And add sea salt. Slice and add the onion. 

Bring this to a boil and simmer covered for about 45-60 minutes, skimming as needed, including removing the fat with a spoon. It’s very important to skim or the soup will not be as appetizing. Turn off the heat, let the chicken cool, slice it up being careful to remove small bones, and place it back in the pot with the stock.

Slice all other vegetables and after the 45-60 minutes, add them and add your noodles or rice.  

I heat up some in a small pot almost every day. My daughter loves it and it’s a great source of vitamins, minerals, and healthy fat. Yes, chicken fat is healthy in small amounts.   

Oh, the exercise: Dr. Weil wrote today that researchers found that individuals who reported performing regular physical activity at least five days a week spent 43 percent fewer days suffering with a cold than those who exercised no more than once a week. An added benefit, when they did catch a cold, was reduced severity and symptoms among those who exercised most.

Most likely these reductions in colds and symptoms are linked to the increased immune system activity that occurs during aerobic exercise.
Make it a point to walk (indoors, if necessary) for 30-45 minutes per day, or if you don’t already have a gym membership, buy one and use the aerobic equipment such as stationary bicycles, treadmills or elliptical trainers.

If you don’t eat a balanced diet, you could also be missing minerals important to your good health. Take Dr. Weil’s Vitamin Advisor Today! . . . it’s fun, easy and informative AND will help keep you healthy.

In our quest for balance and a healthy mind and body, we are expanding our search and are ever on the lookout for new information and/or methods to bring balance in our lives. We just came across “Secrets of Meditation, Energy and Manifestation,” which is a comprehensive introduction to meditation, breathing, energy work and manifestation. The link on the right leads you to an overview of a technique that will be eMailed to you.

After three decades of meditation for balance, I assure you that meditation not only affords you peace, without effort it aids in self-growth and personal development and alleviates — or even eliminates – stress, anxiety or depression. There is absolutely no reason to live with stress as much of our stress is caused by how we process circumstances. It is often your own mind chatter that causes you to be uncomfortable; it quite often has little to do with what is actually happening around you.

There are many books available to guide you through meditation. Some are listed on my book page on the main site under Recommendations. My meditation actually started with a guided course some years ago.

However, if you would like a guided plan, which we have found very successful through the years, click the image on top of this page to try the free meditation E-Course. This leads you through a mini-course on how to quiet your mind and reveals the secrets you will need to discover how to quiet the mind, supercharge your level of energy and manifest anything you want in your life.

This is designed so you can clearly discover what is important to you!

Good nutrition, lots of water, fresh air, exercise and maintaining a balanced weight are the most important facets to being healthy. There are no short-cuts from your doctor or your pharmacy that can take the place of you taking care of you.

However, as part of our 2011 commitment to health, we’re considering everything, including antioxidant products for skin care. Though not clinically proven, quite a few high-end companies suggest that antioxidants applied topically can help fight off free radical damage and since we want Better Skin Today, we are considering Chamonix, which suggests that we CAN have better skin today!

Antioxidants in your food sources help prevent heart disease and cancer, reduce blood pressure and slow the effects of aging.

While it is questionable whether they help when applied to the skin as a cream or lotion, there is no doubt of the benefits they create when ingested; antiaging nutrition is a diet rich in antioxidants.

Foods considered to be tops in antioxidants: Berries, broccoli, tomatoes, red grapes, garlic, spinach, tea, carrots and whole grains.

Many health-food addicts promote soy; I don’t agree . . . at least not the way soy is produced/injested in America. Soy beans (edamane) are fabulous. All soy products other than the natural beans are just that — products — and they are highly processed food products. The benefits of soy milk for babies is questionable. Reports indicate that soy may have negative repercussions on seniors. Because we have many options, consider avoiding soy, or at least finding out more about that product.

Other foods that can help slow down aging are brown rice wheat bran, almonds and peanuts, all of which contain high concentrations of magnesium: and certain fish such as salmon, tuna or mackerel, which are high in omega-3 fatty acids.

We’re starting with Chamonix products because they are well-regarded and are top sellers. Their natural substances have the power to fight free radicals, boost collagen production, nourish and moisturize; a number of anti-aging skin care products on the market make similar claims. Again, however, one of our decisions to use Chamonix is because they are so popular and because they offer anti-aging treatments like Esotique. This topical cream is claimed to help treat wrinkles; not merely cover them up. The company suggests this is an “advanced anti-aging treatment.”

Another goal for 2011 is to get back to superb health, which I always enjoyed until I started sitting too much at my computer building Web sites. A major step was to contact a professional health practitioner, so I just eMailed a friend who is a Navy Seal trainer to see if he would consider working with me and some of my friends who want to regain strength and excellent health.

While waiting to hear from him, I am checking out other methods of maintaining health, such as a questionnaire on Dr. Weil’s impressive Web site. Surely you have heard of Dr. Weil . . .

Andrew Weil, M.D., has devoted the past thirty years to developing, applying, and teaching others about the principles of integrative medicine. Dr. Weil combines a Harvard education and a lifetime of practicing natural and preventive medicine to provide a unique approach to health care which encompasses body, mind, and spirit.

Dr. Weil received both his medical degree and his undergraduate AB degree in biology (botany) from Harvard University. He is founder and direction or AzCIM (Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine) established in 1994. He trains physicians, medical students, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and allied health professionals in the philosophy and practice of integrative medicine. Through AzCIM, Dr. Weil hopes to expand and strengthen integrative medicine and ultimately help to transform health care in North America and the world.

I don’t really like pills or medications and avoid them unless absolutely necessary. Unfortunately it’s my feeling that too many of our medical practitioners recommend drugs one doesn’t really need; many natural medicines will resolve the average ailment, such as a common cold — hot tea, honey and rest will alleviate most cold symptoms.

However, I do take a few basic vitamins that I may not be getting with a good diet so I visited Dr. Weil’s site. His approach is the the point; his brief and basic Dr. Weil’s Free Vitamin Advisor questionnaire is very helpful. I just completed it, saw the vitamins recommended, know his recommendations to be accurate for me from years of taking care of myself and think you might benefit also just by clicking through and answering a few questions.

2009 and 2010 were more dramatic than I would like. Not only did I work hard to save my own home, I have been volunteering and working with Marin Family Action, a wonderful group in California that is making headway in saving homes from foreclosure by lenders with questionable ethics, sloppy business practices and some downright illegal maneuvers.

I forgot what “peace of mind” meant until late 2010 when income picked up and I was invited to Hawaii for a week! Now I wish to make 2011 a full year of “peace of mind.” At the airport, I found a new book (new to me): “How to See Yourself As You Really Are,” by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and started reading.

Then to remain on a calmer path, which includes affirmations and planning, I updated Wisdom to Change’s Daily Declaration Workbook. If you wish to plan a year that will make YOU happy (or happier), it’s here for you to use — and it’s free. The planning suggested in this book turned my life around for the better in 2002 and it’s time to review it again and move forward to reaching goals that were set aside by circumstances beyond my control. That led me to Shambala Publications site to see what’s new in the realm of calm minds.

There I found a three-volume set of the collected works in English of one of the great luminaries of Tibetan Buddhism in our time, published to mark his centennial celebration (images and ordering link right). A complete exposition of the stages of the Buddhist path is presented through Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche’s commentaries on the root texts of classic Tibetan masters including Patrul Rinpoche, Jigme Lingpa, Shechen Gyaltsab, and Mipham Rinpoche.

Originally given orally to Western students, the texts afford a rare glimpse into the direct transmissions of a master teacher. Moreover, several of the texts have never been published before.

Anyone interested in the nine vehicles of Tibetan Buddhism will find here a complete array of enlightening instructions to inspire and guide them in a most authentic way. These are available at Shambhala only.

Well, first, you do need the perfect pair of pajamas in order to sit and think in comfort. My goal, which is often mentioned on my sites, is to Prosper in Pajamas, which is another website of mine and which focuses on Affiliate Marketing. If you are happy and comfortable in your work, almost everything else falls into place and you will consider yourself a success.

This Pink Cheetah Women’s Lounge Set is from BedHead Pajamas, which have been featured on shows such as Oprahs. Their colorful selections are fine quality.

My pair of their Turquoise Toile Classic Cotton Flannel (below) have been around the world and they still look great. After thirteen years in business, this Brand was Voted #1 Pajama company in the US by the Wall St. Journal. With nightly appearances on Grey’s Anatomy, Brother and Sisters, How I Met Your Mother, and Desperate Housewives, to name a few. BedHead Pajamas enjoys lots of air play.

BedHed’s is a great success story: Renee Claire grew up in Ontario, Canada where she spent time in the cold winters sewing clothes and dreaming of being a clothing designer, living the California lifestyle as seen in photographs and on television.

In 1981, after college, Renee loaded her van and headed load to Los Angeles where she waited on tables in restaurants by night, designing her dress and outwear collection by day. In the late 90′s public interest in dresses declined and as Renee was delivering what she considered to possibly be her last collection of dresses to a local retailer, she saw a pair of pajamas in the window of the boutique and thought, “I could top that!” After scouring the marketplace she realized that current pajama offerings lacked sophistication and fine tailoring. She learned how to make her own cotton textiles and BedHead was born!

Within three years the company was producing over 50,000 pairs of pajamas, all locally cut and sewn, culminating today in over 70 jobs and counting.

Being successful on your own terms depends on how much time you put into setting up and maintaining a business and how smart you work. Because I do want to Prosper in Pajamas, I decided on Web design, eMarketing and Affiliate marketing. Links to quality merchandise such as BedHead comes under affiliate marketing and they are a pleasure to work with.

If you are interested in learning more about Affiliate Marketing, please visit Terra Publishing House for a selection of low-cost eBooks addressing each of the above steps.

Have you ever been to one of Dr. Wayne Dyer’s presentations? No. Well, you are missing something special.

He is “just a man,” as the song goes, but a wonderful warm and sharing man. I attended one of his lectures years ago at the Burbank Center in Santa Rosa and have never forgotten his talk or his warm presence. In case you don’t know about him, here is a quick overview:

Wayne W. Dyer, Ph.D., is an internationally renowned author and speaker in the field of self-development. He’s the author of 30 books, has created many audio programs and videos, and has appeared on thousands of television and radio shows. His books Manifest Your Destiny, Wisdom of the Ages, Making Your Thoughts Work for You, There’s a Spiritual Solution to Every Problem, and The New York Times bestsellers 10 Secrets for Success and Inner Peace, The Power of Intention, Inspiration, and Change Your Thoughts—Change Your Life and now Excuses Begone have all been featured as National Public Television specials.

In addition to re-reading Dr. Dyer’s books and in finding about his speaking appearances, my goals also include staying healthy so I’m looking at various offerings from Hay House Publications, including Marianne Williamson’s “A Course in Weight Loss”, You Can Heal Your Life, and to learn more about Wayne Dyer Excuses Begone!.

This link will take you to a selection of books, CDs and such from Dr. Wayne W. Dyer. It includes my favorite, which I’m now going to reread “The Power of Intention.” If you can/will read one of his books a week or a month, your life will change for the better. So much of life is intent and his assistance with positive intent is so welcome!

I am Rich. Positive Image Meditation and Affirmations
Yes, it’s an obsession . . . because I want to live debt free, travel the world, and help friends and family.

And I just received yet another eMail on this subject . . . this one from Anthony Morrison, author of The Hidden Millionaire and Advertising Profits from Home

From his website:

At age 25 Anthony Morrison has founded more than eight successful businesses, and he shows no sign of slowing down. His business portfolio includes online retail, direct response, nationwide conferences, and more . . . and Anthony Morrison’s Book “Advertising Profits” has been featured in CNN, FOX9, Los Angeles Times, among others. Anthony Morrison grew up in a family that encouraged intellectual curiosity, empathy for others and healthy self-esteem. At the age of seven, he decided he wanted a Jacuzzi. Anthony Morrison sold candy bars door-to-door until he had earned the money for the Jacuzzi. One year later, Anthony Morrison set his sights on buying his father a motorcycle and did just that, enlisting his siblings in the effort. Other successful part-time ventures followed, setting a pattern for Anthony Morrison’s later life: find something you enjoy, learn as much about that subject as possible, and pursue your goals with single-minded enthusiasm. Anthony Morrison showed a predilection for achieving his goals and creating avenues to achieve them more efficiently and profitably. Anthony Morrison was creating the blueprint for his later success without realizing it.

Turns out Anthony is coming to my neighborhood in a couple of weeks, so I’ll go hear him speak . . . but because my goal is to stay out of debt, I won’t be buying his wares. However, check back, as I will let you know what I learn.

Here are some tips from his latest Tweets and since it’s what I’ve been thinking about and writing about for the past couple of weeks on this site, might as well put them here also:

• Remember you arent going to get something for nothing in life. You absolutely must work hard for success. Never believe any different.
• Be thankful for today and use it to accomplish your goals. Success comes from baby steps!
• Everyday you should be thankful you have been given the gift of choice.
• Keep a positive mindset in everything that you do! Its very important if you want to be successful.
• What have you done today to ensure that your further along your path to success tomorrow?
• If you want to be successful its simple. Do not stop until you achieve your goals.
• I really believe anyone can be successful at Internet marketing if they try hard.
• We all experience bumps in the road on the path to success. Don’t get discouraged if you have a few unplanned mishaps. It happens to everyone
• Success comes to those who work hard and strive for it. How hard have you worked for your success today?

An eMail just arrived regarding a “Credit and Debit Summit” which is designed to help eliminate all debt and raise funds to establish your dream business. I’m listening to their webinar now as they discuss “total financial freedom," including tips on how to get rid of debt collectors while you straighten out your finances. Given their lineup of speakers, this is destined to be of value.

However, because my goal last year was to get out of debt . . . which I did . . . and stay out of debt, their fee is not in my budget. In the event you need financial assistance and you don’t have a few hundred dollars and hours of time, following is an overview of their offerings.

Financial freedom is certainly possible. Currently, with the exception of mortgage and monthly insurance payments, I am debt free. I can’t begin to tell you how exquisite that is after years of paying the piper.

This "Credit and Debit Summit" video indicates that the following are the most knowledgeable financial experts on this planet. True or not, these speakers undoubtedly know more than most AND they are in the business I would like to be in . . . which is making money from publishing and the internet. In my case, the goal includes without ever having to get out of pajamas . . . designer pajamas, of course, but still pajamas.

Who are these people? According to this video, they are:

• David Bach – Pay Off ALL Your Debt in 2011: Bach’s book entitled Start Late, Finish Rich: A No-Fail Plan for Achieving Financial Freedom at Any Age (Finish Rich Book Series) pulled me though a couple of potentially disastrous years between 2002-2004 during which time I paid off more than $50,000 in debt, purchased a duplex, took a two-month trip from Tahiti to Japan with stops in between.
• Thomas Kish with Establish a $100,000 Business Line of Credit and Jeremy Wharburton with Fastest Way to Build Business Credit : I very much discourage this UNLESS you know how to establish a realistic budget, know marketing, know business backwards and forwards. If not, you stand to lose it all.
  • Please make a solid plan through and Small Business NxLevel course, or through the Nxlevel Business Plan Workbook & Resource Guide for Entrepreneurs. This could save your shirt. I received NxLevel Certification a couple of years ago; in the process of learning the steps, I, like others in the class, realized that the business I had in mind would not support me.
• T. Harv Eker – Mastering the Millionaire Mind, which is obviously from his book: Secrets of the Millionaire Mind: Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth available for about $15 and worth the read. He has an interesting background and did not come from wealth.
  He made his own. His writings are also available in audio, in a multi-media edition, and as cards for those who want to have fun while learning about budgets.
• Howard Dvorkin – Drop Your Credit Card Interest Rates in Half: This is possible. We don’t know Dvorkin, but we have negotiated interest rates down in the past. Sometimes, all you have to do is ask . . . firmly! His book Credit Hell : How to Dig Out of Debt can help you through this nutty process.
• Brian Diez – The “Bull-Dog” of Credit Repair: This, too, is possible. If you’ve never looked at your credit report, please do so. Diez doesn’t seem to have published his techniques but How to Repair Your Credit Score Now: Simple No Cost Methods You Can Put to Use Today will take you through the steps. Credit repair is quite straight forward. The largest hurdle is to start it and stay on the companies until they fix your records.
  • The top three agencies (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) are NOT connected to the federal government, which I thought they were given that their stand is so officious. They are big-business people who side with companies that pay fees to obtain information about you. YOU, as the consumer, are guilty until proven innocent, meaning you have to prove that the negative report about your credit is wrong. It should be the other way around. If your mortgage company, for example, made a mistake in crediting your payment and reported it as late, YOU have to prove that you paid. Years ago, Washington Mutual bought the company that held my mortgage; my payment was lost in the transition. It took me over a year to straighten that out.
• Lexington Law Firm – Using a Law Firm to Fix Your Credit: If you have the time to do this yourself, you do not need a law firm. It doesn’t need to cost money to clear your credit. One of the first things I learned in attempting to rid myself of all debt was to NOT pay for services I could do myself. Also, in doing this yourself, you will be a bit more cautious about falling into financial traps in the future.

I am a stranger in a new world. The career that I had is no longer physically viable for my body. I’m seeing the world through born-again glasses:

• my kids are grown and busy with their families
• I have nothing in common with friends still in my former line of work. We have nothing in common and when we talk, it is all about their journey, about things that now longer matter to me because I must move on.

Recently I have spent some time thinking, daydreaming, whining, feeling sorry for my self, and swearing. Now I am ready to choose my new path. I am on the road to where I don’t know, with whom I have no idea, how long . . . well, that is in Gods hands.

The world is about new things, and life is always changing. I am looking hard and long at new things I can do, or want to do, places I want to go, just how I want to spend my (golden) years. One thing I know, it will be an adventure. My life has never been dull, and I know that whatever the universe presents to me I will have my eyes, my heart, and my arms wide open, because I have learned from each laugh and each tear.

So bring on the new journey!