Month: September 2016

Heart Matters: The Amazing Benefits of The ‘Miracle Molecule’

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“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” ~ Hippocrates

Welcome to the third and final installment of my ‘Heart Matters’ posts. I’d like to start by asking you two questions:

Is it a priority for you to protect yourself from age and lifestyle related disease?

Would you like to age slowly and be able to keep fit and healthy, with plenty of energy and optimal vitality to live your life to the full, regardless of how old you are?

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If the answer is yes, then it’s crucial to pay attention to your cardio vascular system. Your cardiovascular system delivers vital oxygen and nutrients via your blood throughout sixty thousand miles of blood vessel network to nearly 100 trillion cells that make up the human body.

In my second post on Heart Matters I covered some sobering statistics about cardio vascular disease. To summarize: the WHO cite cardio vascular disease as the leading cause of mortality, responsible for more than 50% of deaths in the western world – killing more people than cancer, diabetes and prescription drugs combined.

1998 Nobel Prize for Medicine

Dr. Louis Ignarro, distinguished Professor of Pharmacology at UCLA School of Medicine is a co-recipient of the 1998 Nobel Prize for Medicine. He spent over two decades researching cardio vascular health, which lead to the discovery that Nitric Oxide (NO) is the master signalling molecule of the cardio vascular system.

The wide-ranging health benefits of Nitric Oxide was such a ground-breaking and important discovery that scientists dubbed it THE MIRACLE MOLECULE.

It is the human body that is the real miracle however, and when it has enough of the right potent nutrition it can begin to regain balance and achieve optimum health.

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Nitric Oxide

Nitric Oxide is a gas that is produced naturally by the body, in the single cell that lines the entire inside of our blood vessels, known as the ENDOTHELIUM. It is also produced in the thyroid. Up until our twenties our bodies produce 100% of Nitric Oxide (NO), but every decade thereafter this production slows significantly, causing a hardening and thickening of the arteries and build-up of fatty material – plaque.

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Left unchecked this can lead to heart-attack, stroke, vascular dementia and other illness. Smoking, poor diet, lack of exercise and a genetic predisposition can accelerate the degeneration of cardio vascular health. In fact, low levels of Nitric Oxide can cause every disease known to man.

Despite our advancements in medicine, modern healthcare and availability of drugs, the world is sicker than it’s ever been. This would indicate that big pharma and drugs are not the answer.

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So how do you bring your body back into balance if it’s not operating like a well-oiled machine?

Ancient wisdom holds the answer!

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The answer lies in our daily habits and in preventative measures. I’m going to share with you some of Dr. Louis Ignarro’s findings from his book, NO More Heart Disease – How Nitric Oxide Can Prevent – Even Reverse – Heart Disease and Strokes.

Essentially Nitric Oxide relaxes and enlarges blood vessels (vasodilation), heals the endothelium, normalises blood pressure, prevents blood clots that trigger strokes and heart attacks and protects against the accumulation of vascular plaque.

The 1998 Nobel Prize discovery also led to the first practical application of his research, the development of Viagra. Since then further science-led innovation has produced natural, plant based supplements that have a positive impact on the entire body.

NO to the Rescue

Specifically, here is why sufficient levels of NO are so important in preventing arteriosclerosis. If the endothelial cells on the inner surface of your blood vessels are damaged in any way, other types of cells in the blood, monocytes and leukocytes, can storm through the vessel wall, accumulate, and imbed themselves in the smooth layer muscle. The invasion complete, these cells release chemicals called inflammatory mediators that trigger inflammation in the smooth muscle, setting the atherosclerotic process of plaque formation into motion and resulting in blocked blood flow.

Once plaque forms in the arteries, it is much more difficult to undo the damage than to prevent it in the first place.  

~ Dr. Louis J. Ignarro

Why should you care about your Nitric Oxide levels?

  • Nitric Oxide (NO) is the body’s own wonder drug.
  • NO is one of the most significant molecules in the body.
  • NO influences the functioning of virtually every human organ, from the heart to the lungs to the stomach.
  • Adequate levels of NO may play a role in preventing and supporting conditions such as diabetes, alzheimer’s disease, erectile dysfunction (ED), rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, high cholesterol, menopause symptoms, obesity, kidney disease, migraine headaches, infections, inflammatory disease such as Crohn’s Disease, cancer, multiple sclerosis and ulcers.

In my humble opinion this discovery by Dr. Louis Ignarro and his colleagues should go down in history as one of the greatest discoveries ever made in the field of medicine.

You may be wondering, how do I increase my intake of NO?

Dietary Supplementation with L-Arginine and L-Citrulline

When taken in enough quantities the amino acids L-Arginine and L-Citrulline form long-lasting levels of NO in the body. These can of course be found in different types of food: fish such as salmon and oysters, watermelon, almonds, dark chocolate, peanuts, soy and red meat (in moderation). Due to over farming and the use of chemicals our soils have been depleted of nutrients so it’s tough to get enough NO from diet alone.

Other types of food that contribute to a healthy heart and cardio vascular system are phytonutrients, foods rich in antioxidants, foods rich in protein, omega-3 fatty acids, heart-healthy fats and 400 to 800 mcgs per day of folic acid.

In his book Dr. Ignarro also shares case studies highlighting the importance of regular exercise for the cardio vascular system and indeed, overall health.

Dr. Louis Ignarro talks about his research into Nitric Oxide and disease prevention:

A short pdf document about Nitric Oxide. no_manual_en

I strongly recommend you get his book on Amazon if you want more in depth information on this subject as I am not a doctor. However, I am passionate about well-being and helping others achieve Elite Health.

According to Dr. Ignarro we each need between 5-20 grams per day of NO depending on the state of our health. Because L-Arginine and L-Citrulline can be taken in large quantities with no side effects or toxicity, this means that supplementation is safe.

A completely natural, plant based solution: ProArgi-9+

I’d like to share my personal story with you.  I’ve been supplementing for just a few months with high quality, targeted nutraceuticals, (one of which is ProArgi-9+), and my health has reached a level I never thought possible in my late forties.

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In the first few weeks I experienced some detoxification symptoms, I could feel something was happening. I was thirsty and began to drink more water during this period. I found my usually healthy appetite was diminished and my energy levels began to soar.

After about three weeks the brain fog I didn’t know I had cleared (like a morning mist), and was replaced with a feeling of mental clarity. At the time I started taking the supplements I was suffering with mild depression – I was exhausted all the time (it’s tough working full-time with three children at home as well as all the domestic chores and extra-curricular activities that entails), but since then my mood has been massively elevated, even on bad days. I frequently work 12-18 hour days, something I haven’t been able to do since my twenties. The quality of my sleep (even though I don’t get enough), is much better also. With so many projects on the go and energetic children to take care of this has been a god send.

I also noticed the soreness in my knees reduced and has now completely gone, and the quality of my hair has been transformed. It’s fuller and more vibrant, hair loss has been dramatically reduced and even the number of grey hairs has reduced with new, darker re-growth. My skin improved, my eyesight improved and my muscle tone improved.

I lost almost a stone in weight and other health issues I had no longer bother me.

I can now complete my Zumba classes without feeling like I’m going to have a heart attack and keep up with women half my age. The chronic muscle stiffness that would plague me for days afterwards as I walked around like a plank has virtually disappeared.

Never in my wildest dreams did I expect these kinds of results when I first started taking ProArgi-9+ and the V3 system.

What a gift!

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To think it’s one that I could have passed over sends shivers down my spine. My mother has an even more inspiring story. It has reduced her life-threateningly high blood pressure into the normal range so that she has been able to discontinue her medications. It has enabled her to continue flying and teaching people how to fly gliders, one of her passions in life.

If you have high blood pressure:

I’m eternally grateful to my business partner, Kim Bradley for introducing me to this scientifically validated product and Synergy Worldwide, the ethical, Forbes 100 nutritional company that produces it.  Synergy is the only nutritional company to be classified by Forbes as one of America’s most trustworthy companies.

I love working with Kim and she was recently recognised with a well deserved award for her caring and competent leadership by Synergy at their European Summit last week in Vienna.

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No other natural supplement except for ProArgi-9+  appears in the Physician’s Desk Reference (PDR) in the USA, where it is listed as the ‘highest quality L-Arginine supplement in the world’.

Clinical studies also prove that ProArgi-9+ reduces LDL oxidised cholesteral which is a precursor to heart disease. pa9_synergyadvantage2

It has had a profound effect on my life – giving me back my zest for life, my high energy levels, my self-confidence and renewed passion for all the things that I want to do and achieve with my life.

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I’m on a mission to educate everyone I care about, so they can experience similar health benefits in their own lives.

By the end of November I will have my new website linked to my blog under the heading Elite Health.

Well-being is an ever evolving continuum between disease and optimal health. Most people are somewhere in the middle of the scale, but if you’d like to move further towards the health end it means taking control of factors like diet, lifestyle and efficacious supplementation.

It’s probably fair to say that many of us spend more money on maintaining our cars, on entertainment, alcohol and posh cups of coffee than we do investing in our long term health.

Even professional athletes can see the value in improved sporting performance with quicker recovery times. And unlike the unfortunate and misguided Maria Sharapova, who took the banned substance Meldonium and was subsequently suspended from playing tennis, these nutraceuticals are all food based and approved by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

I’m happy to offer that same gift to you – and give you more information about the science behind these nutraceuticals and how they can change your life for the better. I can communicate with you by email, Skype, over the phone, or via Gotomeeting.

If you’d like to know more, do get in touch with me via Twitter (@Ginsterbabe) or on my blog contact page and we can start a potentially life-changing conversation!

“As a nation we spend close to a 100 billion dollars a year fighting heart disease. As baby boomers reach retirement age that figure is going to double in the next 20 years. Yet we spend less than 2 billion dollars a year in preventing heart disease. Simple nutritional supplements and lifestyle modifications would be the most cost effective way of preventing heart disease. Focusing our attention on lifestyle changes we believe is the best way to prevent heart disease not only in the adult population but especially among our children.”

~ Dr. Siva Arunasalam (Internal Medicine, Invasive and Non-Invasive Cardiology) Director High Desert Heart Institute, USA.

The Secret of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony

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If you’ve read some of my previous musical blogs you’ll know that I’m a bit of a Beethoven fan. Well, let’s not beat about the bush – it’s more like hero worship!

Beethoven featured quite a bit in my debut novel, The Virtuoso.  I listened to his fifth symphony many, many times whilst writing it. I also did some research, but with a musical icon of such genius there is always more to learn and I’m delighted to continue my education into his life and music.

beethoven-original-score-of-fifth

Recently the BBC produced an outstanding documentary: The Secret of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. It was narrated by Ian Hislop, journalist, political satirist and editor of Private Eye, in collaboration with eminent conductor Sir John Eliot Gardiner and his Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantiq.

Before I watched it I thought I already knew everything there was to know about this piece of music. The most famous opening four notes in musical history: da- da –da – dah. A motif of three triplet quavers in G followed by a dotted minim in E flat, followed by triplet quavers in F and an extended four beat note in D, repeated throughout the first movement and variations thereof in the other movements.

It premiered on 22nd December 1808 at the Theater an der Wien and much to Beethoven’s chagrin it wasn’t an immediate success. I know how he feels! But audiences in Vienna weren’t ready for his powerful, uncompromising brand of music.

Detail of the 1804-05 portrait of Beethoven by JW Maher, painted at the time Beethoven was writing his fifth symphony.

Detail of the 1804-05 portrait of Beethoven by JW Maher, painted at the time Beethoven was writing his fifth symphony.

Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67 was composed between 1804 and 1808 when Beethoven was in his late thirties at his lodgings in the Pasqualati House, which also features in The Virtuoso.

He had already written his heart rending Heiligenstadt Testament a couple of years earlier and was still composing despite his tragic descent into deafness. Experts believe he was already 60% deaf by the age of 31 and completely deaf by age 46 in 1816.

The common theme agreed by scholars was that of ‘fate knocking at the door’, of Beethoven expressing his inner turmoil at his deafness and faltering love affairs. Beethoven could not escape his physical destiny, but by sheer force of will he was determined to fulfill his artistic destiny. Ludwig lived in turbulent times and possessed a turbulent temperament!

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I used this context for part 1 of my novel as my protagonist Isabelle Bryant, a world famous violin virtuoso has to deal with the loss of her fingers and ensuing devastation. One publisher kindly reviewed it as ‘a modern day Beethoven story’.

But Sir John Eliot Gardiner’s assertions that this symphony is about so much more really resonate with me. It makes perfect sense that one of the most revolutionary pieces of music of the 19th century (indeed of all-time), is at its heart about a revolution – the most shocking and radical of them all: the French Revolution.

The French Revolution had taken place between 1789 and 1799 when the young Beethoven had been aligned to the ideas of liberté, égalité and fraternité. Freedom and the enlightenment ideals were themes that he drew from more obviously in his epic ninth Symphony for example, but perhaps, due to circumstances, more covertly in his fifth.

“Behold all ye friends of freedom… behold the light you have struck out, after setting America free, reflected to France and there kindled into a blaze that lays despotism in ashes and warms and illuminates Europe. I see the ardour for liberty catching and spreading; …the dominion of kings changed for the dominion of laws, and the dominion of priests giving way to the dominion of reason and conscience.” ~ Richard Price sermon c. 1789

I had not been aware that Beethoven had seriously considered moving to Paris, but as fate would have it he remained in Vienna.

At this point in his career Beethoven was not beholden to the imperial court as earlier composers like Mozart and Haydn had been. He did, however rely on the patronage and support of his wealthy, aristocratic benefactors; the upper class nobility from the privileged echelons of society that ‘the people’ had rallied against in the French Revolution for living in the lap of luxury whilst the poor suffered and starved.

This must have caused some inner conflict for Beethoven. He was dependent on an aristocratic system to produce his life’s work, yet he fervently believed in a meritocracy.

The repercussions of the French Revolution and the execution of the Austrian princess Marie Antoinette reverberated throughout Europe. The subsequent invasion by French Troops of Austria and Vienna, Beethoven’s home and place of work, must have been tough to reconcile.

Although I’m sure Beethoven was sickened like many writers, artists and scholars by the two year reign of Terror and blood bath that Robespierre unleashed, he was still loyal to the principles behind the revolution, if not the manner in which those principles came to fruition. Human nature being what it is, power crazed individuals got out of hand.

Under such delicate political circumstances Beethoven could not afford to be outspoken about revolutionary ideals while living under the noses of the House of Habsburg, who were at war with France. His position would have been tenuous.

Beethoven knew the only way to express his views and convictions was through his music.

And here it is in full, a wonderful new recording by John Eliot Gardiner and the Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantiq:

The effect is softer and more textured compared to a modern orchestra because they are playing on period instruments, and as John points out the sound is more pure and authentic. This is how Beethoven intended it to be heard.  These older instruments are being played to the very edge of their capabilities. You would expect nothing less from Ludwig though. It is also performed at a quicker tempo to many other performances at 108 beats per minute, as directed specifically by Beethoven (who loved his metronome).

When I listened to this recording knowing the fervour, idealism, the political upheaval and personal strife of Beethoven it made perfect sense. I listened with new ears and it just blew me away…

Influences

At the beginning of his musical career Beethoven had been tutored at the court palace chapel in Bonn by composer and court organist Christian Gottlob Neefe, who imparted his musical knowledge and love of Bach as well as his radical political views to the impressionable teenage Ludwig. Beethoven studied keyboard, viola and organ.

‘Nous jurons tour, le fer en main’

Beethoven was almost certainly influenced by the Italian born composer Luigi Cherubini, who was living in France and his patriotic Hymne du Pantheon.  The German musicologist Arnold Schmitz (who had influenced conductor John Eliot Gardiner), argued that the opening lyrics of this rousing hymn: Nous jurons tour, le fer en main (we all swear, sword in hand), De mourir pour la Republique (to die for the Republic), et pours les droits du genre humain (and for the rights of man) are the inspiration for the unforgettable opening bars of Beethoven’s fifth symphony.

Drawing of the Pantheon in Paris

Drawing of the Pantheon in Paris

Article in Gramophone magazine by John Eliot Gardiner on this subject.

The belief that no human being had a divine right to rule over another human being was sweeping through Europe and the arts and literature were flourishing.

The desire for a better, more just society can also be heard in the second movement of Beethoven’s fifth with its expansive and gentle melody.  Its beauty and harmony perfectly fit this ethos of a united humanity – except Beethoven does not quite unite us musically by the end of this movement, subduing the chords before they can attain closure.

John Eliot Gardiner sums up the second movement as a kind of prayer by Beethoven for the elevation and evolution of mankind.

Beethoven’s fifth symphony is his way of saying: ‘I believe in the rights of man, I believe in the brotherhood of all men and I believe in political freedom.’

While studying at university in Bonn, Beethoven had been to see Friedrich Schiller’s play, The Robbers, which fuelled his rebellious attitude towards the upper class and economic inequality. Beethoven realised that art (in whatever form) could have a real impact on an audience and on the world.

The popularity of Beethoven’s music for over 200 years proves this universal power of the arts. Great swathes of humanity still live under repression and terrifying violence. It’s still relevant.

Another musical influence is from one of Beethoven’s earlier, more overtly political works, the lieder Der Freie Mann; a poem by Gottleib Konrad Pfeffel set to music in the key of C Major. If you listen carefully you can hear similarities between this music and the opening bars of the 4th movement of his fifth symphony (also in C Major), with its theme of freedom achieved.

Yet more evidence to his state of mind around that time and the revolutionary origins of the fifth symphony. There are also elements of the rising triadic idea from Der Freie Mann used in the second movement of the fifth.

One of Beethoven’s musical sketch books known as Landsberg 6 contains his preliminary ideas for many of his works between 1802 and 1804, including his fifth symphony. The outline of the opening of the first movement is in there, as well as basic ideas for the beginning of the third movement, the Scherzo. The musical motifs are notated as slower but similar to the opening movement, and as John Eliot says, ‘It really does feel like humanity is on the march.’

So without further ado, here is the brilliant documentary which covers more detail than I have time and space for. It’s well worth watching:

I’ll leave you with the words of Monsieur Rouget de Lisle’s Hymne Dithrambique: Chantons la liberte, – la liberte, couronnons sa statue, Comme un nouveau Titan, Le crime est foudroye…

Lisle’s hymne Dithrambique was used by Beethoven as inspiration for the theme of ‘liberty’ in the fourth and final movement of his fifth symphony; Beethoven’s musical culmination of a political and personal utopia.

I’m going to have to listen to it again, it kind of makes you feel invincible!

5 Ways to Improve Your Willpower and Reach Your Dreams

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“Argue for your limitations and sure enough they’re yours.” ~ Richard Bach

We live in a world of instant gratification. In a nanosecond we can send and receive data, speak to people around the world and have information at our fingertips like never before. The Internet of Things (IoT), has enabled machines to communicate in a web of connections that would make even the most brilliant brain spin!

Sometimes I think ‘creative’ types find it even harder to concentrate because there are so many ideas bouncing around inside our skulls, battling for attention. But it’s not the idea that matters so much as the willpower and energy to see it through to fulfillment.

As an aside, according to Dr. Steven Masley, the best predictor of brain performance and speed is aerobic capacity. How quickly we can run upstairs or up a hill correlates very strongly with cognitive shifting ability.

willpower-salmon-swimming-upstream

And in this fast paced era we are pushed to multi-task and be more productive than we ever thought possible. But there is a downside in all this technological advancement…

We live in the age of distraction – the anathema of focus. If it’s not smartphones, social media, Google, email’s waiting for response or cat videos that we can’t tear ourselves away from, (been there, done that) our minds are racing along thinking of all the work that needs to be done.

I frequently have to fight overwhelm, even when I’m organised.

Delayed Gratification

The concept of delayed gratification is becoming increasingly alien to us. What, we have to actually wait for something? You mean my fast food lunch won’t be ready in less than five minutes? No next day delivery?

Convenience can come at a price if we’re not careful. At every turn we are faced with temptation.

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Shall I eat that sugary donut? One last chocolate bar won’t hurt… I’ll watch one more episode of my favourite programme before I go to bed. Shall I quickly check Facebook? None of these things are necessarily bad; it’s just a question of what serves us in the moment in accordance with our life goals.

We are cramming so much into our days and that makes us crave instant results to achieve our goals faster. I constantly have to fight the urge to want everything now. I’m naturally impatient, although I have mellowed as I’ve matured.

The universe has its own pace and wisdom, and now I just try to stay true to myself and stay in the flow; follow my path and not get bent out of shape when things don’t work out how I’d imagined, or in the time scale I planned for. Progress is all important, and who we become as we grow and build on our strengths, overcoming our weaknesses is all that really matters.

It’s challenging to let go of attachment to results, but they do eventually come if we can harness our willpower more often than not…

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So what is willpower? It is considered by social psychologists as the queen of all virtues.

It encompasses all aspects of existence, and is vital to live a happy and successful life.

We’ve all read the Bible story where Jesus is faced with every evil and temptation known to man in the space of forty days and forty nights. Who could survive that kind of onslaught except a deity?

Do we expect too much of ourselves? Or perhaps too little? Only you can decide what’s right for you.

For me, willpower is about being able to follow through on my decisions and act in accordance with my goals. It’s about personal power and the ability to make lifestyle changes, be self-disciplined and implement my best intentions. It’s doing what I must do, before doing what I want to do.

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My children are learning about willpower when they force themselves to exercise self-control and complete their homework on time rather than spending all their time in more enjoyable pursuits.

I try to drive home the message that self-discipline is more important than IQ in predicting academic success.

When you exercise willpower you feel on top of the world. Our self-esteem gets a little boost when we realise we said ‘no thanks’ to that offer of a large wedge of chocolate cake. We start to believe in ourselves that little bit more as we follow through on our decisions and goals without deviation.

willpower-pianist

The thing about willpower and self-control is that it takes effort. Sometimes a lot!

Just ask anyone who has ever been deeply in love, (especially in the early stages) and they’ll tell you they have absolutely no willpower to regulate how often they think about the object of their affection!

It’s easy to see how avid gamers can get addicted to the Xbox and let their life slip away. Or with any other pleasurable activity for that matter…

Willpower is also tied in with awareness, because we don’t normally act in a way that’s detrimental to our wellbeing when we act consciously. Many actions and decisions mask unconscious needs and beliefs that are as yet invisible to us. After all, we are only human!

There’s no one better to learn from than Roy Baumeister when it comes to willpower.  In this detailed talk he covers how to make willpower work for you:

Whatever you may be dealing with right now, whether it’s to give up smoking, eat a more nutritious diet, get more exercise, start a meditation practise, complete a project, start a new project, or change any habit that may be holding you back, these five tips might also help to give you that extra ounce of willpower!

  1. Daily habits matter. Willpower builds momentum step by step. Repetition is a form of mesmerism, which propels us forward towards our goals. Daily habits are the ingredients in life’s recipe book. The longer we are in the mix and cooking away the closer we get to that tantalising dish at the end. Achieving mastery in any field requires repetition. Daily determination to exercise our willpower will make it stronger overall. Know when to use it and when to rest it.
  2. ‘Ego depletion’ can rear its ugly head whenever we try to create a new habit or activity. We may be already burdened by so many other tasks that the new routine feels almost impossible to implement. Ego depletion is a term coined by social psychologist Roy Baumeister (the world’s leading authority on willpower) and John Tierney as ‘a person’s diminished capacity to regulate their thoughts, feelings, and actions.’ Willpower is like a muscle and will get fatigued throughout the day with constant use.
  3. You have a finite reservoir of willpower to draw on during the day. We use the same units from our stores of willpower no matter what the tasks are. That’s why, after a busy day when you may have completed an intense job, made a multitude of important decisions and done all manner of mundane chores and your mind and body felt tired, you were more likely to cave in to temptation and decide to get a take-away instead of cooking a nutritious meal.  It has certainly happened to me! That’s why it’s best to tackle your most important jobs first, as early in the day as possible. Willpower slowly drains as the day wears on. Nine times out of ten the things I procrastinate to my ‘later’ pile never get done that day.
  4. Most of us can resist a variety of impulses, but if we are constantly faced with them the effort can leave us vulnerable and our willpower diminishes so that we are more likey to give in to the next temptation that comes our way. Once our reserves of willpower are used up it’s harder to focus. Interesting study on this phenomena: The Radish Experiment
  5. Visualising yourself completing goals can help to bolster motivation and fill those willpower tanks to the maximum. Start every morning with a personal success ritual (such as the Miracle Morning), that puts you in the right mindset to handle whatever challenges the day might throw at you. Tony Robbins is a strong advocate for this activity. This is an area where I’m personally using heaps of willpower!!

Brian Johnson highlights his five big ideas extrapolated from Roy Baumeister’s and John Tierney’s book on Willpower:

Delaying short-term pleasure for the sake of long-term goals is challenging for the best of us, but it can be immensely rewarding.  A new habit I’m in the process of developing every day is writing down three things I’m grateful for in the past, present and future.

Developing your daily willpower muscles will produce more mental stamina and strength, increasing your personal reservoir of willpower over time. Forgive yourself for succumbing to the odd temptation and enjoy the journey…

“Willpower is the basis of perseverance.” ~ Napolean Hill

The Lake District Revisited (Fresh on my Mind!)

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“A lake carries you into recesses of feeling otherwise impenetrable.” ~ William Wordsworth

After a few years away I’m reminded of how utterly peaceful and wild the Lake District is. I’m not sure if you can call an activity filled week a relaxing holiday, but a change of scenery does recharge flat batteries; and the scenery doesn’t get much better than in the Lake District.

Boats on Crummock Water

Boats on Crummock Water

The only downside is surviving a long, cramped road trip with excited and irritable children…

I could feel my mood lifting with each new adventure, and it reminded me of how Beethoven felt when he arrived in the countryside outside Vienna. His ‘pleasant feelings’ were enough to inspire his gorgeous 6th Symphony in F Major, affectionately known as the ‘Pastoral’:

We’ve been swimming, kayaking, boating, walking, climbing, carting, riding, waterfall-chasing, sightseeing and exploring. Oops, I nearly forgot eating. Noshing is a favourite pastime of my continually ravenous offspring!

Ruby on Bruno at Rookin House

Ruby on Bruno at Rookin House

With precious little time to unpack, get the kids ready for the start of a new school year, scribble some thoughts and generally catch-up before a really busy week ahead, I’m in the mood to recapture the essence of this timeless landscape and bottle some of that elusive holiday elixir before it inevitably evaporates into the ether of everyday life…

Having a walk on one of the short trails at Grizedale Forest.

Having a walk on one of the short trails at Grizedale Forest.

Speaking of which, the cyclists in the Tour of Britain 2016 (stage 2) are taking on the Lake District today!

Panoramic view of the Kirkstone Pass towards Windermere

Panoramic view of the Kirkstone Pass towards Windermere

I thought I’d share a few verses inspired by the Lake District (the adventure capital of the UK):

Lakeland Odyssey

Primordial power forged an ancient, rugged landscape,

Charming, green meadows bask in vast, watery valleys,

Craggy peaks beckon climbers with breathtaking escape,

Steep, narrow gorges unto rocky waterfalls marries,

Misty fells echo with blustery wind and frothy streams

Brooding clouds sit on mountains; shade beams.

Borrowdale

Borrowdale

Sheep roam free on verdant, mossy hill,

Around every bend a panorama is ready-made,

Urban ears tune-in to the sounds of nature’s will,

Pray for pristine, eternal beauty to never fade,

Sweet scent of pine is heady, lakes intoxicate;

Beguiling trails, swathed in ferns, raise heart-rate.

On the shore at Derwentwater

On the shore at Derwentwater

Epic views nourish weary souls of lacklustre beings,

Technology depleted cells absorb primal energy,

Erosion has carved and sculpted sights for seeing,

Forests, hills and wild tarns imprint on memory,

Immortal land of glinting lakes and majestic mountains,

Time has no meaning, no anxious hours of doubting…

Tarn Hows Panorma

Tarn Hows Panorma

Empty minds follow active bodies and forceful feet,

Expanded lungs breathe in splendour, exhale worry,

Thoughts drift to distant skies, for you to meet,

Your lighter load; clear of junk, free of hurry,

Eyes soak up shades of purple, brown, grey and green

Reflective, blue depths ripple with opaque sheen.

Low-flying cloud over Derwentwater!

Low-flying cloud over Derwentwater!

Droplets of rain saturate air of altitude,

To moisten and glisten on tingling skin,

Experience the elements; feel alive, renewed,

Ebullient weather to embrace, even revel in!

Excitement courses through throbbing veins,

Glorious, arduous exploration always remains…

Climbing tree at Tarn Hows

Happy hikers traverse rock, heather, grass and slate,

Well-trodden paths lead to abundant treasure,

Custodians of Earth, seek life beyond the gate.

Cherish every panorama of pigment-rich pleasure,

Such untamed beauty, it’s hard not to be fulsome,

Hallelujah! Cradled am I, in nature’s primeval bosom.

Part of the inner Castlerigg Stone Circle

Part of the inner Castlerigg Stone Circle

Yonder peaks stretch as far as the eye can see,

Yachts and steamers traverse deep, silent lakes,

Be you walking, climbing or sailing: feel the glee,

Imbued with prehistoric strength – or aches!

Summer is ebbing into the tides of history,

A brief Lakeland odyssey is part of my story…

Approach to Aira Force near Ullswater

Approach to Aira Force at Ullswater

I took my own video at the magnificent Aira Force waterfall near Ullswater, but I found a really good one already uploaded on youtube to leave you with. It really does roar!