Ginger Garrett

With summer in swing, a lot of us are looking for a way to boost energy and mood…minus the price tag of Starbucks or the side effects of drugs.

Recent studies confirm that adding two foods into your diet may do just that: powdered greens and maca root. Powdered green foods supplements include my favorite, Vega Smoothie Infusion, which is a blend of organic green foods such as kale and spinach. It tastes much better than other greens powders and mixes well in juice. It’s rich in vitamins, minerals and iron, and antioxidants. If you’re not getting your veggies every day, this is one way to fill the gap. As an added bonus, studies show that women who consume the most antixodants are also the women who stay younger looking than their peers. Preventing wrinkles isn’t just about remembering your sunscreen: it matters what you eat, too.

The second superfood, Maca  root, comes from Peru and is available as a pill or powder. Studies confirm that it appears to boost energy, well being, and reduce anxiety and depression, particularly in older women. Brendan Brazier, professional triathlete, swears by it for post workout recovery. You can buy both at

http://sequelnaturals.com 

If you try either, let me know how you like them. I am currently using both products while I keep up a crazy writing schedule over the summer. In addition to wrapping up the Scribe series, I am prepping Chosen for re-release, and writing a new teen romance. With three kids at home and four books in the works, you can see why I need the extra energy!

Enjoy the summer sun,

Ginger

Beauty is a feeling. We buy products to feel it. We dress to feel it. And the number one reason we don’t feel it is not because we bought the wrong thing or wore the wrong dress. It’s because we think the wrong thoughts.

When we see another woman, our first response is usually to compare ourselves to her.  We judge ourselves by her appearance. Often, we’re on the losing end of the equation. She might have better hair, longer legs, whiter teeth, or a thinner body. And we silently berate ourselves for falling short, again.

The danger in comparing ourselves to other women is a physical danger, not just an emotional hazard. If we do not have deep connections with other women, if we are not able to be authentic and resist the urge to compare, we’ll shorten our life span. As my friend Shelley Hendrix says, we become competitors instead of companions.

But if we ca live as companions, if we can stop comparing ourselves to our sisters, there are unexpected rewards. Harvard’s Nurses study proved that women with deep friendships with other women cut their risk of death from all causes over a nine year period by over fifty percent.

God designed women to need other women. Without each other, we wither. Without each other, we die too young. Staying connected literally feeds our cells and our spirits. So learning to break the comparison habit will not only make you feel beautiful, it can alter the course of your life. It can alter the course of the world.

The next time you see another woman, do not let yourself think, “Look what she has that I don’t!”

Instead, say to yourself, “What does she need that I have?”

Practice the art of lovingkindness to other women, even the women who seem to have gotten everything you need and want. Live in peace by letting go of comparisons. A woman at peace with herself, at peace with other women, is a powerful woman. She has a beauty that cannot be bought, a beauty that transcends appearances, a beauty that feeds her spirit, her friendships, and her future.

May you be that woman!

Jaclyn M. wins two poolside-approved paperback versions of In The Shadow of Lions. These are the new mass market size, which is a smaller, thicker version of the original.

As we get closer to the release of the next novel (in which many questions will be answered!) you’ll want to be sure you’re signed up on the mailing list. I have a “Build Your Own Knight” kit to give away, so you can produce your very own knight in shining armor.  Alas, this one will be of no use in taking out the trash, which so many modern knights do, but he is still pretty to look at. And speaking for myself, sometimes that’s half the battle!

And on a personal note: I just returned today from my first official adventure since surgery to repair a torn ankle tendon. It was glorious! I have learned so much from this surgery, including how to appreciate the gift of walking, and how to slide down the stairs on your rear end, without picking up too much speed, or carpet burns. Most important to the technique is to finish your coffee before sliding down the stairs with your mug. Trust me.