Rising from the Ashes: Embracing the 'And' in Life
Hey Kids! It is me Amy! Or you can call me Worthy, Ms. Mermaid, or Nurse Amy…Take your pick ....just typing these nicknames remind me of how loved I am and all the love I have around me…
Some of the special friends who have nicknamed me….I truly feel so loved…
Any who! As I was saying, it has been a while and that is because life hit me hard, smacking me right between the eyes, and in the gut only to knock me down. But guess what? I'm getting back up, slowly but surely, rising from the ashes. Because that is what I do best. I rise from the ashes…They say I am strong…
To be honest, I'm tired of being strong. I need a break, but it seems that life and God have different plans for me. These past eight months have been challenging, but I've learned so much that I want to share with all of you.
I can't help but think that someone else out there might be going through a loss like mine, seeking comfort in the early hours of the morning. I searched high and low on the internet, in podcasts, books, and everywhere else, but what I couldn't find was a friend. Someone who could really relate, someone relatable and not just a distant public figure. I wanted authenticity, someone who understood me. I needed tools to navigate my situation with grace and compassion, for the sake of my three amazing boys and honestly for my own sake.
My Three Reasons to rise up, to keep going, and to reinvent myself into the human I was made to be!
Late at night or in the wee hours of the morning, as I sought clarity and help online, I found many people wallowing in their misery. I didn't want that for myself, and I don't want that for you. Life is undeniably hard, and I wish it weren't so, but it is.
However, I firmly believe that with the support of someone who can help you through tough times, you can rebuild. And that's exactly what I'm doing, and I hope to help others rebuild too. I want to be there for those who can't afford counseling like I can, who don't have an incredible church or community to lean on, or amazing siblings who remind them of their roots. I have all of that….and then some. Have I mentioned the amazing friendships I have? I can’t even begin to tell you how blessed I am there…
Even with all this support around me, I still felt alone.Seriously! I felt alone a lot of the time and I can't imagine what it's like for those who lack such support. So, if you're in that position, I'll be your support. I'll be your friend. I'll remind you of who you are and whose you are. The most important thing to remember is that you are a child of God, and He is always there for you, by your side. Tapping into His presence is easier than we make it out to be here on Earth—trust me on that. And here's a little secret: the belief that you're not good enough is nothing but a lie. In fact, you are not only good enough, but you are worthy of God's love and presence.
At 52, being knocked down and forced to reinvent your life is no easy task. You have to grieve the life you once had, which I'm still doing, but you also have to keep living. You have to embrace the "and."
What do I mean by this? Here are some of the ways I embrace the “and”
I am sad AND I am learning to find joy.
I am mad AND I am learning how to be compassionate.
I am resentful AND I am learning to forgive.
I feel alone AND I know I am surrounded by love….
You see, you can be sad and learn to find joy. You can be mad and discover your strength. You can feel alone and know that you're surrounded by love. (The "and" is another secret.)
You can be in the dark AND in the light.
If you don’t believe me…just look at me! I'm living proof of that.
So, if you find yourself alone in something today, I want to remind you that you are not alone. That's a lie. I want to remind you that you can embrace the "and." And most importantly, I want to remind you that you are worthy, no matter what life throws at you.
So here I am, saying, "Hey kids! I'm back! Maybe not better than ever, but I'm back! And boy, do I have a story to tell you—a story that will fill your toolbox, reminding you that you're not alone, you're worthy, and sitting in the "and" is perfectly okay. You'll be okay... everything is going to be okay."
Until next time,
XO, Amy (Worthy)
The Genesis of a New Year
January 1, 2023…..where do I even begin? So much has happened in my life and my family's life. I am not ready to share yet. I will someday, you know I will. That is just who I am. I am an open book. Right, wrong, or indifferent, that is just me and my belief is by sharing my story, the good, the bad, the super ugly, well, maybe I can be there for someone who feels all alone at 2:22 am. Someone who wakes up and can’t catch their breath while the darkness is crashing in…maybe, just maybe, they can remember Worthy Heart and open up this blog and find hope somewhere….That is my dream. That is my wish. That is my prayer.
If you are new here, WELCOME! If you are one of my faithful followers, HI! I am back and what a day to come back. January 1 where there are so many possibilities ahead for you and for me.
My first question is why does it have to be January 1? Truth is, it does not. We can decide any day of the year, the month, or the week, today is the day. It Just happens, today is the day I will start my new beginning.
I personally decided today was my day because honestly the end of 2022 has been a total nightmare for me and for my family. Today I want to SURRENDER that nightmare to God and really get to know Him and myself in His eyes. After all He did create you and me and we are not mistakes, but if I am being honest with you, sometimes I wonder things like, “What could I have done differently? What could I have done better? Why did God make me this way? Why do I feel or think like this? Why is this happening to me? To my family? Did I do something to cause this?” These are real true thoughts of mine and here is something I hold dear to my heart….
We are all allowed to think, feel, say, and do whatever it is we need.
The secret is if we can tie it back to our Higher Power, which for me is God, then life will become a little less painful, a little easier, and we can see the beauty and goodness life has to offer.
If you know your higher power you can experience goodness even in the darkness. You can experience love even in hate. You can experience joy even in sorrow. You can experience hope even in despair. You know what else, you can even hate those you love and turn away from God and He will still love you. He understands and is compassionate and does not force something on to you in your pain. I truly believe this because these past three months…..well these past three months he has patiently loved me while I have cursed him and cryed out and anguish and it has been horrific, but let’s face it.
Life happens and sometimes it downright sucks!
But even in the midst of this pain I have seen beauty, I have found grace, I have seen blessings. I have seen the face of God and heard from Him. Somedays I really had to look for Him and/or goodness, but I found it and you will too. I promise.
The real question for me and maybe for you too is….
How will I spend my time in 2023
For me I will: Begin healing and learning to love me wholly. All of me. I will begin building the life I want and deserve. I will continue to love my three beautiful boys right where they are and who they are, never insisting on them being someone I need them to be so I can be whole. I will begin to trust that it is all going to be ok, better than ok. I will begin to forgive, but that does not mean I have to forget. I will be grateful even in dark moments. I will find something to be grateful for because there is always something to be grateful for, even if it is just the bird chirping outside my window or the parking space that miraculously opened up. Whatever it is, no matter how little or how small, I will be grateful and I will begin to truly live. Live my life, my beautiful life. Offering the gifts of love and light that I have inside of me. I have so much love and life to give and I will start by giving some of that back to myself and I will continue to add more sparkle in the world and be a light of hope because that is what really brings me joy.
So, 2023 will be just like any other year. There will be challenges, there will be easy moments, and God willing there will be miracles and if you would like to come along on the journey, welcome!
My prayer is that we will do this beautiful thing called life with Grace, Compassion, and Love.
Cheers to 2023 and new beginnings and Cheers to You!
YOU ARE WORTHY!
XO,
Amy
aka Worthy
PS. If you know someone that you feel needs some love, hope, or worthiness, share my blog….I would love to be a beacon of light in someone elses’s darkness…Lord knows I have had many beacons of light in mine….
Wednesday's Worthy Word
Secrets to feeling grateful!
Thank your mind and watch it relax
Thank your heart and watch it open
Thank your past and it will integrate
Thank your symptoms and watch them heal
Thank your shadow and I bet it vanishes
Thank your life and watch it transform
Thank yourself, I promise….the light will dawn.
XOXOXOX
Amy
aka~Worthy
The Infamous Jennifer Aniston Salad
Have you heard the buzz? There is a salad that Jennifer Aniston “supposedly” ate every day on the set of “Friends”. I don’t personally think that is possible because they were on set for 10 years, but hey, maybe she is one of those people who really does not mind eating the same thing over and over.
The truth is, this salad is REALLY good, but to eat it everyday might get old in my honest humble opinion.
Nevertheless I did try it and I will say it is a total winner! Winner because it has all the components of a good meal. It is light and flavorful and a huge bonus you can whip it up fast!
Everyone in my family loves it and when I make it for friends they love it too! So give it a try and tell me what you think.
INGREDIENTS:
1 roasted chicken from the store chopped up
1 cup of cooked quinoa (I cook mine in chicken broth)
1 cucumber chopped up
1 small red onion chopped up
1 can of chickpeas or garbanzo beans drained
Pistachios and I just pour them in. I don’t really measure
Feta crumbles (again I just pour the feta in to our liking)
Juice from one or two lemon
PREP:
Pour all these ingredients in a bowl and mix well. I add salt and pepper for taste.
Other ingredients you can add, but I never have:
Chopped parsley
Chopped mint
Olive oil
Pecans or any other nut in place of pistachios
You cannot go wrong with this salad! It is a total crowd pleaser.
Bon Appetit!
Amy
aka~Worthy
Wednesday's Worthy Word
Listen up Sis….today’s message is coming to you from my heart and it is short and it is sweet but it is a honest truth bomb….
Are you ready for it?
You will never be criticized by someone who is doing more than you.
You will only be criticized by someone doing less……
Read that again and sit on that for a minute…..
There will always be someone doing more than you….always….just like there will always be someone with more and there will always be someone with less. Where the rubber meets the road is here: Does the person doing more focus on tearing you down or building you up? If they are focused on tearing you down it is time for you to move on….You are too worthy for that and hear me….
“YOU ARE ENOUGH JUST AS YOU ARE!”
XOXOXOX,
Amy
aka~Worthy
The Gift Plantar Fasciitis Gave Me
Plantar Fasciitis is a gift from the devil. If you have ever experienced it, you know exactly what I am talking about! However, plantar fasciitis gave me the gift of healing. #silverlining
What am I talking about? I am talking about my MELT Story.
Last year in November of 2021 my co worker Christine and I were attending Dallas Mania, a fitness convention here in Dallas. I was suffering and had been for almost 2 years from plantar fasciitis.
What is plantar fasciitis? As I stated above it is pure evil and pure pain, but plantar fasciitis is maybe the worst possible condition an athlete or someone who leads an active lifestyle can have. The way I described it was, when I would wake up in the morning and walk it was as if there was a nail or a pointy rock driving itself into my heel. It was awful and excruciating!
This pain lasted for two years! I tried everything! I bought red lights to treat it, all kinds of creams and contraptions that I was told if you rubbed on your calf and foot it would help. I bought memberships to Stretch Zone here in Dallas trying to stretch it away. I bought a Thera Gun trying to pound it away. I spent $1000 on shockwave therapy from a doctor. That was awful, maybe worse than labor. I bought special shoes to wear around the house. Special socks, you name it! I tried anything and everything short of snake oil! And the total in dollars that I spent was probably to the tune of $2500 or more trying to cure it. NOTHING WORKED and I had decided it was just something I would have to live with! WRONG!
In November while at the convention, Christine suggested I go to the MELT Class. I had a visceral reaction to her suggestion. It went something like this, “NO WAY! I hate yoga, I don’t like barre or Pilates, show me the dance floor and let’s jam!”
Oddly, (was it odd or was it God?) Sue Hitzman, the founder of MELT was standing right there and heard the conversation. She heard Christine trying to explain as politely as possible that MELT would be good for my heel pain, my knee pain, and my overall performance. Sue overheard this and kindly said, “I too think you should give it a try.” Pretty short and sweet and nothing more than that, but I knew she was the founder and I thought, “Well crap! IF the founder says I should, I guess I should!”
I went and the rest is history. Which, if you have plantar fasciitis that should be music to your ears because this is a condition that comes and goes for a lot of people. Mine came and left and has not returned and I know it is because of MELT.
So back to what is plantar fasciitis? Plantar fasciitis is basically an issue in the fascial sheaths that support both the bones and tendons of the foot – it’s considered a process of degeneration, strain, inflammation, or thickening of the fascial structures within the foot’s architecture.
I personally think after doing MELT it is a lack of blood and fluid flow in that region, not really inflammation at all….now I am not a doctor, but why did all those promised miracle cures not work, but rehydrating the fascia with a small soft ball and soft roller did????? Things that had me go hmmmmm….
Furthermore, if you are like myself and have instability in your hips or postural instabilities, well that makes us a little more prone to this evil pain and if we can keep fluid and blood flowing I think it helps tremendously. But how do we prevent it and get rid of it once we have it? I have some ideas……
Change your shoes: If you wear high heels stop. I know, this is not fun if you love to dress up but it is the year 2022 and there are plenty of ways to look amazing without that high heel. If your shoes are too tight that is no bueno and ladies and gentlemen flip flops and flat sandals are not your friend! I know they feel great in the summer but come fall and winter you will pay. And speaking of winter, don’t hate me, I am only the messenger, but UGG boots are the worst! I have a few cute shoe options for you, but think Crocs or something similar to these below. At one time Crocs did have a super cute fury boot and I am praying they bring that back or something similar to replace UGGS, but at the moment I don’t see it so I will keep looking for our winter option, but for now, “Just say NO to UGGs.”
2. Using an arch support can help. I had my Chiropractor measure me and watch me walk and we discovered my Right Leg is 1/4” longer than my left. Oddly you would think my right leg would hit the ground first but for some reason when I walk my shorter leg does and I just drill it into the ground. To stop that we put a lift in my right foot and it has helped TREMENDOUSLY! The cool thing is thought, I would never have known to ask Dr. Ed to look at my legs thinking they could be a lot of my problem had I not studied MELT. Through my studies I learned all about overcompensation, pain, old injuries, passed surgeries, and fascia and because of this I was able to ask more questions and give more history. What is my point? Consider an arch support or a lift. Here is the one I use, but again, I had Dr. Ed measure me and fit me accordingly so I would suggest talking to your doctor to make sure you do what is best for your body.
3. MELT! I am telling you it has been a game changer for me and it can and will be for you too! I offer privates via zoom, or at any of the studios I work at, as well as if you are in my neighborhood I can come to you. I have all the equipment to bring, you can buy the equipment from me so that you can treat yourself, which I can train you to do. In as little as 10 minutes a day we can get you freed from that evil pain! Use this link and schedule your appointment with me privately or this link and join me on August 24, 2022 at 1 PM CST for a group session at For Better Healthy Pilates Studio.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST
4. Untuck those sheets. Listen I bought that contraption that you wear at night that keeps your foot flexed and your heel stretching. IT DOES NOT WORK and it is super uncomfortable. What worked for me is simply untucking my sheets which kept the sheet from putting pressure on my foot and kept me from pointing my toes all night, which shortens the tissue for the entire time you are asleep, creating even more pain and problems. I am telling you, untuck the sheets and put socks on if your feet get cold or come out from under the sheet. I promise you will thank me later.
If you are looking for ways to get out heel pain try these and for more ways to combat foot pain daily and reduce your chances of suffering from chronic plantar fasciitis call me! I am here to help you and ensure that you can lead the HEALTHY ACTIVE LIFESTYLE you want at ANY AGE! It is possible and it starts with the fascia!
Until Next Time,
Amy
aka~Worthy
SCHOOLS IN SESSION
Summer is officially over and School is officially back in session. I don’t know if I should be doing a happy dance or crying in my cereal!
Dancing because routines are back and crying because my boys are growing up! Man time flies when you are having fun!
With school back, I have to really coach myself on getting back to a stricter routine. What do I mean? Well, being the mom of three boys I mean meals…..You know what they say, “The way to a man’s heart is through food.” And that is so true in this house.
School started back on a Wednesday here which is weird to start mid week, but I feel it gives me time to adjust.
Baby steps!
Baby steps in that this week I focused only on breakfast. I like to make sure Graeme has more protein and less carbs in the morning and zero sugar. His brain thanks me and so do his teachers! So today I am dedicating my post toward a few things I do to ensure he has just that, a healthy start. Trust me, the world is happier and so is he!
Three of these recipes you can make ahead (I usually do them on Sunday and preserve them in the fridge. All of them you just pop in the microwave for 30-60 seconds when reheating….easy peasy).
First up: I have blogged about these and they are a huge hit in my house. Sausage Balls….So good, so easy, and great for packed lunches!
Second: Have you ever heard of Protein Pancakes? You get this mix at the store, but I buy it in bulk at Amazon because we love them. You add an extra egg or two for protein when mixing it, blueberries or chocolate chips and they freeze nicely so you have them all week! And if you want to add extra fun, if it is the first day of school or a birthday, add some sprinkles and boom shaka laka you have birthday pancakes chalk full of protein!
Third is my mother’s egg cups! So good and so easy and all you do is plop one in the microwave for 30 or so seconds add some Cholula and boom you are set to jet!
Ingredients:
1 dozen eggs
1 lb. ground sausage
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup to 1 cup diced veggie (my family loves diced red bell peppers and green onions)
salt and pepper to taste
Prep:
Preheat oven to 400
Brown your sausage
In a large mixing bowl add all 12 eggs, cheese, veggies if adding veggies, sausage, salt and pepper to taste. Mix it up well.
Lightly spray a 12 count muffin tin with cooking spray.
Carefully pour your mixture into each cup. (I personally use a 1/4 cup measuring cup to spoon it in.)
Place in an oven on 400 for 15 to 18 minutes ( I like mine a little golden on top.)
Allow to cool for minimum of 5 minutes before serving.
Serve immediately or you can freeze them in a freezer bag or keep in the fridge and just microwave when you are ready!
And Last up Graeme’s personal fav is Avocado Toast. Now this cannot be made ahead of time but it is quick and healthy.
Grab a slice of bread and butter and place in the toaster. While your bread is toasting, take 1/2 of an avocado, add garlic salt, pepper, a little juice from a lemon, and Worcestershire sauce. Mix well. Once your toast is done spread this on top and if you want even more protein, slice a hard boiled egg and place that on top of your avocado mix. Another fun thing to add is Everything but the Bagel!
So good and so hip! Ha!
So there you have it. My four go to’s to ensure Graeme gets off to a great start and honestly having them already makes for an easy, stress free, morning! My kind of morning!
Happy Back to School All!
XO,
Amy
aka~Worthy
AMY's Morning Routine
Want to walk out into the world like the royalty you are? Here are my tips to get you going:
Start your day with The GOOD Life Journal~You will affirm yourself in who and whose you are! Don’t forget you are a daughter of the Almighty King~Sis that makes you ROYALTY! Put on that tiara, pink lipstick, whatever it is you need to remind yourself of this, but start with your affirmations in your GOOD Life Journal (It only takes about 5-15 minutes and think how much your life will change just by giving HIM your first 15!)
Drink 16 ounces of lemon water or celery juice to rehydrate the beautiful being you are.
MELT your hands and your feet and if you only have a few seconds just friction the H-E-double hockey sticks out of your feet and get the fluid flowing!
Turn on the music and dance a little bit before you leave the house (no-one is watching!). Dancing before you leave the house will change the way you walk out into the world! TRY IT BOO! I dare you!
XO,
Amy
aka~Worthy
Is it Odd or is it God?
Have you ever wondered, “Is it odd or is it God?” A very wise soul said this to me about four years ago when the Berry Storm hit and it has stuck with me ever since. “Is it odd or is it God?”……sit on that for a moment.
There have been so many beautiful things that have come out of our storm that hit a little over four years ago September 27, 2018. A day I will never forget. The day my life seemed to be going up in smoke, but changed for the better.
Our marriage survived for starters and not only did it survive, it is thriving. Our children are doing well for the most part. I have found peace and serenity. A peace and serenity I can honestly say I have never felt before.
Have you ever had a time like this? A tumultuous, scary time in your life when you had no clue what the outcome would be only to find peace. Funny thing is, we are still not sure what the outcome will be in many ways. There are still so many unknowns right now, but I have peace.
When I look back I see God had and has a huge hand in this thing called life and when I finally surrendered to Him and truly let go I started breathing again. I started living and I have not stopped.
Was it easy? Hell no!
Did I feel alone? Yes, at times I did.
Was I scared? Scared to the point of being frozen sometimes.
I remember friends coming over and feeding my kids and darn near forcing a chip with guacamole down my throat to get some kind of nutrition in me. I was frozen.
I don’t think I danced for two solid weeks, which anyone who knows me knows is not normal.
I stayed in bed for 8 solid days only to come down stairs and get on the couch to get under the covers just so I could hide.
I think the last time I hid under covers was when I was down with pneumonia and the time before that was when we lost our baby.
Even when my mom died I got out of bed. It was a very dark time here in 2018 and 2019. But as I look back I can 100 percent say to you I would do it again to get to the miracles we have experienced.
Why do I tell you this?
Because I know so many people who are suffering right now.
How do I know this?
Well, some of you share your stories.
Some I see on your faces…you don’t have to say anything. I see me, four years ago in your face, and truth be known I see pain.
Some I hear from friends.
Some I see on TV….the sad truth is….The world has pain. That is just reality.
AND…
We saw pain with our Savior Jesus! Jesus had pain.
His friends betrayed him. He was poor. He was gossiped about. People did not believe him. They mocked him. And they crucified him on the cross. They nailed his flesh and bone to the cross AFTER they drug him through the dirt and spit on him. Throwing rocks at him and laughing at him. That my friends sounds like pain. Emotional and physical.
These past years I realized that is why HE CAME!
To lead the way for me and for you through the painful times we have experienced. To bring us closer to Him in the pain and suffering and when we learn to endure it….We learn to run with him! BUT first we have to learn to surrender to the suffering AND to the joy AND to ALL that He has for you and for me!!!!!
This is hard! Surrendering is hard. To surrender is uncomfortable. It goes against what the world says. The world has us thinking we can be in control of it all….if we work hard enough, hustle long enough, and push and fight until you have it.
But…
The minute you surrender….the minute you truly surrender you will have a spiritual awakening like never before.
I promise you this. I will also make this promise to you…..
Surrendering is a daily, sometimes minute to minute deal. It does not happen just once. You have to work at it every day.
How do I know this?
Because some days I fail at surrendering. Somedays, I think I know what is best and how things should go and I move back into my manipulating, hustling, and controlling ways. Want to know what happens then? Chaos, confusion, exhaustion, sometimes pain, and it is never good.
So how do you begin to surrender?
For me it starts every morning with some quiet time. I get up one hour earlier than anyone else in my family. I get my coffee and I sit with God. On days when I do not do this, well, those are the days I am less at peace. It is funny….days I get up, sit in quiet with God and really get still and surrender to Him….no matter what Satan throws at me, I feel more at peace…..
So I will ask you this, “Is it odd or is it God?”
Why don’t you try it for a month…
Get up before the rest of your family. Sit in the quiet and have a cup of coffee with God and watch what happens!
I dare you and I know God yearns for you too!
Until Next Time,
XO,
Amy
aka~Worthy
July Book Review
It’s been a while since we have done this…
Today I have two reviews and I am happy to report they are both awesome! One is a doozy and the other is….well, honestly the other is too! Both of them have catty gals who you just want to choke out and wonder if people really act like this….sadly I think there really might be people like this in the world….So we learn from our characters here how not to be and how to handle these nasty people.
First up…If you are looking for an easy, quick, brain-less read, that will leave you laughing and cringing. I have the book!
Wolves in Chic Clothing by Carrie Karasyov
Yall, this book was shallow, funny, entertaining, and honestly had me thinking….hmmm…I wonder if this is reality in the upper class. Because sister, if it is….WOWZA!
There were tons of shallow remarks like, “Rule number one: tight lips, tight hips, tight ships.”
What does that even mean?
I think the theme of the book is exactly what it means:
This story takes place in a high end department store owned by a very wealthy family. The daughter is part of the “golden ovary club” and literally runs the marketing and philanthropy for the company. She lives by the motto, “Rule number one: tight lips, tight hips, tight ships.” with her teammates AND her close knit friend group.
Tight lips-no gossiping
Tight hips-no overweight or big hips (wait until you have children honey!)
Tight ships-everyone works well together
But the tight lips…ya, that does not really happen and honestly reading this book showed me how shallow women who gossip are. And YOURS TRULY here is guilty. But, after reading this book, I am going to lock that nonsense up. It is not appealing and it only leads to hurt hearts and friendships. But, it is funny to read it and watch the train wreck as it unfolds. And that is exactly what happens in this book.
This train starts out slow and speeds up quickly. Before you know it, well it is headed for disaster!
But in true form, this author does an incredible job of showing how we all make mistakes. It is what you do with the mistake afterwards that matters. If you learn from it and grow, bravo, if you do not….well…that is on you and you may find yourself on a train to nowhere.
In a nutshell this book is quick, easy, cute, funny, and entertaining. So if you find yourself going on a little weekend, get away or heading to the beach, grab it. It will have you laughing and cringing, but cringing because wow, the elite may have a lot of money, but it shows money ain’t everything kid!
Grab your copy here and tell me what you think!
Next up Is Kristan Higgins Out of the Clear Blue Sky….Great read that has a great story line, but if I am being honest my heart hurts for our main character Lillie, but only for a bit! Good overcomes in the end!
The story starts out with what seems like a typical family of three. Life is tooling along and everything seems to be going great and out of the clear blue sky something or someone throws a wrench at this sweet family.
Before you know it, Lillie finds her picture perfect life upside down and she is having to hold it all in and together for her kiddo. I am not sure I agree with how Lillie and Bradzilla (her awful husband) handled the situation with their kid, but in true form, everything works out, it just is sticky for a while.
Along the journey, Lillie discovers who she is and that she is a lot stronger than she thinks. The really cool thing is, once Lillie rediscovers who she is….Out of the clear blue sky something wonderful happens!
Super fun, easy to read, lots of laughter, with a cute little Cape Cod setting…the perfect recipe for a summer book read!
Grab Yours Here!
Until Next Time,
XO,
Worthy
Wednesday's Worthy Word
Here is a crazy thought for you today:
You will watch an entire Netflix series EVEN if and when the first episodes drag on and on and on….
WHY?
Because someone told you “Don’t worry, it gets better! I promise”
THINK ABOUT THAT….
Now let’s apply this to your life.
What if you looked at your goals the same way and watched your life get better?
These goals…these dreams….they may be dragging on and on….BUT
IT WILL GET BETTER! I PROMISE!
Sister….the cost of not believing in YOU….well, that is just to high! And I promise you this….you have so much more to offer than Netflix!!!
You my friend are Worthy!!!!
XOXOXO,
Amy
aka~Worthy
Pain, Pain...Let's Get You Out of that Pain!!!!
Last week I left off introducing you guys to the idea that:
Pain 100% of the time is produced by the brain and if this pain becomes chronic, you have an issue with your connective tissue!
We started looking at what the connective tissue is, what it does, and how we need this architectural matrix of fluid functioning efficiently. When it is not, that is when we experience the pain.
When there is pain and we do nothing about it, the connective tissue, (the hair net I described last week) is fluid based like a river. Think of it as a one huge hair net underneath your skin. This hair net is like a river with fluid running through your body. When we do nothing with the pre-pain signal, sediment is accumulating in that river and doing nothing about it, well it settles in and before you know it you hear joints cracking, you are constantly having to adjust yourself, you’re stiff, tight…bottom line, you have pain!
It’s like a back up of sorts and we all know back ups in plumbing systems wreak havoc and back ups in rivers bring dried out, dehydrated river beds. It is the same with your body.
When this back up happens we either ignore it or do something like pop an Advil, which either case can cause bigger problems…more on that at a later date.
So these signals are coming from our nervous system and our nervous system is literally relying on our connective tissue (the hair net)…when the connective tissue is in trouble our nervous system cannot manage issues like it was made to do.
Pain happens, stuck stress happens, and this will literally exhaust your nervous system if we do nothing about it.
Why?
Because it will have to work harder and harder and harder. The more exhausted your nervous system becomes, well, you might see issues like:
Trouble digesting food
Mid day exhaustion
Insomnia
Cannot fall asleep
Getting up to pee in the middle of the night
These are all symptoms that your nervous system is working really hard.
If we ignore them a cascade of problems happen;
Pain
Chronic pain
Sudden Pain
Aging process speeds up
Sleep issues
And much more
AND
If you are having sleep issues…wow! What can happen is wild! I could probably do a chapter in a book on that, but the most important point here is:
Sleep is where cellular repair is happening. No sleep, no repair….
I know this all feels like bad news, but I do have good news!
GOOD NEWS! GOOD NEWS! GOOD NEWS!
You can treat yourself and your connective tissue which is the missing link to optimal health in my opinion.
AND
I can teach you all of this! By using the 4 R’s of Melt,
Reconnect, Rebalance, Rehydrate, and Release
I can teach you how to identify what stuck stress is, what it is doing, and where it is living in your body so you can address it before you are in pain or worse chronic pain.
WHAT ARE THE 4 R’s OF MELT
Reconnect is just what it sounds like: I will teach you how to use body sense and reconnect with your body.
Rebalance is a beautiful 10 minute sequence, it is personally Trey f’s and my favorite! In the Rebalance Sequence we are literally helping your nervous system and your autopilot challenge itself to help you go back into balance so your auto pilot can do what it does best. If your nervous system is working fairly well, you will feel these results immediately. I like to describe it as, “I feel like I melted into the ground like a snowman and it feels AHMAZING!”
Rehydrate is literally what it sounds like. We are learning to rehydrate the connective tissue to get it functioning efficiently. I will teach techniques called glide, shear, rinse, and really cool lengthening techniques that look like stretching but it is not stretching it is you literally lengthening your fascia. So cool and so relaxing.
Last is Release- We will release your neck and low back and oh my goodness it is exactly what it sounds like. A release that is I don’t know how to explain it other than heavenly!
What you find really odd at first is if you tell me you have neck pain I will say great, let’s start with your feet and hands. We don’t go to the source of the pain and we never land on the pain. We go above or below it. I know this sounds wild, but it works! I am living proof of it and honestly so is my family!
SO……
If any of this has piqued your interest all you have to do is email me at amy@worthyheart.com and we can get you on my schedule. I can do all of this over zoom if you are not in Dallas and if you are in Dallas I can come to you or you can meet me at FBH which is a full service wellness studio who offers all kinds of modalities from Pilates, Chiro, MAT, and now MELT!!!!
So as you can see…..
I have all kinds of options and would love to chat with you and help you on your healing journey to a healthy ACTIVE PAIN FREE Life!!!!
Just shoot me an email and we will get you going! I cannot wait either! This has been a game changer for me and I just know it will be for you too!!!!!
UNTIL NEXT TIME,
Xo,
Amy
aka~Worthy
Pain, Pain, Go Away!
Have you ever thought to yourself, “I wish there was a way to get out of pain and stay out of pain?”
I know I have! The old me would just pop a pill, go to a doctor who would treat what was hurting, iron or roll the pain with a hard foam roller, beat it, red light it, do whatever I could to get out of pain!
The problem is that it is a temporary solution and some of the solutions are doing more damage than good.
What I have found in my studies with MELT is that in order to get out of pain, you have to get to the source of the pain….and sometimes the source is far away from the pain. #truestory
The truth is everyone will more than likely experience some kind of pain at some point in life.
Problem is, pain comes to us differently:
Injuries, accidents, surgery, illness, emotional pain, heartbreak, and the list goes on and on.
When we experience pain, whether emotional or physical, our brain literally sends a signal to our body saying:
“Something is not right here! Take Action!”
In a sense, that is a good thing because if we listen then we rest, maybe elevate the injury, ice it, pop an Advil, wrap it, nurture it by talking through it, if it is emotional, the point is; if we listen we take action.
We hear “Time Heals All Wounds.”
The question is, “But how come sometimes pain comes and goes, sometimes it just stays, and other times it comes on abruptly out of nowhere!”
What do I mean by that? Have you ever woken up after a great night’s sleep to have your neck stiff and screaming at you? Or your shoulder feels as if you tore your rotator cuff? Ya, that’s what I am talking about….that feeling of, “Are you kidding me, as we age we injure ourselves in our sleep!?” Anyone know what I am talking about? Not fun!
Our brain sits there racking itself wondering how the heck did this happen, why did this happen, and why won’t this pain go away for Pete’s Sake!?
Here is the deal…I learned this from THE BEST TEACHER EVER!
Pain 100% of the time is produced by the brain and if this pain becomes chronic, you have an issue with your connective tissue!
Problem is most of us, myself included until recently, have zero clue what the connective tissue is and the problem with that is that we do not understand we can actively, on our own, treat the connective tissue to get out of pain! Yes, you can learn to heal yourself!
But… we have to understand what the Connective Tissue is.
I personally like to think about it like this:
We have a hair net literally the shape of our bodies that is holding everything in place. This net is literally supporting, protecting, and stabilizing all aspects of our body. Everything from our cells, blood vessels, bones, muscles, organs, all of it!
The “hair net” is a three dimensional, fluid based, architectural matrix.
We need this “hair net” to be functioning efficiently for us to not have pain.
The problem is daily living can and will cause cellular dehydration which is the catalyst of causing pain and this pain can become chronic pain.
And whether you like it or not, we all have experienced cellular dehydration. An example of this is when you stand up after a long drive or after sitting for a long period of time….that stiffness you feel…that is literal cellular dehydration. Do you ever wake up in the morning to find your feet hurt or your joints hurt like you aged 35 years overnight…again cellular dehydration and these aches are literal pre pain signals. Think of it as your body saying to you, “Hey ___Your Name____! Your connective tissue is not doing its job and you are susceptible to joint compression.” AKA…Pain
Most people, once they start moving, the pain goes away. Awesome! Right? Unless you do nothing about it, which is what most people do! They don’t listen to the warning signs, but honestly, we have not known that we should listen to this, until now.
Now we know we need to listen.
These feelings of stiffness, tight muscles, cracking joints….these are warning signs that if we don’t listen a number of things might happen. Pain, chronic pain, accelerated aging, and so much more.
So why am I telling you all this?
Because, I am going to take you on a journey! A journey to help you prevent this, heal it, or reverse it.
What is it?
Pain, stiffness, aging, cracking, inflammation, cellulite, bunion issues, and so much more!
If you are like most Americans and fall into one of these or more…follow along….and see if MELT might be an answer for you. Lord knows it was a gift from God to me and I want to share this gift with you!
Stay tuned!
Until Next Time!
XOXOX,
Amy
aka~Worthy
Wednesday's Worthy Word
If today you are feeling insignificant may I offer the following:
If someone drinks coffee from the favorite cup you gave them~ you are remembered.
If someone hears a song on the radio that reminds them of you~ you are thought of.
If someone reads the book you recommended~ you are heard.
If someone smiles after a rough day, because they remembered the joke that you told them today~ you made an impression that stuck.
If someone loves themself a little bit more, because you gave them a compliment~ you are influential
NEVER think you have no influence whatsoever!
The trace you leave behind with every good deed, no matter how large or how small, that trace… that trace cannot be erased!
YOU ARE WORTHY!
XO,
Amy
aka~Worthy
College Bound
It’s that time of year. So many of you will be sending your kiddos off to college for the first time. I remember sending my first born, Will, like it was yesterday.
I was a mess.
We were still wearing masks, there were so many unknowns, and I was expected to send him to another state 5 hours away and be ok with it. I was not, but I got there, and you will too.
This is such an exciting time for your kiddo and for you really. What you will find is your relationship will change.
Somedays the relationship will feel more mature, some days you will be hitting your head up against a wall wondering where you went wrong, and other days you will be thinking to yourself, “I guess he just has to learn the hard way, because, I KNOW I TAUGHT HIM BETTER.”
AND
Sadly there will be those days where you are on the floor in fear and worry, but you will get through it mama and the sun will come up! I promise!
Your emotions and feelings will be all over the place. The one thing I can tell you is: If you made it to this place, the place where your kiddo is earnestly ready to leave the nest, you did good!
That was your job.
Keep them alive and get them ready to fly.
So give yourself a pat on the back and maybe do what I did. Sit down and write your child a letter. A letter from the heart. You will find it is very healing and they will go away knowing how proud you are and how loved they are. There is nothing better than those two feelings!!!!! Here is my letter to Will back in 2020. I still get choked up reading it and I still stand by all the advice given that day. So Will, if you are reading this, click here and remember what I said. LOVE YOU MOST SAID IT LAST! LYMSIL, Mom (And JP, YOU TOO! This all applies to you as well my love! And remember: Shine Bright! The Stage and The Camera need your light!!!! So does this world! IWALY)
To all my moms reading this: YOU DID GOOD AND YOU ARE WORTHY!
XO,
Amy
aka~Worthy
Macaroni and Cheese To Truffle For
I have been on a mission for quite some time!
The Mission to The BEST Macaroni and Cheese Truffled out there!
I think I nailed it!!!!!!
How about this….why don’t you try for yourself and if I did, tag me on social or leave a comment below! I will be anxiously awaiting your results!
Macaroni and Cheese Truffled!
Ingredients:
16 ounces of some sort of little noodle (elbow, bowtie, twizzly! Point is your choice!)
2-4 tsp truffle oil (I may have used a little more)
6 Tablespoons unsalted butter (We love Kerry Gold over here)
1/3 cup all purpose flour
3 cups whole milk
1 cup heavy whipping cream
4 cups sharp white cheddar shredded
2 cups Gruyere cheese shredded
1 cup of parmesan shredded
1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
Salt and Pepper (Salt for the water to boil and salt and pepper for taste)
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375.
Lightly grease a large 3 to 4 quart baking dish.
In a large bowl combine your cheddar and gruyere cheeses.
Cook pasta until not quite al dente, about 1-2 minute less than the package instructions.
Drain and transfer to your pan. While the pasta is still warm, drizzle with the truffle oil and stir well.
In a large saucepan over medium-high heat melt your butter. Add the flour and paprika. Whisking until no visible flour remains. 1 to 3 minutes. Whisk in the milk, heavy cream, and a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Bring to a boil.
Remove from heat and stir in your bowl of cheese until smooth.
Pour the cheese sauce over the macaroni and stir well. Add salt and pepper per your liking. Top with as much parmesan as you like.
Bake until the top is lightly browned and the sauce is bubbly. 25 to 30 minutes.
Let sit for about 5 minutes then serve this deliciousness up!!!!!
Bon Appetit!
Amy
aka~Worthy
Wednesday's Worthy Word
Hopes and dreams always start as a seed.
A seed of thought. A word spoken to you that falls on your heart and mind. But a seed and that seed gets planted into your heart.
Seeds take time, nurturing, and love to grow.
You have to water the seed, pull weeds that are sprouting around it. Cover it from freezing temperatures.
Getting impatient will not make the seed grow faster.
What is and will be for you will show up at the right time.
Keep trusting that your planting is consistently producing, even when you don’t see it.
Give your seed time to push through the dirt.
YOUR TIME IS COMING AND YOU ARE WORTHY!!!!!!!
XO,
Amy
aka~Worthy
My Healthy Amazon Finds
It’s been a while since we have had an Amazon Finds Post
So what do you say we do a little healthy Amazon Finds!
These are some of my current faves! I am on this health journey and if you find yourself embarking on a health journey, these may serve you like that have me!
So check them out and let me know your thoughts!
First up we have my famous whip cream maker! Thanks to my friend Cathy who knows her stuff and really cares about me I invested in this little bad boy and I am so glad I did. I have whip cream in my coffee everyday and Cathy was concerned because of the ingredient carrageenan.
What is carrageenan? Carrageenan is an additive used to thicken, emulsify, and preserve foods and drinks. It's a natural ingredient that comes from red seaweed (also called Irish moss). You'll often find this ingredient in nut milks, meat products, and yogurt. And hear me it is not good.
Side effects of carrageenan are: inflammation, bloating, irritable bowel syndrome and IBD, glucose intolerance, colon cancer, and food allergies just to name a few. AND most of what I have been fighting is inflammation, which honestly is probably the number 1 side effect we are all fighting silently. So if you like whipped cream as much as I do, invest in one of these little bad boys! And literally all I put in mine is one pint of heavy cream and some vanilla for taste. No sugar, no anything, and it is so good!
Full disclosure you will need the little whip it things to make it and they do not come with it, so I have added those below. (Be careful with these though as they have been used by kids to get high)
My next find is Collagen. Since I have been studying MELT I have learned so much about our connective tissue including our joints, muscles, and bones. Collagen is super important. We do not get enough in our standard diet so I have found a way to include it in my coffee. It is delicious and creamy. So I add this to my coffee, stir it up really well, and top it off with some homemade fluffy whip cream! I get coconut, but it comes non flavored and mocha too, I bet vanilla as well!
Now, if you are anything like me you have a little sweet tooth. I have found an incredible little secret weapon and it works! MID DAY SQUARES for the win!!!!! I LOVE the chocolate and peanut butter one! You have to try these to believe it!
And last but not least my adrenal cocktail. We moms run on empty. We go, go, go, go and our adrenals are shot. This little concoction really does hydrate and heal. Try it. My recipe is: One Scoop of jigsaw, juice from one lime, coconut water and a splash of orange juice. Yall it is so good and refreshing! And WAY better for you than caffeine in the afternoon!
On days I teach dance I have found a killer electrolyte drink! It has ZERO sugar and no artificial stuff! So if you live in Texas or you work out a lot, you really should check this stuff out! It is the bomb! My favorites are the Raspberry Salt and the Watermelon Salt, but they are all really good. I can’t say I have tried the Chocolate Salt, because that just sounds terrible to me, but the others are great with the exception of the non flavor. I do not like that one at all. But you might, so give it a try!
So there are just a few of my new health secrets that have me feeling great, my skin looks great, and I am sleeping like a champ!!!!!
Happy Shopping Kids!!!!
Amy
aka~Worthy
Trey's Success on Keto
Last week I posted an incredible Keto Lasagna recipe.
First question for you is: Have you tried it?
AND
Second: What are your thoughts?
Good huh! And so easy. If you missed it, you can click here and check it out.
Today I want to talk about the Keto diet, because this recipe is keto friendly and some of you have asked, “What is the point in making lasagna if you do not have the noodles?” Old Amy would 1000 percent agree. It sounds kind of like coffee without the caffeine and I am in the camp of what’s the point if there is no caffeine? So, I totally understand if that is what you are thinking. If indeed that is what you are thinking, I would like to encourage you to, “Don’t knock it till you try it…” .Because….it is that good!
Why keto? And What is Keto?
Let’s discuss the What Keto is first.
The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, adequate-protein, low-carbohydrate mainstream dietary therapy that in medicine is used mainly to treat hard-to-control epilepsy in children. The diet forces the body to burn fats rather than carbohydrates.
Or for our purposes:
“Ketogenic” is a term for a low-carb diet (like the Atkins diet). The idea is for you to get more calories from protein and fat and less from carbohydrates. You cut back most on the carbs that are easy to digest, like sugar, soda, pastries, and white bread.
In a nutshell and pretty much how I understand it: VERY LOW to zero carbs (impossible unless you don’t eat). More than usual protein, high healthy fats, and tons of vegetables, but not just any veggies, only those lower in carbs. Yep…you heard me. Vegetables have a carb count! Wild I know and again this is why it is impossible not to incur carbs in a day…And fruit. You might as well hang fruit up because on this diet your body converts the natural sugar to a carb and fruits have a carb count. Blackberries in small amounts are safe we are finding, but again small amounts.
Let me repeat: this is my understanding of the keto diet.
So why would one do this diet? Simply put, to lose weight. Trey started this diet back in May and I am happy to report he is almost 30lbs if not more. Now, like any diet out there, it all depends on the individual. How strict you are, do you workout with it, sleep, DNA, where your starting point is versus someone else’s, and so many other factors. But, from what I have seen with Trey and my friend Cathy, it works if you do the plan. So in other words this is a good diet for male or female because from where I am sitting most diets work really quick and easy for males and honestly I don’t know the reason other than women’s bodies were made to hold fat for child bearing years and I guess that just never leaves us, but this diet works on females because I have seen it first hand in Cathy.
How it works:
When you eat less than 50 grams of carbs a day, your body eventually runs out of fuel (blood sugar) it can use quickly. This typically takes 3 to 4 days. Then you’ll start to break down protein and fat for energy, which can make you lose weight. This is called ketosis. In the beginning Trey literally peed on these sticks to ensure he was in ketosis. Any time he cheated he knew he would be thrown out of the fat burning stage of ketosis and it would take him 3 to 4 days to get back. These sticks were a huge incentive and really made him think twice before he cheated. If considering this diet, you might want to invest in these sticks to help you as well.
There is a wide range of food you can eat on Keto:
Fish and seafood, Low-carb veggies, cheese, avocados, chicken, eggs, nuts, seeds and healthy oils, plain greek yogurt and cottage cheese, and we have found all kinds of little snacks to help Trey get through times when he was starving.
Some of Trey’s snacks include: nuts, but not just any nuts. Almonds, pecans, macadamia nuts, and walnuts are all lower in carbs than cashews. He loves Italian meats wrapped in mozzarella, and Mid-Day Squares are really helpful when he has an urge for sugar. He has also discovered Keto friendly cereal on amazon that helps with those urges.
Another little tip: This cookbook has been a lifesaver, 5 ingredient keto. Easy quick recipes that pretty much the whole family will enjoy.
So as you can see, Keto is doable and there are some rescue remedies when you are really fighting to stay on track, but one of his biggest secrets is: drink water and go for a walk and see if that urge passes. It usually does!
So if you are wanting to lose weight or thinking keto might be a solution for you, try it. You might want to talk to your doctor, but I can tell you I have learned that this particular diet can help with: Alzheimer’s (feeding the brain healthy fat), PTSD (same concept as Alzheimer’s), diabetes, may improve acne, may reduce risk of certain cancers, may improve heart health, can help if you suffer from PCOS. Again, this is just stuff I have found while researching the diet, but it never hurts to ask your doctor if you suffer from any of this. I wish I had fed my father more healthy fats, but you don’t know what you don’t know. So do some research, see if keto is for you and remember…
YOU ARE WORTHY!
UNTIL NEXT TIME,
XO,
Amy
aka~Worthy
Wednesday's Worthy Word
Vera Wang made her first wedding dress at 40.
Rodney Dangerfield’s break in standup came at 46.
Julia Child’s first cookbook at 49.
Sam Walton opened his first Wal-Mart at 44.
Ray Kroc’s first Mickey D’s (aka McDonalds) was set up when he was 52.
Duncan Hines introduced his cakes at 73.
What’s the point?
IT IS NEVER TO LATE!
Not sure who needs to hear this today…but it is never too late! Don’t give up on that dream!
Did you know Henry Ford established his first car company in 1899 at the age of 36, however, it went broke within two years. It was on his third attempt to set up a car company that he was finally successful in 1903, and his big breakthrough was in 1908 when he was 44! Don’t give up and it is not to late! Keep going! Keep moving forward! Use the mantra:
I am moving exclusively forward!!!!
You got this!!!!! And…..
YOU ARE WORTHY!
XO,
Amy
aka~Worthy