I marvel at how the worst thing ever can easily turn into a blessing. Take for example the other day when I flew home from a sweet lil’ visit in Maine. My luggage didn’t make it home with me. At first I was freaking out. 

This week I’ve taken the challenge to avoid using flush toilets. In fact, I’m bathing in the lake instead of a shower and only using the (spring water) tap for brushing my teeth.

Why? It feels like the right thing to do. Some people take a vacation and go to all-inclusives for a week. I decided to give Mama E a break and be as nice to her as I possibly can.

It dawned on me sometime ago that shitting into water that’s taken in pipes to a plant where it’s “cleaned” and then put back into the eco system or recycled for another round of use is just ludicrous. The “grey water” situation is just as heinous, especially when we consider all the chemicals spilled down the sink. Drain-o anyone? Ugh.

Water is much more precious than they way we treat it. All water. Perhaps composting toilets aren’t practical to have in every building….and perhaps that’s the way we’ve cultivated our society – to flush things away instead of dealing with them and using our waste to make things grow.

Is there a metaphor in there somewhere?

For example, is our shortsightedness with water impeding some sort of epic high-rise architecture/engineering that allows us to poop and feed our plants and heat or power our buildings? Who knows? I’m no architect or engineer.

I have however witnessed countless examples of human ingenuity and I KNOW there are way better ways to do things that would improve the quality of our lives, in general AND specifically with water.

This is the obvious statement of the year.

An entire industry could be created with true waste management. And I’d bet that if we had to deal with our poo instead of flushing it away we’d be more mindful of what and how much we consume.

For me, I’ve come to a place where I’d prefer to poop in a composting toilet, and pee in the woods. That  makes sense. Obviously not always practical. But I know it’s my preference.

And I’d rather clean myself in a beautiful lake or a invigorating stream. It’s a preference, and again not always practical.

Let me tell you though. I can guarantee myself the best hair day ever when I let nature’s structured water get ahold of it. And that makes me very happy.

Pictured above: Gorgeous spirally lake tendrils.

Today I woke up and was instantly propelled into a work out. I wasn’t working out though….I was filming segments for David Wolfe. It was great, because even though I didn’t get the thigh tone-age that comes with actually doing a workout, I was the quiet observer of very intense moments.

Hearing Genesis Sunfire, David’s personal trainer, say things like “you’re probably going to get angry. You’re likely to experience sharp emotions as you blow past your thresholds. Be okay with this. This is normal. It’s part of the training.” I was wondering what the heck was going to happen.

What followed were the completion of very simple exercises; within minutes David did a total of five different exercises, to exhaustion.

Five minutes of:
-Push ups
-Sit-up twists
-Squats

15-20 minutes of:
Walking with a piggybacker on board
Walking with someone on your back FireMan style.

(Alternatively, speed walking as fast as you can possibly go for 15 minutes is an option for those who aren’t working out with someone else, or if your upper body strength isn’t developed enough for carrying someone. Let’s be reasonable here! ).

Cues that I heard during this whole process included:

-When you start to slow down, speed up
-As it gets harder, consciously relax
-Practice being uncomfortable daily

This is how we develop our willpower. This is how we train ourselves to we can be in service to the planet and those who inhabit it.

This seemingly innocuous workout was plum full of useful lessons and mind-body-spirit training. This is not about fitness at all. It’s about enlightenment.

Later I went for a run and applied these principals to my workout: When I felt like like stopping I went faster…when the huffing and puffing was getting close to unbearable I did my best to consciously relax. I definitely felt uncomfortable. I’ve definitely been “more fit” in my life, and the snakes I heard under the long grasses i was running on made my heart race even more.

I really received a good snap shot of my physical strength, fitness level & will power today, and feel tuned into how I can improve these aspect of myself….which very likely will help me evolve as a person.

What if I can transcend my ‘stopping points’? What if the point where I stop is miles from where it is now? What if I get there way faster? What happens then? I don’t know….and suddenly I’m getting really excited!

I want to be someone who can help others in every way I can: whether it’s listening to someone process their emotions, or assisting a host throw a great party or pulling someone from the rubble. All important superhero skills.

So here I am at the edge of something great, equipped with life changing principals. I’ll keep you posted on how this training goes….

Pictured above: Genesis demo-ing and advanced version of twists.

For those of us that are committed to thriving, the Superherb food group is one that gets a lot of attention.

Yes, Superherbs are a food category in and of itself.

Superherbs are potent, powerful mineral dense, tonic, adaptogenic substances that don’t have any caloric value yet provide the body-mind-spirit with nutrition that far surpasses ordinary food, even if it’s high quality.

The truth is that salads and vegetables and all the finest organic foods are GREAT, but they’re not immunological.

And it’s our immune system that keeps us in a state of living the dream. If we’re illin’ at all, our immune system simply isn’t being supported fully. When is the last time you saw a chronically sick person doing what you want to do?

Superherbs build momentum in the body. Our immune system, our core energy, our daily energy, our Spirit is all amplified by the daily and consistent use of superherbs.

Sorry, but peas n carrots simply can’t hold a stick to Reishi & Chaga.

You can test it out for yourself. Commit to taking a superherb everyday for the next 1-3 years and see where you’re at. My top recommendations: Chaga Mushroom, Reishi Mushroom, Schizandra Berry, He Shou Wu, Astragulus.

With the exception of Schizandra (which is very tart), the superherbs listed above are all quite neutral tasting, can be found in easy-to-take tincture form and are a breeze to add to whatever you’re already drinking (like coffee or tea). I just love Schizandra so much that I had to include it. And yes, I am considering marrying it.

My point: Build an immunological armada overtime using the worlds most potent superherbs. The only reason to do this is because you love living life and would rather be healthy and happy than sick and depressed.

If you’re into the latter, keep doing what you’re doing and you’ll keep getting what you’re getting. If you’re into the former start googling and figure it out.

And if you’re feeling stuck then email me: krystynamcmillan@gmail.com

I add superherbs to everything, and enjoy endlessly amazing delicious food and drink. My recommendation is that you start with your adding them to your morning coffee or tea.

It’s an artform that we can cultivate within ourselves through our desire to shine.

Pictured above: last summer me & this reishi hung out everyday for weeks. Later we harvested it, dried it, and broke it into pieces and then simmered it in water to make a tea. We used this tea as the liquid base for our smoothies. Chilled reishi tea can easily be added to the most basic berry smoothie. You wouldn’t even know the difference. I swear it’s that easy.

What is one of my big wishes for the people of this planet? It’s that we become a group of thoughtful, resourceful beings who can take care of themselves. My definition of needy is when people are relying on the time and effort of others for basic things. Like something that can be Googled. 

Needy is not sexy. At all. FYI.

“How much do Goji Berries cost?” This is an example of the type of email that may come to me on a daily basis. Why didn’t this person simply type this question to Google? I am not here to do this on their behalf. I am a REALLY, REALLY busy person, who is using Google on a daily basis to answer my own questions. If, on the other hand, a person felt compelled to share a really insightful article about Goji Berries, now there is a basis of a worthwhile interaction.

In the time it took them to write me, they could have easily used a difference function on their computer to search the same information. If after that they are still confused, then an email would be appropriate. 

This is not to say that I don’t like taking care of others. I do. I love doing this from a level where I take over where they simply aren’t able. Too busy to make food for yourself? I can help you with that. Feeling overwhelmed? I am here to listen. Google can’t really help with these things….unless it’s to find a good restaurant or shrink. 

Oh Google, there you are again, effortlessly helping.

Now, I recognize that I’m a friendly, lovable person, and that perhaps some people simply want to interact with me, and I can appreciate that. What I’m putting out there to the Universe is that people really learn to become self sufficient. 

In this day and age, in these ultra busy, fast times…..we must strive to help ourselves as often as possible, and not burdening others with minutia. 

This simple act can change our interactions. Suddenly we are interacting with each other only to enhance our knowledge, not just to ask questions that are already answered.

Quite possibly: The seeds to evolution.

Image courtesy of: Abstract Thoughts

I’ve been experiencing dark nights since I came to this planet. While in Iceland last week I had the pleasure of experiencing light nights…endless days strung together by a sun that hardly sets. The sky is perpetually light. It’s trippy, really…and offers a sense of timelessness. Especially when the sky is overcast it’s hard to tell whether its morning, noon or night.

Me and my homies easily stayed up until 3am…I feel like had I not been so exhausted from the month of constant travel prior to Iceland, I would have hardly slept at all while i was here. Alas, Iceland was to be a recoup for me. Sleeping in the light was great. It felt a lot like afternoon napping, complete with hearing outside sounds and zany, lucid dreams.

Last night I watched the sun set into darkness from the JFK airport on my way home from Iceland. And I felt a little sad saying goodbye to my weeklong day. It was as if I hadn’t known anything else. Later, after I landed in SFO, I felt a little bummed out. I didn’t even notice that I had crossed the Golden Gate Bridge! Perhaps this is part of the adjustment that comes with experiencing regular darkness once again.

I’d love to go back to Iceland again at this time of year with minimal plans, and just park myself in the great outdoors near a hot spring and lose track of time and myself. Just be. Seems like a sweet little human experiment. What kind of musings could come from that experience?

Let there be light this night.

Above: My homie Avocado shows the time on his phone: 12:28 am.

I don’t want to say that I’m an airhead. I could be more prudent when it comes to planning. I suppose I try to plan.

Back in April, for example, I was thinking about how much I wanted to go to Iceland. When I was packing to leave Ontario I looked at my international power adapter, and then was like Meh, I don’t want to carry that around. So, its not like I didn’t think about it….I just didn’t think that it would be necessary when I got here. Although apparently the library of books I brought is way more practical. Not.

Anyway, in a way, I was correct. I’ve been here in Iceland for many days now, and have managed to keep my apparatus’s charged quite effortlessly without an adapter, AND without infringing on other peoples charge time . I’m grateful that I roll with endless circles of Mac & iPhone users. No matter where I’m at, whether Peru or Iceland or good ole LA, everyone uses Apple….so that makes it easy.

Whenever I’m challenged by some sort of perceived short coming or inadequacy, my brain immediately jumps to: how can I make this work anyway? I appreciate that I’m wired this way.

Here’s what I’ve realized: I don’t need an adapter to charge my computer when I’m in a foreign country or a lot of money to enjoy myself. That’s one thing I’ve realized. I just need to be resourceful.

There is always someone who can help. Or an adapter not being used. And the funnest things to do often don’t really cost that much. Mother nature provides.

Enjoying oneself no matter what is also a superhero skill. Sure, it would be cool to get in a helicopter and get airlifted to a  glacier for an afternoon picnic with an Icelandic Hottie, and perhaps that will happen tomorrow.

Hiking through nearby mountains, enjoying dips in wild hot springs and ice cold lakes, walking the streets of Reyjkavik and enjoying al the styles & sights. It’s all really fun. And doesn’t cost that much unless I really want to spend money. I enjoy the freedom of travel in this respect.

And here’s another thing: I’m open to the flow of not working, of not eating when I’m hungry, of not being comfortable every second. And usually, just when things seem like they could definitely be better, BOOM. A rainbow shines through, along with everything I need in the moment.

My point of this whole schpeel is to notice and cultivate our adaptability skills. It’s basically the best skill a person can have, likely because it encompasses multiple talents. Getting to a place where it’s literally all good, even when it’s not ideal, or even when it’s shitty, is a great way to swim the current of life.

When you’re aware, yet not phased, that’s where super power comes from. It’s really that simple.

I’ve recently become a dedicated journal keeper. The last time I went to see a psychic I didn’t get any profoundly accurate info (haha), although one nugget stood out in my notes. “Make sure you keep a journal when you’re in Peru”, she said.

And so I did. I started in when I was in line at Peruvian Customs and lovely gal I had seen in another airport line in Mexico City gave me a download of all the sweet spots of Cusco.

(I actually didn’t reference that information ONCE while I was in Peru. When I was back in Canada I noticed I had visited 90% of her suggestions…..just through referrals and synchronicities).

Anyway, I journaled everyday while I was in Peru. I would say that it saved me. A love interest that went sour, a culture of wonder, shamanic medicines and working all the way through…there was a lot for this body-mind-spirit to process in the month that I was there.

When I came home I began reading The Artists Way, an emotional process that was developed for artists which consists of the daily practice of free hand writing three pages first thing in the morning. It’s a way of getting that morning subconscious out on paper so that it’s not taking up precious real estate in your working mind.

As this gets dumped everyday onto paper, it frees up emotional space in which creativity seems to flourish. Countless people have used this process as a way to free themselves from the shackles of tedium. People have become famous from undergoing this process. It’s kind of a big deal.

And thus began and new practice of gettin’ up and writin’. Sometime’s it really fucking hard. And I do it anyway.

Knowing how the act of writing kept me same in Peru keeps me doing it. And learning that it could actually be the key to all of my goals and dreams keeps me doing it.

Aho

I’ve come to a point in my life when I’m DONE with stressing over money. It seems that even when I’m flush my mind creates lack. What the hell?

And just making ends meet blows too. Did I really sign up for this?

Now that I’m over it, I’m completely open to doing whatever it takes to transport from that bullshit to a place where I rule money. That’s right, money. I RULE YOU. Not the other way around.

I’ve read a book recently that’s has some interesting insights. Nothing new here…I think it’s the presented grouping of information combined with me being absolutely OVER my habituated, non-serving fucked up financial status quo. Perhaps that’s all it takes. At this point, I’m open to anything.

The Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity: A Simple Guide to Unlimited Abundance
by Edwene Gaines outlines four ways of being to invite in unlimited abundance. They are: Tithing & Giving, Setting Clearcut Goals, Forgiveness & Worthiness, & Finding your Divine purpose.

This is where it starts. Of course all of this culminates in taking bold, strategic action.

Besides tithing 10% of all the money that comes my way, which frankly is “not in my budget”, I’ve been reviewing my goals twice a day.

I’ve never been so in tune with what I want. This is great news. And back to the tithing: I think the psychological leap of faith it takes to do that is just the mindfuck I need to get over my literal ‘poor thinking’. Sayonara to those thoughts. I don’t need you anymore.

 And thus begins a great self experiment. We’ll see what my life will be like in six months. Stay tuned.

If I’m eating some that “annoys me” 9 times out of 10 I’m eating something that isn’t serving my proverbial higher self. I would posture, for example, that subconscious knows when food is lacking in the quality department by this reaction alone.

Taking all variables of our food into consideration, where diet really comes to is: does this food make me happy? When we reflect at how food affects all aspects of our lives, including health, and how food affects how we feel because of it….then we know where to go with our diets.

Eating a Twinkie, for example, might make your mind happy, but does it make your body happy? What about your soul? Is your soul calling for the Twinkie? Let’s be real with ourselves.

True happy food makes us happy in all realms of our Selves. It nourishes our mind-body-spirit. If it doesn’t feed one of those human elements, that can we honestly call it happy food? I think not.

Anyway, this attitude brings super-awareness to the eating process. When we eat with awareness, it’s really challenging to EAT CRAP, it’s hard to binge eat, or starve ourselves, etc. When we eat with awareness we get what we need from food to thrive.