Anne's Note talks about What's Going On. The main article is the Blessings chapter from Anne's forthcoming book, Magic Words. Healthy Living gives a recipe for Breakfast Carob Mousse. The Anne Talk is Thinking is Optional. The Featured Product this month is Anne's book, Standing in the Dark.

The EZ Mantra:  "Everything can be EZ or at least EZier."  – Anne Sermons Gillis

  A Note From Anne

Dear ,

When people ask me what I’m up to, I often draw a blank. The question seems to jump at me, and even though I might have all kinds of things going on, I reply, “not too much; just the same things.” I search my mind for something interesting or funny to say and finally something surfaces to mind, such as “Oh, I am working on a new book.” Or “Jim has prostate cancer and we are dealing with that situation.” My temporary amnesia lifts and I am back in the conversation.

My husband, Jim, used to phone his daughter, when she was little, every night at bed time. He would always say, “Anything new or different going on?” I noticed she rarely responded to that question. What kind of questions put people at ease and open them into conversation? I’m looking for the right questions. Write me if you have some good conversation openers. I’m not sure why the question, “What’s going on with you?” seems to invoke that “nailed to the cross” reaction. I cringe when people ask what kind of exciting thing I’ve been doing lately. I feel as if I need to manufacture interesting content.

This spot in my newsletter is the place where I share my “What’s going on?” stuff. But just as if a friend were questioning me, I’m at a blank to come up with any news except that I’m going to Charleston at the end of the month for my grandbabies’ christening. Is that interesting news for you? Perhaps not, but that’s all I have today. No news, but here’s some sage advice. It’s a great day to make life EZier and EZier.

Anne

  A Chapter from Magic Words

The following is another excerpt from my new book, Magic Words: Affirmations, Visionary Statements, Healing and Revolutionary Thoughts for Our Personal and Collective Good. The book is in progress.

Blessings

Blessings are a form of prayers. We often think of receiving blessings from a higher power, but why not be the blesser? Make up blessing thoughts, but not to say out loud. People might commit you if you walk up to them and start blessing them out loud. It might seem presumptuous or even a little wacky to them. But using the mind to direct our thoughts in ways that bless others is an astounding way to use the mind!

Let’s be the ones who extend thoughts of infinite well-being to our friends and to the world. Consider the following blessings, then make up blessings to bless your life, your friends and family, the water, the earth, the tress, or the economy. There are no limits to the blessings you can give. Give your blessings freely to life and you will find your life opening in mysterious and enlivening ways. Blessing others and blessing situations are silent forms of giving.

• May you be peaceful, healthy, abundant, harmonious, joy-filled, and loving.
• May the light of Being keep you safe.
• May love bless you.
• May you be amused by life, turned on to contributing your part, and amazed at creation.
• May you be focused, clear, and efficient.
• May you be inquisitive and powerful.
• May you be imaginative and creative.
• May you be appreciated and cherished.
• May your needs be met and you desires be wise.
• May you know that your contribution is valuable.
• May you have extraordinary incidents of meaningful synchronicity.
• May you know yourself.
• May you get plenty of hugs and contact with wonderful, loving people.
• May peace break out on earth.
• May those who are dying at this moment be guided to the light.
• May those who are hungry be fed.
• May those who are homeless find shelter.
• May those who are in pain be comforted.
• May those who have been unkind be met with kindness so they can feel the touch of unconditional love.
• May those who cause pain be forgiven and met with infinite wisdom, peace, and comfort, and find peace in their lives.
  This does not mean that someone who kills another should not go to prison. It means that those people can find a way to peace. Peaceful people do not commit crimes, and our judgment and criticism only contributes to our emotional demise. The criminal has no idea if I am upset with him or her. Any compassion I offer to others is concurrently offered to myself. We may not be criminals, but we harbor thoughts of unworthiness and think we need punishment. Compassion undoes self-imposed guilt.
• May Anne complete her book. (A little humor, but I would like to complete it with speed, ease, comfort, and joy.)

Even though the blessings we give to others are powerful, it is our lives themselves that are the consummate blessing. May we see the blessing we are to others and receive the humility we need to keep our egos out of the picture.

Anne

  Anne Art

  Featured Product This Month

  What is EZosophy?

Click the graphic above to learn more.

NOTE: If you are viewing this on a cell phone, be sure to scroll to the right to see the other column.

  Healthy Living

Breakfast Carob Mousse

I love this dish. I adapted it from a recipe that used chocolate in lieu of carob. The recipe is lost somewhere in my recipe graveyard but I remembered the gist of it. It had few ingredients and was simple to make. What a change of pace for breakfast. It looks so decadent and is a pleasure to eat. And the recipe is very forgiving. It’s hard to mess this up. I sometimes use a whole banana, sometimes a half one. If the banana is ripe, I don’t need any sweetener; if not, I use either agave or real maple syrup.

• ½ large avocado
• ½ to 1 ripe banana (not so ripe it is brown inside)
• 2 Tablespoons of carob powder
• 1 to 2 Tablespoons of maple syrup if needed
• 1 T. cinnamon optional
• ¼ to ½ teaspoon of cayenne optional - gives it a little bite

Cacao nibs optional. I like the crunch it gives this.

Mix in a small food processor, or with an immersion blender, and if you don’t have one of those, try a fork or potato masher. Eat. This makes a great breakfast food.

Most are familiar with the health benefits of bananas and avocado, but what about carob? What does it offer?

Health Benefits of Eating Carob*

• Carob tannins contain Gallic acid that works as an analgesic, anti-allergic, antibacterial, antioxidant, antiviral, and antiseptic.
• Carob improves digestion and lowers cholesterol level in the blood.
• It is used for treating diarrhea in children and adults alike.
• Since it does not contain caffeine, carob benefits people with high blood pressure.
• Regular use of carob helps in preventing lung cancer.
• The vitamin E content in carob helps in treating cough, flu, anemia, and osteoclasis.
• The Gallic acid in carob helps in preventing and treating polio in children.
• Carob fights against osteoporosis, due to its richness in phosphorus and calcium.
• Carob pod husks are chewed by singers to clear the voice and throat.

Anne

  Anne Talks

This week's Anne Talk is Thinking is Optional. It was presented live at the Unity of Brazosport (Texas) Church in 2012.

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