The Anne Report, Summer Cues, talks about hints of encouragement for new summertime activities. The Main article, The Power of New, explains the value of "the new" in helping us stay in the present moment. The Healthy Living article, Nuts to You, shows some benefits and how-to's of soaked and dehydrated nuts. The Anne Talk is Anne's video, Words Make A Difference. The Featured Product this month highlights Anne's Four Books. Click to read What is EZosophy? Click here to learn about Anne's newest book, Words Make a Difference.

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

Living EZosophy, May 30, 2017
Published Weekly on Tuesday Mornings

Phone: 281-419-1775
Email: anne@annegillis.com

Anne's Websites:

  The Anne Report

Summer Cues

Dear ,

It's moving into the summer where I live. It's called the Deep South by some, but many Texans don't consider themselves Southerners. They think Texas is an independent nation and speak of the Texas land as if it were the Garden of the Gods. Unfortunately, I think the garden shuts down in the summer. The high temperatures would squash a little squash!

We are home for a couple of weeks and it is a luxury to be in one place for a while. I am working on a new book, or maybe I should say booklet, The Living Book. The last book was so long I wanted to be able to complete something and move on. This was another accidental book. I woke up one morning with the thought, "Why don't you write a living book?" After a few days of listening to this intuitive nag, I grabbed my pen and started writing. The words slid onto the paper. I write better by hand, but getting the text from my notebook to the computer was interesting. I used voice to text, and the translation produced some funny content.

I'm good with funny. That's why I'm called "The Minister of Mirth." I made that up, that title, but when I put that in my bio, I am introduced as The Minister of Mirth. It works. Be your own advocate. I think it is fair to do that. I am a minister, and I can be quite funny.

Here's my theme song: Happy Mirth Day. Sing it to the tune of the Happy Birthday song.

Happy Mirth Day to you. Happy Mirth Day to you. Happy Mirth Day everybody, Happy Mirth Day to you.

That's it for the Anne report.

Anne

  Main Article

The Power of New

We all love new things. When we get a new car, we marvel at its color, sleekness, or personal appeal. It takes weeks or even months for the glow to wear off. Even the newness of rearranging the furniture in the den or bedroom can bring pleasure. There's something unspeakable, fresh, and joyful about something new. New concepts are exciting. Yesterday I wrote a song. It's the first song I've written that included the lyrics and the melody. I have written many lyrics to others' melodies, but this was my own. What a rush, to bring something new to light. I was absorbed in the process and keenly aware of a deep connectedness of everything.

What is this new? Is it about creation, bringing something into being, or perhaps just bringing something into our lives that brings more ease and delight? While there is a dark side to newness, always needing something new to bring a thrill or to end boredom, new can mean much more. What would it be like to come into each moment with a newness or a freshness, a not knowing? What could present itself if our mind weren't full of concepts and the belief that we already knew?

Can you remember when you first met your mate or a good friend? There were so many things to discover about him or her. You excitedly anticipated your next meeting. When you finally met, your mind was open. There was never the old "been there, done that attitude (BTDT)" That BTDT outlook obscures the present. It not only pigeonholes people, it defines our relationship with life.

We think we know the moment; therefore we overlook it. We have no intimacy with the present, as we hold court with the past. Not only do we hold past events in mind, we clasp worn out beliefs of the past that hold the moment hostage. We step into life with a prove yourself stance. Can you imagine asking a 4-carat diamond to prove that diamonds are valuable? How could a diamond do that? Why would we demand it do so? Most people would already know that diamonds are valuable.

Some people already know that life itself is valuable, but most people don't. They think life is ordinary and finite. They live within the lines of life, oblivious to its brilliance. The Japanese word shoshin means beginner's mind. Suzuki reminds us that "In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few." The beginner's mind is an open mind, an empty mind. The beginner's mind is expressed in the Power of New. Each moment, each instant, and especially the right now, provides a gateway into something new, and that Power of New is like a looking glass into the greatness of being.

What can we do to cultivate shoshin? How can we relate to the Power of New?

• Suzuki tells us, "Do not try to stop your thinking. Let it stop by itself. If something comes into your mind, let it come in, and let it go out. It will not stay long. When you try to stop your thinking, it means you are bothered by it. Do not be bothered by anything. It appears as if something comes from outside your mind, but actually it is only the waves of your mind, and if you are not bothered by the waves, gradually they will become calmer and calmer."
• When you meet a friend or loved one, take a fresh look. Allow them to be different. Really listen to see if they are saying something you've been missing. Imagine this is the first time you've seen them. Hit the refresh button on your mental computer.
• Develop an awareness of your physical bodily sensations, such as the in and out breath. Listen for the noises in your environment. Notice the contrasts of light and dark. Feel the pressure on the bottom of your feet, the movement of your clothing on your body. Allow the senses to be observers of life rather than the generators of the information we use to define and limit life.

We don't need to take refresher courses; we need to take fresher courses. We don't need to bone up on what we've forgotten; we need to behold what we have. The Power of New can't be taught. The suggestions above are signposts to direct us away from the stronghold that old memories and decisions hold over our present moment. We are mental prisoners living in an unlocked cell, and it's time for a jail break. Are you in? Let me know, because I'm headed out of prison, and if you're in, I know our lives can be EZier and EZier.

Anne

  Quotes

Quotes

"Many of us tend to walk through life half asleep, numbed at times, if not actually deadened to the exquisite order that surrounds us. But a trail of clues has been preserved."
-- Scott Olsen

"We think that what happens is the most interesting, important, and relevant thing, about the moment, when what makes the moment substantial and pertinent is the awareness of what happens. Even the thinking is not important; it's what brings thinking forth that is of value."
-- Anne Sermons Gillis

"This is the book of life. It invites you to fully live in the moment. It is not about living tomorrow or making a difference, because who you are is already making a difference, just by the nature of being your individual, energetic signature of life. You are a part of the spiritual tapestry of being.

While your actions or behaviors are based on blessings or fear, the higher force that sources you, returns all intentions to their original of love. This force shines a light so bright that even shadows bow their head to love's great enormity."
-- Excerpted from Anne's upcoming book, The Living Book.

  Featured Product This Month

Anne's Four Books

Click here to check out Anne's newest book, Words Make A Difference, a book of affirmations, action plans, and deep insights into the human consciousness that transforms and heals the soul, the local and global community, and the planet. Travel with Gillis on a journey through deep psychology, metaphysics, and nondualism.

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  What is EZosophy?

Click the graphic above to learn about EZosophy.

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  Healthy Living

Nuts to You

I waltzed into my friend Donna's kitchen. She offered some almonds. I turned her down; then she told me that she had dehydrated them. I asked her what the process was. She told me, and my reaction was, "That's a lot of work." Her reply, "I don't know; just taste them." I grabbed a few, plopped them into my mouth, and I was a fan. The crunchy almonds were so much better than raw or roasted almonds. The great thing about dehydrating raw food is that the dehydrator heat is so low that it doesn't destroy the enzymes, like cooking does.

There are even more reasons to soak and dehydrate nuts: they have a bitter coating on them, to discourage animals from eating them. Given all the benefits of dehydrating food, I bought a dehydrator and started my drying career.

Almonds are generally pasteurized in this country. That means they were heated and no longer have active enzymes. I ordered some raw almonds from Spain, that were supposed to be unpasteurized (not heated), but it was a lot trouble, and I had to buy 30 pounds. So that plan ended after I went through the batch.

Cashews (technically a seed, not a nut) are heated as well. This is to neutralize cardol and anacardic acid, found in the shell of the cashew, which are toxic to humans. So no soaking or dehydrating is necessary, but both almonds and cashews taste pretty terrific when dehydrated.

How long to soak?

Almonds: 7 hours – Cover with water and add one to two teaspoons of sea salt

Cashews: 2 to 4 hours – Cover with water and add one to two teaspoons of sea salt

Brazil nuts: 2 hours – Cover with water and add one to two teaspoons of sea salt

Walnuts and pecans: 7 hours – Cover with water and add one to two teaspoons of sea salt

Drain your soaked nuts and dehydrate for 12 to 24 hours. Before I had a dehydrator, I would turn the oven on the lowest setting, then put the nuts in and let them sit until they were crunchy. I would turn the oven on and off so it wouldn't get too hot. I'm not sure if this killed the enzymes or not, but the nuts tasted great. This makes the nuts more digestible as well.

During the summer, I place the dehydrator outside, to keep the house cooler. It's simple to soak the nuts during the day and dehydrate them at night, or soak them during the night and dehydrate them during the day. The hardest part of the process is remembering to soak the nuts!

Hope you like these crunchy treats. Nuts to you!

If you have any healthy living tips for the newsletter, send them to me at anne@annegillis.com.

  Anne Talks

Words Make A Difference

  Anne Art

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  Anne's Schedule

All times here are Central Time
unless otherwise specified.

Sunday, July 9, 2017
Unity Circle of Light
10:30 AM Service
"The Stages of Spiritual Awakening"
Creekside Elementary School
5949 Creekside Forest Dr.
The Woodlands, TX 77379

Saturday, August 5, 2017
Workshop, 9 AM - 3 PM EDT
"Ending the Suffering Syndrome:
The EZosophy Philosophy" $45.00
5 hours LPC, CE credits for LPC
Location: "The Cottage"
122 Alicia Drive
Summerville, SC
Click Here for Registration

Friday, August 11, 2017
Workshop, 9 AM - 3 PM EDT
"Building Self Esteem and Courage"
5 hours LPC, CE credits for LPC
Location: "The Cottage"
122 Alicia Drive
Summerville, SC
Click Here for Registration

Call or Email Anne Now to Schedule Her for Your Meeting.

You may reach Anne by phone at 281-419-1775 or click the button below to contact Anne by email. Anne is also available to officiate at weddings and funerals.