Why Would Humans Want a Recession?

I find it bizarre, how humans sometimes crave bad things, in the same way that they like to watch a horror movie.

Why does it feel like some folks actually want the economy to fail? Is there a clandestine conspiracy carving out a market for a recession that they can financially profit from ?
Hmmm. Yes, there are short sellers. They are poised and waiting for the proverbial snit to hit the fan.

Yes, and then there are the political big wigs that just like to watch a political figure fall in the midst of an economic recession so that they can blame the recession on him or her.

What are your thoughts? Warren Buffett speaks well of recessions to a certain point, because his company is able to purchase more quality companies at bargain prices in an extended bear market.

How about you? Are you indifferent about the economy? Or are you relishing the tragic film noir that is an official "Economic Recession" so that you can buy  investments for cheaper prices or do some skillful short selling? Perhaps you have already predicted the next recession and already hedged against it or invested to profit from dropping share prices or rising bond rates.

Oh vey, I must admit, I find the whole unfolding drama that is our markets and economic climate to be quite compelling education and entertainment...all at once.

Well, my dear readers, be well, be well prepared, and kick up some good profits this week.

Peace.
Carla.



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Should We Only Learn from "Nice" People?

Some of the folks I have learned the most from are not what most people would call
"nice"....in fact....pretty much no one would call any of them friendly....


As someone who came from a deeply religious background, I was pretty much raised to favor teachers and mentors who were classicly "nice" and "good".

But what does an inquiring mind do, when one runs out of nice people with good information?
You go seek out the information you need from WHATEVER source that is hiding it from you.
You may have to face many nasty folks who will make it their purpose in life to hide the best information from you personally. It is personal. They don't want you to win. They don't want you to get ahead.

Life is not always gentle. Life is not always kind.
We need to grow thicker emotional hides so that we can withstand the subtle or not-so-subtle insults that modern society may throw at you or your family.

You must model that strong emotional armor that is required to succeed in today's modern work place.

Don't be afraid. You are stronger than you think. Face those obstacles and make sure you keep searching and searching and hunting down those fountains of accurate knowledge that will propel you to the next level of accomplishing your goals.

Don't forget, my dear friends, that it is vital that you formulate and write down in black and white just PRECISELY what your life goals are. Be specific and give a "completion" date that you want to reach each goal by.

Keep your list of life goals handy and recite them daily. ..out loud to yourself and to God and maybe to a trusted friend or partner if you feel you want to share your list with another humanoid.
But be very careful to never share your list of goals with someone who may mock you for your ambition or try to "knock you off of your pedestal".

You'd be surprised by  how many people are totally intimidated by people with real definite written life goals.

Goals are what separates the lost souls from the bold conquerors who accomplish incredible feats in their lives, one small step at a time.

Get started gaining the knowledge and accurate up to date information that you need in order to accomplish your goals. Be faithful to believe in yourself. Pray about your list of goals and allow God to show you any tweaking you may need to do.... to prune out anything wild from your list.

In Peaceful productivity,
Carla.


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Anton Kreil Annihilates Retail Brokers and "Trading Educators"

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I tried to post this video earlier this week, but there seemed to be a glitch. Enjoy it today.



peace,

Carla.

Tree-planting drones hope to fight deforestation

Shucks....I thought I had come up with this idea...but looks like many many other humans

already thought of combining the cool utility of free flying remote controlled drones, and the ultimate

green "fan" practice of tree planting.



From the looks of the several youtube vids that are easy to find on youtube already created for your viewing pleasure....it looks like the "tree planting drone" industry is well on it's way.

It won't be long before the whole technology will be maxed out in terms of precision and effectiveness and cost cutting measures.... Do you agree?



So, since I can't lay claim to any of the glory of marvelous green invention...I want to propose a few questions to the companies and individuals who are currently  working on tree planting drones for commercial, humanitarian, or personal reasons.



Words are free....sort of.. So I might as well spill a few.



A few questions:



1/If tree planting drones are flying around remote locations "shooting" tree bullets straight into the ground, can the drone ensure that these virtual tree "bullets" are not hitting humans or live animals on the way down?



2/ This question is inspired by some of the youtube comments I have been reading on the various

tree planting drone videos. What is the success percentage of these "tree bullets" actually surviving

out in the "wild" without any kind of supplemental irrigation of fertilizer?



3/ I heard that the cost per "tree bullet" can be as low as 30 cents U.S.

    Does that include a "natural" brand of tree seedling that is selected  based on it's natural habitat?

Or is it a possible "danger" of tree planting drones, that far too many tree seedlings of  just one kind of tree "such as a red maple" will proliferate through large swaths of the earth, thus crowding out the natural biodiversity that is "normal" in most forested areas?



4/ Will the companies that are planting trees in such a "cool....yet stealthy" manner.....are they going to obtain the proper permissions and licenses to plant these trees when it  may be difficult to enforce or trace the source of certain seedlings? Would some nefarious tree planting drones (operated by malicious humans) use these tree planting drones to, for example, plant an agressive invasive tree species into a highly prized "haute couture" crop field? Wouldn't a farmer be so distraught to find some large trees that he never personally planted suddenly popping up and taking over his dragon fruit or avocado orchards??



5/ Can we protect the 'tree planting " drone industry from those GMO seed companies that may try to monopolize this new technology for their own financial gain? Is it too late?



Well now that's enough questions for tonight. Thanks for listening by the fire.



Peace out,

Carla.

Looking Out

Chewing once again on Napoleon Hill's thought.... that "Thoughts are things".

I have the privilege to observe many people in my weekly journey. I see those who
carry the scent of success. I observe how they walk, how they sit, how they speak and when they don't.

I also see those who are losing at the game of life....how they walk, how they sit, how they speak and when they don't.

There is a huge difference between the two groups. Not an insurmountable difference, but an enormously wide gap none the less.

This gap has to do with what is going on in the mind. The mind of the successful person is not focused on the weather, or whether their neighbor raked their leaves. The mind of the successful person is chewing on the goals and strategies for the day, week, month , year. They look out with eager expectation to see how their families and fellow citizens will grow up and thrive and become productive.Their life lies in what they think about. Their thoughts are focused and refined and definite. They spend their days with mental targets, with fires to put out, with long term visions to clarify and prune. The thought life of a successful person is a mountainous adventure every day.....their thought life is verdant and productive.

The thoughts of the first group, the successful group....is like a tacit slow bite and chew.. on a high quality steak...thoughtful and delicious....a pleasure to consume. The human mind is built for challenges. God has given us all the profound ability to continuously widen our scope of thought and reason. Dr. Caroline Leaf describes how our brain's capacity is virtually limitless and capable of endless development.

And then I must also describe the opposite group. When they look out the window, they really see the rain and it depresses them. They walk the street and look at the cracks in the side walk, and utter a curse if their shoe gets caught on the lifted pavement. When they look at the clouds, they feel that the sky has chosen just to rain on them and spoil their day. They look out, but when they look out they expect the air to direct them...to tell them what to do. They look at the posters in the convenience store and spend their last dollar on "lady luck" muttering to coax her, to surprise them with a lottery win. They do not have hope in themselves, or in society or in God......but always somehow retain faith in "lady luck."

The latter group looks out the window and has no goals for the day, the week, the month , the year.
Survival is simply a symptom of their broken dreams. They are alive in the  crudest sense of what it means to be human...but have not discovered their God given powers. Perhaps at some moment many years ago...they had a  brief glimpse of their own potential....but have laid it down....like dusty leaves cluttering the drain on the street.


 I just want to say a few thoughts...a few little ideas that may assist you my brothers and sisters in life. When you look out the window at the day.....do not ask the clouds for wisdom.
do not ask the air for advice. It will not answer.

 God is not silent. He is not withholding Himself from you. But He does like to be found. You must search for God, search for wisdom....search for good ideas. That search has a face....it is the face of the Book, and many books, and many people of profound wisdom and knowledge....who are waiting to share what they know with you. But they can not share with you what you do not pursue. Pursuit has  a price tag. The price tag of pursuit is admitting that you do not know everything. The price tag of pursuit is admitting that you need something from some one else. It is not admitting defeat. It is humbly and confidently admitting that you are seeking more than what you currently have and know to be true. It is admitting that you need more. It is mustering up the courage to keep seeking for the books, data, knowledge, classes, network and contacts who will escort you to a higher level. A higher level of thought and reason.  A higher level of living.

your good ideas may not always be lofty, they may not solve world hunger or pay the college tuition for a million of your fellow citizens.....but then again....they just might. Ideas multiply...they are seeds of greatness.

your good ideas are very powerful. You are capable. You are able to do and choose to do many things today.

What are your goals? Have you written them down? Do you have your list of goals handy to be able to recite them daily?

You must, have something to move your life towards. Put it in writing. Move on.

Peace,
C.



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Will the Infrastructure of the Stock Market Remain the Same?

I assume that I am not the only person on the planet who considers this question about the future.

My question is this..... The current capitalistic system of publicly traded companies selling shares
that are then being purchased by companies and individuals..... is that going to stay the same in the next 10-100 years?

Will the ownership of common or preferred shares/etfs/bonds/mutual fund units always be the most common way to take and retain ownership of a company into the foreseeable future?

Some folks, with an unfailing enduring faith in the stock market, have planned and feel strongly that the stock market will always and indefinitely retain powerful financial value down on into the next generations of humanity.

I tend to hope that this will be true. But sometimes I can't help wondering if the nature of wealth is going to change. With technological and political changes that are in some ways inevitable and gathering momentum, will the stock market, such as it is today.... remain the best way to hold and pass along wealth to the next generation?

Will other strategies be birthed sooner rather than later, that will carry wealth a little more fluidly?
Will these strategies be more "disaster and creditor proof" than the others?
I recall listening to a bitcoin developer speak about how he was working on new
virtual "smart contracts"....that basically a company can be formed instantaneously without much human intervention, and also garner investment with little human elbow grease required.
Wouldn't it be something to be able to create a company and gather investment funding all in one  day from the comfort of your computer, in such a way that all laws and regulations would be fully satisfied? Would these "smart contracts" be so bullet proof as to be capable of carrying and multiplying wealth in the next decades and hundreds of years? Or a "smart contracts" merely a tech wizard's virtual video game that will garner money from millions of gullible computer geeks who may soon see that money disappear into the air? or shall I say the ethernet?

What do you think? Do you think that in 50 years from now, that we will still be buying and selling shares on a publicly traded stock market? Or will there be new products and technologies that open up new and improved methods of investing for our children and grandchildren?

Do you find yourself wishing and hoping that things stay the same and that your heirs can simply spend the dividends from the stocks you have given to them as an inheritance? Or do you hope that other "smarter" investment vehicles will come onto the mainstream market place to help you secure your family's financial future into the far off future?

Do tell, share what your thoughts are.
in Peaceful productivity,
C.


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The Cost of Freedom

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I am not talking about war....nor weapons in the traditional sense of weaponry...but I am talking about
trappings of the soul and mind....which bind and trip up us mere mortals...when and if we allow them to do so.

There's a verse in the bible (james 4:7) ...which encourages us to
"Resist the devil and he will flee"...

That verse, in my understanding, also applies to things which trap our minds and lives ....snares and concepts and personal policies which prevent us from living fully. Even religious rituals which may have been initially created out of sincere love and devotion, can become warped and compulsive habits which control and bite out huge chunks of time which we would otherwise use to pursue our  wonderful life goals.

We need to be in control of ourselves, and not allow rituals to rise and become dictators over our time and dedication.

If we truly want to achieve our life goals , we must be permitted by ourselves to devote 100% of our time towards these goals...without being manipulated by guilt or a sense of inordinate religiosity.

Try to do only those religious activities which add real value to your life and your honoring of God.The rest is a waste of time and a thief towards your goal setting.

Has someone ever told you how to dress, how to wear makeup and where you should go?

How did you feel when they told you these things? Did they pretend that they were advising you these ideas "for your own good"? Or was it all just a guise to control you and keep you down? Was it an attempt to try to make sure you didn't have a better life than they did? Was it an attempt to make sure you had less success or fame than they had? Were they just trying to prevent you from making them jealous?

Envy is still a monstrous giant...a sneaky rebellious reptile, which will cause even the closest relative to put a stumbling block in front of another family member just to prevent progress and slow down your path to success.

When you sit down and ponder life...... check in on the status of your progress towards the accomplishment of your life's goals, don't forget to check in in your habits. Any habits which do not carry the sweet scent of freedom, are not helpful. You and your mind and your body must have the time and emotional and spiritual freedom to work on your goals with 100% dedication. Multitasking will not do.
If loving God is supposed to give us freedom......that freedom should give us full permission to live
a joyous, challenging, adventurous and wonderfully kooky life. It should not be boring, or predictable or safe by any means. Jesus lived a life of great adventure. He was also sinless. His freedom led him to lay  down His life for us all. What a treasure. What humble freedom. What passion Jesus showed for us, in that he harnessed all the power within his personal freedom and used it to  conquer death and the grave. He overcame any negative thing that would try to steal our joy or progress.

Whatever religious activities you are personally involved, I pray that they are bringing you closer to the freedom and joyful spirit of God who birthed in you  those goals that are sooooo worth fighting for. Peace on,
Carla.

Extreme Fat Farm Experiment #1

OKOK,,,,, enough already. Time to come clean....... if I haven't blurted it out already.

The Extreme Fat Farm I operate....has how many members???
Do tell.

OK, ok.....it's really just me. I put myself into my own self orchestrated massive
Extreme Fat Farm Challenge.

The fat farm is just me and my big fat ego.
No members....other than me myself and I.

But since my readers are smarter than I am, y'all figured that out months ago no?

Sigh....feels good to be in the clear.

Ok, so now an update on the Extreme Fat Farm Experiment.( and thus it will be called from now on)

Well, so far I've convinced one other person to also jump  in her local lake too. Not my zone,but in her own local  zone's lake/bay. And I must say that I am quite surprised that someone actually took my advice at face value and tried it for herself. She said it was quite refreshing.

Have you done anything kooky lately and convinced someone else to try it too?
Did you spend many days, weeks....er months or even years trying to get someone to try that new thing you discovered?

Part of the miracle or natural wondrous power of a pure natural jump into the lake is the
massive change in temperature that quickly affects the whole body, mind and spirit.
Lakes are usually cooler rather than hot, and this cooling affect resets something in the inner core of our being.

I've written before about how Tony Robbins, ( yes THAT Tony Robbins) makes a regular habit of soaking in ice cold water before he gets going on one of his high octane conferences/seminars.
Tim Ferris is another celeb who also touts the extreme "inner reset" that occurs when you immerse your body in ice cold water. ( his own ice machine will bear testament to his extreme approval of this type of ice cold water plunge 'therapy".)

Well, that's all for now, friends. Thanks for riding with me this unruly moose called life.
Peaace.
Carla
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Jim Rohn: How to Solve Your Money Problems (Law of Attraction)

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Jim Rohn's advice as per his speech recorded at

url :https://www.youtube.com

/watch?v=RoEzKW6axfw&list=PLT4kcjC379ht4arlLwOqI408nV7P-j4bZ



It isn't about a certain amount of money or a certain accomplishment...

it's a question: Are you using the full extent of your reach?

 These are some of the questions he asks his listeners....



How far should you go?

As far as you can.



How much should you learn?

As much as you can.



How many books should you read.

As many as you can.



How much should you earn.

As much as you can.



How much should you share?

As much as you can.



What should you accomplish?

As much as you can.



What a delightful human being....this Jim Rohn.



If I am not mistaken....this is the same Jim Rohn that was Tony Robbins mentor.



Peace out,

Carla.

Extreme Fat Farm 8 No Numbers

Not gonna share the numbers yet....perhaps I will further on in this journey.
I want my family and friends to be able to read this blog years from now and see and sense the transformation.

This isn't a small journey. It  is life transforming.

i could talk about the weight loss. It has begun.

But I also know in my gut, that it is the muscle formation that is far more important than some bragger pounds of fat lost.

They...the little grey men...tell me that muscles weigh more than fat.
But the vain woman in me still wants to feel lighter...to see those measured numbers
go far below what I have carried with me for a portion of these my precious middle age years.

For a woman....of any age,....one's weight can become an unhealthy obsession.
But for others it is simply a tool to measure something to do with one's health and with one's appearance.

When I watch videos about IRON MAN competitions, I see the brilliantly lean muscle mass. I hear reports of 2% body fat.
2% body fat????

I would like to walk around and feel what it feels like to have that kind of body fat composition.
To feel what its like to trip lightly up a hundred stairs, to go for a 5 k bike ride in a few fast min.
To feel the waist of the pants I wear to rest lightly on my hips, not clinging madly to a plus size.
To tap lightly on harder abdominals....and know they can easily carry my frame into my next years.

i have discovered with glee, that the local industrial section, with huge flat parking lots, is wonderfully vacant on sundays. I can cycle for chunks of time without having to battle potholes and traffic and  staring motorists. Thx God. This new discovery is going to be a blessing.

Onward,
C.




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Extreme Fat Farm 7....Sometimes Moderation Will Not Do!

There's something else I want to write about.
Unfortunately the pressing idea has just briefly escaped me.

Oh great. I remember now.

There's this notion of boot camp.
and then there's this notion of moderation.

I have often been persuaded into the "do all things in moderation" way of living. It appeared prudent and has the appearance or illusion of calm wisdom.

But this is what I have discovered so far this summer. Sometimes moderation will not do.

Sometimes only the EXTREME will do. A MASSIVE change. A BIG step.

I have always been a big fan of baby steps, of small consistent steps in moderation to accomplish one big goal.

But the problemo with moderation....is that it's kinda hum ho...kinda dull and kinda boring.

Moderation will get you places....like a turtle, slow and steady wins the race.

But EXTREME is a heck of a lot more fun .....AND it gets you there faster!


So voila, the notion of the EXTREME FAT FARM.....where extreme notions turn into BIG ACTIONS to get obese, or overweight folks like me to take a flying leap into a freezing cold lake and just start walking. Walking and walking and walking in the cold water.

This EXTREME notion of motion in the cold water has resulted in weight loss and muscle formation and rejuvenation of emotions and mentality.

It wasn't about making some mild and gentle daily strut around the block. It was about....I am sick and tire of this crap and I am going to make  a BIG CHANGE....and NO ONE and NOTHING is going to stop me.

I had in my mind this notion of a boot camp. Where folks run hot....run fast and furious like mad for
like 1 or 2 weeks straight and transform their bodies and mentalities so that they become fit for army service.

Well, life is sometime as challenging as army service. WE neeed to have the tools to perform the service that life demands.One BIG TOOL is our physical body.

It will either be able to carry you through to accomplish your goals or it will fail you and will wind up at some diet and exercise club with some stupid monthly payment and a "gentle plan" designed by some spandex king with a condescending disgust for "older" folks.

No thankyou.  I will design my own EXTREME FAT FARM....and it will knock that sucker out of the park.

with a practical  toothy grin,
Carla.


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Extreme Fat Farm 6

Ok second post in one day. I wanted to fess us something.
These results I am getting are not only from lake walking.
A little bit of cycling has come into the picture.
Not oodles, but every now and then, my purty pink bike is doing it's  thing.

So there, it's off my chest.

Sometimes the lake walking has morphed into swimming.....sometimes not.

Sometimes the lake walking changes into a bike ride.

I am not talking IRON MAN levels yet....but hey  I have put no limits into what I am headed for.

This body was headed for middle age hell...and I just woke up one day and said....No. Not today, not me. NO!

and so I began with a giant blasted leap into a very chilly local lake and away I have gone.


Peace part 2,
Carla.


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Extreme Fat Farm 5

new beach today. new area to water walk/swim. High waves....very rocky lake bottom.
Turns out my MEC dry bag is more "water resistant, than water proof..."  because I see too many
water droplets when I unravel the folding top of the bag after swimming.

So I've invested in a waterproof small size clear cell phone bag from the same MEC. I must admit...I really just love going into that store....browsing the kayaks, the "instant meals on the run" for those who love sports and camping and adventure as much or more than I do".

The great Napoleon Hill, I think it was, talked about how "Thoughts are things" and that when you are often around people who think positively and with energetic prosperous ideas, that it affects you and how you yourself think and feel when you walk through an area. MEC has very  cool people working there, full of energy and great ideas. The customers too are like minded and understand the call of  the water.

Well, back to today's water walk. Since I  used a new area for water walking/swimming...I didn't have the same measured out area to "lap". So I just used the nearest buoys to walk/swim between.
The lake was very wavy today, so the going was slow. But I brought a trusty new floaty board with me today to help me battle the waves.

I presume that authentic lake swimmers would frown on the use of a floaty board, but alas, I don't really care. Lol.

Have you done anything wacky outside the box lately to help you reach some goals?

Sometimes, doing something extreme that other folks would call "odd" is just the ticket to the progress you are craving.

It's probably been about a month now  and I must say that......Jumping straight into a very cold lake was just the ticket for me.


Peace,
Carla.






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Extreme Fat Farm 4

The Lake was too warm today. How bizarre. How can it be that a great big lake like Lake Simcoe can actually become warm???

Perhaps there is a good side to this....that if I actually feel the water being too warm, that this might just mean that my body is becoming more acclimated, in a good way, to spending significant time in lake water.

Perhaps also, this is the first day I actually have a tiny bit of understanding what Tony Robbins and Tim Ferriss struggle with, in seeking out very icy water for ice cold baths, to shock their systems regularly into higher performance mode.

I never thought I would understand the attraction to going into ice cold water. To me it was always something to run away from. But my experience this summer with the mental and physical rejuvenation I attribute to regular walks in the cool lake water, has changed my mind.

Do you have extreme ways you use to boost you into a high performance mode?
Do share.

Peace,
Carla.

P.S. If you're looking for some entertainment that will also double as a motivational speech, try the two following biographical flicks currently on Netflix...by the names of "Kim Swims" and "The Iron Cowboy".


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Extreme Fat Farm 3

Yes yes yes....you've noticed I am not politically correct when I talk about "fat-ness".
The reason being....that yes, I have been there and done that myself....live and in living color.


I have faced almost every obstacle that any other overweight human being has or is facing.

That's why I refuse to sugar coat it....for lack of a better word.

Here are some of the obstacles that are being overcome
as the Extreme Fat Farm Challenge continues with 
Epic Lake Walks.

DISCLAIMER: This blog post, as well as any other post in this blog is  intended for conversational purposes only, not for medical advice. Please always obtain medical advice from a licensed medical practitioner. Any exercise discussed in this blog post or any other post on this blog should be approved by your medical practitioner before undertaking. Use proper water safety and supervision
when in or near lake water at all times. Use a life jacket if recommended for your condition by your doctor and/or the lifeguards.

Obstacle: When humans are overweight or obese, there are usually blood sugar control issues that creep into the state of the body. These sugar issues can dramatically impact regular daily life and also the ability or willingness to participate in hard core exercise. When an obese person has trouble with his/her body regulating it's blood sugar levels, he/she may be extremely fearful of engaging in hard exercise because he/she may rightly fear the potential for a "low blood sugar crisis".
A low blood sugar episode can  trigger a fainting spell and a mental and emotional panic while he/she scrambles to supply to his/her body the blood sugar  boost it needs as quickly as possible.
Answer:
I don't know the proper medically correct answer for this......but for me, it has worked in my favor simply to power through that fear and do the exercise anyway.....but in the gentleness of cool lake water, while trying to make sure I have a sweet snack on hand to boost the blood sugar after the hard core exercise is done....such as with a melted freezie on hand in my bag by the lake.

Obstacle: Worrying about appearances when you may have been hiding from showing your body in public for years....or at least for what seems like years.
Answer: Do it anyway. Despite what we may feel about our "imperfect" physiques.....it
really doesn't matter what any other human mutters or thinks about yours or my appearance. Let them point and stare .....let them take photos if they so choose. Be proud of your beautiful human body....no matter it's current state. God gave your body to you. Wear your body with pride. Chin up.

Lake walking can help you remold your physique to function the way you need it to ....in order to support your life's goals and dreams.



Obstacle: What to WEAR??? Nothing fits or the things that do fit are so costly.
Answer: Suck it up, buttercup. Don't ever allow your lack of fashionable fitness attire dictate whether you exercise or not. Wear whatever you have and if you have to wear your own tshirt and cut off pants into the lake to start your walks....then do so. Just make sure that you are always safe and
that your clothes are not weighing you down too much as you walk in the lake. Clothing such as tshirts and cloth shorts are still going to weigh much more when they get wet than if you wear an old bathing suit. My current fave "lake walking attire" is an old one piece bathing suit with a small tshirt over top for modesty sake. Note that it will be easier to walk in a bathing suit that is designed for being wet and functional than in any clothes made from regular fabrics.


Obstacle: People or perhaps YOU might think that walking instead of swimming in a lake in public is weird. Kinda like those folks who are "mall walkers" and strut in their joggers round and round the interior of a shopping mall before the stores open.

Answer: Well, the point is one of the BIGGEST obstacles ALL of us face whenever we try to move ahead is overcoming the fear of what other people or even ourselves may think of us if we do something that is a little out of the ordinary.

My question is this....Do you really want to waste your life being ordinary? Have you been able to accomplish you goals by doing what you think "looks cool"????
I rest my case.

Well, that's enough chit chat for now. Embrace your goals. Write them down. Speak them outloud to yourself and God six times a week. Be proud of your goals. You deserve to accomplish very  Interesting things. Your body was given to you by God to permit you to accomplish wonderful things.
Be encouraged today. Small Changes begin with little steps in a brand new direction.

Peace,
Carla.

P.S. If you're looking for some entertainment that will also double as a motivational speech, try the two following biographical flicks currently on Netflix...by the names of "Kim Swims" and
 "The Iron Cowboy".





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Extreme Fat Farm 2

If the regular "watch your diet and exercise"theme song worked for most folks, all of us would be fit and trim as star athletes. We wouldn't be running around in oversized stretch pants and XXL tshirts.
We wouldn't be hiding from bathing suits and swimming pools and muttering about the folks who actually feel good about their bodies and have good energy.

But methinks that many of us, need an Extreme Jolt to get our bodies in motion again.


Jumping in the lake...yes literally.....provides that extreme jolt and then some. The cold wakes up, and
cleanses out the cosmic dust of the day. The natural aspects are just fun distractions from the sand that clings to everyone and everything.

The other day I saw a seagull fly with a live wiggling fish in it's beak ....the sideshow was the entourage of other gulls that came to poach his dinner.  I swoosh away the floating flying ants that dot the translucent green lake path. I try not to step on anything that doesn't look like sand.

So, what's the progress so far with the fat farm?

No weight loss yet. Like as in NONE.

I told you there were no guarantees.

But here's the good part, the good and noticeable improvements:

Accumulation of new muscle tone and noticeable firming of abdominal and leg muscle area. Skin is smoother as these muscles are being used in the water in a gentle and persistent transition. Starting to feel more "put together". Energy lasts longer throughout the day with fewer energy drops in late afternoon.What was 4 lengths is now 6 lengths of the buoyed off area. There is now Less morning stiffness of both leg and feet joints.

A "high" similar to what is called "runner's high" kicks in a few hours after the lake walks.
The positive mental and physical mega boost affects everything.....the ability to problem solve,
optimism towards life and one's own physical future. An ability to handle a little bit less sleep.

The lake drops our inner core temperature to a wonderful new low. It's like a huge RESET button is hit to the metabolism. The modern motivators Tony Robbins and Tim Ferriss both are great fans
 of  dunking into freezing cold water. They loudly laud the positive effects of this temp "RESET".

Tim Ferris, if I am to understand his podcasts accurately, has installed an ice making machine in his home in order to be able to have icebaths whenever he needs that kind of "RESET". Tony Robbins jumps into very chilly water before he starts off his day to conduct one of his high powered motivational conferences.

Temperature jolts are  a new tool in my creative tool box. I  recall how being outside in winter weather often provided that jolt that created a positive mental stream, but I had really forgotten what it felt like to be in the lake and really enjoy myself.


Peace,
C.

P.S. If you're looking for some entertainment that will also double as a motivational speech, try the two following biographical flicks currently on Netflix...by the names of "Kim Swims" as well as  "The Iron Cowboy".











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I Operate an Extreme Fat Farm

I operate an Extreme Fat Farm.

These are the excuses that float or don't. You decide.

Goal: To walk four lengths of the swimming area roped off by buoys in the local lake.


Excuse: It's too cold.

Answer: That's the point.


Excuse: I can't get there.

Answer: Uber, taxi, city bus, walk, push your car downhill until it starts and jump in.


Excuse: I don't have anything to wear. I haven't worn a bathing suit in years.

Answer: here's a scissors and bring a pair of your old jeans.

Excuse: I can't swim in cut offs.

Answer: We aren't swimming yet. Just walking in water. You can do that in cutoffs and an old tshirt.

Excuse: My legs are hairy and I don't have a razor to shave with.

Answer: the Fish don't mind.

Excuse: The Fish????!

Answer: They haven't bothered me yet.

Excuse: I don't have lake shoes.

Answer:Neither do most folks around here.

Excuse: But you don't guarantee weight loss.

Answer: That's correct.

Excuse: What if I catch a cold from being wet and cold so much?

Answer: You might.

Excuse: What will people think of me jumping in the lake with my clothes on.

Answer: Good entertainment.

The end....is sometimes the beginning.

Peace,
C.


P.S. If you're looking for some entertainment that will also double as a motivational speech, try the two following biographical flicks currently on Netflix...by the names of "Kim Swims" and "The Iron Cowboy".












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Look Out! Mom's In the Lake!

I said I would do it and I did it.

I began working on my water fitness goal.

Today was a perfect day...

So I toted along my water shoes (see photo on the left) and dry bag from MEC and my trusty sunglasses
and away I went to waddle through four lengths of the swimming area roped off in my lake..

Was I shy? Yup. Was I the only one to be walking the length back and forth....ugh..yuppers.

But if you can't stand alone to start achieving your own vital goals, who do you think is going to
want to listen to what you have to say?

When you're a kid you can get away with being needy. But when you're middle age....it's downright
disgraceful not to be able to do stuff on your own two feet.

And so, today was the first day I walked four lengths in a  row of the roped off swimming area of the lake. I don't actually know how many  meters or feet it is...but perhaps I will measure it some day...or ask someone.

What excuses do you have to overcome before you take a few steps to achieving your goals?

My biggest obstacle....was what do I do with  my wallet when I am in the water?
So MEC had the answer.
MEC has a great assortment of "dry bags" which are super lightweight and waterproof.
I've only used it once so far....but yet it did keep my stuff dry and was very easy to tote around while playing in the lake.

Do you have a goal you have been postponing because of one small excuse?
Write down what that small obstacle is. Pray to God to show you the answer.
He always knows.


In Peaceful productivity,
Carla.


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Beware of Evidence Based on False Investment Assumptions

I have seen/read several "experts" or "pros" who quote
stats supporting the widespread use of  selling covered calls as a source of regular income who
keep quoting stats in a way that grinds me wrong.

When it comes to the stock market, pretty  much NOTHING is guaranteed.  Risk is something that can be "managed" but usually not entirely protected  against.

If you have an interest in options trading you may find this post  compelling.......if not you may want to skip ahead to another post.... Just sayin' ")

So, I just wanted to mention that when you look at a quote of a covered call premium that would potentially be paid to you if you sold a covered call at precisely that moment and had your bid honored and accepted and the order filled by your broker.... let's  call that "Premium X"

So....what I see happening is that "experts" who are hyping the advantages of selling covered calls for generating income are taking a brief premium quote and then blindly multiplying that to cover one year span of time, based on the FALSE assumption that this same scenario will exist identically on  a weekly or monthly basis ALL YEAR LONG. Then they face you with a toothpaste smile and say "See how high of a return you can earn just be repeating that pattern for one full year?" They try to entice you by showing you how, based on that one brief quote of "PremiumX" how you can double your money in 18-24months. But I want to ask you. Is that a fair assumption? Can you really take a random call option quote and multiply that by how many trading weeks/months are in the year and use that as a baseline income assumption?

Those kind of false assumptions do not take into account any kind of risk or volatility!!!

If you actually fall for that line of reasoning you are setting yourself up for huge potential losses.
Taking one random quote CAN NOT and SHOULD NOT be used a fair gauge of income generation from a covered call writing strategy. Covered Call writing can and may indeed bring in to your accounts a legitimate cash flow. But it depends on a multitude of very crucial factors.

Permit me to express some of these crucial factors:
1/ what is the current market climate for the underlying equity that you are attempting to write the covered call on ? Does that equity have an "up" season and a "down" season?
2/ Is there a consistent demand for options on that equity, or is the demand hard to predict?
3/ Companies sometimes go through extended years of negative  returns, which harshly impact any kind of positive uptrend in share pricing. How will your covered call writing be affected by a tanking stock price that  lasts more than a year?
4/ If the market for options dries up for a certain equity, are you willing to pivot and change your income strategy? Do you have enough funds to re-position and try options trading again, but with a new position on a different equity?
5/ Do you have an exit strategy if/when a trade takes an unexpected turn?
6/ What is the P/E ratio for the equity that you are writing covered calls on?
7/ Do you really understand the risks of trading options on really volatile equities with "unknown" fundamentals?
8/ Do you have other sources of income if/when you make an error of judgement? Even seasoned traders occasionally make a clerical error that can cause a loss in income. Seasoned traders know too well when their emotions have gotten the best of them and they know when it is time to walk away from trading for the rest of the day and start again on a new day.
9/ Do you have the wisdom to manage your positions on a regular basis? Selling options for consistent income requires managing your positions. One should not just "set it and forget it" if you want to protect your investments.

Markets ebb and flow. Prices of equities flow up and down and sideways. Sometimes they go bust.
Sometimes options prices are so volatile that even regular traders have a hard time following their movement and timing their trades in a consistently profitable pattern.

That  is why, it is not prudent or logical to  say that writing covered calls is Always a great idea based on the numbers gleaned from one random option premium plucked from one potential trade on one possible trading day.

There are a million different things that can affect your ability to get the price you want to collect for a covered call premium. There are also a million different  things that can happen to the underlying equity that you are writing your covered call on.

In some parts of life, blind optimism can be a great asset. Not so with financial matters. It always pays to be prepared for every possible scenario that can unfold in the markets and to be able to be flexible enough to adjust your strategy to take advantage of up markets, down markets, and sideways markets.

When something, especially in the financial world sounds too good to be true.....it just may be too good to be true. Don't just question the statistics that "experts" quote. Question how and when the statistics were collected. You can't just measure potential options trades based on one random happy sunny trading day. One also needs to prepare for those days when the clouds roll in and the profits are harder to find.

 Just take a closer look at what happened to most equity prices in the 2008 recession.  Big dips happen. Prices can take as many as 4 years or more to bounce back from a big dip. I am not trying to depress you. I am simply trying to suggest that we all need to prepare for the rainy seasons as well as for the days filled with sunshine.

In peaceful productivity,
.
C.


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Protecting your Personal Power

This post may be a little bit "out there".
On that note,.....if you can't relate to it...then just keep moving along and perhaps pass it on to someone who can use it.

What I want to talk about today is how one can protect one's personal power.... specifically from a woman's perspective....because that is the only perspective I can reasonably speak from.

So,  over my lifetime,thus far, I have noticed a few habits and practices which I  perceive to help people stay focused and retain their personal power in order to achieve their personal goals.
Consider one on the list....or consider all.


1/ Not eating in front of strangers. Eating in public opens you up in a way that no other activity does.
When you are going for a walk,  and bring  along a snack....you may want to wait to nibble on your snacks only when you are out of eyeshot of others who may be walking by.

Eat with those you love. You trust them. They protect you and your goals.

2/ Covering your head..... As a woman, especially if I am out in public, i have found myself to stay more focused and covered and powerful if I cover my head with some kind of hat or scarf. This also applies to when attending worship services in public. I am not saying this idea is a "must" but that I have noticed that it does have a way of protecting my personal power.

3/ Covet and protect your own decision making power by doing something unexpected and completely originating from your own set of written goals, at least once a week. It may be something unusual like walking backward while carrying weights when you go pick up the mail at the community mail box....Or it may be something very ordinary, but still "you-ish" such as painting your front yard planter in bright red. These kind of activities tell the world that you are in charge of your own destiny and that you will never back down from accomplishing your own goals in your own way and in your own time.

4/ Be ok with standing alone with your goals. This is very key. Many of us live in situations or work in work atmospheres that are not conducive  or   encouraging toward our life's goals. It is IMPERATIVE that you keep yourself on track to acheive your own written goals....NO MATTER what it takes. Take  your written list of goals with you in your wallet or purse and recite them aloud on your way to work. Or record a verbal recording on your personal cell phone of you speaking your written list of goals out loud. Listen to your list discreetly whenever is reasonable throughout your work day. Perhaps you may even have to hide in the bathroom at work just to protect a brief 60 second chunk of time in order to listen to or speak out your written list of goals. Keep your list in a handy location that you can find easily all day and every day. Protect that  list. Laminate it if you wish. I am currently storing my list in a zip lock baggy in my purse. I recite my goals every day.

5/ Protect your ears from useless public "free" media that does not help you on your journey to accomplishing your goals. What do I mean by this "free" media?
Radio....time and space wasting . Why clutter up your commute with auditory trash? Why not deliberately choose what you listen to on your way to work or other appointents? You can take audio books or take your own recordings of your fave documentaries to listen to as you travel throughout your week days.
Hack your auditory zone. Fill it with libraries full of positivity and empowerment.

TV. Although many  TV Stations are not free, especially if you pay for a hefty cable or streaming TV web service, we still need to be reminded that when we watch TV, often we are allowing the TV station managers to choose the programming that will occupy potentially huge chunks of our leisure time. You CAN manage your time. It is God's greatest gift to you.

Well that is all for now. I pray that this post will give some clarity to your efforts to protect your own personal power.

Peace,
Carla.








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FANG Stocks

So if you like the stock market, you've probably heard about the stocks known
by the acronym: FANG
which represents, if i am correct....

Facebook  (FB)
Apple        (AAPL)
Netflix       (NFLX)
Google       (GOOG)(GOOGL)


What do you think of each item on that list?
One thought I had today, is that which would you describe as predominantly an "app"?
If I really reduce each stock down to it's bare bones, I think that yes, three of the above on the list
began their economic journey's as App-based companies.... yes, software based entities.

The only company on this list that is not known predominantly as an "app" is  the company
known as "Apple". (AAPL)
Apple's brand is associated with its hardware even more than it is known for it's software. It has a beautiful blend of both in it's unique  niche market. I find it amazing to note that as of today's market close, Apple's market cap was at $946.2 billion dollars. That's almost a trillion dollar valuation. Wow.
All four companies on FANG list have multi billion dollar market caps. Incredible chunks of the worldwide economy. It is not only Americans who have vested interest in these enormous economic powerhouses....as they are a global phenomenon.

Well that's all for now. I do so enjoy just thinking aloud with you.

Peace,
Carla.


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White Noise Works for People Like Me

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Other than an irritating ad at the start of the video.....I really do love this kind of white noise.



It is for my ears, what a "fidget" is for my hands.



I don't understand the science behind it. All i know is that my mind feels more peaceful, yet occupied and when I am listening with headphones to this white noise, I feel better able to focus on my task of choice.

What kind of audio really helps you achieve maximum output when your mind feels distracted for no reason?

Do tell,
Peace,
C.

what Do I like?

I've officially reached middle age this year....and sorry I'm not gonna tell you just precisely what my age is. But with this season of life comes a need to clarify just who and what I am all about.
I have discovered that I like certain things and that also seems to deeply affect what kind of tv I watch.

I've noticed that I seem to always be attracted to big fish gleaning operations. I don't really much appreciate seeing folks catch fish for sport or even one at a time for eating.. No way....I like to watch fish being caught by the hundreds in nets or fish wheels. Sometimes I wish I was native so that I could legally use nets locally to catch fish in big numbers. A white chick like me can only legally catch fish with a rod. Sigh...

I like seeing people process huge quantities of fish...and string them up in smoke houses or drying racks. I think of the legendary Verna Oller, who was a kind of "undercover millionaire" stock market investor who made an hourly wage by filleting fish up to her 70s. ( for a glimpse of her story see :https://abcnews.go.com/WN/american-heart-secret-millionaire-helps-hometown-grave/story?id=10870876 )

   I just like seeing people store up food for the year ahead. I like seeing people being able to feed themselves or their pets with food they caught or trapped or canned. Many years ago, when I was newly married, we had an Italian neighbor who canned tomatoes in the summer. She would grind the tomatoes in a gadget in her garage. I was transfixed.

I love watching how Andy Bassich, from the show "Life Below Zero", even learned how to make his own bullets in order to lower the cost of hunting even further. He showed how he uses a gadget to fill the bullets and bend them into shape. Then he uses his homemade bullets as he hunts for dinner....for pennies.

So, I suppose it goes without saying that I adore the series now featured on Cottage Life channel
by the name of "Life Below Zero."


I like seeing people hunt down a moose or caribou that will feed their family for months. I even admire the somewhat gory task of how they clean and tan the hides ...the raw animal skins left over once they process the meat. The skins are used for clothing for vests, or blankets or rugs or for trading or earning cash on the side.
I like hearing people talk about how they love providing for their families. Humans take great pride in providing well for the needs of their loved ones. I love seeing how folks use the skills they learned from friends and family to hunt down nature's bounty and use that bounty to feed themselves without needing much for money for raw materials or supplies.

I love seeing people happy and productive and being social without a smart phone glued to their cheek. I love seeing people being patient and gentle ....taking the time, however long it may take to teach the ones they love a skill that can be passed onto the next generation.

For the very first time in my life, last year, I bought a fishing license. I caught one fish....in a whole year. Was it a bargain......nope....but it was worth every penny because I lived to tell the tail....fish tail that is.

What is it about catching a fish that so compels me? Is it a weird fear of hunger that makes me want to be able to catch dinner at a local dock? Is it my inner "coupon queen cheapskate" that feels I've won an award when I figure out how to find cheap or free food? Perhaps....but I've decided I shall not over analyze this zealotry.

It is a joy. Perhaps this year I shall buy myself a brand new fishing rod. Perhaps I will catch a shark....hmmm.... methinks that sharks don't inhabit Canadian lakes. But hey.....
a gal can dream.

Dream on kids, dream on.
c.






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