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Adventures in Living a Healthy Juicy Life

by Hayley Forster, guest post

I’ve had enough of being shy…

“If I had my life to live over, I’d dare to make more mistakes next time. I’d relax, I would limber up. I’d be sillier than I’ve been this trip. I’d take fewer things seriously. I’d take more chances. I’d climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I’d eat more ice cream and less beans. I’d perhaps have more actual troubles, but I’d have fewer imaginary ones.

You see, I’m one of those people who lived sensibly and sanely, hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I’ve had my moments, and if I had to do it over again, I’d have more of them. In fact, I’d try to have nothing else.

Just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day. I’ve been one of those persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat and a parachute. If I had to do it again, I’d travel lighter than I have.

If I had my life to live over, I’d start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I’d go to more dances. I’d ride more merry-go-rounds. I’d pick more daisies.”

~ Nadine Stair (age 85 at time of quote)

A very special thank you to Dr. Holly Latty-Mann for sharing this quote and to Lance Ekum for posting it on his JungleofLife blog.  - Cheryl Ragsdale

Happy Thanksgiving!

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In the spirit of thanksgiving and gratitude, we’re featuring Hayley Forster with a guest post about a very interesting little dog.   Faith is getting famous on-line because people are so curious about him.  Hayley’s story is about Jude Stringfellow, a woman who took a risk.  Jude took Faith in and cared for him with compassion when no one else wanted to. The story of Faith learning to walk on his two hind legs helps to illustrate an important lesson from my list of “51 Must-Know Habits for Staying Young – from the Inside Out” (the list is available as a free e-book, see large pink box on the top right hand side of this post for downloading instructions).

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Stay Young Habit #20:

Stop making judgments about what other people (or animals) are “supposed to be” doing or not doing.

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Faith, a Two – Legged Dog,  Walks Upright Like a Human

by Hayley Forster

What is the most important thing in your life? I think it’s the question that everyone should know the answer to. Is it your career? Is it your kids? Or is it those new Jimmy Choo shoes you bought last weekend?

I personally have two. I am a married woman and my husband means the world to me – he is the most important thing in my life. But I also have another love….. don’t worry, Pete, I haven’t met another man and neither am I about to tell the world my guilty pleasure…..

My other love is my faith.

Faith is a very unique and personal thing.  The definition of faith varies a great deal depending on who you ask. Faith, to me, is confidence and trust in a person or thing. I completely trust that anything can be done if you put your mind to it. Sheer determination and willpower will enable the unthinkable to be possible.

I was playing around on the internet the other day and found a story that encapsulated my belief. It is in fact, a story about a dog called ‘Faith’. You may have heard of him.

Faith’s Story

Faith was born on Christmas Eve 2002 with only 2 back legs. His owner did not want him and contemplated putting him to sleep. After all, what dog could survive with only 2 legs? Luckily, a lady called Jude Stringfellow met this dog and wanted to take care of him. She couldn’t see this otherwise healthy dog put to sleep because of its disability. Jude became determined to train him to walk on his own.

It was at this time he was named ‘Faith’.

At first, she placed Faith on a Surfboard so he could feel the movement.  She moved on to rewarding him with peanut butter for standing up and jumping. After 6 months, amazingly, Faith had learned to balance on his back legs, to jump and move forward. Soon after, he was able to walk around just like a human! Now, he cannot be stopped!

Faith loves to walk around the streets.  He’s fast becoming an International Super Star! Everywhere he goes, he attracts attention, which is no big surprise…

Faith has appeared on TV shows, in newspapers and even has a book published about him. Jude has given up her job to take Faith around the world to tell people his story.

His story is something we should all bear in mind. Yes, we all have crappy days and – yes – sometimes we just wish we could stay in bed, but just think of it this way…. In life there are always undesirable things, so in order to feel better you just need to look at life from another direction.

Faith shows every day the strength and wonder of life – and that the things you never thought could happen – will one day become a reality. You cannot teach determination – you have to work at it, but there is not a better reward at the end of it.

Grasp Every Opportunity!

What is the one thing in life you would regret not doing?

No one wants to leave this world without living a life they can be truly proud of.  There is a man who I have never met, but I have the utmost respect for. His name is Neil Platt.  Earlier this year my sister and I organised a Charity Ball in Neil’s name. Neil was a cousin of my sister’s friend.  This is how we became aware of Neil’s story.

Neil had been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease and throughout his illness wrote a blog until the day he died in early 2009. He was 34. These were his last words in his final blog:

“The thing about the blog is that it seems to have made many people, previously untouched and unaware of the disease, take stock of their own lives in order to grasp every opportunity that lands in their lap (if there is an opportunity that lands in someone else’s lap then go see if they’ll do you a swap) Just don’t miss any.”

Go on chase your dreams……

Give it your all……

Have faith…..

Anything is possible…

A  small request:All you are asked to do is keep  this story circulating

Please share it with your friends and family.

Share your thoughts with us.  Leave us some good comments!  Huge comment box below this post or a smaller one on the right hand side of this post.

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Hayley Forster lives in the UK. She loves traveling, her husband, Pete and going off on wild adventures.

photo credits:  google images, ThatGirlisfunny and Turk-ini

more photos of Hayley and Peter

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The “51 Must-Know Habits for Staying Young – from the Inside Out” Gift Basket Give-Away is sponsored by Genuine Health featuring healthy products for your inside and your outside. Three (3) baskets valued at $150 each!

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Genuine Health is a proud sponsor of Sustainable Oceans. For every Happy Place posted , they donate 50 cents to the David Suzuki Foundation in support of healthy fisheries and oceans. Click to post your happy place!

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