Goal For The Green

     All soy starts as three beans in a pod. The beans vary in size and colors of the flowers and pods.  It is a hardy crop that grows well in temperate climates, such as the area from North Dakota to Louisiana.  In the early 1950’s the U.S. had surpassed Asia, as the leader in soybean production.  But in 2005, Brazil surpassed the U.S.

     For more than 5,ooo years the Chinese have reguarded soy as a sacred plant, along with rice wheat barley, and millet.  The soybean curd has been consumed by both peasants and royalty, as a hosehold staple. Known for its high nutitional value, it contains eight of the essential amino acids, and is the only complete plant protein.  Soy foods are a rich source of fiber, B vitamins, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids.

     In 1999, The Food and Drug Administration officially recognized the cholesterol lowering effect of soy protein.  The health claim states that 25 grams of soy protein per day may reduce the risk of heart disease. The health claim also states that most soyfoods are low in saturated and trans fat.  The American Heart Association has also recognized soyfoods role in a heart – healthy diet.

     Research also suggests that soy may also lower the risk of prostate,colon and breast cancer.  It has also been proven to be beneficial in the treatment of osteoporosis and other bone health problems.  It has also been affective in treating hot flashes in menopausal women.

     While soy is a very versatile product, there is a small percentage of the population that may be allergic. Many products in the U.S. now contain warning labels if soy is present.

Most of us set goals as an objective to achieve a desired outcome or a desired state of affairs. In today’s world, it seems that everything is “green” or “going green”.  So, why not goal green?

The thought came to me one day when I was thinking about my Mom.  She was the most organized, well planned, detail-oriented woman I have ever known.  I affectionately named her the “sticky queen.”  There were post-it notes everywhere in her house, on the fridge, on the phone, on and in her checkbook, the washer and dryer, even the bathroom mirror. I thought perhaps she couldn’t remember what she needed to do in a day. She boldly assured me that was not the case.  “If I write things down and stick it somewhere in plain sight, I’m more apt to complete the task. What I don’t finish, I move to the top of the list for the next day,” she explained.

It sounded like a good idea, but I didn’t take it to heart until about five years ago, after she passed away.  I had been one of the last of the great procrastinators, excellent at putting things off.  I always carried my thoughts, goals and plans with me in my head. I didn’t feel the need to take the time to write things down. I had even quit making New Year’s Resolutions, because most of the time I never got past January with any of them.

Mom was a well organized person because she took the time to set daily goals, and she wrote them down.  I now also write down goals, but not on sticky notes.  I’ve come to realize that if you can get in the habit of doing this, you’ll be surprised at how much you can accomplish.  It is the fact of taking the action of writing things down that creates visualization.  Visualization paints the picture in your mind of the goal or task you want to create or complete.  Post your goals in writing and with pictures on a bulletin board. Put the board in plain sight, where you can see these goals at least three times a day.  In doing this, you will notice how it helps you stay motivated.  Then watch yourself create what will become your reality.

There are many topics to cover as we strive to goal green and live a greener lifestyle. I think of green as an action and success color.  Green symbolizes earth, nature and life. Green also means go, – or in this case goal.  It is my desire that you will join me, as we set green goals to become Earth conscious, Energy smart, and optimally Healthy, just to name some of the ways to goal for the green.