People that affect me - Peggy Seeger

This might sounds pretentious as f**k but I always wisely choose a soundtrack when I cook. I need those inspiring musical artists and bands that pick me up, throw me to the wall, punch me in the face, get the emotions or adrenaline flowing and get me back on my feet (which is usually my all time favorites the Bad Brains or Fatality). I listen to a lot of different music, everything from Hardcore to Jazz and from Reggae to Grindcore - depending on my mood. Last night I was more in the mood for Peggy Seeger. Tonight it might be KRS-One.

For those of you who don't know who she is, Peggy Seeger is an american singer/songwriter and activist (even though she doesn't call herself that), born in the city I call my second home - New York City. This wonderful woman calls the stage her battlefield and she's been fighting for justice and women's rights for decades, with her great songs. Behind her great voice is a woman tough as nails and someone that have refused to take shit from anyone who stands in her path. That's inspiration!

Her album "Heading For Home" is a fantastic album and it not only brings me to tears every time i listen to "Henry Lee", it is relaxing and makes me happy.

We'll enough of this pretentious crap. She's a great artist, "Heading for Home" is a great album and I just had to get it out of me, so have a great day everyone and keep up that PMA!

Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve

Think and Grow Rich is a book my Napoleon Hill written back in 1937 during the Great Depression. It is such an awesome book and what the writer Mr Hill means by 'rich' is not rich in money per se, but in terms of living a rich life. Some yuppie picked it up and made Napoleon Hill to the Wall Street house-God, but he's completely missed the point.

This was probably the first self-help book ever written and it's been used to inspire millions from the day it was published. I found out about it as I saw an interview with the front-man of one of my favorite bands of all time - H.R. of the Bad Brains. Bad Brains have always been a band that I can listen to whenever I feel down and they will instantly pick me up and get me back on my feet. They've got the PMA - the Positive Mental Attitude and so can you.

PMA doesn't mean that you have to be the smiling idiot standing on the deck of the Titanic as it sinks and scream "everything will be fine", but it does mean thinking positively and look for positive outcomes of every situation. I've gone through corporate bankrupcy, being broke, legal disputes and overall dealing with parasites and psychic vampires and something I learned back in 2001 when things were rough as hell was thinking positive and ALWAYS put your family first. Money, job.. don't mean shit when it comes to taking care of your family and also your closest friends.

So what does this have to do with a plant-based diet you ask? Since I started reducing and later on removing animal products from my diet, my stress tolerance have gone up and I maintain a strong positive mental attitude (PMA). Yes, I know this sounds a little funky, but it works for me so maybe it works for you too?

I can go on forever on this topic. Check this YouTube clip out. It's Napoleon Hill talking about having a positive mindset.