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Keeping current in wellness, in and out of the water
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Adding Comedy for Balance
July 1, 2015
— 2 Comments
Earlier in the year I made a plan to provide a spa vacation to myself without leaving town this summer. My dog needs me frequently, and the heat is now upon us, so the stay in town has evolved into stay home in the air-conditioning most of the time. I am happy I had started with a plan because the dog care giving could be a depressing situation without it. She is resting most of the time without any apparent pain. I spoke to my cousin this week who is dealing with the end of life issues of her dad. This conversation reminded me how, although the loss is sad and similar, the parent care is a lot more complicated than pet care. I am lucky to have the time and means to be able to stay home with my dog to make her comfortable. I have made some changes to my original plan:
- My workout audio is a mix from Amazon Prime Music. I have added all the comedy albums available to my library. This is a great lift. As I dance around my living room in the morning I use music to inspire, but the comedy makes me laugh out loud. If you have not tried adding comedy to your exercise routine don’t knock it. I love it.
- Hulu watch list- I do Hulu every few months and then freeze my account because I already enjoy all the shows from Amazon Prime free of ads. While the subscription is active I binge on history documentaries, British detective shows, and lots of comedy. There are a few shows I think are very funny, like Moone Boy, an Irish sitcom, that I can only find on Hulu. I also really love all the stand up available. I started my month last week and am fully taking advantage of it.
What has been working well at my stay at home spa is the fun with food prep and the use of helpful apps that track my movement and pace. I started using Endomondo while I was still walking outside each morning. It uses GPS to measure distance and speed. I find that my speed dancing a mile is the same as walking outside for a mile. The fitbit has been very helpful to increase my sleep at night, even though I get up for the dog many times. I now use honey to deepen my sleep. By trying the honey method I have increased the average time I sleep each night. This is a very important aspect of keeping my mood positive. With enough movement and enough sleep I can withstand all kinds of stress.
I am also taking advantage of this time to be creative in my own kitchen. I am making new recipes and trying new techniques I have learned from the food preppers. I made refrigerator pickles for the first time. This could be a really fun little hobby as well as a tasty way to keep food from spoiling. I am also working my way through all the chilled soups that look good to me. I have time to write, read, to work on my family history, or do whatever feels good at the time. This too shall pass, but for now I am making it work and reminding myself of the comedy and creativity available to us in life.
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- strawberry gazpacho
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- pickled peppers
A Practice of Patience
June 19, 2015
— 9 Comments
1000 Voices Speak for Compassion
Some very good examples were set for me early in life by teachers in school. My high school choir director extended great praise and patience to all his students. When you think about how awful a chorus of high schoolers can sound …..most of the time, this man was a true saint to struggle through each number until we finally could sing it. He loved music, and was still willing to hear it massacred year after year, day after day. He was generally good natured, and very dapper in his fashion. He was by far the best dressed teacher we had at our school, and seemed to be the most sophisticated somehow. He was generally fun and upbeat, but insisted on discipline in class. When he was upset with us he would say “Frank, C., Elephant, Coulter never forgets an infraction.” His stern delivery of that line was always enough to handle any issue. We never actually witnessed the elephant bring up past offenses. He worked to make our roles in the choir a constant source of pride and mutual understanding. He taught us all the value of practice, precision and harmony. He was a living example of patience as virtue.
As an adult I have been very fortunate to study in person with His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet. He came to Tucson in September 1993 for a teaching on patience. That was my first introduction to the meditation practices of Tibetan Buddhism, which are complicated to say the least. I studied for a year previous to his visit to get some background and study under my belt before he arrived. He covered a lot of material and empowered us to Green Tara, all of which was new to me. The crash course was not intended to convey the entire teaching in a few days, but to instill the value of practice. Like my high school choir director, His Holiness teaches all kinds of people who have no previous experience or ability to meditate. He teaches each person and group from scratch, using the ancient texts on the Bodhisattva’s way of life. He reaches each mind according to the readiness of the student to comprehend. One question he took from an audience member was about the best way to begin a personal meditation practice. His answer was simple. He told her, “Be nice.”
Since 1993 I have made efforts to be nice, and have recognized that it is easier said than done. To transform anger into patience is the ultimate practice. If anger has no hold on your mind you are free. If what bothers you about people and life can be surmounted by a practice of patience in all things, you have reached Nirvana. This teaching, so pure, simple and true, provides a lifetime of practice. He taught us that the folks in your life who make you angry also teach you patience. They provide a special gift without which we could not become enlightened. Nipping anger in the bud, transforming it into patience, is compassion in action. Anger may be a natural sentiment, but it is helpful to nobody, least of all to the person who harbors it. Compassion is a conscious choice, starting with one’s own inner demeanor.
Each month on the 20th a round of compassion is raised here. Please join #1000Speak to add your voice to the choir.
Fitness Feedback, The Sleep Monitor
June 10, 2015
— 2 Comments
sky
The systems now available to measure and monitor health are mind blowing. This slice of health care/technology is growing more popular each day. I started using Fitbit last fall to increase my movement. It is effective motivation to see performance increase over time, complete with graphs. I recently became most interested in the sleep measuring ability of my little wrist band.
MY SLEEP LOG
As you can see I am frequently awakened during the night. My dog needs to go out and I must walk down a flight of stairs to do the task, so it does disturb my slumber. I am working this week to push back towards longer deeper sleep by using honey. Last night on the 3rd trip down with the dog I drank a shot of honey and warm milk, which seemed to work pretty well. I am also napping after lunch when possible because at that time I zonk out easily. I do not pay for the advanced membership to Fitbit that provides constant reports and comparisons to your age group in the population. However, I am taking advantage of the offer to create a one week report for free. My results will be final on Saturday, and graphed. I feel very competitive and funny about this challenge. I want to see an improvement in my sleep in one week. This may prove to be irrational as a goal, but I am still trying it. I wonder if I can will myself to be a better sleeper in the long run. Over the last three days I have managed to increase my total time, but without the naps it would not have been the case. This is one challenge for which gearing up is against my better interests. How does one become a sleep champion?
Do you use any fitness monitoring devices or apps? Have you found the feedback helpful in changing your habits? What kind of sleep secrets have you learned, gentle reader? I am on a quest for better rest.
Sleep Quality, Honey Hibernation
June 7, 2015
— 6 Comments
honey
Sleeping has always been easy for me. I fall asleep quickly when I am tired, and normally sleep through noise and disturbances that bother others. For the last few months I am challenged to get a full night of rest because my dog needs to go out several times during the night. Once I have walked down the stairs and let her out for a few minutes my patterns have been disturbed. I have been searching for a remedy that fits this situation. I don’t want a sleep aid, even melatonin, because I do need to wake up for the chore. I am doing research into various ways to enhance or deepen sleep. In the meantime my fitbit reads my sleep efficiency. It reports the number of times awakened, and the time spent sleeping. My rate normally ranges between 79% and 85%, but last night I hit 73% sleep efficiency, with 23 times awakened. I need to take action to save my sanity.
Last week I read about honey hibernation. I have tried it several times and it seems to work. Sometimes I neglect to do it before retiring, but take the honey on my first trip downstairs with the dog. I think it might help me fall back into deep sleep. I am going to start a real experiment with the honey method to find out if it is making a significant difference. I have asked for a 7 day sleep report from fitbit and will now be religious about taking my son full of honey at 6 pm daily. Last night I got 57 minutes less sleep than I need. I did nap today, which I think is a fine solution to the overall rest situation, but I want a sound restful night as well. I have used self hypnosis in the past. That might be useful for my purpose, but I will see if I need more help, after a week of honey. Have you tried this method, gentle reader? It is for weight loss and better liver function, but a side effect is better sleep. I am up for all of the above, especially if it is all that easy.
Mythic Dreams
June 4, 2015
— 2 Comments
sky
Symbols in dreams are personal. We dream only of faces we have seen before, even if we are barely familiar with the person. The character, or archetype played by the face depends completely on personal experience. Dream dictionaries and aids to interpret meaning found in dreams can only make references to universal archetypes. To grasp the personal message brought to the dreamer the images themselves must be savored and visited in waking time. Writing in a diary upon awaking before moving or engaging in the activities of the day is helpful. By keeping these notes on a regular basis you may discover themes that you can identify in a personal way.
Sometimes at crossroads in life a person will receive a vivid memorable message during sleep. The images and meaning of mythic dreams are significant beyond the every day way the unconscious communicates. The protagonists in the drama make a deep impression that lasts and speaks to the psyche for a long time. Carl Jung identified seven basic archetypes making appearances in dream time.
- The persona- the mask or personality you present to the public, your image
- The shadow- everything that is hidden in your personality, the unknown you
- The anima/animus- the masculine/feminine nature of your being, your sexuality
- The divine child- you in perfect innocence, uncomplicated childlike self
- The wise woman/man-wizardry and wisdom, a figure of authority and gravitas
- The great mother- the maternal nurturing quality that cares for life, provides
- The trickster- shows the error or the joke at the heart of the matter, points to poor judgement or precarious situations
Loaded images and story lines float through our heads while we sleep. If we have a problem on the mind it is possible to solve it during a dream. Practice and meditation on our own dream images will make clearer the point of the communication. Our subconscious warns us, encourages us, and sometimes tells us we are foolish. It is never straightforward, but over time we can dig more deeply into the messages our dreams deliver on a nightly basis. Have you ever kept a dream diary, gentle reader? Have you ever had a mythic dream that changed your thinking?
desert
Vacation Budget
May 30, 2015
— 4 Comments
I worked as an outside sales travel agent for many years. I took care of my own clients and split my commissions with the agency where I worked. I served all kinds of different clients, mostly recreational. They knew the destination and how long they would stay. They wanted to find the best airfare. Back in the day only agents or the airlines themselves had access to the digital systems used for booking. Some people wanted nothing more than the best fare for a flight, but others wanted some guidance in planning. Naturally each vacationer wants to think they have a great bargain package, but very few would tell the agent how much they had planned to spend. This question was rarely answered. Today, of course, consumers shop for their own travel and have resources available to do research. Yelp and TripAdvisor help prospective clients judge destinations by reading the reviews of other holiday makers. This helps people fit the vacation to personal taste, and avoid costly bad matches in accommodations.
In summer thoughts turn to vacation. I no longer book travel for other people but I do want to offer some advice for a stress free and happy trip, no matter where you roam.
- Pack your schedule lightly so you can take advantage of surprises
- Compare all kinds of lodging located near your destination
- Choose some splurge activity you have dreamed of doing and do it
- Indulge your own passions and collections when browsing and shopping
- Less is best when choosing how many times to move base camp
- Take less gear than you need with plans to purchase a souvenir you can use
- Pack old items of clothing you no longer want and throw them away as you go
You need to budget both time and money in order to get the most value out of your time on holiday. Think first of the beginning and the end of the trip. Leave plenty of time on both ends for unexpected events and delays. Don’t fly to a wedding on a flight that is scheduled to arrive 3 hours before the ceremony. Don’t drive home for 12 hours straight on the last night of your time off from your job. I always like to have a full day at home before I have an appointment, just so I can recover and/or be delayed in transit. If you give yourself plenty of leisure time you will come back refreshed, even if you use it to be very energetic. Cramming too many destinations or plans into the time allowed can ruin the rhythm of your rest and relaxation. It is bad to return exhausted.
It is worse to return home in deep debt. A satisfying vacation is one you can afford without sweating. After you calculate your airfare and special events be reasonable about how you will want to dine, shop, and entertain yourself. There is a strong association between freewheeling spending and American Dreaming. Remember this especially if you plan to spend time in Nevada. I think the worst buyer’s remorse is that of the vacationer who has not yet paid for the trip that did not really come up to snuff. That charge on the credit card remains to add insult to injury for a long time. Please set a limit, a budget, and a goal for your holiday spending. Be creative to make the most of your free time. Bon voyage, gentle reader.
Feng Po, Goddess of the Wind
May 26, 2015
— 3 Comments
Mistress of the Wind
In China the goddess Feng Po is in charge of wild animals, weather and movement. She must certainly be involved in global warming. She is seen riding a tiger. She holds the wind in a bag over her shoulder on the days when it is calm on earth. She has the power to move and or shake things into place. Her message is integrity. Representing the winds of change, she must discern the most appropriate velocity of wind for each purpose. Her energy can be very refreshing, cleansing and clearing the air for new ventures. Think of how many metaphors there are in English for this breath of fresh air.
Like other gods and humans she has a dark nature that is dangerous. She warns against all false agreements and conditions. Move carefully through your obligations and promises to others. Giving requires a cheerful heart. Quid pro quo, expecting something in return for favors, leads to resentment. Feng Po teaches a healthy balanced approach to the needs of others. If we allow space, time, and understanding into our decision making process we will be authentic. We will say yes only when we genuinely want to engage, and we will discover the beauty of saying no when we are really not into it. Feng Po will support and stay at the back of the sincere sailor on the winds of change. She is known to reek havoc, unleashing stormy gusts of destruction to tear down bonds built from guilt. She is sometimes called Feng Po Po, and even sometimes referred to as a male. She represents the value in conserving and preserving energy, and spending it wisely. On a personal basis she shows us how to say no to time wasting. On a global level she asks us to make some sense of the power balance at work around the world. We need to resist certain larger issues on the world stage in order to survive. It is time to both show power and control it wisely.
Poet Hollow
April 30, 2015
— 1 Comment
orchid
Woods dripping with Spanish moss and voodoo shrines
Down the hill from the oracle cave the hermit still declines
To give you the secret magic word you use to save the day
Find the sorcerer’s manuscripts then interpret what they say
Squandered youth, wild stormy stories, hidden truth of night
Dreams bring colorful vibrant myths, strong psychic insight
The realm inhabited by poetry and poets, invisible to some
Portrays life more intensely, gives clues to why we have come
flora
NaPoWriMo 2015
It has been a real privilege to inhabit the place of the poets this April. Thanks to all who contributed and read.
Positively Charged
April 29, 2015
— 5 Comments
leap
Ancestral chieftain ritually bound to honor natural forces
Protect the seasons, the directions, the winds over the seas
Passing that mastery to students of physical magical realms
Thunderous laughter is carried and amplified on the breeze
Followed by flashing bolts of lightening, blinding light overwhelms
NaPoWriMo 2015
Read, write, recite poetry this April. Meet new poets to enjoy here.
Truth by Mother Goose
April 28, 2015
— 7 Comments
field of sunflowers
Early years fill with nursery rhymes, stories designed to teach
Suspended between fictional characters dialog is made to preach
Current popular opinion, political outrage hidden between the lines
The villain and the hero match wits whilst the wicked witch opines
These morality plays change very little with the passage of time
Forces of good conquer evil and the story is set to rhyme
When you meet a character who comes straight from Mother Goose
You have discovered archetypal imagery that will help you to deduce
If you are the victim or the hero, the popular victor or the slimy creep
We all have parts to play, ego hiding under shadowy cover of sleep
field of sunflowers
NaPoWriMo 2015
The poetry train has almost arrived at the destination…May. Hop aboard for a poetic ride here.
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