What gives me JOY!

While contemplating what to write about in my blog this morning I could not help but notice how great I feel. Is this JOY? Am I feeling joy(ful)right now? What exactly is making me feel this good and can I hold onto it forever, or at least for a while. So I decided to write about it and put it in the archives.

One thing I definately know that is giving me joy is SUNDAY. This is my favorite day of the week because it is my day to be unscheduled without guilt. This is my guilt free day. Suffice to say, yes I am someone who does possess those unruly feelings that no one wants to have (guilt, worry, anxiety etc....) you know them.... because everyone to some degree has them.

Sunday I give myself guilt free permission to drink COFFEE (which I have for the most part given up caffeine) and I LOVE coffee! Happiness in a cup...love it. I get up early and watch CBS SUNDAY MORNING which to me is the only show worth waking up early to watch (no I don't have DVR or TIVO). Then I go to the farmer's market and get my bounty for the week...YUMMMMM. Today I decided to also blog because it has been about a month since my last post and just because I wanted to.

So today.... Is My JUST BECAUSE I WANT TO DAY and that gives my utter and complete JOY!

For me...what gives me great joy lies in the simplicity of my life, the uncomplicated-"ness" and mere enjoyment of the experience of feeling what is going on inside me at the moment and not missing it because I am too damn busy to notice. I seem to be able to do this on Sunday. I only know one person who can do this everyday and that is my husband. Yes, I can honestly say he really is able to do this everyday, whether he is in Cozumel scuba diving or whether he is home living his "normal" daily life. It is truly enviable and I strive to be more like that. Right now I will take Sunday....

So today "My Joy" is simply:

Waking up when I want
My coffee and CBS Sunday Morning
Farmer's Market
Breakfast with my Mom-in-law (whom I adore)
Listening to KPCC (NPR) while cleaning mi casa (which today I don't mind)
Making guacamole for Book Club tonight
Skyping with my daughter and hopefully Dennis
Watering the trees and enjoying sitting among the Bamboo & Palms in my backyard
Seeing my Book Club buds for laughter, good food, discussion
Wine without the Whine
And whatever else my heart desires
Getting what I hope is a restful full nights sleep

My desire is to extend this to the rest of the six other days of the week, but for now I will take this one day and "simply" relish in "My Joy"....

What gives you Joy?

Ciao for now~

It's A Full Time JOB to Stay Healthy In This World

It has been several weeks since my last blog, and frankly I just needed a break from feeling like blogging was a job (even writing a blog once a week sometimes feels like pressure). Writing is a passion of mine and I want to keep it that way, so when I am inspired and have something to say, I will. Today I do, and now I write.

I have been feeling like I need a suit of armor (or hazmat) to survive and stay healthy living on this planet. I know that sounds extreme, but lately that's how I feel. Sometimes reading and empowering myself with knowledge may not be such a good thing...I may now be thinking "ignorance is truly bliss." Have you ever noticed that just about everyday something else comes out across the wire that can be harmful to your health?...Egads!!...It is amazing people actually live past birth. Between our air and water being polluted, our food supply being sprayed and genetically modified, personal care products being filled with toxic chemicals penetrating our skin how do we even have a chance? And you think the western medical establishment and BIG PHARMA will help if we succumb to disease? Well think again...because that's a crap shoot as well. Like I have said over and over again, taking responsibility of ones own health is the first (and BEST) defense. Over the past month, I have made several very positive healthful adjustments to my lifestyle (and my husbands...he he) to help promote our best defense and increase "our" vitality.

Way Back in my early twenties (during the stone age), I became a vegetarian which lasted for about 17 years. I was later bamboozled into thinking animal-based protein was the very best source of the so-called highly nutritionally valuable macro-nutrient source, whereby having me start eating meat (poultry actually) once again. I became hooked on meat, and did buy into touting it's nutritional value trying to convince myself of it's worthiness. I did this for fifteen years until I recently decided to become a plant-based/whole grain eater once again, and honestly, it wasn't so difficult. The turning point for me was reading the book The China Study. I have read more books about nutrition, diet...yada yada over the years to realize this book really had me at "you want to know how healthy you are...look at the end of your fork" (also watching FOOD INC about 100 times). The author of this book says throughout "I am a researcher" and indeed he is. Not only is T. Colin Campbell a researcher, he is a very thorough one at that. His list of cited studies and references was the size of a small book. His argument for eating a plant-based, whole grain diet could not be disputed. While he does tout vegan-ism, vegetarianism is the next best thing so that I knew I could do with the intention to go vegan (someday?). Now the tough part was getting my 2 gallon a week milk drinking, cheese eating, carne asada burrito consuming husband to make that shift, and that was a whole other story. I decided to use the old "blood doesn't lie" trick and went straight to the cholesterol and triglyceride (he just had a physical and blood work done) in your face these are your levels.. truth. "You need to get those blood levels down especially now that you're in your fifties" was my rant and I used the book as proof. My husband is a "just the facts ma'am" guy, he wants legitimate cited studies, research, hard core proof...so then I knew I got him because this book has it all. Thanks to T. Colin Campbell and The China Study book, now Dennis is a transformed man (OK on his way to being a transformed man). It's been a week for him now, and I already see the changes and it's great. He may slip in a little meat here and there on the road to being a vegetarian, but I will take it...this is a major milestone.

As far as I go, well this week I ate just about completely vegan and I feel fabulous. I prepared my first all American vegan burger recipe (from my new vegan cookbook), which will be grilled tonight, and eaten along with accompaniments of fresh greens from the FM and (of course) wine (not giving that up). I must say vegan prep has a labor intensive learning curve, but definately worth time put in. I also went through my medicine cabinet, and storage drawers and threw out all the toxic sun screen, cosmetics, and personal care products that did not score above a 3 on http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/ which amounted to a few hundred bucks worth. I decided our health and life was worth it. I am now using this website to restock my supply of just about everything which has now turned into another job. I have officially become a product researcher...OY Vey.

In this ever growing toxic world we live I believe the best defense starts at home, making positive changes using reliable, trustworthy resources (as in never believe the FDA) and yes it takes work to find them. And I am happy to pass them to you so you can have another job as well...

OK put on your HAZMAT suit and go out and enjoy the world!!!!

See you next time....

yours in Good Health ~ L

Making A Healthier Earth One Person At A Time

We just celebrated the 40 year anniversary of Earth Day and it made me sad that so little has been done to really help the planet in 40 years. It's appalling actually. My greatest hope is that my daughter and her generation will be more aware and make vital changes in their lifestyle and become the "sustainable" generation. I do my best to set a good example and have changed my "evil ways" over the years. I can honestly say these changes were simple and are no big deal once you get into the mind-set of wanting to do what is right for the earth, your family and yourself. What is interesting, is the changes that make a healthier planet also make a healthier you. Many changes were made because of chemicals that can leach from materials into the food that's eaten.

Some of the changes I have made over the years...

Eating completely Organic and eliminated meat (on my way to poultry but not yet).
Replaced buying bottled water (or any liquid in plastic ) with filling stainless containers.
Using stainless or cast iron cookware NO longer any Teflon.
Replaced plastic storage containers with all glass.
Conscious driving (biking instead of driving, combining errands for efficiency).
Cut back on Flying.
Recycling, composting everything I can to reduce garbage.
Creating a sustainable front lawn that uses barely any water and no chemicals.
Lots of bamboo & palm trees in the back yard (helps filter bad air CO2>O2).
Using Cloth Napkins more replacing paper.
Showers (short ones) every other day (except when workout sweat calls me to shower!).
Replaced all appliances to energy savers and light bulbs too.
Computers on stand by when not in use.
Lights and water faucets off when not in use.
Bringing own bags for groceries.
Shopping for food locally at Farmer's market.
Supporting local merchants more (although I do shop at Costco still)
NEVER SHOP AT AT EVIL WALMART!!!!
#1 no flush #2 FLUSH!!!!
Buying less (conscious shopping ...rational vs emotional purchasing).
NO CABLE TV (we have an antenna on top of our house that works great).
Avoid buying anything from China.
Volunteer more.
Borrowing library books instead of buying them unless it's a book to reference.

And the list will continue....

It's about being conscious in a world where it's easy to go through unconsciously.

Last week I wrote about the book Organic Manifesto by Maria Rodale and how important I felt this book was for everyone to read. I am almost finished with it and I wish it was on the must read list for every school in America. Our world will change if we can start now to be the role models for the next generations upcoming. They will not have a chance if we do not make the changes in our lifestyles NOW. This is BEYOND important, it is NECESSARY.

As Maria states in her book:

"If we plan to stay on this planet, we must take a stand. And the very ground we stand on holds the magic key to our future here. We have a once-in-a-lifetime, no once-in-a-species'-history-opportunity to do either the right thing or continue down the path to our demise."

It's NOW time to take a stand.

Ciao~ See you next Sunday! L

I AM INSURED...yet I still feel unprotected

I see consumerwatchdog.com post hugh billboards about evil Mercury Insurance company and how they want to screw the consumer. I hear evil things about how Wellpoint (Blue Cross is under Wellpoint) and how they are coercing their employees to rally against health reform.

I'm totally screwed.

My (really our..my husband & me) are insured by Mercury for Auto & Home and Blue Cross for Medical.

I'm feeling totally screwed and even though I pay those premiums every month, in full on time, I feel when it comes time to eventually use the insurance they will not be there to deliver. I am feeling raped of my hard earned money which I am willingly giving to these crooks, yet lucky I am insured. What is wrong with this picture? I would love to say "Screw You" and stop it all but we are so conditioned as a society that we MUST BE INSURED or we will lose everything if something happens .... Well....we are insured (but are we really?) and I still feel like we could lose everything while we are paying enormous amounts of money every year for what? Protection? Why don't I feel like I am being protected?

I actually looked into changing to another insurance company (scouted around for quotes from others)- BUT guess what? Our premiums would DOUBLE!!! YES DOUBLE!!! You see my husband has been with Mercury since the dawn of time and because we (he really...I just came along with marriage)has been such a long time "loyal" customer we get a fantastic discount (this is to keep us since they make money off us because we have not filed a claim in a decade or more). Essentially we are customers THEY want so we get the carrot dangled and we stay and Pray they will have mercy if we will ever need them in the future. How sick is this????

And speaking of SICK.....We better not get sick or we are really screwed - we have Anthem (Blue Cross) of CA and they are apparently no better. UGH......
Of course I am not planning on getting sick, in fact the chances are very low being that I do a lot of self care in the form of prevention and Eastern type medicine (acupuncture, chiropractic, massage, NET, NRT and on...I have a village). Obviously exercise is a staple in our household being that is our business and along with that we eat very healthy. Organic is the norm for us in all ways not just food. We buy local as much as we can and support the community in various ways through contributions of both time and money. Practicing health goes beyond just nutrition it's a way of life. It's a part of all our relationships (family, friends, neighbors and community), needless to say we lead a life where we think about health everyday...actually we really don't have to think about it...it's our normal. So I suppose in this way, I feel the most protected. Taking accountability and responsibility for my life is my protection in my own way. I am certainly not leaving it up to any insurance company that is for sure.

I can only hope if it ever comes to pass that the unforeseen occurs in the form of an accident, injury or an illness (that could not be prevented) my insurance would some how come through. Although, I am not holding my breath or taking a backseat, I stay proactive, aware and I am going to pay attention and be mindful and present each moment.

The Healing of America

The Healing of America
A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care

By T.R. Reid
(Penguin Press; 277 pages; $25.95)

Whether journalist T.R. Reid's new book, "The Healing of America," will influence the high-stakes health care debate this fall remains to be seen, but he makes a compelling case that an efficient, effective universal health care system is not pie in the sky.

He reports that every industrialized democracy, except the United States, has figured out how to provide insurance and basic health care to virtually all of its citizens, and argues that the United States should borrow and adapt successful ideas from other countries. In practice, none of these health care systems is problem-free, Reid makes clear, and nearly everywhere escalating costs are a major challenge. But every industrialized democracy spends a far smaller percentage of its wealth on health care than does the United States and gets better results according to standard measures such as life expectancy after birth (the United States ranks 47th) and infant mortality (22nd).

In the United States, more than 40 million are uninsured, a harsh, anti-democratic reality that appalls Reid. In a hypothetical example, he compares two American mothers who are single parents - a well-compensated executive with employer-provided health insurance and a hardworking domestic who has no health insurance but makes too much to qualify for Medicaid. When both women begin to experience symptoms of illness, the woman with health insurance goes to the doctor, and tests reveal early-stage ovarian cancer. She is treated successfully and lives to enjoy her grandchildren. The other woman, fearful she cannot afford out-of-pocket costs for a doctor and tests, delays going for treatment until the symptoms are unbearable. She does not survive her ovarian cancer, and her daughter becomes an orphan. Compared with other democratic countries, only in America are such inequities commonplace.

For this book, which is a lucidly written medical travelogue, Reid visited a dozen countries. At each stop, we get an opening glimpse of the country's medical system and priorities when Reid seeks treatment for his chronically stiff and sore right shoulder. Treatment options ranged from an expensive and possibly ineffective shoulder-joint replacement in the United States, to the Tibetan-trained doctor in Nepal who told Reid: "[I] wouldn't begin a diagnosis of your shoulder until I had tasted your urine. It tells me so much about a patient's health status."

Among the industrialized democracies, there are various concepts for extending medical insurance to all citizens, Reid informs us. Some countries have incorporated elements of the 19th century German model where employers provide insurance to workers and the nonprofit insurance plans pay private medical care providers. In Canada, the single-payer national system is reminiscent of our Medicare program in which the government pays private providers. Here in the United States, veterans who receive medical care at Veterans Affairs hospitals are in a system similar to Britain's National Health Service, in which the government owns the hospitals and pays for it all through taxation.

Regardless of the different concepts, there are two major reasons, Reid maintains, for the comparatively much higher cost of health care in this country. One is that we have a complex, fragmented system. The other, Reid stresses, is that "the United States is the only developed country that relies on profit-making health insurance companies to pay for essential and elective care."

If Reid had a magic wand, he would get rid of profit-making health insurance companies. If we followed the example of other democracies, as Reid's medical travelogue shows, the federal government would cut the fees and payments to other players in the health care system to extend health insurance coverage to all Americans.

When it comes to the next round of debate this fall in Washington on the future of our health care system, Reid believes in this important book that the Golden Rule can trump the cynical adage, "He who has the gold rules." Maybe, but only if President Obama, who promised major health care reform, is willing to take on the health insurance and drug companies - and, most important, to arouse millions of Americans to demand reform