The other day Blake and I went down to the Goodwill store and I found a book by one of my favorite authors, Elaine St. James. The book is Inner Simplicity. There was an essay about deciding what you want to focus on when you simplify, and it really made me think. My problem has always been anxiety and worry. Masking it with business is how I have always coped. Culling activity seemed to be making me more anxious. In this frustration and anger with myself I realized that I needed to do the exercise of finding what is most important to me. And to focus on and look at it often as to say no when appropriate and yes when it benefits my goals.
My top choices are:
Spirituality (my relationship with God)
Family
Health
Work
Personal Finances
Volunteer Work
Now that could really be a lot of busy work so I defined what each one meant to me. Don't worry I will not bore you. This exercise was very helpful to me in seeing what I needed to focus my time on. Reading a book could be in the Health category as well as any of the others depending on the book, maybe its a fun book for emotional health (relaxing). Now stay with me, this is for the type A's out there. If you think this is crazy talk you probably are not type A.
Also taking nightly walks with Blake is family and health. This all helps me when I become anxious and worry that I am wasting time on things that don't matter I can put it in perspective to keep me on track and balanced.
Taking time to reflect and ponder is so crucial, but to much time to a type A can be overwhelming. My sabbatical for teaching was a blessing as I started to miss it very much after two months. My fear was I would't miss it and I would lose it. However I was ready to face that if need be.
I hope that you can find time to make your list of the most important things in your life and define what that means to you. Having a purpose in life makes it worth living.
Blessings,
Courtney
1. Sleep in at least once a week.
2. Get 15 mins of sunshine a day
3. Get exercise everyday: A little goes a long way
4. Eat right.
5. Drink plenty of water.
6. Take your vitamins, be sure to include a B complex and fish oil for emotional health.
7. Just be; In prayer, observation, meditation each day for as long as you can. Ask yourself "Am I still breathing" and monitor a few breaths. Even a minute or two is helpful.
8. Have sometime alone, if you have to lock yourself in your room: I have four kids, sometimes I lock myself in the bathroom.
9. Create joy in your life :The above mentioned list comes in handy here.
10. Take time for friends.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
R.I.P. S.U.V.
On the way home today I heard on the radio that the large SUV was officially declared extinct. Praise God. This recession and energy crisis was a gift from God as I see it. People are finally being forced to take a look at the problem because their pocket books are lean. Why would anybody want to put $100 in their tank? When I purchased my 1998 Honda Odessey in 2001 the first time I filled it up it cost me $14.97, now it cost me $55 to fill up. This was only 7 1/2 years ago. This past month the Honda Civic sold more cars in one month than the Hummer is projected to sell in the next two years. It makes me giddy!!!! As one magazine proclaimed " Don't let the world go to hell in a Hummer". Kudos's !
Yesterday at the store an older couple behind me at the checkout said " I see your going green" my reply , "Well, I have been green for the last twenty years, I am just not considered weird anymore". We had a friendly discussion about where to buy grocery bags. Everyone probably has more bags in their house than they realize, just look thouroug the clutter.
Yes my pocket book hurts now also and I don't like it but I am an "optimist". The economy is in the toilet but if this is what it takes I am willing to tighten my belt a bit more.
Tips for Summer:
1. Turn your air up to 78 or 80 for the day and turn on the fans, get an ice cold drink, and strip down to the bear necessities in clothing.
2. Put large potted plants or plant trees on the west and south side of your house.
3. keep your shades shut during the day.
4. Use a toaster, microwave or eat cold food. Do not use the oven. Plan accordingly.
5. Wash and Dry clothes before 10:00a.m. and after 9:00 p.m. to avoid excess heating of your home.
6. Take a cool shower.
7. When you get in a hot car open the windows two inches and turn your air on the outside to inside air not recirculate and drive like this for five minutes. Your car will cool down quicker.
8. Park under shade and crack your windows, even if you have to walk a little farther (this will keep you trim and cool).
9. Change your sheets to cool cotton with a light blanket and sleep with a fan on. Try to keep your air no lower than 76 (ever).
10. Plan activities like washing your car or watering your garden for early morning or evening to save water.
Namaste'
Courtney
Yesterday at the store an older couple behind me at the checkout said " I see your going green" my reply , "Well, I have been green for the last twenty years, I am just not considered weird anymore". We had a friendly discussion about where to buy grocery bags. Everyone probably has more bags in their house than they realize, just look thouroug the clutter.
Yes my pocket book hurts now also and I don't like it but I am an "optimist". The economy is in the toilet but if this is what it takes I am willing to tighten my belt a bit more.
Tips for Summer:
1. Turn your air up to 78 or 80 for the day and turn on the fans, get an ice cold drink, and strip down to the bear necessities in clothing.
2. Put large potted plants or plant trees on the west and south side of your house.
3. keep your shades shut during the day.
4. Use a toaster, microwave or eat cold food. Do not use the oven. Plan accordingly.
5. Wash and Dry clothes before 10:00a.m. and after 9:00 p.m. to avoid excess heating of your home.
6. Take a cool shower.
7. When you get in a hot car open the windows two inches and turn your air on the outside to inside air not recirculate and drive like this for five minutes. Your car will cool down quicker.
8. Park under shade and crack your windows, even if you have to walk a little farther (this will keep you trim and cool).
9. Change your sheets to cool cotton with a light blanket and sleep with a fan on. Try to keep your air no lower than 76 (ever).
10. Plan activities like washing your car or watering your garden for early morning or evening to save water.
Namaste'
Courtney
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Its a Revolution or Why this Recession is Good for the Planet
Revolution: Motion of body round its orbit or focus: a radical change in Constitution of a country after revolt: marked by great and violent changes: to change completely ( to turn around).
We are in a Revolution by definition when you hear that Golf Digest ran an article about how fifty nine percent of golfers agree that Global Warming is real and that golf courses need to do something about the millions of gallons of water being used each day for the "greens". This is not violent protest however it is real change. Now forty one percent of golfers polled said that they did not believe Global Warming was real so they are not on board. The good news is they are out numbered. Why am I talking about golf when people in the world are suffering Genocide?Because it take real and radical thinking to get the elite to change their ways. In effect the people in the world who use the most resources. A golf course in Palm Springs uses a million gallons of water in one day. A typical American family of four uses that much in four years. We as a nation and as a global society have to make that connection between our use, our vote and social justice in the world.
In Dar fur the Genocide continues and while the U.S. has made a push for more action than any other country we have not done enough. Oil was discovered in Sudan. China is the main consumer of this oil. China has put up a fight not to punish the Sudanese Government for their role in the atrocity's that are happening there. Oil or natural resources seems to always be a factor in war. When there is great disparity amone the poor in the world you get war. The rich conservatives are comfortable and have no need to upset their position in life and want to hold on to what they have. The poor get pissed off and revolt. In many cases the rich and middle class (concerned and enlightened or conscious) step up and pool resources to join the revolt. For instance in the U.S. civil war against slavery and today's "Genocide Olympics Campaign" to put pressure on China to do something about genocide in Dar fur.
In our own back yard we are allowing corporations to feed our children junk. The government is instituting policy to reward or punish schools monarily based on test scores,not entirely a bad thing, except when you dig deeper you learn the truth. Forced by my circumstance in having a child with a learning disability I have learned that his scores count the same as my gifted child and my two other capable children. So the schools in effect get on probation when the schools learning disabled can't meet a set expectation and they lose money. Due to this recess has been cut back to fifteen minutes a day in primary school, p.e. has been cut back to one to two times a week, and tutoring for children is cut do to remediation for those who aren't up to snuff and ready for the test. For example my eldest is very bright and exceeds his grade ability on the Benchmark exams. He has A.D.D. or what I now think is School Academic Disease, he needs about three hours of after school tutoring a week to keep his grades up. There is no quite in my household of six. What he needs is a quite focused area to study , like a study hall with a teacher to keep him on task. His tutoring is cut when prep time comes for Bench mark. When Bench marks end tutoring is not reinstated for the last six weeks of school. What incentive is there to care after the fact?
The foods our children are eating are boxed and processed. Most days I make my kids breakfast and pack their lunch. However many days I know three of my kids are sneaking food at school because, hey they are kids, and when faced with a funnel cake for breakfast or a toaster pastry vs bran flakes at home, what do you think they would pick? Same goes for pizza, hot dogs and corn dogs. Yes you give kids a whole apple or an Orange on a plate and most of it will be thrown out, you cut it up and give them some yogurt dip or peanut butter and watch them go.
We have to be a little smarter and ask questions of those in authority. We also need to realize our own authority and stop with this complacency. When I speak to parents most of them are not aware of what their kids are eating at school or how short recess is.
Over the past ten years with No Child Left Behind the diagnosis and subsequent medication of children has increased. Eighty five percent of ADHD medication in the world is given in the U.S. and seventy percent of that is to boys. Do you see the connections here. Add to that are increase in high fructose corn syrup and you have a recipe for disaster. Over and over again there are documented cases of healthy schools producing healthier happier kids that do better on test. What we need here and abroad is a Revolution and we have to get active doing more and speaking up. My motto is " Never let anyone intimidate you" and " you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar". We have to throw our shoulders back, lift our chins,band together, speak our minds, be kind, and get to work.
To sustain our planet it has been said that Americans and Europeans need to get back to living like a European in 1980, in relation to our use of natural resources. It will mean giving up some of your life style but you will gain exponentially in self worth and happiness.
All facts and research was based on: Frontline, PBS, (Dar Fur); Voluntary Simplicity, current edition,nwei.org; Raising Cain Documentary 1998; N.P.R. June 11th 2008; Healthy Children- Healthy Planet, current edition, nwei.org
Tips:
1. Contact your superintendent and write a letter concerning food and physical activity. Ask what you can do to help. For instance I offered to help do parent surveys.
2. Be an advocate:you must educate yourself so you will be confident when facing issues and talking about them. Start to volunteer in areas that interest you.
3. Be a voice: vote with your dollars as well as your money.
4.Take some time off from buying. Constant travel and consumerism only hurts your pocket book and psyche, and fuels oil demands and support of China and what they are doing to support Dar furs actions on Genocide.
5. Take action where you are. At work be an example: simple things like not using Styrofoam can start conversations. When you lead by example you will start conversations. Saying " I don't believe in using Styrofoam because it takes 1500 years to break down" can lead to further discussions. Set up recycling at work. Doing something is the first step.
6. You could start a discussion group at work or church, anywhere in the public arena. My groups meet at a yoga studio and the library. For more info go to nwei.org , Northwest Earth Institute.
Namaste'
Courtney
We are in a Revolution by definition when you hear that Golf Digest ran an article about how fifty nine percent of golfers agree that Global Warming is real and that golf courses need to do something about the millions of gallons of water being used each day for the "greens". This is not violent protest however it is real change. Now forty one percent of golfers polled said that they did not believe Global Warming was real so they are not on board. The good news is they are out numbered. Why am I talking about golf when people in the world are suffering Genocide?Because it take real and radical thinking to get the elite to change their ways. In effect the people in the world who use the most resources. A golf course in Palm Springs uses a million gallons of water in one day. A typical American family of four uses that much in four years. We as a nation and as a global society have to make that connection between our use, our vote and social justice in the world.
In Dar fur the Genocide continues and while the U.S. has made a push for more action than any other country we have not done enough. Oil was discovered in Sudan. China is the main consumer of this oil. China has put up a fight not to punish the Sudanese Government for their role in the atrocity's that are happening there. Oil or natural resources seems to always be a factor in war. When there is great disparity amone the poor in the world you get war. The rich conservatives are comfortable and have no need to upset their position in life and want to hold on to what they have. The poor get pissed off and revolt. In many cases the rich and middle class (concerned and enlightened or conscious) step up and pool resources to join the revolt. For instance in the U.S. civil war against slavery and today's "Genocide Olympics Campaign" to put pressure on China to do something about genocide in Dar fur.
In our own back yard we are allowing corporations to feed our children junk. The government is instituting policy to reward or punish schools monarily based on test scores,not entirely a bad thing, except when you dig deeper you learn the truth. Forced by my circumstance in having a child with a learning disability I have learned that his scores count the same as my gifted child and my two other capable children. So the schools in effect get on probation when the schools learning disabled can't meet a set expectation and they lose money. Due to this recess has been cut back to fifteen minutes a day in primary school, p.e. has been cut back to one to two times a week, and tutoring for children is cut do to remediation for those who aren't up to snuff and ready for the test. For example my eldest is very bright and exceeds his grade ability on the Benchmark exams. He has A.D.D. or what I now think is School Academic Disease, he needs about three hours of after school tutoring a week to keep his grades up. There is no quite in my household of six. What he needs is a quite focused area to study , like a study hall with a teacher to keep him on task. His tutoring is cut when prep time comes for Bench mark. When Bench marks end tutoring is not reinstated for the last six weeks of school. What incentive is there to care after the fact?
The foods our children are eating are boxed and processed. Most days I make my kids breakfast and pack their lunch. However many days I know three of my kids are sneaking food at school because, hey they are kids, and when faced with a funnel cake for breakfast or a toaster pastry vs bran flakes at home, what do you think they would pick? Same goes for pizza, hot dogs and corn dogs. Yes you give kids a whole apple or an Orange on a plate and most of it will be thrown out, you cut it up and give them some yogurt dip or peanut butter and watch them go.
We have to be a little smarter and ask questions of those in authority. We also need to realize our own authority and stop with this complacency. When I speak to parents most of them are not aware of what their kids are eating at school or how short recess is.
Over the past ten years with No Child Left Behind the diagnosis and subsequent medication of children has increased. Eighty five percent of ADHD medication in the world is given in the U.S. and seventy percent of that is to boys. Do you see the connections here. Add to that are increase in high fructose corn syrup and you have a recipe for disaster. Over and over again there are documented cases of healthy schools producing healthier happier kids that do better on test. What we need here and abroad is a Revolution and we have to get active doing more and speaking up. My motto is " Never let anyone intimidate you" and " you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar". We have to throw our shoulders back, lift our chins,band together, speak our minds, be kind, and get to work.
To sustain our planet it has been said that Americans and Europeans need to get back to living like a European in 1980, in relation to our use of natural resources. It will mean giving up some of your life style but you will gain exponentially in self worth and happiness.
All facts and research was based on: Frontline, PBS, (Dar Fur); Voluntary Simplicity, current edition,nwei.org; Raising Cain Documentary 1998; N.P.R. June 11th 2008; Healthy Children- Healthy Planet, current edition, nwei.org
Tips:
1. Contact your superintendent and write a letter concerning food and physical activity. Ask what you can do to help. For instance I offered to help do parent surveys.
2. Be an advocate:you must educate yourself so you will be confident when facing issues and talking about them. Start to volunteer in areas that interest you.
3. Be a voice: vote with your dollars as well as your money.
4.Take some time off from buying. Constant travel and consumerism only hurts your pocket book and psyche, and fuels oil demands and support of China and what they are doing to support Dar furs actions on Genocide.
5. Take action where you are. At work be an example: simple things like not using Styrofoam can start conversations. When you lead by example you will start conversations. Saying " I don't believe in using Styrofoam because it takes 1500 years to break down" can lead to further discussions. Set up recycling at work. Doing something is the first step.
6. You could start a discussion group at work or church, anywhere in the public arena. My groups meet at a yoga studio and the library. For more info go to nwei.org , Northwest Earth Institute.
Namaste'
Courtney
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