On my refrigerator, I have a "Peace Display" that includes a tiny photo of Anne Frank, the little girl who penned the famous diary before she was killed by the Nazis. It seems to be a part of human nature, an ugly part, that we are afraid of "the other" and I notice I feel shades of it from time to time. An uncomfortable feeling when I'm out in the world and around people whose culture or customs are foreign to me, feeling uncertain if I like them or not. When I hear about atrocities that some people commit towards other fellow human beings (and other living beings), it is beyond comprehension that humans can be so cruel. Yet, I can feel inside of me the fear, condescension, and even anger that arises when my cultural upbringing differs with another's.
Last evening, my husband and I watched a wonderful documentary on PBS called, "P-Star Rising," about a little girl from the Bronx who is a recording rap star with many difficulties in her life. I wasn't expecting to like her or the film much, but I began to see that even though I didn't "relate" necessarily to her form of expression, I discovered that Priscilla (P-Star) is a bright, soulful, adorable little girl just like any, and her family's struggle to survive and thrive under very difficult circumstances is the same world over. There is wisdom in P-Star and her father's frank and open conversations with each other, heartache in the reunion with her mother, enthusiasm and natural talent in her performances. I felt grateful to have been given an opportunity to see this little movie and get to know a culture that I didn't know before, and really appreciate it.
There is more than meets the eye when we get to know people who are really different from us. Or as Atticus Finch says to another outstanding little girl, Scout, in "To Kill A Mockingbird," you have to walk in the other person's shoes to understand what they are going through. To create meaningful peace in the world, it starts with being open and really listening, taking the time to get to know someone who is from another world, even from the same town where you live.
To learn more about "P-Star Rising" and Priscilla herself, check out these links:
View the trailer: http://www.nhpr.org/node/29386
Two music videos: http://new.music.yahoo.com/p-star-28820759/
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Sunday, February 7, 2010
A Walk: Exercise for the Soul
Walking has been a big topic for me lately. I love walking for exercise and have felt disappointed about how cold it is and how little time I want to spend outside, just counting down the months till it's warm and conducive to walking again regularly. And then the other day, my life coach, Joy, sent me and our teleclass a wonderful e-mail with a short and inspiring article about walking which I will put at the end of this post.
Walking, for me (as it might be for you, too), is about more than simply getting somewhere or for exercise of my body. It allows me the time and opportunity to enjoy nature (even though I am in hypersuburbia) and to either empty my mind or allow it to process feelings I have been having. I find I often work out a decision or issue that was bothering me at the same time I work out my legs! Today I went for a brisk walk in the bitter cold when the sun was at its highest and warmest. There were lots of crows and other birds up and all around and they were delightful. I took off my sunglasses to allow the rays right into my eyes so as to receive the most benefit of the vitamin D from the sun. I noticed that I started getting a bit pre-occupied about a matter in my life right now, and made a conscious decision to simply walk and make this time about taking a break from everything else. That is how I feel I am in the present moment, that moment you hear so much about!
Sometimes we need to take a break, a real break, so allow space for who we really are, simply us. Walking is like a mini-vacation. You get out into the world, your immediate world, to see what's going on in your neighborhood and be reminded there is a natural world out there. I feel somehow more connected to peace this way. Instead of stressful excursions, walking for the sake of walking is a way I find that peace is possible. You bring so little to walking, just comfortable shoes and layers of clothing, and nothing in your hands. Simplicity is freedom! With all the very challenging and dangerous things going on in the world today, it's important to take a break now and then and be reminded that peace in this world starts with each of us. As the wise Vietnamese Buddhist monk, Thich Naht Hahn, says, "Peace is every step." I hope it's warm enough for me to walk again tomorrow!
Here is the article. Thank you, Joy, for sharing it with me!
"IT IS SOLVED BY WALKING
by Clarence Thomson
We have several ways of making any changes we want. One is by trying to change our feelings. The assumption is that if we can change our thinking, we'll change our feelings and then we will behave in new ways.
This belief reigns supreme in all talking therapies; it under girds nagging, preaching and cheerleading: think better, feel better and you'll behave better.
There is another tradition. An older spiritual tradition, newly embraced by brief therapy and in some practices of NLP says that if you change the way act, your emotions will follow. The medieval principle was "solvitur ambulando" ("it is solved by walking").
An example: if you came to me with depression, I would not try to talk you out of your misery. Instead I would ask you to change the way you sit, stand and walk. You cannot stay depressed standing up straight, breathing deeply and walking briskly. So go for a brisk walk and see what happens.
I learned this working in a high school. I was not given an office, so when students or faculty came to my office, we would discuss their problems while walking. I got a reputation for being able to help with depression. I assumed it was my brilliant conversation, but gradually came to realize it was the walk that helped, not my counsel."
Walking, for me (as it might be for you, too), is about more than simply getting somewhere or for exercise of my body. It allows me the time and opportunity to enjoy nature (even though I am in hypersuburbia) and to either empty my mind or allow it to process feelings I have been having. I find I often work out a decision or issue that was bothering me at the same time I work out my legs! Today I went for a brisk walk in the bitter cold when the sun was at its highest and warmest. There were lots of crows and other birds up and all around and they were delightful. I took off my sunglasses to allow the rays right into my eyes so as to receive the most benefit of the vitamin D from the sun. I noticed that I started getting a bit pre-occupied about a matter in my life right now, and made a conscious decision to simply walk and make this time about taking a break from everything else. That is how I feel I am in the present moment, that moment you hear so much about!
Sometimes we need to take a break, a real break, so allow space for who we really are, simply us. Walking is like a mini-vacation. You get out into the world, your immediate world, to see what's going on in your neighborhood and be reminded there is a natural world out there. I feel somehow more connected to peace this way. Instead of stressful excursions, walking for the sake of walking is a way I find that peace is possible. You bring so little to walking, just comfortable shoes and layers of clothing, and nothing in your hands. Simplicity is freedom! With all the very challenging and dangerous things going on in the world today, it's important to take a break now and then and be reminded that peace in this world starts with each of us. As the wise Vietnamese Buddhist monk, Thich Naht Hahn, says, "Peace is every step." I hope it's warm enough for me to walk again tomorrow!
Here is the article. Thank you, Joy, for sharing it with me!
"IT IS SOLVED BY WALKING
by Clarence Thomson
We have several ways of making any changes we want. One is by trying to change our feelings. The assumption is that if we can change our thinking, we'll change our feelings and then we will behave in new ways.
This belief reigns supreme in all talking therapies; it under girds nagging, preaching and cheerleading: think better, feel better and you'll behave better.
There is another tradition. An older spiritual tradition, newly embraced by brief therapy and in some practices of NLP says that if you change the way act, your emotions will follow. The medieval principle was "solvitur ambulando" ("it is solved by walking").
An example: if you came to me with depression, I would not try to talk you out of your misery. Instead I would ask you to change the way you sit, stand and walk. You cannot stay depressed standing up straight, breathing deeply and walking briskly. So go for a brisk walk and see what happens.
I learned this working in a high school. I was not given an office, so when students or faculty came to my office, we would discuss their problems while walking. I got a reputation for being able to help with depression. I assumed it was my brilliant conversation, but gradually came to realize it was the walk that helped, not my counsel."
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Work: In the Throes of Yin
This week seems so different from last week... I am whirling faster, clients are pushing my good intentions to the limit, and I am feeling "burnt" which is a sign I recognize as "Hey, wait a minute. Let me step back and decide what is the best way to go forward from here."
According to what I've learned from my doctor of traditional Chinese medicine and eastern teachings, the seasons have yin and yang properties. In the fall and winter, we go into the "yin" time, when days get shorter, animals hibernate, plants die, and it is a feminine, introverted, inward time of year when we naturally want to hunker in. In the spring and summer, we begin the "yang" time of the year which is masculine, expansive, extroverted, outward, active. When we go against the natural rhythms, we risk becoming ill. It makes perfect sense to me. I can watch my cat Margarita to observe natural rhythm: She sleeps all day during the winter, waking up a bit in the evening to do her business, but it's cold and she sleeps all night too.
Right now the season is just beginning to swing towards the promise of a new season. But a promise is not the same thing as the real thing. Let's be realistic: It's still the dead of winter whether we accept it or not. The days are still shorter than we would like them to be. It's colder than you-know-what. We are feeling impatient. Perhaps the yin-inward-feminine part of nature is beginning to yawn. But we can't get ahead of ourselves. I know that I am pushing too hard right now and I need a long, long nap to return to a balanced state. I must make a choice (yes, everything in life is a choice) to give myself what I need. I need to stop reacting to outside opportunities, saying YES to everything and everyone. That can come in the spring, when nature is with me. Right now I need to pace myself so that my urge to spring forward is acknowledged, but not catered to. I must be patient. Or, risk illness. I'm burnt. And that is my sign.
You might be in the throes of yin like I am. It won't last forever! Just another month or so. Then the horses can be loosed from the gate to run free. In the meantime, let's all get the rest we very much need, and give ourselves permission to enjoy every second of it.
According to what I've learned from my doctor of traditional Chinese medicine and eastern teachings, the seasons have yin and yang properties. In the fall and winter, we go into the "yin" time, when days get shorter, animals hibernate, plants die, and it is a feminine, introverted, inward time of year when we naturally want to hunker in. In the spring and summer, we begin the "yang" time of the year which is masculine, expansive, extroverted, outward, active. When we go against the natural rhythms, we risk becoming ill. It makes perfect sense to me. I can watch my cat Margarita to observe natural rhythm: She sleeps all day during the winter, waking up a bit in the evening to do her business, but it's cold and she sleeps all night too.
Right now the season is just beginning to swing towards the promise of a new season. But a promise is not the same thing as the real thing. Let's be realistic: It's still the dead of winter whether we accept it or not. The days are still shorter than we would like them to be. It's colder than you-know-what. We are feeling impatient. Perhaps the yin-inward-feminine part of nature is beginning to yawn. But we can't get ahead of ourselves. I know that I am pushing too hard right now and I need a long, long nap to return to a balanced state. I must make a choice (yes, everything in life is a choice) to give myself what I need. I need to stop reacting to outside opportunities, saying YES to everything and everyone. That can come in the spring, when nature is with me. Right now I need to pace myself so that my urge to spring forward is acknowledged, but not catered to. I must be patient. Or, risk illness. I'm burnt. And that is my sign.
You might be in the throes of yin like I am. It won't last forever! Just another month or so. Then the horses can be loosed from the gate to run free. In the meantime, let's all get the rest we very much need, and give ourselves permission to enjoy every second of it.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Daily Life's Benefits
They say that daily life is where real life is lived. When I stop to think about how much time I spend conducting my daily life versus the occasional fun thing like vacation or a celebratory event, most of my life is spent bathing, cooking, cleaning, etc., and doing those routine chores for self maintenance. If life seems boring, just the "same old routine," be glad that there is nothing upsetting your ability to have a daily routine. I remember my first husband Joe (may his soul rest in peace) being adamant that even though he was dying of cancer, he was going to hold tight to one thing that he could control: his daily routine. It gives a person a measure of stability in this simple act of taking care of one's self each day.
So, how can a daily life be appreciated? For me, making self care the highest priority has lead me to really enjoy daily life and routine. I try not to get too rigid and set in my ways, which when it happens makes me unhappy until I figure out that I have gotten into that slump. I find that I am doing pretty much the same thing every morning and evening when I wake up and get ready for sleep, but most days there is variation on a theme. It gives me comfort to know that I have what I need at my ready to be my best: Things like making a fresh pot of espresso, doing a 10-minute series of slow stretches and gentle jostling exercises to wake myself up, making up the bed so it looks pretty, a warm and splashy shower, putting on an interesting outfit that expresses what I am feeling that day... and then, going backwards, putting on soft and cuddly pajamas, soaking my feet in warm water, drinking a glass of milk and then doing a set of stretches to work out the kinks of the day before hopping between the flannels with a good book. Now, THAT'S a nice life and I am lucky to find what works for me to feel safe in this crazy world.
It took me a number of years to find wisdom and power in daily life. I thought it was found in the outside world, that I had to be whirling around in a frenzy of activity to find meaning. Now I only buzz around in between the bookends of my self care routine of the morning and evening and am unsettled if I don't have this foundation of calm. There is a Zen in washing the dishes, in tucking in sheets, in folding laundry, in sweeping the porch. I concentrate on my tasks, but my mind is also free to think or ponder or do nothing at all. Sometimes I am like Jane Austen's title character "Emma" who was completely content to live in and never travel beyond Highbury, her home. I believe each of us can be at peace with our daily lives and find a Zen in the little things, magic instead of boredom, contentment in knowing we are taking care of ourselves. Only then can we help others.
So, how can a daily life be appreciated? For me, making self care the highest priority has lead me to really enjoy daily life and routine. I try not to get too rigid and set in my ways, which when it happens makes me unhappy until I figure out that I have gotten into that slump. I find that I am doing pretty much the same thing every morning and evening when I wake up and get ready for sleep, but most days there is variation on a theme. It gives me comfort to know that I have what I need at my ready to be my best: Things like making a fresh pot of espresso, doing a 10-minute series of slow stretches and gentle jostling exercises to wake myself up, making up the bed so it looks pretty, a warm and splashy shower, putting on an interesting outfit that expresses what I am feeling that day... and then, going backwards, putting on soft and cuddly pajamas, soaking my feet in warm water, drinking a glass of milk and then doing a set of stretches to work out the kinks of the day before hopping between the flannels with a good book. Now, THAT'S a nice life and I am lucky to find what works for me to feel safe in this crazy world.
It took me a number of years to find wisdom and power in daily life. I thought it was found in the outside world, that I had to be whirling around in a frenzy of activity to find meaning. Now I only buzz around in between the bookends of my self care routine of the morning and evening and am unsettled if I don't have this foundation of calm. There is a Zen in washing the dishes, in tucking in sheets, in folding laundry, in sweeping the porch. I concentrate on my tasks, but my mind is also free to think or ponder or do nothing at all. Sometimes I am like Jane Austen's title character "Emma" who was completely content to live in and never travel beyond Highbury, her home. I believe each of us can be at peace with our daily lives and find a Zen in the little things, magic instead of boredom, contentment in knowing we are taking care of ourselves. Only then can we help others.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Music: New Appreciation for The Dead
Okay, Grateful Dead. To me, they are all about PEACE, about loving community. Not sure about physical health, but certainly they embody personal freedom, an ecstatic and natural way of being. I know you're thinking, "People still listen to them after all these years?!?" (That thought perplexed me back in 1977 when I was in college, and look how long their appeal keeps lasting). Yes, people still listen. Teens, happily, have discovered The Dead because their music is COOL. It's authentic. It rocks. It's funky... The deep bass of Phil Lesh. Those spacey jam sessions.
I treated myself recently to an Amazon.com purchase, the soundtrack to "The Grateful Dead Movie," a 5-CD set of live performances from 1974 and MAN, it's good stuff. You can drive to it and it's really enjoyable when the sun hits you in the eyes as you're cruising down the parkway, the music and the bright glow making you feel so ALIVE. You can work to it, sitting at the computer and bopping along, singing along while you work, "Wake up to find out that you are the eyes of the world... Wake to discover that you are the song that the morning brings..." A special treat is hearing Donna Godchaux, the only female vocalist with the Grateful Dead for 7 years. Her voice isn't spectacular, but neither are the guys in the band such stellar singers. They are simply a group of musicians who are literally "in harmony."
"Sometimes we live no particular way but our own. Sometimes the songs that we hear are the songs of our own." Is Jerry Garcia a prophet? Actually, I think Robert Hunter was their lyricist. I love the way The Dead's music is on melody and then veers off into distraction and improvisation, sort of like life; it builds and gets back to the melody again before it segues into another melody and train of thought. It is joyous, it is meditative, it is sensuous, it is colorful. The music blends into the background and also tickles the foreground. It makes you want to MOVE!
Dive in and discover. They left behind a treasure trove of music. I am grateful for The Dead. Ha ha!
Music speaks to my soul. Perhaps there is music that speaks to your soul. I say, indulge your soul! Hear the songs of your own...
I treated myself recently to an Amazon.com purchase, the soundtrack to "The Grateful Dead Movie," a 5-CD set of live performances from 1974 and MAN, it's good stuff. You can drive to it and it's really enjoyable when the sun hits you in the eyes as you're cruising down the parkway, the music and the bright glow making you feel so ALIVE. You can work to it, sitting at the computer and bopping along, singing along while you work, "Wake up to find out that you are the eyes of the world... Wake to discover that you are the song that the morning brings..." A special treat is hearing Donna Godchaux, the only female vocalist with the Grateful Dead for 7 years. Her voice isn't spectacular, but neither are the guys in the band such stellar singers. They are simply a group of musicians who are literally "in harmony."
"Sometimes we live no particular way but our own. Sometimes the songs that we hear are the songs of our own." Is Jerry Garcia a prophet? Actually, I think Robert Hunter was their lyricist. I love the way The Dead's music is on melody and then veers off into distraction and improvisation, sort of like life; it builds and gets back to the melody again before it segues into another melody and train of thought. It is joyous, it is meditative, it is sensuous, it is colorful. The music blends into the background and also tickles the foreground. It makes you want to MOVE!
Dive in and discover. They left behind a treasure trove of music. I am grateful for The Dead. Ha ha!
Music speaks to my soul. Perhaps there is music that speaks to your soul. I say, indulge your soul! Hear the songs of your own...
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Food: 11 Best According to NY Times
I'm still learning how to use this blogosphere, but I wanted to start a dialogue about FOOD, one of my very favorite things to talk about and experience! Here are the 11 "best foods" in a popular article in The New York Times recently. I eat 7 of them regularly and there are 3 I eat often and the pomegranate is not on my radar at all, but I eat other anti-oxidant foods and drink teas, so I think I've got that territory covered! Also, I don't eat frozen blueberries but go for fresh instead, but in season (spring/summer). My husband and I add a few big dashes of turmeric to our cooking water when we make rice. And I sprinkle liberal amounts of cinnamon on lots of things. Sardines are more delicious than I remember and have added more to my diet. Enjoy the list. See what you think and what resonates for you:
- Beets: Think of beets as red spinach because they are a rich source of folate as well as natural red pigments that may be cancer fighters.
How to eat: Fresh, raw and grated to make a salad. Heating decreases the antioxidant power. - Cabbage: Loaded with nutrients like sulforaphane, a chemical said to boost cancer-fighting enzymes.
How to eat: Asian-style slaw or as a crunchy topping on burgers and sandwiches. - Swiss chard: A leafy green vegetable packed with carotenoids that protect aging eyes.
How to eat it: Chop and saute in olive oil. - Cinnamon: May help control blood sugar and cholesterol.
How to eat it: Sprinkle on coffee or oatmeal. - Pomegranate juice: Appears to lower blood pressure and loaded with antioxidants.
How to eat: Just drink it. - Dried plums: Okay, so they are really prunes, but they are packed with antioxidants.
How to eat: Wrapped in prosciutto and baked. - Pumpkin seeds: The most nutritious part of the pumpkin and packed with magnesium; high levels of the mineral are associated with lower risk for early death.
How to eat: Roasted as a snack, or sprinkled on salad. - Sardines: Dr. Bowden calls them “health food in a can.” They are high in omega-3’s, contain virtually no mercury and are loaded with calcium. They also contain iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper and manganese as well as a full complement of B vitamins.
How to eat: Choose sardines packed in olive or sardine oil. Eat plain, mixed with salad, on toast, or mashed with dijon mustard and onions as a spread. - Turmeric: The “superstar of spices,” it may have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.
How to eat: Mix with scrambled eggs or in any vegetable dish. - Frozen blueberries: Even though freezing can degrade some of the nutrients in fruits and vegetables, frozen blueberries are available year-round and don’t spoil; associated with better memory in animal studies.
How to eat: Blended with yogurt or chocolate soy milk and sprinkled with crushed almonds. - Canned pumpkin: A low-calorie vegetable that is high in fiber and immune-stimulating vitamin A; fills you up on very few calories.
How to eat: Mix with a little butter, cinnamon and nutmeg.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Welcome to Audrey's Peace & Health Blog!
I'm delighted that you have chosen to read my blog today, and hope very much that you enjoy my thoughts and experiences in an adventure of healthy habits and inner peace. I'm not entirely, 100%, successful, but it is a journey after all and I keep trying and refining. It is by sharing that many insights are reinforced and I'm happy to share what I've discovered along the way (and keep discovering, which is cool) that has worked wonderfully for me. In general, I feel GREAT! And I am humbled by the extraordinary friends, clients, family and colleagues who have supported and coached me along the way. None of us can do it alone. I hope there are kernels of wisdom that will "resonate" with you. Please share with me where you are in your own health and peace experiences, and where you would like to go... Let's go there together!
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