Wednesday Wisdom

Here's a quote I heart from the movie I Heart Huckabee's:

"Anything you could ever want or be you already have and are."

Have a wonderful rest of the week!

Daily Detox: Screen Time

With Lent comes lots of opportunities to detox, reset, purge, refine, discipline, learn. People do this in many ways, whether simply giving up chocolate (harder for some than others!), starting new disciplines, focusing on changing attitudes, or trying to change a lifestyle. While personal Lenten (or non-Lenten, for that matter) discipline might best be done in private, I thought I would think through a few that have gotten some attention in recent years.

First up: screen time. Television, internet, video games, smart phones, any electronic gadget with a compelling screen qualifies. One study shows the average US resident watches 28 hours of television a week--4 hours a day--and spends even more time online. And it's no wonder--not only can these activities be fun, but they can produce an addictive effect! Just like with any other compulsive behavior, screen time can stimulate our brain's reward system, boosting dopamine levels and causing us to crave more, more, more.

Which is why I, like many others, have had those days where I started out with good intentions on the internet and ended up wasting more time than I ever thought possible. And who has time for that?? Furthermore, time spent with television or the internet is time spent away from flesh and blood connection, nature, emotional or personal growth, or any host of lovely human experiences. All those fast moving images and bright lights can leave us feeling zapped. It affects our abilities to sleep, to interpret subtle human cues, to relate well to people we love. It affects our stress levels, adding cognitive clutter to already very busy brains. I've even read that lots of technology correlates to lower sexual satisfaction!

I've been teased before about being a stick-in-the-mud who hates technology. We went without cable for years. I was slow to get Facebook. I don't remember the last time I played a video game (Super Mario Brothers on Super Nintendo?). I refuse to get a smart phone. (Too many OCD tendencies--no one needs me to have THAT much access to my work email!) But I, too, am capable of falling down the slippery slope of too much screen time.

So here's one idea: cut back, on purpose! I have tried limiting myself to checking email accounts (including Facebook) NO MORE than twice a day. For some people, that might seem like a lot. For others, maybe for procrastinators who spend a LOT of time on the computer for work/research purposes, this is a very good idea. Around here, we try to avoid channel surfing. We try to watch TV on purpose, just sometimes. Old habits die hard, though. It is shocking (and somewhat disappointing) how difficult this can be, but I can tell my anxiety level is dropping and my peace of mind is increasing. I have more time and energy for things that are really important, including other people. Better sleep, better relationships, better me. It's so worth it!

Wednesday Wisdom

Here's a longtime favorite, perfectly appropriate for the Lenten season, I think. Some people think John Lennon said it, but he may not be the first. I am not sure where this originated . . .

"Everything will be OK in the end. If it's not OK, it's not the end."

Ash Wednesday Wisdom

Some people find this depressing. I find it comforting. No matter how beautiful or crazy the world gets, we are all made of the same stuff. As Kimya Dawson says, thinking about this makes me feel serene, like "I am grounded, I am humbled, I am one with everything" because "we all become important when we realize our goal should be to figure out our role within the context of the whole."


So, thank you Ecclesiastes, Ash Wednesday liturgy, and Kimya.



"Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

Happy Women's Day/Mardi Gras!

There's too much to celebrate today to post about detox! There will be plenty of that in Lent.

Today is Mardi Gras, otherwise known as Fat Tuesday. If you know me at all, you know I'm not a big partier. Not a lot of excess and revelry for me today, but I will eat some pancakes and indulge a bit. Today I will find as many opportunities to celebrate as I can, even during a full day of work, work, work.

Even more importantly to me, it's International Women's Day! In the US, this holiday is sometimes overlooked but growing in popularity. Around the world, it's treated much differently. Our Russian friends are celebrating Spring today and honoring their woman with flowers, songs, and extra doses of kindness. In other places, women are gathering to celebrate their achievements and fight for greater equality. This is a great day to celebrate the women in history who paved the way for us to raise our voices and follow our dreams. While things aren't perfect here in the US, we've come a long way over the last century.

This is also a great day to educate ourselves about women's issues around the world, such as reproductive and maternal health, modern day slavery, poverty, equal rights, microenterprise and independence, and education issues. Check out CARE, Doma International, or another organization of your choice to learn more. The women of the world need each other!

Photo Credit ABC

Happy Women's Day! Let the good times roll!

Wednesday Wisdom

Gotta love when the Sunday lesson rings loud and clear. We're into the good stuff right now, and it sounds fresh this time around.

"Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? . . . Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his [or her] life? . . . But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all of these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself."

--Jesus, via Matthew 6

Hmmm. Mindfulness. Living justly. Loving mercy. Walking humbly. Still trying, still growing!

Finding a New Friend

I've been thinking and thinking about getting a dog lately, then having him or her trained as a therapy dog. I don't think that's going to be happening any time soon, but maybe one day. When I do, I will get a shelter dog. I just can't imagine any other way. If I spend my life on issues of justice and caring for the least of these, that seems like the only route.

Have you seen the Shelter Pet Project ads? They tear at my heart every time, especially the ones with the kitties. I could definitely become a crazy cat lady! This video is a combo of our two little guys' stories--one was a street kitty, and the other was stuck at the shelter. They are just the sweetest little guys and the best behaved cats I've ever met!

Any animal person who's adopted a shelter pet can tell you what a joy they can be. Many of them have much sweeter temperments than inbred petshop animals or animals from breeders. Without us, they are alone and face a grim fate. Of course, you have to be purposeful and find the right fit for your family and lifestyle--responsible pet ownership only, please! If you're thinking about it at all, check out Shelter Pet Project for all kinds of good info. It's so worth it!

Wednesday Wisdom

An oldie but a goodie. I got this one from a tea bag, and it stuck.


"When ego is lost, limit is lost."

-Anonymous

Daily Detox: Mindfulness

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction is a western term for what many people simply call meditation. Meditation can take many forms, but for me, it a chance to clear the mind, recenter, and open myself to spiritual and mental growth. Mindfulness brings me back to the present moment and teaches me how to 'be here now.'

There is a new study out showing the brain science of meditation. There is some level of scientific proof revealing what ancient practitioners have said all along: that meditation increases memory and empathy, changes sense of self, and reduces stress and anxiety.

I've experienced this in varying ways, whether at a retreat, in yoga class, or in personal study here and there. I've always wanted to delve deeper. The perfectionism post awhile back reflected my handling of this goal--one more thing on the to-do list that wouldn't get done unless I could do it completely. Pretty unrealistic, though.

At the recommendation of a mother I work with, I picked up A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workbook in hope of learning new ways to integrate this practice into my busy life. It's sat by my bedside for weeks now, waiting for me to be 'ready,' whatever that means. My mind has gotten busier and busier over the last few months, and picking up this discipline has seemed too daunting. Yesterday, though, lovely instructor Lisa at Cityoga integrated a simple 5 minute meditation into our slow flow class. It was so peaceful, and quite possible at my level of mind-clutter. That evening, when I offered up my excuse of a too-busy mind to allow me to practice regularly, a good friend called me out and reminded me that it's probably just the right time to start.

So, I'm starting! Time to detox my crazy noggin and refocus on the present. I'm taking a few minutes this evening to go beyond browsing the pages of this book and begin to study mindfulness in a new way. I'm hoping to increase the calm in my life and give my body a break from tension and anxiety. I'm hoping for deeper spiritual understanding and stronger connection to the world and the Divine. I'm hoping to learn a bit about myself and become a better person for the people around me. But first, I have to allow myself the time to practice. I'll let you know how it goes.

Wednesday Wisdom

"You must learn to be still in the midst of activity and to be vibrantly alive in repose."

--Indira Ghandi

Haves and Have Nots

I'm all about responsible use of resources. We don't carry debt in our home (aside from mortgage and student loans, and we're diligent with those). We live below our means. If we couldn't pay cash for it, we do without. I'm grateful we've been able to make these choices.

That said, there are instances where people are stuck with 2 bad choices. Do you go into debt or do without the transportation that gets you to work? Do you go into debt or do without medicine that keeps you going?

This new proposed budget gives me a headache. I really, really value fiscal responsibility. But not as much as I value protecting vulnerable members of our society. What is more important to us, as a society?

How did we get to a place where certain people 'deserve' to be wealthy? The argument I hear over and over again is how hard they work for it. That drives me crazy. Why?

Guess who else works hard? Garbage collectors. Certified Nurses Assistants. Construction workers. Warehouse staff. Servers in restaurants. Maintenance workers. Teachers. People who work 3 icky jobs to cover their bills. While I'm at it, why not add social workers?

So that's why tax breaks for the top echelon of society give me a headache. You can find wealthy people who work harder than many average or low-income people. You can find plenty of low-income people who bust their tails every day while some wealthy people rely on other people's hard work to sit pretty. Comparing someone who was born into a wealthy family and inherited a position at a big firm to someone who was born into nothing, treated with little dignity, and worked her way into a $9.25/hr job at age 18, who do you think works harder?

There are all kinds of stories from all kinds of backgrounds, and they are all worthy of respect. The problem comes when society tells us the story of the wealthy person is more valuable than the story of the hard working single mom, or the lonely widow on a fixed low income.

There is disgusting behavior across the socio-economic spectrum. I often hear people decrying the ugliness of welfare fraud, and I agree. If you don't need food stamps, or if you can get by without pulling a big social security check, it would be nice to save those funds for people who truly need them to survive in this culture. We would save a lot of money that way. BUT, how many people in the top 10% income bracket need the luxuries and excess they can afford?

Maybe these painful cuts to programs like heating assistance for low-income citizens or community action programs for struggling neighborhoods wouldn't hurt so bad if I knew everyone was chipping in to keep our society strong. Maybe it wouldn't be so hard to take if I knew we were cutting the fat in our enormous defense fund, or if I knew the only people receiving the assistance that remains were the people who truly needed it.

Maybe the cuts wouldn't be so bad if I saw the best of human behavior, across the socioeconomic spectrum. Maybe people struggling to survive can band together and support each other, although I certainly know that is easier said than done. Maybe people with large incomes who believe in charity over government assistance can fully engage themselves in giving--and not just in charity, but in true social change that unites our society instead of dividing us into haves and have nots. Maybe we can work together across economic lines to build a more just society.

Maybe. But for now, we're stuck with 2 bad choices: an unsustainable budget that tries to care for our struggling citizens, or a slightly more sustainable budget that leaves people even more vulnerable.

Maybe we can find a better way.

Daily Detox: Disinfection

As far as detox goes, a little chlorine bleach or anti-bacterial stuff isn't so bad. Most of it is considered a skin irritant, which we know from winters full of hand sanitizer or scrubbing the bathroom with bleach water. Our hands can dry out and peel like crazy! And of course, when using bleach we have to dilute it and ventilate the area, and it still stings our eyes and burns our lungs. But is that all? What's really at risk when using bleach or other disinfectants?

When looking at triclosan, a popular anti-microbial in many washes and creams, the ladies at No More Dirty Looks report there's no real health benefit to using it unless someone is at risk for certain infections. There's always talk of anti-germ agents creating super-bugs, when the germs adapt and survive anyway. It can disrupt your hormones via thyroid issues, too.

Clorox themselves report bleach as a corrosive, saying in certain concentrations it can damage skin, lungs, eyes, and heart. The generally agreed-upon limit is that bleach is safe for normal use. However, the Material Safety Data Sheet says very plainly that no exposure limit has been established. Meaning, scientifically, no one knows when bleach usage crosses from safe to unsafe. Don't forget, with everyone in your neighborhood using it, it goes into the water supply. Eek.

I'm not a scientist, so this is obviously nowhere near rigorous. Count this as my personal preference. I'll use bleach to disinfect when there has been illness in my home, but that's about it. I use hand sanitizer after playing with some sickly children at work. Other than that, no thanks. It makes me feel weird, and that just doesn't seem good for me, my family, or the environment.

Alternatives? Vinegar! Seriously! It's an acid and it has disinfectant properties. Some people can't handle the smell, but when it dries, the smell is gone. I promise! Also, hydrogen peroxide. 1/2 cup of peroxide mixed with a gallon of water will take care of a household worth of cleaning needs. We love the resultes, and it feels good to know there are very few potentially harmful chemicals in our home.

Remember: BE CAREFUL when mixing any kind of cleaning chemical, natural or not. Make sure you're not making a toxic potion!

Here's my real question. It's pretty easy for me to find safety info on cosmetics. It's pretty easy to find natural cleaning solutions. What I can't seem to find is a solid database of safety info for cleaning products. I have learned not to trust labels or company claims, but where can I go to get unbiased info? Any thoughts?

Wednesday Wisdom

. . . a little bit late.

"It is very wrong for people to feel deeply sad when they lose some money, yet when they waste precious moments of their lives they do not have the slightest feeling of repentance."

--Dalai Lama

Here's to learning to use well and savor all of the moments we've been given.

Sleepies

Hello, blog world!

Considering the ice capades of the last week (even church was closed today!), you'd think I would have found some time to blog. But I didn't! No Daily Detox this week. I didn't even post a Wednesday quote!

I had the best of intentions, but we ended up with some winter hibernation. Sure, I worked from home most of the week, but I also took some major breaks. Reading. Husband time. Lots of quiet. I felt like a cat!

Anyone who knew me way-back-when knows in the past, I might have used the snow days differently. I might have gone on an organizational/cleaning binge, staying up odd hours until the job is done. I might have caught up on the to-do list, regardless of how exhausted it left me. I might have gone on a crazy midnight escapade. A college roommate recently reminded me of my habit of waking up at 4 AM after a fun night to finish my homework. And in high school, there were a few of us who wore our sleep deficits as badges.

No more! I have now determined sleep is more important than self-made obligations. If I had learned that when I was younger, perhaps I could have gotten my tasks done faster, and better. Sleep is not for the weak or lazy! Without sleep, we're slower, dumber, grouchy, even less moral. Sleep is not just rest for the brain; the brain is super-busy while we sleep, integrating data from our day. Some studies show that loss of one night's sleep equates to 30% decrease in cognitive function. Wish I could have told that to my 11th grade over-achieving self!

Of course, when we're young, we think we're invincible. I probably wouldn't have listened anyway. And there are times in life where sleep seems like the ultimate luxury. This is the first time since I was a kid that I can remember being fully rested, and I have to say, it's pretty stinkin awesome! Better enjoy it while I can.

What does this have to do with just living? There is a lot to be said for taking good care of ourselves so we can do our part for the world. Every day I make important decisions for the families I work with, based on morals and ethics. I owe it to them to be at my best. Plus, there's a lot to be said for enjoying the simple gifts in life.

For some interesting reading on the human brain, check out Brain Rules by John Medina.

Happy Sabbath!