February 2009 Archives

While out getting the mail yesterday, I detected it: A faint sweetness, a hint of what's to come, a mild waft of things stirring ready to burst forth. Yes, you guessed it! It's spring. Simmering slowly as the sun warms this crock pot Earth, serving up a new season chock full of fresh starts, warmer breezes and sunnier days.

With spring comes a feeling of rebirth. Reenergized, we are more apt to be out of doors. As the seedling lifts upward, so do our spirits rise with the promise of longer days. As we shed our over coats, so too, can we shed the heavier mood of cold to embrace the warmth and feel the sun upon our skin.

Spring is a great time to focus on rejuvenation. We feel inspired to take on a new class, or start a new routine. It's a great time to do some house cleaning: within and without. When we clean out, we make room for new growth. So, what can we lose?

Clutter ~ Prune those closets! Recycle those clothes that don't fit anymore and you'll feel lighter. You can donate them to charity and make more room for yourself. Being organized helps us to feel like we have control over our environment and it's always a positive influence upon our lives to exercise control over things that we actually can control.

Dead Skin Cells ~ Spring cleaning is not only for your nest! In order to help your complexion to look and feel its best, it's important to rid ourselves of that top layer of dead skin cells which blocks our pores and make our skin look dull. It's like your front door: if there's a whole bunch of debris blocking it, nothing can get in or out. So, out with the old, in with the new.

Old Habits ~ Sunshine warms our spirits. Do something nice for yourself. Make new tracks in your own garden. Focus on creating. By taking steps, you'll make strides and with each pace, you'll move farther onwards to a new adventure.

What can we gain?

The Power of Now ~ Try this: Take a moment, inhale, and close your eyes. This is what living feels like. One minute ago is a memory, one minute ahead is a possibility, but now - this very moment, is the prize. Savor it. Practice this and live in this world of moment to moment creation.

A Sunny Disposition ~ Take heed from the sun and shine in your own personal universe! Think of your attitude as if it were a crayon that will color your world's atmosphere. What color are you holding now?

Wellness ~ Health now is about being proactive. Read up. Try something new, whether that's yoga, meditation or acupuncture. Treat the cause and you will treat the symptom.

So, we add a little of this and a little of that to the crock pot; we season it with spring color, and we become aware of the power we have to influence the canvas of our lives. Happy spring!

I began taking chlorophyll supplements on the suggestion of Dr. Sarah Lobisco, Naturopathic Doctor, a week ago.

The first day or so, my stomach was grumbly and there were some noticeable changes that Dr. Sarah assured me were completely normal as my body began a cleansing process.

By day four, my stomach calmed down and I began craving vegetables and healthy foods taking notice of what was going into my mouth.

Day five, six and seven: I have been eating lighter, though, when I get hungry, I feel very hungry, which is unusual for me. I am not desiring sugar. I feel clearer, and have more energy. I'm not really sure if these feelings are effects of taking chlorophyll, but I'm happy with what's going on. I have not been eating much meat -- somehow it's not appetizing to me. I'm feeling well and looking forward to what will be!

Let's Play the "Ology" Game

How many ologists have you seen?

Looking back over my past medical history, reminds me of a board game. In the center is the "Primary Care Physician" and then, swimming separately like continents in a vast, dark sea are all the specialists I've visited.

Neurologist. Psychologist. Gynecologist(s). Rheumatologist. Gastroenterologist(s). Pulmonologist. Not to mention several surgeons.

How many ologists have you seen?

A New "Path"

Last Thursday, I met with Dr. Sarah Lobisco. As a Naturopathic Doctor, she combines traditional and alternative medicine. I came to see her with completed medical history forms she had given me before the visit and we sat and spoke. Unlike all my previous doctor visits, where one particular concern is dissected and examined, Dr. Sarah saw me as a whole unit. Like a jeweler, she strung all the pearls of me together to form a necklace of me. Instead of my different systems and organs being different planets, they formed a universe that danced among the stars in synchronicity.

Prior to this, I have seen alternative practitioners, who also saw me as a whole, but their philosophies stem from a non traditional perspective. What amazed me about Dr. Sarah, is how she combined different points of view including traditional medicine.

At the end of our consultation, Dr. Sarah made several suggestions that I'm implementing. My hope is to heal the ongoing tummy concerns that I've had for most of my life.

The Excitement: Continued

Then, on Wednesday evening, I went to see Dr. Sarah speak at the Saratoga Springs Public Library as part of a SIMEN program. She put together an excellent talk including video of other equally interesting practitioners, including a child prodigy who spoke with unbridled passion about the future of medicine and solving diseases such as Alzheimer's and cancer.

The well-attended program - there had to be more than 100 people there! -- explained the nature of Naturopathic Medicine, integrative medicine and other complementary alternative medicine, or CAM. It was genuinely amazing to hear and feel the response of the people around me who, like me, want better care. I think that we, as a nation are waking up and realizing that we don't want another prescription, we don't want a bandage, and we don't want a diagnosis built upon getting insurance coverage for services. We want to heal. We want to be well.

Inspired

Today, I went to the supermarket on a mission. Unlike my usual visit to the Bermuda Triangle more commonly known as the supermarket, this visit had punch. I had a job to do: find organic, buy vegetables, buy meals that are easy to make. Too often, I resort to soup or breakfast cereal at the end of a long day when I'm tired and don't feel like washing another utensil.

Lo and behold, was I heartened when the rows of "organic vegetables" beckoned. I partook: yellow, red and orange peppers, cucumbers, mixed field greens, and carrots were my choices du jour. Meats were a little more difficult, though I found that the chicken tenders were clearly marked "no hormones."

So, guess what I had for early dinner? The big salad: greens, peppers, cukes, carrots, seeds, croutons, craisins, 3 bean salad, and some nice natural Italian dressing. Yum yum!

Stay tuned!

Recently, two wonderful canine companions have entered my life and filled my heart with joy and tenderness. I had not had a dog since my family's collie passed on when I was nineteen. After that, other priorities took over and I never found the room or the desire to have dogs in my life. But now, I don't know how I ever lived without them.

It's not the first time that my life circumstances have flip-flopped one hundred and eighty degrees. In fact, as I pondered this, I realized that this has been a common theme. And sometimes a very amusing one as well, since we like to think that our current circumstances are lasting. Nowadays, I've learned to think in never- say-never terms.

When I called my son and told him that I'd suddenly acquired a new puppy, he was quite surprised. Aside from having the sense that I might want a pet, I had not made any serious inquiries into buying a dog nor shared these thoughts with my grown children. But then, one day, during a trip to the mall, my boyfriend and I happened to go into a pet shop. There, lo and behold, was a puppy.

Well, there were quite a few puppies, actually, but to me, there was only one. Our eyes met instantly. Mesmerized, I pointed to her and said dreamily, "Can I see that puppy?" Once in my arms, I knew that I could not leave her there. So, my son - my oldest -- who also came into my life as a surprise gift, was appropriately taken aback when I shared the big news with him, and he said, in his characteristically serious manner, "Mom, did you consider all the ramifications of having a dog?"

I thought about this briefly, then, amused, explained to him that I had probably thought more about owning a dog than I had to having children, and that having children had been the most splendiferous, joyful and fortuitous thing that had ever happened in all my life. He became quiet and softened.

The reality is this: sometimes we can think through a course before taking it, other times, it comes to us in a burst of serendipity. There is no why, no should; there is only that which is. Sometimes, we instantly know the course to take, whether it is one that we have contemplated consciously or one that is offered to us in a moment's notice. It does not give more validity to one or the other.

I am reminded of a conversation that I had with the talented acupuncturist, Dave Ostrowski. I kept asking him "why" questions about Chinese medicine, and finally, he looked at me quite pointedly and said, "There is no ‘why' in Chinese medicine."

This took me a while to accept, which, apparently, is the whole concept. For someone who has always been interested in the why's of life and relationships, it's not easy for me to refrain from asking this question, but when I thought about it, there is often no why to find. Furthermore, "why" doesn't seem to make any difference. Again, I believe that it's a matter of what is.

So, life with Ginger began. And, then, shortly after, I fell in love again. This time with a rescued puppy from over the internet who captured my heart through a short video clip.

Nowadays, I walk through the aisles of the pet supply store proudly. I ooh and ahh over adorable doggie sweaters and scan the labels of pet food before buying it. My life has had to change to accommodate these two little lives, but my life is so much richer because of them. Now, it's difficult for me to imagine that I did not have this kind of unconditional love for so many years. It's also opened doors into parts of me that I had closed. For this, I'm thankful. I'm remembering more and growing because of it. I think that when we are open to new experiences and change, we steer a course towards wondrous new adventures in growing, reinventing, healing, learning, becoming, being.

All life seems to hinge upon the concept: adapt or die. There is a phrase: what doesn't kill us makes us stronger. To that, I answer, what doesn't make us stronger kills us. We become stronger when we open ourselves to possibilities. "I can learn. I can adapt. I can change. I can grow. I can heal." Opening to change is allowing ourselves access to rejuvenation. Renew. Rebuild. Rebound.