Sunday, November 3, 2013
Feeling a Freak Out Coming
I feel dizzy. All the time almost. I think it's the stress, of everything. I feel blind and suddenly, I see. Then I'm dizzy. What have I done wrong? Why can I not see what's in front of me. I love and trust to a fault.If on;y I can be a good wife, it will all be ok, right? It's moments like this that I really don't know. I don't have confidence in us because I don't feel confidence in you. But I'm responsible for leading my heart, not following it. But is itstupid or wrong to stay like this??
Monday, July 22, 2013
Research Questions Freewrite
1. What place do herbal, homeopathic, dietary or activity-based remedies have in modern American medicine?
When I looked up this topic, there was a ton of online resources to use. Some, it seemed, were owned by the "natural side" of huge corporations. But there were great examples of companies that are smaller and looked truly concerned for the authenticity of their products. I was especially interested in the "how to" websites. The ones that tell you how to do your own version at home for a remedy or whatever they were discussing. After all, that is kind of the point of a home remedy, not having to buy everything ready-made. I did find some sites that were warning people away from natural remedies, but that makes me wonder what they have to gain by people not trusting the earths remedies.
2. What impact does small-scale gardening and animal husbandry have on individual wellness?
While researching this question, I came across some really creative ideas on how to do these things in cramped spaces and even when you don't own your own home. I also came across some really good arguments as to why people(especially people under the poverty level) might not be able to do either of these. It was interesting because most of the time, we as people feel like we are not operating under a certain set of assumptions, until they're pointed out to us. I can see how this particular approach would be hard to set up or maintain for an urban community, so their wellness program may have to rely more on the other options I am looking at here
3. How does eliminating preservatives and chemicals used in food manufacturing have a positive impact on how our bodies work?
I got a lot of information with this search that was interesting relating to how our bodies assimilate food and the chemicals contained in it. I found it interesting that synthetic vitamins are basically wasted money because our bodies can't recognize the vitamins and minerals they contain because they are synthetic, so we flush them out in our waste. That's some really expensive pee considering how much most of us spend on vitamins and supplements. It's the same with a lot of our foods. Although most of our grocery-store-bought food has been genetically altered, most of the time it is still close enough to the original that our bodies will recognize it as food. The problem with that is, when our bodies break it down to use as energy, it also breaks down the pesticides and growth chemicals and store it in our fat cells as energy for later, making our bodies toxic. So when it does decide to use the stores of energy, it breaks down toxins as well as fat and feeds it to our cells. This causes premature fatigue and body toxicity.
4. What difference can each of us make on our environment by making more natural choices?
This search was one of the more productive that I did as far as concrete steps to reduce our impact on the environment. There were several sites that gave tutorials on how to avoid impacting the world around us negatively. It was also informative on how the thing we choose to do affect everything like a chain reaction. Unfortunately, this was also the most elusive search I did for concrete results. There was a lot of theory on what would happen if "we all did our part" but not much real evidence to support the ideas that were put out there, I found that to be disappointing.
5. How do individual natural lifestyle choices impact the community and the greater population?
For this search, when I typed "inter-generational living", it was less of a how-to than the others I've done. It concentrated more on the care of senior citizens and not on the whole family benefits, so that was a bit disconcerting. As I read on though, there were several books that look promising for this information. There was a lot more information on the sociological effects of urban gardening and animal husbandry. That was very interesting because it seems there is a good deal of research on the subject in recent years that is promising.
When I looked up this topic, there was a ton of online resources to use. Some, it seemed, were owned by the "natural side" of huge corporations. But there were great examples of companies that are smaller and looked truly concerned for the authenticity of their products. I was especially interested in the "how to" websites. The ones that tell you how to do your own version at home for a remedy or whatever they were discussing. After all, that is kind of the point of a home remedy, not having to buy everything ready-made. I did find some sites that were warning people away from natural remedies, but that makes me wonder what they have to gain by people not trusting the earths remedies.
2. What impact does small-scale gardening and animal husbandry have on individual wellness?
While researching this question, I came across some really creative ideas on how to do these things in cramped spaces and even when you don't own your own home. I also came across some really good arguments as to why people(especially people under the poverty level) might not be able to do either of these. It was interesting because most of the time, we as people feel like we are not operating under a certain set of assumptions, until they're pointed out to us. I can see how this particular approach would be hard to set up or maintain for an urban community, so their wellness program may have to rely more on the other options I am looking at here
3. How does eliminating preservatives and chemicals used in food manufacturing have a positive impact on how our bodies work?
I got a lot of information with this search that was interesting relating to how our bodies assimilate food and the chemicals contained in it. I found it interesting that synthetic vitamins are basically wasted money because our bodies can't recognize the vitamins and minerals they contain because they are synthetic, so we flush them out in our waste. That's some really expensive pee considering how much most of us spend on vitamins and supplements. It's the same with a lot of our foods. Although most of our grocery-store-bought food has been genetically altered, most of the time it is still close enough to the original that our bodies will recognize it as food. The problem with that is, when our bodies break it down to use as energy, it also breaks down the pesticides and growth chemicals and store it in our fat cells as energy for later, making our bodies toxic. So when it does decide to use the stores of energy, it breaks down toxins as well as fat and feeds it to our cells. This causes premature fatigue and body toxicity.
4. What difference can each of us make on our environment by making more natural choices?
This search was one of the more productive that I did as far as concrete steps to reduce our impact on the environment. There were several sites that gave tutorials on how to avoid impacting the world around us negatively. It was also informative on how the thing we choose to do affect everything like a chain reaction. Unfortunately, this was also the most elusive search I did for concrete results. There was a lot of theory on what would happen if "we all did our part" but not much real evidence to support the ideas that were put out there, I found that to be disappointing.
5. How do individual natural lifestyle choices impact the community and the greater population?
For this search, when I typed "inter-generational living", it was less of a how-to than the others I've done. It concentrated more on the care of senior citizens and not on the whole family benefits, so that was a bit disconcerting. As I read on though, there were several books that look promising for this information. There was a lot more information on the sociological effects of urban gardening and animal husbandry. That was very interesting because it seems there is a good deal of research on the subject in recent years that is promising.
Passionate Freewriting- Cooking
I can't cook simply. I try very hard to simply cook, but it's just not in me. Opening a can and pouring it into a pan does nothing for me(or my family for that matter). Why buy bread when you could make your own honey whole-wheat, sunflower and flax seed, wheat germ version for a fraction of the price? Why buy a can of soup or chilli when you could saute all the ingredients together with some garlic and onion to infuse the whole dish with flavor? I guess I just don't buy into the line that "easier is better". There are so many times that I know I should slap some peanut butter and jelly on some store-bought bread and call it lunch, but I just can't bring myself to do it! I've tried! I find myself baking a lemon garlic pork tenderloin with rosemary(fresh from my garden, of course) roasted potatoes for my 2, 3 and 5-year-old's lunch! I guess I figure, why eat when you could EAT!! When you have the option of flavoring your food with spices and herbs, why go bland? Go big or go home, right? I admit, it's a problem...but a tasty one!
Passionate Freewrititng- Choices on Where and How to Labor and Give Birth
I think that women should have the choice to labor and birth however she chooses. It's only in the last five years that Missouri women could chose to have a midwife attend her home birth without worrying that the midwife was committing a felony! In the culture in which we live today, it is very unusual to be given many choices surrounding this most sacred of journeys. Labor and birth is a powerful right of passage and I think women should think about it a little more than most of us do today. In advocating for the choice to birth at home, with or without assistance, with or without medication, whomever present that the mother chooses, I also advocate for the option to have a highly medicalized birth as well. Though I don't think the latter is the best option for most women and their families I do think it should be available to those who desire or medically require it. Birth is a natural process that women have been doing without doctors for centuries. While the fledgling profession of medicine was still using leaches and blood-letting, induced vomiting and using electroshock treatments, women all over the world were giving birth to babies at home, in their own environments, in perfect safety.
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Passionate Freewriting- Learning to Live Naturally Within a Modern Society
I think that we have lost something by not being able to do things for ourselves anymore. I think we should know what raw milk tastes like. and that you can skim the cream off the top and make butter and buttermilk from it. Or add cultures to the skimmed milk and make cheese and whey...and then you can ferment other foods with the whey! I've been learning about so many things like this recently and I'm so impressed. But I' also disappointed that we have gotten so far from self-sufficiency. I like to garden but I desperate want to be good at it. I read a great book a couple years ago called "Radical Homemakers" by Shannon Hayes. It's such an easy read and it does a great job of giving options on how to incorporate traditional preparations(of food, clothes, energies) into our normal lives. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to return a bit to the basics.
10 Things I am Passionate About
1. I am passionate about my marriage succeeding
2. I am passionate about parenting my children well
3. I am passionate about loving lost people and introducing them to Christ
4. I am passionate about women having choices on where and how to labor and give birth
5. I am passionate about learning to live naturally within a modern society
6. I am passionate about doing hair and makeup
7. I am passionate about loving my friends and family
8. I am passionate about arts and crafts/ home decorating
9. I am passionate about cooking
10. I am passionate about being silly
2. I am passionate about parenting my children well
3. I am passionate about loving lost people and introducing them to Christ
4. I am passionate about women having choices on where and how to labor and give birth
5. I am passionate about learning to live naturally within a modern society
6. I am passionate about doing hair and makeup
7. I am passionate about loving my friends and family
8. I am passionate about arts and crafts/ home decorating
9. I am passionate about cooking
10. I am passionate about being silly
Friday, July 19, 2013
Blogging Assignment Reflection
This assignment was challenging in many ways for me. Beginning with the very thought of setting up my own blog. I have never been very computer savvy so it was a scary prospect to even start. I was pleasantly surprised at how easy the process was; Blogger was very easy to use and navigate through. It made a big difference in my confidence level. I quite enjoyed the freewriting I was able to compose for this assignment. It did prove more difficult than I originally anticipated to write every day and I found that I was not able to devote enough time to it in the end. Admittedly, some of the post topics I chose were to meet the required amount for the assignment(which I ended up not meeting anyway!). I chose these options because they looked easy and they turned out to be some of my hardest posts, they required a lot more thinking than the personal examples I wrote.
It's funny to look at something that seems ordinary and see later how God chooses to use it. I went into this task pretty excited about practicing freewriting and I really enjoyed the part of the assignment that allowed me the freedom to choose my own subjects. As you probably noted, some of my subjects were very personal in nature. And they were true. Posts like " I Believe I Want My Marriage to Work", "Jennifer- The Inconsistent", and "When I'm The Problem Now" are shining examples of this. Probably the biggest decision I've ever made, shown step-by-step, in real time. What I will always remember about this class and the work is that The Lord used it to change my life and my marriage. Through freewriting I was able to pull realities out of my emotional turmoil and see the truth of how I really feel on paper. I believe this is a skill I will use for the rest of my life.
Thank you for the introduction.
It's funny to look at something that seems ordinary and see later how God chooses to use it. I went into this task pretty excited about practicing freewriting and I really enjoyed the part of the assignment that allowed me the freedom to choose my own subjects. As you probably noted, some of my subjects were very personal in nature. And they were true. Posts like " I Believe I Want My Marriage to Work", "Jennifer- The Inconsistent", and "When I'm The Problem Now" are shining examples of this. Probably the biggest decision I've ever made, shown step-by-step, in real time. What I will always remember about this class and the work is that The Lord used it to change my life and my marriage. Through freewriting I was able to pull realities out of my emotional turmoil and see the truth of how I really feel on paper. I believe this is a skill I will use for the rest of my life.
Thank you for the introduction.
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