The Saguaro Seminar from the Harvard Kennedy School of Harvard University encourages civic engagement and volunteerism as the new "hybrid health club for the 21st century." [sic]
The term social capital, has been used in mainstream articles and books for the last five decades, including by political scientist, Robert Salisbury, sociologist James Coleman, and in Robert Putnam's bestselling book, Bowling Alone. Referring to our community involvement as a stabilizing force toward general good health and well-being, the "tribal" mindset creates a way to insure what I like to call "Connection."
When we are connected, we are linked into a network of reciprocity consciousness. Communities, clubs, sports teams, church fellowships, arts councils, humanitarian organizations and the like are brought together through common goals and beliefs. For the purpose of pursuing these goals and beliefs, often these memberships (for lack of a better world) do not include the complication of financial goals as the end product. They are simply providing a way for people to connect and build trust while supporting a common cause.
It is through these connections that we strengthen our social capital.
The health benefits of social capital - of being connected to others - are documented in studies around the world. For a lengthy, but easy-to-read paper detailing the value of social capital, click on the Centre for Educational Research and Education.
Although we instinctively know the importance of social capital, the demise of neighborhood communities and our connections within them has greatly diminished the reciprocity consciousness that is an inherent part of sharing our lives with one another. Elders who volunteer after retirement are happier by far. Teenagers who have friends and are in orchestras or arts programs are more balanced overall. Adults facing difficult times because of loss of employment are able to get help through their church community or other social networks. Creating a life that includes these kinds of connections is priceless.
In this world where we can tend to sit in front of our computer screens all day electronically connecting, there is still nothing like real-life involvement with real people to boost our overall sense of well-being, create trust in the reciprocity of life, and cradle our sense of place in the world.
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Friday, July 13, 2012
This Morning 7/13/12 The Language of Statistics
I have always loved statistics. They help to define how to think about something. However, I don't always appreciate how they are used to help us think about something.
When a statistic is used, for instance, to understand the issue of childhood poverty or ocean temperatures, it is a teaching tool and may positively influence our behavioral psychology or sociology. When a statistic is used for the purpose of stating the facts of events like how many passes Joe Namath (I'm dating myself) made in a said football game, those statistics are informational and probably have no bearing on anything significant in our lives. When a statistic is used to influence a voter in an upcoming election, and skews sample questions and results to present a personal or political agenda, then the statistic is called a self-interest study, which ultimately has no value except to advance the sponsoring party's goals.
The Gallup polls present statistics related to sociopolitical issues. These polls are often based on a large sampling but can be skewed by the method. The order of questions, the demographic chosen, and the type of poll used (for example, a voluntary poll) might greatly distort the results of any given statistic. These possible distortions are important to consider when allowing ourselves to draw conclusions.
With the current flurry of statistics related to the upcoming election, we need to think for ourselves about issues with the help of these statistics, but see clearly the agendas of the media, corporations or Super-PACS who may want to use the statistics for their own purposes.
When a statistic is used, for instance, to understand the issue of childhood poverty or ocean temperatures, it is a teaching tool and may positively influence our behavioral psychology or sociology. When a statistic is used for the purpose of stating the facts of events like how many passes Joe Namath (I'm dating myself) made in a said football game, those statistics are informational and probably have no bearing on anything significant in our lives. When a statistic is used to influence a voter in an upcoming election, and skews sample questions and results to present a personal or political agenda, then the statistic is called a self-interest study, which ultimately has no value except to advance the sponsoring party's goals.
The Gallup polls present statistics related to sociopolitical issues. These polls are often based on a large sampling but can be skewed by the method. The order of questions, the demographic chosen, and the type of poll used (for example, a voluntary poll) might greatly distort the results of any given statistic. These possible distortions are important to consider when allowing ourselves to draw conclusions.
With the current flurry of statistics related to the upcoming election, we need to think for ourselves about issues with the help of these statistics, but see clearly the agendas of the media, corporations or Super-PACS who may want to use the statistics for their own purposes.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
This Morning 7/12/12 Got Some Clarity
A little clarity goes a long way!
Points of clarity courtesy of yesterday:
1. Two phone calls and a few emails later and all is set with my college program for August.
2. Some necessary extra money came through which provided oil for my house.
3. The timing of my trip to North Dakota is now clear after the airline changed a few flight times.
4. My daughter is moved out of her old place with the security deposit returned in full!
5. A friend who needed a liver transplant was operated on last night at midnight to receive his new organ.
My legs didn't cramp up last night either!
Clarity...
Points of clarity courtesy of yesterday:
1. Two phone calls and a few emails later and all is set with my college program for August.
2. Some necessary extra money came through which provided oil for my house.
3. The timing of my trip to North Dakota is now clear after the airline changed a few flight times.
4. My daughter is moved out of her old place with the security deposit returned in full!
5. A friend who needed a liver transplant was operated on last night at midnight to receive his new organ.
My legs didn't cramp up last night either!
Clarity...
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
This Morning 7/11/12 Legs
Legs take us forward. Legs carry us. Legs are the conduits of agile movement in humans. To translate the emotional capacity of legs - since that's what I do - legs signal confidence and courage, strength and capacity, ease of inner movement and acceptance.
My legs are bothering me lately. Various symptoms from femoral nerve jabs to weakness in my left knee have been occurring the last few weeks. Last night's very scary lower leg cramps, timed an hour apart, starting with the right side, left me on the floor nauseous, sweating and about to pass out from the pain. After reaching up to the sink to put some water in my mouth, I called a friend to "think" for me because I couldn't figure out what to do and didn't want to faint.
Homeopathic Magnesium Phosphate was indicated, but the acute problem was addressed and relieved with Aconitum Napellus 6x. I need a stronger dose though to deal with the more subtle issues I'm facing which are manifesting in my legs.
This fear of moving forward with my Public Health degree is due, at least partly, to poor communication from the university I'm enrolled in. The brand new format and location for this degree seems to be stalled. Perhaps I will be shifting to another campus for my work on this.
Additionally, I am being reminded about a car accident which occurred 21 years ago, in which I was incapacitated for 10 days in the hospital, and in recovery for 6 months before I was anywhere near functional. My left femur had been broken and a brain trauma/concussion left me unable to see straight or keep rhythm accurately. This memory is present for me very strongly as I am having symptoms in my left leg.
All this says to me is that I am working on going forward in my life and it isn't always easy or clear where it will all lead. For someone who likes to know toward where I am walking, who doesn't like the dark, it is a scary prospect.
At this point, all I can do is trust. Trust the guidance leading me this way and trust that I will be well for the journey.
My legs are bothering me lately. Various symptoms from femoral nerve jabs to weakness in my left knee have been occurring the last few weeks. Last night's very scary lower leg cramps, timed an hour apart, starting with the right side, left me on the floor nauseous, sweating and about to pass out from the pain. After reaching up to the sink to put some water in my mouth, I called a friend to "think" for me because I couldn't figure out what to do and didn't want to faint.
Homeopathic Magnesium Phosphate was indicated, but the acute problem was addressed and relieved with Aconitum Napellus 6x. I need a stronger dose though to deal with the more subtle issues I'm facing which are manifesting in my legs.
This fear of moving forward with my Public Health degree is due, at least partly, to poor communication from the university I'm enrolled in. The brand new format and location for this degree seems to be stalled. Perhaps I will be shifting to another campus for my work on this.
Additionally, I am being reminded about a car accident which occurred 21 years ago, in which I was incapacitated for 10 days in the hospital, and in recovery for 6 months before I was anywhere near functional. My left femur had been broken and a brain trauma/concussion left me unable to see straight or keep rhythm accurately. This memory is present for me very strongly as I am having symptoms in my left leg.
All this says to me is that I am working on going forward in my life and it isn't always easy or clear where it will all lead. For someone who likes to know toward where I am walking, who doesn't like the dark, it is a scary prospect.
At this point, all I can do is trust. Trust the guidance leading me this way and trust that I will be well for the journey.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
This Morning 7/10/12 Colloidal Silver and other Apparent Miracles
There is plenty of controversy regarding the use of Colloidal Silver and its efficacy. Before the dawn of "natural" products/alternative health manufacturers, Colloidal Silver was actually listed, until 1975, in the official drug guide books, The United States Pharmacopeia and National Formulary. It was during this era, though, when many apparently safe, easily obtainable and natural remedies, herbs, and supplements empowering people to take responsibility for their own health, became targets of campaigns against their legality.
The FDA, which monitors "approval" of food and drugs for public consumption, got in bed with drug manufacturers with the passing of the Kefauver-Harris Drug Amendments in 1966. Although the amendments appeared to place the burden of proof for a drug's safety squarely on the drug companies themselves, what it really did is gave the FDA the power to decide what was being made available to the American public. This signaled the crude reality of politics and politicians being forever indebted to the corporate giants we know today: Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Bristol/Myers, et al.
But, I digress.
My personal journey taking responsibility for my own health and seeking out alternative and safe remedies began in 1979. I read Rachel Carson's Silent Spring and became familiar with Jethro Kloss's Back To Eden; two pioneering books to lay the groundwork for why and how it is imperative to not follow the standard AMA/FDA/USA model of wellness. Putting profit and wellness in the same hand is a bit like telling someone to eat their ______ to feel better. (Disgusting!) But the point stands!
I have had two "miracle" cures with non-FDA sponsored natural remedies. One was at age 26 when my monthly menses became relatively symptom-free after I took, for two weeks, Evening Primrose Flower Essence. For ten years I had suffered through a form of toxic shock syndrome at the onset of my moontime each month. The symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness and weakness were relieved only by a day of rest, a hot bath and valerian root (from which they make Valium, the drug) tea. I met some people who understood plants in their purest state - herbalists who walked, collected and prepared their own tinctures, essences and poultices for health benefits. One of these people gave me the flower essence and it changed my life!
The other "miracle" happened with a homeopathic remedy prepared from the Arnica plant. I had just had major surgery on my left leg, requiring a nine-inch incision in my hip. In the post-op room, they were intravenously dosing me with Morphine upon request. I requested every five minutes because the pain was excruciating. When they wheeled me to my hospital room, my husband was there with several homeopathic remedies in very high therapeutic dosages. He gave me Arnica 1M and the pain stopped. Period. Just stopped.
Colloidal silver gave me a miracle moment once with a cat. The feline was a friend's house cat, 17 years old and seemingly at death's door according to the veterinarian my friend took him to hours before. Instead of euthanizing the cat, my friend brought him home to die. When I looked in on the kitty in the closet, he communicated through his beautiful eyes. I gave him colloidal silver in water and sprinkled on his head, and I laid my hands on him for awhile.
Three hours later, my friend called me and said the cat was acting like nothing was wrong. The cat lived another year and whenever I came over, he was there to greet me.
I like Colloidal Silver. In moderation, it helps many ailments and I use it for colds, sore throats, or if I just feel something is out of balance. I don't consume enough to cause argyria ("blueing" of the skin and organs), and I don't know if it "cures" everything it is espoused to cure, but I do know it is definitely worth keeping on my shelf of alternative FDA unapproved remedies!
The FDA, which monitors "approval" of food and drugs for public consumption, got in bed with drug manufacturers with the passing of the Kefauver-Harris Drug Amendments in 1966. Although the amendments appeared to place the burden of proof for a drug's safety squarely on the drug companies themselves, what it really did is gave the FDA the power to decide what was being made available to the American public. This signaled the crude reality of politics and politicians being forever indebted to the corporate giants we know today: Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Bristol/Myers, et al.
But, I digress.
My personal journey taking responsibility for my own health and seeking out alternative and safe remedies began in 1979. I read Rachel Carson's Silent Spring and became familiar with Jethro Kloss's Back To Eden; two pioneering books to lay the groundwork for why and how it is imperative to not follow the standard AMA/FDA/USA model of wellness. Putting profit and wellness in the same hand is a bit like telling someone to eat their ______ to feel better. (Disgusting!) But the point stands!
I have had two "miracle" cures with non-FDA sponsored natural remedies. One was at age 26 when my monthly menses became relatively symptom-free after I took, for two weeks, Evening Primrose Flower Essence. For ten years I had suffered through a form of toxic shock syndrome at the onset of my moontime each month. The symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness and weakness were relieved only by a day of rest, a hot bath and valerian root (from which they make Valium, the drug) tea. I met some people who understood plants in their purest state - herbalists who walked, collected and prepared their own tinctures, essences and poultices for health benefits. One of these people gave me the flower essence and it changed my life!
The other "miracle" happened with a homeopathic remedy prepared from the Arnica plant. I had just had major surgery on my left leg, requiring a nine-inch incision in my hip. In the post-op room, they were intravenously dosing me with Morphine upon request. I requested every five minutes because the pain was excruciating. When they wheeled me to my hospital room, my husband was there with several homeopathic remedies in very high therapeutic dosages. He gave me Arnica 1M and the pain stopped. Period. Just stopped.
Colloidal silver gave me a miracle moment once with a cat. The feline was a friend's house cat, 17 years old and seemingly at death's door according to the veterinarian my friend took him to hours before. Instead of euthanizing the cat, my friend brought him home to die. When I looked in on the kitty in the closet, he communicated through his beautiful eyes. I gave him colloidal silver in water and sprinkled on his head, and I laid my hands on him for awhile.
Three hours later, my friend called me and said the cat was acting like nothing was wrong. The cat lived another year and whenever I came over, he was there to greet me.
I like Colloidal Silver. In moderation, it helps many ailments and I use it for colds, sore throats, or if I just feel something is out of balance. I don't consume enough to cause argyria ("blueing" of the skin and organs), and I don't know if it "cures" everything it is espoused to cure, but I do know it is definitely worth keeping on my shelf of alternative FDA unapproved remedies!
Monday, July 9, 2012
This Morning 5/9/12 Reminders
Today is the 57th birthday of a step-brother I haven't seen in 18 years
Today is Monday
Today is a workday
Today is one month before I fly to North Dakota
Today is the day before my first Statistics class
Today is the day before my colleagues fly to Nashville
Today is the day I must get in touch with a Native American Dance group from NYC
Today is two days after the birthday of the only gramma I ever knew
Today is a day I remember her face
Today is one week before my birth mom's birthday
Today is the day I thought was her birthday until I remembered it was my step-brother's
Today is not over 100 degrees
Today is not sunny
Today is not boring or lonely
Today is cloudy
Today I think about my daughter and worry
Today helps me remember to be grateful
Today brings me here
Today is now
Today gives
Today is
Today
Today is Monday
Today is a workday
Today is one month before I fly to North Dakota
Today is the day before my first Statistics class
Today is the day before my colleagues fly to Nashville
Today is the day I must get in touch with a Native American Dance group from NYC
Today is two days after the birthday of the only gramma I ever knew
Today is a day I remember her face
Today is one week before my birth mom's birthday
Today is the day I thought was her birthday until I remembered it was my step-brother's
Today is not over 100 degrees
Today is not sunny
Today is not boring or lonely
Today is cloudy
Today I think about my daughter and worry
Today helps me remember to be grateful
Today brings me here
Today is now
Today gives
Today is
Today
Sunday, July 8, 2012
This Morning 7/9/12 Summer Berries
One of the most beautiful gifts of Summer is fresh and free berries! Across the light spectrum they range in color from blazing red Wineberries to deep purple Elderberries. Their palette swings from the luscious Raspberry to tart-tasting Cranberries.
I love free food that's good for you! On my "farm," which covers some 45 acres in total, with 10 acres of woods from which to forage, the edges of the forest, barn and buildings are lined with various types of wild berries.
Wild Strawberries begin the season around mid-April, in small low patches which are often reserved for the animal population. Although the Strawberries are edible, they are tiny and would require excessive amounts of time to collect a worthwhile amount. So I leave them and the mice, squirrels and groundhogs have at it!
The Wineberries bud in June, bearing fruit between late-June and July. These are most plentiful for me. I walk around my place everyday with my recycled yogurt containers and fill them to the brim. What I don't use or freeze, I give away. They make wonderful gifts in plastic reused store-bought berry containers. I have also made preserves from Wineberries - easy as pie! Which reminds me: a fruit tart from fresh-picked wineberries is beyond compare.
Blueberries are in season during this time of Summer as well. Although none are growing wild at my place, I visit a "pick-your-own" farm nearby and store the Blueberries in the freezer. Of all berries, these keep best frozen.
Late July and early August bring the blessed Blackberries. A king among berries, it has more cancer-fighting antioxidants than any other berry. They are plump and absolutely stunningly delicious when ripe. I have them growing inside the old barn foundation at my place. This is such a pleasure. But they "go by" very quickly, so it's important to keep an eye out for them, pick them, prepare pies, jams, or just eat or freeze them within a day or two. They don't keep well in the refrigerator more than a few days.
At my place, the Chokecherry tree has astringent berries which ripen in August and are a magnificent source of vitamin C and antioxidants. It tastes sour fresh, but when cooked for jellies or to make wozapi, a traditional Lakota dessert poured over frybread, it is sweetened considerably and absolutely delicious!
The wonders of fresh and free berries are a source of great nourishment for our bodies, our pocketbooks, and our souls!
I love free food that's good for you! On my "farm," which covers some 45 acres in total, with 10 acres of woods from which to forage, the edges of the forest, barn and buildings are lined with various types of wild berries.
Wild Strawberries begin the season around mid-April, in small low patches which are often reserved for the animal population. Although the Strawberries are edible, they are tiny and would require excessive amounts of time to collect a worthwhile amount. So I leave them and the mice, squirrels and groundhogs have at it!
The Wineberries bud in June, bearing fruit between late-June and July. These are most plentiful for me. I walk around my place everyday with my recycled yogurt containers and fill them to the brim. What I don't use or freeze, I give away. They make wonderful gifts in plastic reused store-bought berry containers. I have also made preserves from Wineberries - easy as pie! Which reminds me: a fruit tart from fresh-picked wineberries is beyond compare.
Blueberries are in season during this time of Summer as well. Although none are growing wild at my place, I visit a "pick-your-own" farm nearby and store the Blueberries in the freezer. Of all berries, these keep best frozen.
Late July and early August bring the blessed Blackberries. A king among berries, it has more cancer-fighting antioxidants than any other berry. They are plump and absolutely stunningly delicious when ripe. I have them growing inside the old barn foundation at my place. This is such a pleasure. But they "go by" very quickly, so it's important to keep an eye out for them, pick them, prepare pies, jams, or just eat or freeze them within a day or two. They don't keep well in the refrigerator more than a few days.
At my place, the Chokecherry tree has astringent berries which ripen in August and are a magnificent source of vitamin C and antioxidants. It tastes sour fresh, but when cooked for jellies or to make wozapi, a traditional Lakota dessert poured over frybread, it is sweetened considerably and absolutely delicious!
The wonders of fresh and free berries are a source of great nourishment for our bodies, our pocketbooks, and our souls!
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