I personally want to live in a world where I believe things are "magical" I mean honestly where is the fun with out magical?!? Everyone who is true to themselves wants everything to be magical ESPECIALLY relationships. We think Prince Charming or Cinderella will show up one day wisk us away with their charm and knock us to our knees with their undying unfailing never ending love and of course they would rather die themselves before they hurt us! However Magic is just make believe, and we're mechanical and thats just how it is, and Well... Im not sure how mechanics work!!!
These are a few thing I do know. I know black and white. Happy and Sad, Love and hate.. I know drama. I do NOT know how to turn the other cheek, and Im trying to learn to be balanced.
Do you remember those times in life that you were SURE with all of your being that they were magical and your enthusiasm and joy for life was at it's peak...its pinnacle if you will? Things burned brighter than the sun in your life then. Your heart sang with gladness, nothing on earth could keep your feet on the ground!! When you sang songs its like they were were written JUST for you. We've all had those times. Why don't THEY last?
I hear its all perspective. Change your mind change your life. Well what idiot said that?!? Of course its a mental snapshot of your life at the time. But my question for YOU Universe is.. what the crap have you done to my perspective?? OR does my mental camera need to be fine tuned? Was there ever any magic or..is my life mechanical and im not mechanically inclined enough to figure this out?? Am I not taking enough risks anymore? Have I become complacent, boring and predictable? Have I risked my soul singing by staying in one spot too long? I used to be the girl who used to laugh the loudest. Now the quiet kills me because is SCREAMS the truth. I like you want to feel with every fiber of my being. Life is short and I don't have time to be stuck!
I suppose our lives are like revolving doors, well thats how I imagine them anyway. I feel like I just keep walking around and around. Too scared to make a decision, or is it the guilt we let other people in our lives have over us?? Ultimate Happiness is on one side of the revolving door and on the other is all the other people and their crap that awaits us! Somehow I "magically" end up picking the wrong door...or are their mechanical steps I have neglected? So in the past when I've gotten spued on the floor through the wrong door I dust off my jeans look up, stand up and think well hell...wrong door AGAIN!
I guess it could be our "perspective" while making that never ending circle around. BUT WAIT, I ask you what if there is such thing as ultimate happiness? Or are we only just allowed glimpses of it? Are those glimpses a window into enlightenment? I guess the same works for ultimate sadness, betrayel, lost, hurt, and depression. We all know they exist so the major question is...how to make one outshine the other? I say to heck with perspective and lets get radical...because radical seems adventurous! And maybe thats how you get it back?
Let me say this, I have always hated revolving doors!! Don't ask me why.. they just freak me out! I avoid them at ALL costs. Maybe because I feel like Im trapped in there...and its why using it as an example for life seems so fitting. Don't mishear me I don't hate my life, on the contrary I love my life, but just because you love your life doesn't mean that major changes don't need to happen. As I circle around Im looking for the right door the right exit all the RIGHT things. But I'm starting to believe my right and your right aren't the same rights. Sometimes... you have to push those doors hard when they're full of people and their CRAP!! And then when the time comes to make the scary decision..you just gotta be brave JUMP out!!
“If you dont know learn how to be scared, you'll never really learn how to be brave.”
― Simon Holt, The Devouring
Welcome To The Show
This is not a dream is it??
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Friday, February 15, 2013
Running Just As Fast As She Can.....
Holding onto one anothers hand...
Once upon a time lived a chameleon. Her name was CiCi. This chameleon never really felt like she was supposed to be a chameleon, so you can already see how this story is confusing. Chameleons change their "colors" in social situations and depending on their moods. Society told this chameleon that she was supposed to be who she was on the inside and not to change! Growing up this chameleon saw her friends dress a certain way act a certain way...so as a Chameleon CiCi changed with her friends. CiCi loved sports and being active! She loved being with people and spending time with her friends, and just acting completly goofy!
Later when CiCi the Chameleon went to chameleon college (as all good Chameleons are supposed to do) she noticed some things...she noticed she wasn't changing her colors anymore. She was just one color (coincidently the same color as all the other chameleons)..she didnt' think much of it..it was probably normal. Because remember people told her changing isn't good be who you are!
While at college she met a boy chameleon and all her chameleon friends thought they were perfect. They both had a pretty color (even though it wasn't changing) and even though these two chameleons knew deep down they didn't quite fit together somehow...all the other chameleons thought they did..so, they stayed together for a long time. THEN one day CiCI did something radical and started a job with other chameleons that were changing their colors and it seemed like they were really living their life! SO..little by little CiCi noticed her colors started to change again and she felt alive again, but she realized that the boy chameleon she had made lots of plans with only liked her to be ONE color. CiCi struggled with this alot because was that one color who she really was?? Was that what a good chameleons did? Was she really a chameleon who was supposed to change her colors or should she believe what EVERYONE ALWAYS told her that she was to be true to herself (whatever that was) and be who she is on the inside..was that one color who she was on the inside?? WOW! So you can see how CiCi was very confused.
One day CiCi went with her colorful friends and they all took a road trip. Somehow they arrived at a cliff...then all of a sudden she noticed her friends were laughing and having a good time but she couldn't find them anywhere! CiCi searched, and what CiCi decided to do next would change her life forever. She looked at the cliff...she thought about her color...then..CiCi did something no one would have ever expected her to do. SHE JUMPED! She stood at the edge of the cliff, and this time she didn't look where she had been and she didn't care where she was going..she turned and faced the cliff...and just JUMPED! She didnt' care if or where she landed.
It took a long time fore CiCi and her chameleon love to recover from her jump. CiCi did alot of damage when she jumped! Sometimes when you jump towards what you think is right things get broken. For a long time CiCi was broken and the Boy Chameleon got broken too. CiCi for a while thought...maybe everyone was right...maybe she was supposed to just stay that one color and live the rest of her life like that..maybe that WAS who she was!!! This mad CiCi sad. Sad she had wrecked her life sad she had wrecked his life. Now look what you've done she would say to herself!! Look at all the damage you have caused to the Boy chameleon you said you loved and how the hurt trickled down through some of your friends.
Time passed and CiCi and the Boy Chameleon moved in different directions. CiCi was still lost and trying to find her colors again because she had been stuck on a dark color for a long time and thought maybe her jump had caused her color to get stuck and she feared it would be forever!
Time passed and one day CiCi went out with a friend and met another chameleon named Leo. He seemed fun and every now and then she could see different colors from him. It took a long time before CiCi got up the courage to talk to this new Chameleon. As you can see CiCi was one confused chameleon!And see.. Leo had just jumped off his own cliff so..he mostly was dark too, but every now and then his colors would show. Little by little, and bit by bit the two chameleons were changing colors and laughing again. She still worried that it was wrong to change her colors so often, but Leo laughed at her and assured her that she was supposed to change her colors!! He also helped CiCi realize that she was unique, and by staying the same color all the time was boring and no one could tell her apart from the others when she did what everyone else was doing. This was new to CiCi, but the more she thought about it...the more she realized that changing her colors WAS who she was supposed to be!
Now a short time into their Chameleon friendship the Universe decided that CiCi and Leo should be together and live the rest of their chameleon life changing their colors and changing their world.
Now their chameleon life hasn't been easy like CiCi thought it would be. See...another thing "everyone" told CiCi is that its NOT normal if that jolt of excitement she would get from jumping off cliffs with Leo, or the excitement of changing colors together isn't there. So CiCi worried again she wasnt' doing it right because that spark didnt' seem to last long, and NOW CiCi and Leo had two little Chameleons to think about.
Some days Leo would venture out looking for Cliffs on his own. Not other Chameleons just those cliffs..you know where he thought the color changes came from. Because when Leo would get stuck on one color he began to worry! However, after going out and trying the scariest cliffs..you know those ones where you can't see the bottom.. the ones that COULD be bottomless but you are so desperate to "feel" something so your colors will change you just close your eyes and close your mind and jump!!! Luckily for Leo the cliffs he jumped from weren't bottomless so..several broken bones later Leo slowly started to realize that maybe the real adventure and the real spark wasn't really from those bottomless cliffs. That the real adventure was taking CiCi by the hand..and them jumping TOGETHER..and on the way down reminding her how beautiful her colors were (even when others didnt' think so) and in turn CiCi would remind Leo how much she loved his colors and how beautiful his chameleon heart was.
Guess what happened next?? On the way down they caught a tiny glimpse of a tiny spark from a giant flame that was there under their dark color the whole time!
If you're wondering what happend to the college boy chameleon...he found his most perfect chameleon mate who forced him to change his colors often and THAT allowed him to see how beautiful the world can be when you let that perfect chameleon mate (as scary as it is) to touch a place on your heart that you've never allowed anyone to even look at.
CiCi and Leo's story isn't over yet..actually its JUST beginning..and if I know CiCi and Leo...it's gonna be one hell of a ride;)
jump!
Monday, September 19, 2011
A day in the life of the Hummingbird (thats me): Paradigm Lost
A day in the life of the Hummingbird (thats me): Paradigm Lost: Yesterday, I had all but finished my blog and my husband asked what it was about. When gave him a title overview he was ..we'll say confuse...
Paradigm Lost
Yesterday, I had all but finished my blog and my husband asked what it was about. When gave him a title overview he was ..we'll say confused ;) and by the time we were done talking I realized I didn't REALLY feel that way I was just venting. So I trashed it. I'm a pretty intense person sometimes. I'll believe 100% in my argument until someone makes a valid point and it causes to to step back, reevaluate, and possibly change my view. I don't really LIKE doing this sanity exercise, but who does. LOL
Often times there are moments in life when I feel completely fenced in by my reality, and my thoughts are only of doom and cynicism. For those of you who don't know me personally I am a tad bit high strung sometimes. I can easily turn my reality into a major catastrophic event to which I believe there is no end in sight, and we might as well get down in a bunker and prepare for imminent death!
But, upon saying that I tell ya I am very lucky gal in alot of ways and one of the biggies is that I have a husband who has the ability to calmly explain that what I believe IS my reality.. really is just how I VIEW my current situation.
It sorta clicked yesterday. (now just because I say it clicked doesn't mean I am a changed person..I'm sure I'll have my mental moments ;) But I would like you to join me on my journey of changing how we view reality and life.
My blog yesterday that I sadly deleted was about life, God, and Christianity. I was ranting on the point of it all; the point of trying to be good, trying to be perfect, trying to do what is right. I grew up believing that God created us, that our life on this earth would not be perfect. I grew up believing that if we believed in Jesus, confessed our sins, proceeded with baptism that we became a child of God. (side note if God created me..wasn't I already his child why do i need the rituals?;) If you go with the O.S.A.S. (once saved always saved) then I did what was required of me now let me just do what I want without the guilt!
I just got sick of trying.
I did the whole eat, sleep, and breathe Jesus thing. I did the whole..wait for it ...wait for it.. Yo, Jesus I'm WAITING like you told me and uhh...wait are you on channel 1 or channel 2?!? Crap I must have been tuned into the wrong station this whole time..So I guess I'll just make a decision already! Ok, wait a dang minute I waited, I made a decision that I believed was what you wanted me to do BUT..it benefited someone else!! NOT ME! (when i said more of you and less of me I did not mean that financially)
So not only did I not hear,... I made the wrong decision?? OR..was that part of a plan you neglected to tell me about. Whatever it was it left me in a bad spot my man.
Every avenue I turn down leaves me with less than I started! (or so it seems) You can see where my paradigm is forming.
Why try to be perfect in an imperfect world. Now hear this..now hear this..Its a set up!! In my moment of: forget it all.. my life is over.. there is no way out of this mess we're in and my life is a crazy train on a circle track! I signed up for the fun merry go round and got THIS!
In my moment of meltdown my husband says something to this affect..Your life is not as atrocious and loathsome as you are making it out! Who invited this guy to my pity party!?
Often times there are moments in life when I feel completely fenced in by my reality, and my thoughts are only of doom and cynicism. For those of you who don't know me personally I am a tad bit high strung sometimes. I can easily turn my reality into a major catastrophic event to which I believe there is no end in sight, and we might as well get down in a bunker and prepare for imminent death!
Insert DEEP BREATH here
But, upon saying that I tell ya I am very lucky gal in alot of ways and one of the biggies is that I have a husband who has the ability to calmly explain that what I believe IS my reality.. really is just how I VIEW my current situation.
It sorta clicked yesterday. (now just because I say it clicked doesn't mean I am a changed person..I'm sure I'll have my mental moments ;) But I would like you to join me on my journey of changing how we view reality and life.
My blog yesterday that I sadly deleted was about life, God, and Christianity. I was ranting on the point of it all; the point of trying to be good, trying to be perfect, trying to do what is right. I grew up believing that God created us, that our life on this earth would not be perfect. I grew up believing that if we believed in Jesus, confessed our sins, proceeded with baptism that we became a child of God. (side note if God created me..wasn't I already his child why do i need the rituals?;) If you go with the O.S.A.S. (once saved always saved) then I did what was required of me now let me just do what I want without the guilt!
I just got sick of trying.
I did the whole eat, sleep, and breathe Jesus thing. I did the whole..wait for it ...wait for it.. Yo, Jesus I'm WAITING like you told me and uhh...wait are you on channel 1 or channel 2?!? Crap I must have been tuned into the wrong station this whole time..So I guess I'll just make a decision already! Ok, wait a dang minute I waited, I made a decision that I believed was what you wanted me to do BUT..it benefited someone else!! NOT ME! (when i said more of you and less of me I did not mean that financially)
So not only did I not hear,... I made the wrong decision?? OR..was that part of a plan you neglected to tell me about. Whatever it was it left me in a bad spot my man.
Every avenue I turn down leaves me with less than I started! (or so it seems) You can see where my paradigm is forming.
Why try to be perfect in an imperfect world. Now hear this..now hear this..Its a set up!! In my moment of: forget it all.. my life is over.. there is no way out of this mess we're in and my life is a crazy train on a circle track! I signed up for the fun merry go round and got THIS!
In my moment of meltdown my husband says something to this affect..Your life is not as atrocious and loathsome as you are making it out! Who invited this guy to my pity party!?
Here is where the pep talk begins. You have two healthy girls a happy marriage and a beautiful home...this is just a minor blimp in this thing called life that we do together. Its not the end it's only the beginning. You need to change your paradigm! (Well now don't I feel silly!! all along I just needed to change my stinkin thinkin HA I laugh sarcastically) So you mean to tell me that all I gotta do it see things more positive? I don't know about you folks but things in my life ARE as I perceive them. I hope you have someone to help you slow down take a deep breath and see the positives of where you are. Because when I'm in my "gloom despair and agony on me" routine I can't see them. So I decided to take this opportunity and with the prompting of my husband I WAS (much to my disbelief) able to calm my insanity and take a step back and see the bigger picture.
I am the captain of this eccentric ship and he is my "Bones" telling me "its LIFE Jim, but not as we know it" so loose your current paradigm.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Goldfish, is whats for breakfast!
I love having a glimpse in the rear view mirror of moments in time that have a certain feel about them even a certain smell and sound. I have a very active imagination and I can easily put myself back in time. To me (as in my mind lol) it looks like a scene from a movie where the person is having an out of body experience looking back on bits and pieces of their life. So, today is one of those days. Lying in my bed listening to a little music Angel From Montgomery the windows are open a nice cool breeze is blowing in. My kids are both with Grandparents so my rear view moment is the married life before the kiddos..when on days off we didn't have to many cares in the world. We could just be as lazy as we wanted. We never watched TV, just chilled and listened to music and enjoyed the beautiful weather. That my friends is what is happening today. Layne just got home from a hike; where the only concern for the day is what time to get around, and get our oldest daughter at my parents, and once there partake in some smoked Boston butt. Ahh these are the days!
Don't get my wrong I wouldn't trade my girls for this brief moment of serendipity! I'm just going to soak it up and bask in it for a moment before my load of stress that is waiting at the door to dump its full load of "you know what" on me. So when you get these moments eat goldfish crackers in bed for breakfast. Let the moment move you..take you back..and let that moment of peace change you for the better..if only for a day ;)
Don't get my wrong I wouldn't trade my girls for this brief moment of serendipity! I'm just going to soak it up and bask in it for a moment before my load of stress that is waiting at the door to dump its full load of "you know what" on me. So when you get these moments eat goldfish crackers in bed for breakfast. Let the moment move you..take you back..and let that moment of peace change you for the better..if only for a day ;)
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Legends are passed on and not forgotten "Dig a Little Deeper"
There are people in your life that you treasure so much; like a memento you keep in a special box on the shelf. They've been in your life as long as you can remember, they are apart of who you are. That is what this blog is about today. Passing on a treasure and digging a little deeper into who we really are.
My Aunt Betty Jo- where does a person start? How do you express how much impact one person can have on the lives of so many? I don't know either, but I can tell you what impact she had on mine.
The first words that come to mind when I think of her are: Honest, Smart, Creative, Savvy, Kind, Compassionate, Grace giving, loving and a great cook.
Some of my earliest memories of her were when would have a Christmas party at her house. I remember one year she gave (and still have) this doll she made for me. It was larger than life to me! One reason it really was a big doll, she made it long and skinny and it had elastic bands on the hands and feet so you could attach it to your hands and feet and dance and play. The second reason, is because I got a gift that all the big girls got! (my older cousins) BUT the main reason is I was so amazed that someone could create something so great with their hands.
She is my Dads sister, 1 of 5. All of my growing up years she lived just a few miles away from me, so I got to see her and visit her alot! She always had a dog or some animal running around, and she always had a garden. Not like a garden you see now days, a little four row thing with a few veggies. Her gardens were massive! (well they seemed massive to me at the time) To me just the walk from her house to the "big" garden seem like quite a trek!
Once when I was a bit older I remember I was ridin' the tractor with my Daddy in a field that wasn't to far from her house, so I decided being at her house would be much better than this hot dusty old tractor. So I asked my Dad to take me to her house..he denied that request. (for you non farmin' folks..once the tractor is in the field it doesn't leave, quit, or stop until the work is done-so me asking for a ride down the road was almost like asking someone in the middle of cutting your hair to stop..go get in their car and get you lunch) However he quickly said you can walk down there if you want. This was a big deal, like a coming of age, like my dad was saying I was big enough to do something on my own! I took the opportunity! Plus I knew Aunt Betty Jo would have cold Mountain Dew! An extra incentive. So I left out walking. It took me about an hour to get there!! I was so hot and thirsty I thought I might not make it! But once I saw her driveway..I knew I was ok. I knocked on her door told her how I got there she opened it wide and welcomed me in with pure happiness to see me. However she was out of Mountain dew..but that was ok she fixed me right up with some sweet tea!
I remember her tutoring me in math after school. I was/am terrible at math! I was probably about to flunk and I assume my Mother had probably given a valiant effort, but I can guess we butted heads. So, lucky for me I got to go to Aunt Betty Jo's house everyday after school. I loved getting to go down there for any reason...Even if it was math. She taught me in a way I could understand. I listened to her, not only in math but in all things especially how important family is.
I learned to drive on her road. I remember getting to drive my parents car at 14 or 15 (probably more like 15) all by myself from my house to her house. So you can imagine how much I went to visit her!
Once I went off to college I didn't come home often and when I did I didn't get a chance to visit to many people, but before I left school I would call Aunt Betty Jo and let her know I was coming home and ask her to PLEASE make me some of her homemade rolls! No one could make rolls like that woman.
After I was married I called home requested some of her pickled beats I love so much, but my Dad was out. he quickly suggested I go down there and learn how to make them. So I went down and she taught me how to make them myself. I haven't made any ALL by myself yet..I've since then either went and picked her up to have her walk me through it or called her on the phone. Sadly I wont have that luxury this coming year, and I'll be on my own.
To me Aunt Betty Jo was like E.F. Hutton when she talked YOU listened! Because she didn't talk alot. She wasn't one of these people who are a Chatty Cathy, and all up in every ones business, but if you crossed her or spoke ill of her family you had best be prepared because she was going to let you know how she felt on the matter, or at least say something to make you check yourself! I remember once in a conversation we were having about religion (I was married & grown btw) I crossed the line of questioning how one of her siblings could believe a certain way. She REAL quick let me know that people had a right to believe the way they wanted and it wasn't my business to worry about it. Yes Ma'am I said humbly. If you didn't know her..one thing she would set straight in a heart beat was family fighting with each other. Often times if there was family strife..you tried to keep her from hearing about it. Because you knew she wouldn't approve and she would set things right. (or make you set it right)
She was a strong hard working woman. She could and did just as much work as any man could that's for sure. She was a woman who stood for what was right, gave it all she had, and gave grace to all, and never put herself above anyone..ANYONE. As long as I have been on this earth I never once heard her talk or gossip about anyone not ONCE did I ever hear that from her. I can't speak for anyone else but she never allowed me to talk bad about anyone either..especially in her presence.
Everyone in town seemed to call her, Aunt Betty Jo, Granny Jo, Nanny, Mamaw, Momma Jo...I think that speaks volumes of a person character alone. If any character on TV represents Aunt Betty Jo the best.. I think it's Momma Odie (minus the voodoo lol) From "Princess & The Frog". --The accent is almost spot on ;) watch this clip and for those of you who know her..when Momma Odie says "yo daddy" and "chill-ren" you can almost hear Aunt Betty Jo :) http://youtu.be/XJT0uhfcCkw
I will miss her greatly, and I can almost say with certainty that Jesus will have her makin them rolls for the banquet..yum yum can't wait!
My Aunt Betty Jo- where does a person start? How do you express how much impact one person can have on the lives of so many? I don't know either, but I can tell you what impact she had on mine.
The first words that come to mind when I think of her are: Honest, Smart, Creative, Savvy, Kind, Compassionate, Grace giving, loving and a great cook.
Some of my earliest memories of her were when would have a Christmas party at her house. I remember one year she gave (and still have) this doll she made for me. It was larger than life to me! One reason it really was a big doll, she made it long and skinny and it had elastic bands on the hands and feet so you could attach it to your hands and feet and dance and play. The second reason, is because I got a gift that all the big girls got! (my older cousins) BUT the main reason is I was so amazed that someone could create something so great with their hands.
She is my Dads sister, 1 of 5. All of my growing up years she lived just a few miles away from me, so I got to see her and visit her alot! She always had a dog or some animal running around, and she always had a garden. Not like a garden you see now days, a little four row thing with a few veggies. Her gardens were massive! (well they seemed massive to me at the time) To me just the walk from her house to the "big" garden seem like quite a trek!
Once when I was a bit older I remember I was ridin' the tractor with my Daddy in a field that wasn't to far from her house, so I decided being at her house would be much better than this hot dusty old tractor. So I asked my Dad to take me to her house..he denied that request. (for you non farmin' folks..once the tractor is in the field it doesn't leave, quit, or stop until the work is done-so me asking for a ride down the road was almost like asking someone in the middle of cutting your hair to stop..go get in their car and get you lunch) However he quickly said you can walk down there if you want. This was a big deal, like a coming of age, like my dad was saying I was big enough to do something on my own! I took the opportunity! Plus I knew Aunt Betty Jo would have cold Mountain Dew! An extra incentive. So I left out walking. It took me about an hour to get there!! I was so hot and thirsty I thought I might not make it! But once I saw her driveway..I knew I was ok. I knocked on her door told her how I got there she opened it wide and welcomed me in with pure happiness to see me. However she was out of Mountain dew..but that was ok she fixed me right up with some sweet tea!
I remember her tutoring me in math after school. I was/am terrible at math! I was probably about to flunk and I assume my Mother had probably given a valiant effort, but I can guess we butted heads. So, lucky for me I got to go to Aunt Betty Jo's house everyday after school. I loved getting to go down there for any reason...Even if it was math. She taught me in a way I could understand. I listened to her, not only in math but in all things especially how important family is.
I learned to drive on her road. I remember getting to drive my parents car at 14 or 15 (probably more like 15) all by myself from my house to her house. So you can imagine how much I went to visit her!
Once I went off to college I didn't come home often and when I did I didn't get a chance to visit to many people, but before I left school I would call Aunt Betty Jo and let her know I was coming home and ask her to PLEASE make me some of her homemade rolls! No one could make rolls like that woman.
After I was married I called home requested some of her pickled beats I love so much, but my Dad was out. he quickly suggested I go down there and learn how to make them. So I went down and she taught me how to make them myself. I haven't made any ALL by myself yet..I've since then either went and picked her up to have her walk me through it or called her on the phone. Sadly I wont have that luxury this coming year, and I'll be on my own.
To me Aunt Betty Jo was like E.F. Hutton when she talked YOU listened! Because she didn't talk alot. She wasn't one of these people who are a Chatty Cathy, and all up in every ones business, but if you crossed her or spoke ill of her family you had best be prepared because she was going to let you know how she felt on the matter, or at least say something to make you check yourself! I remember once in a conversation we were having about religion (I was married & grown btw) I crossed the line of questioning how one of her siblings could believe a certain way. She REAL quick let me know that people had a right to believe the way they wanted and it wasn't my business to worry about it. Yes Ma'am I said humbly. If you didn't know her..one thing she would set straight in a heart beat was family fighting with each other. Often times if there was family strife..you tried to keep her from hearing about it. Because you knew she wouldn't approve and she would set things right. (or make you set it right)
She was a strong hard working woman. She could and did just as much work as any man could that's for sure. She was a woman who stood for what was right, gave it all she had, and gave grace to all, and never put herself above anyone..ANYONE. As long as I have been on this earth I never once heard her talk or gossip about anyone not ONCE did I ever hear that from her. I can't speak for anyone else but she never allowed me to talk bad about anyone either..especially in her presence.
Everyone in town seemed to call her, Aunt Betty Jo, Granny Jo, Nanny, Mamaw, Momma Jo...I think that speaks volumes of a person character alone. If any character on TV represents Aunt Betty Jo the best.. I think it's Momma Odie (minus the voodoo lol) From "Princess & The Frog". --The accent is almost spot on ;) watch this clip and for those of you who know her..when Momma Odie says "yo daddy" and "chill-ren" you can almost hear Aunt Betty Jo :) http://youtu.be/XJT0uhfcCkw
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Four letter words
We teach our children they are bad, yet we continue to keep it in our vocab. Oh wait..I wasn't talking about THAT four letter word geez. I'm talking about the word DIET. Sorry I thought we were on the same page. Now that everyone has caught up lets figure this out. I have a relationship with food..I mean I get excited about certain foods, and sometimes crave different foods..so how is it that we are just supposed to not have what we want! Well...when you "eat with a purpose" cravings drastically diminish! Your body is an insanely cool machine..it tells you what it needs and what it doesn't! You know there are certain foods you hate...you know why? Because your body doesn't need what that food has to offer. Same goes with foods you love or crave! NOW I'm not in anyway saying that your body NEEDs those Cheetos! The majority of those packaged foods I equate to drugs. Food can be a drug you know. If you're used to all that sugar your body is addicted! That's where I personally think coffee enemas help a great deal! (more on that later) That, and replacing your sweet tooth with fruits helps you get through your food DTs.
There are many things that need to happen and one of them is a full on FOOD REVOLUTION! I always thought those Moms who didn't let their kids eat happy meals, potato chips, and didn't keep soda around the house were a little...well I thought YOU were weird and out there! There I said it! BUT in the words of one of my favorite people Maya Angelou "When you know better, you do better."
Isn't that a screaming cry for food education. How are people in this country who are struggling with all sorts of CURABLE (but according to our medical community incurable) diseases that have been propelled by foods that have been processed, or genetically modified, or loaded up with High Fructose CORN syrup supposed to have a fighting chance without knowing the effects it has on their bodies?!?! Here is where I have to give a big plug to Dr. Gerson. If you haven't heard of the "Gerson Therapy" I highly suggest you look into it. http://gerson.org/
But what does all this ranting have to do with a four letter word we use called DIET. I know you've heard this before but if the majority of the word spells "DIE" then I want no part of it! Cause that's what diets do they KILL YOU, your spirit, and your sense of well being. It's a mental game I refuse to play ever again!
Now for the past month I've been on this journey of health and healing. (again thanks to Dr. Gerson and Charlotte opening my eyes on food and healing). I have endometriosis and when my doctor wanted to do surgery AGAIN and then for pain management...get this...put me on LUPRON which by the way in an injectable HORMONE. Oh did I forget to mention it puts you into a menopausal state! Yeah thanks but no thanks...did I mention that was her suggestion for PAIN!?!? Sheesh. So, upon watching The Beautiful Truth www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvzDHGLEUyw and several other great documentaries about our food system, organic food and just getting back to basics..I ordered "Healing the Gerson way" I decided I was going to take matters into my own hands, and "let my food be my medicine and my medicine be my food." I called and spoke to the clinic and although I am unable to do the full therapy they gave me some tips on where to start. (They can't back what I am doing because I'm not doing the full therapy and I understand why..food combinations, restricting certain foods and products ect..that's how you heal from the inside out)
I set a goal of one month. incorporated as much of the Gerson therapy as I could and set out. I'm not a person with great willpower so...I figure I could do anything for ONE month right!?! So I decided one month without meat, without adding salt to things and without soda, and ADD in coffee enemas. I figured that would be a good place to start. I'm one day away from going the whole month! I will tell you one week in I had energy and actually felt like getting up and exercising! YES I know who "wants" to do that?? Well turns out when you feel good you actually enjoy it. I didn't realize how funky I felt. I feel great these days...I mean I really do!! By the way what I am doing is NOT a diet. I call it "eating with purpose." When you start to feel better and you're eating whole foods, and plant based..you look at that food you ate before as the enemy. It's psychological, but it's effects on your body are very real! Now don't get me wrong I'm tempted by meat sometimes..but what has kept me from caving was how good I feel and my short one month timeline. I'm getting ready to go on vacation and I told myself in the beginning of this as a reward I would allow myself to eat meat. BUT..now being one day away..my view has changed..I tell myself IF I'm craving I'll have fish, chicken or a lean cut of beef and I'll only have beef once! Its mental I KNOW! But the feeling that I NEED meat has been proven wrong! Be careful just because you're not eating meat does NOT mean you're eating healthy. You can be a vegetarian and eat unhealthy.
You know whats great about this "eating with purpose"..my kids are eating so much healthier, and I'm now that Mom that uses sodas (and those tiny cans btw) as an occasional treat! I've lost 7 pounds and am now running just over a mile most everyday. By the way my oldest daughter wants "running clothes" so she can start running two!
I'd like to say this to all of you who think there is NO WAY you could live without meat. Try it for 2 weeks. BUT before you do plan a bit. You'll need to sit down with recipe books or online vegetarian websites and plan you're meals at first or you will cave to the temptation of ease and hit a drive through. Remember at first only buy one weeks worth because fresh food doesn't last long. Also shopping at Whole Foods is a MUCH more pleasant experience than any other grocery store.
Lets start a REVOLUTION!
There are many things that need to happen and one of them is a full on FOOD REVOLUTION! I always thought those Moms who didn't let their kids eat happy meals, potato chips, and didn't keep soda around the house were a little...well I thought YOU were weird and out there! There I said it! BUT in the words of one of my favorite people Maya Angelou "When you know better, you do better."
Isn't that a screaming cry for food education. How are people in this country who are struggling with all sorts of CURABLE (but according to our medical community incurable) diseases that have been propelled by foods that have been processed, or genetically modified, or loaded up with High Fructose CORN syrup supposed to have a fighting chance without knowing the effects it has on their bodies?!?! Here is where I have to give a big plug to Dr. Gerson. If you haven't heard of the "Gerson Therapy" I highly suggest you look into it. http://gerson.org/
But what does all this ranting have to do with a four letter word we use called DIET. I know you've heard this before but if the majority of the word spells "DIE" then I want no part of it! Cause that's what diets do they KILL YOU, your spirit, and your sense of well being. It's a mental game I refuse to play ever again!
Now for the past month I've been on this journey of health and healing. (again thanks to Dr. Gerson and Charlotte opening my eyes on food and healing). I have endometriosis and when my doctor wanted to do surgery AGAIN and then for pain management...get this...put me on LUPRON which by the way in an injectable HORMONE. Oh did I forget to mention it puts you into a menopausal state! Yeah thanks but no thanks...did I mention that was her suggestion for PAIN!?!? Sheesh. So, upon watching The Beautiful Truth www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvzDHGLEUyw and several other great documentaries about our food system, organic food and just getting back to basics..I ordered "Healing the Gerson way" I decided I was going to take matters into my own hands, and "let my food be my medicine and my medicine be my food." I called and spoke to the clinic and although I am unable to do the full therapy they gave me some tips on where to start. (They can't back what I am doing because I'm not doing the full therapy and I understand why..food combinations, restricting certain foods and products ect..that's how you heal from the inside out)
I set a goal of one month. incorporated as much of the Gerson therapy as I could and set out. I'm not a person with great willpower so...I figure I could do anything for ONE month right!?! So I decided one month without meat, without adding salt to things and without soda, and ADD in coffee enemas. I figured that would be a good place to start. I'm one day away from going the whole month! I will tell you one week in I had energy and actually felt like getting up and exercising! YES I know who "wants" to do that?? Well turns out when you feel good you actually enjoy it. I didn't realize how funky I felt. I feel great these days...I mean I really do!! By the way what I am doing is NOT a diet. I call it "eating with purpose." When you start to feel better and you're eating whole foods, and plant based..you look at that food you ate before as the enemy. It's psychological, but it's effects on your body are very real! Now don't get me wrong I'm tempted by meat sometimes..but what has kept me from caving was how good I feel and my short one month timeline. I'm getting ready to go on vacation and I told myself in the beginning of this as a reward I would allow myself to eat meat. BUT..now being one day away..my view has changed..I tell myself IF I'm craving I'll have fish, chicken or a lean cut of beef and I'll only have beef once! Its mental I KNOW! But the feeling that I NEED meat has been proven wrong! Be careful just because you're not eating meat does NOT mean you're eating healthy. You can be a vegetarian and eat unhealthy.
You know whats great about this "eating with purpose"..my kids are eating so much healthier, and I'm now that Mom that uses sodas (and those tiny cans btw) as an occasional treat! I've lost 7 pounds and am now running just over a mile most everyday. By the way my oldest daughter wants "running clothes" so she can start running two!
I'd like to say this to all of you who think there is NO WAY you could live without meat. Try it for 2 weeks. BUT before you do plan a bit. You'll need to sit down with recipe books or online vegetarian websites and plan you're meals at first or you will cave to the temptation of ease and hit a drive through. Remember at first only buy one weeks worth because fresh food doesn't last long. Also shopping at Whole Foods is a MUCH more pleasant experience than any other grocery store.
Lets start a REVOLUTION!
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