Introducing Seattle’s New Holistic Health Examiner!!

 

Greetings Clients, Colleagues and Community…

 

My posts have been few and far between these days, though I have been working on some exciting new projects! I just begun writing a column on holistic health for the Seattle Examiner! This is pretty much the perfect gig for me in terms of flexibility and topic of content, and I’m looking forward to who and what I can share with the Seattle community.

So Seattlites, I’d love to pick your brain a bit… I feel like the Pacific Northwest is one of the most forward-thinking and open-minded places in the country, possibly the world, so…

 

What does holistic health mean to you?

What types of practitioners do you have on your health care team?

What do you experience in your life that you consider a holistic approach?

What do you think we are fortunate enough to have here in Seattle that many other places around the world are lacking?

 

I am pretty thrilled with the opportunity to research and write a column on a topic I am so passionate about. Please feel free to contact me if you, or someone you know, has a local event or some relevant, holistic information to share! I hope you will stop by regularly to see what’s going on in Seattle’s world of holistic health!

 

Cheers,

Guinevere I. Amadeo, LMP. –

Seattle Holistic Health Examiner

 

Posture: The good, The Bad and The Ugly

 

Good posture is defined as bearings in which the muscles of the body support the skeleton in an alignment that is stable and efficient for living.

This means that energy is moving through our bodies with the least possible resistance and pressure on our bones and joints. Good posture includes healthy balance and alignment in movement, static and seated positions.

 

Why is good posture important?

There are many perspectives to why good posture is important. On a purely physical level, when you are not in proper alignment, your muscles and joints don’t achieve their full range of motion, flexibility or capacity for strength. This increases the tightness and/or weakness in areas of facial tissue, creating muscular imbalance, trigger points and increased prone to injury. The circulation of blood and lymph are also inhibited causing toxins to build up in the tissue, immunity to be depleted, and other dysfunctions in the organs. Proper breathing patterns, digestion and nutritional absorption are highly dependant on good posture.

On a psychological level, body language is the strongest communication we have with the world surrounding us. Slumped forward shoulders and improper weight distribution can indicate a feeling of defeat, laziness, or general disinterest. Not exactly how you want to come off in an important meeting or on a hot date.

 

How do you know if you have good posture?

There are several ways that good posture is evaluated. Generally speaking, we are looking at the relation of the bones to specific structures. For example, when assessing from the front, shoulders, hips and knees should be even in relation to one another, a slight turn out in the feet, and arms should hang relaxed with thumb and forefinger pointing forward.

When posture is being evaluated from the side, everything should stack up neatly. If we were to drop a plumb line from the ceiling, it would line up through your ear, middle of your shoulder, center of your hip, just slightly behind the center of your knee and in line with your anklebone. 

 

What are causes of poor posture?

Improper Shoes

Some of the biggest culprits of imbalance in the body are improper shoes and the fact that we no longer walk around barefoot. Our natural arches and weight distribution are negatively affected by the artificial (or non-existent) support that shoes offer. High heels are by far the worst of these examples. The height that heels give shortens the calf and hamstring muscles, and lengthens the quadriceps and anterior tibialis, creating a pattern that negatively impacts the body all the way up the spine.

Injury and Muscle Guarding

After an injury, nearby muscles can begin to protect the vulnerable and weakened areas, causing postural imbalance.

Dehydration

The first structure of our body to lose water when we are dehydrated is our tissue. This happens before we even register that we are thirsty. Tight facial tissue can cause restriction in movement before the muscles are even affected.

Repetitive Motion

Whether it is sitting at a desk, running at the park, or washing windows, if we do too much of the same motion, our bodies create imbalances in our various structures.

Mental Attitude, Stress

Low Self-esteem, exhaustion, and sympathy can all make our bodies manifest unhealthy postural patterns.

 

How can I improve my posture?

Receive Bodywork

Our bodies are constantly being challenged to adapt to unnatural environments and circumstances. Massage and other forms of bodywork can help to create balance in tissues, alleviating pressure on specific joints and helping to flush out toxins in the muscles.  

Body awareness

Pay attention to where your body is in space. Are you hunched over your computer? Are your legs crossed and head down? Check in with your posture throughout the day and make sure you are keeping body in a healthy alignment.

 

Keep it movin’

 Don’t sit or stand in one position for more than 30 minutes. Move around; let the blood flow through your muscles. Stretch, move, and twist… even if it’s just for a moment.

Make sure your workspace is ergonomically efficient

Keep within a healthy weight

Excess weight causes constant pressure and negative postural effects on specific muscle groups.

Protect your body and avoid injury by using proper body mechanics

Sleep on a firm, supportive mattress with a small cervical pillow just enough to prop the head

Exercise and stretch regularly

Wear comfortable and supportive shoes

In conclusion, I would venture to say that posture is one of the most important factors of the human condition. When it’s good we barely notice, but when it’s bad (or ugly), we can be cursed with pain, negative self-image and a whole slew of other problems that can affect every nook and cranny of our lives. So, get up now. Go on… Stretch your chest and frontal shoulder muscles, rotate your head in a couple of circles, take a few good deep breaths and enjoy the rest of your day in perfect posture!! 

Don’t Should All Over Yourself: Keeping on Track (Part 3 of 3)

 

 

A national statistic posted in the NY times shows that most resolutions are broken within the first three weeks of the year. That being said, if you make it past that 3-week mark, you are likely to keep your rhythm through at least the 6-month mark! So how are your 2009 goals going so far? Are you still inspired to achieve your goals? These first few weeks for me, have been pretty busy, beginning official writing classes, starting a pretty intense month-long detox, and increasing my work schedule. My goals are still on track, however and I’m finding new ways to implement them.

I’ve been reading some great articles on goal setting and a webpage I feel worth sharing with you, is by Chris Guillebeau called ‘The Art of Nonconformity.’ He is a fantastically inspiring individual whose life goal is to travel to each of the 198 countries in the world before his 35^th birthday. With over 120 countries checked off of his list and four years to go, he is well on his way. He writes wonderful content on how to live a remarkable life in a conventional world with the basic premise ‘you don’t have to live your life the way others expect you to.’ In his ‘brief guide to world domination’ he talks about the two most important questions in the universe: What do you want to get out of your life? What do you have to offer that no one else does? I highly recommend reading his manifesto as it really helps in putting some great perspective into your goal setting.

 

So here are some general tips to keep your 2009 goals in sight and on track. Many have worked well for me in the past and present. And others just make great sense.

 

1)    Think about the areas of your life that you want to set goals:

 

Artistic- finish book, gallery show, do more crafts?

Attitude- increase positivity, patience?

Career- promotion, new job?

Education- new skills, finish degree?

Family- connect more with family, start a family?

Financial- increase income, manage money better? 

Physical- nutrition, workout plan?

Pleasure- vacation, be outdoors more?

Public Service- volunteer, community outreach? 

 

2)    Set SMART goals:

 

Specific- don’t be too general, make your goal as specific as possible.

Measurable- how will you know if you’ve reached your goal if there’s no way to measure your progress?

Attainable- reaching for the stars is great, but make sure your goal is actually achievable.

Relevant- if it doesn’t fit into your life, you will loose interest as soon as it gets hard. Relevant is important.

Time-bound- give yourself a specific timeline and reevaluate at that point. Check in every 2 weeks or so.

3)  Write your goals down and post them in a place where you will see them often. Refrigerator and above your desk are good places. This gives them more presence in your life. Also write why the goal is important for you to achieve.

4)  State your goals positively. Rather than saying, I want to stop nagging my husband, eating food I know is bad for me and decrease the amount I watch television, try: I will work to create a more patient and positive attitude towards my husband, eat nutritious food that my body loves, and read or be outside more. 

5)  Stay focused- review and rewrite to do list regularly and work towards smaller goals daily.     

6)    Give yourself rewards- incentives are always good. When you reach certain milestones along the way, take yourself out to dinner, get a pedicure, or buy a new journal. Anything that gives you a little pat on the back and keeps you coming back for more!

 

With that, I hope you are finding new ways to do and keep doing great things in your life; keeping the ball rolling even if your discover a giant hill ahead. You are the only one that gets to live your remarkable life, so make the most of it!

 

xox

Guinevere

Don’t Should All Over Yourself: ‘Get a Motto’ and Apply It to Everything (Part 2 of 3)

 

In a wonderful “Resolutions (or goals) for 2009” article by Susan Ellingson, some fantastically simple suggestions are given to start off your new year right! My favorite, and one that I would like to pass on to you, is ‘Get a Motto’ (closely followed by ‘take a media fast’ and ‘make more soup’).

It came to me that with out realizing it, I have been applying a motto to my years as a final scene wrap up for as long as I can remember. The last week of December finds me pondering what this year has meant to me and how I could sum it up in one word or phrase (or 50). Well, this year is all about intention and goal setting, so I am getting myself a motto early! And to go along with last year’s motto- ‘ask and you shall receive (even if it looks vastly different than what you had in mind)- mine has presented itself to me in many ways this week. First, while reading a Buddhist wisdom book and flipping right to the page with the perfect little nugget for me, then again while on the bus unavoidable eavesdropping on a man’s cell phone conversation, and finally last night while reading a brief guide to world domination, so here it is (thank you universe for your relentless signage) … 

“If it’s worth doing, do it 100%” I know, how simple. Yet how profoundly those words have hit me! If you don’t know me, I am a bit of a dabbler. Jack of all trades, ace of none, I guess you could say. I like to experience it all- just enough (like my trip to SE Asia that I like to call ‘10 minutes of everything Asian’). And I get board easily. So this is my year to dig a little deeper; let go of the things that drain my energy, and relocate the things I can put on the back burner for now.

A few at the top of the list for me include:

• Writing for real- I begin a “formal” non-fiction writing program in less than two weeks, and by the end of this year I plan to be published. Somewhere. Twice. At least. Whether that’s a free publication or the Seattle Times, I want to see my name in writing!
• Network like crazy!- I am a part of two fine Networking organizations (BNI & Biznik), and my goal this year is to really invest some solid time in getting the most out of these gigs. I work in a fantastic chiropractic office, and in 2008 I saw numerous clients healed and now living active and pain- free lives through the power of massage, chiropractic and complimentary modalities of practitioners that we work with such as acupuncture, Naturopathy, and corrective exercise. My goal this year is to get out there and spread the word that you don’t have to ‘deal with’ the pain and discomfort in your body. There can be relief!
• Learn a new massage modality- This is something I like to do every year to continue giving my clients the best care possible and keep on the forefront of new massage techniques. This year, I am looking in to Tom Myers’ Anatomy trains.

 

So what are your goals for this year? (You can check this out for some suggestions.) What will your motto be? What will you relocate to the backburner in order to regain your full energy? 

Thriving in the New Year,

Guinevere Amadeo, LMP

Don’t Should All Over Yourself: Goal Setting vs. Resolutions (Part 1 of 3)

 

Happy Monday, and welcome to the first full week of 2009!

If you’re anything like me (and 90% of well-intentioned Americans), you are ready to start putting into place some new, healthier habits and rid yourself of others that are no longer serving you. Where I prefer to differ from much of our “New year’s Resolution” making culture, is that I like to think of my new beginnings as setting goals rather than resolving past behaviors. The word resolution in itself suggests bringing the past into the present moment and carrying with us our failed attempts and judgments. Setting goals provides us a clean slate to work from in our new lifestyle ambitions.

As I reflect on the highs and lows of these incredible times we are living in, many highlights come to mind. From the exciting election that reinvigorated our democracy and culminates this month with the historic inauguration of President Barack Obama, to the fear felt in every home and business in the country as the economy seems to be melting down around us.

Following are a number of goals that resonate for me to set forth this new year, and inspire my loved ones and community (ie. YOU) to take a gander at as well. 

 

Get Involved!

As appose to thinking about being the person who makes a difference, get involved and take action on the issues that matter to you. There are a number or organizations that gather monthly to breath life into community issues and seek volunteers for action items as well. Some ideas include Sustainable Wallingford, Seattle Children’s hospital, Seattle Parks and Recreation, and various art museums and public schools. Check out Volunteer Match!

 

Easy ways to go green- and save some while you’re at it!

The Green movement is now household language (especially if you’re a Seattlite), and our actions should begin there as well! Here are a few easy tips to save energy during your every day life and reduce the amount of waste in landfills.

 

-Say no to plastic water bottles! 

     Refilling your Klean Kanteen with fresh, filtered water is a much better way to go!   

-Bring your own stainless steel, spill proof cup to get your morning latte

     You can usually even purchase these at your local coffee shop.

-Unplug it!

    According to Treehugger.com, switched off devices account for 40% of energy consumed by electronics in an average home. Unplug before you go! especially phone and Ipod chargers. 

-Use compact fluorescent light bulbs

     75% less energy lasting 10x’s as long. This is a no-brainer.

-Recycle

     Get into it! Find out your local ordinances around recycling and make sure you are doing your part to recycle everything possible. 

-Compost

      You can now put compost in your yard waste bins if you don’t have a personal garden! These leaves food scraps etc. will be composted and used for local parks and pea patches! I love it! 

-Save your rain water

     Hydrate your garden with recycled water! We sure have enough of it! 

-Grow a small garden

     I read a fascinating article recently that said something like 65% of food eaten during the great depression was grown in small personal gardens. It’s easier than you think. I was pleasantly surprised the first year I grew lettuce in a window box how simple and fruitful my tiny garden was. I am also a firm believer in “you get out of your food the energy you put into it” so expect, energizing, delicious food in just a few minutes a day! It will also help you to cook at home more. Double bonus! 

 

Get Real about your finances

In these challenging economic times it can be beneficial to become a bit more conscious about spending. Track your cash flow for at least 2 weeks, chances are you are spending more that you thought on at least on item.

 

Shop Local 

Or put your money where your home is. Support local farmers markets (Ballard is year round) and co-ops like PCC rather than large national chains. This can mean everything from clothing to pet supplies. Let’s keep our local economy strong lest the charm of our small business communities may not be around when the economy bounces back. 

 

Get organized and educated

-Learn something new- knitting, sign language, yoga

-Clean out a closet

-Get a new wallet

-Get a haircut

-Make your bed

-Read a book- in fact go to the library and peruse a new subject you’ve never checked out before

-Have a “naked lady” party and swap clothes with your friends

 

Keep Your health

I suppose I couldn’t engage in a new year’s post without the mention of healthy lifestyle changes on a physical level. Mine include drinking even more water, cooking at home at least 5 days a week, and come spring eating at least 60% of my food out of my garden! Others for you (otherwise known as a few of the top 10 new years resolutions) may include quitting smoking or drinking, starting a work out regiment, loosing weight etc. 

Well, there it is! Goal setting for 2009! More in part 2! 

 

To Health and Happiness,

Guinevere Amadeo, LMP.

 

 

One of Those ‘Best of 2008′ posts

I am a big fan of celebrating the cycles of life, and these first couple of days of a brand new year have found me in a wonderful time of reflection. 2008- The memories, the lessons, the great times and the challenging. So here is my 2008 wrap-up! Some of my favorite quotes, some things I have discovered about myself and the world around me, and some photos for those experiences that simply can not be put into words! 

1) I still like my french press morning brew better than the fancy coffee house latte.

2) I am a writer. I am not ‘going to be a writer when I grow up.’ I am a writer right now! 

3) A candle looses nothing by lighting another candle.

4) One of the most valuable things we can do to heal one another is to listen to each other’s sroies.

5) In order to experience everyday spirituality, we need to remember that we are spiritual beings spending time in a human body.

6) The universe will always reward you for taking a risk on her behalf.

7) My very favorite thing is to laugh so hard I go into silent laugh mode and almost fall out of my chair, but don’t. 

Even as a native Californian, snow does lose it’s nostalgia after 15 inches and 9 days of missing work!

9) “When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.” Hunter S. Thompson- true story!

10) Sitting in a place where you have never sat before can be inspiring.

11) THANKSGIVING IS MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY!!!!

12) Even when it involves gutting a turkey!

13) Especially when it involves gutting a turkey! Damn that was goooood! 

 

14) It is always the simple that produces that marvelous.

15) In order to get anything meaningful out of your life, you have to be ruthless about what you let into it.

16) Dancing on the edge, you can see with clarity many things that you cannot from the center. 

17) “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to succeeding before they gave up.” Thomas Edison.

18) Be nice to people on the way up because you meet them again on your way down. 

19) We do not stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing. 

20) If you think you’re too small to make an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito! 

21) There was never a night that had no morning.

22) The purpose of life is to discover your gift. The meaning of life is to give it away.

23) I get up, I walk, I fall down. Meanwhile, I keep dancing. 

24) Serenity is not freedom from the storm, but peace within it. 

25) People are just sexier covered in dust! 

26) I heart FIRE!!

27) Sunrise in the desert is on of the most beautiful places on earth! 

28) There’s nothing like a fantastic group of random people working towards a common goal.

29) Don’t try to manage anyone else’s expectations until you’ve got a firm grip on your own.

30) Three things cannot be hidden. The sun, the moon and the truth. 

31) Random acts of kindness happen far more often than you have your eyes open to see them.

32) Time engraves our faces with all the tears we have not shed. 

33) Just when you think your dreams are shattered, new, beautiful, unexpected ones appear. 

34) Do not do what you would undo if caught. 

35) “The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty.” Winston Churchill

36) Blessed are the flexible, for we shall not get bent out of shape.

37) Your greatness is not what you have, but what you give.

38) The shortest distance between you and regular exercise is a youngish dog.

39) I like me some guns!

40) There are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going

41) Your greatness is not measured by what you have, but what you give. 

42) Working is easy, focusing is hard.

43) Have a plan, but make it a loose one.

44) It’ sbetter to be a lion for one day than a sheep all your life.

45) Let’s dare to be ourselves, for we do that better than anyone else can! 

46) Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened. 

47) No matter where I run, I meet myself there. 

48) Who we are never changes, who we think we are does.

49) You don’t need endless time and perfect conditions. Do it now. Do it today. Do it for 20 minutes and watch your heart start beating.

 50) It is good to have an end to journey toward, but it is the journey that matters in the end. 

 

So, farewell 2008!!! Cheers, adios, bon voyage, Ciao, peace, so long, tata, hasta la vista!!

Massage and Chiropractic: A Winning Team!!

 

I’d like to share with you the case study of a client I recently worked with. A 19 year-old University track athlete, Brandon was unable to run for 6 months due to severe knee pain, and was in danger of loosing his educational scholarship. His coaches had given him a strict time-line to be back on the field, and their suggestion was to undergo a lateral release surgery ASAP.

With this procedure, several incisions would be made in his lateral retinaculum, or IT band (illio-tibial band), to help give the tissue length, and (hopefully) relieve some of his pain by helping the patella to track properly. The recovery with this approach can be up to 6 months, pretty painful, and has no guarantee of having the long term effect of pain relief. The surgery was scheduled, and Brandon came into Penaluna Chiropractic studio as a last-ditch effort to avoid the invasive procedure. 

 

He began his chiropractic treatment with x-rays and an in-depth evaluation of his nervous system functioning with Dr. Jason Penaluna. He opted for the ‘fix care program’ and begun with 3 adjustments and 1 60 minute therapeutic massage session a week (with yours truly). He also begun an in-depth self care program of foam rolling, stretching specific muscle groups and strengthening others to compliment the effects of his office visits. With this approach, vast improvement is made in a short period of time, and within 6 weeks, Brandon was running again, pain free! Within 10 weeks he competed in his first cross country race and did much better than anyone expected. It is not the end of the road, there is continuing care involved, but Brandon has avoided the costly and invasive surgery, simply by educating himself in other options.

This is a wonderful example of the benefits of exploring alternative health care options to the fullest and having an open mind about the possibilities of healing without permanent and painful procedures. Our bodies are so resilient and respond exceptionally well to a holistic approach.   

For more information about how chiropractic and massage could help your body and general well-being, we hold wellness forums at the office every other Tuesday, 7-8pm. This is a great opportunity to get more information about both modalities and ask any burning questions you may have. I look forward to working with you all! 

Yours in health,

Guinevere Amadeo, LMP.

Let me count the ways… to be good to myself.

Well, it has been awhile since my last post, and these past few weeks have been a true test of staying balanced during trying times. A man very dear to my heart has been in the hospital for the past three weeks, and it has been a challenge on every level to stay positive. When faced with these helpless circumstances, I have really learned to focus on self care. In an earlier post entitled Stress Management: How to Prevent, Reduce and Cope with Stress, I listed ways to manage stress and remain balanced in challenging times. Here is a list of further ideas to be good to yourself! 

1) Soak in a bathtub.

2) Ride a motorcycle.

3) Go to the mountains.

4) Exercise/do yoga.

5) Meditate.

6) Eat a good meal.

7) Recycle old items.

Go to a movie in the middle of the week. 

9) Paint.

10) PLay a game.

11) Dress up and look nice.

12) LAUGH- just because (just start laughing, really… it works!)

13) light candles

14) Get a massage

15) Go horseback riding

16) Wander around a bookstore for an entire afternoon.

17) Write a letter.

18) Go to a museum.

19) Sing around the house.

20) Go bowling.

21) Dance!

22) play with your pet.

23) Go to a play or concert.

24) Take photographs. 

25) Go for a bike ride.

26) Rearrange your furniture. 

27) Visit a national park. 

28) Listen to music- Pandora.com is great for this one.

29) Watch children play.

30) Day dream. 

31) Write in a journal.

32) Eat chocolate (this may be the only one you need!)

33) Play a musical instrument. 

34) Send a card to someone you care about. 

35) Garden- or plan your garden! 

36) Plan a party.

37) Take a nap.

38) Go on a date.

39) buy flowers. 

40) Talk to your plants- seriously. You should see my jungle of an apartment. They love it! 

41) Meet new people. 

42) Read a humor book.

43) Go swimming.

44) Doodle.

45) Fly a kite.

46) Remember the words and deeds of good people.

47) Repair things.

48) Walk or jog.

49) Remember beautiful scenery.

50) Collect shells. 

51) Plan your career. 

What are some of the things you do that you do to take care of yourself? What makes your body a spirit lift from trying times? I’d love to hear your suggestions! 

 

Yours in health,

Guinevere Amadeo, LMP.

Book Review: Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin

A no-nonsense, tough-love guide for savvy girls who want to stop eating crap and start looking fabulous! 

I was recently given this sassy little book by a client and good friend asking my thoughts on its contents. In general, I (reluctantly) give it a thumbs up. Like any bias opinion, you have to take a good portion of this book with a grain of salt and decide what’s best for you and your body. With the amount of cursing paired with chapter names such as The Dead, Rotting, Decomposing Flesh Diet and Have No Faith: Governmental Agencies Don’t Give a $#*! About Your Health, it’s needless to say there are some intense bits of information, and much of it not for the light-hearted.

The authors clearly state that the main intention for this book is “to help end animal suffering and the cruelty associated with a meat-eating diet.” Having been vegetarian and borderline vegan (I couldn’t part with the drunken goat cheese) for over two years, I have my own opinions about living a veg lifestyle. The reality for me is that my ancestors were a primarily meat eating culture and my body thrives on meat. I tend to live by my grandmother’s favorite expression: everything in moderation, including moderation.

I do feel that people who choose to eat meat should educate them selves and experience first hand the type of energy that goes into what we put into our bodies. I personally choose to eat organic, humane, and as often as possible, support local farms when I shop for food. This stretches across the broad spectrum of everything we eat. Vegetables that travel 1,800 miles have much less vitality and nutritional value than those grown in our own gardens. Not to mention the damage to our planet with that much shipping.

So, the major drawback with this book, for me, is the intensity in which the opinions are projected with no real suggestion other than “suck it up, stop eating animals.” I feel that when it comes to health and well-being, you sometimes have to meet people where they’re at and offer baby-steps towards a greater goal. I would like to have seen more on supporting local and organic farming. 

Having said that, there are a number of things that I really like about this book, and why in the end, I give it a thumbs up. Here are a few:

♦ The great wealth of information on the harmful effects of refined sugar as well as chemical sweeteners such as Sweet & Low, Equal, Nutrasweet and others containing aspartame. 

♦ The specific and very in-depth information about the conditions found in today’s meat raising plants, bringing light to the irresponsible and sneaky nature of the FDA and other governmental agencies. 

♦ The mention of fasting and list of specific vitamins and minerals for healthy digestion. 

♦ The thorough list of good foods to eat and a well-rounded sample menu. 

 

In conclusion, I wouldn’t run and go out of my way to purchase this book, but if the sassy, tough love approach works for you, this could be a good book to get some great information and change the way you think about food.

 

Enjoy,

Guinevere Amadeo, LMP.

Food for Thought…

“You and you alone are responsible for the imbalance between what you dream your life is meant to be and the daily habits that drain the life from what you dream.” – DANE

I recently read this on a friend’s personal blog and was inspired to share it. As I am rounding day 10 of my ‘30 day habit-forming salute,’ I’m starting to feel a good flow with my daily writing practice. And having begun the path to a new habit, it really magnifies the other daily activities that rule my world; those things I do on auto pilot that make up the greater whole. I have my little vices like everyone else, but what may be the ones that drain the life from what I dream of? Sometimes the caffeine seems like it adds a little boost to my drive, but the negative long term effects are well documented. And what about staying up late to work on deadlines? Seems again, like fueling the dream, yet disassociating from our body’s best interest to pursue career or education goals is a clearly out of balance, and will certainly catch up sooner or later. It seems that so many goals come at the cost of our health and well-being. It is regarded as great work ethic if you are at the office way past working hours, taking meetings through lunch, and scheduling weekend conference calls to ‘close the deal.’ All of this stress and imbalance has hugely negative effects on our body before we even become aware of any physical discomfort or mental fatigue. 

And then there is taking responsibility. I work with many people who seem bewildered when their bodies let them down after years of this treatment. They don’t understand why a skillful practitioner can not simply “fix” them and send them back to the rat race. Unfortunately, our culture doesn’t help matters either. If you are not willing to extend to whatever lengths necessary, they is some younger, more resilient person waiting to step in and show that it can be done. We are given 2 weeks of vacation a year (if we’re lucky), a handful of sick days (maybe), and impossible ideals to live up to. It’s exhausting just to think about! No wonder we are among the most unhealthy in the world! 

So yes, our system is messed up, which leaves the ball in your court. It is up to you to take responsibility for yourself, your life and your dreams. Set comfortable boundaries and live the way you would hope your children will. Give yourself ample leisure time, take a vacation, TURN OFF YOUR TELEVISION, in fact, get rid of your television, play a game, go outside, read, get a massage, tell a story, walk your dog (or cat), be silly and ENJOY this precious life that you’ve been given.

Easier said than done sometimes, but if we create the expectation that this is what we need to continue thriving in a happy and healthy life, perhaps it will give others the permission to do the same. What a better place this would be! It is all part of creating the habits that breath life into your dreams!

 

In good Health, 

Guinevere Amadeo, LMP.