Self Preservation.

No I'm not talking about embalming fluid with this post, but I will talk about preserving yourself in the here and now. Not only on the outside but the inside too. Yes you should take care of your whole physical body, cells and all, but you should also tend to your mind and spirit as well. 


“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”-Buddha.


Sure the whole "loving yourself" concept hasn't been something that is naturally accepted in our culture. Most people confuse those who may be a truly selfish person with someone who is only being their authentic self and looking out for their wellness. In my opinion, this does not make one selfish; merely just staying true to oneself and accepting oneself, fulfilling ones needs as long as those needs do not hurt the physicality or mentality of another. How can you truly give something or someone else  your all if you can't even give it to yourself?! 



“Find the love you seek, by first finding the love within yourself. Learn to rest in that place within you that is your true home.”
- Sri Sri Ravi Shankar


I was not always one to "love thy self". Really how many of us truly are? Most children have grown up to dislike one or many things about themselves. We see it on the television. Hmm I wonder why advertising is such a booming business?


What I'm trying to get at is that just because we aren't taught very much about caring for ourselves in all aspects doesn't mean that we can't learn. Think back to when you were 8 years old, what did you like to do? What were you like at that age? 


I can imagine that a lot of the activities and interests you had then are still within you now. Take for example painting! Many children love arts and crafts, but it seems somewhere down the road we have to lose the arts and pick up some other mindless task. Like sitting on the phone with your pain in the ass insurance company for an hour. 


For me, I always loved doing gymnastics, dance, listening to music, walking to my pine tree club house and climbing high enough to watch the horses in the pasture beside our house. And let me tell you, if I could go do all of those things this minute I would. 


Work is necessary. Keeping up with the Joneses is not. Keeping up with yourself, absolutely necessary. 


“You cannot be lonely if you like the person you’re alone with.”- Wayne Dyer


I love the quote above. I love doing yoga. That is the best time in the world for me to be alone with myself. Yet at the same time, I'm getting nothing but positive energy from my fellow yoga mates spending their time alone with me. Pretty contradicting huh? 


I always urge people to take up yoga. There are so many differing types of yoga, that you are bound to find something to help you. Hatha is a great class for beginners. Vinyasa is a faster pace, flow, yoga. There are restorative practices that involve lots of laying down, light stretching, unwinding type of movements. 

Anyone can do yoga. 

In yoga there is never something that you have to do, that is the wonderful thing. You focus on you. Your needs. Do what your body tells you. Don't push it. 


The fact of the matter is, we need to get back to ourselves. No longer should we ignore what we feel within our hearts and our minds. Doing things that we love are scientifically proven to improve all aspects of well-being. 


So the next time you feel overwhelmed or stressed, remember to take some of your free time and use it for YOUR self preservation. 

Namaste

Who are you eating?

Food is a touchy subject. Look around, how many people do you see carrying little paper bags full of fries and burgers? How do you think some of those people would respond when you asked them not what are they eating, but WHO?

I recently read Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer and it is one of the most well written non-fiction books I've ever had the pleasure of reading. In short, he found out he was going to be a father and began to think of all the choices he would have to make on behalf of his child; food being the most urgent and important to him. So he goes on to research, ponder, and think over not only the factory farming industry of America, but also the tradition of eating and how it affects us and our future generations. Mr. Foer and I have a lot in common, reading his thoughts and his urgency to change his own habits made me feel like I was reading my own story.

In this post I'd like to quote (a whole lot, so get ready) some passages that really resonated my feelings and thoughts. I think everyone should read this book, along with watching the film Earthlings. Both of these materials have made substantial impacts on my thinking and ultimately my way of life.

Where do we learn to eat? Well biologically it's just a natural part of life. We are born and born hungry. There are many documented videos of newborn infants being placed on their mothers chest, and literally pulling themselves up to the breast and feeding. That simple. We must eat to live. But where do we learn our habits of what food to choose, how to eat it, or how much of it to consume? Easy, we learn simply by example. The question is what example do we want to set for our children, and for their children? Eating isn't just eating. It's about family, sharing, talking, and being able to provide a sort of companionship around a meal. We're told stories during meal times, told stories about where our food comes from, and ultimately told stories lies by the industry that supplies the food in which we provide to our families. If you're like me I hate being lied to. Absolutely fucking hate it.

"According to a study published in Consumer Reports, 83 percent of all chicken meat (including organic and antibiotic-free brands) is infected with either campylobacter or salmonella at the time of purchase. I'm not sure why more people aren't aware ( and angry about) the rates of avoidable food-borne illness."-Eating Animals. 


I wonder this same thing all the damn time. People are told to wash the meat, wash the counters, wash their hands, wash any and everything that comes into contact with the meat. Doesn't this ever raise a red flag? I mean for me, I loved the switch to no meat. No more having to wash so many damn dishes, I'm just too lazy for that. It's sad that this statistic is simply growing and growing day by day. And more and more people are becoming resistant to treatment of these illnesses.

"...the Institute of Medicine(a division of the National Academy of Sciences) and the World Health Organization have linked non therapeutic antibiotic use on factory farms with increased antimicrobial resistance and called for a ban. Still, the factory farm industry has effectively opposed such a ban in the United States. And, unsurprisingly, the limited bans in other countries are only a limited solution. There is a glaring reason that the needed total ban on non therapeutic use of antibiotics hasn't already occurred: the factory farm industry (in alliance with the pharmaceutical industry) currently has more power than the public-health professionals. The source of the industry's immense power is not obscure. We give it to them. We have chosen, unwittingly, to fund this industry on a massive scale by eating factory-farmed animal products (and water sold as animal products)-and we do so daily." -Eating Animals


A-fucking-men. Sorry for all the outrageous swear words but it really just makes my blood boil to know that  we literally have given up our power as a society and allowed money hungry bigots who could give a turd less about us, or our health, make such awful decisions on our behalf. And everyday no matter if you want to admit it or not, giving your money to these corporations is taking part in the cruelty, the uncleanliness, and the destroying of our nation, our world as a whole.

Next is the fact the the federal government now believes it has the right and duty to tell us what to eat and how much of it. No thank you. (P.S. End the Fed. Ron Paul 2012!!!!!!) I don't need your non-sense reasoning that I need milk from a completely different species to live and have healthy bones.

"Regarding US government recommendations that tend to encourage dairy consumption in the name of preventing osteoporosis, in parts of the world where milk is not a staple of the diet, people often have less osteoporosis and fewer bone fractures than Americans do. The highest rates of osteoporosis are seen in countries where people consume the most dairy foods. The institution we have put in charge of telling us when foods are dangerous has a policy of not (directly) telling us when foods (especially if they are animal products) are dangerous."-Eating Animals


Hmm..So after reading that the pharmaceutical companies are in bed with the government(AKA USDA) I wonder why they push dairy so much? Oh so they can make even more dollars off of you after you break a hip and have to take some Boniva. And also do you realize we are the only species that drinks another species milk? We need cows milk as much as we need zebra or giraffe milk; which is not at all. After we are weaned from our mother's milk, we no longer need any sort of milk to sustain or bodies. So are you willing to suckle from a cow's udder? Food for thought.

Not only are we murdering innocent beings, killing ourselves, but the planet is being destroyed right along with it.

"Nearly one-third of the land surface of the planet is dedicated to livestock."-Eating Animals


These farms are creating rivers of shit, lakes of blood, and masses of bi-product waste. In the book it details an account of several men drowning in a pond of pig crap. Literally one drowns, the other one jumps in to save him, and so on until all the men are dead. Death in shit. Sounds like a good way to go....NOT.

"The factory farm will come to an end because of its absurd economics someday. It is radically unsustainable. The earth will eventually shake off factory farming like a dog shakes off fleas; the only question is whether we will get shaken off along with it."-Eating Animals 


This quote in particular is very harrowing. We are on the brink of a global crisis. Not only with factory farming, but with the voluntary pollution that we enable and organize. We know what we are doing is wrong. We just don't know how much longer the planet can actually take the beating that we put her through on a daily basis. But, this doesn't mean we should just give up and take part in the activities that aid in such destruction. It's time to make a stand. Make a change. Do something.

"Not responding is a response-we are equally responsible for what we don't do. In the case of animal slaughter, to throw your hands in the air is to wrap your fingers around a knife handle."-Eating Animals

Wow. I don't think I could have said it better myself. For so long I thought the same thing that many people think, "What difference do I really make?" But finally the fog cleared and I realized the changes that I make don't just change me. They change the people around me who see the metamorphosis that I've gone through. That is what makes the difference. Sure I may only have 4 people who actually click the "follow" button on my blog, but I get page views. Some posts more than others, but people are reading. They are listening. And some people are making changes. Some aren't, but at least there is some sort of awareness about them that wasn't there before.

I would love to go on and quote some more, but baby's nap time is just about up and that means Mama's gotta run!!!! I hope these quotes mean something to you. Whether you drop the knife and become a veg, or the next time you hit the pizza place you really think about the pig who lost his life to be your pepperoni, all I ask is that you put a little more thought into what and WHO you are eating.

                                                         

Untitled.

I really didn't know what to title this post. I feel such an array of emotions and thoughts that I'm not even sure in what general direction this post will go. I sort of feel as though it's acting as my personal public diary today. Bear with me and if you get tired of my rambling, remember you can always click exit and forget about it; though I hope you don't.


I have this undeniable feeling today like the weight of the world is just perched atop my shoulders. I woke up with this heavy sense of compassion and sympathy for just about anything and everything. I feel as though I'm just sucking up whatever energy is lurking around. I've been reading a very moving book for the past couple days and my brain has just been busy. I don't think there is anytime that my brain hasn't been busy since I can remember.


2012 is a number and a  year that has the whole world on the verge of madness and hysteria. My personal thoughts and beliefs of what will come in the future are just a drop in the bucket with the rest of what the billions of us believe. What I do believe is that our Earth, our world, our home, can't take very much of what we administer to her each and every second of the day.


Each day somewhere around the world someone is dumping a bunch of toxic waste into our water ways. Sure not every single piece of land has a nuclear power plant occupying a huge chunk of space, but many countries do and the constant heap of trash that we bury, pour, dump, submerge, and toss upon the planet surely makes a difference in the quality of our living and the integrity of our world as a whole.


"Oh, but I recycle sometimes so it's okay." Yeah I recycle too and I think it should be mandatory that recycling/upcycling take place in each and every town. If people are paying for trash service, recycling should be included in that price, not an extra charge. But in order to really make a difference, why don't we just cut back? Stop making almost any and everything into plastic?! Sure it can be recycled, but plastic is not an organic compound; no matter how long you give it plastic never truly decomposes. Plus it's not exactly safe, chemicals leach in and out of it, and the list goes on and on.


So we're basically being poisoned by our worlds governments, and they know it. And slowly but surely more and more of us are learning about it and realizing that there's not just a bunch of paranoid crazy people popping off at the mouth. On to my next topic....


WORRYING ABOUT WHAT OTHERS THINK OF YOU! Sorry to "yell", but this is a big one lately; at least with me. For so long I remember actually genuinely caring about what other people thought of me. And if I thought that someone caught a bad impression of me, I'd worry. I'd think, "Oh geez, I hope so and so didn't think that I was being mean. I hope they know I was just kidding. But what if they don't? They'll think I'm such an ass.." Blah.Blah.Blah. Fast forward to January 23, 2012. I don't give a shit about what people think of me anymore. This mentality started awhile before todays date but I just have to share it. Don't get me wrong, it's not like I walk around giving everyone the middle finger, judging, screaming, and being rude. But more of what I'm trying to say, is I am me. This is who I am. I am finally comfortable with just letting everyone see me for all that I am. I'm passionate. I like to talk. I like to write poems. Sometimes I do things without fully thinking them through. I like to help others and pass along what knowledge I can. I love people. Well I love people who can love me for me; who can respect me and who can accept my respect and love in return. Just because we believe different things, do varying activities in our time, whatever, doesn't mean I can't love you for what you are. All I ask is for the same love and respect in return.


New thought. Just because I talk about my lifestyle, my experiences, my findings doesn't mean I am belittling, disapproving, or judging your experience or views. Key example: when I speak to some people about our birth experience. Most all mothers can chime in with me, when you take your brand new baby out and about, no matter the place, people are bound to ask questions. "Awww, how old is he?" Reply. "SHE is just a week old." That one never gets old. "Oh my gosh you have her out so soon? Where did you deliver? I bet you had an epidural!" Hmm. Okay. So why is it that when I respond with, "No I didn't. We chose an unmedicated birth", people do (usually) one of several things. 1. Get offended and/or defensive. 2. Tell me that I am tough. Or more of a woman than them. 3. Call me a hippie. 4. Be happy for me.


Obviously, I like number 4 the best. It really uplifts me when someone can just be happy for someone else, especially a complete stranger. It's really upsetting when you are the one being questioned, and yet are also the one who is feeling akward and embarrassed. When women doubt themselves or say that I am more of a woman than them, my feelings get hurt. I get this sad pain in my stomach. What has made any woman feel inferior to any other woman? We should all be confident and proud. Do I wish  more women and especially expecting mothers knew just how tarnished the "rules and regulations" of childbirth are in our country? Of course. Our last few generations have been taught  told by doctors, hospitals, and here's the big one...INSURANCE companies what childbirth is, and will be. Too many doctors, surgeons (yes, an ob/gyn is a surgeon.) are scheduling the birth of babies, taking a little too much advanatage of that antsy mama who wants to see her baby. Not letting her in on the magnitude of the major abdominal surgery she is about to sign up for.


Don't think it happens? I invite you to search the net. I came across an article recently that had the word, "birth rape" in it. I stopped. Wouldn't you? I read on. It was something I'd heard before. Not happened to me, but I've heard women friends talk about this with me. It sickens me. Saddens me. I'll post a little bit of what this word can be defined as. I found this when I typed "birth rape" into a Google search.


A vulnerable woman, who is powerless to leave the situation, is at times held down against her will, has strangers looking & touching at private parts of her body, perhaps without appropriate measures being taken to acknowledge her ownership of her body or to preserve her comfort levels. Perhaps she has fingers or instruments inserted without her consent, and sometimes against her consent, invading and crossing decent boundaries. She is fearful of what is happening to her and perhaps for the wellbeing of her baby, and receives no reassurance that either she or her child are ok. That is a violation, no matter how you look at it. Even IF this treatment is given with no malice and the intent of attempting to assist her with birthing her child, there is NEVER a reason to forgo common decencies that will enable her to maintain a role in the birth, some autonomy over her body, to be involved in the decision-making, to be informed about what they want to do BEFORE they do it.


I'll close this topic with just a few things. If you are curious about some of the now "norms" in childbirth within America, I encourage you to watch "The Business of Being Born" or "Pregnant in America." Some great books are out there as well, anything by Ina May Gaskins is great. And a closing statement on the childbirth subject. I did have an unmedicated birth. I was in labor for about 36 hours. Yes it was intense. Yes I got tired. And a big HELL YES to the fact that it was the most magical, spiritual, life changing experience I ever had or will have. I was totally in tune with my body, and my body knew exactly what it was doing. I was never afraid. I had support. My husband was amazing. My midwife knew what I wanted and respected my wishes. My nurse, an angel. I was informed, educated, and willful. And there are millions of mama's out there who have and are doing it too. Read ladies, take control. You are strong. You are smart. You are made to be a mother. 


Of course it just wouldn't be a post from Amanda if I didn't say something about animals. The more I read and educate myself on the current state of affairs within our government agencies and the way our country is being controlled I can't help but think of all the animals. Just today the Supreme Court overturned a law that had required all "downer" animals to be treated humanely, euthanized, and unfit for human consumption. What does that mean? It means now that this law is no longer in affect, billions of sick animals, unable to stand, walk, maybe even lift their heads, will still be abused, slaughtered and consumed. 


I ask you to watch the following videos. This is just a short little glimpse of the everyday happenings of today's factory farms. And just to set the record straight, only 1% of America's meat comes from family farms. 99% of all meat products come from factories just like the ones you are about to watch. 

This video actually took place at a dairy farm in Plain City, Ohio. This is not an isolated event. This happens everyday. Every minute. This is how factory farm dairy cows live.




This video relates to the law just over turned in California today. A very sad day for animals. 

How can we justify any of these actions? How can people say that animals don't feel? How can people actually carry out such heinous acts on purely innocent beings? Yes cheeseburgers are good, but at what cost? Not only are we murdering babies, but we are destroying the planet and ourselves. I know I'll do a post one day that explores the magnitude of how factory farming affects our land and water. But for now I'll just wrap things up.


These are just a few of the things that weigh on my mind. No, I'm not going to just give up and cry and feel like I can't make a difference. The exact opposite actually. These thoughts drive me, motivate me, encourage me to stay on the path that I am on. To keep making decisions that not only affect me, but that affect the world. 




We are not insignificant. We are the world. We make the world. And we all have the power to make our world a better place. I guess the question is, just how much are you willing to do? 

What I want for my daughter...

After listening to another great radio show on Hay House Radio from Dr. Christiane Northrup, I went deep into thought and felt as though I needed to compile this list and share them. If you have never read anything from Dr. Northrup I strongly encourage you too, especially Mother-Daughter Wisdom.

What I want for my daughter.....

1. To know that her father and I are ALWAYS listening to her and that her thoughts and feelings are always valid and cherished.

2. Not too be heavily influenced by the media and it's mass promotion of the degradation of women and other living beings in general.

3. That no matter how many times I say no to something, it doesn't change my love for her.

4. To see a loving, healthy, respectful relationship between Micah and I, and to know that having such a relationship is necessary and attainable for her.

5. To witness her own mother respecting her own body, mind, soul. I want Annabella to feel empowered, comfortable, beautiful, intelligent, and the only way I can give her that is if I set the example and show her.

6. A world that that acknowledges the beauty in difference, and is open to change.

7. That society no longer looks at children as a burden, something to care for and then push out of the nest, something to be seen and not heard. I want all children, not just my own, to feel comfortable in today's every day to day life and not just another aspect of the stress and consumerism that controls us.

8. To experience the birth of her child, the way I experienced birthing her. The bond that was formed during my pregnancy and birth of Annabella is the most magical, spiritual, empowering journey I've ever traveled and I always smile when I think back on such memories.

9. To speak up when she sees something that is wrong. "Take Sides. Neutrality always helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented."-Ellie Wiesel

10. LOVE. If Annabella decides not to go to college, joins a gypsy cult, and moves to some remote island to be with the person of her dreams, of course I'd wish her safety, but most importantly I'd wish her love. It's all I ever wish for her. It's what I can give her the most of. It's the one thing that a lot of people forget about. So many hours of the day are wasted wishing we had this or that, wishing we were here or there, when really if we just all gave and shared a little more love things wouldn't seem so bad after all.

I could make this list for days and days, but I will stop there. For now.

What sort of things do you wish for your children? Or possible future babes?

Day One of the Cleanse. The beginning of the end.

This is why I've always been afraid to blog. Sometimes everyone gets to see you trip and fall...Here it goes. 


So it's the night of the first cleansing day. I'm feeling a little foolish for thinking this was a good idea. Don't get me wrong, the concept of raw food is absolutely incredible. But I'm feeling pretty silly for thinking it was a good idea to do a 21 day raw food cleanse in the middle of winter. And in the middle of blasted Ohio. Let me further explain some of my recent findings. 


I recently re-read some of Alicia Silverstone's The Kind Diet and made some realizations. She stated in one chapter that she was living in New York during winter time trying to follow a raw vegan diet until visiting her naturopathic doctor. The doctor explained that you shouldn't be consuming only raw "cold" foods (i.e. pineapple) in the winter, UNLESS you live in a climate zone that yields such foods during the season. HELLO LIGHTBULB! I mean I'm not totally stupid, I realize I can't get a lot of things organic regardless of the season because of where I live, but I guess I kind of dropped the ball when it came to researching exactly WHEN and WHERE to perform a cleanse. 


I researched some more after reading that and came across some other info that reiterated exactly what the book said."Detoxing decreases your body temperature. Therefore, it is most comfortable when you are in a warm place. If your house is normally cold in winter and warm in summer, then wait until summer for your detox." 


Please pause while I have a face in palm moment. 


Ahh ok. A couple more things come into play with our decision. I made the trip to the grocery store with a trusty sidekick, and when I got the bill I wasn't too surprised. It was about 40 bucks more than I usually spend so I wasn't completely shocked by the total. Fast forward to the next day as I am preparing our kale salad and over half the kale is being thrown into the compost because it is bad. The celery, which is organic, just doesn't taste right and I gag through each bite until I finally throw that in the compost bin as well. I was able to get a majority of the items on my list organic, but for the price that I paid the quality just doesn't cut it. $4  for just one head of cauliflower when I usually buy it in the summer for $2. I'm not saying I won't buy anymore cauliflower until the summer, but I definitely can't continue to buy 4 heads at a time paying $16 for sub-par veggies. 


So we will continue with our cleanse until Saturday, that's how far in advance I purchased food. After that it's McDonald's and Wendy's for us...hahaha NOT! We will continue in our vegan ways, just adding back in our whole grains like brown rice and couscous, and sauteing some of our veggies as well. I can't say it was all bad, I figured out a lot of new great meals and snacks that we can use to compliment our "warm" dishes until summer comes along! We will definitely be keeping the smoothies around as well especially for breakfast and snacks because we really love them. 


So in closing I hope that I haven't disappointed anybody too much. I'm already feeling a bit of failure and remorse, but I know I need to do what's right for my body and there is always a next time. I will be proud of myself even after just a 7 day cleanse because damn it I'm already craving a cupcake! Sorry for letting you down peeps, I hope you don't shake me for good and still take time to visit the blog!!! And here's a recipe for you from a great site Incredible Smoothies!!!

Banana-Nut Smoothie
1 banana
2 tbs natural creamy peanut butter
3-4 strawberries
2 cups fresh baby spinach 
½ cup water

Blend and Enjoy!!!!!