The New Home of Nature's Blessings

Hello All!

I have some exciting news to share! Please join me at my blog's new home: naturesblessingsandotherponderings.com

Thats right! We have our very own site :) Its pretty cool so come check it out and spread the word!

See you soon & thank you for your continued support as my little blog grows :)

Remember to always:

Be Your Best You

CL

Photo Friday

BE BOLD

BE FIERCE 

TAKE ON THE WORLD

BE ORIGINAL, FEARLESSLY

BE YOU

Note: All photos from Harpaar's Bazaar

 BE YOUR BEST YOU

CL

I'm a Snob!

A food snob that it is :O) I was recently perusing through an outdated issue of Glamour while I munched heartily on some doctored up grits with okra, cheddar cheese and fish (don't judge me- I pictured the meal and finally got around to satisfying me urge and it was delicious!) when I came across an article entitled, Why You Should Try the Snob Diet.

At first I skimmed and was about to turn the page (if you have only known me for a day you will quickly surmise that I am not about the diet life... at all) but then the heading, 'Snobs don't deprive themselves' made me stop and start from the beginning and I was very impressed at what I found.

I suppose I will share my own views on eating first: I do not believe in depriving myself of anything I want to eat (and I don't), I believe that meals should be savored - I am often made fun of because I am a slow eater, in fact, I used to get in trouble on school mornings when I was growing up and was forced to miss an hours worth of sleep because I ate so slow due to my mother's fear I would be late, I also believe that if you stop eating when you are full and do not eat when you are not hungry then you should be fine, and precluding some sort of medical condition I do not believe in diets...at all.

 I couldn't imagine missing out on the savory goodness of oxtail (if its about eating- I will be mentioning my favorite food over and over again- sorry), the tangy wonderulness of my mom's garlic aoli (or my mom's anything- when it comes to cooking she has earned her stripes seven fold), the rich decadence of dark chocolate everything or the smooth indulgence of gelato in multiple flavors (yes please!)

I also believe however, that when it comes to food that quality should come before quantity and that as the consumer you have the last say about what you put into your body. Of course, some may argue that living this type of gastrointestinal indulgent lifestyle could reek havoc on your wallet- not so my friends. If you are more selective about where and what you buy you do not have to sacrifice quality- or perhaps you sacrifice those amazing $200 pair of shoes this month and invest in your internal well being- some adjustments may have to be made, all I'm saying is it is possible.

I was so excited when I read the theory and research behind this habit of eating because it finally confirmed what I have been thinking and doing all these years. So without further ado:

The Tenants of Being A Snobby Eater:

*Choose the highest quality foods whenever possible

*Don't deny your cravings (my personal fave)

* If it is not truly delicious, don't eat it

* Savor vs Wolfing down your fare

* You be in control of what you eat and when

* Do not eat while distracted (turn off the tv, don't answer the phone, save the txt til after you eat, stop checking your emails or going over the final draft of that report- it will all be there when you are done and with a well fed belly you may be in a better mood and better able to deal with all of the demands placed on you)

So the research says that (I am paraphrasing) 1. When you eat something you want and are looking forward to eating- you get fuller faster and do not eat as much 2. When you satisfy your taste buds (cravings) you are less likely to binge later or snack to fill the empty void created because what you ate didn't satisfy you 3. People who have restrictive diets generally do not weigh any more than people who eat what they want (I found this to be particularly interesting) 4. This amazing research has been buried under the diet industry's sneaky capitalization on people's (mostly women) emotional ties to their appearance and the media's messages regarding what we should look like, in fact 10,000 new diet products hit the market every year...and you can just imagine how much society spends on them.

So I say- do what is right for you but free yourself from the guilt that accompanies being good to yourself- food is where we get our energy, it can help us build immunity to live healthy active lives, our bodies need it to survive (unless you are a monk and are trained to fast for long periods of time) so shouldn't we enjoy this thing that we have to do anyway? I invite you to make as many of your meals as special as you can (people can taste the love in brownies :) )

And one last thing: Do share your meals with quality company as well...and if it's just you- know that you are a gem and your own company is sometimes your best.

Be Your Best You

CL

 What say You?

Please Do Not Touch

photo credit: collegecurlies.blogspot.com

Natural Hair- the absence of chemical processing. Curly, kinky, coily, anyway you describe it there seems to be a movement sweeping the nation as curly haired women everywhere are turning their backs on the "creamy crack" aka relaxers/ texturizers/ perms and putting a dent in the billion dollar industry.

The shift has been blatant and has been punctuated by every hair care company now boasting a natural hair care line meant for the care of hair au natural. There are blogs galore dedicated to the care and styling of kinks and coils, there are countless tutorials found on YouTube documenting styles, length checks, diy conconcotions meant to help the newly natural navigate the confusing world of product junkism and inspire those who have been natural before it was the 'thing to do'.

All of this fan fare has caused me to reflect on my own reasons for going natural and has helped me to realize that the decision was much more than a style choice but was a progression along my way to live the most wholesome life possible without the aide of chemical additives. Everyone's reasons are different but this post is about none of that- it's about a simple rule most of our parent(s)/grandparent(s) teachers taught us growing up, "keep your hands to yourself"!

This simple tenant has served us well in society however it has become clear that many have forgotten the lesson (in more ways than one- but for the purposes of this post I am just talking about as it relates to natural hair)

Imagine you are minding your own business- walking down the street, in the grocery store, at a party, having dinner with friends...whatever and you are approached by a stranger and after a few murmurs of awe this stranger thrusts his or her hand into your hair and proceeds to molest it (seriously). This has happened to me on several occasions and has caused me to second guess my decision to wear my hair out in public. I know that I am not the only natural who has come face to face with the "strange hand" or  "stranger danger" if you will. Upon the violation I promptly inform the violator that what just happened is unacceptable and at the very least asking before touching should always be their first move.

Photo Credit: natrube.wordpress.com

Aside from the germy implications associated with having someone's hand on your person (our hands are dirtier than a toilet bowl and most people do not bother to wash them- they sneeze in them, pick noses with them, touch other things and people that have their own set of germs and spread the love for everyone to partake in...yuck) there is a deeper issue (at least for me)-

 my personal space and apart of my body is being touched unsolicited and  nonchalantly by random people- and you can tell that they know it's wrong because there is a split second of hesitation  and you can see the internal debate and then its like they are about to jump out of a plane and they just go for it! All well in good but its not a plane, its my hair and uh...I don't know you. The total disregard for another person's space is what really bothers me more so than foreign fingers in my hair- you wouldn't randomly go around touching a stranger's bum or private areas- people get shot for stepping on someone's shoes or bumping them- I mean come on! Think about it...this premeditated assault on curls is ridiculous and furthermore - what is the big deal- it's hair- everyone has some somewhere or at least the memory of it...I am not a animal in a petting zoo- I am a person ....with personal space issues...*sigh* anyhoo...

The moral of the story: please ask before touching anyone's anything. You are showing courtesy and respect- something everyone deserves.

What say you?

Be Your Best You

CL

On Eating

At a recent raw food experience I was exposed to a film about...eating, entitled, Eating. Making the case for a plant based and in some cases a plant only diet. What follows is what I learned (this not my first 'food industry' film, however there were things that I took away) and my impressions.

The film interviewed a number of doctors and a few athletes who have adopted a plant based diet when facing debilitating health concerns themselves. The film took a hard look at the medical and food industry backed by political dollars and how both work hand in hand to kill Americans- be an informed consumer- knowledge is your best weapon.

The Learning:

Note: the burgers I am referring to are those mass produced and found for ridiculously cheap prices in most fast food joints

* cholesterol leading to heart disease is our nations number one killer

* heart disease has killed more people than all of our wars combined

* the food pyramid was designed by drug companies and politicians

* the diet that is advertised as "good" is fed to us as children and leads to all sorts of ailments as we age

* methane is the leading cause for our global warming issue

* the largest source of methane is the cattle that makes our burgers

* Half of our fresh water is used for the cattle that makes our burgers

* The other half of our fresh water is polluted by the feces of the cattle that make our burgers

* The animals that are used for the mass production of meat products are abused and horribly treated

* If one person did not consume meat for just one day that would equate to taking 8 Million cars off of the road

photo credit: foodcultures.web.unc.edu

* Our forests and environment are being destroyed to provide grazing land for the cattle that make our burgers not for the wood or even to house our growing population

* Drug companies use the medical industry to push chemical compounds that do nothing to cure the problem, in fact the pills keep people dependent on the drug and create a whole host of new problems via side effects

* Almost 70% of our grain, corn, wheat etc goes to feed the cattle that makes our burgers not to the people who are actually starving in the world

* The burgers found in most fast food joints are hard baked fecal cakes injected with chemical compounds to cover up the flavor of shit

* A piece of chicken has as much cholesterol as a T bone steak and seafood has more cholesterol than both

* Cattle are not designed to eat grains- they were meant to eat grass/ REad: e.coli

* A lb of ground beef is cheaper than a lb or rasberries


My Impression:

A plant based diet just makes sense...the Creator, nature, Mother Earth (whatever/whomever you believe in) provided all we need to not only live but to thrive. It has been a long standing theory of mine that the majority of mental health and behavioral health that I've seen over the years had a strong connection to diet- especially in children.
Fresh fruits and veggies retain all the nutrients our bodies need- so much so that many people have cited some as 'super foods' which have been credited with reversing some very serious medical conditions when doctors had given the patient a death sentence. What you put into your body affects how you relate to yourself and others- it affects your mood and energy levels.

For me, have a limiting or restrictive diet of any kind is not my idea of fun- and as mentioned in another post one of my favorite foods is oxtail- so am I destined for the emergency room? I don't think so- I am armed with a few guiding principles that help me make different and better food choices for me:

* Reading food labels tells you a whole lot of information including- ingredients (if you can't pronounce it you may not want to eat it), where the product was made etc

* Because I am a meat eater I look for and purchase meat that are grass fed and raised in happy healthy environments (yes you can find that information on the label too) not from mass produced slaughter factories

* I shop at places known for the food conscience (Trader Joes, Farmers Markets)

* When given the choice- I buy local

* I have switched my milk, sugar, and refined starch consumption (I try to stay away from refined products, I only buy sugar in the raw, and I have not personally bought cow milk in over 10 years)

Photo Credit: styleblazer.com

* I do have a weakness for ice cream but gravitate towards brands with natural ingredients

* I believe in balance- incorporating fresh fruits and veggies at every meal (in the winter frozen veggies and fruits are a great way to add some green to your plate)

* I eat when I'm hungry and I stop eating when I'm full

I must admit that being exposed to the truth behind the food industry was a bit scary but knowing that as the consumer I can choose where I spend my monies was comforting and empowering- we do not have to fall victim to the glossy ads and exciting commercials that ultimately empty our wallets and lead us to gastrointestinal slavery. You have a brain- use it! Be informed- its free :)

What Say You?


Be Your Best You

CL

In the Raw

photo credit: muchadoaboutfooding.com

As a result of an invitation to attend a seminar for the book A Course in Miracles I received another invitation to take part in a "raw food experience". Anyone who knows me at all knows that I have a very special relationship with food, am a self proclaimed foodie of sorts and the chances that I would turn down an opportunity to take part in any type of food experience (especially a free one): slim to none.

I readily agreed and prepared my palate as best I could for whatever awaited me. Now, I feel I must say that I have toyed with the notion of having a strict plant based diet- knowing all of the benefits that come with it and have every time dismissed the notion heartily. One of my favorite foods is oxtail...how could I turn my back on such succulence? I could if I wanted to but the bottom line is I discovered I didn't want to- and over the years that has not changed. I also had the benefit of growing up in a household where, although the candy dishes were never empty, when I wanted a snack I was given fresh fruit generally. Not only were my meals balanced, delicious and interesting but my mother frequently prompted me to try new things (the responsibility of my appetite for new and wonderful vittles rests squarely on my mother's shoulders) her wisdom: "the worst thing that could happen is you don't like it and if you don't like it you don't have to eat it". Thanks mom- that was one of the best gifts you could have given me :) (I often scoff at how other people limit their diets to what is familiar- a tendency often reflected in how they live their lives...but there are so many dishes, cultural flares, ingredients and creativity...*sigh* on and on I could go)

I digress...perhaps. So anyhoo, I drove myself and my friend the short distance to where our fates awaited. We were ushered into a uber cat friendly home and invited to make ourselves comfy (I must say I was waiting for the other guests to arrive...but it was just us three) We were informed that there would be a feature film to accompany our meal. Eating, the 3rd edition was that film and as we watched we were served giant bowls of watermelon (my favorite fruit, REad: score!) and deep burgundy cherries.

(Stay tuned for my impressions of the movie in another post)

photo credit:antonvandenberg.wordpress.com

After the movie we began discussing all manner of things- of course beginning with the implications of a plant based diet, the political basis of our "good American diet", and moving into the state of our communities and ending with our personal experiences as truth seeking soulful beings.

Our discussion was punctuated by generous portions of a salad topped with a homemade cucumber and creamed cashew dressing. The evening ended with scoops of "apple surprise" consisting of finely chopped apple and cranberry. Not so bad, I secretly was expecting cups of beet juice and garden picked brussel sprouts (my least favorite vegetable). As I have found when like minded beings come together, free spirits seeking truth, I felt content and full and it had little to do with the physical food consumed. We communed and bonded over the shared experience of being a human seeking to realize our potential. We shared stories and insight in a comfortable environment and wisdom was shared in mutual respect for each others' unique view point and as the youngest of the bunch- I found that I had much to offer as well and it was received in mutual respect.

So my first raw food experience was successful and satisfactory on a few different levels- my kind of party :)

Have you had any raw food experiences?

Be Your Best You

CL

On Letting Go

photo credit: thebridgemaker.com

There is a saying, "let go and let God"- many people use it, seldom practice it in their own lives. It is hard to do- evolving as a person is hard work. It can be frustrating, exhausting, lonely, and there are so many other things that one could be doing that are so much more fun...(shoe shopping perhaps) the bottom line however is that in order to be the best you- at some point you have to shed some part of you in order to blossom and grow into the being you were created to be- or as I like to call it, 'realizing your potential'.

So why let go? Negative emotional buildup can manifest itself in many ways- including physical dis-ease; emotional baggage weighs you down, blocks your blessings, keeps you trapped in a mobile prison and my personal favorite: why not? What are you holding onto anyways? Ask yourself how is it feeding you?

Here's the thing: we all have had a childhood of some sort- some fond, maybe some not so fond. We all have challenges that face us on our journey to adulthood (and a whole load more once we finally get there) but the ones that block our path in our earlier years tend to have effects that are long lasting with unknown consequences (both pos + neg -if such things exist- in the grand scheme of things I'm beginning to think that they do not...but I digress) that can last well into ripe "old" age. If we harbor ill feelings they have a tendency to fester inside causing all sorts of maladies. Negativity tends to breed more negativity and hurt people hurt people creating more hurt people.

Here's the other thing: the only road map that exists in this life is internal and most people go through life ignoring it...our intuition. Instead they let fears, doubts and other external stimuli overpower their own guide-which is most important. Just like a muscle or skill if you do not use it, you lose it. Your internal guide begins as a subtle feeling- a nudge if you will, in this direction or that, however, the more you listen to it and value it's ability to point you in the right direction for you it gets stronger and stronger.

At some point in order to live our best lives and be the best we can be there will be cause to pause, take stock...and let go (I was tempted to put 'simply' but as a fore mentioned this process is not for the faint of heart)

Photo Credit: newblackmagazine.com

The process generally begins when we realize that we are doing something over and over again and in spite of the repeated process...we end up with a less than satisfactory result. I do believe that everything happens for a reason and it is up to us to find and utilize the lesson in the situation so we can continue our evolution as beings on this earth. Some people continue to repeat the same action expecting a different result- as is widely known this is one of the definitions of insanity. Other people STOP and try to figure out what the heck is going on...and in their willingness to do so...the process begins.

Truthfully speaking (from first hand experience) it can be a wearisome daunting process- well worth it but none the less at times it down right sucks. You lose friends, you have to face yourself honestly (I mean really taking a very hard look at yourself ladies and gents), your world seems to flip inside out and upside down and for awhile you really feel insane because your once comfortable space you occupied in the world has been shot to bits and what surrounds you is foreign and unknown...yet it is you and yours.

When I began my process many moons ago one of the phrases that began to haunt me was, 'trust the process'- I heard it so often that I began to resent it (and at times the process itself) but I honestly did not know how important that message was for me until it recently resurfaced in my life. One of my biggest issues (REAd: still working on) is trust- I am a problem solver, an analyst- I take great joy in figuring things out and to ask me to blindly trust anything or anyone immediately elicits an internal response akin to gagging or gut wrenching knotting- which brings up my other issue: patience. This process takes as long as 'it' needs to...what the heck does that mean? Unfortunately- it means exactly what it says...UGH! Yet I painfully realized that after a point- no matter what you do, no matter how you try to force your will on the circumstances- nothin's doin' and you have no choice but to wait and see how things unfold.

So if this process is so much fun (please pick up on the uber sarcastic tone in the word 'fun') why would anyone embark on it? When I began I thought about the alternative: staying stuck in the ickyness of pain and an unsatisfactory drab world (emotionally and spiritually). I often look to nature for guidance/inspiration and I noted that if things in nature do not grow they die, so for me- stagnation = death (in a spiritual sense). In essence I felt I had no choice, and in retrospect I didn't (of course you always have a choice- but for me, none existed but to forge ahead- it has always been my choice- I always chose life over death- perhaps my one guiding principle)

All is not bleak and grim once this journey begins (although I do not want to romanticize this process - much of the work is done alone and old habits do indeed die hard) you meet people, you do things, you go places you never imagined you would. You uncover the subtle beauty of life- both within and that which surrounds you. Your life begins to blossom in ways you could not have fathomed or designed better yourself- your true purpose, your very essence is yours to rediscover and claim. You uncover (hopefully) the wisdom in being gentle with yourself which naturally extends itself to those who cross your path and as you travel you reflect on your life and realize you can't imagine that you ever clung to where you were- life is definitely sweeter along the road less traveled.

Be Your Best You

CL

PS. And yes it is ok to go right instead of left 'just because', to indulge in a favorite past time because you feel like it even though you're "supposed" to be working, to hug a tree, to have a snowball fight, to face your ultimate fear head on, to yell from the rooftops, to follow the urgings of your soul wherever they may lead- IT IS OK TO BE YOU!

Early Morning Ponderings

Photo credit: www.damabeats.wordpress.com

It is almost four o'clock in the morning...what! In heaven's name...am I doing up?

Short Answer: I have no idea :)

Slightly longer answer: I have taken note that over these oh so short summer months that I adore and long for all year a new phenomena has taken hold: Pre-Dawn Epiphanies. I will find myself up when all the world lays deep in slumber (well most of the world in this hemisphere)- doing what you may ask...it really depends...reading, drawing, having deep spiritual conversations (yes mom with a real person :) ) or as I am doing now- writing. One thing these Pre-Dawn Epiphanies have  in common- besides the hour of the morning they take place is they generally have to do with the 'evolvement' of my understanding (of myself, circumstances or the world in general) in some form or fashion- or they are very creative in nature (drawing/writing) etc.

Anyhoo- so in spite of my efforts to tucker myself out- here I sit in my quaint 'studio' surrounding by wisdom (books) and life (plants) where I find I channel the 'doer' within. I encourage you to get yourself a journal, blog or both to record your own observations (the physical journal tends to be a lot more convenient at times I find albeit a bit old fashion for some- although I really find I am fascinated by paper texture...anyhoo)

What revelations have you had in the wee hours of the morning?

Be the Best You

CL

Photo Friday

Lake Placid, New York

Hug a tree

Be Your Best You

CL

An Ode to Underwear

I have long noted the trend of baggy saggy clothes- generally on young (and not so young) men sometimes on women as well but mostly with the young men. With the baggy saggy clothes comes somewhat of a 'peep show' if you will of boxers and boxer briefs in an assortment of colors and patterns.

Here's the thing- I'm noticing that baggy pants are out...the alternative is the more fitted slim cut skinny jean (for men...'skater look')...that still sag. So these young people are going into stores, spending money on pants that fit (sometimes too small for beefier adolescents), only to force them to sag...I simply do not understand this phenomena.

So walking down the street at any given time I and everyone else in the world knows what color your delicates are. Just in case no one has said it out loud: "its not sexy!" Clothes and fashion are infamous for being one of the vehicles of self expression- but what is the message? and who is it for? (And I would like to know who started this ridiculous 'trend'..was it CrissCross? Rage with her Afro Puffs? Surely the 'Gangsta' rappers had something to do with it...but fitted jeans that you have to force to sag...really?!)

Surely these young ones cannot think this is appropriate? I have it on good authority that young men take as much time if not more time than females dressing and preening themselves before they leave the house and it has to be one of the most uncomfortable looking trends to date so it must be a conscious decision...but WWWWHHHHYYYYY?

Certainly some of the young ladies walking around are no better - but their motive is clear- over-sexualized attire has the "benefit" of increased attention from the opposite sex- I don't agree with it but I get it. However, the choice of young men everywhere to choose to walk around with their boxers or briefs (sometimes color coordinated with their outfit) bunched up over the waist of their pants baffles me.


I won't get into the implications for job interviews or classroom etiquette as I believe it is evident, however, there is clearly a missing link - some missing guidance that is desperately needed and might I add as a member of this society I think I speak for a pretty large number when I say emphatically that, "no one wants to see your underwear! Plus it's really obvious that its hard for you walk, not to mention they have done medical research which shows you are throwing your hips out of joint...or something unnatural like that!"

Live Your Best Life (which can be done without showing the world your underoos)
CL

What Say You?

Make Time for Laughter

Photo Credit: sayyestotennis.com

A recent non assuming trip to south street with my Twin Soul (Twin) for a bite to eat turned into perhaps one of the longest laugh-a-thons in history (well mine anyway).

The Scene:
After supporting my Twin in her latest venture (healthy weight loss)- listening to a delightful petite woman, her daughter quietly by her side, share her weight loss story with a group of attentive weight loss hopefuls (side note: the subject is of no interest to me but I think I would sit through a lecture on the molecular structure of an atom if she asked me too- such is our relationship), sampling weight loss smoothies and snack bars and observing with amusement how effective stories really are at selling products- it was finally over and the real fun could begin!

We had no plan (we generally don't) but we had a mission: to find and consume some real food (usually the precipice to all of our adventures). A suggestion was made regarding an 'underground' food joint on south street that served the most delectable chicken kabobs in South Philly...and off we went- following a caravan of hungry soon-to-be-dieters off to south street, my Twin and I chit chatted about this or that, trying to distract ourselves from the hunger pains racking our bellies.

10 minutes later we joined a small group of her friends and family, ordered, and waited for our sustenance to arrive. There was a jovial attitude in the group, made more so once my Twin and I decided what we were going to eat, and it was fun listening to this inter-generational group of women dialogue with each other.

Photo Credit: panhala.net

As our cheese steak and kabobs came steaming to the table (don't judge us :) ) and we split each dish so we could satisfy both of our cravings, the stories became nostalgic as the older women reminisced about the days gone by and their school day mishaps- our laughter lit up the small narrow food joint but we cared not...we were in good company and the food was equally amazing (for an 'underground food joint in S.P.'). 

When we had had our fill of food and laughs we said our goodbyes and ventured out onto the street to enjoy the summer evening air- this time joined by a mutual friend and her ridiculously adorable pint sized daughter who is just learning to put sentences together. Needless to say our small group of 3 1/2 evolved as the hours rolled by to a sizable group of  8 1/2 and the most memorable part of the night: the laughter!

We laughed at ourselves, people, society, everything- we laughed so hard we cried, our breath got caught in our chest and our guts ached. It was good belly laughter- profound in its innocence and powerful because we were sharing it- in some cases with strangers.

Photo Credit: Sound of Laughter-Hersley

Our fun kept us out until dawn, no one really wanting to let go of this treasure we had haphazardly discovered; leading us to a very early breakfast at a local diner where the laughter continued- now tinged with fatigue and hunger(again) but still equally good.

There are many things that take place in our lives- hiccups and hangups but what I realized is that laughter (and love) really is the best medicine & sometimes the most memorable moments are those that are unplanned and spontaneous


Live Your Best Life
CL

What Say You?

Vintage Culture

In a grip of nostalgia, yearning for something wholesome and good, I found some episodes of one of America's favorite families- The Huxtables.

As I sat watching the growing pains & the everyday life events of Rudy, Theo, Vanessa, Olivia, Denise, Sandra, Claire, HeathCliff, both sets of grandparents, & friends I reflected on the times we now find ourselves in and the land from whence we came not so long ago.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Our entertainment is a reflection of our society- today we are surrounded by sex, drugs and violence; not that these things have not held us hostage since the beginning of time but something has changed. Sexual and violent images have gotten bolder pushing the limits of acceptability in movies, tv shows, within song lyrics to down right vulgarity; the drugs of today are chemical compounds that have unheard of and unparalleled affects on the ingestors and are even perhaps untraceable by the standards of our drug testing systems. Even our "news programs" are only glorified scripted advertisements shocking us into new products because the stories told to us play on our insecurities and fears.

Perhaps what is most shocking of all is our apparent need for this hyper stimulation. As a child I was content with a few coloring books, dolls and books; on a sunny summers day you could find me racing down the street on my bike or roller blades or on my belly studying the patterns of ants trying to figure out how they found their way home. Today's child must have constant external stimuli- cell phones, video games, ipods, ipads, wii and who knows what else- they are disconnected from the world around them, the line between reality and fiction are becoming blurred as they careen down into twisted worlds of fantasy except the damage that is being done is real and cannot be undone by hitting the 'previous' button on the remote or the 'reset' button on a console. 

Lives are shattering, somewhere during our cultural "evolution" we lost our moral fibers, we are losing our children at an alarming rate and as a species in large part we ourselves are lost and know not where to turn. We have lost our capacity to feel and therefore seek greater and greater risk, we forget to acknowledge that our actions not only help or hinder us but have far reaching effects on others. We dismiss acts of violence as 'senseless' but perhaps it is time to take a deeper look and uncover the 'sense' so we can stop what is happening to our world- only by facing what ails us can we begin to heal.

Watching the Cosby Show did something for my soul- I laughed, I cried, I reflected but most of all I was urged to action. We all have the power to touch the lives of others, to give a kindness, to teach there is a different way, to reflect in our own lives what we wish the world to be. It takes time, patience and courage but I must remain hopeful that it can be done- even if just one life is touched perhaps that is enough.

"Only you can prevent forest fires"
Smokey the Bear

CL

What Say YOu?

Its Not Me....Its You

Apparently I have missed the memo that informed me that 1. it is ok to tell people (strangers that you just meet that look suspicious- don't ask how I end up in conversations with said people...) exactly where you live 2. It is normal to ride off into the sunset with afore mentioned strangers to an unknown location with an unknown time or arrival or return & 3. I am obligated to marry you even though we just met, you are missing your teeth and we obviously have very little in common, except of course for our general skin tone.

I have noticed that men (generally) are drawn to my positive spirit, which is fine. I have also noticed that some men want to immediately attach themselves to me because of said spirit, a little less fine but tolerable. However, when I politely smile and shake my head and inform them that what they desire (the list is long ranging from soul mate to casino buddies) will never happen with me (I do give them encouragement and let them know that there are plenty of women they may have a chance with...I'm just not one of them) I notice an indignant change in disposition, followed by ... reproach: not fine.

I have been told quite frankly that I am being too cautious (I also feel like they want to say 'stuck up'- except I'm not so they cant quite find the correct descriptive for my "unruly" behavior) when I have refused to let someone know my full name, my full address, and my date of birth. In a world where rape and murder are prominent I am being too cautious.

I have had to remind strangers that we have known each other for all of 5 minutes and the soul mate button they are trying to pin on me is not the right fit for me- it does not seem to matter that my interests are light years away that my perception of the world around me is different than the average Jane's...sigh...the only thing that matters is their projections.

I am apparently not playing by the rules- is it perhaps because I speak when spoken to (I have always found that ignoring someone was very rude), because I do not avert eye contact (that's another thing! I have to constantly remind people that someone in their lives taught them it is impolite to stare), because I stop and smell the flowers, because I generally appear to be a nice person?

Well I am a nice person but that doesn't mean that I don't have standards or dreams and desires of my own and a very acute sense of what and is close or not to fulfilling them- some folks may catch me off guard but even those sneaky ones get rooted out if they do not belong when I am fully cognizant of the situation. Just because I'm nice (mostly) doesn't mean everybody can fly- I don't care about what car you drive or how much money you say your willing to spend (I call their bluff every time) I care about the things that you cannot show off in a traditional way, "the content of your character" is where the meat is.

And even still! You may be a wonderful person and we may not be right for each other (especially if you have 7 kids and most of your teeth are missing from your mouth...REALLY...wake up!)

SIDENOTE: I once got hit on by an older gentleman recently who after trying to guilt then bribe me into a conversation to no avail whispered in my ear, "Don't let the oxygen tank fool you honey, I am more than capable" I cannot make this stuff up! I kindly informed him that that was no way to talk to a lady and I was shocked and appalled that he had even twisted his lips to say such a thing...he then made some feeble attempts to clean it up and quietly made his exit. SMH

I don't know if I will ever cease to be amazed at the audacity of others who insist on forcing you into their fantasyland with little to no consideration for your willingness to go/participate.

Very Interesting

CL

What Say You?

Crouching Tyger Hidden Lilly

I first must give a huge thank you to my Chocolate Bunny (insider) for such a wonderful title!

Tyger Lilli

I have two cats. Tyger Lilli & Lilly. They are unrelated and at times have difficulty relating to each other and they couldn't be more different. I was bamboozled by Tyger Lilly to bring her home when she was 6 months old and living in an animal shelter (she is quick witted, mischievous, has a an interesting sense of humor and an affinity for bacon and fried chicken); a year later I thought (foolishly) that she was lonely and needed a companion as I was frequently not home attending to my life beyond my four walls.

 I found a picture of Lilly hanging on a utility pole one day while I was out and immediately felt my heartstrings tug as I read about her rescue from the streets, her difficult birthing of kittens when she was still just a kitten herself and the fact that the woman who rescued her could not keep her for fear that her 5 cats (yes 5) would beat her up...or something like that.

Lilly

I made plans to meet Lilly and her present owner soon thereafter and was taken aback as I witnessed the most scared animal I had ever come across. Not to mention Lilly's living arrangements were a bit questionable- the woman's house was very clean but she kept Lilly sequestered away from the other cats in a tiny bathroom where I presume she ate, slept, and relieved herself- the only contact she had with others was about once or twice a day when the owner would go in door closed and spend time petting her and talking with her, I raised an eyebrow at the description of Lilly's life. I do believe the woman had good intentions and thought that Lilly's isolation was necessary for her own safety, however, that left any new owner with quite an interesting task (as I would learn first hand) anyhoo in spite of Lilly's downright nasty disposition (clinically I knew that fear many times manifests itself as anger and aggression although I had up until this point only encountered this phenomena with people, I was undeterred) I figured Lilly needed a loving home, space, and I must admit I had fantasized about her and Tyger Lilli becoming the best of friends...you know...like in the YouTube videos and those cutesy emails.

Think again genius!(is what I said to myself many times over) Upon entering her new home Lilly promptly found the stairs ran up them found a corner and hid in it, all before Tyger Lilli got a chance to introduce herself or I was able to give her the grand tour. When we finally located our new addition she was shaking like a leaf and hissing...after speaking in loving tones for a few minutes and being met with more hissing, I informed her matter of factly that this was her home now and she should get used to it (funny I never thought about taking her back)

Fast Forward to present day (two or three years since her first day) it has been an interesting dynamic to watch unfold. Lilly is actually a very affectionate cat but it took me at least a year to find that out and she is just beginning to find new places to hide although she still has not ventured down the stairs...ever. As for her relationship with Tyger Lilli - it too is evolving and I am noticing that when I am home Tyger Lilli (who acts more like a dog than a cat most of the time) will split her time between me and Lilly- I have even caught them just hanging out together in their room...all peaceful like.

So the saga continues but at least it seems to have been one of healing, learning to trust again and friendship- the ups and the downs. Perhaps they will have their YouTube moment after all. One can dream...


CL

What Say YOu?

ChristyLove & The Woodsman Part I

For those who are like me and do not believe in coincidences and similarly believe that the Creator works in wonderful and mysterious ways generally we are prone to look at the world around us, the experience, and the people we meet a little differently.

I have been consciously paying attention to 'messages' from the Universe/Creator in a sincere effort to better understand the world I live in and to perhaps better understand how to move 'appropriately' through my life. This life, I have come to believe is an interactive process- if we are open to the experience and willing to trust our Spirit (The God Within). A few years ago I took stock of where I was in life- more so emotionally and I did not particularly like what I saw. In true Christy fashion- I decided to change it- little did I know that my teeny tiny decision would whisk me away on a path filled with happiness love and gratitude. I have gone places I couldn't have predicted I would go and the people that have filled my life from this point to that are truly amazing (some are new editions others have come back into my life for various reasons- some have not stayed long, but those who have I am eternally grateful for the reunions)

The biggest thing that I have learned is that someone or something is always trying to give us information, or lessons/messages if you will, to aide us along our journey- our job is to pay attention and interpret them however we need to so that our journey may continue. I generally take whatever signs I see/find rather lightly but I do notice them and I do take the time to try and understand them. Dreams are perhaps the Universe's favorite playground so I have taken steps to understand them on a deeper level but I have also found that creatures from the animal kingdom also carry messages for us with them, also "random" meetings or conversations you have with others (particularly strangers) serve as very interesting fodder indeed.

This has been a longer intro than intended however perhaps it was needed- leading me to the point of this post: an encounter. I most also note that for the past few months I have been followed around by a white butterfly (possibly the spirit of my father) and in general have been bombarded with butterfly encounters, sometimes in the most unlikely of places i.e. in an indoor gymnasium a beautiful butterfly found its way to my leg and rested there quite comfortably for a few moments then fluttered away never to be seen again...

The Scene:

photograph by: ChristyLove

A warm sunny June afternoon I was taken to an unknown place by a person with whom I was becoming acquainted. The place turned out to be Ridley State Park and the person turned out to be The Woodsman (self proclaimed). I was already enthralled with the peace and tranquility of the sun dappled trail alongside the gurgling of the creek. The Woodsman explained that this was one of his favorite secret places and I was the first he had shared it with (if it was a line I didn't care, too distracted was I by the moss covered stones and how closely the thick exposed tree roots resembled human nerves) as we continued along the path I noticed not one not two but at least five butterflies swirling around us and through us as we walked and talked. Then one of the most spectacular things happened: once the butterflies had our attention one flitted to the ground...waiting? Wings stretching but not moving...beside me I noticed the Woodsman softly approaching the grounded animal and without a word on bended knee he PICKED UP the butterfly- who casually assumed a comfy spot on the outstretched finger. The Woodsman proceeded to bring the butterfly over to where I was standing with baited breath and he encouraged me to try and hold the butterfly...close but no cigar...in the midst of the transfer the butterfly took to the sky once more bidding us ado.

Anyone who knows me knows that I have developed a kindred spirit with the Earth, a reverence and respect for this place which we call home and I have a deeply felt responsibility to protect it but even I have not come so close with the wildness of nature as I witnessed on this day. That has only happened in Disney movies and with wranglers who have enslaved wild beasts or doped them up (which doesn't count in my book) so to say the least I was intrigued by this being who dubbed himself the Woodsman and apparently speaks butterfly- but I kept my intrigue carefully couched in questions about said persons upbringing and background making mental notes about his character all the while.

Thats nice dear you may be saying but! There is more! I have noted that on all of our outings, especially to these special places of the Woodsman's we have encountered very interesting dynamics in the animal kingdom: a bird playing tag with a squirrel among the treetops (we stood and watched for at least 20 minutes until the bird gave up and the squirrel breathed a sigh of relief) and a momma turtle laying eggs in the earth (we thought she was dead until we saw her back legs moving and white eggs being plopped out and into the hole she had carved out of the mud) to name a few.

Now all of this may mean very little but each animal that we encountered has a symbolic meaning which I will share in another post...so stay tuned

hmmph...that was interesting

CL

What Say YOu?

Interesting Trader Joe's Encounter

I have always loved Trader Joe's (TJs)- the produce is fresh, the meat is happy, the aisles have rows upon rows of interesting non modified products, which is always changing, and the people are progressive- intelligent consumers and friendly helpful staff; at least that has been my experience and my perception. So when I politely and kindly offered my services to a woman who was struggling with her groceries I was quite taken aback by her gruff resounding NO!

The Scene: I was filled with excitement at being in TJs (food makes me happy) and even though I was only picking up a few items I wanted to give the wonderful goodness that is found within the walls of TJs my full attention so I was standing off to the side responding to some very persistent texters so I could proceed with my culinary journey. As I am sending my responses I notice a woman coming towards me who is struggling with a small 'granny cart' overflowing with goods and two armfuls of boxed berries- she obviously needed help. Being the kind person that I am I offered to help her with her parcels because I could see if she ventured any further up the aisle in her current state innocent bystanders may have been assaulted with berry pulp.

photo credit: kobochangirl-aka

Not looking me in the eye she replied very curtly, 'No'. Generally I respect a person's right to say no...no means no...however, she was clearly in need and I persisted against what I thought was her stubbornness and asked if she was sure she didn't need help, 'No!' again, this time a bit more forceful. So I backed off and resumed the task at hand but I just couldn't help watching in awe as this same woman who refused to accept help from me practically pleaded with a young man to help her with her packages because she just didn't know how she was going to make it up to the front of the store to the line with all of her stuff.

'Thats interesting' I said, more to myself than to anyone else, 'what?' she replied 'but you didn't want me to help you'I said still in shock. 'No!' she said and shuffled away with her ignorance and food items.

I was so taken aback and did not quite know how to wrap my mind around it- I found a similarly complected person and described the scenario to see if anyone else thought it odd that someone in 2012 would turn down the help of another even of a different skin color. The kind woman with whom I spoke told me that 'I knew what that was' and gave me a knowing look- but I wondered as I thanked her and walked away 'Do I know what that was?'

What she was implying was that I had had a first-hand encounter with racism and I suppose I am still trying to wrap my head around a concept I have always had trouble understanding: treating someone different or judging them based on their color or how they look alone and it did not seem to matter that I was dressed nice and was offering a kindness...

That was interesting

CL

What Say YOu?

The Resurrection

Hello All,

A friend of mine recently encouraged me to start a blog to share my many thoughts about the world around me and specifically with my interactions with it (especially the people) .... so true to form I set about "researching"...what does one say in a blog? who will read said blog if it is created? what will I say? what if I have nothing to say? what is my purpose? This litany of questions and very little concrete answers harassed me to no end for weeks upon weeks and then I made a decision: I will start a blog! All of a sudden it made perfect sense and people all around me were encouraging me to write about my experiences. Once the decision was made of course I had to mull it over some more, there needed to be a title, all of the experts said you needed a specific topic to write about...endless thinking and pondering...until TODAY. 

Photography By: ChristyLove

Today I decided to put my fingers to the keyboard and go through with this non-daunting task that seemed so in my brain. I opened my lap top and typed in the wonderful Google search bar: Blog- a selection came up, I was thrilled, maybe this wouldn't be so hard after all, was my thinking- the page that came up was someone's blog entry- I figured I would read it for inspiration. The more I read the more intrigued I became- this person had an interesting view on life, excellent vocabulary- all two of her blogs were very well written- then I looked at the name signed at the end and it looked like a name I frequently used meaning 'Earth' and the words seemed eerily familiar. Wait for it... IT WAS MY OWN BLOG!!!!!! SMH LOL I found myself on the web- sneaky Google :). Not quite as dramatic as somebody's idea of the second coming but hey, whattya gonna do?

So they say that no one's idea is original and apparently "they" are right back in 2009 I attempted to embark on the world of blogging and apparently didn't get very far- however here I find myself back full circle so it must be meant to be (I even liked my title...so clever of my 2009 self)

So here I am to try again- committed to sharing my encounters and thoughts concerning the world around me with whomever shall partake.

Read, Comment, Share!

Blessings,

CL