Category Archives: Health
Motorcycle Drive By
This week, I got hit by a car. I was driving along on my two-wheels and was taken out by a Prius. Thank goodness it was a Prius right? Imagine if it had been a Tahoe! Ouch.
I was heading to dinner and, as you can imagine, LA drivers are pretty intense. This was not a result of intensity or the rush of life, rather a poor little lady who made a late decision to turn. I happened to be in the way and was flung from my scooter. Being me, I jumped up and started checking on everyone and everything, apologizing and strategizing how we would all deal with the situation at hand. I didn’t even think to call anyone at first, I figured if my scooter was ok, I would exchange information scoot off. Well… clearly I was in shock and had some adrenaline happening…
The woman who hit me was sweet (hence the many hugs while waiting for the tow truck). So on a positive (potentially crazy) note: I couldn’t have hoped for a better first motorcycle accident. My body was in shock and now I am pretty darn sore, but I am getting better. There is no major damage that I know of. She was very nice and her insurance has taken care of everything. My bike will be fixed and life goes on. What I have been left thinking about, however, is my reaction in the situation. I pride myself on being independent and comfortable handling anything thrown my way. This was a wake up call.
I believe that all things happen for a reason (Who doesn’t love cliches? Think about it though, cliches are cliches for a reason.). When something negative happens in life I so often here, “why me?” “how could I have prevented this?”, “I can’t deal”, etc. Rather than be a victim, I try to look inside myself and ask: “what is the universe intending I learn from this?” Boy this one was one of the most intense wake up calls I’ve had in a long time. There have been little foreshadowings of this one…but I clearly have not been listening or learning. It took getting thrown from my hog for me to open my eyes. This one was so difficult to see because I didn’t want to: I am not able to let myself be taken care of. Yes, there have been a few people in my life that I really open up to.. but, well, let’s not go into to much detail on the blog. I am starting to see where this issue is rooted and how it has affected my adult life.
I struggle with letting myself be loved and taken care of fully. Can too much independence and self-reliance be a bad thing? Clearly yes. I believe that the purpose of life is to love, bring joy, peace and positive energy into the world and live with an open heart and mind… but am I practicing that? In some ways, sure. But it takes openness both ways. You have to give and receive. Life is a constant flow of energy in all directions. It seems I’ve been more comfortable giving and not fully receiving.
I am not ready to write all my feelings on here… but this is how it started and I am doing some soul-searching as a result. When things, bad or even really good, happen try putting away the ego that gets in your head and, instead, consider what lesson this is meant to teach you. As for me…I am trying to learn the lessons and practice them. Believing and knowing is only one step…the next is practice.
I am not sure how much sense any of this will make, so if you are left unclear I’d like to share one more thing…
After this accident one of my closest friends (who is far across the seas) sent me a TED talk. Ted.org is one of my favorite sites. This friend does not know that. This friend was also not aware of the things I’ve been going through the week. The burying myself in work to numb the feelings. The silent soul-searching without feeling comfortable enough to share for fear people would care or understand. The tracing a line as to how I came to be me and wondering how I can become closer to the version of me I envision. The inability to let most people help me (note: if I let you help me than MAN do I feel a connection with you). Etc. Etc. The moment they emailed me this Ted lecture, they had no idea of any of this.
Serendipitous moments, moments when you get exactly what you need (even when you don’t want it) bring me closer to my faith that the universe is perpetually conspiring to build us up and teach us to become the most positive versions of ourselves… Step one: listen. Step two: practice. Step three: appreciate. I hope you enjoy and maybe even identify with Brene’s talk:
TED: Brene Brown, The Power of Vulnerability
Ted: Carl Honore praises slowness
Something to keep in mind… and that I, personally, struggle with. It’s so tough to remember to slow down and just live. But really, what else is there?
http://www.ted.com/talks/carl_honore_praises_slowness.html
“Cyberloafing” Study: Slacking Off At Work Is “Salubrious”
A study performed at the National University of Singapore has confirmed what many of us seem to know intuitively: taking a little time off of coding or writing to check your favorite blogs or webcomics is actually a productive behavior.
Just as taking a short break to get a snack or a coffee can reinvigorate you, taking a very short break to do something other than type or mouse around improves the quality of your work thereafter.
The study, done by researchers Don J.Q. Chen and Vivien K.G Lim, started out with participants doing a repetitive task: highlighting every “e” in a 3500-word document. They then were told to do one of three things: one group was told to stack sticks in a certain way, another was told to do anything but go on the web, and another was told to go on the web and check out a few standard blogs and sites. Lastly, they were asked to repeat their first task with a different document.
Not surprisingly, the web people were the least mentally exhausted (according to the infallible questionnaire) and most productive. Interestingly, checking email did not tend to restore people, as it was viewed as a kind of work to read and respond.
Methodologically, it’s not bulletproof. People doing “anything but web” in their own environment, rather than a lab, would likely be as refreshed as the web people. And tasks that require more focus and skill (creative tasks rather than repetitive) might not be as forgiving of interruption. But the point was made that web browsing didn’t have any deleterious effect on the participants’ ability to function. It didn’t act as an opiate.
Naturally, this only applies to a certain extent (no WoW raids), and real-life work conditions must be reasonable as well (web access may not improve sweatshop morale). But attempting to limit or control workers’ ability to go to certain sites or take short breaks like this (I just took one in the middle of the last paragraph) is certainly counter-productive. It reduces trust and makes people unhappy. And saying that checking Reddit or 1UP is stealing from the company only alienates the people who know better. Plus, they’ll keep on “stealing” without a second thought.
So next time your boss walks up to your cube while you’re taking five to hit up a few blogs, tell him about this study and suggest they make it policy. People love policy.
Pre-Work Colleague Bike Ride…
…aka Caroline and I woke up early and like to work out.
Yet another little activity that makes me so appreciate where I live …for now ; ) 7:00am Santa Monica beach and city cycling. Triathlon training continues.
Into the Woods…or Mountains…and some Beach too
This Sunday I had the urge to venture into nature on my own. Solo-wandering is a must and I especially needed it yesterday. I jumped on the scooter and drove down a cloudy morning Pacific Coast Highway. By nature, I am on autopilot to Malibu. Whenever I want to get outside, find peace or just think, I find myself driving north on the One. These days I am usually unsure of where I am actually going…but if I head towards Malibu I turn up somewhere I want to be. This time around I found myself parking at Tapia Park off Las Virgenes/Malibu Canyon.
The goal of the day: trail running. Inspired by the book “Born to Run” and ready to put my new vibram five finger treksport’s to the test, I figured this was the perfect spot. When cloudy by the ocean, this side of the mountains is sunny, so it felt great to get away from the chilly marine layer and into my old stomping grounds. Two nice ladies suggested I run to Malibu Creek State park from Tapia, so I did. This was the theme of the day. Going where ever and talking to people along the way. Once I got into Malibu Creek State park I kept running until I found a lake/river and some fun things to climb. One thing I always forget when climbing around: what goes up, must come down. There was no pretty way down this one, but I couldn’t help but keep pushing farther… By the time my climbing escapade was over I was covered in sweat, dirt, scratches and spider webs. Mission accomplished.
I ran on. Yeah, ran. It was one of those day I couldn’t stop moving. It didn’t even feel like I was putting in effort I was just moving over the ground–pretty remarkable feeling. I met a seasoned-looking hiker and asked where I should go. He said I could get back to Tapia by going around and over the ridge trail, but would be 15 miles round trip in direct sun with an elevation gain of 2500ft. I had already run 4.5 miles and felt great. What’s another 10, and I could walk when it got too hot. I was off! The next “check point” I was looking for was the site where M*A*S*H was filmed. Pretty cool, definitely before my time. I forged on. Really, I bounced along run-skipping and chatting with people along the way. I heard my first rattle snake. I had thought I knew what they sounded like..but no. Now I do.
The next direction marker I hit was Bullfrog Trail. And so the ascent began. The seasoned-hiker was right… it was completely exposed and I should have lots of water. I wore sunscreen, but only had half a bottle of water and a cliff bar. I hadn’t intended on a 15+ mile day, but hey people have survived worse. The views were stunning. By this point, I seemed to be the only one up there. The smart ones probably avoid completely sun-drenched trails at noon. At a curve in the road ahead there is shade… and two people! I sit to enjoy the shade with them… They get tense. I make small talk. They ask if I smoke. I say no. They ask if I mind if they do. I say not one bit. The tension now makes sense. Marijuana paranoia. They said they were searching for a castle…do I know anything about it? Seriously. These two gangly high hippies were roaming around looking for a castle in this heat? Hmmm… I tell them there are lots of castles in Malibu…sadly I don’t know of one up here. But good luck! I am off and silently giggling at their paranoia. I would be a nut case if I were smoking pot. Especially there on the hike up!
Next, I hit a split in the trail and was unsure of where to go… I was around 2000 ft, trying to conserve my water and getting very hot. I have to admit, I got a little spooked. Doing things alone always feels a bit more risky. If something went wrong…who would know? I suppose that’s also part of the lore. As I hit the ridge trail. As it leveled off I was skipping and yelling. The effects of dehydration mixed with excitement are marvelous! Really, I had psyched myself up thinking I had taken the wrong trail and was thrilled to see Corral Canyon in the distance. I was also crazy thirsty.
As my trail met the top of Corral Canyon, I saw a lone soldier sitting in the shade of a lone tree. He would be my new friend. I sit down next to the man who would soon be known to me as Stewart. We look at his map and he is impressed with my expedition, particularly because of my vibrams. I don’t skirt the real issue at hand… “Stewart, you dear little Jewish man, do you have any extra water? I’ll only take it if you have it to spare..” He pulled out a bottle and I downed it. That morning when packing (properly) for his hike, he said he had a feeling he would need a third bottle of water even though he usually only brings two. Thank you fate for putting us in the same place.
We rested, ate and drank talking about life, then that was that! I had 5.5 mils to go and felt energized enough to run again. I took off excited, bouncing along. It seems I was so excited that I had misread the map and ended up running 2 miles down Corral before I realized I was supposed to be on the opposite ridge… Darn. Well. I was supposed to end up in Malibu anyways, so ran the Canyon down to PCH… knowing there was a gas station there that would be well-stocked with sports beverages. After fifteen miles of walking, running, climbing, and skipping in mid-day sun I’m pretty sure I set a world record in Gatorade chugging. I also realized…being back near people… I look homeless or crazy. Gosh I love the looks… mothers guarded their children from the dirty smelly lady in the weird shoes… Anyhow, see route map below…
Now, had I taken the ridge trail it would have been 5.5-6 miles to Tapia Park and my scooter. Instead those 5.5 miles went south and put me on PCH… and another 15 miles away from my bike by road. Fortunately, as I walked along the highway my dear friend Steph was nearby and picked my dirty self up. It felt great to get to my bike and speed through the canyon then down along the coast. For personal reasons, I’ve craved this solitude. Not just solitude, but pushing myself to a place where I am uncomfortable and being physically challenged without an easy way out.
Somewhat ceremoniously, because it holds a place in my memories…I went to Point Dume, got a sandwich, and devoured it while sitting on the warm sand at Westward beach. Peace. No talking. No expectations. Nothing. Just warmth, sore muscles, the ocean. The feeling of nourishing not just my body, but my soul. Allowing myself to be alone and feel everything. Just when I thought I couldn’t have more of a spiritual, moving experience… an angel appeared and my heart was at ease, if only for a few hours…
Grateful.
To Remember Solitude
I happen to have some of the most amazing people in my life. Seriously. INCREDIBLE, fun, loving, compassionate, driven (shall I continue the list of adjectives?) friends and family. So first, thanks for adding so much to life and this world. With that said, this post is dedicated to being alone. I am housesitting for a while and last night decided that I would hang in. I’ve lived here before, so this place really feels like home. I forgot what it’s like to just bum around at home. Since moving back to LA I feel like I have been “on” the entire time. Between people and everything to do here, I find myself running non-stop. Note: I am completely ok with this and like filling days from 5am-11pm. Yep. that’s my day timeframe. I get tired around 9pm, sorry late-night friends ; )
Anyhow. I spent last night with bubble baths, music, tea and a book. We all know what being alone is like. You wander, you dance, you sing. Maybe not? Well, I danced around the house and enjoyed my own company and it was phenomenal. There were hours of reading and a cat to curl up with at bed time (these are the makings of a crazy cat lady). It was an excellent reminder of how wonderful being alone is. Remember the difference between alone and lonely! Stillness, being alone with your thoughts, just hanging out with yourself brings such a sense of calm and understanding. It’s a much needed meditative state. So often people crave the energy and presence of others. We hear the phrase “you are not alone” and are supposed to feel comfort in that. Yes, the human experience is a communal one. Life is truly about relationships, but we so often forget the most important one: the relationship with yourself. Once you live that then the others just get even better! Nurturing yourself, allowing your mind to wander, meditating…it brings a self-awareness and peace that spills over into other relationships. “You are not alone.” Well, yes, I am. I am completely alone. But I see the value and beauty in it. Embrace you.
I woke up feeling rejuvenated and ready to hang out with me more, hence wanting to share this post. It’s a throw back to a post and video I put up when in Shanghai (Fall 2010). Check it. I am a big fan of the vid. Life is amazingly exciting! Everyday holds something new and there is so SO much to experience. Embrace and love everything. I mean everything (even the painful and confusing). To conclude with a cliche: Life is short. Live it to the fullest {whether alone with surrounded by people}. I hope you enjoy another weekend in your life and take advantage of the time we’ve been blessed with.
…and then I realized that life is short and we are blessed (at least in our own way). Here’s to living to the potential of those blessings despite any pain or obstacles along the way. We are here to grow, learn and live each moment. What is life with intense feelings and experiences? Grateful and full of emotion.
Food Inc. and other nutritional corruptions
This month I pledged to not eat meat. Having done it before, I figured it wouldn’t be a problem. Well, the next day I read my blood type diet: eat right for your type! It stated I was the carnivorous type and should, in fact, consume meat. I persevered despite my blood telling to do the opposite, but ended up at dinners where meat was just a part of it… (a particularly good part I might add). No matter how tasty, however, keeping meat to a minimum typically makes me feel good. Plus, I have high cholesterol so animal products are a no no. Really, I stay away from meat for completely selfish reasons. I like feeling good and am hoping to live a long life. However, it has become an integral part of the human diet and I am constantly flip-flopping between whether or not it should be.
This recent hyper-awareness of what I consume prompted me to download and watch Food Inc. The film provoked ill will more toward the government that meat itself. I, now, understand political vegetarian- and vegan-ism. I tend to veer away from domestic politics (despite being a PoliSci major), but this past month so many issues have come to my attention that not only cause me to question our government, but the goodness of human nature as a whole. Meat-processing, agriculture and farming are now in that realm more than ever before.
I thought I would watch Food Inc. and be disgusted by animal treatment. I was, but even more so, I was disgusted by the lack of empathy and compassion people in positions of power have for the people they are meant to lead. It doesn’t make any sense. Well, I guess if the only goal is unlimited control, power and money their actions are dead on. Where are the people that actually care? The ones who want equality, fairness and health. They seem to be getting bulldozed by large corporations and bullshit legislation. Those who are not the cream of the crop financially don’t have a system that fights or even works for them. It’s in food, agriculture, medical care, social security, education…
…we as Americans are trapped under a culture of all work, little play and a system that makes it impossible to escape. Loans, mortgages, bills, feeling like we have to build some huge careers…which then confines us to a life of the masses. America, you’ve done an incredible job at brainwashing worlds into thinking we are lucky and this is normal. THIS IS NOT HEALTHY. Yes, we are fortunate in so many ways, but really…the bureaucracy that life has devolved into is depressing and does much more harm than good. There are so many stellar, smart and driven people here. I look around at my friends and am regularly in awe of the people they are. I can’t seem to wrap my head around why these types are not leaders. Then I realize…I wouldn’t want to be a leader. I believe in affecting change from person to person. Leaders deal with corruption, threats and power hungary monsters with no ethics. Am I being too harsh? Rambling? This poor little post that was supposed to be about food has clearly led me on a tangent. I am saddened by the corruption that runs governments and corporations and wonder if it is reparable.
Back to food. Check out the Food Inc trailer:
You are what you eat right? This explains the toxicity that persists in our institutions. Kidding kidding…
So, rather than a pledge to go vegetarian, I am resolving to do good and TRY to eat more organically. My roommate pointed out that when we stayed in other countries for an extended amount of time, our bodies react differently to what we consume. She, for example, is able to eat nearly anything in France (of course continuing to work out) and feels much better there than if she ate identically in these states. I have similar feelings on how my body reacted to travels and food. Not only is the food we eat harmful, but its producers have become money-hungary giants. At this rate will we be able to get organic, fresh food in a decade? America’s amber waves of grain are becoming a gray shadow on the face of our food industry.
While Food Inc. is a documentary to watch, clearly exposing the wide-spread effects of a corrupt and unethical system. I’d like to share something on a local level that is being negatively affected by this same system. In Venice, California there is a store called RAWesome (read reviews here). Great name, right?! Well, they encourage people to eat raw and eat healthy. They sell raw and organic fruits, veggies, meats, dairy, etc. I happened to wandered by and notice they have a “bouncer” and a long list of rules at the door. Clearly, I wanted in…so I asked what this RAWesome space was all about. I was fortunate to be talking to one of the owners of this all-raw grocery store who explained they have been forced to make their store members only. Members have to sign a contract stating they acknowledge everything is raw and has more/different bacteria and it is not FDA approved. This healthy movement is not only completely unbacked by the FDA, it is under attack at both the local and federal levels. It all seems like a big conspiracy. After talking to people there and seeing the operation, I wish I were ready to eat completely raw. It is a wholly legitimate and rAWESOME business.
I provide this example because it is another in which our not-so-rawesome government has their priorities all mixed up. The owner of RAWesome described to me how officials raided their small operation with weapons drawn. They insisted on taking more than what is necessary to test and left all the refrigerators open to spoil the food. The government is regularly trying to silence stores and raw/organic farms like this one. Check out the video on it below to see the raid and learn more about the raw movement and a hearty U.S. reaction to it.
We take food for granted. If you know me, you know I’ll eat pretty much anything. But how is does that play out in the long run? I appreciate living in Los Angeles because people are generally health conscious. I was perusing Trader Joe’s this morning and actually heard people talking about Food Inc. We need more Trader Joe’s out there to promote these conversations AND make organic affordable. Stay healthy everyone!
Finally… Click here for RAWesome on the Colbert Report for a chuckle.
