Inspirational Quote for the Day

Selfishness seldom has to do with reaching for the biggest piece of cake; rather, it is preoccupation with ourselves. (78)
~ Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time by Marcus J. Borg

Discuss.

Take Good Care of Your Heart!

This is cross-posted at Femi Nation.

I am taking a CPR/first aid class and today I hearned that hear attacks are the number one cause of death in both womyn and men in the United States. For men, the biggest sign for a heart attack is chest pain,m but so for womyn-they usually experience back, head, or jaw pain. Womyn are also less likely to report their symptoms and so less womyn get treated for heart attacks and heart disease.

This scares me! How many times have you hidden a headache or a backache, because you did not want to worry others or be a bother? How many times have you dismissed your own health in favor of someone else's? For myself, the times are countless.

But knowledge is not only power, for true wisdom requires one to take action!

Ladies, we must stop dismissing ourselves! Not only will we not be able to take care of our loved ones if we die due to our own carelessness, but the simple fact is true-you must advocate for yourself, because no one else will.

Inspirational Quote of the Day

Every choice we make can be a celebration of the world we want.
~ Frances Moore Lappe and Anna Lappe

Support Gray Matters Behavioral Health Caucus on Nov. 9

From a NAMI email:

Support the Gray Matters Behavioral Health Caucus on November 9, 2009. This is the second quarterly caucus for mental health champions in the legislature to meet and learn what is happening and what can be done about it. Our first caucus was held on August 8.

We all know how often we hear or talk about Georgia ’s broken and failing mental health system. Now we can do something about it.

Last year, we had maybe 10 - 12 Champions, legislators who really went to bat for mental health, and we got a new department of Behavioral Health and a new mental health ombudsman Imagine what could happen if we had 50 legislators this year to champion our cause. We could really make things happen.

We began working on this idea in May. Then in June, the new Commissioner of the Dept of BHDD suggested that a Caucus of 50 legislators would be a great idea. We said “We thought so too, and had already begun working on it!”

We’ve done a lot to set it up, like getting Host legislators and a place in the Capitol to have the event. We have 12 legislative and 19 organizational co-hosts. Everyone is getting on board, even the Governor and Lt. Governor’s offices support the initiative.

But we need your help. We need to make sure that as many legislators show up as possible. So we’re asking you to contact both your State Senator and your State Representative and ask them to attend. Let them know how important it is to you that they care about mental health.


Go to Congress.org, which allows you to send an e-mail while on the web site. Click on the link below and then, in the box that is titled My Elected Officials, enter your 5 digit zip code in the top zip code box and then enter your 4 digit "+4" numbers in the bottom zip code box and click "GO". There is no need to enter your full address. On thee next page, in the same box, you will see the titles and names of your elected officials. Find your state Senators and Representatives and click on their name's. You will be taken to a page with additional information about each.

Psalm 24 - Who is the Queen of Glory?

Let the Queen enter in!
She deserves the seat of glory-
Let all shout with delight
Whenever she passes by.

Rachel and Sarah’s children seek Her out
As She seeks the world.
She opens Her hands:
Grab them!

Let Her twirl you in Her joy-
You are found!
Who is the Queen of Glory?
The Holy One, whose Love is strong and mighty.
****************************************************
To compare it to the original, go here.

The words in this reworking are also a play of the words from one of the movements from Handel's Messiah, although really, all of the words that Handel used were taken from the Bible, so it is from the same source, but I think it helps to know what my personal frame of reference is.

One of my favorite assurances is often told by my minister, "You can never be lost, only more and more found."

Today I was feeling a bit anxious as I haved gained some weight and I went to a Halloween party last night where I ate a bunch of sweets. And then I made dinner and it was my ultimate fear food-fettucini alfredo! This pasta was my one of fave foods when I was in elementary school and I can still remember the time when someone informed that the alfredo sauce that I loved so much was high in fat. Since I equated "high in fat" with being "bad" I immediately crossed fettucini alfredo off my safe foods list, which was a great shame, because I really enjoyed eating it.

I had second thoughts about making it, but I told myself that it would be good for my recovery. I will admit that I was a cheat and most of the ingredients were provided by Macaroni Grill boxed dinner, but I added mushrooms and a little bit of chardonney, which made a great dish divine!

At first, I ate my meal with trepidation, but in my mind I chanted, "I am not bad. I am not bad." And after a few minutes, I was fine!

You may be thinking to yourself, "Of course, you are not bad for simply eating!" but my eating disordered brain is not so logical. To me, eating fatty foods, even in moderation, equals being "bad," so if I never eat fatty foods, then I am perfect! And as I fail my goal of perfection, I make more and more rules as I attempt to control my feelings through lack of food. Ultimately, the more I strive for perfection and control, the more imperfect and out of control I become, but if I surrender and follow my intuition and practice mindfulness, then I find that I have just enough control and more than enough joy.

Finally, a Profile Picture!

This is my 115 post and I finally have a profile picture! lol Isn't he handsome? He's my very lovable cat, Arlo, named after Arlo Guthrie.

See the resemblance?! I'm a huge folkie fan...

In my last post, I talked about being excited about a new job. I have not started the job yet, because I have to take a first aid and CPR course first, but I will in a few weeks. But there is something else that I am excited about-I have posted some of my embroidered bags on etsy! There is a link on both my blogs to my shop, Bright Hope Bags. I tried to get the name, Embroider Me, but that was already taken...

There are four bags total on sale, so far. Here are two that I have not previously posted here:

The copper square on the red bag, states "Wish" and the copper oval on the blue bag states, "Memories."

I am hoping that with the Christmas season approaching that people will be more likely to buy whimsical and unneccessary items... But if not, then I'll try to sell them at alumni weekend at Ridgeview. And if that does not work, then there's always the Spring Festival at Skyland Trail. I figure with all the money that I have spent on treatment centers, I should be able to make a little off of them, right? All kidding aside, even if no one buys one of my bags, they will make great presents and even more importantly, I derive a lot of joy in making them.

Chilling, But True...

In the spirit of the season, a chillingly true tale sure to give you goosebumps:
Earlier this year, the nation's public mental health care system for adults received the average grade of D... the same grade it received three years ago.

Despite the ghastly grade, many lawmakers continue to cut funding to mental health services as a way to offset the struggling economy.

The state of our mental health care system is frightening.

Your generous contribution supports NAMI's fight to awaken our nation from this nightmare and continue our work to improve the lives of everyone affected by mental illness. Go to Nami.org for more.