Course work, Integral Health

For those of you who know and love me just the way I am... skip this blog! :)

The assignment reads as follows:

1. Based on your reflections and the assessments completed in the project: On a scale of 1 to 10 (ten being optimal wellbeing) where do you rate your A-physical wellbeing, B-spiritual well-being, C-psychological well-being? Why?

2. Develop a goal for yourself in each area (physical, spiritual, psychological).

3. What activities or exercise can you implement in your life to assist in moving toward each goal?

4. Describe your experience with The Crime of the Century relaxation exercise.

As we all can see, this is not an easy project to 'blaringly blog'. Nor am I one to share my personal stuff too freely. But I'll try.

1) Physical well-being: Room for improvement, but I can outwork most ladies my age and my children. But there is a cost that goes along with this physical demand and I am showing signs of the years of this activity. On a personal scale, I'd give myself a six.

To rank a full 10, I'd have to grow new teeth, reverse greying, literally 'knuckle-down', give up a few bad habits (not my view, but current social view), and live gently with my body -- odds likely these aren't happening this semester!

Spiritual well-being: I'm pretty much okay with me, my spirit friends, and the Universe. I could be doing more routine practice, but my life is not conducive to routines. When I need and as I find them, I embrace what appears. Much of this is translated into thought, ponderings, and musing throughout my day and night. Today I began a series of Ayurveda tapes while driving on my census job; there's lots to think about as it is presented. I'd give myself a 7 - 8 ranking, since I've delved my own beliefs in full discomfort over the years (possibly one hasn't really grasped this until they've experienced the discomfort of facing themselves, but I may be wrong).

Psychological well-being: Tend to sane by my own daffynition, but frequently have 'too much, too fast' pressuring me to maintain my grip. "I have to play to stay sane" - it's my creative expression for pleasure and purpose that renews me. This currently includes bringing together home repairs and upgrades. I'd give myself a 7 - 8 most of the time, with a few ups and downs.

These will not be remedied anytime soon, short of a full body cast, winning the Powerball, or for some reason being locked up - cell or padded room. Class deadlines, census deadlines, home repairs, volunteer work (peace coalition), winter coming, economic understanding, weather patterns - or lack thereof, and doing my utmost to prepare for the coming storms in several of these areas...

I've been exploring options for back-up electricity and water storage, even if these were necessary for a few days in the summer or winter due to power failure. The practicality of this becomes apparent if you simply shut of your main breaker for a few days - can't even flush a toilet or run the tap, much less preserve refrigeration or maintain heat. Doing what I can now with future considerations is practical since there is a collective group of life-forces dependent on these besides myself.

So... what could I realistically set as goals in the three areas discussed above? Not sure if this qualifies, but 'work smarter, not harder' - a 60-pound sack of cement weighs 60 pounds, and I tend to need it in the cement mixer when I'm home alone. (The dogs are useless.) To take some of this physical stress off of me, I've been considering building a 'teeter-totter' system to lift these; my full 107 pounds would easily lift them into position, and if I had a pin to hold it - then I could freely dump without challenging arms and shoulders. Opinions?

Physically - I'll eat 'within my guidance'. Eggs and whole wheat toast outrank pizza on thick, white dough, even if the pizza is available and within reach. And I'll do it as my body dictates, not by 'the clock'.

Spiritually - I'll try to 'sit outside more' instead of continually working. Difficult challenge, because I can't walk outside without a dozen tasks needing attention. But I'll ease up on myself a bit.

Psychologically - I will shut down my computer at night so the incessant hum doesn't mess with my mind (it's in my room, along with my 'inside work' of courses, census, paper work, and graphic work). And I'll 'shake off' some of the stresses.

The meditation presented in the Crime of the Century relaxation exercise put me to bed! I am highly susceptible to outside influences, and the 'zoning' that comes with driving alone is one example of 'when not to relax too much'.

On a personal note, I went out with son Matt to investigate an old barn he plans to tear down; I'll be helping him and salvaging timber for my use, too. While there, I tried to lift a rock from a rock pile to see how firmly attached to gravity it was (it was). I don't think it'll be a rock that comes home with me, but in the process I bumped a knuckle into Ye Olde Stinging Nettle (Horse nettle in our world). I learned not to scratch it as a child, even though it feels like ant stings. It did make its presence known for several hours after the initial 'high rush'.

I stopped to wonder why the Universe would present this in my life, so I looked it up online. The stuff actually is a quite potent herb, food source, and medicine! It can be eaten raw (a video showed how to pick the leaves without suffering my consequences), dried, frozen, ingested as a tea, used as a poultice, or even a hair rinse. It's one of the highest protein-plants known?

Gee. And I thought it was a weed.