Reviewing from what I stated in Unit 3 on my self-perceptions of physical, psychological, and spiritual well-being: I had assessed myself as 7-8 on the last two previously, and I would say I'm "still okay" despite the chaos. There is an interesting up-swing physically, and I believe it's directly related to this course!
This is the 'nettle incident'. It seemed like a 'freak accident' (reserve comments, friends) when I bumped about the only nearby clump, but under the influence of this class, I did a little research on nettle. I began steeping it daily, easy enough to do, and have been drinking it "because I want to" - no forcing myself! (I don't listen to myself well, anyway, already know this.)
Not sure how to figure it, but it must have been 5 - 6 weeks now, and the aching of stiff joints - fingers, knees, the usual - is now gone. I haven't changed much else physically, so I suspect something in the nettle responds well with me. That, and the simplicity of it suits me. I gather it with a paper bag and gloves, hang it to dry handily with my unfinished styrofoam inside walls; in about 5 days, the leaves crumble off with no sting left in them into a paper bag for storage.
I boil water (yes, I did boil one pot dry twice in my attempt, was busy with something else), pour it over nettle in a jar, and let it sit until I get around to filtering it and sticking it in the refrig. It's proved to be kind of odd stuff, actually! The nettle I brought home from my dad's farm stays more of a golden color, but the other nettle from a friend's farm turns green (chlorophyll, not decay) in the refrig within a few hours.
As usual, no else I know does this, and my family won't touch it (finally - something that will still be where I put it!). Yet I'm amazed at the difference from 'then' to 'now'.
I will continue exploring the areas that most interested me, including the EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) listed at http://www.emofree.com/ - this, too, is a simple process but with much information and potential. I prefer simple, quick, easy, natural, self-applied and always available techniques, and this met all those criteria.
I will continue exploring all the links (tons of them, I'm sure anyone could find something of personal interest on this site) at http://instinctivemeditation.com/ - it has no set limits or methods, and Roche isn't afraid to list disadvantages to meditation on his site. Facing facts, humans have the ability to overdo anything, and meditation isn't exempt from this!
I am glad I had this class for my own personal use. The benefits from it tend to be like the seed that is planted in my life. It will be up to me to grow it or let it wither.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Unit 9 Class Blog - late but reasonably so?
For those who know me... If I haven't been writing, it's because I've been busy - more so than usual, actually, which is hard to absorb. The good news is once again I avoided electric shock - twice.
But I about had a heart attack...
Situation: Madly working on website for another class, tangled in about 6 massive programs, trying to tie up my hosting server to ISBN's site (issued book numbers) to CreateSpace / Amazon and a couple others that leaked out of my head with a ton of things to get done.
I bumped my coffee cup.
It was full.
It spilled across my desk.
It poured down the wall.
Which is where my computer cords are, and the back of my computer.
Freak out! Grab a towel, crawl under desk, feel around for soggiest areas, dry off breaker box.
Leap back out, close down programs wildly, shut down computer, then unplug the breaker box - because things were pretty soaked.
Once it was unplugged, I realized how wet the plug-ins were, and it was a small miracle nothing fried. Dried every thing up, fetched in the 100-foot extension cord to use another breaker box since mine had been soaked (the cord was too short on the second box, needed an extension).
Finally had everything plugged in again, turned on my computer -- and got a frozen start up screen. Nothing functioned, including mouse & keyboard. Panic - panic - panic.
Son-in-law Joe-my-computer-hero was at a cabin, ironically in Wisconsin (instructor's state), without cell phone service for the weekend.
Of course I hadn't backed up data beyond my PC, and all the work I've done was in jeopardy. Panic - panic - panic.
Job forms, massive Dreamweaver files, children's books to be printed, assignments due. Beyond panic - whimper.
"Breathe, breathe, breathe, breathe..."
Repeatedly approached the computer and gingerly pushed the 'on' button, but sheer willpower was not recovering it. I could get my laptop back, start installing software, run damage control.
Thank God Joe was able to 'talk me through' opening up my computer. He was going to walk me through the procedure of pulling my hard drive and placing it in another computer if necessary; or it might dry out, if it was moisture and not virus. I figured it wouldn't hurt to use the hair dryer inside it before disconnecting anything -- and it came back to life!!
"Hurry, back up everything!"
Oh, did I back things up! Stalled on assignments and everything else computer-related, but my old PC is functioning as if nothing ever happened. I'm madly trying to catch up and recovering from this personal crisis, and we were ready for the library presentation yesterday with the children's books - amazing, ain't it?
So - last week's class blog... postponed while I was outside in the storms trying to reroute water, and I know we got over 4 inches here in a few hours -- I was dumping containers as they repeatedly filled. Dried off the extension cord ends (right, in a blinding rain) and plugged the sump pump in so water would flow from the unfinished pond into the neighbor's woods. Not sure which is more risky, being out in a lightning storm or messing with electrical cords at the same time, but if that much water had made its way to my door, my room would have been flooded (i.e. my computer cords?).
But the questions for class were:
I Introduction:
Why is it important for health and wellness professionals to develop psychologically, spiritually and physically?
So people like me have a resource to provide sanity when life seems crazy; it does me no good to see someone even more stressed and insane than I am, nor will they be able to 'defuse' my nerves. There may be some comfort in knowing someone is 'freaking out' more than I am, but I don't want to be reassuring them "it'll all be okay" (which it will, given time, I know) when I'm waving a white flag and babbling about 'my happy place'.
At the same time, when I'm in a stable state (I heard everyone who said, "Who, you?" and I know where you live!) I can 'pass it on' to others.
What areas do you need to develop to achieve the goals you have for yourself?
Pay more attention to myself - can't hear the quiet voices when they're overpowered by brain-panic. (As soon as I catch up assignments...)
Continue with the tools I'm using, including EFT and journaling.
II Assessment:
How have you assessed your health in each domain?
Better than average, believe it or not. :)
I have enough sense to laugh at myself in the moment, like when the 5-gallon tomato plant dumped in my car when I braked for a yellow light when I was delivering it to my son. I had the foresight to put down a tarp, but the bucket slid and tipped into the front console and seats - and of course I had watered it. (Still need to clean my car, too.)
How do you score your wellness spiritually, physically, and psychologically?
Spiritually, I'm okay. Physically, I'm doing better. Pxychologically (I like the typo, seems suitable) I think I'm accepting it's okay to be nuts, which is a healthy approach.
III Goal development:
List at least one goal you have for yourself in each area, Physical, Psychological (mental health) and Spiritual.
Physically, and triggered by awareness in this class, I have an affinity for nettle tea - hot, with other flavors, or cold with juice. Bones and joints aren't as bothersome, and as long as I have a 'personal match' with this simple remedy, I'll continue to enjoy it.
For my mental health, as soon as I can get away from computer chaos, I'm going to GO OUTSIDE and play. Then I'm going to work outside, but first a day of loose living, meandering around a bit without more than a hazy plan.
Spiritually, I'll keep trying to see Spirit in others. I have found it's easier for some people at a distance, and I'd still rather avoid 98% of my ex-'s. Some folks I figure God can worry about while I keep myself steady. I don't have to beam death-rays, but it's understandable if I choose to put up a wall of protection and avoid interaction.
IV Practices for personal health:What strategies can you implement to foster growth in each of the following domains; Physical, Psychological, and Spiritual. Provide at least two examples of exercises or practices in each domain. Explain how you will implement each example.
#1 - Physical - I could get to bed, it's pushing 3 a.m. again.
#2 - Psychological - see #1.
#3 - Spiritual - #1 also, because sleep may be our closest state of meshing with 'the other side'.
V Commitment:How will you assess your progress or lack of progress in the next six months?
Journal, personal goals, state of physical health. Which reminds me, I need to do my journal yet tonight.
What strategies can you use to assist in maintaining your long-term practices for health and wellness?
Back up my files to a secondary source frequently, for starters!
But I about had a heart attack...
Situation: Madly working on website for another class, tangled in about 6 massive programs, trying to tie up my hosting server to ISBN's site (issued book numbers) to CreateSpace / Amazon and a couple others that leaked out of my head with a ton of things to get done.
I bumped my coffee cup.
It was full.
It spilled across my desk.
It poured down the wall.
Which is where my computer cords are, and the back of my computer.
Freak out! Grab a towel, crawl under desk, feel around for soggiest areas, dry off breaker box.
Leap back out, close down programs wildly, shut down computer, then unplug the breaker box - because things were pretty soaked.
Once it was unplugged, I realized how wet the plug-ins were, and it was a small miracle nothing fried. Dried every thing up, fetched in the 100-foot extension cord to use another breaker box since mine had been soaked (the cord was too short on the second box, needed an extension).
Finally had everything plugged in again, turned on my computer -- and got a frozen start up screen. Nothing functioned, including mouse & keyboard. Panic - panic - panic.
Son-in-law Joe-my-computer-hero was at a cabin, ironically in Wisconsin (instructor's state), without cell phone service for the weekend.
Of course I hadn't backed up data beyond my PC, and all the work I've done was in jeopardy. Panic - panic - panic.
Job forms, massive Dreamweaver files, children's books to be printed, assignments due. Beyond panic - whimper.
"Breathe, breathe, breathe, breathe..."
Repeatedly approached the computer and gingerly pushed the 'on' button, but sheer willpower was not recovering it. I could get my laptop back, start installing software, run damage control.
Thank God Joe was able to 'talk me through' opening up my computer. He was going to walk me through the procedure of pulling my hard drive and placing it in another computer if necessary; or it might dry out, if it was moisture and not virus. I figured it wouldn't hurt to use the hair dryer inside it before disconnecting anything -- and it came back to life!!
"Hurry, back up everything!"
Oh, did I back things up! Stalled on assignments and everything else computer-related, but my old PC is functioning as if nothing ever happened. I'm madly trying to catch up and recovering from this personal crisis, and we were ready for the library presentation yesterday with the children's books - amazing, ain't it?
So - last week's class blog... postponed while I was outside in the storms trying to reroute water, and I know we got over 4 inches here in a few hours -- I was dumping containers as they repeatedly filled. Dried off the extension cord ends (right, in a blinding rain) and plugged the sump pump in so water would flow from the unfinished pond into the neighbor's woods. Not sure which is more risky, being out in a lightning storm or messing with electrical cords at the same time, but if that much water had made its way to my door, my room would have been flooded (i.e. my computer cords?).
But the questions for class were:
I Introduction:
Why is it important for health and wellness professionals to develop psychologically, spiritually and physically?
So people like me have a resource to provide sanity when life seems crazy; it does me no good to see someone even more stressed and insane than I am, nor will they be able to 'defuse' my nerves. There may be some comfort in knowing someone is 'freaking out' more than I am, but I don't want to be reassuring them "it'll all be okay" (which it will, given time, I know) when I'm waving a white flag and babbling about 'my happy place'.
At the same time, when I'm in a stable state (I heard everyone who said, "Who, you?" and I know where you live!) I can 'pass it on' to others.
What areas do you need to develop to achieve the goals you have for yourself?
Pay more attention to myself - can't hear the quiet voices when they're overpowered by brain-panic. (As soon as I catch up assignments...)
Continue with the tools I'm using, including EFT and journaling.
II Assessment:
How have you assessed your health in each domain?
Better than average, believe it or not. :)
I have enough sense to laugh at myself in the moment, like when the 5-gallon tomato plant dumped in my car when I braked for a yellow light when I was delivering it to my son. I had the foresight to put down a tarp, but the bucket slid and tipped into the front console and seats - and of course I had watered it. (Still need to clean my car, too.)
How do you score your wellness spiritually, physically, and psychologically?
Spiritually, I'm okay. Physically, I'm doing better. Pxychologically (I like the typo, seems suitable) I think I'm accepting it's okay to be nuts, which is a healthy approach.
III Goal development:
List at least one goal you have for yourself in each area, Physical, Psychological (mental health) and Spiritual.
Physically, and triggered by awareness in this class, I have an affinity for nettle tea - hot, with other flavors, or cold with juice. Bones and joints aren't as bothersome, and as long as I have a 'personal match' with this simple remedy, I'll continue to enjoy it.
For my mental health, as soon as I can get away from computer chaos, I'm going to GO OUTSIDE and play. Then I'm going to work outside, but first a day of loose living, meandering around a bit without more than a hazy plan.
Spiritually, I'll keep trying to see Spirit in others. I have found it's easier for some people at a distance, and I'd still rather avoid 98% of my ex-'s. Some folks I figure God can worry about while I keep myself steady. I don't have to beam death-rays, but it's understandable if I choose to put up a wall of protection and avoid interaction.
IV Practices for personal health:What strategies can you implement to foster growth in each of the following domains; Physical, Psychological, and Spiritual. Provide at least two examples of exercises or practices in each domain. Explain how you will implement each example.
#1 - Physical - I could get to bed, it's pushing 3 a.m. again.
#2 - Psychological - see #1.
#3 - Spiritual - #1 also, because sleep may be our closest state of meshing with 'the other side'.
V Commitment:How will you assess your progress or lack of progress in the next six months?
Journal, personal goals, state of physical health. Which reminds me, I need to do my journal yet tonight.
What strategies can you use to assist in maintaining your long-term practices for health and wellness?
Back up my files to a secondary source frequently, for starters!
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