Today is thanksgiving and looking back over the past year since, I have much to be thankful for.
It has now been one full year since I have had even a drop of alcohol — I feat I once feared was impossible. You see I used alcohol as my stress-reliever and although it did not interfere with my work or life in a conventional sense, it did interfere with my self esteem. I think on some level I felt out of control. I worked at a job that was unfulfilling, I was in an abusive relationship and I just felt powerless. Taking a stand for something was my first step to recovering a sense of control in my life.
By refusing alcohol I committed to find better, more productive ways to alleviate my stress. This led me to pick up on some old hobbies and new ones. It has also brought me back to my goal of completing my BFA degree in Illustration. The abusive relationship has dissolved and I feel a new sense of purpose and anticipation in my life.
I am so thankful for my life and the joy of being me and finding out daily what that means. I am thankful to my family and friends for sticking with me through the tough times. And I thank myself for finding the strength within to change for the better.
"How do I know about the world? By what is within me." ~ Lao Tsu
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Friday, November 12, 2010
Self Portrait in progress
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Make it Yourself: Toothpaste
Anyway enough with the doom and gloom. Good news is you can easily make you own toothpaste that works and helps kill germs in the mouth. On top of that, just think of all the waste you'll be diverting from the landfill by making your own and keeping it in a reusable container! Tooth decay is no simple matter, however, so for those of you who wish to take responsibility for your health, I recommend reading the book, 'Cure Tooth Decay: Heal & Prevent Cavities with Nutrition' by Ramiel Nagel. This book is an easy read, offers some great advice and has several different recipes for homemade toothpastes as well. The recipe I am offering below is a little different and works great.
Natural Toothpaste
(all ingredients available at any health food store)
2-4 tablespoons vegetable glycerin
2-4 drops peppermint oil
2 drops clove oil
3-5 tablespoons baking soda (natural variety, aluminum-free)
Mix all ingredients together in small glass jar. Add more baking soda as needed until toothpaste reaches the desired consistency. Peppermint oil is a natural teeth whitener and breath freshener. Clove oil is a natural disinfectant that is great for the gums. If you have a tooth ache you can put a small amount of clove oil directly on the sore area for instant relief (it makes your mouth totally numb);-)
Monday, November 1, 2010
Where did I come from? My cultural identity dilema
I have often wondered where I come from. Being a multi-generation American with multi-random European roots, I seem to have lost all connection to a traditional culture of any kind. I have asked my mother and all she can do is tell me about my grandparents and great grandparents or speculate based on family names. My father can only tell me about his father, who I never met, and his mother, who died when I was only three. These little tid bits of information are not enough!
It seems to me, that to know my origins is of utmost importance so that I can better understand who I am, what my unique history is, and where I am going. I think that by better understanding where I came from I can make sense of the problems I have faced in my life thus far and be able face future issues with more confidence. Truth is, I really don't know who I am — and how could I really know if I have no knowledge of my heritage and the various people who eventually brought me into existence?
Why is it that the only history we feel we need in the U.S. is what they teach us year after year in public school?? We all have histories which are important to forming our identities. I feel this issue is of deep importance to our sense of worth and our connection to the world at large. Slowly we seem to be loosing cultural diversity to the encroaching Western culture that seeks to destroy all that is out-of-the-mold and unacceptable to its 'pop culture' standards of bland fast food, plastic fashion fads, bad reality shows and stupid music.
What has happened to our pride in where we come from? I have read that some tribal people groups can trace their lineage back to the first man and woman. I believe the Hawaiians are among these. In the Kumulipo creation chant, they trace their lineage all the way back to creation itself. How wonderful and powerful to have such knowledge and connection to the earth and to one's culture of origin! I truly envy these people who have not lost their cultural identity as I have. Sometimes I feel so lost, so disconnected from the earth, I could live anywhere and still not feel that I belong. I want to know more about my relatives and anything possible about my ancestors. What lands did they come from before America, what foods did they eat? What religions did they observe? What clothing did they wear? What kind homes did they live in? What methods of food gathering, growing and hunting did they use?
I read recently that every day there are languages around the world that go silent with the death of the last speaker. There are hundreds of cultures every year that die to the spread of Western culture. Why can't we learn from the various cultures of the world instead of making everyone conform to the same way? With the death of every culture is the loss of valuable knowledge. Many of the indigenous cultures of the world had mastered the art of sustainable living. Yet we can't seem to stop destroying our resources. Why did we not consult the leaders of these ancient cultures and learn from them? Why does Western culture continue to trample out anything that does not fit its mold? Why do we allow this? Why are children who have a cultural identity of their own shunned at school and made to feel ashamed of their beautiful heritage?
To all those of you who have any sort of ancestoral knowledge, any cultural identity or native language. Be proud of who you are! Hang on to whatever knowledge remains in you and pass it to your children, friends and family. Now is the time to bring this knowledge out into the light before it is too late. The world needs to learn and remember the millions of cultural roots that nourish it and give it life. With the death of cultural and bio diversity comes disease and destruction. We must embrace all the differences that make us, us. It is because of this diversity that animals, plants and humans are able to evolve and co-exisist.
It seems to me, that to know my origins is of utmost importance so that I can better understand who I am, what my unique history is, and where I am going. I think that by better understanding where I came from I can make sense of the problems I have faced in my life thus far and be able face future issues with more confidence. Truth is, I really don't know who I am — and how could I really know if I have no knowledge of my heritage and the various people who eventually brought me into existence?
Why is it that the only history we feel we need in the U.S. is what they teach us year after year in public school?? We all have histories which are important to forming our identities. I feel this issue is of deep importance to our sense of worth and our connection to the world at large. Slowly we seem to be loosing cultural diversity to the encroaching Western culture that seeks to destroy all that is out-of-the-mold and unacceptable to its 'pop culture' standards of bland fast food, plastic fashion fads, bad reality shows and stupid music.
What has happened to our pride in where we come from? I have read that some tribal people groups can trace their lineage back to the first man and woman. I believe the Hawaiians are among these. In the Kumulipo creation chant, they trace their lineage all the way back to creation itself. How wonderful and powerful to have such knowledge and connection to the earth and to one's culture of origin! I truly envy these people who have not lost their cultural identity as I have. Sometimes I feel so lost, so disconnected from the earth, I could live anywhere and still not feel that I belong. I want to know more about my relatives and anything possible about my ancestors. What lands did they come from before America, what foods did they eat? What religions did they observe? What clothing did they wear? What kind homes did they live in? What methods of food gathering, growing and hunting did they use?
I read recently that every day there are languages around the world that go silent with the death of the last speaker. There are hundreds of cultures every year that die to the spread of Western culture. Why can't we learn from the various cultures of the world instead of making everyone conform to the same way? With the death of every culture is the loss of valuable knowledge. Many of the indigenous cultures of the world had mastered the art of sustainable living. Yet we can't seem to stop destroying our resources. Why did we not consult the leaders of these ancient cultures and learn from them? Why does Western culture continue to trample out anything that does not fit its mold? Why do we allow this? Why are children who have a cultural identity of their own shunned at school and made to feel ashamed of their beautiful heritage?
To all those of you who have any sort of ancestoral knowledge, any cultural identity or native language. Be proud of who you are! Hang on to whatever knowledge remains in you and pass it to your children, friends and family. Now is the time to bring this knowledge out into the light before it is too late. The world needs to learn and remember the millions of cultural roots that nourish it and give it life. With the death of cultural and bio diversity comes disease and destruction. We must embrace all the differences that make us, us. It is because of this diversity that animals, plants and humans are able to evolve and co-exisist.
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