Kayaking

It’s been a while since I have written anything. I really need to get in nature more often. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of going kayaking with my two daughters. This was my first time in a kayak by myself. It was a lot of fun. I did not tip over even once.

The directions on how to get to our destination were not exactly clear. This caused our 2 hour trip to become a 3-1/2 hour trip. However, we are accustomed to taking adventurous side trips. (We do not get lost, we take adventures.) We enjoyed the panoramic view of the Blue Ridge Mountains, saw a pair of wild turkeys with little babies rustling around in the grass, and a mama deer and her little fawn.

Upon reaching our destination to rent three single kayaks, we were loaded on a bus and taken to a spot to be dropped off for our three mile journey back. The river was high and running swiftly. On a normal day, this would take around three hours. It was an hour and a half kind of day.

The river is dam released, so the water is very cold. The three of us hauled our kayaks down to the water’s edge and gingerly stepped into our vessel. Excited and nervous at the same time because this was the first time for two of us on a single kayak. We pushed off and started our journey down stream. The weather had a fifty percent chance of rain, but the sky was partly cloudy, with lots of warm sun peaking through. There was a gentle breeze. Perfect weather.

As I gained confidence, I would maneuver my boat to go backward and sideways. Occasionally, I would see something on the bank of the river and paddle hard to go back upstream against the current to see what it was; to see what I’d missed. Most of the time, the current was too difficult for me to go back up. That didn’t stop me from digging in my heels and dipping the paddles deeper into the water, determined to go against the natural direction of my journey.

Once in a while, I would be able to catch a better glimpse of what I went back for. However, when I would turn around and go the direction I was supposed to go, the experience was much more enjoyable. I even found myself paddling toward the small, little rapids and being thrilled with the short rush and cold splash of water. When not trying to go back, I was able to see the incredible scenery all around; the greens of the trees, the blue sky with soft white clouds. The sporadic homes built at the river’s edge were gorgeous. I could even dangle my feet over the sides of the kayak into the cold, refreshing water.

All too soon, the experience was over.

This trip caused me to make a connection between this journey and my life’s journey. Too often, I find myself paddling upstream, thinking something back there or over to the side is better than the path I am on. I struggle and struggle to go there. In the meantime, I miss the excitement and pleasure of going with the current of my own destination. When following the path that God has for me, I can even delight in the rapids, the rough places, knowing that they are short in reality. I gain confidence and experience by going through them. I become stronger. I can sit back and enjoy the gifts and blessings all around me. 

I know that this journey is way too fast, that the three-hour trip is really an hour and a half. My prayer is that I learn to quit paddling upstream; to relax and enjoy the journey.

Health Challenge Week 1

There was a time I could not even fathom the idea of changing my eating habits to the level I am now. I’ve been told by several people that they could never do it. My response is always that it has been a slow process. I used to eat fast food 3-4 times a week. When I cut out meat, I still ate a lot of processed food. Now, 5 years later, I have an all-plant based diet. Even leaning toward mostly raw.

 

I am going to send out a health challenge each Monday. Not to convert anyone to a plant-based life style, but to get you thinking (and acting) about being more healthy using baby steps. This week’s challenge is to drink water.

 There is nothing healthy about soda. I previously heard that the carbonation leaches calcium, but upon further investigation it is the phosphorus acid in colas that does the leaching. So, you think you will just drink the non-cola sodas. No. The sugar content will play havoc with your blood sugar, teeth, and weight. Don’t believe that the diet sodas are any better! The artificial sweeteners actually make you gain fat!

 Here is the challenge: Replace one bottle/can of soda a day with water. By Sunday evening, try to have replaced all soda with water. Need that carbonation? Buy some carbonated water. Put a twist of lemon or orange in it for flavor.

Are you up to the challenge?

Getting Better Day 10

Today is Day 10 of my wellness journey. Actually, a couple of days before I received the test results, I bought a Vitamix blender and have been making myself a green smoothie every day. With the smoothies, I still have the waves of exhaustion, but they seem to be a bit more tolerable.

There is not much change so far. However, it has only been 10 days with the supplements; 10 days of avoiding the 24-food items on my list. It took 50 years to get to this point, it will take more than 10 days to get better.

Doctor A wanted me to take the supplement to raise my serotonin twice a day. However, she is keenly aware of just how sensitive my system is so we started with one at night with the plan of increasing. I took one this morning to see how it would affect me during the day. Doctor A had asked if I experienced anxiety. I guess I have been on high anxiety for so long I did not realize I did. Took that pill this morning, and feel pretty good; calm. I’m tired, but that is normal for me right now.

We are still waiting on the adrenal results.

Upside: I’ve lost a solid two pounds.

Gonna Get Better

I’ve been tired, it seems, my whole life. The tiredness varies. I’ve been loosely diagnosed with depression; sometimes I made that diagnosis myself and asked for medication. The medication just made me more tired and more depressed.

Over the last several years, my diet has changed from fast food three or more nights a week, to junk food vegetarian, to vegetarian, and now vegan. I am still tired. This tired has interfered with many areas of my life: work, relationships, fun.

A few months ago it got so bad I started feeling as if I had the flu, without the head cold symptoms. Tired, achy, irritable. I came home crying more days than not. I told God I couldn’t live this way for the next 30-40 years.

I’ve been going to AC Chiropractic since 2006. They have evolved into AC Spine and Wellness Center. Dr. “A” has been gently encouraging me to get tested. I finally got to the point where I was ready to try anything.

Most of my tests came back and I had a consultation with Dr. “A” on the results and we have a wellness plan. Here are some things I am dealing with:

Serotonin level is very low. (Depression, fatigue.) Norepinephrine a little low, but should get better with raising the serotonin.

Heavy metal test shows that I have a high level of lead.

Stool analysis reveals that three of the beneficial bacteria that are necessary in my intestines are missing;  plus one that should NOT be there.

Multiple food sensitivities: highest that pertains to me is wheat and gluten. Egg whites are really high, but being vegan, it is irrelevant. The others are not too difficult for me to avoid.

Thyroid is fine. We are still waiting for the adrenal results.

We will be treating ALL of this with natural supplements and dietary changes.

Will update with the progress. I KNOW that God has put AC Spine and Wellness in my life for a reason. Maybe, my going through this will encourage and help someone else.

Thanks for reading and for caring! :-)

-K

To Grey or not to Gray

To Grey or not to Gray?

Even the spelling is a conundrum.  I have been coloring my hair approximately every three weeks for the past 12 years. That’s a lot of chemicals being absorbed into my brain. (No wise cracks, please!) So, I am contemplating letting the color go natural. Which is, um, silver. 

This year I turned fifty. Fifty. This year I officially hit menopause. Those two things I had no control over. However, I did have control over how I spent my time. I made 2012 a year of no men: no dates, no romantic relationships. I have limited activities that take me away from my kids and home. I have focused on me and my family. I even pulled out of all church activities. I made these choices because I have spent my entire life (did I mention fifty years) of trying to be, look, and behave as others expect, or what I perceive they expect. Who “they” are is non-specific. It is just “they”.  I needed time to (cliché warning) discover who I am. Part of that discovery process is to stop being what others expect. Or, at least, start stopping.

Coloring my hair to hide the grey is part of that doing what others expect. Some of you are thinking it is no big deal. In a society where being young is worshiped, it is a very big deal. Going gray represents that I am no longer a young adult. It forces me to accept that I am an older woman and to come to terms with who I am and where I am in my life. It doesn’t mean I have to sit in a rocking chair and do nothing. But, by holding on to brown hair, and being thoroughly thrilled when people act shocked when I say I am fifty, am I really embracing this next phase of my life? What is wrong with looking fifty? I’ve earned every grey strand, every wrinkle.

Hair has a huge impact on how we feel about ourselves. If we are having a bad hair day, pretty much the day is shot. Good hair day and the world is beautiful. There is a part inside of me that would love to have long, gray hair. Kinda hippy-ish. I have also seen mid-to-long grey hair on women who look extremely classy. Sometimes, I want to cut it all off and go with the strictly business look complete with suit and tie.  Most days, I am somewhere in-between. 

So, for me, I think going grey will be a step toward accepting my life, moving forward, and no longer hiding who I am. 

Of course, in six months I may be writing another blog titled, “What the Heck was I Thinking?”

Peace

This time of the year I usually find myself more introspective; more melancholy. There is a change in the air. Another year is fast coming to an end. I find myself, once again, contemplating where I’ve been and where I am going.

This year has had more ups than downs. I ended a long relationship. I found a great part-time job which has turned into a full-time job. I will be finishing my associate’s degree.  My oldest child started college. I had to put my dog to sleep. I gained another cat (put that in whichever category you wish!). I have reconnected with old friends; made new friends; deepened some relationships that I have neglected.

I went for a walk today to reflect on some of these things. Sometimes, I feel restless and have to get outside. It was just me and my daughter’s dog, Chloe. I chose not to put in my headphones. I wanted time with God. So, Chloe and I walked for an hour at a local park.

We passed a few people, but the park was not crowded. As we approached the end of our walk, I realized that as usual, my mind wandered all over the place. I thought, “Well, so much for an epiphany from God.” I knew it was my fault, though. I let my mind go.


 Then new thoughts slipped in:

“Didn’t you feel the gentle breeze through your hair? Did you see the golden sun rays streaming through the grey clouds? What about the ripple of waves across the water as the wind blew? Did you notice the little bits of gold and red of the leaves still holding on? Did you miss the sound of a hawk and the blue jays? Didn’t you see the ducks as they paddled across the water? “

Then the epiphany: God did meet with me even though my thoughts wandered. He met with me through my senses and He infused my soul with His peace.

Running

This was something I wrote back in 2008. I have begun getting more consistent with my running and thought I would repost this to remind me of how I got started running.



A long time ago before I had children I did some volunteer work at a half-way house for homeless people. They were taught money management and trained for a job. I had children, moved, and life got busy.

Now, fast forward to a about a month or so ago. Liz and I were discussing how she likes to run. I suggested we find a race of some sort to participate in to motivate us.

Stay with me here. A couple of weeks ago our ladies group at church was having a movie night. I haven't attended a ladies meeting in probably 10 or more years but for some reason I felt strongly compelled to go. Well, the movie was called, "Welcome to Paradise", and part of the story line was befriending the homeless.

Last week the girls and I went to a concert. After the concert we were approached by a homeless man. I had no money to offer him but I always pack an ice chest with fruit and snacks after a concert because we are usually very hungry (and too cheap to buy food at the concert!). Anyway, I gave him a plate of food.

I began thinking that maybe God was telling me something. Kinda giving me a direction on where He may be taking me. Well, when we got home I googled homeless here in my county. I didn't know what to do with the results so I prayed and told God if he wanted me to do something for the homeless He was going to have to show me.

So, the other day I had to go to Home Depot. On the way home there was a HUGE banner in a church yard: www.runforshelter.org. I checked it out and it is a 5K run/walk for the homeless in my county.

So, I am in training. I have been exercising already for quite a long time, but now am kicking it up to start running. Liz is joining me. Jessica is going to walk. The run/walk is November 15th.

For any of you believers, we would appreciate your prayers in this new challenge. We are very excited!!!


So, now it is August 2011. Once again, I am planning to run the 5K Run For Shelter in November. I even have a few friends who are joining me in the run. How cool is that?!