My Goodness

A description of what this section is, a blog-style collection of articles on wellness, good living and... stuff.

GOING MEATLESS? RELAX AND ENJOY THE RIDE

May 1st, 2012 - No Responses

By Shai

It makes me sad to see starting vegetarians suddenly turn part-time vegetarian or give up completely because the niggling flak attached to the meatless choice eats at their sensibilities. From the first time I’ve disrobed the cloak of the omnivore a few decades ago till now, my encounters with that touchy word “vegetarian” has most often stirred fidget, fret and fuss…sometimes even downright rancor. Through the years though, the rancor has turned to positive curiosity, the other f’s have let up just a bit. So here’s some (sun)light at the end of the (green) tunnel. The tides have turned and “vegetarian” has become cool—even here in the Philippines. J

Some familiar scenarios:

At a party (9 out of 10 are vege-unfriendly), host becomes flustered, embarrassed, flustered some more, sorry, then irate that she has nothing to feed the “grass-eating” guest that is you. Behind the scenes, she orders the kusinera to tear up some salad greens and slosh it with some supermarket vinaigrette. The night is saved, cheer up! Though there may be a scar, Time heals all wounds. Bright side, this may inspire party hosts to whip up vegetarian choices on the menu for non-omnivore guests. Big plus for them and everyone else. Supply follows demand.

At some corporate business meeting (what’s a Pinoy business meeting without the meating—er, eating), the caterers have only fish for the vegetarian that is you. You refrain from saying that fish is not a vegetable, and you politely er, ah, take the tomato, iceberg, and cucumber garnishes instead. (Sometimes, you’ll find a pineapple-watermelon centerpiece you can dismember, or a fresh fruit platter.) A throat-clearing, awkward dense air slices through the business glee. Thankfully, the meeting resumes and all is forgotten. See?

Ah yes, we of the early P.I. vegetarian pioneers have weathered much rebuff & antipathy in the days of yore. And here we still are, happily vegetarian! To you who wish to embark on this blessed journey, or have just jumped in and are uncomfortable in the ride, allow me to lend some friendly advice.

Firstà It does everyone good to nurture patience, perseverance, and spunk to ride thru any storm.

Take comfort that:

o The body can go many days without food, but not much longer than 3 without water. So, if you find yourself without anything to eat at a chow-in, you can rest easy that you won’t be dying soon. Just lots of juice and better yet, water, and you’re good!

o This new chapter of your life could be a great entry into a brave new world of culinary adventures, if you aren’t already there.

o There are such creatures called good cooks. If you, like 30 million other Pinoys, are too busy or simply not a kitchen type, find time to find a good kusinera. Good: adj., flexible, daring and positive about exploring new horizons. (Remind the good cook that these aren’t new at all, just a tad different.) I promise you, they will get the hang of it and get into the groove. And you will eat hearty.

o You are making steps in a positive direction—for the planet’s and your health. So stand proud

Some other tips:

In the past, when I’ve found myself in awkward situations where there’s nothing the host has for me at a gathering of eating, I deploy some default strategies: a) “oh no worries, I’m on a diet”; b) “Gosh, I’m so full—couldn’t say no to my mom’s casserole she prepared before I came here. Maybe later…” (or, “maybe dessert” if I spot a rare vegan selection like fresh mangoes or bananas or kakanin); c) I bring a delish dish that everyone partakes of that becomes a hit; d) I seek fruits or nuts (the plant kind), whose richness in nutritious fats can do wonders at satiating.

Since the tides have turned, I now just say “I’m vegetarian, don’t worry about me.” More often than not, this spurs an engaging discourse. Many are curious, awestruck, amazed or inspired. It becomes an education-information exchange that can be very heartwarming. No matter the option, do it as pleasantly as can be to chuck any discomfiture on both sides.

Knowing the vegetarian-unfriendly reputation of Pinoy cuisine, I always eat enough before going to a party or guzzle a robust glass of green juice before leaving. This has the power to silence hunger nags for as long as the party lasts.

It’s no longer as thorny as it used to be. Restaurants and airlines now offer more meatless choices, and more vegetarian restos have sprung up. There’s pasta, better bread choices, sandwiches, power-packed shakes and a whole lot more options out there now than our peanut-butter/grilled-cheese/French-fries days. Baons can be simple: brown rice, a ripe avocado with a little salt and tomatoes. Possibilities are endless.

So fret no more.

Be mindful that we eat to live and not live to eat, that animals deserve respect for life no less than humans. This makes the occasionally rough journey easy.

Don’t let living in one of the most vegetarian-unfriendly countries in Asia dampen your resolve. Be imaginative, creative, soft of heart, and strong of will. You will overcome. Kiss hopeless resignation good-bye and simply enjoy the ride J.

Categorised in HEALTHY LIVING, Healthy eating, Vegetarian, Wholesome

TROUBLE SLEEPING?

March 20th, 2012 - No Responses

By Shai

Restful sleep is a cardinal ingredient of wellness. It rejuvenates, repairs, regenerates, maintains body and mind, and boosts the immune system. In this chaotic age, sleeplessness has become almost normal. It could be a long and complex topic, so here we pare it down to fundamentals.

Too many researches affirm that lack of sleep is undoubtedly linked to several psycho-physiological problems, to wit:

· Moodiness that makes one less able to cope with daily stresses, which may lead to troubled relationships

· Weakened immune system, symptomized by frequent allergies, colds, chronic and acute illnesses

· Poor academic and general performance, concentration, mental and emotional stability

· Obesity (for children and adults), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), depression, binge eating and other eating disorders

· Poor growth

· Shortened lifespan.

Insomnia could mean: being unable to sleep upon going to bed; frequent waking during the night or waking in the middle of the night and being unable to get back to sleep; light fretful sleep; disturbing dreams.

Some tips to induce restful sleep:

1. Align your bed with the earth’s magnetic lines running North and South. The best is to face your head east and your feet west. If that’s not possible, the next best would be head facing south and feet north. If neither is possible, face head west and feet east (least). DO NOT face your head north.

2. Ever stayed out in nature? Absolute blackness of night is nature’s original plan for her children to sleep deeply and restfully. We’ve come so far from that. Now all cities are over-lit, agitating circadian rhythms of the body, disrupting female cycles, and causing serious insomnia. Turn off as many indoor and outdoor lights as you can, installing curtains or window shades to block artificial light (btw, moonlight is natural and healing), sleep masks, eye pillows or any light, natural fiber material to cover the eyes.

3. Notice how synthetic fibers (polyester, acrylic, rayon) stir electric static? This disturbs the body’s natural energy flows; it disallows the skin to breathe. So it’s best to use natural fibers for bedding, sleep clothes, pillows that are always clean, frequently washed with natural laundry agents without artificial strong scents (these aggravate the central nervous system, are usually petroleum- or coal tar-based).

4. Keep the bedroom an abode of relaxation: out with the TV, computers, work desks, and food (food aromas can disturb sleep); use restful colors for the room, décor, furniture, sheets, blankets, and curtains (Ayurvedically, blue is most relaxing; green next). Bright, garish, harsh or very dark colors and designs can agitate. Open windows and cross ventilation are better than air-conditioning. Houseplants, aromatherapeutic oils, and soft meditative music help calm and soothe.

5. Before going to bed, take a warm bath/shower to relax the body.

6. Do foot massage before bedtime—rub some light oil (sesame, coconut, almond or sunflower) all over the top, toes, and especially the soles. This is very calming, helps promote sound and peaceful sleep. Great for restless adults and children.

7. Try also a scalp massage with a small amount of any of the above-mentioned oils, or Ayurvedic oils specifically for calming the mind, like Brahmi oil.

8. Eat a meal not less than three hours before going to bed. If you can, eat at sunset or just after, and make it light so the digestive process doesn’t impede your sleep efforts. Should you be hungry close to bedtime, drink a cup of hot milk with a sprinkle of nutmeg–very calming.

9. Set the mood for sleep. Don’t watch (movies, TV) or read (books, articles, mags, newspapers) or listen to (loud, harsh music) anything that will rouse your mind, as it can go on overdrive when lying in bed. So calm it before bedtime. Meditation or prayer, letting go of worries, reading inspirational books before bedtime promote restful sleep and peaceful rising in the morning.

10. Caffeinated drinks, food and drinks with harmful ingredients (artificial coloring, flavoring, and preservatives) or those that are heavily spiced, super sweet or flavored are not sleep-conducive, especially when eaten in the evening.

11. Just as with eating, sleep is benefitted by routine. Routine trains the body and mind learn to get ready to retire. Bed by 10pm or earlier, 11:00 at the latest.

12. Regular exercise relieves tightness, stiffness and stagnation in the body, promoting overall relaxation. There are specific yoga asanas and chikung exercises that are ideal for this.

13. Left nostril breathing cools the mind and promotes lunar energy for sound sleep. Lie on your right side, the left side up, promoting breathing through the left nostril.

14. EMF’s or electro-magnetic fields have shown to cause a lot of very subtle mind agitation. So turn cellpones off, unplug as many outlets as possible before going to bed.

15. Try some relaxing herbal teas: chamomile; lemon balm; catnip; valerian / (locals) lemongrass; botolan (common bushweed); kusia (slender golden shower); tawa-tawa (asthma weed), and more. Ask mr. Google—you’ll find millions of sedative herbs and homeopathic remedies. Always check for contraindications.

Bottom line: a healthy body—well-functioning digestion, good elimination, well-exercised, nutritiously fed, regularly de-stressed, adequately hydrated—will sleep well. So, let’s work on that!

Categorised in HEALTHY LIVING, Healthy eating, Wellness, sleeplessness

SIMPLIFY AND FLY

February 7th, 2012 - No Responses

By Shai

It’s seems simple enough to simplify one’s life. But…

I remember a story told a long time ago about the man and his loincloth. This man was living alone in the forest. His only possession was his loincloth. Interrupting his meditation, he would wash his loincloth and wait for it to dry so he could wear it again. Bothered, he approached his guru, telling him that laundering his loincloth was such a great disruption on his meditative practice. His guru told him, “get a wife.”

And so he did. His wife washed his loincloth, freeing up some meditation time for him. But in no time, she lamented that a mouse was always trying to steal the loincloth off the line. Back again he went to his guru who told him to get a cat to take care of the mouse. And so he did. Soon, the wife complained that now the mouse was gotten rid of, the cat needed milk for food. The guru said, go get a cow so the cat would have milk.

Not long after, the wife declared, “so when are you gonna get a house for me, the cat and the cow?” Extremely frustrated, the man returned to his guru bewailing his situation that had driven him further and further away from meditation. His guru said, “get rid of the loincloth.”

How many of us can actually live in the forest with only what we really need? I know I can’t. But it’s good to have a goal.

Eons ago when my body was way younger, I desired so many things that I believed I , and my family truly needed. To get those things I believed I needed demanded nothing less than real hard work—much time and a tremendous amount of energy. Since money did not flow freely into our lives as I had expected/wanted it to, I had to pare down the “needs” based on the budget, time and effort that matched such “needs.” When I happily checked something on my “needs” list as done, I’d add a little other something or two that were related to the newly acquired “needs.” So, while my needs list was shrinking, it was actually growing from other things born off the stuff that had been acquired.

Hmmm… I thought. When will this ever end? It was like trying to fill up a bottomless barrel with water.

This brings to mind E.F. Schumacher, who wrote a timeless, valuable book, “Small is Beautiful” in 1973. He said that we cannot fulfill our infinite nature with the finite. His words reverberate with truth and meaning: “ if human vices such as greed and envy are systematically cultivated, the inevitable result is nothing less than a collapse of intelligence. A man driven by greed or envy loses the power of seeing things as they really are, or seeing things in their roundness and wholeness, and his very successes become failures…”

“Everywhere people ask: ‘What can I actually do?’ The answer is as simple as it is disconcerting: we can, each of us, work to put our own inner house in order. The guidance we need for this work cannot be found in science or technology, the value of which utterly depends on the ends they serve; but it can still be found in the traditional wisdom of mankind.”

Of course, the traditional wisdom of mankind comes only from the original Bestower of such wisdom, God.

So where do we begin “putting our own house in order,” as Mr. Schumacher emphasized? We start by understanding that we are in essence, spiritual. Thus, our satisfaction and happiness can only be found in the spiritual and never in the material. If we try to match the two, it’s never going to work. Traditional wisdom from Gandhi: there’s enough in the world for everyone’s need but not for everyone’s greed.

All material things are impermanent; all spiritual are eternal. We should strive to achieve happiness derived from the eternal to match our essence as spirit. Since love is our goal, our function, our utmost desire, then we should direct this love towards the everlasting Source to match our essence perfectly. By looking this way, we somehow come to realize that there are too many things we can be happy without, and it’s a super wonderful feeling!

Imagine letting go of all those things we always thought we needed! Like a balloon that has been relieved of all the heavy weights that keep it aground, we are able to really fly. Bob Dylan nailed it when he said, “….if you ain’t got nothin’, you got nothin’ to lose…”

Fly into the realm of happiness that comes from satisfaction!

Categorised in ENVIRONMENT, HEALTHY LIVING, Wholesome