Archive for the Category »Health «

If I go back in my mind to a few weeks ago, things were going pretty well. My mother, who has osteoporosis and COPD, was doing better. My sister and I have been trading off caring for her, getting her to doctor’s appointments, setting up a support system for her physical and mental health for the approaching winter season. Then Sandy started up the East Coast.

I arrived to take her to a doctor’s appointment, and ended up evacuating her one day before Sandy hit. As any 82 year old using a walker might move slowly, it took patience to wait for her to get packed, gather her medications, and get into the car. I spent 10 days with her and my 16 year old son, who is the real hero of that 10 days, for keeping us sane and laughing. 

It was difficult, not knowing how bad it was, not knowing how my mother’s health would hold up, when we could go see her home, which she has owned since 1959, or if she could go home anytime soon. On November 5th, we got to go see and deal with the facts, which is what I do… but this time, it wasn’t anything I was ready to deal with. The ocean, bay, sewage and rain had converged and had invaded part of the property to toss and soak furniture, books, lifelong treasures and change the future of my family. There was no way to be prepared for it. It sucked the life from me for a brief moment and then I had to care for my mother.

 

Now, we’re about to move my mother for the third time. My sister and I have been back and forth from our homes to NJ several times over the past few weeks. There is an endless mass of change, where is the mail delivery, where are we in the FEMA process, who do we call to do what next, where is best for Mom to stay to wait for answers? We are not alone. There are thousands of people who don’t have the ability to manage as we have, together as a family facing these challenges. There are people who are alone, confused, cold and have no answers. I feel so grateful!

As we approach the Thanksgiving week, with all the holiday feasting and shopping hype already attacking from all angles, consider a different kind of holiday. Consider adopting a displaced family and sending a care package full of blankets and coats and gloves. Consider hiring a displaced worker, who may have lost a vehicle, and may need a ride but sure needs a job and to make a living. Consider providing a donation of your time to visit a retirement community where the elderly residents may not have any family close by to smile at them or have a meal together or share a hug of support. Consider donating your blood to the local Red Cross in your community, giving the gift of life at a very critical time.

Our situation is difficult, but we were lucky. My mom’s home is repairable, and she will get to go back again. I know other people on Long Beach Island, NJ, who have lost their homes, their businesses and everything they own. It will take time to rebuild Long Beach Island, and many are gathering to support this effort. If you would like to learn more, visit the links below. As for me, I know the only thing for sure is change. The roller coaster of life will continue and it’s the people on the ride with you that make all the difference.

Love, Peace & Magic ;~)

The SandPaper

Southern Ocean Chamber of Commerce Know Your Contractor

Ocean County Government

Small Business Administration Help for Sandy Communities

Volunteer Opportunities to Help with Sandy Recovery

On Twitter search #LBI #SandyNJ #SandyNYC … check in with me @bgreen ;~)

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girlHaving a job with health insurance is becoming a luxury these days! If you have a job you like, maybe even enjoy, you are even more lucky. The conversation in the news this week has been about religious institutions who provide health insurance to their employees, and their challenge to maintain their organizational priorities of not supporting the use of contraception, and their responsibility to provide appropriate coverage to employees which may or may NOT believe the same as they do.

As a matter of full disclosure, I am pro-woman, pro-choice and an advocate for equal pay for equal work. When I say pro-choice, that does not mean I am in any stretch of the imagination that I am pro abortion. In a perfect world, I wish that both men and women were able to have children, and understand the implications of having the joy and challenge of carrying and caring for a child within your body then delivering said child into the world through what previously was a very small exit location. In addition, I wish that men were able to feel the violence of an unwanted sex act that results in fear and other negative emotions along with the dread that the experience will continue through a possible pregnancy and birth of a child as a constant reminder of the horror of that event. We live in a sometimes ugly world, and much of the ugliness is experienced more by women than men.

Back to the issue of contraception! Women choose to use contraception for a multitude of reasons. The greatest reason is to be responsible.  The women I know who are of child-bearing age are choosing to use contraceptives because of the following reasons;

1. have chosen NOT to have ANY children

2. have chosen to have children when they (both parties in relationship) are ready

3. have chosen to have children when they are financially prepared

4. have health issues that require special attention during pregnancy and are waiting

5. not in a serious relationship

These women are of various backgrounds, economic situations, and religious persuasions. For those who are Catholic and Christian especially, it is at least partially BECAUSE of their religious convictions that they have chosen to use contraceptives, believing that they want to be responsible when bringing a new life into the world.

No matter where the public dialogue continues on this issue, contraception is a very personal issue. It is a right of women to make a choice for their own bodies, their own health, and between them, their partner and their god. If a woman has to choose between a job she may love, with health insurance that should provide her coverage without discrimination, or being forced to receive care and treatment outside of the health insurance provided, or forced to have a child when she is not ready, financially able or prepared to do so, there is a flaw in the system. This should not be an issue. Shame on those who are shifting the focus of this issue from women’s equal access to health care to a ridiculous “cry wolf” situation over religious freedom.

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clockOn my green business blog, I recently posted about time. It’s a touchy subject for many people who have developed habits that may be comfortable but may not be producing the results they desire. That includes me!

What makes up a day? 24 hours, 60 minute segments to use or throw away, or chunks of 20 minutes that can produce massive progress! This is one of my new strategies. I’m chunking tasks into 20 minute segments. If I need to make phone calls, I have the list of who to call, the reason for the call, the desired result from the call, and the specific action I’m seeking from the person I call prepared, so in case I get a voice mail recording, I’m still accomplishing my mission. If I get a real person, all is good. I’m more focused, I’m to the point and I’m moving forward with my goals.

This isn’t easy. It takes some planning. It is also making a big change in my own patterns. It is stepping out of my comfort zone, where traditionally I’ve worried about making other people comfortable, or not seeming pushy or aggressive, but hey, if you don’t ask for what you really want, how will you get it?!? In The 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss, he shares how he makes time work for him. Part of my strategy is acknowledging that if I focus on what I want, I actually ask for what I want and get an answer. Then I’ll know and can move on. It’s OK when people say no. Then I can shift gears, reformat my strategy, find another way to get where I’m headed and move forward.

This year is all about stepping out of my comfort zone. This is how I’m approaching life these days. If I’m not uncomfortable, I haven’t stretched myself far enough. It’s scary most days. It’s rewarding every day. In my business, I believe in the Rework principles – there’s a better, faster, easier way. I’m focusing on what I really want, and how I want my life to be an adventure. Things could be simpler, but what fun would that be?!? I’m all about the Art of Non-Conformity and finding your voice in a noisy world! If you have some secrets about using time to create positive change, please share!

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Thank you, Paula Deen! Your recent acknowledgement that you are afflicted with not only Type-2 Diabetes but also the arrogance to use it to profit from your vast brand made me get real with myself. I HAD (note PAST TENSE) admired Paula’s ability to share delightfully unhealthy food in a fun and joyful manner. It gave me permission to enjoy said food while knowing that it was doing me no favors. Paula’s determination to freely share the wealth of artery clogging, heart attack inducing recipes from her television shows, her restaurants, her multitude of cookbooks and personal appearances gave the illusion that she was sharing her passion for taste and tradition.

How wrong we all were! Paula has not only lost my respect as a chef, a mother and a business person, but as a woman. She has purposefully and profitably used the past three years to manage her brand to willfully deceive her audience. While she was adjusting her diet, learning to live with her condition, she continued to promote a lifestyle and eating habits that she knew were harming the people who loved her. There were clues to this shift, as Paula appeared recently on Dr. Oz’s show, taking her traditional recipes and making them more healthy as a show segment. With her announcement this week promoting a diabetes drug, and even a questionable diabetes drug, INSTEAD of a clear and strong apology and reformatting of her recipes for better health, she has lost all credibility in my mind.

Paula’s lack of integrity was long noted by Anthony Bourdain of No Reservations. Earlier this week the ongoing feud between the two was ignited when after Paula’s announcement, Bourdain tweeted what’s pictured below.

While Anthony Bourdain and his No Reservations travel show have not been particular about showing his preference for meat and especially his passionate love of pork, he is the first to admit his high cholesterol levels are an ongoing concern and challenge for him.

So, as of today, I have unfollowed, unliked, and totally disconnected with Paula Deen, her brand, her sponsors and any associated connections. I will not be linking to her recipes, visiting her websites or watching her on TV, EVER!!! I am waging my own battle with health and weight loss and making better choices without the inclusion of drugs into the mix. Using drugs to overcome health conditions that are brought on by poor choices only delay the inevitable. If Paula has done me one favor, it is that today, I am free from continuing on a self destructive path. I’m choosing to live a long and healthy life, without Paula Deen and without diabetes as long as I can.

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