End of Week Three

I still feel as though I'm keeping my head above water.  I have yet to figure out a good balance between my personal life (up keep of house/laundry/relationship), school work, and my internship!  There is so much reading.  I'm writing a minimum of 1 paper a week and it's going to be bumped up to 2 a week here shortly, don't even ask me how many papers I'm reading on average!  I have 7 books for my 6 classes and a lot of teachers have you read articles/essays/watch movies/etc.  I'm enjoying most of my classes.  There is one that is torture to sit in, basically lecture style, but we have group assignments/presentations starting up soon so that should break that torture!  There is SO much to learn and I'm drinking from a fire hose!

My internship is no different.  I'm blessed in that the person I spend the most time with loves to teach, she is a fountain of knowledge and we have a lot of conversations on practicing Social Work.  There is so much and I want to do right by the clients that I will eventually have.  I'm still trying to figure out my foundation and I'm leaning toward the Humanistic foundation, big surprise right?!  I'm still learning about all the foundations out there, but that one speaks me to more than the others.  We will see where I will be once I start working with clients!  

Last weekend, Shane joined me for an evening lecture about "Atheist In Foxholes" given by the president of MAAF (Military Assoc. of Atheist and Freethinkers).  It was pretty interesting it was about bringing awareness that the military is not just your mainstream religions and that society puts out messages like it's unAmerican to be unChristian and what does that tell nonChristians serving in the military?  Military members can put Atheist on their dog tags but you cannot put Humanistic, it's not an option.  I asked if I could put Spiritual on my dog tags just a year or so ago and I was told I could put Atheist, well I'm not an Atheist so I just put something :(  People that are Atheist or Humanist don't have a venue for their belief to where they can talk with like minded people.  You can request a Wiccan service so why is there such a block on Atheist being able to meet with others to talk about their views?!  Pretty interesting stuff.  One statement that really stuck with me was when the speaker said something to the effect of: Evangelism is cultural suicide.  Think about that!

Shane is in MO right now for his niece's wedding.  I was suppose to go but with my internship and work it just wasn't good timing :(  I'm looking forward to pictures!  Being home alone this weekend has been relaxing and I've been able to get a lot done but I'm missing my man.  Sami has been limping pretty bad all weekend (been carrying her up and down the stairs).  She was out front and it seemed as if some boys were teasing her by riding their scooters in front of her.  By the time I got outside they were down the street and Sami was limping :(  It seems to be getting better but if she's still limping pretty bad then we'll be going to the vet tomorrow.  

I'm still using my essential oils.  I just put in my last big order, from now on it's going to be an oil here and an oil there.  With no real income coming in I need to keep and eye on that :(  I did buy their vitamins and I'm looking forward to try them out.  I've been doing pretty better on maintaining that part of my healthiness routine.  I was doing well with maintaining my T25 this week.  It's a new day, so I'm not going to focus on that!

Health and Fitness

       I'm working at overall improving myself, and doing it in a safe, natural, healthy way.  I'm exercising, I'm trying to watch what I eat, I'm seeing an acupuncturist, I've been seen a chiropractor for a few years now, and yesterday I saw a Dr. that "offers specialized treatments for allergies, detoxification, nutritional deficiencies and emotional release."  I'll talk about each of these separately but I do feel that my life has come together and all things happen for a reason and each of these things are working together for me to be healthy and happy :)
       I've been getting regular adjustments on a regular basis for a few years now and if I don't go I can tell the difference.  My back gets tighter, and I start getting out of alignment.  I will do what I can NOT to miss a month.  I've since added at a minimum monthly massages.  I finally found a therapist that works on what I need focused on, with good pressure, talks with me about what I can to help things on my own and I respect that.  Up until him, the therapist would call me back, ask what I wanted, and that was about it.  This guy sits downs prior, checks to see what is going on, what the focus is going to be, and sees what I've been doing at home to help out.  KUDOS to him for taking the time and knowing his clients :D
      Now, on to the exercising.  I have a motivation problem.  I usually will start something and then low and behold something gets in the way and I stop working out.  I know a lot of people that are doing Team Beach Body (TBB) work out programs,  your P90x and Insanity type programs.  I also have a friend that is a coach.  I decided to check it out.  First off I looked into meal replacements.  Most things out there are focused on the protein and muscle building.  I wanted nutrition!  I get up early and have to be at work at 0600, and well I need something in the morning besides coffee.  I looked around and TBB has their Shakeology so I checked that out and decided to try that and at the same time ordered the Shakeology workouts.  This was the first week of March.  I enjoy Shakeology.  It gives me energy for the day, I seem more focused, and it's full fills my nutritional needs!  I'm been drinking Shakeology since I started for my breakfast and it's been a good decision.  I started off with the Shakeology workouts and they are good, there is a 30 min and a 60 min workout.  It is a whole body work out and it's a good way to ease into regularly working out.  During this time I signed up for the free club at TBB so I could log my workouts and utilize all the stuff they had for free on the site.  If you want a good overall "what can the site do for me" you can check out this video.  It really helped me stay accountable by seeing my workouts. Once I became a member and utilized the site, I was emailed by other members.  Now some people where fishing for clients that they can be their coach for (yes you can make money as a coach) and I was interactive with people and checked out peoples groups on FB but I really lucked out and joined a really good motivational group and good coach.  It has really helped me stay motivated and on the right path.  Soon after signing up Hip Hop Abs was on sale and I get bored easily with workouts (lack of motivation) and I knew from my club days that after a night of dancing I would feel it in my abs so I ordered it and today finished the program.  Tomorrow I take my "after" measurements so we will see how that went ;)  The TBB website, Shakeology, and their numerous different types of workouts that you can order has been good for me and I've been sticking with it!
      Now about a month ago I went to a woman's expo and I was introduced to the acupuncturist I am now seeing, along with the other Dr., and I got into essential oils.  The essential oils thing is intriguing to me and I'm trying things out.  I've been using the lavender like crazy (helps with relaxing) along with lemon and peppermint!  If you want to know more about that aspect of my over all health and fitness you can go here.  
      The next two aspects are more of eastern type health care and some people have a hard time "believing they do any good" and some even label such care with terms like "whack job, witch doctor".  So if you feel that way.... go ahead and stop reading :P
      
     Seeing my acupuncturist I was told I was "cold" internally and to avoid cold foods.  Chinese medicine label foods as hot or cold and it has nothing to do with their temperature.  Based on an exam, we have decided to go forth with regular treatments to get my body back to a normal flow, and working like it should.  This week I started taking a concoction of herbs to assist with my problems.  I joke that I'm making my dirt drink, but it's  not totally horrible.  I can get it down o.k., but I was taking a lot of it.  To the point that, in being in-tune with my body I didn't feel as if I need to take that much and I kinda only took half of what she had prescribed.  I know, she's the provider but I also feel that one needs to really take the time and listen to their bodies and what is good for it.  I have noticed some positive changes when I took half of what was prescribed the first day (I got them later in the afternoon so I couldn't do 2 doses), the next day I did the two doses and wasn't feeling to hot, the next day did the 1 dose and was back to good.  It's not rocket science really :P  So I'm getting my Chi in line, and make sure my liver and spleen are happy.

     Yesterday I saw Dr.B.  I wasn't feeling this appointment.  I already started with the acupuncturist, my friend just saw the doc and left with over $100 in supplements, and I really don't have the cash flow to add more to my health and fitness plan.  To add to the "not feeling it" I didn't see the Dr. till about 25 min after my schedule appointment, ugh :(  I told him right off the bat I was seeing an acupuncturist and didn't want any conflicting treatments.  His stuff compliments that treatment and he's also trained in Chinese medicine.  So I had an exam, and it's hard to explain via a blog but by the end I was sold.  Dr. B also said it's not his goal to have me come in weekly for months before I'm where I need to be, he wants to attack the problems/issues in the level of importance and told me what type of appointment to schedule but not say when I had to come back, that was up to me.  I had taken my Chinese herbs with me and because of that, he did not have to give me more supplements.  I just walked out with 3 different things and their focus is to help me sleep, my depression, and keeping my overall energy up.  Everything else is being covered by my Chinese herbs (so that right there is commendable).  Also in my exam he determined that the prescribed dose of the herbs was too much and gave me a different recommendation, pretty much what I already felt was needed so that was encouraging.

If you live in the SLC Utah area I will be happy to recommend who I am seeing, if you'd want.

I feel that I'm on the right path right now!  I'm feeling good and moving forward :) 

Finally :D

I had my first drill weekend with the Utah Air National Guard, the UTANG... say it, it's fun :D  Anyhoo...everyone has been really friendly and I've seen many familiar faces.  I was talking to my Dad about my interactions with people and I said "I don't know if it's me or it's just how they roll... but I feel really good about the folks that I'll be working with"  Granted there will be issues, there always are but I feel good about everything.  I told Dad that I think it does have a lot to do with me, I'm more open to others, less worried about what people think or say, and am just happy-that shows and people respond to it.  Dad said it is me.  He said that I've gotten more confident, and I'm more comfortable in my skin! FINALLY!!! :D  I'm only turning 34 next month :P
Don't get me wrong.  I still have my days, my fleeting thoughts of worry and negativity but that are far and few in between and when they do arise I can easily push them aside!

THREE WEEKS AND I'LL BE IN INDIA!!!!!!

Nice little book

During the first week of class I went over to the main library with a friend, he needed to pick up a book he put on hold, and I wanted to find a book on meditation. WOAH... there are a LOT of books and some are huge! Knowing I'll be doing a lot of reading cuz of my classes I didn't even look at those books and then a little book (178pgs) caught my eye, "Learning to Dance Inside" by George Fowler. This isn't a step by step book for meditation, but talks about the benefits of meditation. The book is about the "why" not the "how" :) At the end he does gives some pointers and ideas but it comes down to what works for you...do that, no matter what everyone else says. I defiantly want to check some of his other books... he seems like an interesting person and I enjoyed his writing style.

I finished the book the other night, even among all my other required reading I would spend some time with this little book every night. And the epilogue brought tears to my eyes. The whole books was interesting, but it wasn't bringing up anything I hadn't heard before... it just reconfirmed that my thoughts and feelings about life weren't so whacked out (this books was written in 1996).

At the end it talked about keeping a spirit journal, which I'll add to my ever growing "to do" list and to keep it personal..., but I wanted to write the epilogue down so I can come back to it on a regular basis.... So folks that actually read this... well, you can ignore the end or read it, it's your call. If you want to get the whole meaning of the epilogue you'll have to read the book :D

I'm learning a lot about other religions in a number of my classes. No, I'm not taking a religion class but one class is Culture, Religion, and the Environment, and most religions are interconnected with the environment. There is respect and honor for the land and the other animals that live here. What happen to Christianity? Did we misunderstand THAT message?

Anyhoo.... I have class and of course school work to do. I could write about this stuff for awhile but.... maybe another time.

Close the eyes of your body and look out on the earth with those of your spirit. Consider carefully what you see.

Be glad and grateful that you are among those invited to witness the passing of fear. Don't tremble and prolong its life as you the hear the great growl it releases as its kingdom melts in the warmth of a glorious aurora of human consciousness. Smile and be happy deep within. Join the rain forests and atmosphere and wales as they rejoice that humankind is at last awakening to what harm it was loading upon them. In your spirit hear them singing again as they did before our arrival...and not for their own returning welfare only, but also for that of their human siblings.

All is calm and well beneath our storm.

Notice this.

Join the dance.

And learn to meditate so you can.