tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10459932195620833842024-03-04T23:05:17.790-05:00Pink's ThinksMs. Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626373614872274965noreply@blogger.comBlogger312125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045993219562083384.post-82630138979395219302022-05-05T15:42:00.003-04:002022-05-05T15:53:17.118-04:00Relentless Unfettered Depravity<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOGaziXEe2pX-Nx6U-poJLynIRdWPXqZ_K8U6XAW6Vw18gP8F7SaZbCBJBIJFJIiuWdKeR3GgovUeH1aQ2besewZnu6TfHnBRNQKaGgrZd7hSCy_HkbdCcQqydbPUeuqtrK81UywNbpOFtqMt1P_eSC3QHhdOSsQnKoLyK6W_HxZIxVObO0EA6kjwygQ/s4000/IMG_20220424_063449976.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOGaziXEe2pX-Nx6U-poJLynIRdWPXqZ_K8U6XAW6Vw18gP8F7SaZbCBJBIJFJIiuWdKeR3GgovUeH1aQ2besewZnu6TfHnBRNQKaGgrZd7hSCy_HkbdCcQqydbPUeuqtrK81UywNbpOFtqMt1P_eSC3QHhdOSsQnKoLyK6W_HxZIxVObO0EA6kjwygQ/w300-h400/IMG_20220424_063449976.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /> <span style="font-family: georgia;">Relentless
unfettered depravity.</span><p></p><span style="font-family: georgia;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I came
across a screenshot of a post that someone put up this morning that can barely
be touched by describing it as startling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>More accurately, it was literally physically sickening.</span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Upon
introspection, I don’t suppose it ought to have been – it revealed the true
heart behind an issue that has been dragging itself along, fueled by the kind
of selfishness that makes even the hardest of hearts recoil in horror, a grimace
involuntarily splashed across faces who have the unfortunate destiny to cross
its path.</span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Perhaps
it was an exaggeration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my optimistic
soul, I can only hope it was, but the last several years has taught me better
and more clearly about the depths of the darkness that exists in this world,
and the heart behind it told me otherwise.</span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">It
was bold and proud and twisted and dark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">It
was the kind of thing that stirs up so much fire in the depths of your soul to
protect the vulnerable that the searing of its sickness upon your very being causes
such a whiplash of opposition that you are surprised by the force that is stirred
within you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Can
this be human expression?</span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This creation was boiled up not from what is
beautiful in this world, but from the fiery depths of hell, spouted out by
blatant demonic influence over easily swayed beings, thinking they are progressive
and brilliantly independent, when in reality, they are nothing but slaves to their
hellish masters.</span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Last
year when things got particularly dicey, did you feel the recoil deep in your heart?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you burn deeply for justice when you saw
innocent people’s businesses and homes and lives being destroyed by displaced
anger, stirred up, funded, and artificially created by the media and their
minions?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you pity those who were so easily
influenced for evil?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you lament the
lack of education, introspection, and consideration that was played out and
highlighted across every media feed and praised as good and peaceful when you
saw plainly that it wasn’t?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">There
is a direct tie to that post in that behavior and the drive behind it – and that
is the absolute lack of respect and disregard for human life.</span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">We
have left the realms of logic a couple years ago, and what is painfully plain
and elementary can no longer be seen by those who are blinded by such darkness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Describing and explaining in their own words
back to them, in black and white, is disregarded as misinformation, hate
speech, or dismissed and unthinkingly blanket labeled as misogyny, racism, privilege,
or anti-science. </span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The
days of logic and good are being destroyed moment by moment, to be replaced by the
whim of the political passion of the day, stirred up by fear from those who
profit from it.</span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">What
has happened to discourse?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">If
you value logic, it will be difficult for you to comprehend all that is
permeating society, but we must preserve the ability to think clearly when we
are being perpetually baited to react at our most basic levels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the behavior of the
unintelligent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the behavior of
the undeveloped beast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will you succumb
to their depth?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will you too leave logic
behind and become an unthinking Neanderthal, disconnected from higher thought
and the good?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The
temptation to hit back at their level of wretchedness is mighty because it so
deeply offends all sense and life, but only those who are civilized will
overcome.</span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">My
friend said it exactly right – will you fault the blind for being blind?</span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Rise
above, lovelies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Speak the truth in
love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do not be afraid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the only way to preserve our society
and to diminish the sick evil that attempts to spread.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will it take you under?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or will you prevail?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our world depends on it.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Stay human, lovelies,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Ms. Daisy <br /></span></p>
Ms. Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626373614872274965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045993219562083384.post-71683570981539831732021-03-08T21:47:00.001-05:002021-03-09T08:57:08.074-05:00The Scam of an International Women's Day<p>If you've been on social media today, you likely have been made aware that today is International Women's Day. I have to be honest - I don't know if I quite remember it much before last year, although it is reported to have an origin in New York City organized by the Socialist Party of America in 1909. <br /></p><p>On social media today, I saw women that I respect and enjoy hanging out with display links to women that they think are killing it in the realm of business or breaking barriers or whatever else is out there that ought to be celebrated. They highlighted pictures of their best friends, their mothers, their sisters, and women in business. They brought attention to the fact that women are out there and they are making things happen. </p><p>While I am glad that they are associating strength and success and potentially even a desire to emulate these women, (are you ready for a shock?) I find myself disagreeing with the whole premise.</p><p>I actually find it insulting and off-putting.</p><p>I think that highlighting the achievements of women because they are women is the equivalent of posting extra thirsty cleavage shots and pretending that you're asking for feedback on your necklace. It's desperate and it debases those highlighted. </p><p>Hear me out. If you are female and you truly believe that you are able to compete in every way with a man (within physical reason - and yes, I said it. I'm 103 pounds. I'm not going to be able to beat my dudes benching 270 - yet, anyway. Will I give it a chance based on percentage and bench more than my weight? You know it. Will I try to do more pull ups than them? Absolutely. Which, by the way, I'm at 12 and still climbing.), why would you point out achievements only <i>because you are female</i>? Shouldn't you rather be pointing out achievements and amazing accomplishments and humans of note because of those very things and not because they were born without the coveted blessing of a peepee (does this very idea not readily and obviously admit that you view yourself as less when you chase after it?)? Do you secretly and subconsciously cling to the belief that men are better than you, and that in order for you to fight the social injustice of it all, you must stand on your soapbox for one day each year and loudly declare and demand attention for yourself - attention that you suppose you would not otherwise get without having a special day dedicated to you because you can't figure a way to compete on your own of your own merit?</p><p>Perhaps at this point you would argue that society is male-centered and is set up to benefit men, and that they are creating the narrative and it is unfair.</p><p>Do you know what I hear in that? An excuse.<br /></p><p>Do you believe that you are able to do things or not? This makes it difficult to truly decipher between what you are saying and how you are behaving.</p><p>Most women are not leveling up because they don't actually believe that they are even in the game in the first place. As I mention "the game", I want to be clear that this is not a game of two teams, in particular, the boys vs. the girls. This is the game of life, being played by everyone on the planet. I don't need to prove to you, some man, or anyone else that I am worthy of being deemed successful or anything else because I am female. That is insulting. That is petty and quite frankly, feels beneath me.</p><p>When I was growing up, I was always the shortest and smallest person in my class. I was the shortest and smallest person on my sports teams. I was the shortest and smallest person everywhere. Even though I knew that was the case, I was very blessed to grow up in a family that never made that an excuse as to why I couldn't beat someone else. In fact, I didn't know that there were some people out there who thought that because you were bigger and stronger that you would probably win. I didn't even have this concept in my head. Instead, the concept I had in my head was, "Do you want this? Do you want it more than the next person? What must be done to get it? What are you willing to do to get it?" </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipaYAhaj7EtAh44_-mJoMK3BdG1MKz9bSUkojHHrAZbmLEVyF_zfmnW1stZhKS2IuIvTco1vZyGBH_RZBG45jABB4quxcGvc5eXgDjBkIRUbi-XHNPr6s9YN2JPUcOJMpn0w_YHomh_65i/s736/2438065e55642a16ed4142e4f606b480.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="736" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipaYAhaj7EtAh44_-mJoMK3BdG1MKz9bSUkojHHrAZbmLEVyF_zfmnW1stZhKS2IuIvTco1vZyGBH_RZBG45jABB4quxcGvc5eXgDjBkIRUbi-XHNPr6s9YN2JPUcOJMpn0w_YHomh_65i/s320/2438065e55642a16ed4142e4f606b480.jpg" /></a></div>I remember my mom recounting a story of me in high school. It was my senior year and I was at a home swim meet. I competed in breaststroke and the 100 was about to start. I walked over to my lane, flanked on both sides by girls from the other team. I walked up to the starting blocks and did what I always did - stretched myself out and got myself pumped up by stretching my arms and then my legs, grabbing the blocks and frog jumping a few times, staring down the lane and imagining my race. My parents were in the stands and my mom tells the story that two girls who were almost a foot taller than me and 50-60 pounds more were watching me instead of getting their own minds ready for the race. She watched their faces as they became increasingly unsteady and lost confidence. I didn't even know that they existed and didn't even look at them. I was there for the race. I won. I thought nothing of that win outside of the fact that I knew I had done what I needed to do to achieve that outcome.<p></p><p>In business and achievement, I'm not competing with imaginary men (or women). I'm out there doing my thing, with my eyes on my race. I can assure you, however, that on race day - whatever that may mean literally or figuratively depending on the circumstance - I am going to level it up and I don't care if you are male or female or an elephant or a unicorn, I am going to give it what I have because of who I am as an individual - not because I am a woman.</p><p>Let us all ask those questions - Do you want this? Do you want it more than the next person? What must be done to get it? What are you willing to do to get it? </p><p>Let us not denigrate ourselves as individuals by too much associating and identifying as what society tells us we are as a group. <br /></p><p>Go out and get what you want because you want it and you will work for it. Use the smart brain that you have to figure out how to do that. Do not emulate someone solely because of their gender - instead, admire the tenacity of their character. Be inspired by their drive. Let the fire of what you want be torched higher because you have chosen to surround yourself by people who tirelessly seek excellence.</p><p>Don't be put in a box, lovelies. You're so much bigger than that.</p><p>Peace, love, and don't freaking quit,<br />Ms. Daisy<br /></p>Ms. Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626373614872274965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045993219562083384.post-78897827146666547502020-11-10T16:25:00.003-05:002020-11-10T16:28:13.679-05:00Are you an emotional pawn?<p>Hello lovelies! I've just started reading a book entitled <i>Trust Me, I'm Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator</i>. The author, Ryan Holiday, tells his stories of "marketing" for his clients, many of whom have millions of dollars for budgets. He starts off by telling about a time where he designed, paid for, and put up a billboard, then drove to it in the middle of the night, dressed in black, defaced it, drove around the block, took pictures of it, and then sent it to various media outlets in the morning.</p><p>The response was astounding. But he wasn't finished or satisfied - he submitted anti-women articles about it to feminist groups, anti-Christian articles to Christian websites, and made repeat calls for anonymous complaints about it. </p><p>It blew up astronomically. People were angry from every corner of the world and he got exactly what he wanted - overwhelming attention with very little effort. He played on people's emotions in order to suck them in.</p><p>Even though it was completely fake, it became an event - a "true" living, breathing, emotionally charged reality - for hundreds of thousands of people who became entangled in his deliberately artificially manufactured emotional net. He got them. He owned part of their minds. He won.</p><p>He refers to a political cartoon from 1913 that is more true today than it has ever been before. In it, we see a businessman throwing coins from a gigantic bag of money labeled "money for business announcements" into the mouth of a tentacled monster, whose head is the press and whose arms include "cultivating hate", "slush to inflame", and "distorting facts".</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIqFnikcUsP-zqQFtEO_a-Y6xpDutvLm9f-eDI3tISxDw7CYGxyVPebiJ8LbjPMlBQbar2bld9Mwzwz356bpVo5fW2BFYsPBJQuqckxtPL-lxIGhUAZCzLSG0OFAY0lE_AhV7UNc6a2lS/s680/feeding+the+monster.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="663" height="561" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIqFnikcUsP-zqQFtEO_a-Y6xpDutvLm9f-eDI3tISxDw7CYGxyVPebiJ8LbjPMlBQbar2bld9Mwzwz356bpVo5fW2BFYsPBJQuqckxtPL-lxIGhUAZCzLSG0OFAY0lE_AhV7UNc6a2lS/w547-h561/feeding+the+monster.png" width="547" /></a></div><p> </p><p>I believe that we are at a critical time where if we do not pay very close attention and fight back, the monster will destroy all of us.</p><p>Right now, if I asked you who your enemies were, would you easily be able to rattle off a list? Consider it -<br /></p><p>The right hates the left.</p><p>The left hates the right.</p><p>The vaxers hate the antivaxers.</p><p>BLM hates the police.</p><p>Half of the country hates the post office.<br /></p><p>Antifa hates everything and everyone.</p><p>These, we are told, are our enemies.</p><p>What if we're being played? What if our real enemy is the media? </p><p>Our national presidential election was last week. On election day, after being told daily for months by every single person across all social media platforms, through billboards, on television and on radio, to vote, to let our voice be heard - we went to the polls. We did our civic duty. We felt proud of our little patriotic stickers. We were so proud that we took pictures of ourselves wearing them like a gold star on our foreheads in a kindergarten classroom, some of us posting our picks to social media, watching the likes stack up and watching the haters react. We regurgitated and reaffirmed that we had a voice and that our voice mattered.</p><p>The counting began and the main event started. Even though we knew that we would not likely see results until at least the next day, millions tuned in to watch as if it were the big game, cheering for our side, feeling more tribal than ever.</p><p>We cheered when our team got a point and likewise boiled, muttering and scoffing in wonder at those who voted against what was clearly a sane, educated, forward thinking choice. We thought of those with the yard signs - the ones on "our side" and those who were on the enemy's side - and our love and hate grew yet more.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTrg3EFMd53kzAD9V_gNhfFt0nuH9TrD0-ZnNVo3UaeLthKkBMw_iO5ByIjBi8NJcexdOg-o9nf9uTPbhLFJxhNvtUGvxD6Sl3CEPo4bq8TWkTU7yu3eCLFVByF8GBc6gTU4TamG_nfQi5/s896/ted+talk+van+jones.PNG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="896" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTrg3EFMd53kzAD9V_gNhfFt0nuH9TrD0-ZnNVo3UaeLthKkBMw_iO5ByIjBi8NJcexdOg-o9nf9uTPbhLFJxhNvtUGvxD6Sl3CEPo4bq8TWkTU7yu3eCLFVByF8GBc6gTU4TamG_nfQi5/s320/ted+talk+van+jones.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>I have the app for Ted Talks on my phone. A week before the election, I got a notification from Ted, telling me that I might be interested in what would surely be a valuable talk. It was entitled, "What if a US presidential candidate refuses to concede after an election?" It was given by Van Jones, a CNN political commentator. <br /><p></p><p>Huh. That's interesting. Are we predicting the future? Or are we just setting it up? Do we have a history of this that I need to be alerted to something that I should expect to happen every four years?</p><p>What we saw next in the days following was surveillance videos, personal tiktok videos, and eyewitness reports showing that our votes - our voices - may have been compromised. I watched a ballot counter in a yellow vest and a white mask lift up a ballot, point to the presidential section where it was marked, and then rip it up and throw it over his shoulder. I watched a personal video and heard eyewitness reports of ballots being brought in to downtown Detroit in coolers. I heard that the Dominion software (funded by the Clinton Foundation) used in critical states was flip-flopping candidates names (like in Antrim county in Michigan). Attorneys were called in, and what was thought to be a guarantee was now being contested. </p><p>While questions were still ongoing, we watched CNN declare a winner. There was a speech. People reposted a video of Ms. Harris making a phone call to tell Joe that they did it. We watched women repost all over social media to "watch out" because there was "glass all over" since the glass ceiling had been broken. <br /></p><p>Without taking a side on the previous two paragraphs, I want you to think about what was really going on. Fly yourself up above this and go big picture.</p><p>What was happening was the creation of a slush to inflame. Whatever "side" you find yourself on, you are wired and pulled and tempted and played with to become emotionally entangled. Why? </p><p>Because we know that fear and anger will turn your attention and potentially drive you to action, and that, more than anything, is what they are there for.</p><p>They are not there to create peace. They are not there to unite. It does not pay to make peace. The clicks on the media slow down when things are at a state of equilibrium. When the world is in an uproar, it is good for the media. It pays their bills. The advertisers crank out even more, in hopes to get your attention. </p><p>My concern is for what will happen once they've hooked most people onto one very passionate, <i>die on this hill</i> side. </p><p>What if the legal battle turns the decision the other way from what the media declared?</p><p>The fire will engulf us. Those who thought that the glass ceiling was broken will crumble in despair at it being so unfairly snatched out of their hands. Those who thought their voice was silenced will rejoice that they were not eradicated. The media will have created another group to be us versus them, another team to be on, and another source of heated, passionate division.</p><p>What is the end of this? A civil war? The thought of that gives us so much pause, but it brings gleeful delight to the media. How juicy! How absolutely fantastic! They will have unleashed the monster for near complete annihilation of the American people and what we know as our culture, our way of life, and the future of our children's lives. </p><p>I submit to you that those that you think are your enemy are not. We know that we can believe differently and still be civil, unless we are perpetually fanned to do so and swallow it. Contrary to what you've been told, Don and Joe aren't your enemy. BLM and Antifa aren't your enemy. The keepers of the glass ceiling aren't your enemy. The police aren't your enemy. The post office isn't your enemy. Hunter's laptop isn't your enemy. Joe's blond leg hairs aren't your enemy. Don's border wall isn't your enemy. Those are all logs to make the fire bigger.<br /></p><p>Our enemy is the media. You feed them every time you bow to worship their almighty proclamations, swallowing all of it whole: hook, line, and sinker. Every time you feel the burning in your chest to smite that "other group", they found another hook to own you, to leverage your own emotions for their purposes. They mock your pain, your desire to be justified and vindicated, and do it all while hiding in the background, throwing out fiery arrows to the middle of your street wrestling match. </p><p>From what Ryan Holiday tells us, why shouldn't we believe that much of what is out there is literally created out of thin air for the purpose of getting that attention? </p><p>How willing are you to place your emotional stability into the hands of an entity that lies to you and uses you? You get a choice to answer that question every single day, multiple times a day.</p><p>We can get above it and see the big picture or we can continue to be pawns, fighting amongst ourselves, never looking up and seeing that we're really in the middle of a boxing ring on the Truman Show. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7M4yfSmFQYgh98_Upqo2xRbG4Zey-68UNSwKWlhmp0KPDwbZ28qbzOUIDKE__iO0WVsE31VngNdTPToCeLGfnV2_H_tv9mrp0KS_egIk_wG-hI36qroqgsSCWXvwmMEyB4GdIHujDjlQU/s370/poor+phoneless+guy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="370" height="429" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7M4yfSmFQYgh98_Upqo2xRbG4Zey-68UNSwKWlhmp0KPDwbZ28qbzOUIDKE__iO0WVsE31VngNdTPToCeLGfnV2_H_tv9mrp0KS_egIk_wG-hI36qroqgsSCWXvwmMEyB4GdIHujDjlQU/w429-h429/poor+phoneless+guy.jpg" width="429" /></a></div> <p></p><p>I'll leave you with this picture quote that I found today that I hope makes you consider the true state of what is going on.<br /></p><p>Who and what will you willingly give your power and your life energy to? It is no small thing and you should not bestow it haphazardly or unthinkingly. Will you stand up and fight for humanity? Will you help reconnect us? Will you reframe your thoughts to recognize that others who believe differently than we do are not so different from us? Will you be hooked and swayed by every wind that the media blows at you? Will you believe all of it, whatever "side" it comes from? Will you ignore the fact that the only thing they want is your pocket, your will, and your passion so that you can be shaped to carry out their desires, schemes, and plans?</p><p>Will you live the rest of your life content to be a pawn?</p><p>Peace, love, and reach out - one person at a time, one day at a time - we can do this,<br />Ms. Daisy<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><br /><p><br /></p>Ms. Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626373614872274965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045993219562083384.post-91057585282064741462020-07-14T16:40:00.001-04:002020-07-14T16:40:33.985-04:00Lament for Liberty<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Lament for Liberty<br />14 July 2020</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Liberty, I remember you well<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">When I was a girl in this land<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Freedom to go as we pleased<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You took us by the hand<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We played outside and went to school<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">To God we bent our knees<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We dreamed of what we would become<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As grownups, as we pleased<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">To open a business or to pursue our dreams<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And nothing stand in the way<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We stood united, proud and undivided<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And had freedom in what to say<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In our chest, you paved the way<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">For innovation and design<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In our hearts, our minds, and souls<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We knew the way divine<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">With freedom we knew we could go<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As far as we should will<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And marching shoulder to shoulder<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We advanced up every hill<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Our teams – the best – <span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">we proved it year by year<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">our open streets and flourishing businesses<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">we were safe from fear<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">what has happened that we have let <span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">our land now slide away?<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Where once stood men, <span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Girls now blaze a violent way<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">With purple hair and screaming fists<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">They taunt those who made them free<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The men like girls and girls like men<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Who mock your liberty<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">They use the freedom given them<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">To burn this to the ground<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And good men stand back and watch it happen, <span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">With not a fight, nor even a sound<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The Witch declares your freedoms gone<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You’re muzzled and bow your knees<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And crawl along empty grocery store shelves<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Without care for liberty<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You slink along inside your homes<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Afraid to go outside<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Small, pathetic creatures,<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Full of Netflix in our eyes<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">They told us to be afraid,<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And so afraid we are<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">That we cannot drive somewhere<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A masked lone person in a car<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The air is scary, and people worse<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We cannot get too near<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A hug will kill us, six feet will save us<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Conditioning perpetual in our ears<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What kind of life are you living?<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What could you stand to gain?<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Is this a life you want to live?<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Are we really sane?<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“There are some lines I will not cross,”<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You say as you muzzle your face,<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Your gloved hand bleaching groceries<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Seems normal, not insanity or disgrace<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The men who founded this country <span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Are rolling over in their graves<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This land they fought so hard to gain<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Is being willingly turned to slaves<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Women and children are looking up <span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">To find someone to lead<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">None are there that can be found<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We are pitiful, indeed<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So turn it over to the powers that be<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Who test your shackled strength<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The slippery slope moves very quickly<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Who knows how far its length<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We shall care when it’s too late<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And we’ve lost all liberty<span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Lament aloud, and say a prayer <span></span></span></span></div>
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for the once great land of the brave and free</span></span>Ms. Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626373614872274965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045993219562083384.post-1617001609022235992020-07-13T22:05:00.000-04:002020-07-13T22:05:27.196-04:00The Facebook DivorceHello lovelies!<br />
<br />
As humans, we have a shared existence at times. The feelings that well up within us and crash over us are not unique to us as individuals - there are not many among us who have not felt the pangs for the summer sunset in the middle of dreary grey, cold winters, nor those who are foreign to the way that sweat forms upon our brows as we labor beneath the blazing sun. Many of us know the feelings of longing, of hunger, of thirst, and of satisfaction. But above all of these things, I believe that we all share something even more basic to the human condition - a question, one that looms deep within our very souls, and the tremendous wonder at moments in our lives - <i>why on all of God's green earth do we have a facebook account?</i><br />
<br />
This question, although it seems ancient for all of the times this river of thought has driven a path by coursing through our very souls, is relatively new<i> </i>on the planet in the scheme of things. Perhaps you have wondered it yourself recently.<br />
<br />
What makes us wrestle over it? What holds us back from a clean break? Why do we cling? Why do we wish it gone? Why are we tugged in both directions?<br />
<br />
I cannot answer that for you, but what I know I will offer for your consideration.<br />
<br />
But before I do, I want to tell you of my relationship with facebook.<br />
<br />
It started out really early. I was one of the early adopters. I have a younger sister and younger family members who joined when it was advertised as a college yearbook. As soon as it was open to non-college students at the end of 2006, I jumped in. I was fascinated with being able to have a page that I could make and post whatever status I wanted while also being able to hop around and visit people I knew virtually. What a novelty! What a genius and fun idea! I was excited to check in on a regular basis to see how everyone was doing, to look at their pictures, and to have a view into a corner of their lives - I was exploring that interesting new balance of socializing through a screen.<br />
<br />
I loved seeing new people finally come aboard, people that I had known from high school or college that I hadn't seen in a long time and didn't have contact information for. I loved seeing that they had children and that they were happy and that some of them looked exactly the same as they did when I knew them. It was fun to be able to see how the teenage person I knew grew into a mature adult (for most of them, anyway) with jobs and adventures. It was nice to see that they had made it and what they had made of themselves.<br />
<br />
Years and years later, more and more people joined the party. And then one day, The Thing happened. I got a friend request from my mother. My mom was on facebook? My mom? For real? And then my dad joined. And then my grandmother-in-law. The community was looking very different and my "audience" was spread from friends out to family and over to people I worked with and everyone else I had ever known on earth.<br />
<br />
It was fine for a few years and then the arguments started. Some people were really political and it seemed that this was the place to try to further your political party with your undying support. It was a forum for discussion, and for the most part in the beginning, it was fairly civil, although I am sure people felt some heat in their bellies when they were arguing their cause.<br />
<br />
I'm not sure exactly what the line was, but I watched it happen right in front of my eyes. I watched people behave differently to others because they were behind a screen and then removed the person from the information that they were connecting to on the monitor. It was as if all social rules were off of the table and you could just open up and say whatever you wanted to because it wasn't in real time, and it wasn't in your voice, it was only text, and that isn't a big deal. I watched people remove personhood from those who were called their friends so that they could argue perpetually about different things.<br />
<br />
At some point, I decided to delete my account. I wasn't happy with all of the crazy and it really just didn't feel worth it. After all, if I was looking for connection, this certainly wasn't it.<br />
<br />
After a few more years went by, I decided that I missed seeing people and I would just jump in and keep it fun, check in only occasionally, and use it as a way to help others with health coaching and my business. It was okay, but it wasn't how it used to be. I didn't get the kind of personal interactions that I was looking for, but that was because I wasn't putting it out there on my side. It was boring, but also kind of mean out there. It was a place where I used to scroll through and make sure I was caught up on everyone, but it became a place where I couldn't be bothered to even read more than a few updates. I would only comment on something if it seemed like something that was impossible for me to personally neglect. I checked on it less and less until I deactivated it for a few months at a time.<br />
<br />
I loved Facebook for the advertisement of my book and for a place I could share myself being silly in videos or peeking in on long lost friends, but it was really losing its luster. I wanted to have a place to share my writing, but even that seemed like it couldn't possibly be worth the garbage I had to dig through to get it out there, not to mention the way that we are being mined for data, violated on privacy, and advertised to in order to line the pockets of Zuck and his homies.<br />
<br />
Finally, I decided - it was time. What it was taking was more than what it was giving, and it had run its course. <br />
<br />
Last month, I clicked "Delete Account". If you have done this before, you know that it isn't a swift process. They send you a message letting you know that for the next 30 days, your account will be in limbo. It will hover between heaven and earth, accessible for you if you will just simply log in and ask for forgiveness and get back to it. This time, I counted down the days until it would come true and everything would be really gone for good.<br />
<br />
Today the sun sets on the last day of me being part of a facebook world. It was fun while it lasted, and that era had some good things, but it is over now. It is not worth feeling angst and revulsion over people that I think I really like in real life. It is not worth the data mining. It is not worth feeling like I'm making my stress level go to 100 from looking at people's opinions and arguments. It is not worth being part of a place that censors information. It is just not worth it. Life is better without it.<br />
<br />
I'm glad to be on the other side. Maybe you would like it, too?<br />
<br />
Peace, love, and freedom,<br />
Ms. DaisyMs. Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626373614872274965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045993219562083384.post-71546872153245558352020-06-16T12:53:00.002-04:002020-06-16T12:53:53.295-04:00The Year the World Lost Its Entire MindHello lovelies!<br />
<br />
I'm writing to you from the middle of June in the year of our Lord 2020, a time in which all persons inhabiting our once beloved planet are absolutely and wholeheartedly certain of one thing: we hit the tipping point and tipped waaaay over.<br />
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Is it because of the rona? No - unless you have hooked yourself up to an IV of CNN, you are easily able to see that the predicted terror ended up being quite a bit of an overblown issue (not to say that it didn't exist or affect people - it did, but not at the levels we were being terrorized with initially). The rona was so like, spring 2020 and we are totes like, mega over it. Figuratively and literally (if you hear of the waving of a "second wave" flag, I'm pretty sure it's because the media misses all of those clicks and the powers that be miss all of the diabolical levels of control they get out of bludgeoning the masses with the scaries. That level of power is highly addictive.), quite frankly.<br />
<br />
Is it the media-stimulated race riots? No, but it is linked to that. <br />
<br />
Is it ANTIFA burning down buildings and smashing windows with bricks and making a lovely tent village with speeches and dance parties for themselves where naked people run down the street saying that they are prophets looking for their children, proudly declaring that they aren't part of the United States (but rather, "Chazikstan"), while still using our wifi, EMS and hospitals for the drug overdoses, building (the very literal and social) walls (that they ironically hate and riot and terrorize about), and silencing any differing opinion? Well, no, but that touches the fringes of it. (And if you're mad about Chazikstan, I hear you, but just let them be for a couple weeks and you can have a front row to watching the inevitible rise and fall of a very sad social experiment.)<br />
<br />
No, it is none of those things, and neither is it even the chaos of the liberties that people have allowed to be stripped away from them out of fear.<br />
<br />
What is it, then?<br />
<br />
It is the silencing of rational discourse with the rise of cancel culture. <br />
<br />
Could it be any more in your face (literally?) to silence people symbolically by forcing them to wear a mask, stripping them of their identity, individuality, oxygen levels, and muzzling them while taping directions on the floor of their local grocery store, telling them how they ought to walk? This is the physical that has translated to the emotional, out into the atmosphere, that is now flying around the internet-sphere. And flying it is.<br />
<br />
Over the last couple weeks, we have seen countless examples of the vocal mob crying out to crucify anyone and anything that they deem as inappropriate, whether or not the person's opinion was justifiably and/or intentionally offensive or not. This crucifixion is not only social, by people declaring they are now unfollowing them on social media (OH, THE SEARING PAIN!), but it is an outcry to demolish their livelihood, business, passions, and future. This is once again a physical parallel in domestic terrorism of the destruction and arson of physical buildings as a result of the emotional world.<br />
<br />
What once was "only" name-calling (you misogynistic, transphobic, fascist, homophobic, sexist, racist!) and slander on social media as a result of differing opinions is now full-blown catastrophic destruction if someone is caught in the crossfire and dares to think for themselves outside of the popular groupthink that is making an attempt to burn through the nation. <br />
<br />
Why did that name-calling start?<br />
<br />
Name-calling in this realm exists most often from people shying away from the difficult work of digging through something together in order to try to understand another viewpoint. <br />
<br />
You don't like what someone is saying and you don't want to consider their points? Call them a name. Block that conversation from going anywhere. Feel much better about yourself. Nod in victory at your obvious moral high ground. Threaten to unfollow, share with friends. Spread the virus of the inability to have an intelligent conversation over a subject with which you strongly disagree. Never even entertain that any aspect of their point of view could be valid because you are busy not listening to anything they are saying, convinced of your superiority. Such intelligence. So noble. So big brain.<br />
<br />
What harm could it do?<br />
<br />
That is the catalyst that has led to a college football coach grovelling and begging for forgiveness because he <a href="https://townhall.com/tipsheet/bethbaumann/2020/06/15/how-a-t-shirt-conservative-news-outlets-t-shirt-sparked-a-criticism-at-oklahoma-n2570713" target="_blank">wore a certain t-shirt while fishing</a>. His running back, offended at the sight of his coach wearing an OAN News Network t-shirt while fishing tweeted that it was unacceptable and that he will not be doing anything with Oklahoma State until things change. <br />
<br />
I just want you to back up one second really quick with me here. A man went fishing at his leisure. He wore a t-shirt with the emblem of a news network on it. Another person saw it and threatened to quit working with him because of it. The university said that they would not "tolerate insensitive behavior" such as this rude TV network t-shirt wearing fisherman. <br />
<br />
Please. Go with me for just a second. This is the United States of America. You can dye your hair purple. You can identify as a tree. You can fill your backyard with rocks. You can drive a car that has figurines glued to the roof. You can dance the cha-cha slide. You can play basketball at midnight in your driveway. You can refuse to shower for a week. You can wear a skirt with combat boots. You can tattoo your neck. You can <a href="https://www.nydailynews.com/coronavirus/ny-coronavirus-corona-covid-twins-name-coronavirus-india-20200403-g4j2rkj52rds5n74zgmvoyemmi-story.html" target="_blank">name your kid after viruses</a>. Why? Because whether you like all of the results or not, we have the freedom of expression. We are entitled to our <i>own </i>opinions. We have the liberty to come to our own conclusions and to express them within our free society. (Yes, I'll admit - that's getting harder for many to practice as we are bombarded with propaganda for what and how to think, but it still exists.)<br />
<br />
This bizarre example is not one that is few and far between. The founder of CrossFit, Greg Glassman, was stripped of his position for tweeting the opinion that there were some that were taking advantage of the death of George Floyd and manipulating it (just as had been done with Covid-19) by his tweet that stated, "<a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8398849/Reebok-hundreds-athletes-cut-ties-CrossFit-founder-Greg-Glassman-Floyd-19-tweet.html" target="_blank">FLOYD-19</a>". Furious tweeters demanded his resignation, saying that he was racist, and then pulled his business partners in, demanding that they withdraw from their partnership (like Reebok). Reebok jumped ship, terrified to be associated with anything that the masses declared scandalous. His <a href="https://www.theabjectlesson.com/2020/06/09/in-defense-of-greg-glassman/" target="_blank">history of funding and supporting people of color</a> did not matter to anyone, nor did anyone want to open up that door to conversation. They wanted to call him a racist and end him, and that is what they did.<br />
<br />
Whether or not you agree that he ought to have tweeted that, and whether or not you agree with his opinion, it is still only his opinion. It is within the realm of his freedom of speech to declare such things. You don't have to like it. You don't have to agree. You don't have to be friends with him. <i>But just because you disagree with another person does not mean that they should be silenced and destroyed. </i>It is the mark of intelligence and maturity to be able to have a conversation with someone that you disagree with<i>, </i>and it is the embodiment of a free society to be able to express your personal views, whether they be popular or not.<br />
<i><br /></i>
Another aspect of the danger of groupthink was displayed recently with masses of people displaying black squares all over social media in an attempt to gain traction to end racism. Perhaps I have been fortunate to surround myself with people for my whole life who think the very idea of racism is absolutely absurd to hold and expressly intolerable - in fact, I've only been aware of a very small handful of people who have ever vocalized anything overtly negative about people of color, and those people were very old and are now dead. I don't know any person in my generation who has ever leaned positively toward becoming a racist. It is the very fact of why so many scurry from even the hint of any behavior that would be linked to it. Am I a minority for that? I don't know for sure, but I have a hunch that even if a person was closeting feelings of racial superiority, they would never dare express it because they know it is wrong and that it is offensive<i>, as they should.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
With that being said, though, what happened on black square Tuesday on social media did not necessarily lend a hand in the right direction to fight racism. Instead, what it did was influence people to behave a certain way and to display a signal to others that they were not racist and that they were going to prove it. Instead of being comfortable with who they are (knowing in their heart that they were not racist) and displaying it in real life, in action, in loving others as they ought, they felt discomfort that someone might accuse them of being racist for their sin of omission of not following the masses and what was trending that day by not displaying a black square.<br />
<br />
Certainly there were many who were passionate about connecting to other races of people - and we know that they are because they live it in their everyday life. It was already part of who they are and at the front of their minds, but I fear that the majority of people who posted that did so more out of the fear that others would think less of them if they didn't. That is not fighting racism. That is unthinkingly following the vocal mob. If you need to prove that you are not a racist with a black square, maybe you need to do a little bit more soul searching and think deeply about where you are at and what you believe. The whole world is better when you're thinking critically.<br />
<br />
Where do we go from here? I beg that you connect with people who don't think like you and who are not like you, not so that you can call them names or crucify them on social media, but to explore the other side in an effort to truly understand - to expand yourself. I encourage you to shun cancel culture wherever you see it as it is the very epitome of silencing voices. But most of all, I encourage you to think for yourself and to use the liberty you have to express your own thoughts. <br />
<br />
You never know, your thoughts and opinions might not be a scary minority, even if the media tries to tell you that they are. But even if you do not hear many other voices like your own, if you're not you, what are you even doing with your life? Who are you? Speak up. The free society deserves it.<br />
<br />
Peace, love, and think for yourself, <br />
Ms. DaisyMs. Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626373614872274965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045993219562083384.post-21186517844554288022020-05-20T08:31:00.000-04:002020-05-21T10:06:00.392-04:00The Fear Factory'Ello lovelies! (Go back and try again in a British accent if you didn't do that the first time around.)<br />
<br />
What a year so far, amirite?<br />
<br />
It's been enough of a wild ride on the free-flowing, wavy scrolls of hoarded toilet paper, diving deep into the deepest depths of oceans of hand sanitizer for any of us to likely want to climb aboard the crazy train again any time soon.<br />
<br />
I am sure that many of us have had significant time to ponder and reflect on many new things (including - but not limited to - what you might trade toilet paper for and if you were going to be adventurous enough to make your own hand sanitizer from your liquor cabinet). There are a few things that I have been rolling over in my head and I thought to share one with you today. Are you ready for a ride into my brain? It's wilder than the life of a Costco toilet paper roll.<br />
<br />
I think that if there was one emotion that could be collected and weighed across all of humanity starting somewhere in late winter, fear would come in first place. In many of our lifetimes, we have never had to deal with something that had such a wide span, affecting so many all at once. One day we woke up and schools were closed. And then the next day, they were closed for the year (three months out). The next day, people were afraid of airports. The next day, people were working from home. The next day, we watched Italy singing from balconies, locked in their homes. The next day, we were locked in our homes and high fives and hugs were essentially declared illegal. The next, they took away baseball. The next, people started wearing hazmat suits and disinfecting their groceries.<br />
<br />
There is absolutely no reason that you could have ever gotten to a hazmat suit and a pile of $37 N95 masks that you burn inside out in your driveway on the way in and tossing your Rice Krispies into a bathtub of bleach without being completely terrified of something. Three and half months ago, if you would have done that, they would have called 911 and put you into a mental institution. Today, you're asked for your bleach concentration recipe and stared at for your tremendously stylish hazmat outfit.<br />
<br />
How did it get that way? It was that a lot of people truly believed the worst of what they were seeing in the media, and not only that - they believed it was probably going to happen to them and to their loved ones. Imagining dangerous things happening to you and your loved ones is probably one of the strongest catalysts for change and wild unnatural behavior that you could ever find on the spectrum of humanity.<br />
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As people dove in headfirst, the media felt the exhilarating rush of clicks. They upped the coverage. The clicks went exponential. The media stood in their quarantined offices with their fingers spread out to the sky, eyeballs flickering, purple-blue electricity pouring out of their wrinkled fingertips, voices suddenly strengthening, and erupting with, "No, no! YOU WILL DIE! Unlimited power!" while launching Samuel L. Jackson into the sky. In a few short moments of our life, all news turned into coronanews. In fact, in the first few weeks, I saw an infographic that showed the amount of times a word had been mentioned in the news. Ebola was in the millions over the course of the entire epidemic. According to Sprinklr, a company that tracks language and trends and helps manage social media images and brands, just on one single day - February 28 - 6.7 million people mentioned the rona on Twitter and on social media platforms.<br />
<br />
Personally, I am not one who likes to submerge myself into the news machine. I don't want to support the media getting ad revenue for their hysterical hype, leveraging the novelty of a pandemic to benefit themselves financially. As they play on people's vulnerability and panic, they push others into a downhill spiral, scouring the world to shock them daily with more terrors and horrors, digging up the most random one-off experience you wouldn't find unless you were on page 19 of a google search, and then making it front page news.<br />
<br />
I don't know if you noticed this, but it seemed that all of the media everywhere only had about six stories to pick from to broadcast on any given day. No matter what news outlet it was, they were all saying the same thing. It was like it was either completely lazy journalism (and I use that term very loosely) or otherwise a very united front to decide what stories were going to make it to your homepage. Those headlines would sit on top, ready to be gobbled up by the eager clicking masses who had barely just opened their eyes for the day, and then re-spread in various degrees across social media, infiltrating every crack and corner of life, giving people the Next New Thing To Freak Out About.<br />
<br />
(And then their cortisol levels from stress tanked their immune systems, and they worried more into a perpetual spiral, making themselves more vulnerable to the thing that they were most worried about. SLOW CLAP. Awesome job.)<br />
<br />
You can get people to do anything if you work up enough panic. Rational, thinking, level-headed people will turn to bleaching their cereal boxes, turning their masked faces 180 degrees away from other's in terror, afraid to pick up a box of pasta without a gloved hand. These small things are the proof that you can get them to do big things.<br />
<br />
This is the place that we stand and wonder at society. Where are you? Is it possible that the media may have their own interest in mind? Do you believe everything that you're told? How much do you question? What if you weren't afraid? Wouldn't you like to feel that way again? (I ask that knowing that there are some people who totally get off on panic, so even though it could be rhetorical, it isn't.)<br />
<br />
You know what? You don't have to watch the news. You
don't have to read the headlines. You don't have to know every gory
detail of what someone is putting out for you. You don't have to wake
up and throw yourself into panic and depression. You can just do your
thing. You can avoid any scrolling through facebook. You don't have to
open it up at all. You don't have to argue with those who disagree with you.
You don't have to read the news before you go to the grocery store.
You can just go. You can go outside. You can call your friends. You can smile at people at the grocery store and interact like they are a human being instead of the Black Plague personified. You
can refuse to drown in it.<br />
<br />
Do you know what happens when you do? You feel a lot better. You're not fueling people who don't have your best interest in mind. You're not giving them power over your day and your emotions, creeping into your subconscious, prying one thing after another away from your once much happier life. When something wild happens, you will be clearheaded enough to react appropriately to it, and not with a knee-jerk survival mode.<br />
<br />
I just thought that you should know that you're not obligated. Maybe you could try it for a day and see how you feel. Or don't. Whatever. It's a free country. Kinda.<br />
<br />
Peace, love, and take back your brain,<br />
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Ms. DaisyMs. Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626373614872274965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045993219562083384.post-76078826695308152702020-05-13T15:05:00.002-04:002020-05-13T15:05:14.419-04:00Watch Your Language: "Social Distancing"Hello lovelies!<br />
<br />
Have you heard the term "social distancing" before? If you haven't, it is likely because you've been in a coma for a couple months or have just flown down from another planet. Welcome, by the way! You've landed in the middle of a story nobody could have believed even six months ago.<br />
<br />
The first time I heard that phrase, I immediately thought, "That isn't the intention at all. They've missed it completely!" Isolation, yes. Physical distance, yes. But social distancing? No. Absolutely not.<br />
<br />
We are social beings and thrive in community with one another. That is why it is so harsh and repugnant in our souls to hear of those who have to live out a term of their life in solitary confinement (even though it may be warranted, we still furrow our brow at the thought of the experience). That is why when we watch movies and see the hero in a dungeon, our guts wish him or her out of there as quickly as possible. It is why the phrase "fomo" is a thing. It is why we do so much of what we do (yes, like shave - the poor razor companies never saw this coming, either). It is how new parents get through those first weeks without completely losing it. It is why when researchers study "blue zones" (areas of the world that have a population that lives significantly longer than the average), they find that they one of the main components of longevity and quality of life is connectedness to others. <br />
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Language is a very powerful thing. As some of you know, I have a Finnish heritage. Finland is a unique place - for many reasons. The history of Finland is rife with attempted takeovers from Russia and Sweden, both of those countries battling to absorb little Finland into their empires, nearly taking turns to do so at every opportunity.<br />
<br />
How did Finland withstand and persist in their own independence and freedom in spite of being attacked perpetually by much larger countries with much larger armies?<br />
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There are two reasons, and both are practical lessons for us today.<br />
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The first is <i>sisu</i>. Sisu is a Finnish word with no exact English equivalent. It embodies the philosophy and idea of persisting through what would have otherwise have been thought to be impossible, tenacity, grit, resilience, digging deep and defying the odds, and hitting the wall of what is thought to be possible, moving through it, and continuing to move forward, despite the physical and mental cries against doing so. It is often referred to as a "second wind" - when one is certain that they cannot go one step further or endure one second more, and gritting their teeth and sustaining it anyway at whatever cost. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simo Häyhä</td></tr>
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One of the most famous Finnish warriors was Simo Häyhä. In the Winter War against giant Russia (the Soviet Union at that time) that started in 1939, Finland began with ten working tanks against Russia's 6500+, 114 aircraft (100 of which were unfit for war), and 300,000 soldiers against Russia's 760,000. The soviets hoped to mop up Finland in a week or less, and with these numbers, they seemed that they had a good chance to do just that.<br />
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What the soviets did not have, however, was <i>sisu</i>. When the Finns realized the odds that they were up against, they did not back down. Instead, they dug deeper than ever to fight for their homes, for their families, and for the country and culture they deeply loved. Dressed all in white, Finnish daredevils on skis would deliver Molotov cocktails - glass bottles filled with incendiaries, covered in tar, lit on fire and launched - shattering against soviet tanks and destroying them one by one.<br />
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Simo Häyhä was a one-of-a-kind warrior, however. Instead of launching Molotov cocktails, he was a sniper. He preferred not to even employ the use of a scope on his bolt-action rifle (as the light from the glass may have given away his position), he shoved snow in his mouth so that his breath in the cold would not be noticed, buried himself behind a mound of snow, and earned himself the nickname "The White Death" from the soviets. In the four hours of Finnish winter daylight, he totaled more than 259 kills in just over 3 months. He was awarded a medal for his sniper kills (which lasted from November 30 to March 7 - when he was injured by being shot in the face and having half of it blown off. Spoiler: he lived - he regained consciousness a week later and lived until he was 96 years old.). In his personal diary found in 2017, he admits a much higher number of kills, counting over 500 on his self-titled "sin list".<br />
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Besides possessing immense amounts of <i>sisu</i>, Finland won those wars and preserved their independence and freedom by guarding their language. The Finns knew that any country that tried to overtake them would try to absorb their culture. When your culture is absorbed, you may as well consider yourself truly annihilated. In one generation, you can clear the whole of history - imagine traditions eradicated (like the sauna and ice swimming), and entire ways of life ceasing to be, only to be read about in history books and wondered over. <br />
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Finland knew that one of the strongest ways to preserve their culture was to tightly hang on to their language. Minority societies can be much more easily overtaken if they give up their language and allow for it to be lost to a majority primary language in the area in which they live. Language parallels power. We see examples even today - Norway and Sweden are (rightly!) fighting to push back on English as it has begun to overtake academia and business.<br />
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Language is the construct of our communication and shapes our thoughts. For this reason, we need to be careful and intentional in saying what we truly mean. <br />
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Do you truly want to discourage the aspect of socialization? Do you want to live in a way that is disconnected from your friends and loved ones? Do you intend to <i>socially</i> isolate yourself? That is what we imply as we regurgitate the phrase "social distancing". I know that it seems like a small thing, but perpetuating that rhetoric is having a tremendous impact on our mental state, our culture, and our way of life. <br />
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Have you ever seen so many people outside in the history of your life? What are they doing? What are they looking for? <br />
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They are looking for others. They are looking for connection. They do not want to be alone, isolated, and cut off from their tribe. They are looking for a smile, for eye contact. <br />
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I would encourage you to deeply consider your language as we navigate this strange event. We need others more than ever. We need help, we need connection, we need to feel support, we need to feel that we are cared for. Perhaps instead of using the term "social" distancing, we call it "physical distancing" or "physical isolation" or "separation". <br />
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You are not alone and you are not intended to be alone. You have your community, those who love you, and those who are on your "ride or die" inner circle list. Disconnecting from the human social fabric is not the new normal and it never will be. Reach out to your people. Even if you are physically separated, you are not socially removed. We are not going out like this. Hang on tight! Have <i>sisu</i>!<br />
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Peace, love, sisu, and sending ridiculous amounts of double-armed, tight squeezing illegal hugs,<br />
Ms. DaisyMs. Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626373614872274965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045993219562083384.post-67593320610621266972020-04-20T18:11:00.001-04:002020-04-20T18:11:49.425-04:00How to Increase Your Covid Risk of Death Tenfold<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I really did not want to write an article about covid. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The simple act of reading the word for a lot of people piles on anxiety and contributes to a disruption in mental health. The media has never talked about another issue as much as it has with this one; it is ultra-saturation overboard and I did not want to contribute to any of that. Most of the articles that are scrolled across are full of panic, fear, death, OCD-handwashing, isolationism, potential poverty, job loss, economic collapse, and political fights. It is no wonder that people are stressed out and on high alert, living around the clock in fight-or-flight mode. Something as simple and seemingly benign as a trip to the grocery store has people behaving as if every other human being is a threat to their life - strangers hiding behind masks, gloved up, and eyeing each other suspiciously or not at all. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As the weeks and months have crawled on at a snail's pace, we have thankfully been able to gather quite a bit of data regarding many things surrounding this issue to understand it a bit better.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I have recently come across some information that may be initially a little scary for some of you, but I intend to give you a workaround and provide you with some hope.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here's the thing, lovelies - we're not afraid of a regular virus. We're not afraid of the flu, we're not afraid of a cold. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We are, however, afraid of a virus that we think is going to kill us haphazardly. We don't want to die. We don't want our loved ones to die. We don't want to be a statistic. We don't like the thought that just going to the grocery store could end our lives. Many are paralyzed with fear that they could be carriers and kill of their parents, their children, and all the old people in the grocery store, out on the streets going for a walk, and all of our neighbors. What seems like a random chance of a very unpleasant death alone in a hospital bed is a nightmare that none of us want to participate in. Nobody wants to play Russian roulette with this.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is understandable. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But what if it's not exactly that way?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We have read the numbers about how it significantly affects the elderly population more strongly than the youth. This is still not a relief, of course, but with this we are able to see a pattern.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">New information is coming out that is showing an overwhelming and shocking link to the severity of covid with several underlying comorbidities.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Data from the first 2204 patients admitted to the National Health Service in Europe revealed that 72.7% were overweight or obese. That is an incredible number! This number speaks only of obesity, and not even of age. (Please note that this number is the percentage of those who were admitted to the hospital, and not of those who died.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Those with type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome have a <i><b>ten times greater risk of death</b></i> than those who are metabolically healthy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Because this virus strongly affects lung function, it is no surprise that a study from China found that smokers were <b>fourteen times more likely to get severe disease</b> than non-smokers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Other staggering comorbidities reflected that hypertension (high blood pressure) was a prevalent partner in those who were dying from the novel coronavirus. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">With only 12.2% of Americans metabolically healthy, how could this ever be hopeful?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It is hopeful because of something called nutrigenomics.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Nutrigenomics is the study of how our genetic expression is affected by the food we eat and how the food we eat affects our genetic expression. This branch of science, biology, and medicine offers a tremendous amount of hope to all of us, but especially to those who are living in fear of death by "the rona". </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here's the deal. Food is the language of our cells. Every single bite is information to our bodies. Every single bite delivers information that turns on or turns off genetic expression. Maybe you are among those who are suffering from type 2 diabetes or obesity - right now, your body has those switches flipped on. But it doesn't have to stay that way!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">When we think of making a difference in our bodies by changing our diets, many of us think that it takes months or years of nonstop suffering and kale to see effects. We think with targets out that far away, it's not even worth it - there's no hope. It will take too long and it will cost us too much joy. Weight loss may be something that does take a while, especially if you don't have a lot of testosterone and if you are over 40. But weight loss is <i>not the same</i> as genetic expression.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">All of this means that <u>you can do something about it</u>. It means that you can drastically cut (or increase) your risk of death by the novel coronavirus. It is not an unknown monster hiding in the closet. It is not Russian roulette. You have access to actions that can decrease or increase your risk of death. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Every single bite you take makes a difference. Every. Single. Bite. Within two weeks, your body will begin reflecting significant change in genetic expression. You may not see that in weight loss and you may not see instant toned abs and a six-pack, but at a level that you cannot see, change is happening and it is drastic. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Type 2 diabetes and obesity can be changed drastically with diet. It is a wonderful, glorious, and hopeful fact! It is not easy and there is no magic pill to take, but it will bring results that you will be thankful for. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If you find yourself in this position and you want to make change, I urge you to do a few things that will significantly affect your genetic expression, pushing you farther and farther away from risk in each bite that you take.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1. Only eat real food. </span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This sounds dumb, but most food in the grocery store isn't real food. I mean that you should be eating only fruits, vegetables, meats/fish/poultry, and very minimally processed dairy. You should not be eating food that comes out of a box. You should not eat foods that have bright colors. Eat food that grew on trees, grew out of the ground, walked on the ground, swam in the water, and is recognized in nature. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Cereal is not real food. Tortilla chips are not real food. Granola bars are not real food. At least, none of those are real food for this purpose. Eat only real food that you put together to make other food, not food that a factory made for you. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Yeah, I know. I lost you when I spoke disparagingly about tortilla chips, but since this is a life or death kind of thing, I'm going to tell it to you straight because you need to hear it and because you really can change your life.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">2. Avoid sugar and carbs like the plague.</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You already know this, especially if you have diabetes - sugar cranks up your levels like crazy and makes you get into a downward spiral for insulin sensitivity. That's the problem and that pushes you deeper into metabolic syndrome, type two diabetes, and obesity. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The other thing is that sugar destroys the good guys in your immune system and paralyzes them. That's the last thing you need when there is a psycho virus on the loose.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This includes liquid sugar (which is the absolute worst of all) - soda, juice, energy drinks, and coffee drinks that pretend to be coffee but are actually just dessert. It includes cookies, cakes, pies, candy, ice cream, and every single thing that you love. (I know. I'm just going for it all today, aren't I? Sorry, not sorry. I will risk hurting your feelings if it will save your life.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Bread? Nope. Not right now. Not for you. Pasta? Sorry, it's not on your team, either. I wish they were. I get it, I really do.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If you don't hate me yet, I'll get you with this - alcohol. You probably should significantly limit that, also. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">3. If you have type 2 diabetes, you should consider looking into intermittent fasting.</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">That looks like eating within an 8 hour window in a day. This helps regulate insulin levels significantly. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here are some things that you should be doing:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1. If you're not taking zinc, you're out of your mind and you need to get on that immediately. Research is coming out solidly showing how zinc works with your immune system to fight covid before it can even get in and cause damage. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">2. Drink your water. Hydration is huge for helping your body work optimally.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">3. Get outside and get vitamin D on your skin. This is huge for fighting this virus.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">4. Exercise at least 150 minutes a week. Go. This is not for vanity anymore. This is to save your life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">5. Take and eat probiotics. This includes naturally fermented foods like brined sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, kefir, miso, tempeh. You can also take it in supplement form. These not only help digestion and weight loss, they boost your immune system. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I know that many of these things are hard. I know that reading through this might feel like I am a huge jerk who is raining on every fun party that ever existed in the history of the world. I understand why you would think that - these changes are difficult! Not drinking wine and whiskey while simultaneously having to suddenly homeschool your children is for some a rather monumental task.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But lovelies, difficult is not impossible. You can do this. And with the risk that is out there, you owe it to yourself and to your family to have a fighting chance and to get yourself out of those categories that push you much closer to death.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Feeling out of control and hopeless is a very disturbing place to be. Certainly life comes with wild things and we cannot control everything, but with what we know and understand of this virus, there are some helpful things that can be done to mitigate significant risk.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Let us not panic. Take charge and do something about it. If you are concerned with the death rate, begin taking action that will separate you from being a person of high risk. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Do hard things. We're in this together and I'm cheering for your success.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You've got this,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ms. Daisy</span>Ms. Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626373614872274965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045993219562083384.post-29433370715104404142020-01-04T08:24:00.000-05:002020-01-04T08:24:35.238-05:00Locker Defense and New Year's ResolutionistsThis morning was the first time this year I had to defend my locker space at the gym, but I was prepared. It happened a few weeks ago for about 6 out of ten days. I came back from the pool intending to stash my wet swim bag and water bottle in the top locker to find that someone had put a lock on it.<br />
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THE HORROR!<br />
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Initially, I thought, "Surely this will not happen again. Who would want to stand in the same square footage as another person coming straight from the showers?" Alas, I was mistaken. Someone apparently did really want to stand on the same 1x1 foot square of ground as my very freshly showered self. It happened again, and then again, and again. I was significantly perplexed and disturbed as all of the other lockers in the section were empty and had no locks, and yet this person chose to select the locker that was directly above mine - the one I've been using for nine years almost every weekday. <br />
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**Side note**<br />
People who wake up at 4:50 a.m. to jump into a cold pool to swim for an hour to start the day and use the same locker for nine years in a row aren't usually people who are generally characterized as those who are laid back and go with the flow.<br />
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Obviously, I considered buying another lock and locking the top and bottom locker, but then I decided that probably wasn't necessary, and I could just spread out a bunch of random weird things in there that nobody else in their right mind would want to touch instead and solve the problem just the same. Since that day, I've tossed in an empty bag, shampoo, a towel to save the spot while I was swimming and today it paid off. <br />
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Today, I returned from swimming and the brass lock adorned the neighboring top locker. SAFE! WINNING!<br />
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(Although, still perplexed. Why do you insist on being this close to me? All of the other lockers are available. Personal. Space. Please. Thank you.) <br />
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Although moderately disturbing, this is not something that is new to the landscape of January at the gym. It is a magical thing that happens. In the last few weeks of December at the gym, the parking lot in the morning looks like a barren wasteland. You could do your entire workout plus cartwheels up and down the parking lot without any concern of being run over or killed. You could mimic the entire movie of The Sound of Music (complete with all dancing scenes) without bumping into a car. <br />
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And then it happens. The magical fairy dust of the calendar flips and the first working Monday in January bestows all gyms everywhere with plethoras of swarming humans in the exact places you have been for approximately the last 3,287 days. You turn the corner into the parking lot at exactly 5:19 a.m. (and 20 seconds) and make the same left and right turns as you have done for forever (so much so that you can do it in your sleep - and half the time you actually are still asleep), and then gasp in abject horror when you see that a non-authorized vehicle has taken your spot. Your spot - one row back and two places over from the lightpost - is being violated by a random car that you've never seen before. You close your eyes and breathe, reminding yourself it is too early to commit crimes. You see all of your friend's cars and they are all out of sorts also, scooched around like this is some kind of sick survival game.<br />
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But you are a survivor and you know what you must do - you must summon enough tenacity to bravely face what is ahead of you: the Return of the Resolutionists.<br />
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You sling your backpack off to one shoulder to beep yourself into the gym, saying hello to the front desk person who knows you by name. The man who walks toward you with his towel on his left shoulder on his way up the stairs to walk the track at exactly the same time every morning nods in your direction and you nod back. You glance at the elliptical machines and every single one of them is whirring as if we're trying to power the entire midwest from the output, and make your sharp left turn toward the locker rooms. You swing the door open and take the thirteen steps to your locker.<br />
<br />
FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS GOOD.<br />
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There is a lock there. There are a bunch of strangers spread out everywhere and you're trying to smile in a friendly way, but you have to squeeze past them, and you're really just trying not to cry from having to think about what to do next because you are not programmed to do so this early in the morning. <br />
<br />
You pull your coat and clothes off, grab your towel, swim bag, water, and conditioner, and lock up. You stand in the same place you do every single morning at 5:27, holding up the wall and saying good morning to your fellow teammates. They all are standing in the same place as they always do and arrive in the same order that they do every day. There are more people here today, though, and they are punctuating the open spaces that are there every other day of the year. The aquatics manager appears at the end of the hallway and all of us move in a Pavlovian manner to bend down and grab our swim bags. She arrives with the holy grail at 5:29 and 40 seconds - the key to let us in. <br />
<br />
You enter the natatorium and grab a kickboard and hop up onto the bulkhead to walk to your lane. And then the worst thing in the whole world happens - someone else that you don't know is standing in front of lane 4. Half of your soul dies immediately on the spot. You consider leaving, but remember that perseverance only comes through difficulty.<br />
<br />
All swimmers know that we swim in assigned lanes. You have a primary lane and a secondary lane. You would never swim in anything but those. You would never swim with people you don't swim with because you know exactly how the people you swim with swim. You know when they will turn, where they will push off the wall and how far over you need to be to not have a head on collision, and who is most likely to take out the back of your hand with a paddle on a long set, or swipe your butt on backstroke, and who you will 100% of the time one-arm duck under on a returning fly so you don't die. You know exactly what to do if they might lap you - you've choreographed it every day for years (Is it a wall pause with a foot grab or will you split until they pass? Will they pass you on the left or will you flip turn and go under them? And it will change if one of you is swimming stroke, so you know that, too.). You know who will split and who will circle. You know the pecking order and how to adjust for pulling and IM and a sprint set. You know the hundreds of nuances of swim etiquette and who leaves 3 seconds early instead of 5. <br />
<br />
As a result of the invader, everyone is bumped around and the Not Very Laid Back people are pretending we can be flexible, but now we don't even know how to swim anymore and are considering giving up on life in general or starting a war in the middle of lane 5. Two of the very vocal people are making statements aloud that you only barely thought of in your head. <br />
<br />
Somehow - thankfully - we survive the day. And the week. Barely. But not without deep trauma.<br />
<br />
Soon enough, equilibrium will return. Until it happens again next year.<br />
<br />
Peace, love, and chlorine,<br />
Ms. DaisyMs. Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626373614872274965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045993219562083384.post-76249410062561001282018-05-14T12:03:00.002-04:002018-05-14T13:51:10.308-04:00expectation is the mother of disappointment<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10Fyl03SZQmfTN72D8meDkGlfsreA1q9tKaKwgTHbF66M7iryLYo578wLALLSEPt0xEVsmatg7VVFrSogYpMDSVCDN8KGatHvnTxpGY_e-CSrPHx8sOoJxJqc_03TmBwZ07LHsUwo-qx7/s1600/broom+comfort.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="282" data-original-width="500" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10Fyl03SZQmfTN72D8meDkGlfsreA1q9tKaKwgTHbF66M7iryLYo578wLALLSEPt0xEVsmatg7VVFrSogYpMDSVCDN8KGatHvnTxpGY_e-CSrPHx8sOoJxJqc_03TmBwZ07LHsUwo-qx7/s320/broom+comfort.gif" width="320" /></a>I don't know if that is a quote that Socrates already claimed, but over the last week or so, that thought grew and bloomed into what I am guessing is going to be some kind of vital pithy saying that I'll throw out there every once in a while (mostly for myself, but for days that I am waxing eloquent it could also be shared with those feeling like a bag of crap - pardon me while I pat you on the back with this broom).<br />
<br />
Quite frankly, I don't suppose it is something very comforting. It basically blames that disappointed person when they already feel quite terrible already. I do not like this aspect, but I think if you can walk around that to the other side and examine this under logic, you can hold it to prevent at least some future disappointments.<br />
<br />
If you think about it, when you have no expectations, you really won't be disappointed in what comes out of life. If you can perceive it in this way, you can almost be an amused bystander as things happen to and around you.<br />
<br />
I am generally an optimist. I do not find any joy or use in approaching life with a dark curtain pulled over it. I don't see this as helpful, except in rare instances that feel like they will upset the very balance of my entire being, and in that case, I will purposely imagine the absolute worst possible scenario so that whatever does happen, it is sure to either meet or exceed my expectations in a good way.<br />
<br />
What I am about to suggest to you is going to sound depressing, but I can assure you that if you take a good look at this, it actually yields pleasant results.<br />
<br />
<br />
Here is a dreadful example from my own very exciting life.<br />
<br />
A couple months ago, I was preparing for a speaking engagement. I had been doing some over the winter with good success - I was meeting a lot of people I didn't know and getting great feedback. I went to a new venue and had to do my own marketing and promotion (gah, horrible). <br />
<br />
I figured I could pull in maybe like half a million tremendously interested people who would be basically shoving each other out of the way and risking being trampled like it was Black Friday at Best Buy. I imagined my books selling out and basically becoming a millionaire while famous people asked me if I'd like to sign up for either becoming the next greatest comedian or someone who should have an honorary doctorate at Harvard for my groundbreaking presentation skills and information.<br />
<br />
The day was going to be great. I had my outfit picked out, my sister and friend were going to help me with admission and book sales, and I was looking forward to being able to hold a microphone (BECAUSE I LOVE MICROPHONES). Early in the morning, a friend told me he couldn't make it. Sometime in the afternoon, I got a text from a friend saying that she couldn't make it that night. A half hour later, I got another text from another friend saying the same thing, but for a different reason. An hour later, I got another text with the same message. After person number 6 or so, I still had a very optimistic outlook. It was fine - they have things going on or they are not well, it will work out, plenty of other people will still come and it will be fantastic.<br />
<br />
I mean, facebook said it would. Just LOOK at all of those people who say they're coming! It will be great.<br />
<br />
We scurried around and set up the room and the tables and the projector and my laptop and the microphone, the books were set up, the clipboard with the names of people who were coming were on it, ready to be checked off.<br />
<br />
Although there were hardly any people there, I figured they must be coming later. They're just late, lots of people are late all the time. I'll start anyway because I said I would start at 7:00 and I will. I walked to the front of the room and looked out at the audience.<br />
<br />
Terrible news and spoiler: I was not about to become wildly rich and famous this night. <br />
<br />
This was when it hit me. In this audience were a pile of people related to me (thank you), a few people who must have just felt sorry for me but wanted to support me, and a very small handful of others.<br />
<br />
<i>This is it? This is it! Oh holy crap.</i> <i>So, I put in all of this work for nothing? I'm not even going to have enough money to cover the cost of this room. This is unbelievable! </i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTg9sGnNjQ2fLAvBeFZCG7E9s39MkDlJPjmm2u92JleCFuCTrxKELSY_6grzD7jzi8V1x5D6mifYRTtIuZYrLnuueuxMLhh4OB7fsxqWQlxJVQJSBI9-YVafpqWxtyeAiO5MQZUghyphenhyphencx2E/s1600/so+mad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="484" data-original-width="466" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTg9sGnNjQ2fLAvBeFZCG7E9s39MkDlJPjmm2u92JleCFuCTrxKELSY_6grzD7jzi8V1x5D6mifYRTtIuZYrLnuueuxMLhh4OB7fsxqWQlxJVQJSBI9-YVafpqWxtyeAiO5MQZUghyphenhyphencx2E/s320/so+mad.jpg" width="308" /></a></div>
<i> </i>And then, the blind rage and insatiable fury welled up inside from the depths of my soul and I could barely see straight. I am not sure because I have blocked it from conscious memory, but I think the only reason I got through the first fifteen minutes of that presentation was because I was reading slides like some sort of unsocialized seventh grader who had to do the first public speaking presentation of her life but who really preferred to spend most of her time hiding in books or under tables or perhaps, more suitably, rocks.<br />
<br />
Now, I don't know about you, but what made this exceptionally worse was that this failure got to be full blown in front of my family, who now would be permanently scarred with the embarrassment of having to be related to me FOREVER MORE, who really must be dying to sneak out to the bathroom in a nonchalant manner, but then just run full speed out to their cars, drive to the nearest bar, and get black out drunk at the thought that this was a branch on their own genetic chain and there was nothing that they could do about it except conveniently forget to invite me to the next family reunion and sharpie my face out of every picture ever taken with them.<br />
<br />
After the first fifteen minutes, when I had begun to accept my distressing and unpleasant fate, I began talking to myself instead of listening to myself. <br />
<br />
<i>Now you listen here, missy. You stop this nonsense right now. Suck it up, buttercup. I don't want you to express one more second or iota of this blind rage out of your face that you are experiencing because even though apparently tonight you are not going to become wildly and insanely famous, there are still people in this audience who deserve for you to take a cliff dive out of your own head and give them the information that you promised, and without the boiling ears and the facial expressions that are basically plain as day written on your face that you are going to go on a psychotic spree immediately at the conclusion of this presentation. Whether you like it or not, you are going to stand up here for the next 45 minutes, and even though you would like to throw the microphone across the room and go bananas, that is not going to happen. There must be ways that you could prevent this from happening again, so you will fix this later, but for now, rub some dirt on it and do this.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
While this was undoubtedly the worst presentation I have ever done in the history of my life, I did learn some things from it and was reminded of other things I knew before, namely that:<br />
<br />
1. You can't take anything personally - you have to have thick skin for being in front of people and if you want to achieve anything of any worth at all.<br />
<br /><i></i>
2. People flake. If you've done direct sales, you live with this on a daily basis. Expect it, it's not personal.<br />
<br /><i></i>
3. Asking people to pre-register is a better idea than crossing my fingers and hoping people will show up.<br />
<br /><i></i>
4. Being a wildly successful and famous person takes more than five minutes of effort. Unless you're that kid yodeling in Walmart.<br />
<br /><i></i>
5. Remember why you're doing what you're doing. I got into health coaching and writing because I wanted to help people. I really wanted to be able to help them change their lives. I was tired of seeing people suffering from preventable issues and not getting answers or feeling that they are heard regarding their chronic health issues and lack of energy and brain fog from who they were dealing with in the medical community.<br />
<br />
6. Some people have really good advice, even when you don't want to hear it. <br />
<br /><i></i>
It took the gentle words of dear people to help me to be able to pick this up and look at it again without wanting to scream, and without feeling judged as a complete and utter failure in all aspects of life to walk through this and try to make change for the next time around. <br />
<br /><i></i>
The next speaking engagement I did was wonderful and vividly reminded me of why I do what I do. I walked in without expectations, telling myself that the people who would show up that night are the ones who were meant to be there - whether there were 3 people or 300, they were the ones who were supposed to be in my circle that day. They were supportive of each other, asking questions and helping each other. We made connections and laughed and learned from each other. I walked in thinking that I am here to help, and I will help in every way that I can. I walked out having connected with many other people, making new friends, and with opportunities to expand my business and to genuinely help other people.<br />
<br /><i></i>
Oh. Yeah. How about that.<br />
<br /><i></i>
Our lives are saturated with things that we might not prefer, but if we can back up, there is space to look at things through a different perspective. Although my situation is embarrassing and makes me want to erase it from the hard drive of my memory, I shouldn't - it is a place for me to learn something. I hope that it could be used to help others to learn the lesson without having to go through it. <br />
<br />
We are not alone in our disappointments. They fill our days. People will fail you and not be who you want them to be. You will find yourself in places you wish you could rewind and do over again. In this, I've been thinking about a very well-known passage in the letter that the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth - you've likely heard it, it's about love. It says that you can do all of these heroic deeds, like letting yourself be burned as a martyr, to selling every last possession you have and basically living like a monk in a hair shirt, but if you don't have love, you're nothing. You've basically wasted all of your efforts. You could be the most amazing understanding genius and be a person who possesses all faith, but you will gain nothing. It goes on to say that love endures all things and love bears all things. <br />
<br /><i></i>
Here it is directly: <span class="text 1Cor-13-1"><span class="chapternum"></span> </span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="text 1Cor-13-1">If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.</span> <span class="text 1Cor-13-2" id="en-ESV-28651">And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.</span> <span class="text 1Cor-13-3" id="en-ESV-28652">If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.</span><span class="text 1Cor-13-4" id="en-ESV-28653"> Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant</span><span class="text 1Cor-13-5" id="en-ESV-28654"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;</span><span class="text 1Cor-13-6" id="en-ESV-28655"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.</span> <span class="text 1Cor-13-7" id="en-ESV-28656"><b><sup class="versenum"> </sup>Love bears all things</b>, believes all things, hopes all things, <b>endures all things.</b></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
So let me encourage you to bear all things and endure all things. When people are idiots, you can bear all things through love. When you wish you could sell them down the river, love endures all things. When your life is so stupid and you would like a reset button, endure all things. When things are not going the way that you had hoped and are so far from the things you wish for, bear all things. These things have been done for you already. You have been the idiot. You have been the one who should be on a raft floating down the river. <br />
<br />
I mean, good thing you aren't right NOW, I mean, that was before. We are clearly fixed of all idiocy at present. <br />
<br />
(Literally just wait five minutes and I'll have another story on tap. Don't you worry.)<br />
<br />
Peace, love, and endurance,<br />
Ms. Daisy <br />
<br />
<br />
<i></i>Ms. Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626373614872274965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045993219562083384.post-38082352082103560652018-02-15T23:12:00.000-05:002018-02-15T23:12:11.698-05:00on volatile dehumanization<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYD0duuxD1MTr-LdwB2lCeTdWozJYmX7YwVTvYC-0NqNE1Vlp3vlNRok1IrdWns9Ojg4NHS053DnLgeUM3KYr0AMjv3q5-RxMQd1vG6yeoT1-DDcH97cJpOW-PpKhNyJPHTORhN4DGCl8/s1600/dehumanization.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="491" data-original-width="447" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYD0duuxD1MTr-LdwB2lCeTdWozJYmX7YwVTvYC-0NqNE1Vlp3vlNRok1IrdWns9Ojg4NHS053DnLgeUM3KYr0AMjv3q5-RxMQd1vG6yeoT1-DDcH97cJpOW-PpKhNyJPHTORhN4DGCl8/s320/dehumanization.jpg" width="291" /></a>We stand at the junction of two paths. Floods of people are going to the left, floods are pouring off to the right. They are convinced they are going the right way.<br />
<br />
They try to prove how right they are and they start by yelling at the other side, telling them how stupid they are. This (remarkably) doesn't seem to convince them, so they dehumanize them, writing them off as less than human (maybe like 3/5?) and suggesting that they are a scourge on humanity and need to be disposed of.<br />
<br />
Then strangely - I'm sure it's not at all connected - there is an uprising of violence. This isn't a time to connect and see why or what caused it, it is a time to shift more blame, stand taller on the soapbox, and to yell louder. This is advanced and successful communication. <br />
<br />
The horrors of the past are filed under the fact that those old timers were ignorant. They were slave traders, not seeing others as human. They were greedy little pigs, seeking gain for themselves, running others over, letting nothing get in their path. They were awful in their push for more land, dehumanizing the native people, raking them over the coals into a trail of tears. They were influenced by old ideals and they do not resonate with us. <br />
<br />
But we are faced with it now - it's not just relegated to our history. It's here, saturated in lust as people are bought through the sex trade and human trafficking. It is saturated in a hunger for power and land conquest. (Does this story seem new to you?)<br />
<br />
The ship is sinking and we're arguing about the curtains.<br />
<br />
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do you remember how to have a conversation?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you remember how to listen?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you remember how to disagree without
hate?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you keep your passion without
losing your mind?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you hold an idea
in your hand and turn it over intelligently?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Can you respectfully return it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Can you use social media and remember that there are humans on the other side of your flippant words?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyaQBJRwPFUb-PfX38CumR3k0-LDeiEaeYU8jhE1xMOowez-neGwylDnJ8DCaJOWUE_kUZ9qzdhabCDIRFwVH1qYMfQcNuJwzD4LDr7tqBAsyGUGZ3uMNfAUqMgcJZH674fmPF9xcj0TIg/s1600/humanity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="274" data-original-width="471" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyaQBJRwPFUb-PfX38CumR3k0-LDeiEaeYU8jhE1xMOowez-neGwylDnJ8DCaJOWUE_kUZ9qzdhabCDIRFwVH1qYMfQcNuJwzD4LDr7tqBAsyGUGZ3uMNfAUqMgcJZH674fmPF9xcj0TIg/s320/humanity.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">The people on the "other side" are people. When you treat them otherwise, <i>you</i> are the slave trader, <i>you</i> are the one standing behind the Cherokee mother, swaddling her baby, poking her to keep moving west, <i>you</i> are the one buying a half hour with someone's daughter, chained to the bed. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Every atrocity could only be committed because the psychology allowed for another group to be seen as less than human, as idiots, as maniacs, as ones to be subdued, as worthless, as a waste of space, as disposable trash.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">You stand on the dark side of history when you participate this way.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">You were made with intelligence. You were made with compassion. You were made for connection. You were made to use your talents to love and serve others, not to amass a tiny, temporal kingdom. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">It does not mean that you must bow out of the conversation. You have a voice that ought to be heard. In order to hear, you really ought to listen. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Every idea that isn't yours isn't a personal attack. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Every belief someone holds that isn't reflective of your own is not a pointed insult.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">There is so much poison out there. You can drink it. You can make more of it. You can spray it all over your house, your land, your children, and bathe in it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Or you can retain your intelligence with magnanimous poise and nobility, genuinely listening and seeking to understand. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">You will be written into the tapestry of our history for future generations. Which side will you be standing on?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Peace, love, and get it together,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Ms. Daisy</span></div>
Ms. Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626373614872274965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045993219562083384.post-86764315740211069192018-02-09T17:28:00.000-05:002018-02-09T17:28:01.676-05:00Coconut Elvis Granola and Evil Canola OilYou may already know this, but I am not a superfan of cereal. Most of the time I feel like it is a little bit of a worthless thing, but that is because it is mainly marketed as something you eat for breakfast and it is (usually) loaded with sugar. I am a strong advocate for eating something savory in the morning (after your 16 ounces of water, obviously) as it sets the tone for your palate for the rest of the day.<br />
<br />
But.<br />
<br />
Sometimes you hear something that just inspires you. I used to eat cereal. Growing up, that was breakfast. If I was lucky, it was going to be Lucky Charms (with as many marshmallows as I could possibly get). As I got a little older, I thought I would refine my tastes with muselix or granola. You know how that is - it's the fight in your mouth. The challenge of the hard clumps that cut the top of your mouth - really, I've heard it said that there's nothing like it to wake up to (except maybe a good set in the chlorine).<br />
<br />
Because I never buy it, my children think that it is Christmas, their birthday, and Superbowl Sunday <i>all in one</i> if we have cereal in the house and they end up acting like they are some kind of deprived and starving animals and eat it for dessert and the $6 box is gone in a day and a half. (Well, that was worth it. Not.)<br />
<br />
Today is some sort of snowpocalypse and everyone is out of their minds. People aren't going to work; children aren't going to school. Instead, they are playing video games, skiing, and going to trampoline parks. <br />
<br />
This was the day that the granola was destined to be made.<br />
<br />
I had a recipe from a friend that was called "<a href="http://www.eatliverun.com/elvis-granola/" target="_blank">Elvis Granola</a>". Out of all of the people I know, this friend is the all-time world champion of granola eating, so I knew that it was going to be legit. This "Elvis Granola" contained peanuts and chocolate, so even though it was basically dessert, I figured it was worth a try, even if that try was going to actually be dessert and not breakfast.<br />
<br />
There was only one problem.<br />
<br />
The original granola recipe called for canola oil. Excuse me? Canola oil? No. No way, José. As if I would use poison in my recipe! <br />
<br />
What's my problem with canola oil? Well, first of all, approximately 90% of canola oil is made from genetically modified ingredients and sprayed with Roundup (glyphosate - made by Monsanto). <a href="https://cen.acs.org/articles/95/i27/California-list-glyphosate-carcinogen.html" target="_blank">Glyphosate is a known carcinogen</a>. That looks like a bunch of cancer all over the place. I'll pass, thanks.<br />
<br />
The other problem that I have with canola is that it is inherently modified. Canola oil wasn't invented until the 1960s in Canada, and it was invented because of a demand for a cheap oil (olive oil had a price point that was too high for manufacturing of faster foods). It was derived from the rapeseed plant (within the mustard family). Using it as rapeseed oil without hybridization led to a host of issues mainly because of its toxic levels of <a href="https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/erucic_acid#section=Top" target="_blank">erucic acid</a> (which can also be found in other members of the Brassica family, but has high concentrations in rapeseed and canola), like blistered lungs and skin. <br />
<br />
Good news, though. It is used to make paint because it will adhere to wet metal, which is great for ocean vessel applications. Mmm, practical AND tasty.<br />
<br />
By 1978, chemical companies figured out how to get the erucic acid levels lowered a bit so that we could escape the pesky business of lesions on lungs and other problems, and so they could market it to manufacturing as a cheap alternative. <br />
<br />
In 1995, the brilliant scientists found a way to inject the DNA with a bacteria so that it could be resistant to Roundup, making it possible for farmers to spray mass amounts of Roundup on their fields, killing all of the weeds, but the canola plant would survive. Genius? Yes. Diabolical? Probably.<br />
<br />
Canola oil is highly processed and also very reactive to heat, light, and pressure, causing oxidation. (That means rusting in your body. That means premature aging and degenerative diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's, dementia, and WRINKLES.) When canola oil is heated, it produces high levels of butadiene, benzene, acrolein, formaldehyde and other related compounds. Have you heard of any of those? Yeah. Poisonous carcinogens. Awesome.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0271531796002564" target="_blank">This study</a> shows the unfortunate side effect of how canola oil decreased levels of vitamin E so drastically that some animals died. (They supplemented vitamin E to see if and how that would help.)<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, back in the kitchen, I decided that I would sub out the toxin for coconut oil so that when my offspring saw homemade granola and decided to go on a wild binge, I wouldn't be contributing to their early deaths.<br />
<br />
Here is what I did instead. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Coconut Elvis Granola</b></i></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNd_tB5FgoBBQvBC7vGKgbU2kDmAkQH2zq0MKM4gkrNax-UKyfI0fKNu-bbZcFQp3z__dcjeYoW-HDS_IMxaplU8mkqH9_BD6WPWEpbZdS9n0RpVetOLQNfzblrHYAhyq3fIJ5zf_7KfkG/s1600/IMG_20180209_154108261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNd_tB5FgoBBQvBC7vGKgbU2kDmAkQH2zq0MKM4gkrNax-UKyfI0fKNu-bbZcFQp3z__dcjeYoW-HDS_IMxaplU8mkqH9_BD6WPWEpbZdS9n0RpVetOLQNfzblrHYAhyq3fIJ5zf_7KfkG/s400/IMG_20180209_154108261.jpg" width="300" /></a><b>Preheat oven: 275 F.</b><br />
<br />
<b> </b>Mix these guys in a pan: 1/4 cup organic coconut oil, 1/3 cup maple syrup, 1/4-1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Stir. Cook a few minutes until you think it isn't going to do anything different. <br />
<br />
While that is simmering, get a big huge bowl
(Pyrex for vintage feels) and dump in: 4 cups organic oats, 1/4 cup
ground flaxseed, 1/2 cup unsalted peanuts, 1/2 cup sunflower seeds. Mix
it all up.<br />
<br />
Dump the warm liquid into the dry crunchy. Mix all over until everything looks so happy.<br />
<br />
Pour onto two stainless steel (seriously, do not give yourself Alzheimer's with the aluminum baking pans) baking sheets and spread out.<br />
<br />
Bake for 20 minutes, rotate pans, bake for 20 more minutes. You may need a little longer than that, but check it at the 40 minute mark.<br />
<br />
Let it cool. Add a bunch of non-soy dark chocolate chips. I like Enjoy Life brand because they don't have any allergens. This is how I made it the first time, but I would add shredded coconut to the final mix because dark chocolate and coconut are bae together. It would benefit the overall flavor to double the peanut butter and make it 1/2 cup instead of a wimpy 1/4.<br />
<br />
I did not eat this for breakfast, and I won't because I am an egg and toast kind of girl, but it is an amazing dessert. I poured it over my organic, grass-fed, whole milk plain yogurt and ate it until I thought I might make myself throw up. Moderation? I doubt it.<br />
<br />
If you try it, let me know how you like it.<br />
<br />
Peace, love, and actual granola,<br />
Ms. Daisy<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHY8p9UMwnwXaCl8Ueqqcc6iQf3ryHYQc0Il0cbN8KzRbQyOs2BAWHs2_VmfZtgpFi0edTvtZau7XvmrInhVi74U6S_f345UvDDg94sYTSvWuv9Tg5YrMagUe1XOwfPY9nAIojuzUoIdvh/s1600/IMG_20180209_125829484_BURST001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHY8p9UMwnwXaCl8Ueqqcc6iQf3ryHYQc0Il0cbN8KzRbQyOs2BAWHs2_VmfZtgpFi0edTvtZau7XvmrInhVi74U6S_f345UvDDg94sYTSvWuv9Tg5YrMagUe1XOwfPY9nAIojuzUoIdvh/s320/IMG_20180209_125829484_BURST001.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLND5kao1M5q7HHwxiiM22gm5iiTvRjvXOrmh69P6_IcDZnRsviYMyOi65_rv9FQ2FwwfMslGo8NiWIk6D3Y-xDjOVDENCEzrjRAP9w6-utC98FyJI-G-GMQcEZ9wLNcBuPsYgli_LLuh/s1600/IMG_20180209_125953735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLND5kao1M5q7HHwxiiM22gm5iiTvRjvXOrmh69P6_IcDZnRsviYMyOi65_rv9FQ2FwwfMslGo8NiWIk6D3Y-xDjOVDENCEzrjRAP9w6-utC98FyJI-G-GMQcEZ9wLNcBuPsYgli_LLuh/s320/IMG_20180209_125953735.jpg" width="240" /> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0S2eJGUCdabO63wIFZWFQ_RBl11AnY_HyaHUtbhcE_BaXASIZnX8qjvGjwrDN49esf-0IJ-ghZ24PbkOrPJMoyGSN4Qi9nnTZGPh3HrLHlTf_SN7PAFUMiz7-TiqjEmDljy7DazGTYIRi/s1600/IMG_20180209_130210262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0S2eJGUCdabO63wIFZWFQ_RBl11AnY_HyaHUtbhcE_BaXASIZnX8qjvGjwrDN49esf-0IJ-ghZ24PbkOrPJMoyGSN4Qi9nnTZGPh3HrLHlTf_SN7PAFUMiz7-TiqjEmDljy7DazGTYIRi/s320/IMG_20180209_130210262.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Ms. Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626373614872274965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045993219562083384.post-67853280191927987222018-01-01T12:49:00.000-05:002018-01-01T12:49:17.498-05:00Weight Loss on the Winning TeamWell, lovies, we've made it. 2017 has been cleared off of our plates and we're here with a fresh start, a new calendar waiting for you, blank, and ready. The first day of 2018 greets us with the promise of new hope, dreams, and aspirations. Will you focus on self-improvement, sanctification, connection, your health, being intentional and present, dropping addictions, loving more, enjoying your littles, learning something new, or a combination of all of those? <br />
<br />
Or perhaps you resolve to not make resolutions. You've failed in the past and you aren't about that useless nonsense of flipping a calendar and waving a magic wand, hoping that you will magically change into someone new. You know yourself well enough to know that change comes slowly, and not because it is tradition when the Gregorian calendar tells us so. <br />
<br />
Whatever camp you find yourself in on this day, perhaps you are like many of my clients and friends who find themselves not quite <i>exactly</i> where they'd like to be physically after the head-on collision they've had with the holidays. It all starts so subtly. An extra bag of candy from the grocery store at Halloween because they've got a 2 for 1 sale slides quickly into the eating frenzy and near bake-off of Thanksgiving, which careens us smack into Christmas and Hanukkah, at which point we have given up on the voice of moderation because "it's the holidays" and we'll deal with that later, but now is the time for enjoyment!<br />
<br />
Ah yes. Enjoyment. January 1 comes and that luster of "enjoyment" looks like you staring at yourself in your mismatched plaid pajama pants, gazing disgustedly at your puffy face, your unshaven bits (PSA: Hey guys! It's time to shave those beards! No, seriously - the homeless look is now officially out of vogue - unless you're a millennial, then whatever, man, go back to your microbrewery in the basement. We won't bother you while you so creatively express yourself.), and a pile of glorious lumps you have somehow managed to acquire over the last few months. You look aghast, wondering if it is the lighting or if, please God no, let me not <i>really</i> and <i>actually</i> be this hideously ugly.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ofsljUAUdlc/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ofsljUAUdlc?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<i>Okay, that's it. I'm not going to say it to my friends or on facebook, but bruuuh, I have got to do something. </i>And so it begins. You start to reel it in just a little because you know you cannot go on like this. <br />
<br />
But what will work? What will bring the success that you crave? (Hint: It's not taking my locker at the gym.) <br />
<br />
Will it be to swear off cookies for the rest of your life? Will it be to sweat it out on the ellipitical for three hours a day everyday for the unforeseeable future (a.k.a. until Valentine's Day when they have candy hearts and boxed chocolates for sale)? Will it be to make chard sandwiches for breakfast to punish (I mean, reward) yourself?<br />
<br />
If you even have an inkling about the nature of our complicated brains, you will know that these things can only work for a short time. They are not sustainable (especially the chard sandwiches - right, Court?). We are desperate little creatures sometimes and we will resort to absurdities to climb out of our panicked states.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMRUgifw-R2V4Sf5NBYOv4Fc0rvf-E8RhTVTIzGARFgNsesZx169Kvzhb85ztUhmsd8wjO3SiLJa3153s3U0YmcGdSVlWDi5xzed3E2YJIltkgEiMfovccncUXirz5yxxbH1oHYcTCK38z/s1600/JustOneThing_3d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMRUgifw-R2V4Sf5NBYOv4Fc0rvf-E8RhTVTIzGARFgNsesZx169Kvzhb85ztUhmsd8wjO3SiLJa3153s3U0YmcGdSVlWDi5xzed3E2YJIltkgEiMfovccncUXirz5yxxbH1oHYcTCK38z/s320/JustOneThing_3d.jpg" width="213" /></a>I am not all about that cray cray thang. I believe in making sustainable change slowly, and making it a lifestyle (want more? Hint: YES, YOU DO. Check out my book on Amazon: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Just-One-Thing-simplifying-lifestyle/dp/1543298494" target="_blank">Just One Thing: Simplifying the Mystery of a Healthy Lifestyle</a>. You can snuggle it on your pillow or frame the cover and hang it on the wall. Blow it up to poster size and put it next to your mirror with a speaking bubble that says, "YOU CAN DO EEET!" Or just read it. Any is fine.). I want you to be able to actually enjoy your life with a cookie, but not be a slave to the sugar god. I want you to be able to look at something (even though it looks completely delicious) and shrug and be able to say,<i> you know, right now I'm just not feeling it. </i>Contrast this with the feeling of you holding that third cookie in your hand, biting down, chewing, and thinking, <i>I don't even really want this. What am I doing right now?! </i><br />
<br />
What works? In my health coaching practice, there is one thing that brings a glowing highlight of attention to what is going on in your life, and where you can study yourself to make good and lasting change. It isn't exercise (although you ought to exercise). It isn't swearing off foods exactly.<br />
<br />
It's a food journal.<br />
<br />
What?! Yes. A food journal. Let me propose something to you. I know it may seem wild, but just hear me out. I believe that there is a potential that you may have slight cognitive dissonance between what you think you are eating and what you are actually eating, and you won't be able to bridge that gap until you put it in black and white and see for yourself.<br />
<br />
My awesome clients have come back to me with amazing revelations. They see that they are desperately in love with tortilla chips. (This is actually a recurring theme among many of them. Read: YOU ARE NOT ALONE.) They see that they are eating about a micro-ounce of protein all day and it suddenly dawns on them why they feel like they got hit by a truck and have energy swings like a cross between a Nanny 911 toddler and your 16 year-old self raging through a tornado of severe PMS. They see that they are surviving on McDonald's and coffee during the day, cheese and crackers for dinner, and three bowls of ice cream before bed. They realize that they are drinking a lot more junk than they thought they were (whether that is the poisonous Coke Zero or Tito's vodka or vanilla caramel lattes from Starbucks). <br />
<br />
You can do this old school - pen and paper. You can get an app. (And if you do, for the love of all that is good, do not bother tracking your calories. Counting calories is so Jane Fonda era. What counts is that you're eating real food.) You can do it throughout the day. You can do it at the end of the day. You know what will work for you. I also recommend that you write down a few other things in your food journal: how much sleep you got the night before, your overall mood (on a scale of 1-10), if you took any vitamins that day, and your stress level. Those things will give you a broader picture of what is going on in your life and how your body is responding to things. <br />
<br />
Exercise is great and has many benefits for mental health, brain plasticity (by creating BDNF), preventing Alzheimer's, dementia, and increasing overall good mood, but it will not erase and repair your five donut a day habit. Food is first. In my personal guesstimate, I'd say that weight loss is 85% your food and beverage choices and 15% exercise. Exercise comes to tone up the flabby. Exercise is how you get that solid six-pack, but you won't even find that six-pack if you buried it under six layers of bagels and Pop Tarts. Hear me: I do want you to exercise, but I want your exercise to be effective. It is a lot easier to keep something up when you are actually hitting goals and making change than when you shovel ice cream down your pie hole and put yourself back ten steps. You're fighting yourself and that is a losing battle, no matter how you look at it.<br />
<br />
I want you to win for 2018. I want you to smash goals. If you're still breathing, you life isn't over. Your race isn't finished. It is not time to give up. You've got stuff to give. You were put on this planet to do something, to help others, to give your talents to change the world. That is a lot easier to do when you have energy, a clear brain, and a body that works optimally. No, it's not everything. Your eternal soul will long outlive your shell, but what you do here and now makes a difference for eternity. Embrace it and go get it.<br />
<br />
Peace, love, and let's do this!<br />
Ms. Daisy <br />
<br />
p.s. If you'd like to work with me and have someone come along side of you and cheer you on and guide you toward your goals, get in touch with me. It is an honor to watch people grow and change and become who they have wanted to be. I'd love to help. (Send me an email and connect with me: energeticwellnesscoaching@gmail.com) I do Skype as well as in person programs.Ms. Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626373614872274965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045993219562083384.post-54685825155022006802017-10-17T15:45:00.000-04:002017-10-17T15:45:11.239-04:00maybe not me, too.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuOXHdUtM3bZq3XI4KNCgKopaqeBpw5An3yZdRxVrMCKEvraTa-aRiNUjhQMtn9X3tBh5RsE8RHx9rYtq7T2s5UTbl4ibs5Cm9zUk8wS_opu7ITNTf7yzEyoEbVoxiBtuluonDBeBrvyi/s1600/metoo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="133" data-original-width="449" height="94" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuOXHdUtM3bZq3XI4KNCgKopaqeBpw5An3yZdRxVrMCKEvraTa-aRiNUjhQMtn9X3tBh5RsE8RHx9rYtq7T2s5UTbl4ibs5Cm9zUk8wS_opu7ITNTf7yzEyoEbVoxiBtuluonDBeBrvyi/s320/metoo.png" width="320" /></a>Perhaps you have seen it on facebook - the horrible "me, too" on your female friends statuses, a mark signifying that they have been (in some way) sexually assaulted or harassed. <br />
<br />
The first time I saw it, my eyes widened. Oh no! My poor friend. I thought, "How bold of her to stand out in the face of rape. She is brave!" And then I saw another, and another, and another, and another, and another. My sad face emojis were everywhere. What on earth!<br />
<br />
After seeing about fifteen of these statuses, I thought, "Wait, am I mistaken? Am I understanding this clearly? Are all of these people saying that they have been raped?" Or is sexual assault not rape? In my head, assault is a violent and brutal action taken against someone. Defining it further by explicitly calling out "sexual assault" is the equivalent of rape in my mind. <br />
<br />
But maybe they are focusing on harassment. Maybe they have lost their job or felt threatened that they would by a male co-worker or boss. Maybe it's like those 70's movies where the dude is grabbing people's butts and pinching them and winking at their secretaries. I have never seen that in person, but maybe I'm not in that culture or maybe I'm just an oblivious moron.<br />
<br />
So I thought about it. By the grace of God and his mercy, I haven't been harassed and I haven't been sexually assaulted. Maybe because from my sophomore year in college until I got married, almost all of my friends were male and they were a barrier to the bad guys. My brothas from anotha motha stood by me and kept an eye on me and any guy I dated knew that I had a pack of homeboys who would step up and pay them a visit with a baseball bat (if I didn't do it first) if a situation warranted it. It was never needed; mercifully, I didn't date guys who crossed the lines I drew. <br />
<br />
But the truth is, I do have a few friends who were raped and some who were molested, and the actions of those men are deplorable and horrifying, but that is not the vast majority of my friends. This is not to be discounted. The men must be called to account and justice ought to be served to them. What of the masses saying otherwise, though? What is going on?<br />
<br />
Perhaps the definition of harassment is wider in the minds of the rest of society and I am unaware. Maybe they don't mean just rape. Maybe they are including when a guy yells out his window at you that you're hot. Maybe they're including when you walk into a grocery store and a guy mumbles something to you. Maybe they mean when a guy walks over to you because he thinks you're good looking, calls you beautiful, and gives you the extra money on his expiring gift card to pay for gas because his tank is full and he can't use any more. Maybe it's the vast and interesting collection of weird stalkers you have that they are tossing into the pile. Maybe it is the honks and yells you get when running and biking. Maybe it's when a guy lets out a loud and exaggerated swear word with his buddies as he looks you up and down as you pass his table in a restaurant trying to make your way quietly to the bathroom. (Simma down nah, dawg.) Maybe it's the guy at Costco who writes the line on your receipt and tells you that you have the most beautiful smile he's ever seen and he says he has seen a million. Maybe it's the guy who takes your fingerprints and tells you that your scent is oh so pleasing and relaxing (no, my patchouli just reminds you of smoking down, bruh).<br />
<br />
Here's the thing, and don't kill me for thinking this way. In order for me to truly feel harassed, I have to own these things. They have to get under my skin, they have to bother me, they have to define me, and they have to make me a victim to the whims of weirdos. Weirdos are weird, and they can keep it. I don't absorb it. What they're saying is on them, not on me. I do not feel victimized and I'm not a victim. I am amused at their oddity (and I'm glad I smell good, to be honest). They have to live with their weird little selves and their wild swears. I am doing my own thing and it doesn't include them. They are a blip in the day and they're gone. If I can avoid them, I will, but if I can't, they are nothing to me. <br />
<br />
I don't want a culture where the appropriate men are terrified of speaking to women at all. That's idiotic. Say what you want, I have enough sense of self to keep your opinion outside of me. We're on this planet and we need to work together. We all have our quirky ways. If you individually offend someone, let them tell you, and fix it with that person. Some people are more sensitive than others. Yes, you need to not be a total bonobo, but for the love of all that is good, let's work this out one on one and not blanket society with the thought that all men are rapists and all women have been raped. Men are not all evil. (Well, they are because they are inherently sinners, but I don't mean that if you have three legs instead of two, you're a vicious predator.) Women are not victims. <br />
<br />
I am thankful for the good men in my life - from my high school and college homies to the husbands of my friends, to the bros at church to my fellow athletes in the water and in the sport of triathlon, to the many males in my family and even the random strangers who have helped me in crisis - you are good, quality homies and I luh you. They bring admirable qualities to my world that I very much look up to. I am concerned that they are being demonized because others are total butthead sociopath jerkwads. If speaking out for what is right is what we're after, then I am here to speak up for them. I hope that their character speaks for itself to all they are surrounded by, but in case they are only seen as a male power-hungry potential rapists, I want to stand in the gap for them and say they're not all like that. They're not even mostly like that. The weirdos are few and far between and they are the glitches in the gene pool.<br />
<br />
For those who have been assaulted, there is no excuse for those men. You are precious and they are wrong. They have something wrong with them, and you didn't deserve it - not under any circumstance. I am sorry that it happened to you and I wish you would have been protected from that situation and from them. If I could reach you, I'd give you a hug, and then I'd like to find them and blowtorch their faces off. They are horrible humans, and I'm sorry you experienced their depravity in that way.<br />
<br />
Peace, love, and hugs,<br />
Ms. Daisy Ms. Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626373614872274965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045993219562083384.post-35178282477149579782017-07-11T14:28:00.000-04:002017-10-17T14:28:46.132-04:00eau de chlorine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
up in the morning<br />
while it's still dark<br />
bathing suit pulled up<br />
put the car out of park<br />
drink a bunch of water<br />
and off to the pool<br />
quiet down the expressway<br />
man, swimmers are cool<br />
trudge in the locker room<br />
unpack lock, shampoo, towel<br />
if you take my locker<br />
i promise you a scowl<br />
good morning to the usuals<br />
lined up and ready to go<br />
fifteen minutes of warm up<br />
then we start the show<br />
75s, IMs, maybe a few timed swims, <br />
all out, for time, just don't quit <br />
kick sets, pulling,<br />
and get after it<br />
3000 yards later <br />
you put in an hour<br />
crawl out of that pool<br />
you earned your shower<br />
you didn't wake up to be average<br />
at this time of day<br />
you're characterized by amazing<br />
in every way<br />
there's a fight inside<br />
every swimmer's heart<br />
and sometimes butterfly<br />
is a work of art<br />
so get up and push it<br />
do what you need to do<br />
be super amazing<br />
<br />
i admire youMs. Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626373614872274965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045993219562083384.post-32986730630059757042017-05-09T22:10:00.000-04:002017-05-09T22:14:15.288-04:00Facebook Breakup (again)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Social media is quite the thing, isn't it? If you're not in the mix of it, you're what the rest of everyone would deem as either lucky, crazy, or just busy with other things. Personally, I have a love-hate relationship with social media (mostly hate, but whatever...well, except for Instagram. Instagram is bomb.), with hating facebook at the top of the list.<br />
<br />
Why do I jump in and out of it? Why do I do this to myself?<br />
<br />
Quite frankly, I always hate it, but sometimes I participate in the madness because I need it for business. It's hard to be able to reach ~500 (or however many) people every day otherwise. You can toss something out and get a good response almost all of the time because the people in your tribe want to support you and help you. When I ask for help, they are there to back me up. When I am feeling hilarious and like I need to get on stage, I pop on and say the funny thing I heard that day and then yay, oh yay, I get the laugh face. I love the laugh face.<br />
<br />
But what is the cost? I'd say about one gajillion billion pounds of wasted time, energy, life, and motivation. I scroll through that sucker like nobody's business sometimes because for crying out loud, if you miss that your friend had a death in the family, you are going to be an insensitive jerk. And what about the people who are having health problems? You want to be there to support them for that.<br />
<br />
To be honest, if you think about it, most of it is not that - most of it is people writing the ten concerts they went to, the meowquiz (or whatever it is), the passionate politicos, and pictures of people's children (playing soccer/football/baseball/etc.), dogs, coffee cups, inspirational quotes, and dinners. (Don't get me wrong, I love pictures of dinners. I will stop and look at that, no joke. I'll be analyzing it...hmm, you think that was cooked in avocado oil? Is that a Teflon pan? For heaven's sakes, these people are using a Teflon pan. Do I say something? Do I compliment the food and then tell them it would have tasted better in a cast iron pan? Am I seriously looking at a picture of someone's dinner for like three minutes right now? Good thing this isn't a waste of time...)<br />
<br />
Then there is the fine line between what you can say and what you can't say. Do you want to be all political? Do you want to be obnoxious? Do you want to be hilarious but potentially offend people? So then what can you say? Am I going to have a boring page of saying nothing? I can't bear the thought of that, but I don't really want to offend my friends, either. Can I say what I want but in a way that won't offend them?<br />
<br />
Okay, okay, okay, this is getting a little out of hand. What if I just have it to comment on other people's pages? What if I just kind of hide in the background and randomly comment? You know what, I'm not a hide in the background and randomly comment kind of girl. I'm more of a let's-see-if-this-crazy-thing-can-be-worded-so-they-know-I-still-love-them-while-I-say-something-totally-bananas. Yeah, that's still a time waster.<br />
<br />
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<br />
So, I'm out. I am on the facebook fast. I've purged it from my life. It's nice, I have to tell you. I don't have to check it, I don't have to wonder. I don't have to think, "Did anyone think that little girl who can't stand slow walkers was awesome? Did I get like 99 likes or what? Are people congratulating me at finding such a winning video? Are they reposting it because it is literally the best video they have ever seen in their life?" (Which, BY THE WAY, that video was seriously the best ever. Watch it. Are you type A? This was you as a child. In fact, this is you now, you just know how to conceal it better. No joke. This kid is my hero.) <br />
<br />
I apologize to all of my dear friends who have to roll their eyes and my ups and downs with social media. I know, I'm sorry. It's tedious and horrible to watch someone go in and out of a relationship like that, but I really can't help it. Sometimes it just must be done, no matter the longing and call it puts out to you.<br />
<br />
Yes, at first it's hard. It's like, wait, what do I even do when I go to the bathroom now? Slowly but surely, you can find coping mechanisms to deal with the new changes. They are hard and you don't like them, but since you've committed to the change, you have to just bite your lip and get through it. Thank you, sisu. (There are harder things in life. There are things that make you wonder if you really want to wake up in the morning. Dumping facebook should not be one of them.)<br />
<br />
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<br />
Do I miss it? I miss the connection, yes. I really do. I miss how easy it is to get in there and find someone to reach out to. People are posting funny things and some need the kind of help that you provide. That's the hard part. Not being able to swoop in and be that hand for someone. (Although, if you're reading this, please, just call me. You know I'll help you.)<br />
<br />
But on the other hand, just imagine your level of productivity. In fact, I have to tell you something. I got down to ZERO emails in my inbox as a result of this change. I'm ahead in all of my work, and I even attended a PTA meeting, where I gave my opinion on not letting teachers have traditional desks (thumbs down - are you trying to kill them?). <br />
<br />
Have you ever thought of it? Have you ever wished you could just give it all up and ditch social media entirely? It really is possible. It's the fastest way to lose 1000 pounds, or at least that's what it feels like.<br />
<br />
I dare you to try.<br />
<br />
Peace, love, and Luddites,<br />
Ms. Daisy<br />
<br />
p.s. Just because I'm gone doesn't mean I don't love you. I do. You know I do. xxMs. Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626373614872274965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045993219562083384.post-758903648683595332016-11-09T15:24:00.000-05:002016-11-09T15:24:20.013-05:00a letter to my progressive friends in the wake of the electionMy dear friends,<br />
<br />
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I've been up and down the newsfeed today and I've seen it all: people rejoicing, people unfriending, happy dances, profile pictures changed to all black, people thanking God, and people asking the question, "Why?! How could this happen?"<br />
<br />
If you really want to know and understand, I will take a stab at it. My voice doesn't speak for everyone, so take it with a grain of salt, but I'll make an attempt to show you what's going on on the other side.<br />
<br />
I'm caught in the juxtaposition of landing between all of these things because of my own beliefs - I'm a third party person at heart, but I run in the circles of the blue and the red and I have a glimpse of the pulse of both.<br />
<br />
Here's the deal, my progressive friends, and it comes down to a few things - first, you have to understand that some people just really <i>really</i> hate Hillary and would prefer to elect Kermit the Frog and Barney the purple dinosaur over her. When they see her, they have a visceral reaction. Her very face causes them to roll their eyes. You know, like how you feel when you see Trump? Yes, like that. They hate her for many reasons - they hate her because she is establishment, because she behaves like she is above the law, because she is entangled in murders, and in human trafficking children. If they're really passionate in their disgust, they hate the way she laughs, they think she is not medically fit for the job, they hate it when they hear reports of how her aides are treated, being lashed by her sharp vulgar tongue (Yes, I know, your blood pressure just went up and you started listing the offenses on the other side. You have that right. I'm just explaining. Don't get upset. Or do, it's up to you. I'm just trying to lay it out for you to understand.). They hate her stance on late-term abortion, they hate how she would undermine freedom by seeking to remove personal protection from people's homes, they hate how she picks fights with Putin - and in doing so, in their opinion, is seeking out World War 3.<br />
<br />
I heard an interesting poll result last night when watching the beginning of the results. The anchor on NBC said that out of the undecided voters, when it came down to it, they chose Trump two-to-one over her. This should speak volumes about the fact that many people didn't necessarily want Trump, but they just absolutely hated Hillary that much.<br />
<br />
Other people who voted for Trump not only disliked Hillary, but they actually loved Trump. I know, you don't get it. But here is why they did: he is the real freakin deal. Because of the way that he spoke (albeit in an unpolished, crass way), people related to him. He was finally not someone who was going to bow to the establishment. He said things that you're not supposed to say, but that are things that may be overheard at a backyard barbecue. He says what he thinks without filter, so people trusted that because he didn't care if you liked him or not. He brought himself in full form, and some people ate that up. They liked his policy, they liked his guts.<br />
<br />
I can hear you now - the racist, homophobic, etc. comments are not okay! I actually think that 89% of Trump supporters agree with you. But they also believe that he's not racist or homophobic. (Don't stroke out, just listen.) You point to the idea of building a wall as the very epitome of racism, but Trump supporters are looking at the other side of it: nationalism. Protection of what is ours in these United States. That is the methodology by which they believe we can uphold nationalism, and a viable solution. It's the angle. You can take it from either side.<br />
<br />
The mainstream media expressed themselves last night in shock and horror, but many of their comments were shockingly derogatory - blanketing that the majority of his supporters must be from rural areas, must be white uneducated men, and must have showed up in droves. They could not wrap their brain around that anyone could like him, but that is because they are not listening. I do not live in a rural area, but I'm not in the middle of the city, either. I'm in the burbs, and in the town in which I live boasts a very high percentage of residents with advanced degrees, with a median income of $87k annually. I drove up and down the streets, and the majority of what I saw were gigantic Trump signs. I saw a few Clinton ones, but far less than those for Trump. This city is also proud of the fact that we have residents from all over the world living here. If the pollsters would have called this town, I feel that they may have had different feedback than what they were getting elsewhere.<br />
<br />
This is part of what it comes down to - many of the people entrenched in the media are surrounded by people who are just like them. They did not take the time to seek out opposing viewpoints, and they didn't listen. They were shocked when they saw states coming in for Trump. I was not shocked at all. I asked them, "Where were you? Where have you been?" <br />
<br />
I know this seems unfathomable to you, but the feeling you had in your guts this morning was the same feeling that many people felt 4 and 8 years ago. Just as you are ready to count down the days until he will not be President anymore, people have been counting that for Obama since he got in.<br />
<br />
What does this mean? I think it means we need to start listening to each other. Yes, in anger we can say accusatory things - and I have heard plenty of those statements today. A vote for Trump has been said to be a vote for hate. I think that is true - that people hate Hillary that much.<br />
<br />
So that's it. That is what I understand. I heard a lot of you shouting in the dark and I couldn't stand it. <br />
<br />
Don't give up hope, dear people. We're in this boat together. Hug
your people, do your thang. It's going to be all right. We're
America. Remember the Olympics? We're on the same team.<br />
<br />
Unless you're moving to Canada, I mean.<br />
<br />
Peace, love, and no matter who you are, I am pretty sure nobody expected this result today,<br />Ms. DaisyMs. Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626373614872274965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045993219562083384.post-3186323482906028662016-10-22T13:23:00.000-04:002016-10-22T13:23:13.769-04:00me vs. wafflesI woke up this morning happy. I saw the sun dancing through the leaves (despite the fact that it is fall and they are turning to yellows, oranges, reds, and browns); the chill outside of the blankets was not totally intolerable. I was thinking about the blessings of the lovely people who are braided into the tapestry of my life and I decided that nothing could stop me. Nothing could kill my happiness, not even my nemesis. The unspeakable would not thwart me today. I stood strong and spoke my intention firmly, you shall not succeed, you will not beat me. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgxlmpNjPFSa6fezclZZgcIpThhoe7VLTNRrKrrjViYSkol2RRVU-MK82v5idorqsGL48rtVMltUPPaUMJ1S-j4FEV0rBrsP5KrRAPmTul22b8TW5-hikAJP_qfmFYC4Xt9PeLiwA7ehI2/s1600/sisu+definition.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgxlmpNjPFSa6fezclZZgcIpThhoe7VLTNRrKrrjViYSkol2RRVU-MK82v5idorqsGL48rtVMltUPPaUMJ1S-j4FEV0rBrsP5KrRAPmTul22b8TW5-hikAJP_qfmFYC4Xt9PeLiwA7ehI2/s200/sisu+definition.png" width="200" /></a>I was going to make another attempt at waffles.<br />
<br />
No, this may not sound like anything to you, but that is because you are normal. The way that I make waffles is nothing short of being considered some sort of minor life event near worthy of marking it down in an online diary (ahem, like this). As you can imagine, I am certainly not going to open some box of waffle mix and throw that onto some poison non-stick Teflon plug-in waffle maker. That would be way too easy.<br />
<br />
When I make waffles, it has to be a well-thought out, conscious decision. The challenge that I am about to take on could quite possibly flip my switch from happy to irate in under an hour. It is with this in mind that I summon sisu, pull up my big girl panties, throw on my Wonderwoman tank top, and get after it. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVY4zNwB4yvtclUmuOF00SeiZkA_KumFPlvFzP8dfcWwLOyfyxoDyMGOBetqdwZ7R8tzoMYYD8A6q__KFWMhiLi_Zz5jtIoLtZQp7_d9Wf2qXkJLr-1_iQRRHGQM5cJvW4gHqFolH5Zo4t/s1600/waffle+maker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVY4zNwB4yvtclUmuOF00SeiZkA_KumFPlvFzP8dfcWwLOyfyxoDyMGOBetqdwZ7R8tzoMYYD8A6q__KFWMhiLi_Zz5jtIoLtZQp7_d9Wf2qXkJLr-1_iQRRHGQM5cJvW4gHqFolH5Zo4t/s320/waffle+maker.jpg" width="320" /></a>I want to eat as real as possible - it just tastes better, and you get a lot more nutrition. This may seem slightly more complicated, but that's not where the challenge lies. Grabbing eggs from the chicken coop and using a grain mill to make my favorite blend of flour brings a level of satisfaction that I don't consider a bother at all. Instead, the challenge comes from the tools that I have decided to use, and the resulting mess that is nothing short of legendary.<br />
<br />
Let me introduce you to the very impossible cast iron, stove top waffle maker. It's small, maybe 8" in diameter. The very useless and poorly thought out handle is about 4" long, which is just the right size for you to burn your hand even with an oven mitt on. I bought it online, which is great for a better price, but is a bummer because it was not seasoned. (The rest of my cast iron collection was purchased at antique stores - that is the way to go.) This is where things get complicated. Impossibly hot cast iron short handled waffle makers over fire combined with unseasoned insides and sticky batter makes for an interesting form of frustration.<br />
<br />
It is with this in mind that you must use a bit of science (yay, science!) to have at least one successful waffle out of your gallon of batter. The first waffle on this waffle maker is a bust; quite frankly I don't even pretend to hope anymore, although it has been so long since I have made waffles (due to this frustration) that a dim hope dared to spring up inside - fear not, it was quashed the moment I opened the waffle maker to check its progress.<br />
<br />
The science is simply this: use a crap ton of coconut oil all over the inside of the waffle maker (even though the recipe has ONE FREAKING CUP of butter and you would think that perhaps just by that fact, it may not utterly fail - but you would be mistaken) - so much coconut oil that every person in the house comes up to you individually and asks you if you are also making popcorn (no). <br />
<br />
My family knows the history of these waffle challenges and they used to have quite a pile of negative responses when the waffles weren't working. <br />
<br />
Kid 1: Mom, are these burnt? I don't want any burnt stuff on my waffle.<br />
Kid 2: This one is kind of falling apart, Mom.<br />
Husband: Maybe you should just get a waffle maker like your mom.<br />
<br />
Hey, I have an idea! Maybe you all should just shut up.<br />
<br />
But now because I have shut down all waffle making for at least a year (no soup for you!), upon the announcement of "I am making waffles today", I received nothing short of accolades and positive reinforcement.<br />
<br />
Kid 1: Wow, Mom, that sounds great! I am so hungry!<br />
Kid 2: I bet these will taste great, even if they are falling apart!<br />
Husband: You're making waffles? (pause - was it in fear? I'm not sure.) Oh, I was hoping you would!<br />
<br />
I pulled out my mom's recipe that requires separation of eggs and the folding in of stiff-peaked just-layed-this-morning egg whites (because go big or go home, right?), milled a perfect blend of oat, spelt, and winter wheat flour, melted a cup of butter in the cast iron pan, and crossed my fingers.<br />
<br />
First waffle: Seriously. What even the heck is this. No really, what is this? Gooey mess conformed to every freaking crack on both sides of this burning hot cast iron mess. Separate the two sides, scrub down over the sink with a brush. Start over. I had a feeling you would be a fail, but this is of epic proportion.<br />
<br />
Waffle #2: Add coconut oil to the top and bottom of the waffle maker, watch the oil ooze out onto the stove when you flip it over. Add batter. Set timer. Holy crapola, man. No. It's bad, but not as bad. Re-scrape. Kid #2 enters and remarks, oh, that's okay, Mom! I know it looks crumbly, but I'll eat it. I bet it tastes really good. God bless you, child. Take this from my sight and never speak of it again.<br />
<br />
Waffle #3: Add even more coconut oil to the top and bottom of the waffle maker. Scrape the waffly bits from the cracks and crevices. Cross fingers. Pour batter, set timer, flip. Burn hand only slightly. Watch as the melted coconut oil mingles with the rebellious crumbles of what was supposed to be a waffle around the gas flame on the stove. Pray that you do not burn down the kitchen. Waffle 3 is a better success than the first two, and I am gaining hope.<br />
<br />
Waffle #4: Add so much coconut oil that you think that just by standing here in front of this, you're absorbing it into your skin. Imagine showering with a Brillo pad. Watch the stream of melted coconut oil pour all over the stove when you flip the waffle and burn your hand (yes, even with the oven mitt). Watch how the oven mitt seems to catch fire while you're wearing it, if only for a second. Muse to yourself that cooking is an adventure. Have the first successful looking waffle peel from the sides of the ridiculous waffle maker, start thanking Jesus aloud for this unexpected mercy.<br />
<br />
Waffle #5: Look into the Costco-sized vat of coconut oil and be impressed with just how much you've used, and then use a lot more. Pour batter, set timer, watch as the simmering crumbles of ex-waffle dance in the puddles of coconut oil beneath the waffle maker, surrounding the gas flame. Make a mental note of where the fire extinguisher is. Begin thinking through the step-by-step plan of how on earth this is ever going to be cleaned up. Waffle #5 peels off without a challenge and children are coming up to cheer me on. You did it, Mom! Look at that! I'm too happy about it to be bothered with what must be (on some level) patronizing comments. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6oeprBjNDpxj0C6qHfmCPhH20S6h_JuOkglIriYDUFSRvWwZMF0VZ9wmuGiR22RFxTIjspOPPxQI-DZaH2rvp3gi9btlLLp4ePTtji1w3up3PkyYxHv9JV9fwA4tncoyppDq4jcm2B-C/s1600/wonder+woman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6oeprBjNDpxj0C6qHfmCPhH20S6h_JuOkglIriYDUFSRvWwZMF0VZ9wmuGiR22RFxTIjspOPPxQI-DZaH2rvp3gi9btlLLp4ePTtji1w3up3PkyYxHv9JV9fwA4tncoyppDq4jcm2B-C/s320/wonder+woman.jpg" width="252" /></a>Waffle #6-10: Use even more coconut oil because this is the only thing making these stupid things not glue themselves to the side of the pan, give up on the thought of ever not having the kitchen looking like some weird tropical hurricane sped through here on its way directly from a waffle factory. Amuse yourself with the steady cheers of the peanut gallery who are singing the praises of your waffle-making skills like you just simultaneously painted the Mona Lisa and won the Olympics and the lottery. Decide that maybe this isn't so bad...<br />
<br />
Until you finish and start cleaning it up. Good thing I have Norwex.<br />
<br />
It was a heck of a fight, and it was a close one, but I'm sure I won this one (like a good kick set).<br />
<br />
Peace, love, and pass the butter,<br />
Ms. DaisyMs. Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626373614872274965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045993219562083384.post-70672156912577688282016-09-21T10:30:00.000-04:002016-10-22T13:35:30.613-04:00My letter to summerDear Summer,<br />
<br />
So this is it, huh? You're going to slide out just like that? Don't you know how much I love you? I know. I get it, you have to leave. The whole world spinning on it's axis and going around the sun thing really makes it quite inevitable, doesn't it? If I could change it, I would.<br />
<br />
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Fall is nothing compared to you. Fall is a big bucket of crapsauce. All I hear is people raving about their freaking pumpkin spice lattes and their hoodies and college football and I am bewildered, wondering if they've ever even spent ten minutes on a beach in their favorite pink bathing suit. Do they not think of the smell of the grill, of the nights you can walk outside in shorts, the sun still setting late in the evening, making it seem that all is well with the world? Do they not know of the summer constellations that are spied in the dark, quiet, early morning before the sunrise? Can they not feel the hot sand between their toes and smell the coconut scented wonders? Have they so easily forgotten the runs while the sun sets, casting the spectrum of colors throughout the cloudless skies from one end to the other? <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj47EW93JVqitED4pqxSyz5N1DiIrADLcnQTy-TpZT4UC8KSTMDS0jLI00v_lJAZIWaWFp0NK6c6d0cfC3sz3zT5NQ-MdEWa8ngKyojCMQ5YVHTvIBZZAimfD8W4DxP_LCfouD1ZzNncSfv/s1600/summer+grilling.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj47EW93JVqitED4pqxSyz5N1DiIrADLcnQTy-TpZT4UC8KSTMDS0jLI00v_lJAZIWaWFp0NK6c6d0cfC3sz3zT5NQ-MdEWa8ngKyojCMQ5YVHTvIBZZAimfD8W4DxP_LCfouD1ZzNncSfv/s200/summer+grilling.png" width="200" /></a>Maybe they don't see it. Maybe they don't understand how long a year feels to get back to those days. Maybe they didn't go outside enough to appreciate it. Maybe they ate too many s'mores and have brain damage now from the neurotoxic mercury in the high fructose corn syrup. Maybe they're just weird.<br />
<br />
As for me, I'll accept it quietly, determinedly, stately, bravely (and miserably). What else can be done? I will squint my eyes at the ever present sights of you leaving me - the awful leaves falling from the once beautiful trees, life turning brown, numbing, and monotonous. It's work from here. Raking, shoveling, parka wearing, and climbing halfway into the dryer just to be able to try to take the chill out of your bones again. And let me be perfectly clear, a clothes dryer is a pathetic substitute for the heat you feel from basking underneath the glow of the summer sun. <br />
<br />
I'll miss you. I miss you already. I suppose moving to the southern hemisphere may be a little drastic to meet you again, but if I'm being honest, I'd have to say I've contemplated it.<br />
<br />
I can hear them now, "But without winter, you can't appreciate summer! Think of the earth resting and all the growth in the future!"<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFhrk1Wo6bI-L8xd4k74bVYsoW-Kq4frpc-OHfXhJfT7ShyphenhyphenIbm_VU8D9gUNvVwKD6rmwKxln9VxJR0qMILn9gDuXcxxDIEYZqGPurE2KimUlNwfPwNOjqxwoqNR6TlsOBbXgNCqVKr2xmc/s1600/summer+sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFhrk1Wo6bI-L8xd4k74bVYsoW-Kq4frpc-OHfXhJfT7ShyphenhyphenIbm_VU8D9gUNvVwKD6rmwKxln9VxJR0qMILn9gDuXcxxDIEYZqGPurE2KimUlNwfPwNOjqxwoqNR6TlsOBbXgNCqVKr2xmc/s200/summer+sunset.jpg" width="200" /></a>I respond unapologetically and resolutely with an incredulous furrowed brow, "Shush up." Inside, I say more than that, and exponentially more colorfully. This is no time to wax hopeful.<br />
<br />
They chime in again, "But the hoodies! And the donuts! And the upcoming holidays!"<br />
<br />
You literally might as well stab me in the face with a blowtorch. Those all sound horrible and make me want to gouge out my own eyeballs with a spork. I hate donuts. And bah humbug (for good measure). Do you <i>not</i> know what sunshine is? Honestly. What is wrong with people?<br />
<br />
(It probably has something to do with their lack of Vitamin D or something. Perhaps they have SIBO and their gut-brain connection is wacked. Maybe they need nootropics. Maybe their water is so fluoridated that they have become apathetic to even the most basics of the joys in life. Maybe they have no good flip flops or sundresses to enjoy. Perhaps the chemtrails have finally gotten them. The possibilities are freakinendless.)<br />
<br />
Sigh. It was nice, though. I never take the sunshine for granted. I love you, and I think of you always. <br />
<br />
Peace, love, and muster all the sisu from the depths and the parkas from the closet,<br />
Ms. DaisyMs. Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626373614872274965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045993219562083384.post-7490162060088676702016-06-17T11:50:00.000-04:002016-06-17T11:51:24.920-04:00The time my bladder revolted: the struggle is realI don't know how it started. I don't know why. Maybe I should have listen to Karen and avoided the pond? (Karen, I LOVE THE POND.) I'm not sure. What I do know is that my bladder was angry. Angry like an old man in the sea. Or something. It was pretty angry. 10/10 ticked off.<br />
<br />
Initially, I paused for a moment in life and looked up like a question mark was floating in a pillowy cloud above my head. Is my bladder hurting? It kind of feels like it's hurting. Meh. I probably just need to drink more water. Okay. Let's do that.<br />
<br />
Fast forward to two days later. Okay, folks, this bladder is getting seriously ticked off. I need to do something. A few sprays of silver ought to do the trick.<br />
<br />
Oh, wait! Maybe you don't know. Are you one of the millions of people who are responding to this fascinating path of thought with, "Why didn't you just go to the freaking doctor?" Yeah. About that. So, I don't really go to the doctor unless one of my limbs is laying in a bloody pile on the ground or I can see an organ coming outside of my body. These haven't happened (yet), so I've been doctor-free for quite a while. The rest of the crap I take care of myself. Strep throat? Got it. Sinus infection? On it. Cold, flu, etc. No problem. I love the challenge! BRING IT ON.<br />
<br />
I can hear you already asking me why. Really? Okay. I'll tell you two reasons why: <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Rcy2jPgHkuBgc9vOnmpBs_SPlcJW4r1bZ0pXe8AXr7zeuubMF1u4Wt_7MJFBKNvm7c3zxyJ7fIblPJ47RzHQZdnGpJ2X99QWzte6inbS5Gxi23xO2I179fSAR5YGqIlhyUlYOAlCdgFz/s1600/doctors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Rcy2jPgHkuBgc9vOnmpBs_SPlcJW4r1bZ0pXe8AXr7zeuubMF1u4Wt_7MJFBKNvm7c3zxyJ7fIblPJ47RzHQZdnGpJ2X99QWzte6inbS5Gxi23xO2I179fSAR5YGqIlhyUlYOAlCdgFz/s200/doctors.jpg" width="200" /></a>1. Iatrogenesis is the <a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2000/07/30/doctors-death-part-one.aspx" target="_blank">3rd leading cause of death</a> in this country. What's iatrogenesis? It's when you get correctly treated by a (conventional) medical professional AND DIE. This does not include being misdiagnosed, under or overprescribed, given different pharmaceuticals accidentally, getting your liver cut out instead of your gallbladder, or any of those things. This is death by traditional and correct Western medical treatment. Only cancer and heart disease are in front of correct medical treatment. No offense, but this doesn't inspire tons of confidence for me, especially when I've found a pile of herbal and crunchy ways that work without side effects.<br />
<br />
2. Antibiotics are pure Satan. They kill off your entire gut system. New stuff is coming out on the horizons of discovery finding that there are more bacterial cells in your body than there are human cells. Nope, you didn't even hear what I just said. Let me say that again. There are more bacterial cells in your body than there are human cells. Antibiotics nuke the whole thing, the good, the bad, the helpful, the ugly. Take those billions and make them ground zero. 70-80% of your immune system is in your gut. Nuke the crap out of that while you're there. Your endothelial layer is compromised and destroyed by antibiotics, allowing a break in that beautiful one-cell layer thick puppy, and then you have a host of horrible going on in your entire body (think intestinal permeability, a.k.a. "leaky gut" syndrome). You contribute to the rise of the "superbug" by joining the masses and jumping on the antibiotic bus. There's stuff out there that has become resistant to all the antibiotic ammo we have on the shelf. That is the death of an era, my friends. Move on or die.<br />
<br />
By day four, I had no energy and a fever. I was to meet up with my friends for coffee in the evening after a kid's baseball game, and I sat there like a pathetic little blob. It was warm in the coffee shop and I was already sweaty and unwell and I had to duck out early. This is tragic as I usually love to lead shenanigans and uproar, but home I sadly trudged to curl up into a little antisocial ball.<br />
<br />
(Did I keep swimming in the morning? Why yes, of course. Does that make sense? No. I know.)<br />
<br />
I was getting progressively worse so that by Sunday afternoon (day 7), I took a four hour heavy coma nap - the kind that you try to wake up and open your eyes, but even in your dreams you are unsuccessful at doing so. I didn't even eat lunch that day (if you know me, you know this is alarming) and I was receiving threats to be taken in to the local Urgent Care or the ER. I fended them off with all the strength I could muster. I'm too tired to even stand up to walk to a vehicle to go, so let's just say this isn't going to work out. I just need to sleep. That night was when I hit the desperate wall. I couldn't stand up from pain, had the chills, and was so uncomfortable I couldn't stand being in my own body. I called the MD on call. This was desperation and defeat all in one.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzcYf05J_KIPTwYLCT28kUzxqZ87GUO6r1E4nSD9bLjwR5U7UkZJKuO87JYYvuwAwOIzNdJVLu6ze_Hz28OEpvzcKwWhXn2JICAPbe27JDFlc313tbYfOHHDyceYzmaL4xA7ueEYGFsBfM/s1600/sick+and+sad.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzcYf05J_KIPTwYLCT28kUzxqZ87GUO6r1E4nSD9bLjwR5U7UkZJKuO87JYYvuwAwOIzNdJVLu6ze_Hz28OEpvzcKwWhXn2JICAPbe27JDFlc313tbYfOHHDyceYzmaL4xA7ueEYGFsBfM/s320/sick+and+sad.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ow, my life hurts, but at least I'm an artist</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I explained that I had a bladder infection and asked him what he would recommend. He sent a prescription for an antibiotic to what was supposed to be the only open local pharmacy at that time, although when he pulled up my record, he said he was not very inclined to do so as I hadn't been to the office in about 3 years (what?! I've been well!). After I made dinner, I planned to walk my hunchback positioned self to the vehicle and make the sad trek to the pharmacy (but was intercepted by my husband who volunteered to go for me - usually I would insist on going, but as I could barely walk to the garage, I figured it might be a good idea). He called me 20 minutes later to let me know that the pharmacy was closed.<br />
<br />
Okay? God? Am I not supposed to take this prescription? Is this how I get the message? Ummm...?<br />
<br />
I had kicked in some serious concoctions by this time (silver at a correct dose, oil of oregano, usnea uva ursi, probiotics, horrible awful pressed organic cranberry juice, double turmeric, Vitamin C, bone broth, and a non-inflammatory diet) and was getting marginally better by the next day (translation: I could stand up straight without pain). The evenings were always quite worse, however. It was like I used up too much energy during the day and the bad guys took over at night. I skipped swimming (now you should be really shocked).<br />
<br />
I didn't go to the pharmacy the next day because I figured I was getting much better. At this, I received many loving death threats from my friends and family. I was sweetly told , "I know it blows goats, but...take the pills, you dumba--!" by one friend, a dubsmash from another that said, "I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you." (They love me and this is how I know.) Another said, "Just take them! Yeesh! You can go back to your clean life after you get rid of the infection! Antibiotics work ya know!" I love these people. It was almost like they were trying to tell me something.<br />
<br />
Did I listen? Well, no.<br />
<br />
I was forced to go to the pharmacy the next morning by my bossy husband who said before I did anything (I had an 8:30 meeting), I was to go and pick up that prescription OR ELSE. Meh. Fine.<br />
<br />
(He didn't say I had to <i>take</i> the prescription, only that I had to <i>get</i> it. I'm so awesome.)<br />
<br />
I left it in packaging for a few days and then put it up in the cupboard in case I was dying at some future point, which is what it would practically take for me to ingest one of those toxic things.<br />
<br />
Now here is the problem. I could go on like this fighting it and being moderately sick for an indefinite amount of time, but I am up against a wall. I have a triathlon in 5 days. I have that large muscle fatigue that you feel after you have the flu. I can't do a tri like this (and win anything). This is terrifying.<br />
<br />
I missed swimming again today because for some weird reason, I don't feel super great after I swim. I feel the tired of a thousand years. BUT I NEED TO PRACTICE FOR THE TRI!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn9Sf7M9Fx5yVwgx_CuLI0sswbjRsXhYfwixg2v9pwyDqjhPkmxL0wM_gQUlWZpg7SG-WAFuac8WAW5L5bFHTQ0DCMbgEhfkjzYAlV9fdzWYSo-pkIGyQLFLo5trPomHqeFWPuLCqftBV9/s1600/antibiotics+and+probiotics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn9Sf7M9Fx5yVwgx_CuLI0sswbjRsXhYfwixg2v9pwyDqjhPkmxL0wM_gQUlWZpg7SG-WAFuac8WAW5L5bFHTQ0DCMbgEhfkjzYAlV9fdzWYSo-pkIGyQLFLo5trPomHqeFWPuLCqftBV9/s320/antibiotics+and+probiotics.jpg" width="320" /></a>This rock and a hard place is very distressing for me.<br />
<br />
I sit here at my laptop typing this out with the toxic bottle staring at me, pulled out of the cupboard for the first time, the quandry looming over me. It sits to the left of my laptop, beyond my pink water bottle, not so far from the probiotics, looking up at me, taunting me. "May cause diarrhea. If persists or becomes severe, notify DR or RPH. Diarrhea may occur weeks to months after taking drug." ARGH!! That's because you'd be stripping my good happy bacteria! UGH! What do I do?!<br />
<br />
So far, it's sit here and argue with myself and debate the funeral of my endothelial layer or forcing myself to sleep for the next 4 days without any running, swimming, or biking, and thus, being quite rusty for the tri (not to mention irritated and boiling mad from lack of exercise).<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmTOzF3otp2Xag2v69G8VdJ6Of1Rrkn04difFEhXztrThq0G2Vy6RmLoXpWXpPHQJhczSLlhxYmzmevEmmuDdlxi1rt8pYIxGwn5190NAjtOmTCkLIcuJviQnwEIhdijtZWPiULD5dfTAN/s1600/missed+workout+beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmTOzF3otp2Xag2v69G8VdJ6Of1Rrkn04difFEhXztrThq0G2Vy6RmLoXpWXpPHQJhczSLlhxYmzmevEmmuDdlxi1rt8pYIxGwn5190NAjtOmTCkLIcuJviQnwEIhdijtZWPiULD5dfTAN/s320/missed+workout+beach.jpg" width="163" /></a>This is awful. <br />
<br />
Go ahead. Weigh in. Tell me what you would do. I am desperate enough that I actually may listen. Maybe. Probably.<br />
<br />
Peace, love, and God help me,<br />
Ms. DaisyMs. Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626373614872274965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045993219562083384.post-88897479812247456192016-06-16T17:08:00.000-04:002016-06-16T17:22:25.934-04:00Irony, a little bit wrinklyDo you ever feel as if you're part of a Seinfeld episode? It's like slight comedic irony, and you're in the middle of it.<br />
<br />
Such a thing recently happened to me and I found it to be rather potently ironic.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRUXgi0XYcbnKEPXrnQsEtKZhPmaRLcVwiwiV8gcYuwiD61xOo9Z7crpMqdj4BMMlEuPljRizLLFtbsJz5BHlDFcwohRoe2CvwahTNNjRRpxxjy6ogBvmypUv1BM7jWj10IEvdw5AM0p84/s1600/Vaccine.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRUXgi0XYcbnKEPXrnQsEtKZhPmaRLcVwiwiV8gcYuwiD61xOo9Z7crpMqdj4BMMlEuPljRizLLFtbsJz5BHlDFcwohRoe2CvwahTNNjRRpxxjy6ogBvmypUv1BM7jWj10IEvdw5AM0p84/s320/Vaccine.png" width="320" /></a>Before I begin, I need you to set aside your firm belief that you hold dearly to your sweet little heart regarding your very (obviously) correct stance on vaccinations. The main gist here is not to debate vaccinations; it is merely the space for me to express twinges of irony. So, please, and thank you.<br />
<br />
We can debate that on another post, I'm happy to do so. Debate makes me ecstatic, actually. Fires me up real nice like, gets my blood pumping all happy and my brain whirring madly. Even when you adamantly disagree with me, I'll still usually be thrilled with you for participating in debate for the sheer joy of it all. (You don't have to cringe, peacemakers, it's simply how some of us are wired.)<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, back at the ranch.<br />
<br />
The state in which I live requires by law that if you are not current on the vaccinations of your offspring and want to enroll them in school, you must to go to a brainwashing session and sign statements that you are essentially a horrid person, member of society, and most importantly, parent. You mustn't change the wording one iota, you must sign it as the almighty state declares it. Otherwise, no school. You may still claim non-medical exemptions (religious: I'm not cool with injecting aborted or otherwise fetal cells into my child; philosophical: vaccinations do not work except in very specific diseases, the dangers outweigh the potential benefits, I hate The Man, I think injecting aluminum or mercury - ethyl or methyl - into your bloodstream at any level is idiotic, whatever.). You may also claim medical exemptions, as in your child was previously vaccine damaged or had a significant reaction.<br />
<br />
When you do this, you must go and "be educated" by a nurse who is an agent of the county health department and have a waiver signed and stamped to prove that you went to his or her re-education (potentially, but not necessarily, in Room 101) session. You wouldn't think of doing anything otherwise, would you, you Delta? Nice khaki, btw.<br />
<br />
I was not thrilled to be subjected to the state in such a manhandling type of tyrant and anti-freedomesque way, but after I thought about it for a little while, I realized that you will never change anything big without some form of conflict and that I ought to man up, pull up the big girl panties and dive in headfirst. If they want to discuss vaccines, I will be ready. I know why I believe what I do, and I know why I've chosen what I have for my littles, so their methods of potential intimidation and strong-arming me were of no consequence.<br />
<br />
I am a firm believer in that how you are perceived on the outside is going to have some effect on how people treat you. You may wish this were not so, but imagine with me, if you will - if you show up to an interview with a CEO of a Fortune 500 company with a Mickey Mouse t-shirt, ripped jean shorts, and dirty flip flops hoping to get hired on your wit and charm as a top level exec, you may have just taken a large dump on your chances. I had a meeting with a client that day, so I was wearing a professional outfit, and I brought along my laptop for notes and ammo (if it was going to get down and dirty). I was prepared inside and out.<br />
<br />
As I approached the door of the building, I noticed that in order to be let in, you had to be buzzed in. In I went. The office within the building had the same setup, so I had to be buzzed in again. Why is the county health department under such tight security? This seems a bit odd to me. Do they have a lot of people with communicable diseases banging down their doors and windows? (Get out of here, you Ebola face!) Or are they afraid that anti-vaxxers are going to protest them? Either way (or whether for some other reason), I still found it to be slightly off putting. Maybe it is for the psychological factor instead. At any rate, that was the setup.<br />
<br />
I was led into an otherwise starkly decorated and outdated waiting room filled with propaganda posters (of which I took a video so that I could gag and roll my eyes later for whenever my heart desired). I sat down in that nice cushy, brown, upholstered chair and popped out my laptop and did some work.<br />
<br />
After a few minutes, the re-education nurse appeared in the doorway to escort me to her office.<br />
<br />
Please do not take this the wrong way. Just listen to me and hear me out. Let us reason together, shall we?<br />
<br />
The middle-aged woman who appeared in the doorway was supposed to be my educator for wellness. As an agent of the state in this specific jurisdiction and as a nurse, she ought to be a proponent for health, which would reflect in her own person, her habits, and in her lifestyle. I fully expected her to be healthy and well with her vast knowledge of health, medicine, and wellness. The woman who appeared in the doorway did not represent health. She represented the epitome of morbidly obese. From what I guessed her biometrics to be, her BMI would have been near 60. She had a significant difficulty walking because of it.<br />
<br />
Hold up, before you think I am prejudiced against the obese. I understand that there are people out there who have conditions that affect weight. I know that there are people with thyroid issues that mess up your weight, your metabolism, and all the rest. I understand that your genetics play a factor in your weight. I get it. Perhaps all of these things were true for her. I didn't ask. That isn't the point. The point is that <i>she was not well</i>. She <i><u>could not walk</u></i>! The underlying reason was unknown to me, but the blatant fact was clear - she was not the image of someone in good health, <i>yet she was going to instruct me on topics of health and wellness</i>!<br />
<br />
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I sat down at the desk in her (also starkly decorated) office and took a quick look around at my surroundings. Her desk was very plain, but it contained a few things that sent warning signals off in my head. There was the occasional pile of paper, but my eyes landed on the few non-paper items on her desk: an Arby's disposable cup filled with a dark brown liquid, a highly perfumed and scented lotion from a well-known lotiony store, and a Costco-sized container with a pump top of an anti-bacterial hand goo. <br />
<br />
Dear holy God in heaven above, please help this lady! Do you not know that your weight is likely connected to your endocrine system and you are murdering it in every direction? I've been here for four seconds and I can tell you three things that you are doing that are torturing your hormones and screwing with your metabolism! You're a <b>NURSE</b> for Pete's sake! Do you really not know this or are you just ignoring the information that is out there that would help you to feel better, lose weight, and have more energy? If the former, then why are you educating me on what it is to be well when you don't know it yourself? If it is the latter, what other information are you ignoring in order to get through your life?<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVlDc7CyYNEiYKHAq962CTzvaDGNzYxf3jObgNoRhOzM0Xiw9xz4oU8DSXWPDP62dR9EeTksO5RY5kEjJaEgId6S77W9H9784QqmMizJHryY0h-czUP448kDnA1CdN3L3shFCkvbBE82iR/s1600/prevention_diet_soda_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVlDc7CyYNEiYKHAq962CTzvaDGNzYxf3jObgNoRhOzM0Xiw9xz4oU8DSXWPDP62dR9EeTksO5RY5kEjJaEgId6S77W9H9784QqmMizJHryY0h-czUP448kDnA1CdN3L3shFCkvbBE82iR/s1600/prevention_diet_soda_3.jpg" /></a></div>
Your dark brown liquid (please say this isn't a diet pop, please, please, tell me it isn't) likely contains a cauldron of chemicals that affect your calcium and phosphorus balance in your body, enough sugar to make you sprint your way to Type II diabetes, ruin your immune system, and artificial flavors and colors (Caramel color? Oh that's just ammonia burned with sugar. That's probably really good for you.). The smelly lotion that is sitting on your desk is a bazooka to your endocrine system and a pile of parabens just waiting to water and plant cancerous seeds into your body. The antibac goo shines gloriously in triclosan, which fosters endocrine disruption, bacterial and compounded antibacterial resistance, not to mention how it also contaminates our water system and pollutes the world (and yes, of course it's banned in Europe, but we're always behind in what we allow because the government is too busy making out with the companies who make the chemicals to be bothered with the health of the masses to do anything).<br />
<br />
But please, tell me how I can be healthy and make my offspring so.<br />
<br />
I suppose we don't really have to make sense when we're working with the government, but this is mind-blowingly insane.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigHZDbA7TDn1T_d21dD-FjllhY5YonassACA7ezNC0hTipklnk2uiJvnwRS3uo6MQE2Ck_wPJUHS2Yfk3N9wE_UKf5XZUrAa-VELAkd0Yot9nAKYfCmgN5Uj1xsLtMIpDBKPSRvZ0eyced/s1600/man+businessman+fall+out+of+chair+with+words.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigHZDbA7TDn1T_d21dD-FjllhY5YonassACA7ezNC0hTipklnk2uiJvnwRS3uo6MQE2Ck_wPJUHS2Yfk3N9wE_UKf5XZUrAa-VELAkd0Yot9nAKYfCmgN5Uj1xsLtMIpDBKPSRvZ0eyced/s400/man+businessman+fall+out+of+chair+with+words.png" width="400" /></a>She sneezed. She said that the weather was wonderful, but for allergy sufferers, it was really something else. She reached over and pumped a large glob of goo onto her hands and slathered it all over herself. My soul inside my body was doing that thing that you used to do as a child when you slinked down your chair at the table and onto the floor like a spineless snake. The frustration, irony, and pathetic nature of it all could not be contained. (She needs Norwex. I shall help.)<br />
<br />
She handed me a pile of lovely pastel papers listing the reasons the CDC declared it utterly and completely safe to inject infants, babies, and children with vaccines, even though they contain polysorbate-80 (infertility agent), formaldehyde (carcinogen), thimerosal (neurotoxin), aborted fetal tissue, aluminum derivatives (Alzheimer's please), MSG (excitotoxin), sorbitol/aspertame/sucrose (ohhhhhhmyyyyyyyyyyygooooooooooosh), chick embryos, monkey cells, mouse serum proteins, vesicle fluid from calf skins, <a href="http://www.informedchoice.info/cocktail.html" target="_blank">and so much more</a>.<br />
<br />
The bottom line is this - if you are going to be a representative of good health, you ought to be generally well. Yes, there are times of illness, obviously. That's life. Yes, there are times when you do something stupid that will affect your health. There are times when you just choose that chocolate cake over carrots, and that may be your moderation. I get it. But if you are specifically employed to educate people on health and wellness and disease avoidance, should you not exemplify some aspects of wellness?<br />
<br />
My dear friends who are physicians and nurses and health coaches - we've got to be the example. How will people believe you otherwise? Why should they? Please take care of yourselves so you can take care of others. Who else will lead the world in a charge toward health? We need you. May I encourage and implore you to fulfill your calling well.<br />
<br />
You know I totally am going to sell that lady some Norwex and yes, I did give her my health coaching card.<br />
<br />
She told me that if my offspring weren't updated next year and each year following on their vaccinations that I'd need to come back and do this annually.<br />
<br />
See you next year, my dear.<br />
<br />
Peace, love, and please be well,<br />
Ms. DaisyMs. Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626373614872274965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045993219562083384.post-61818783456481875572016-04-09T14:38:00.001-04:002016-04-09T14:38:29.633-04:00Ms. Daisy's 100 Little Things to Be Happy About<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN0wAptVUyWpL7RRG1XSm3_0n542eJVDHBjxmGaTULB0gQXE4OztIbby6Ehm_jdZtsyB89Z-P9UjZuoxteJ7RCI8FZeNSifiWt1rXhRugaA-vBDcl8GfaXqZOSIa38UwRf0EkCk50WpOtD/s1600/Ms.+Daisy%2527s100+Little+Thingsto+beHappy+About.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN0wAptVUyWpL7RRG1XSm3_0n542eJVDHBjxmGaTULB0gQXE4OztIbby6Ehm_jdZtsyB89Z-P9UjZuoxteJ7RCI8FZeNSifiWt1rXhRugaA-vBDcl8GfaXqZOSIa38UwRf0EkCk50WpOtD/s320/Ms.+Daisy%2527s100+Little+Thingsto+beHappy+About.png" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Hey lovies. Yes, I know, it's been a while. I have been working on getting a business started while doing school, creating a website for the business, running the usual household things and the chickens, teaching, and keeping the plates spinning, so I haven't had a lot left over to pour out in this direction. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Alas! I am here for the moment and I wanted to give this to you.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Life is funny, isn't it? Sometimes it's<i> just so darn</i> funny, it's not even funny. In those times, you might just need to remember the good things that are out there - things that don't deplete your wallet (that much, anyway), and things that just make you smile because of what they are. With that in mind, I wrote up a list of things that make me happy. I've seen other people do similar things, but I am pretty sure I'm the only one whose list includes the entry "butter in general" (see #55). I wouldn't want to deprive you of such illustrious things, and so I am here to share.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">(p.s. I met up with a friend I haven't seen in a decade or more and she brought me a present! What was it? Why, a 3 pack of Kerrygold grass fed butter, of course! Thank you, dear!)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Without further ado, may I present to you - Ms. Daisy's 100 Little Things to Be Happy About</span><br />
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<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"></span></span>A hot bath right before bed.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODtxgIh1Yn8F-ktONVgjXlU4mQnD2M6leI5XxKbA4kIIeKHqj190lmWev2x_Lf8lnsaA6tkqy2YGJBwx3Y5OOyj0mlJ_l2aJjfgDRNU8cY05VAJa0b5n4RK3X2OtcW-UqE-mMBOHamE6A/s1600/bathtub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODtxgIh1Yn8F-ktONVgjXlU4mQnD2M6leI5XxKbA4kIIeKHqj190lmWev2x_Lf8lnsaA6tkqy2YGJBwx3Y5OOyj0mlJ_l2aJjfgDRNU8cY05VAJa0b5n4RK3X2OtcW-UqE-mMBOHamE6A/s200/bathtub.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Seeing your kid swinging happily on the swing
when they don’t know you’re watching.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>The one cup of hot black tea you have at
breakfast.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Laying with eyes closed in the sunshine.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Having a conversation and a cup of tea with someone who makes you happy.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Being in the middle of an amazing book.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Speaking to someone in another language.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Hitting the bullseye on the first try.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>When your favorite flavor of Kevita is available
and on sale.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Oboro incense.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Smelling something that flashes you back to a
moment in your life and it’s so real, you can see and feel it.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>When you must do the laundry and the basement is
cold, but you can wrap a large hot towel around yourself and stick your head
into the dryer and take a pretend nap on the warm clothes.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Finally sitting down after being on your feet
all day.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>What your kitchen/fridge/house/bathroom/vehicle
looks like when it is perfectly clean.</span></li>
<li>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Cracking an egg into a butter-filled cast iron
pan that is so fresh, it’s still warm.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Jumping into the pool (or a lake) and watching
the bubbles rise up around you.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Staring at the sky in the middle of the summer
at sunset floating on your back in the middle of a lake.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Showering outside.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Finishing a triathlon.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>The lateness of sunset in the summer.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCcOGmIvtdFec_upjSAZ-maQCuH6L2cG7uVLsG4vy_5qnqXxdXtoyp0-Zh_QCLaUPrz7651SbVfGYPmiB80O2x_MFF85tjiUeXl1qUyC9kbemNnCsoDEMOtBiSxlmUqRvtZC4ffoVDuqYY/s1600/lake+sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCcOGmIvtdFec_upjSAZ-maQCuH6L2cG7uVLsG4vy_5qnqXxdXtoyp0-Zh_QCLaUPrz7651SbVfGYPmiB80O2x_MFF85tjiUeXl1qUyC9kbemNnCsoDEMOtBiSxlmUqRvtZC4ffoVDuqYY/s320/lake+sunset.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Walking barefoot in the grass when it’s warm.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Hopping fences.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Cartwheels.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Getting paid to do what you thrive on.</span></li>
<li>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>The feeling right when the plane lifts off of
the ground.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Sleeping until you wake up on your own.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>New York City.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Having a passionate intellectual argument.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Laughing until you can’t breathe.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Falling asleep with the window open.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Being able to fix something for someone.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Saunas.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>The feeling of an amazing foot massage.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Falling asleep when you are exhausted.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Getting a package in the mail.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Writing with a black Bic gel ink pen in bold
1.0.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Writing (or reading) a poem that expresses
exactly where you are at that moment.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>When herbs first sprout in tiny pots on your
windowsill.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Digging your toes in the sand at the beach and
not having anything requiring your immediate attention.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Getting a hug when you really needed one.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Lying in bed and realizing you got everything
done you needed to that day.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Driving really fast (safely, of course).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Going for a run that exhausts your body, clears
your mind, and alleviates your soul.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Painting your nails your favorite color.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Being alone in your own space.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Having a happy dream that when you wake up, it
seems like it might really have happened.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Getting a text that makes you burst into
laughter.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Re-reading a text that makes you sigh happily.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Watching your itty bitties sleep.</span></li>
<li>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Seeing the sunrise from the woods.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The memory of epic youthful shenanigans. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Mission Peninsula.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Being genuinely happy for someone else’s good
news.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Homemade bread with grass-fed butter.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Butter in general.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Being the person that someone wants to tell
their new news to.</span></li>
<li>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Your favorite classical/jazz music piece.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Finding the perfect gift for someone.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>When it’s been raining all day and then the sun
peeks out brilliantly and overpoweringly.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Getting to see ancient art in person (and
wondering how many eyes and generations across the whole world have taken in
that same painting/sculpture).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Really great foodie-grade (dark, obviously) chocolate.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>The mountains.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>The first day that it feels like summer of the
year.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Seeing a hummingbird.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>The scent of your lovies.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Looking at your friend and knowing exactly what
they’re thinking at that moment.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>PR-ing a race.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>The silence, the movement, and the freedom of
swimming underwater.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>New running shoes, a new endurance suit.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>A good hair day.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Teaching someone something and getting to watch the light bulb turn on in their head.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Delicious, wonderful, amazing, hippie scented
patchouli lotion.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Your favorite undies.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Finding someone who understands you.</span></li>
<li>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">An exceptionally beautiful face.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>The vibrant green-ness of the grass in spring.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Campfires, fireplaces.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>A hot washcloth covering your whole face.</span></li>
<li>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Knowing that life usually works out just fine.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Learning.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Daisies and tulips.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Running past apple blossom trees in full bloom.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Seeing good friends again from a lifetime ago.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Summer + live music + outside + your favorite
drink</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Orion in the night/early morning sky.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Buffalo meat.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Listening to somebody’s story.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Flying down a hill on your bike.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Getting a massage when you are so sore that you
involuntarily cry-laugh-drool-gasp in reaction to muscle pressure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stop!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No, go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stop! Go! Ow! More!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Getting in a(n outside) hot tub after skiing (or
swimming/running/biking) especially while it is snowing.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>The first red, ripe, garden tomato of the
season.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Icelandic full-fat yogurt.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaaynn2xpu75IFOzicaWZCseCuik6lPt9yfrSa7KKpC9szhlWL3-7dL4rPxgdqsyWyqiwMPZv8pXM88ss4YU1ZMoe59dxBI9l-IPB2X9RmbGm-AXIGX-vgilYkWicklPiOICi3XVQdJ5Uj/s1600/siggis+yogurt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaaynn2xpu75IFOzicaWZCseCuik6lPt9yfrSa7KKpC9szhlWL3-7dL4rPxgdqsyWyqiwMPZv8pXM88ss4YU1ZMoe59dxBI9l-IPB2X9RmbGm-AXIGX-vgilYkWicklPiOICi3XVQdJ5Uj/s1600/siggis+yogurt.jpg" /></a></div>
</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Getting into a bed of just-washed sheets and a
super fluffy down comforter.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Falling asleep to your hair being played with.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Night swimming.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Listening to your little one laugh ridiculously
at something ridiculous.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>The way Londoners speak.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Kitchen dancing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The thought that you can change the
world for the better a little bit every day. </span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Yes, it may be unique to me, but perhaps some things resonate with you also. If they don't, well then, get yourself your own piece of paper and start making your own list. In fact, I'd love to hear it. Wanna share? Comment below. I read every single comment.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Peace, love, and focus on the happy,<br />Ms. Daisy</span><br />
Ms. Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626373614872274965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045993219562083384.post-8993380015205912932016-01-02T15:11:00.002-05:002016-01-02T15:11:58.445-05:00What are you reading?<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Happy New Year, dearies! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It's a good of a time as any to pick up a book. I suppose it could even go along with a New Year's resolution (just kidding). </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What have you been reading? Anything interesting? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I read quite a bit, but don't always post on <a href="http://daisyreadspinkglitter.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Ms. Daisy's Reading Club</a>. I suppose I might have to admit that sometimes it is out of laziness for not wanting to write a post about it, and other times I am just determined to be secretive about what I'm reading (muahahahahaha). Okay, not really. I just don't write book reports on every book I read. You don't either, do you?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If you would like to share with me what you're reading, I'll be more than happy to listen, and if it sounds quite interesting, I'll be even happier to send out a request to the library to have it brought in so that I might read it. I prefer non-fiction, and will read anything from science and geography to history and the ever exciting peer-reviewed journals of medical literature. I used to be a fan of fiction, and I will very occasionally read a fiction book here and there, but only if it makes me laugh aloud. (Otherwise I am quite content for you to keep your Danielle Steel books collecting dust on the shelf. No offense.)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In the meantime, if you're looking for something to read, I have recently been reading biographies. The first is on the scandalously exciting life of Warren G. Harding (the 29th President of the United States) and the current book is on Cleopatra the Great.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If you're interested in either of those, I have a little blip on them over in the other side of the blog.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Warren G. Harding's book is <a href="http://daisyreadspinkglitter.blogspot.com/2016/01/the-harding-affair-love-and-espionage.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Cleopatra the Great's book is <a href="http://daisyreadspinkglitter.blogspot.com/2016/01/cleopatra-great-woman-behind-legend-by.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">That's it for now. I hope you've had a very peaceful and happy New Year so far. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">May your 2016 be the best one ever.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Peace, love, and take a deep breath,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ms. Daisy </span>Ms. Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626373614872274965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045993219562083384.post-31024041904893418142015-12-29T09:43:00.001-05:002015-12-29T09:43:11.891-05:00A letter to the Resolutionists<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Dear Resolutionists,</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJUSYPDuxZZq8DXAQH-fJQbFVXyh_5qaHoAqvHAptCGAjclYIvCWwaqbacMNdw14JE1_ZT2A8p6JWtCTeFb5vYn6NrEd9Wq83PcKswwGWPtQoXJigBC1X_wixo8UsIT-oTyT2nVJ_NOc4/s1600/resolution.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJUSYPDuxZZq8DXAQH-fJQbFVXyh_5qaHoAqvHAptCGAjclYIvCWwaqbacMNdw14JE1_ZT2A8p6JWtCTeFb5vYn6NrEd9Wq83PcKswwGWPtQoXJigBC1X_wixo8UsIT-oTyT2nVJ_NOc4/s320/resolution.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Hey, how's it going? It's been a while since we've seen you around - like maybe 11 months or so. Are you really going to do this again this year or do you think you can just skip it?</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Don't take that the wrong way. I'm not trying to be mean. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here's the thing: you really just don't care about exercising and health and I don't know why you're pretending to do it because you bought a new calendar. You're using this momentus occasion to flip the switch in your brain from brownie-eating couch potato to what you hope to be a svelte Ironman. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZoIlrzomrA3VLiFmKWcJ-oAg5fcRWCArcHgSYbVi5LnVMCZojlqSFethxczHTJloR2D3fTSOzI6XY0WLIiQbZHahrdgP36GA-ga_Y_v44NWSbr11N68XWFM7cUFkrYbjR0L0OD9GT4YQ/s1600/will+smith.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZoIlrzomrA3VLiFmKWcJ-oAg5fcRWCArcHgSYbVi5LnVMCZojlqSFethxczHTJloR2D3fTSOzI6XY0WLIiQbZHahrdgP36GA-ga_Y_v44NWSbr11N68XWFM7cUFkrYbjR0L0OD9GT4YQ/s200/will+smith.jpeg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You got it twisted, bro (or homegirl). You're doing it because you ate a gluttonous amount of Halloween candy, turkey at Thanksgiving, and everything in sight at the 4(0) Christmas and holiday parties you attended, and now you're looking at the scale with a horrified grimace, wondering how you got there. You got there because it's your lifestyle. It's what you like to do.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If you're not going to adopt exercise as part of your lifestyle instead of a Hail Mary to lose the ten pounds you gained in the last 4 months, what's the point? </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkV0jhp9rcHcF_Ax9gq3XJBwB0vDSPN16Apy-ONSKp10P-C-3pD0_AcgB73bPW1NZX__dHukEX9070ANXQdBEoxKNpUWjEw9tBMAvNbuUAhIRCNR4EBYRxZ8ii9wHdKohkKNIP1IZU4Fdk/s1600/failed-new-years-resolutions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkV0jhp9rcHcF_Ax9gq3XJBwB0vDSPN16Apy-ONSKp10P-C-3pD0_AcgB73bPW1NZX__dHukEX9070ANXQdBEoxKNpUWjEw9tBMAvNbuUAhIRCNR4EBYRxZ8ii9wHdKohkKNIP1IZU4Fdk/s320/failed-new-years-resolutions.jpg" width="239" /></a><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Our society loves quick fixes and pills to cover our real problems. A healthy lifestyle isn't a pill. It's your whole way of life. It's your whole brain and your outlook. Exercising to lose 10 pounds starting January 1 (cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye) is the equivalent of making your own quick fix. What about you wanting to live a bit longer than the track you're on? What about eating for health because it makes you feel awesome, energized, and clearheaded? What about giving your body real nutrition so you can fight sickness, avoid lifestyle diseases, and live healthy and well (and be able to do what you're supposed to do)? What about exercising and eating so you can do the things on your bucket list?</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Nah, whatever. What am I saying? It's just another year, just like the one before it and the one before that. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">One day, however, that January calendar will be the last one you buy. I hope when you get there, you don't look back with the same horrified grimace.</span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZM-4s30D4CCfPX3K0wTr-EKAqt8lFRPdIFY2b2sPqDrTI4fNa6u9QWI3s2IdDf1Zuz-WYWgZdsh3IlF3zjr1jBOcII0uxLwT5DDtpCsGCQ17bKl6MA1oUNI6t1A8Tju726O0fQcMOhO5g/s1600/funny+kid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Yeah, yeah, yeah, I get it. Life is more than clothes, and the body more than food. If you don't have that straight, then your whole life is wasted. But it sure is a lot easier to do what you're called to do when you have energy and endurance.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, if you don't want to make it a way of life, maybe you should just sleep in. The regulars like their parking spots, their lockers and their lanes. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You mad, bro? You're a Resolutionist. Man up. You get one life. Do it, don't waste it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Peace, love, and you don't have to wait until Friday,<br />Ms. Daisy</span></span>Ms. Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626373614872274965noreply@blogger.com0