January 31--Plenty to Explore

There is a great deal of unmapped country within us.  --George Eliot

    Let's consider all four "countries" within us--physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. We are one whole unit. These aspects cannot truly be separated, but I'm going to play with them. 

    Our physical bodies, while we have learned so much, are still a source of great mystery. Consider how two cells coming together in a uterus eventually become heart, lung, big toe, etc--a brand new human. I teach the Melt Method, which works with the connective tissue (fascia) throughout our bodies. It has only been in the past two to three decades that its importance in our body has become known, and it is our stability system--it literally holds our bodies together. We obviously don't have cures for everything (even the common cold!!), so there is plenty of unmapped country there. 

    Emotional country is endless, ranging from those who prefer not to have any sort of emotion to those who live for the emotional drama of life. The range of emotions available to us is staggering. Part of our upbringing is learning how to control our emotions and express them in constructive ways. Emotional outbursts were discouraged in my home growing up, so much of my adult life has been spent exploring my unmapped emotional country. Note: I've found some scary places and survived. 

    Experts say we use only a small percentage of our mental abilities, so there's plenty more mapping to do there. Learning keeps us going and growing. The pace of invention seems to be accelerating so rapidly, and I love that. 

    Our spiritual realm, consciousness, is as big as the Universe. I'm thinking it will take all of eternity to map infinity 😉😉 Our DNA is multi-dimensional, much more complex than we currently comprehend. From the tiniest parts of the physical body to the most expansive thoughts in mass consciousness--that's a lot of country to map. 

    I'm thinking no one ought to ever get bored!

        Leta

I could spend many happy hours in that chair!!

January 30--New Moves

Ultimately, we know deeply that the other side of every fear is freedom. 
--Marilyn Ferguson

    I have faced a multitude of fears in working with my spiritual coach, and I can say that yes, freedom is on the other side, blessed freedom. I have become increasingly aware that I have a lot of suppressed anger, and I can see underneath that a deep-seated fear of not getting what I want. Alas, as long as we are alive, there is something to work on--freedom from fear continually calls to us.

    I took my "beginner anxiety" to the YMCA this past Saturday morning for a beginner pickleball clinic. I know I'm late to the game, but there you have it. I had an experienced player work with me on the drills, and I loved it. I improved and caught on considerably in an hour, and learned even more as I sat and watched others play. I surely did use muscles in a new way, and my body let me know that. Praise the heavens for Epsom salts! I have purchased a paddle and I'm ready to get into the game regularly. 

    More freedom = more fun!

        Leta

January 29--Surprises Are Lurking Everywhere

The more one does and sees and feels, the more one is able to do. 
--Amelia Earhart

    As I go through my days, I am usually on the lookout for something interesting that I can bring to the blog. Signs, bumper stickers, billboards--inspiration could be anywhere 😉😉
    I was quite surprised when, driving along 21st Street West in Wichita, I saw this on one of the electronic church signs:

Many parents need a good spanking!

    I was so surprised that I drove by a second time to confirm that I was not imagining it. I told a couple of friends (one, a retired minister) about this, and their eyes bulged wide. I'm not sure whether this sentiment would attract or repel potential church visitors. While some may secretly agree with this statement, I find it quite creepy to be on a church sign. Oh, baby, bring it on?!?!!? Creepy.

    It did give me something to write about!!

        Leta

[No google image today---I have no intention of googling "spanking"!!!!!!!!]

January 28--Curiosity

Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious. 
--Stephen Hawking

    I saw in the news line at the bottom of the TV screen that some football player had been arrested for "misdemeanor domestic violence." Life experience has made me aware of all manner of abuse, and the idea that some of it is minor, not that bad, only a misdemeanor, is ridiculous and baffling to me. 

    I'm learning here... the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives defines it:

A “misdemeanor crime of domestic violence” is an offense that:

1. Is a misdemeanor under federal, state, or tribal law;
2. Has, as an element, the use or attempted use of physical force, or the threatened use of a deadly weapon; and
3. Goes on to define "domestic"

Here's what I found relative to Kansas: 

Kansas Statutes § 21-5414 defines domestic battery as a violent offense where bodily harm is inflicted upon a domestic partner which is a class B misdemeanor with up to 6 months in jail &/or up to $500 in fines.

    I seems to me that someone who wants to terrorize and hammer on another in the home doesn't have much to worry about legally. Disgusting!

        Leta

January 27--WWWIIINNNTTTEEERRR 😛😛

The world of the future is in our making. Tomorrow is now.  --Eleanor Roosevelt

    One of my prayerful thoughts each morning is "please help us all to be kinder to each other and kinder to the planet." 

    The big world, our planet, and all the stuff going on is just too much for me. While I believe humans are basically good and Life is expanding into greater consciousness, the stupidity, greed, ignorance, pettiness and evil seem overwhelming and leave me feeling frustrated and powerless. 

    So I look at the "Leta world of the future"--that over which I do have some control. Winter "yuck" has set in--dreary days, cold weather, boredom. I spend too much time lying around, and my husband is frustrated because he can't find enough to do. He's considering a part-time job, and I am crocheting to save my sanity. Our mantra is "spring will be here soon." I remind myself often that simple moments of gratitude are the best building blocks for tomorrow. 

    Happy to be here,

        Leta 

Thriving basil plants--the pesto of the future!

January 26--I Prefer Swimming

You can't cling to the side your whole life. One lesson every parent needs to teach a child is, "If you don't want to sink, you better figure out how to swim." 
--Jeannette Walls

    My dad taught me to swim at Whipples Dam State Park in the boondocks of Pennsylvania. Swimming is a skill every child should learn. I really enjoy watching the little-kid swim lessons going on at the YMCA when I am lap-swimming. 

    But I suspect Ms. Walls was talking about more than actual swimming skills. We can't hang on to safety forever... At some point we have to let go, get out into the world, and explore, experiment and adventure. We can see the drive in an infant as he gradually learns to roll over, hold the head up, crawl, stand, toddle and run. Our whole reason for being here is to "let go of the side." One is never too old to do that. There are considerably more "life preservers" out there than we can imagine. 

        Leta

January 25--Insurance Rules

Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow them. 
--Louisa May Alcott

    This morning I feel like chatting about the medical profession and death. Fun, huh!??!

    I am on my second pass through the book "At Peace: Choosing a Good Death after a Long Life." It is about too many medical procedures, tests, drugs, etc being pushed on folks over 65, and how to resist being "over-medicalized" when the situation does not warrant aggressive treatment which may even be more harmful than the original diagnosis. 

    My obgyn doctor who delivered my sons retired, so on Monday I had my regular well-woman checkup with a brand new doctor. I arrived early so that I could complete their paperwork prior to my appointment time, and I did that. Then I sat in the waiting room for 27 more minutes while even women who came in after me were taken back to their appointments. My name was finally called. The nurse took my blood pressure and had me sign a form acknowledging that Medicare might not cover the visit and agreeing that I would pay the bill if not. You know--paperwork and money stuff are first and foremost to cover all applicable asses. Then I waited another 20 minutes in the lovely paper outfit until the doctor arrived. She acknowledged my previous doctor's retirement, then asked if I had any problems. "No, I'm good," I replied. Then she proceeded to talk me into a colonoscopy ("I'm not doing that"), Cologuard (at home colon test... "no, thanks") and a bone density test. To that one I replied, "I would not take any of the osteoporosis medicines, and besides I'm a yoga teacher, and I have rock-solid bones." She was in the room fewer than ten minutes. She did the Pap test, and I guess that's all I was there for anyway. She left the encounter knowing almost nothing about me, but all the insurance t's were crossed and i's dotted. I'm sure the new doc felt that it was a perfectly wonderful visit. I have no delusions that my frustrating experience was unusual. 

    As I age, I am seeing with alarming frequency that the more people "doctor," the worse off they become. I highly recommend Dr. Harrington's book for consideration of alternative choices. 

        Leta