Reading the Tea Leaves

 gardening, Uncategorized, women, writing  2 Responses »
Apr 152013
 

I seem to be collecting a lot of tea lately.

Black tea, green tea, lavender tea, tea to strengthen my adrenals, tea to help me sleep at night, tea to help me wake in the morning. The other day, while visiting the Tulip Festival in Washington’s Skagit Valley, I spied a chocolate tea that had to come home with me.

My sisters had come for their annual spring break visit. Growing up in small towns in Illinois, we didn’t grow up with afternoon tea rituals, but we seem to have adopted them, individually and collectively, over time. Last year at this time, we took a ferry to Victoria to enjoy tea at The Empress, and once I served high tea on our deck on a sunny summer’s day.

Amy, my younger sister, is always on the lookout for tea cups — English china, thank you. We scour the thrift stores looking for such treasures, and she usually finds something fun for her collection.

Me, I enjoy sipping from my gardener cups. I’m more concerned with filling the house with the aromas of steeped herbs, and I couldn’t wait to share Rosemary Gladstar’s recipe for root beer tea. Outdoors, I have planted mint, and I heard a rumor that chamomile plant starts will be available this week, so at some point in time, I’ll make fresh tea from herbs in the garden.

Tea reminds me to slow life down, and I need it more than ever as springtime speeds up life. The garden calls out for planting and weeding. The first draft of my next novel has cooled for a few weeks and now calls me to get back to work. I woke up the other morning with an idea about how to fix a problem with another novel that has stymied me for some time. A friend sends me a link to a writing conference that I plan to attend. A blogger friend reaches out about a new writers’ group. I’m doing volunteer work for a couple of local organizations, and found myself working closely with a local business to raise funds for a needed expansion.

If I read tea leaves, I’m sure they would say, “Caution. You’re overdoing it again.”

I am fortunate. I am not overly busy because I have to juggle multiple jobs to make ends meet. I have the luxury of doing what I damn well please, for which I am deeply grateful. Still, there’s so much that I want to do! So much to enjoy! So many books to write! So many plants to put into the ground! So many weeds to pull! Though I do my best to stay balanced, sometimes I overdo, making myself overly tired and cranky.

When my sisters arrived, I put my work aside. We spent time together, tooling around the area, enjoying the tulips, shopping, and yes, hitting nearby tea houses. I played tourist in my own neighborhood, which forced me to put my work aside. Yes, I snuck outside a few times to weed or plant, but otherwise, I enjoyed some needed time off from all the hard work I’d been doing. As with any vacation, I felt a sense of renewal.

Today I’m back at work. This week I gear up the blogging and writing as I return to my familiar routine. Sometime in mid-afternoon I will stop, pause, and make myself a nice pot of tea. I will breathe in its scent. I will make time to hold a warm cup in hand in a moment of gentleness to soothe my spirit, to take in the miraculous beauty of my life. In these moments of reflection, I know that I am enough, and my efforts are enough. Yes, the tea leaves tell me I have work to do, but the tea itself reminds me to take my time, to relax, and to trust that it will all get done in good time.

Spa on a Budget: Creating Your Own Retreat

 health, women  2 Responses »
Nov 302012
 

All week I’ve written about my spa adventure. Not everyone can afford it (I couldn’t for many years), and I can’t always get away for several days. Yet taking care of ourselves is a gift not only for ourselves, but for those we love. As they say, “If momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!”

The good news is that we can do a lot for ourselves at home for little or no money! Some of the activities that I suggest below may sound obvious, but often it’s the obvious that disappears from our brains when we’re stressed.

The suggestions that follow can be done on their own if you just have a few minutes, or you can set up a daylong or multi-day retreat, depending on available time. If you have children at home, maybe arrange an exchange with a friend — you watch their kids while she retreats, and vice versa. Pick a few items off the “menu” below, or use them to inspire your own ideas.

So let the dust bunnies collect. Let the rest of the family fend for themselves. Take a deep breath, and enjoy!

The Spa Food Experience

If you’re taking time to relax, you’re not going to want to do a lot of cooking, and you’ll most likely want to eat light, healthful meals. Gather your food items together before you start the retreat!

  1. Fresh Fruit
  2. Cut up veggies
  3. Whole grain crackers
  4. Soups
  5. Light sandwiches
  6. Tea
  7. Dark chocolate
  8. Wine (why not?)
For some lovely spa recipes and home spa ideas, take a look at Asian Secrets for Health, Beauty, and Relaxation by Sophie Benge.

Body Care & Relaxation

When our bodies are tense, we can’t think clearly. The first step is to relax!

  1. Start with a hot bath — We women also may spend our time caring for others and forget this simple but effective tool for relaxation. Add essential oils, bubble bath, or Epsom salts to create a luxurious soak.
  2. Stretch — When I taught yoga, several students said, “I used to do these poses when I was a kid. I just didn’t know it was yoga.” You can certainly take a yoga class if you want and can afford it, but feel free to put on some music and let your body move the way it wants to. Imagine yourself as a cat, making slow, languid movements.
  3. Walk — Walking is, by far, the best mental health support I can give myself. Yes, you read that right! I love yoga, but walking gives me even more mental clarity. When I’m writing intensely, I take periodic walking breaks throughout the day. If you’re feeling really tired and just want to chill on the sofa, try a short walk instead. You’ll be surprised how refreshed you can feel.
  4. Massage — For free, exchange massage with a friend or lover. Even if you’re alone, you can massage your hands, feet, arms, and legs easily. If you have a few bucks, try out a student at a massage school. While a student lacks experience, he or she really wants to do a good job, and I’ve had some fine massages from students.
  5. Want to get into scrubs or facials? You can make your own! Organic Body Care Recipes: 175 Homemade Herbal Formulas for Glowing Skin and a Vibrant Self by Stephanie Tourles provides many recipes that are easy to make. I make my own skin cleanser, moisturizer and hair conditioner from this book, and there are lots of goodies to try! Have some girlfriends over and have a facial party!

Mind and Spirit Care

When the body relaxes, the mind can follow more easily. Try these methods to calm and soothe the nerves.

  1. Environment — Think about what physical items cheer you. Fresh flowers? Candles? Soft music? A cup of hot tea served in a pretty cup? Even if your retreat space is just a corner of one room, make it beautiful. Clear the clutter and enjoy.
  2. Nature — This goes along with environment, but often a visit outdoors, to a park, a waterfront, or just a grove of trees brings on a relaxation response.
  3. Meditate — I can hear some of you groaning. I can’t tell you how many people have told me, “I can’t meditate!” Of course you can…you just need to know the secret of good meditation. It’s showing up! Yes, you will have thoughts. Don’t worry about them. Just focus on the breath and let the thoughts be. Let them float by like clouds. There are many good recordings if you want guided meditations to help you. Even if we just have five minutes, it’s five minutes we seldom take for ourselves.
  4. Journal — Keep a journal during your retreat. Jot down thoughts and ideas as they come to you. If you’re going through struggles, write about them. Don’t worry about the quality of the writing. If your thoughts are petty, that’s fine, too. You’ll feel better when you get them on the page.
  5. If you are religious, take some prayer time. Take out your rosary, your mala beads, your prayer shawl, or whatever helps you get in the mood for that Higher Power connection. Let yourself be supported in spirit, and let your burdens be lifted from you.

As we jump into this holiday season, I hope you’ll take some time to nurture yourself. You’re worth it! See you next week!

Guest Post: Living With Pelvic Organ Prolapse

 health, women  No Responses »
Nov 152012
 

I would like to introduce Elizabeth Carrollton, who wrote the post that appears below. While I’m not a medical person, I am happy to share any information that can affect the health of women in my age group. Thanks to the good folks at Drugwatch.com, including Jasmine McCarthy, for visiting my site and offering to share their expertise!

*** 

In the United States, as many as 50 percent of women between the ages of 50 and 79 will be diagnosed with a condition called pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Diagnosis is even common in much younger women. As women move through menopause, their estrogen levels decrease. This decrease in estrogen reduces collagen production – causing connective tissues to weaken. In the case of pelvic tissues, this weakening can deplete the structural support that holds pelvic organs in place. If tissues weaken enough, pelvic organs will shift down toward the pelvic floor. While this condition is in no way life threatening, in its most severe form, it can be uncomfortable or debilitating. However, the majority of women with POP will only experience mild to moderate symptoms, and can often find ways to live with POP without the use of surgical intervention.

Living with Pelvic Organ Prolapse

One of the most common treatments for women with moderate to severe POP is surgery. However, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, as well as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have made it clear that surgical intervention for POP should only be used in cases where anatomical corrections are the only solution for debilitating symptoms.

Otherwise, women and doctors should rely on the most conservative treatments available to adequately reduce the symptoms. This is because one of the common surgical treatments for POP that uses transvaginal mesh devices. This vaginal mesh product has been linked to thousands of cases of serious and irreversible complications. In fact, multiple transvaginal mesh manufacturers have discontinued their products.

Conservative Methods for Treating Prolapse

  • Lifestyle Choices. In addition to pregnancy and childbirth, smoking and obesity are also links in more severe cases of POP. Women should focus on eating a well-balanced diet, getting regular exercise, ceasing unhealthy habits, and maintaining a healthy weight target in order to reduce the strain on weakening pelvic tissues.
  • Pelvic Physical Therapy. Kegel exercises can be done daily to strengthen the vaginal walls and the pelvic floor. Strengthening these muscles can help to prevent organs from prolapsing further. If a woman has been diagnosed with POP, or the condition runs in her family, she may want to seek a physical therapist for a list of other exercises which can help to promote pelvic floor strength. Electrical stimulation can also be used to manually exercise weakened pelvic floor muscles.
  • Vaginal Pessaries: The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends the use of a vaginal pessary for women who have more moderate prolapse symptoms. These devices are custom shaped and fitted according to the woman’s body and symptoms. When inserted properly, and used consistently, a pessary is very successful at providing support for the pelvic floor, preventing organ prolapse, and reversing incontinence. Many women have found that vaginal pessaries prevent the need for surgical interventions.

While surgical intervention can be successful in treating severe cases of pelvic organ prolapse, where the uterus has begun to prolapse into the vagina, most women find that their symptoms can be managed using non-invasive and less risky treatments.

Elizabeth Carrollton writes to inform the general public about defective medical devices and dangerous drugs for Drugwatch.com.

 

http://www.acog.org/About_ACOG/News_Room/News_Releases/2011/Statement_on_FDA_Patient_Safety_Communication http://www.aafp.org/afp/2010/0501/p1111.html http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/ImplantsandProsthetics/UroGynSurgicalMesh/ucm262299.htm#treatmentoptions http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/AlertsandNotices/ucm262435.htm

 Older Entries