Lightening the load

Have you ever really thought about all the stuff you have in this life?  The stuff in your house; the junk in your trunk; that extra set of dishes, clothes that no longer fit, movies we don't watch, trinkets, decorations, kitchen gadgets we don't use....the list is endless.

Every time I move, I try to weed out things I no longer need or use.  And I've moved a lot in my life.  I thought I was keeping the clutter to a minimum.  I had packing down pat.  But then I got divorced and felt the need to get rid of almost everything that had a strong memory associated with my marriage.  I suppose it was a way of purging - a clearing away of the ties.  With every piece of furniture I sold, I felt lighter, clearer.  I had used my possessions as a security blanket.  I used them sometimes to attempt to define myself.  And when they were gone, I felt freed.  I felt a space open up inside of me that hadn't been there before.  A space to allow for breathing and discovery and adventure and courage and strength.

After moving around a bit more, I decided to try and settle down again.  I began to acquire things - more furniture, pottery figurines, new clothes and jewelry.  I tried to acquire new friends.  And I ignored that space inside of me - I pushed it away, closed it up.  I ended up unhappy, lonely, stuck in a job I didn't like.  Don't get me wrong, there have been and are really great things in my life: the amazing girl I mentor, new friends, adventures, two sweet loving dogs.... But I found that the space was gone - I had filled it back up with old fears, bad memories and negative self talk.  Fortunately, I'm a fast learner.  When I realized what happened, I made some changes and took control again.  I began to lighten the load and free up some of that space inside where I'm free.  It feels good.  I've come to realize that I no longer value possessions.  I value relationships, family, friends.  I value experiences, sensations, physical movement.  Seeing the perfect sunset.  Listening to the rain.  A warm, velvety southern summer evening.  Hot, fresh apple cider on a frosty fall day while you wander the apple orchards.  Laughing with friends or family until you cry and your stomach hurts.  Making a patient feel more comfortable with a test or helping them finally understand something.  When you can distill what is in your life, the things that surround you, the things that occupy you daily, you can begin to see the things that are most important in life.

So how about you?  What are you carrying around?  Do you need to lighten your load? Can you let go and open up some space?

Science vs anecdotal evidence

Today I've been thinking about the validity of the information the we receive - specifically nutritional and health information.  Recently I shared a post on facebook about potential dangers of the flu vaccine.  A friend and I then entered into a discussion about the validity of the information.  And it was a discussion - not an argument - which I truly appreciate.  I am very happy to discuss different points of view and entertain new information.  I don't believe that I know everything nor consider myself an expert.  I like to look at all the different sides in case I can learn something new.

With the advent of the internet, and also facebook, we now are bombarded by information 24/7.  Additionally, one of the many confusing and unique realities of nutrition is that there are so many, many conflicting points of view - each with science to back it up.  For example, there is data and evidence of the need and safety for pasteurized milk.  There is also data and evidence of the need and safety of raw, unpasteurized milk.

Sometimes the differing opinions come down to science based evidence (or research trials) versus anecdotal evidence (i.e. many people noticing that eliminating a certain thing improves health; or a doctor noting that all the patients he put on this particular diet or supplement improved).  My friend is wholly on the side of scientifically based evidence only.  Facts backed up by scientific trial and approved by governmental agencies.  This is not necessarily a bad thing.  After all, scientific research has given us vaccines and treatments that save lives.

Other people are firmly in the anecdotal evidence type camp.  Things that have worked for people they know or people their doctor knows.  Information they have read or heard about.  The latest diet craze.

Myself, I tend to have a foot in both camps.  I think if something is working for a majority of people it should not be discounted for lack of a scientific trial.  (Similar to buying fresh vegetables from a farmer who doesn't used pesticides but is too small to afford the process it takes to label them organic.  They're still grown organically.  They just don't carry the official government label.)  However, that doesn't mean that it is safe for everyone or that it will work for everyone.

I have a lot of respect also for vaccines and treatments that have been tested and researched for safety before I used them to assist in my health.  But there are many research trials that are paid for by companies with enough money to either affect the trial in their favor or to slant the results the direction they want them to go.  One current example of this is GMOs (genetically modified organisms).  The government and companies such as Monsanto have been saying for years that research has shown them to be safe for human consumption.  Evidence is now coming to light that this is not necessarily the case.  Monsanto has been shown to pay their own scientists to say certain things about GMOs, then pay another of their scientists to agree with the others, and then release press statements saying that there is a unanimous consensus.  The french scientist whose studies with rats fed GMOs showed they developed massive tumors and was subsequently shushed up by Monsanto.... Monsanto in trying to discredit him said that he used the wrong kind of rats.  But they were the same kind of rats that Monsanto uses in their trials.  They also said he had too small of a control group.  But it was the same size as Monsanto groups in their trials.

As you can see, there are a lot of controversies on both sides.  I don't necessarily accept as fact what either side is saying.  But I can only try to be as informed as possible before making my decisions.  And then see what works for me.  If someone is spouting scientific evidence, I want to know who paid for that trial, what they profit from it, and how long has it been researched.  If I hear anecdotal evidence, I want to know if any type of scientific trial or research has been done, how many people have tried this, what their results were, who it didn't work for and why.

Vaccines, medications, supplements and yes, our food and cosmetics - they all affect our bodies in negative and positive ways.  Don't you want to know what you're putting in and on your body?  Don't you want to give it the best fuel and treatment possible?  The information is out there.  But you have to do the work and find out.  It's more important than you think.

Be well.
Jules