health enhancement or a loss of freedom

It's been nearly a year since my last post. Funny thing is I love to write but usually it's in response to some topic that interests me or in my private notebooks to sift through my thoughts. Today though, I think I will share my thoughts on the latest health care plan, the one my husbands work placed at our door. I'm sure their intentions are good as I've spoken to someone who is supposed to be representing us and she swears it's wonderful. This "health enhancement program" is meant to serve as disease prevention only it's been laid out in such a way that if we do not accept their terms we are penalized substantially. Huge co-pays and a large deductible for each family member plus the regular pay roll deductions seems to me that it's more of an arm twisting than good intentioned program. What could be wrong with it, you may wonder. So many do not even have decent insurance or they pay way too much, I know. This is why it's time we work on a solution to make health care right for all concerned and not just serve our government.

As a member who is over 50yrs. I would be on the list for annual physicals, something I've done quite well without. I see a doctor each year for blood work that can give a good md. quite a bit of information depending on tests ordered. I appreciate this and wouldn't mind if they did CBC (complete blood count) opposed to violating my body every year. Apparently this isn't enough. They want us all in for all sorts of poking and probing regardless of what we think on the matter. Some may appreciate this "great" care but for some reason I do not not. Instead I see it as a violation of my rights. Over the years I have learned much about nutrition and different ways to prevent disease such as diabetes and other such older age stuff. My interests have led me to more natural conclusions regarding health care. There were times I told my doctor how to best take iron supplements as when I asked him how much he wasn't sure. I had already researched it and knew what was safest when diet alone wasn't enough.

When I see pharmaceutical sales reps sitting in the waiting room, only 3 months since the last visit, with their bag of goodies how are we to expect decent care. After all, the Dr. is motivated by the perks given when he/she dispenses and prescribes such a treat. And yes they are more willing to do this than to look to good nutrition and exercise.
I wonder, if the intent is to help us all have better health why aren't there national FREE gym memberships offering each person up to an hour a day? I wonder why they'd spend thousands over the life time for hypertension or diabetes but not offer a FREE treadmill, bike, yoga classes, or even dance classes to help those who can not afford such luxuries? In the long run they'd be showing me they really care about my health. Movement,proper nutrition, sometimes specific diets, can go further in healing than a pill. A pill makes the pharmaceuticals very happy, I'm sure. It also makes all the shareholders happy as well. But is it the answer we want put on us?
In many ways I feel medicine has failed us. Many family members have had their health damaged by improper care even though they went through the preventative steps to see what was wrong. Yes, even medicine for high blood pressure can ruin your kidneys. I am for good health. I just see a different way of healing people than forcing us to use your test machines Mr. Man. I want honesty. Not your bullshit. I do not care what Europe or Canada has done. We can and should improve upon it...not make our care worse.
I would really like to walk more in the winter but many days here it is either too miserable out or dark too early. For now I will continue my search for a woman in medicine that I feel I can trust since I am forced to begin this new program. Shame on those who did this to us. I do believe we've lost some freedoms with this kind of plan though the name implies otherwise. I will not be fooled.

family friendly jury duty

Family friendly jury duty is not something I ever found reason to give much thought to until recently. What is it? Well, it's a law that allows a caretaker, who is summoned for jury duty, to take a postponement to serve rather than be forced to leave their young child or person with a disability or illness. It's a good law and many states have adopted it to prevent new mother's and caretakers from being penalized.

There are some who feel that jury duty is such a civic duty that anyone who dares to ask for a postponement is anti-American. The irony is that some of these people have not been summoned in years or never at all.
I have heard the arguments against it but any mother or carer will appreciate the value of not breaking the law to postpone jury duty till a time that the one that needs them is ready to be left with others. I know many women go to work when their infants are a mere 6 weeks old. Some are heart sick about this but they need the income. Some are anxious to get back where they feel most needed, at work, they believe. A few simply leave their babes with a day care to go home and be with friends or go shopping. I can not speak for their needs but I can speak for Oona, until she finds her voice. She needs her mama right now and her mama is happy to put her first. Yes, she has others to care for her and if there was an emergency she would survive. But is jury duty an emergency? Is it a valid reason to tear an infant or small child from their mother, or a sick person from their main carer? If only I could stand in, or if Oona's daddy was called instead.

Perhaps I am too analytical but I see how the law to make family friendly jury duty is one we should adopt in every state. We should have compassion. In fact it's a law I assumed was already in place in my state and all others. Carers will make good jury duty members when they have time to focus on a case without undo stress of worrying about the one they left home.
No more penalties for those who need postponement. No mothers given a night in jail as happened in one case. No hefty fines. No more denials for a mother speaking the truth. Her child isn't her hardship, it's her first duty!

love

I am Oona's grandma! She's not quite 2 weeks old an already I am thinking of her life and how we must teach her to use her voice, be strong, and stand up for herself. How hard it is, for so many women today, to know how to speak up for what they need. Some try and are so assertive they bite. Instead of being able to take charge of their own life they somehow want to boss the world around and expect it to bow to their needs. Somehow they confuse empowerment with POWER. Perhaps sometimes we need to bare teeth. Just as we need to cry or even howl we are born with all our emotions. I hoped I raised my own kids to know this. This is their birthright. There are times to be quiet and meditate but there are also times to be enraged. I think too many of us end up sick, dying from lack of song, lack of using our voice.
So, for our Oona, I pray she finds her voice and never surrenders it. Be it writing, song, or voice....I pray she always stands for what is right for her. I hope that others, the wise and kind, will guide her when she does not know. Mostly, I hope she questions the world when it fails her and does not sit by passively accepting less than she deserves. It can be hard work being a woman. For now she's a baby girl with a grandma who wants better for her than she had for herself. For now we will give her love to build her strength and character. I have a feeling Oona will teach me to forgive. She will help me know when to fight and when to let go. I am honored to be Oona's grandma. I am in love again.

Will take my own advice to heart and revive my blog, for myself. Writing it down has been my way to take a closer look at myself, sometimes setting me free, other times keeping me stuck. Either way it helps me touch bases with what's going on with myself so I do not spend a lifetime stuck repeating the same damn mistakes when there are others to explore.

If someone wanders in don't be afraid to say hi.

promises to myself

Making resolutions for the New Year has never been one of my strong points. I tend to lead an existence that allows for flexibility which means I tend to fit into my day whatever suits my needs. Seems that I spend too much of my time cleaning or sorting so I think one thing I must do is to keep moving forward and get rid of a whole ton of stuff and making space for great projects. Since we haven't moved in nearly 28yrs. we've done more accumulating than purging of stuff. It's time for a fresh start without necessarily moving house. I've tackled some in the last year so this is just a continuation. So...to be continued.

Next is a more spiritual aspect of life. I am going to work on doing more for myself. I have a tendency to wait for a request before I move forward. Sometimes it's hard to make time for myself. All those things I used to do seem superficial compared to connecting with others. I've been rethinking this.
Maybe an oil painting can be fit in.
Maybe those half started stories I've begun writing need an ending.
The sewing machine needs a place again.
I will have to start making my own requests and learning to put forth some of my work that's been on hold. Talents are gifts and to not use them is said to be a "sin" or a waste. So, regardless of what others may think I will start clearing my own path, never minding if another soul notices or cares. I will care, not just about others getting ahead, but about myself. I will remember that quote I loved to carry, that it will matter more to me whether I do or don't do something for myself than to anyone else.
I may not have much to offer but what I have is mine to give so I need to get off my ass and begin creating again. And this is the gift I will give to me in the coming days. A little bit for me.
What is it you deserve and have put off, perhaps while taking care of everyone else or the petty clutter life placed along your path?
I wonder.

a short sabbatical in the mountains

Yes, it only took a few hours between hiking the short but steep trail and getting back to the car but I have to get my breaks wherever I find them. It sure beat doing the paperwork! And I got to see a peregrine falcon take flight from a tree while still on the trail up. They are a protected species though their prey is other smaller birdies so it's a sad story.
I also spotted a teeny tiny black snake with a yellow ring around his teeny tiny neck, venomous no doubt. ( all of 4" and thinner than a pencil) Also 2 woodland chipmunks and even a fly, for good measure, at the top of the cliffs. No, I did not see the black bears or moose as it was day time and they saw us first....and smelled us.

vitamin D and the armchair scientist guniea pig

I'm not sure what took so long but it's only been in the last year that we have been told that we all need way more vitamin D than the former daily amount we were told we needed. It not only helps with stronger bones but helps fight certain cancers as well.
My doc said he's testing the D levels of all his patients. When he checked my D it came back way too low and he put me on a prescription for D, a once a week capsule for 3 months. Apparently it did the trick as my D shot right up to normal. Only problem was my sensitivity to aspirin. The prescribed D has an aspirin product in it and it made me ache. I can take an over the counter vitamin D, 2000 units, now and it's safe for me. (I take it with calcium on the side) My teeth might have fared much better cavity wise had this info been available long ago! He suggested this amount even after my D normalized.

My sister also happened to be on the same vit.D therapy as me only a few weeks earlier. She found her aches disappearing as the D was helping to heal her. Others who've opted to give the vitamin a try without getting a test also found that aches and pains, from what they believed was arthritis, are also finding that it relieves these aches.
There is one other interesting quality that my sis has noticed, the vitamin has given her a sense of fullness after eating that she never had before. I never knew this "secret" though she was always a "big" girl, by nature. I learned that she never had a shut off feeling, like many of us feel when we've eaten too much. She walked, she tried diets, and then she finally accepted herself as being big. She ate privately and hates when anyone eats in front of her but she also has a busy life with teen boys and is going to school herself in the last few years. When my mom stayed at her house she noticed that my sis could eat huge amounts of food....enough for several people. My mom can eat so she wasn't being cruel but was seriously concerned. I hope not to offend anyone. I feel that those who binge have a legitimate ED which needs attention and the more natural the treatment the better.

So, will vitamin D cure that broken shut off or "I've had enough" feeling? I'm not sure. Maybe it will help. It certainly doesn't hurt that she now eats less because she can feel fullness! Now that we are speaking openly about it I can ask her how she's doing. She feels that it's had an amazing effect on her health. It may be something to do with any deficiency...not just D. I'm not sure.

I just wanted this info out here because others may be noting a similar experience. I'd like some feedback on this. Maybe we would have figured this out a long time ago if people talked the way we do on the internet today.

It may be a good idea to get your vitamin D levels checked on your next checkup or just add it to your list of nutrients you might/probably need more of.