All things Considered
great things to read, listen to and know about
I’m getting ready to fly over to England with my 18 year old son, to introduce him to his grandfather for the first time! I have only just met my dad (and sister and brother and aunts and cousins!) last year and it’s a wild story (let alone experience), that I will probably write about some day.
Hopefully I will be able to get some writing done on the plane. I have an essay percolating but for now I just have some suggestions of great things to read, listen to and know about -
I found this book really helpful last month - especially since its written by someone who I don’t normally connect with. The author is a bit of a jock, very organized and believes the system can be improved upon by working within the system, in alone a soothing balm for my nihilistic soul. I loved the book, the organized thinking and the really practical advice within it, plus its a short read which I find useful with self help, (before the panic sets in and I loose focus) and it comes with a great website for folks to workbook out their ideas around what behavior they might want to change within themselves.
Being post menopausal and trying to drop a few of my extra “protection through the change” pounds1 I tweaked a habit that I knew was hindering me, eating while reading or watching. As someone who likes to eat intuitively this works better than counting calories or denying myself certain foods, yet has the same net effect in that I eat less or you could say, that I eat more intentionally. I love finding tweaks that fit within a personal framework, make sense and are relatively easy to do.
Figuring out compliance is a huge part of herbalism for me and something I find fascinating because a big part of compliance is transparency or honesty. It’s pointless to tell someone that the road to health is giving up something that provides tremendous support, even if it is a “bad” habit. Unless there are alternatives that work in place you’re probably just going to revert when you run out of steam and enter the shame blame cycle that just encourages the “supportive” habit in the first place. Context becomes very important and recognizing that I have to work with the whats possible now to be effective is key as a herbalist and challenging in a my soul sees your soul kind of way.
Which is why I likes the book. It works with this what works for you now in really easy micro managing steps, even though for James it’s mostly about how to do more push ups. And this was a big aha in the book, rather than the overwhelming questions (like of how do I shift some proven to be impossible to shift menopause weight) I was like whats one little thing I can change? For myself, even though I have gotten huge comfort out of eating while reading, honestly right now I don’t really like checking out that way anymore so its okay to switch it up. Especially since I know how and am able (the word able is pivotal in this context) to get comfort in other ways….anyone need a hug?
His book has lots of simply little (or atomic) tweaks to how to shift our behavior spirals - ie from downward to upward or unraveling to raveling) to suit all of our particular and I’m sure peculiar needs. Thanks James!
And since that book recommendation became far wordier and a bit more vulnerable and weighted than I intended here is my favourite recent laugh out loud and smile with tears in my eyes moment. Plus its all about England right now ;)
Nettle the Superfood!
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4708629/
Re discovered this dry but compelling and ohhh scientific study on how Stinging Nettle is a true superfood in that it has less carbs and almost 3x the protein as wheat or barley. Not to mention (but here I am) all the vitamins and minerals etc. That it’s a plant of place that requires you to do the effort of getting to it rather than the earth costing expenditure when its the other way around is where sustainability is at. And even with that tiny bit of effort it remains very affordable. I will juice fresh nettle today especially since I’m flying and happily as its the beginning of the season I will still have time when I get back to gather the nettle for drying so that I have tea throughout the year. I’m sure I will make more pesto for the freezer, I’m just finishing up last years batch, made with fresh nettles, lots of garlic, olive oil, parmesan cheese and walnuts. Nettle is one to the few herbs I don’t generally tincture, finding that the quality degrades quickly and that the dried leaf is a preferably way to preserve the awesomeness of Stinging Nettle.
As well as being able to hug my lovely and supportive partner when I come home, I’m also excited to be going to see these guys in concert . I discovered them 3 years ago and find the juxtaposition of electronica done by marching band pretty awesome..as well as the well the skinny jeans.
For now off to one of the most exciting and beautiful connections - finding and exploring family
Much love on the wind to you!
Natasha
most of us tend to just get fat during menopause and indeed the fat actually cushions us from some of the more mind bending emotional hell scapes of the hormonal train ride. So hang in there loves, it gets a lot easier to shift the weight (if thats what you want to do) once we’re done and meanwhile those luscious hips are probably protecting you from some really insane ideas (especially if you’re single) you might have acted on if you were leaner and your nerves less protected.