Body Image

So many of my friends are obsessed with how they look, I have started to wonder if I am the one with a problem.  

I have my "Food Police" friend who also teaches Yoga.  She decided a couple years ago that belly shirts and low risers were the answer to looking younger.  Now, this gal has three kids and I think you know what that means to her core--even with several yoga sessions a day.  I don't care too look at bare muffin tops on teenagers, so,  why would I want to see them on menopausal women.  Even if I love them dearly.  

Another friend constantly comments, that "if that person lost a few pounds they would be cute".  Well, honestly, I think that person is already cute.  And, to top it off they have a great personality!  What difference does a few extra pounds have?  And really, if the person you are talking to is a candidate to go on Biggest Loser--do you really think it is an appropriate topic of conversation???  Can't we make our observations about someone something more important than how they look.  

And then there is the Potion Finder--you know the one who buys every anti-age new thing on the market in search of her youth.  Cellulite--oh my!  Now this particular friend is truly beautiful inside and out--yes, wrinkles, cellulite and crepe-y neck and all.   She has overcome obstacles that would have felled most.  She is constantly re-creating her life.  Why can't she see what I see?  

Finally, I have my biggest challenge--my Negative Nelly.  With her it is an almost constant barage of seemingly cosmetic complaints directed at others:  that one wears her shorts too short, that one doesn't wear a bra, that one needs to put on makeup, that one needs her teeth done and that one doesn't dress up enough.  Jeez, I just want to scream--LIVE AND LET LIVE!  Who elected you judge, jury and executioner??  

Which brings me to, ME!  Why do these things drive me crazy?  All four of these women are phenomenal.  They work, they take care of their family--even when the family only includes furry kids.  They take care of me when I need a shoulder to cry on or a stern reminder to shape up.  

I wonder what drives them crazy about me?   Could it be that my wardrobe mainly consists of t-shirts and denim shorts?  Could it be my hair that doesn't get a box of color often enough?  Or maybe that it is not done by a professional?  Is it my plus size body?  Is it that my body isn't a problem to me?  

I guess what binds us altogether is our friendship.  I have called each of these girls on these things driving me crazy--as they have called me out for things.  We all ignore it.  I just wish we could stop beating others up over these perceived faults.  Let's try to bring people up and not beat them down.  The world is tough enough right now.  To make someone question something as trivial as cosmetic flaws should be beneath all of us.  

Oh, if one of them asks me for the TRUTH about how they look in something, I am gonna give it to them straight.  But if they are just looking for a pick me up, I am going to tell them they look fantastic--because they are!

Jog.fm

This website is for those of you who like to get out and exercise with your iPod or MP3 players.  It is a very nifty idea for those who hope the beat carries them to the end of their workout.  Note:  if you have trouble just getting out of bed because you don't want to workout I am not sure this will help!

You just put in the number of minutes it takes you to run a mile on the homepage.  Or, you can select the length of time it takes you to walk or ride a mile.  It then spits out a whole playlist of songs to download with the correct beats per minute.  Maybe with my new attitude (from the whole 11/11/2011 new beginnings) I will be able to take advantage of this cool technology.   It better help.  For me, it gave only one song when I put in my time--a funeral durge!  LOL

What's your Superpower?

I had a giggle over the AARP Magazine's sidebar saying that 33% of Americans from age 45 to 59 would like the ability to time travel as their superpower.

So, what's my wish?  How about the ability to converse in any language--global or universe (think aliens!)?  Does that work?  OK maybe time travel is cool enough.  It's actually pretty useful for someone who at various times in my life has said I was born 200 years to early (namely in my Star Trek days).  Or conversely, I was born 200 years to late--I really loved  "The Wild Wild West" with Robert Conrad.

On the same page is an article talking about the growing trend of speaking a language other than English.  The U.S. Census Bureau reports that 57 million adults speak another language at home.   I have always said that I would love to learn Italian and of course travel over there sometime.  How lucky would it be if I woke up one day and could chuck the Rosetta Stone CDs because all of a sudden I could speak ANY language?  LOL  Of course, AARP wants us to know that there are real life benefits of learning another language--it can help with social connections and it can help you focus so things like multi-tasking are easier.  So, maybe I better stick with those CD's.

Lesson's from High School

What is one lesson you learned in school that you never forgot?

I didn't know it then, but what I learned from my tenth grade English teacher, Mrs. LaSalle was--creativity. Freshman English was full of the standard stuff--spelling tests and reading the Greek Tradegies.  Mrs. LaSalle took a different approach.  She is the one who made us write about our heros.  I wrote about my Mom learning to ride horses when she was 35. She made us give speeches.  I choose to talk about the nutritional value of earthworms, while offering the other students cookies spiked with roasted earthworms (they tasted like nuts)!!!  LOL  She made us sit and watch the entire mini-series, The Holocaust (it starred Meryl Streep, James Woods and Michael Moriarty).  I didn't know anyone Jewish at the time and I sure didn't know enough about the second World War.  She was memorable.  She could be intimidating--she stood about 6'2" and with a physical presence that got your attention.  But, boy was she a dang good teacher.  No, it's not her fault that I take so many liberties with punctuation (OK with all things concerning the written word)  nowadays.

11/11/2011 and Numerology

OK  I work from home.  So, I get to watch/listen to a fair number of talk shows.  One of those I catch most days is the CBS show, The Talk.  I love Sharon Osborn and Sarah Gilbert and the new comedian that is on the show, Sheryl Underwood.  I am not such a big fan of Julie Chen--but I digress.

Today's show had a segment talking about numerology and the significance of the date 11/11/2011.  From the research I have done, the date is one of the days the "universe taps us on the shoulder".  This may be a particularly good day for beginning new adventures--say starting a new business, a diet (hmmmmm) or just walking through a new door that just opened.  Now, my sister (who now thinks I am insane after the post on legalizing pot!!!) may just say I have smoked the crazy weed.  I haven't--that's one door I won't be opening!  But, if the Universe taps us on the shoulder, shouldn't we pay attention?

Numerologist Glyntis McCants, the gal they interviewed on the show, also shared how to find your life path number here:

Break down your birthday numbers...say...7-3-1962
7+3+1+9+6+2=28­
2+8=10
1+0=1
1 is the Life Path Number

She went on to say this is the number that describes our major personality traits.  Her basic description of these traits is below.  I  found it interesting, so I did my number (2) and Rod's (3).  Both are pretty accurate.

1- They strive to be their best self.  If feeling down, they will encourage you to get back up again.
2- They live on the positive side, This can be the most loving of all the numbers.  They do not want fight.
3- They are alive and passionate. Their love for you is genuine.  They are also good at dealing with crisis.
4- They are direct.  They will tell you how they think and feel. The 4 must watch what comes out of their mouth.  Their blatant honesty can get them into trouble at times.
5- They are the celebrators of life.  They are gifted at many things.  They need help focusing on one thing at a time, being sure to complete a task before moving on to the next.
6- They are strong and capable.  If anything, the 6 needs to learn that it is ok to ask for help. They should be managers.
7- They are pleasant and soothing to others.  They love nature and enjoy solitude. They ask the big questions: Who am I?  What am I?  Why am I here?
8- The 8 is here to master financial security.  They know how to make things look beautiful.  When they see an injustice, they will do something about it.
9- The 9 is the old soul.  They have a lot of charisma. They have a loving energy and feel called to help others.

So what's your Life Path number?  Is it accurate???

NOTE to SELF--Start new diet 11/11/2011

Isn't it Time?

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/07/opinion/reefer-madness.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

In his op-ed piece in the New York Times on November 6, 2011, Ethan Nadelmann gives a pretty good push for stopping federal prosecution of  marijuana cases--specifically those cases involving medical marijuana.  IF you read the article, check out the comments, too.  Listen, I am not a user.  I like that we prosecute big time drug dealers.  But, really.  Isn't it time we think about marijuana and where it falls in the continuum of elicit drugs?  In these times of economic hardship, shouldn't we be looking for ways to expand the tax base.  Not to mention reducing overpopulation in our prisions.  It seems to me the time has come to legalize marijuana--not only medical marijuana.  Let's put those tax dollars to work improving our infrastructure.  Let's put the narcs to work chasing real bad guys.  Let's stop sending people to jail for something so...insignificant.

The Art of Racing in the Rain

I just finished a great book by author Garth Stein.  It's a novel, not his first.  But, it is certainly one of the most memorable reads I have had lately.  The narrator and one of the characters in the book is Enzo, a yellow lab who is the most fully realized "person" you would ever want to meet.  The book follows the story of the Swift family through all it's ups and downs--career decisions, illnesses and trying to keep a family together.  It is funny, touching and along with Enzo by the end of the book I am quite sure he will be reincarnated as a MAN in his next life.  Pick it up--you won't be sorry!