Life ain't easy

I had a realization that the best things in life are the hardest and take the most work to achieve. I recently took up a meditation practice. The teacher told us that this is not an easy thing, sitting with yourself quiet trying to avoid thinking, labeling and judgement. He told us this was work. And so it is. I have been putting forth a best effort for a daily meditation practice. It is a challenge. This started me later thinking that all my life achievements thus far have been hard work. The things that we want take time, energy, effort. But they are all worth it.... I'm not sure if this seems life a common thought but in realizing that easiness is not always the best option is guiding me to a certain direction in life.

ReTurn...

I stole the capitalization from Jill. My life feels like a full turn. My official summer has come to an end. I am returning to work tomorrow full time, full duty. But still in rehab. I feel refreshed for the working world although i could get very used to not working full time. I had a great summer spending lots of time with my parents who have been amazing over the past 3 months. I would not have gotten through the rehab without her. My chauffer, my support through it all. Thanks MOM. Through all the confusing mess i had a good summer and a good tan. I am alot more thankful for every day and hope to keep this in my life as i return...

Vegan MoFo

Vegan MoFo is coming up again in October. I have never been a part of this. The idea is to blog as much as poosible about vegan food and cooking in the month. Aiming for about 20 posts- 1 for every weekday. Maybe this will get me back to blogging again......

Shark bite....

Walking around in this leg brace for the past 9 weeks has led me to much attention. Everyone and anyone feels the need to comment or talk to me about my knee. I have heard from the worst "that suck" to the many, many, many stories of others injuries. Alot of people want to know how i did it, sometimes i am impeled to tell the truth other times i agree with what they ask and walk away. But the best happened to me today sitting on the beach. A man walked by and plainly said "Shark bite"..... I quickly agreed and he kept walking. i used it later when someone asked as i was leaving the beach.

Puzzled...

I received an email in my inbox today which i subscribe from diseaseproof.com. They send frequent emails about health reports and evaluations of recent literature and findings. I receive on today that got me thinking of how people pick and choose the "health" aspects of thier life. This one piece of literature stated that vegatarians and vegans are 12 percent less likely to develop cancer than meat eaters and the advantage is particularly marked when it comes to cancers of the blood, which becomes a shocking 45% less. OK that speaks to me... How about you??
It brought me to thinking about how this fact does not effect others. 45% LESS. People are not willing to sacrifice but they do like to add things to their already established habits. ie. My dad will not change what he eats- but will add vitamins daily- a whole handful and those nuts with the "good fats" for an evening snack. He reads all about the literature to find the best vitamins but the glaring evidence about not eating meat and having a overall 12% chance less likely to develop cancer. Why wouldn't you change this???? Think about it.

The 411 on SPF

Nutrition Action newsletter arrives in my mailbox bimonthly. The most interesting, newsfulled, health and diet magazine full of facts and all the "juice" i love. The feature this time was "The Skinny on Skin". It takes about how there is no evidence of antioxidants on skin aging, age is no the cause of wrinkles- sun exposure is, sugar does no cause wrinkles, sunscreen is safe.

The best feature of the article is the explanation on the SPF number. I have heard so many things about what that number really means. A sunscreen with SPF ( sun protection factor) of 30 is twice as good as an SPF 15, right... WRONG. If applied properly a sunscreen with SPF of 15 blocks about 94% of sun's UVB rays, SPF 30 blocks 97%, and one with 45 blocks about 98%. It also says how much to use.. Apply half a teaspoon each to your head, neck and each arm, and at least a teaspoon to your chest back and each leg = 6 teaspoons. A 6-8 oz bottle should only last a few days. Be careful of UVA and UVB, SPF only protects against UVB. The UVB causes sunburn, suntan, and skin cancer. UVA can cause skin aging and skin cancer. UVA sunscreend must contain 1 of the 5 following ingredients: avobenzone, ecamsule, oxybenzone, titanium dioxide, and zinc oxide. As much as I love the sun, and a suntan, i do not want wrinkles.

Looking for the inspiration with perspiration

So most of you wo read my blog know what has been occuring with my knee over the past few months. If not here it is in a nutshell. On the beach in Costa Rica day 2 of 8 for a yoga retreat with wake up yoga and a macaw lands on my back and i freak out and try to run away. A twist and snap I knew my menicus was torn. Made it through the rest of the week and 1 month til I couldn't take it anymore. MRI positive for lateral meniscus tear and no view of the ACL Went back to old durgeon from '01 when I did this the first time (on an inflatable obstacle course). Went under the knife for a scope and possible-menisectomy, ACL revision, or repair... Turnned out to be a lateral meniscal repair with bone grafting after old hardware removal. Walk in extension for 7 weeks... took up swimming....lifing weights and alot of life modification. Havent' worked in 7 weeks and it is a weird feeling. Have been working on my tan hard. I have been looking for the inspiration due to times of depression throughout the 7 weeks. Found most of it while at the gym and pool. -The laady swimming next to me for over an hour was 90 on one side and the man on the other side had both knees replaced. - next day met a man who is in remission from cancer and works out at the gym everyday.
So many people have over come more than me, but the truth is when it happens to you it just plain old sucks and i want a pity party. The inspiration has helped but there is always that minute bit of selfishness. I am on the upswing now. Just has surgery #2 yesterday to reconstruct the ACL. Surgeon seems to feel positive, so should I......