How Does Your State Stackup?

20 yrs of Unemployment Rates in Video

Pretty amazing stuff from Google.

They've accumulated data from the past 20 years, which you can play-back via a state-by-state graph. Starting from January 1990, you can watch our unemployment rates ebb and flow right before your very eyes, and skyrocket to the current state of less-than-awesome affairs. 




It appears that Puerto Rico currently has the dubious distinction of having the highest unemployment at a whopping 16.1%   (whoa :0/ ) followed by Nevada, at 13.4%.

The lowest in the country is.......(drumroll please).... North Dakota! at 3.5%!   They must be doing something right!  I wonder what it is??? We need to replicate it pronto!

[Data from: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics]

Say it loud! "I'M SAD & I'M PROUD!"

"A hero is an ordinary person who finds the strength to
persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles."  ~Christopher Reeve

 

     So, you may have noticed -  it's been a little while since I've posted, and I feel bad.   It's not that I haven't thought about it - or wanted to - or wished I would.  I just COULDN'T seem to eke a word out, let alone a paragraph.   

"Why," I ask myself.

     I guess it just seemed TOO. HARD.  Well, now that I think about it, EVERYTHING seemed too hard; cooking, cleaning, getting up. I think I've been in a funk.  A bad funk....  And.....  Well...... Some might even say.....I was...... Well, that I was..... depressed.

There!  I said it! 

DEPRESSED! 

     And to tell you the truth I've been completely embarrassed to admit it to me and to you.  I'm Miss Positive after-all!  The inspirational tweeter!  The person changing her life and helping others!   And worse, what if someone who knows me - a family member , a former student, even a potential employer finds out?!  Then what?!  Would they think less of me?  Would they lose respect?  Would I not get "the job?"  
 
     These questions kept me concealed in the dark, retreating into myself, getting less and less involved and more and more bummed out - the OPPOSITE of what I needed.  And thus the self-perpetuating shame cycle began, a cascading waterfall that continued picking up steam and pulling in additional destructive qualities; less exercise, less laughter, less self-care, less hope.

Well, I've been thinking about it allot lately, and I've decided I'm gonna go ahead and turn that "WHAT IF?"  into a "SO WHAT?!"    

                           Let's talk about it!

I mean, why SHOULDN'T we?!  Depression is NOT a moral failing. Folks who are depressed are not "broken."  They are not weak. They are not to blame. Losing someone you love, health problems, job separation, relationship stress are all potential triggers that most of us will experience in our lives.  Any one of those things could make us depressed. And when I think about objectively, (not under a shroud of self-blame & recrimination) I've experienced several of those things lately.  (I lost my job, my Dad and partner are seriously ill, my Grandma died, a friend recently committed suicide).  When putting the pieces together, I guess it makes sense.  Of COURSE it makes sense!  It's human. (Although, even if it didn't "make sense" it would still be valid).   Lots of us feel like this - with or without knowing why.

         In fact, did you know that the National Institute of Mental Health estimates that about 14.8 MILLION Americans are clinically depressed in any given year?!  What tha?! And the World Health Organization estimates that 121 MILLION people worldwide are depressed!  Translation: a heck of allota people!  Translation: there are people in your life right now who are, have been, or are going to be depressed.    And you may not know it.  Sadly, shame often prevents folks from admitting it, talking about it, and seeking help.  And that is tragic.  

"It is an odd paradox that society, which can no speak openly 

and unabashedly about topics that were once unspeakable,

still remains largely silent when it comes to mental illness."    ~Glenn Close

     We talk about everything else - why not something so big, so common, and so important?  Remaining silent only serves to further alienate ourselves and those who need us most.  What's more important as a society than addressing the state of our individual and collective mental health? 

     As for me?  I'm doing much better thank you!  I've been sleeping better, thinking better, moving better, feeling better, and ready to do a bunch of posts!  I have allot of hope.   My only wish I didn't have to wait to get better before being comfortable enough to talk about it.

A Call To Action

I want to remember this.....

"A great way to give thanks...

for the privileges we've got is to do important work.
Your job, your internet access, your education, your role in a civilized society... all of them are a platform, a chance to do art, a way for you to give back and to honor those that enabled you to get to this point.

For every person reading this there are a thousand people (literally a thousand) in underprivileged nations and situations that would love to have your slot. Don't waste it."

  ~Seth Godin

Save The Date Postcard Ideas

Did I ever tell you that I'm engaged?  I don't think I have.  Probably because it's not something I think about TOO often.  And that's probably because it doesn't feel TOO real.  And THAT'S probably because it's been quite a while since he popped the question on Christmas (in front of my entire family!)  How long?  Gosh, I'm not even too sure at this point (he's the one that's good with dates, not me)...  Let's just say a good 5 plus years.  So, you can see why the rush of excitement isn't quite what it used to be.   That's not to say that I don't dream about a future ceremony.  We've talked about it countless times.  It just seems a bit daunting for a number of reasons.

You can’t change what happened to you in the past, but you can change your future.
You can’t change other people, but you can change yourself.
You can’t control what people think, but you can control the way you look at things!
You can’t control what life throws at you, but you can change how you respond!

 

It’s what you do next that counts. Every moment is a chance to start over!  An opportunity to reinvent yourself.   What are you going to choose?

Today I Choose to Embrace my Imperfection

“There’s no point! I messed everything up!”
Are you an all-or-nothing kinda person? Perfectionism can cause procrastination, underachievement, paralyzing fear and workaholism.

REPEAT TO SELF:
I have a RIGHT to make mistakes! It is OK to experiment along the journey of life. With practice, patience, kindness & persistence I strive to EMBRACE IMPERFECTION.

Instead of black and white, I soak up all the lovely shades in-between and all their delicate beauty. I strive for moderation, balance, the middle-path. I EMBRACE IMPERFECTION

Cultivating compassion for others is great practice for learning to also have compassion for myself. I am gentle and kind - regardless of the situation, I have genuine compassion for me. I EMBRACE IMPERFECTION

I don't fight with my nasty inner-critic! Instead, I give it hugs and kisses. I measure my success not by awards or accolades, but rather, how I persist in spite of fear. I EMBRACE IMPERFECTION

BABYSTEPS. Every moment is a brand new fresh opportunity to begin again. I Show Up. I do my best. Because something good always comes of it. I EMBRACE MY IMPERFECTION

Updated!

There is now, officially, a new sheet posted for this week's #ProjectAwesome goals & progress.  So sorry for the delay.  My two weeks away with Grandma was a little more all-consuming then I'd anticipated! ...... And cool news!  There is also a  new shared space for our VISIONBOARDS!  So, put your creative visionary thinking caps on, and post-it-up!  It will be be SO AMAZING to create and share our digital dreams.   (Thanks for the inspiration @MissAshleyyLaLa).

xoxo


@Hamsasya

Healthy Substitutions for Food Cravings

Found this table at a naturopathic website.  So interesting!  Might be worth experimenting with! 

If you crave this...	What you really need is.	And here are healthy foods that have it:
Chocolate	Magnesium	Raw nuts and seeds, legumes, fruits
Sweets	Chromium	Broccoli, grapes, cheese, dried beans, calves liver, chicken
	Carbon	Fresh fruits
	Phosphorus	Chicken, beef, liver, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, legumes, grains
	Sulfur	Cranberries, horseradish, cruciferous vegetables, kale, cabbage
	Tryptophan	Cheese, liver, lamb, raisins, sweet potato, spinach
Bread, toast	Nitrogen	High protein foods: fish, meat, nuts, beans
Oily snacks, fatty foods	Calcium	Mustard and turnip greens, broccoli, kale, legumes, cheese, sesame
Coffee or tea	Phosphorous	Chicken, beef, liver, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, legumes
	Sulfur	Egg yolks, red peppers, muscle protein, garlic, onion, cruciferous vegetables
	NaCl (salt)	Sea salt, apple cider vinegar (on salad)
	Iron	Meat, fish and poultry, seaweed, greens, black cherries
Alcohol, recreational drugs	Protein	Meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, nuts
	Avenin	Granola, oatmeal
	Calcium	Mustard and turnip greens, broccoli, kale, legumes, cheese, sesame
	Glutamine	Supplement glutamine powder for withdrawal, raw cabbage juice
	Potassium	Sun-dried black olives, potato peel broth, seaweed, bitter greens
Chewing ice	Iron	Meat, fish, poultry, seaweed, greens, black cherries
Burned food	Carbon	Fresh fruits
Soda and other carbonated drinks	Calcium	Mustard and turnip greens, broccoli, kale, legumes, cheese, sesame
Salty foods	Chloride	Raw goat milk, fish, unrefined sea salt
Acid foods	Magnesium	Raw nuts and seeds, legumes, fruits
Preference for liquids rather than solids	Water	Flavor water with lemon or lime. You need 8 to 10 glasses per day.
Preference for solids rather than liquids	Water	You have been so dehydrated for so long that you have lost your thirst. Flavor water with lemon or lime. You need 8 to 10 glasses per day.
Cool drinks	Manganese	Walnuts, almonds, pecans, pineapple, blueberries
Pre-menstrual cravings	Zinc	Red meats (especially organ meats), seafood, leafy vegetables, root vegetables
General overeating	Silicon	Nuts, seeds; avoid refined starches
	Tryptophan	Cheese, liver, lamb, raisins, sweet potato, spinach
	Tyrosine	Vitamin C supplements or orange, green, red fruits and vegetables
Lack of appetite	Vitamin B1	Nuts, seeds, beans, liver and other organ meats
	Vitamin B3	Tuna, halibut, beef, chicken, turkey, pork, seeds and legumes
	Manganese	Walnuts, almonds, pecans, pineapple, blueberries
	Chloride	Raw goat milk, unrefined sea salt
Tobacco	Silicon	Nuts, seeds; avoid refined starches
	Tyrosine	Vitamin C supplements or orange, green and red fruits and vegetables

1. Lectures, Cheryl M. Deroin, NMD, Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, Spring 2003 (healthy food recommendations)
2. Benard Jenson, PhD, The Chemistry of Man B. Jensen Publisher, 1983 (deficiencies linked to specific cravings and some food recommendations)

"Learning Days" & Food Journals

There are NO "mistakes", there are ONLY "LEARNING DAYS".  When we attempt to make a change to our disordered eating patterns, it's like initiating a break-up.  There will be resistance.  Mixed emotions. Messiness. Tears.  Don't forget, we've been using food for lots of GOOD reasons.  It's been our buddy.  Our confidant. Our true and trusted friend.  It's been there for us , comforted us in our times of sorrow, soothed us when we were afraid.  So why would breaking up with food would be easy?   It won't be! We can't expect "perfection".   We can't expect immediate change.   In fact, expecting a simple, easy, pain-free process will set us up for failure.  And to be clear, by "failure", I do NOT mean days of overeating, slip-ups or weight gain.    In fact, with the RIGHT mind-frame, all of those aforementioned "failures" could in fact, potentially serve as pathways to SUCCESS - to liberation.  What do I mean?   I mean that the journey to weight-loss, and/or freedom from weight OBSESSION will NOT be a linear process.  We are GOING TO mess up,  fall off the wagon. PLAN ON IT!  Because it's part of the process buddy.  And guess what - it is NOT a "failure".  It is instead, an OPPORTUNITY to learn, make new connections, put together pieces of the puzzle.

The key is - DO NOT PANIC!  Do NOT berate yourself, feel bad, call yourself a failure, or otherwise attach any sort of unnecessary negativity to the event.   Most importantly, DO NOT GIVE UP!   It is quite simply an OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH.  A learning day.  An opening for self-reflection. 

Ask yourself - what happened?  How were you feeling?  What was going on in your heart, in your mind?  How did you react?  How did food assist you through it?   How did food get in your way?   What was the meaning of your hunger?  Where did you feel it in your body?  Often, we have such anger and frustration surrounding food, we forget to notice and acknowledge what it has done for us  - how it has assisted us - how it has helped us through the ups and downs of life.  When we acknowledge this and accept it and respect and appreciate the role food has played in our life -  in turn, we become better equipped to, finally, LET IT GO.  To make room for a new, improved HEALTHIER relationship.   To replace it with new, improved healthier habits, coping mechanisms, and constructive proactive life changes.

HOW?!

The BEST, POSSIBLE tool for changing a disordered relationship with food, THE BEST POSSIBLE tool for "success", and for eventual weight loss is most DEFINITELY keeping a full-on comprehensive FOOD JOURNAL - a journal that includes not only EVERYTHING that you consume - but also your thoughts/feelings/activities and hunger levels before and after eating.

There is ONE rule when keeping these journals - and that is to SUSPEND JUDGEMENT!  QUIET THE INNER CRITIC IN YOUR HEAD.  This journal is meant to SAFE PLACE.  A SANCTUARY.  A SHAME-FREE SPACE where you are free to express your innermost thoughts and feelings without fear.

THERE ARE NO FAILURES!

It is purely a TOOL for INQUIRY.  Reflection.  Growth.
And thus,

THERE ARE NO MISTAKES!
ONLY LEARNING DAYS.......

So, what do you think?  Are you interested?  Have you used a journal in this way before?   Did you find it to be helpful?  I've been thinking about creating a journal template online - shared or private - perhaps even as a part of #PROJECTAWESOME.   If you're interested, plz let me know.  I would love to hear your thoughts & reflections...


With love & light,
xoxox

annie
http://twitter.com/Hamsasya

When Food Is Love

So often we unconsciously use food to soothe ourselves.  But we can become CONSCIOUS and CHOOSE to soothe ourselves in other, new healthy ways.  How do you nourish yourself in ways other than food?

@dklon Devin Watson

@Hamsasya Walking near dawn in the summer.

@mcschoon Michelle

RT @Hamsasya: How do you nourish yourself in ways other than food? « reading, blogging, getting into long discussions with my favorite peeps

Cooking is POWER!

 

Mice droppings, insects, dirty counters, improper food temps, dirty hands. Do you KNOW your fast food is safe?  When you cook, you’re in a position to exercise self-care. Calories, fat, portions, cleanliness are all within your control.  When you go out to eat, you effectively forfeit your power into the hands of someone who may, or may not, have your best interest in mind.

Case in point:
Dateline NBC – Consumer Alert on “Dirty Dining:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640

Tamyr Made a Video about #PROJECTAWESOME!!!

Little Victories Add Up

Little Choices Make BIG Transformation, and over time, it's "little things" that come together to create the most AMAZING impacts.  Every time we choose an apple over a bagel, stairs over an elevator, baked over fried, for example, we make micro-shifts. Each time we make these choices, it is a VICTORY.  Over time, these victories transform into habits that transform our lives.

EVERY time you make a proactive life-affirming healthy choice, take a moment, soak it in, feel a sense of PRIDE, acknowledge that in making that choice, you just made a positive step towards wellness and an INVESTMENT in YOU.  Pat yourself on the back.  And most importantly, CELEBRATE YOUR EFFORTS. 

What's ONE proactive life-affirming healthy choice that you made today?  It doesn't matter what it is - there's nothing "too small" - nothing too "insignificant".  It can even be a split-second moment where you simply made A BETTER CHOICE.  A choice that reflected a belief in yourself.  That brought you CLOSER to your goals and dreams.  It could be ANYTHING!    Just leave it here so we can support eachother and CELEBRATE OUR LITTLE VICTORIES TOGETHER.   EACH and EVERY one of your "little victories" matters.  And you deserve to celebrate ALL of them!
XOXO,

annie
@hamsasya

 ------------------------------------------------

laurajeanne3 Laura

@Hamsasya I added half of a serving of craisins to my salad instead of a usual whole serving. Too much sugar! #LITTLEVICTORIES

alley10se Lynn

@Hamsasya Good choices at the grocery today: fresh fruit & brussels sprouts, turkey & chicken. #LITTLEVICTORIES!

SarahCole00 Sarah H

@Hamsasya as strange as it sounds, I had 3meals and 1snack today, lately it's been eating 1-2, getting back on track! #LITTLEVICTORIES

ArmySisterof2 Jenn Page

@Hamsasya Little victory?? Big to me. Have cut out Pepsi 48hrs so far. Hard for this Pepsiholic #LITTLEVICTORIES

ComicBookDave Dave

@Hamsasya my little victory was swapping out some soda for water.

Project Awesome Gets AWESOMER???!!

ProjectAwesome: Supporting Our Friends in Wellness  

Guess what!  Project Awesome is now not only viewable and accessible, but can also be updated by each of the participants by going 

HERE!

Meaning - now EVERYONE can go to this page, enter their goals for the week, adjust them,  enter their progress, and so on.  How cool is this?!  When you have a moment, would you please take a look and let me know what you think?  To enter data, you just need to click on a cell (to the right of your name) and type.  As soon as you enter your goals and results, it will be viewable by all.  And we can all make updates to the same sheet at the same time!  

More kewl stuff around the corner.... But, this will be a nice stepping stone for the moment, I think.

xoxo

annie
@hamsasya

PS: If you're not allready a member of #PROJECTAWESOME and would be interested in joinin up!  Please leave me a comment!  We're recruiting!  And the more awesome the better.

Teams and Purpose

"@SarahCole00 @AskMarianne @Deritho @writerchickmc Didn't want to let #TEAMSTRONG down. ;) Thanks for motivation."    ~@JanetMcClearan, June 13, 2011 

Janet McClearen
Nebraska
Writer, reader, learner, hunter-gatherer (hunt and gather wisdom from a variety of sources) :-) wife, mother, grandma, care-giver http://jmactnne.blogspot.com/

This is what it's all about.  It fills me with happiness. It's everything I could hope #TEAMAWESOME would be be. Support, encouragement, camaraderie, hope.   Isn't it amazing what can happen when we just come together?  It's that simple. We need each other.  We want to be together.  To give.  We are meant to be in connection.  Our spirits crave it. It seems that often the only this missing is the vehicle.  A place to connect.   Thank you Janet, you motivate me to keep going, to do more!   ♥