I can't say that a day goes by when I don't think to myself, "I really need to write that down in my blog." Oftentimes lately I've said this 2 or 3 or 4 times a day. It has literally been a whirlwind of amazing events in my life since I last recorded anything. It is so frustrating as I don't imagine I will ever be able to capture these events.
The last time I wrote was just after my birthday. That seems eons ago right now, but it has only (?) been 5 weeks. Since then I have:
Gone to Green Bay, Wisconsin with Roger, Darius, and Alicia.
Gone to New York City with Roger, Darius, and Alicia.
Started back teaching early morning seminary (6:15 a.m. M - F).
Watched 2 Hurricanes threaten the Florida coasts, or was it 3?
Had so many inspirational moments I cannot begin to count them.
Rode several emotional roller coaster rides with Dorian and his family.
Booked a Bahamas cruise for Dorian and his family in November for Dorian's birthday.
Planned a trip to New York City AGAIN for this coming Thursday through Monday (school break) where I will participate in a raw food class with a chef we met at our last outing to NY (Raw Soul).
Been on the amazing NY subway system and become convinced that there was a genius behind its development.
Ridden a train (from NJ to Grand Central Station).
Been to a Mets game.
Been to a Packers game and toured their museum and stadium (awesome even if you are not a fan - did you know the Packers are the only public owned sports team?).
Watched the Daytona Cubs win the Florida State League championship (minor league high A).
Sorrowed about the Dodgers leaving Jacksonville only to be replaced by the Marlins...
Purchased season tickets to the Daytona Cubs for the 2009 season.
Attended the Orlando temple.
Visited the Manhattan temple.
Ate lunch at the Quintessence and Raw Soul restaurants in Manhattan - absolutely amazing (everything you've heard about the food in NYC is understated - it is amazing).
Gone to farmer's markets (one of my personal favorite activities) in Green Bay (where they had the most amazing little tomatoes I have ever eaten) AND Union Square (Manhattan).
Learned about the "Amigos for Christ" (http://www.amigosforchrist.org/). (This was a whole blog entry in itself. I usually avoid these kinds of booths at fairs and farmer's markets, but I kept finding myself being drawn to it. I purchased some journals for my seminary students and Orion. It is neat to think of Kathy Fox and her son going to Nicaragua to help build houses everytime I see the journals.)
Gone to Times Square.
Ridden the L train and lived to tell about it.
Attended a Spanish branch in Green Bay.
Taught an institute lesson to about 30 college aged kids in Jacksonville (Matt. 13). Realized myself that this chapter with 8 parables is Jesus' prophecies regarding the gathering of Israel.
Had a grandma camp for Wyatt during one of the hurricanes. Learned he loves corned beef hash and watching dolphins at Marineland.
Visited a 3 story Toys R Us in NY with a ferris wheel in the middle of it.
Bought some new clothes at an awesome Goodwill in Green Bay. Threw out old, way too baggy clothes.
Discovered LaraBars.
Locked ourselves out of Dorian's house while we staying with the children and had to call a locksmith. Upside: it was a stunningly beautiful night under the stars. We could even see the Milky Way!
Harvested the most awesome watermelons I've ever eaten along with tomatoes, cucumbers, parsley, and peppers, not to mention learning to eat more of the wild edibles our property produces. Chickweed, our most plentiful weed, is a daily salad addition now.
Learned to make a few raw salad dressings that we actually like. We've almost weaned Roger off the thousand island.
Made an incredible raw garbanza bean sprout hummus. I don't think anyone else liked it as much as I did, but I loved it! (Which is unusual - I'm not usually crazy about stuff like that, especially raw beans.)
Well, I suppose there is more, but you get the idea. And I haven't even gone into any of my spiritually uplifting moments.
I will share my most recent. I have been thinking about the China Study lately - written by Dr. Colin Campbell. I have been trying to think of ways to share the information in it with others. I have finally gotten over my anger over being brainwashed all of my life as to the foods I have eaten which are very unhealthy. I was remembering back in the 70's how there were lots of commercials for cigarettes on TV. Most were very enticing, and I'm sure not a few people started smoking as a result of the propaganda. Once the surgeon general came out with the statement that smoking could lead to lung cancer, laws were passed which restricted cigarette advertising. People still continued to smoke of course, but often times, people started smoking because it was the rebel thing to do.
Now that smoking is seen as such a health hazard, I assume fewer people are beginning the habit, but I don't know the statistics. My point has nothing to do with smoking except to say that I see our food habits changing along those same lines. It is undeniable the harm that is caused by certain foods, especially processed and/or high fat foods. Of course, people persist in eating them for a couple of reasons: they induce feelings of satisfaction; they are addicted to them; they think the research is a bunch of rubbish; and it is the rebel thing to do.
The China Study outlines 45 years of research that determined "even relatively small intakes of animal based foods (from 0% to 20% of total calories) could encourage biological processes that, over a lifetime, would give rise to higher risks for a wide variety of diseases typically found in Western societies (e.g. cancers, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, etc.)."
My a-duh moment came yesterday as I was thinking of what I should prepare for the Relief Society sisters in terms of preparedness. I was thinking about the Word of Wisdom (Doctrine and Covenants 89). I remembered that when this revelation was given to Joseph Smith during the 19th century, the word caffeine had not even been invented yet. No one knew the harmful effects of alcohol, caffeine, or nicotine. The early saints that obeyed the Word of Wisdom simply out of faith. It wasn't until the 20th century that science learned about the harmful drugs in these foods commonly consumed by most Westerners.
Now, here we are in the 21st century. Dr. Campbell, and others, have done extensive studies that have again proven the Word of Wisdom to be true.
10. And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man—
11. Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving.
12. Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly;
13. And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine.
14. All grain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of life, not only for man but for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth;
15. And these hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger.
16. All grain is good for the food of man; as also the fruit of the vine; that which yieldeth fruit, whether in the ground or above the ground—
17. Nevertheless, wheat for man, and corn for the ox, and oats for the horse, and rye for the fowls and for swine, and for all beasts of the field, and barley for all useful animals, and for mild drinks, as also other grain.
I am amazed at how we look at verse 12 and see it as a license to kill animals daily for our food when verse 13 so clearly indicates it is only supposed to be during extreme conditions of hardship. True also for grains (vv. 14 AND 15).
My a-duh moment came when I realized the scientific research is here now to substantiate these unpopular teachings. It is being received as negatively as it was when cigarettes were found to be bad. We don't like change! We want to keep doing what we're doing even when it doesn't work. Just as the people in Joseph Smith's time found it hard to give up addictive substances, so are we. It doesn't matter how much evidence there is to the contrary, WE personally are going to beat the odds.
Unfortunately, the dialysis labs and cancer clinics and cemetaries are full of our loved ones who did not beat the odds. It is likely some of us aren't going to either if we don't make an effort to change. While we all have to die, I agree with Sister Davis' 97 year uncle who said, "If I'd have known I was going to have to live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself." I assume he meant he would have enjoyed a better quality of life in his older years if he had taken better care of himself.
Dr. Oz has introduced a concept known as "biological age". Everyone of us who is eating poorly and not exercising has a biological age far beyond our chronological one. The degree to which we are hyper-aging depends upon our degree of overconsumption of foods that detract from our health. According to the 45+ years of research from Dr. Campbell, "One of the most direct ways to think about which foods to favor is to consider the concept of 'nutrient richness'; ... it is clear to me that these are the whole plant foods: whole vegetables, beans, fruits, raw nuts and seeds, and cereal grains. This also means that, as much as possible, we should avoid or minimize the consumption of any foods that stray from this group. These include animal foods and fragments of plant-based foods (like sugar, white flour, oil) that are used to make 'junk' foods."
I am grateful for a-duh moments. They never sound quite so profound on paper as they do when I have them because I am not able to write with the same intensity and energy with which it is delivered by the Holy Ghost.
If you have not already read the report by Dr. Campbell, please do so. I have a PDF summary of it I can e-mail you. I'm off to finish off the hummus with some crunchy celery sticks.
