This year on May 28th I celebrated a whole year of being in remission from Lupus. That was a big day for me! Though I have some leftover "gifts" from Lupus, physically I had felt good for a long time. But reaching a whole year off of medication gave me the validation I needed to believe in my remission. I'm ok, I really am!!! In the following months I have felt like Rip Van Winkle. It's an incredibly happy opportunity to have my life back and to have a second chance at being all that God intended me to be; but it's also mind-boggling, frightening, lonely, and a wonderful challenge. It's a great gift from God to get your life back after fighting a disease for so many years. I am so grateful. But you know what? I'm grateful for the journey I had with Lupus, too.
Yeah you read that right. I'm grateful for having had my journey with Lupus. Because of my journey with Lupus I am who I am today. Being ill taught me how short the speck of time we spend on this earth is. It taught me that wellness is not just about not being sick. It taught me to value time spent on a park bench watching ants scurry here and there on the ground. More than that it taught me to TAKE THE TIME to sit on a park bench and watch the ants scurrying around on the ground. When was the last time you slowed down; got off the rat race merry-go-round and took time to relax and appreciate life? When was the last time you felt grateful?
My journey with illness taught me to laugh, to find humor everyday. It opened my eyes to the beauty around us in the wonders of nature. When I see a fluttering hummingbird, a soaring hawk or a rare Pileated Woodpecker I feel an attitude of gratitude for the beauty with which we are surrounded. I swear the red I see in a rose is more beautiful now then the red I saw before I got sick. It's just an awesome color! When was the last time you ever really looked at a rose or a flower and truly appreciated the wondrous colors? God is an awesome artist! Want to give your life a spark of joy? Always, always have a vase of cut flowers in the room you are in the most! Do you have a green thumb? Grow some flowers on your kitchen windowsill. We have an integral need to give love and whether it's to a plant, a pet or to another person that you give loving care, the giving of care will enrich your life.
In my struggle to make sense of my journey with lupus I learned how much of life I had taken for granted. In today's world it's so easy to get caught up in busy-ness, in things which don't add value to your life. There is so much busy-ness which is just a waste of time. What parts of your life do not add value to your existence? Is your work fulfilling? Are you utilizing your talents? Do your friends enrich your life or do they suck your emotions dry with their negativity? Real friends don't suck you dry. Surround yourself with people who lift you up.
I am reminded of my favorite quote "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away." I don't know who to attribute that quote to but I can say this: If you aren't having moments in your life which take your breath away then you need to change something in your life. Do what you need to to have a take-your-breath-away life!
Wishing you wellness and joy!
Pam Murphy,B.S.,RRT
http://pamsnutritionstore.com
Sunday, August 14, 2005
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
The Dumbing of America
Have you noticed every year or so there is a disease in the spotlight? You hear about it in all the media and countless commercials. Have you also noticed every year there is a new drug to treat the "new disease"?
Labeling a given set of symptoms and treating them with pharmacologics as though they were diseases, is a financial windfall for the pharmaceutical companies. I can't wait to see what new "disease" they come out with next!
Diabetes is not a disease. Osteoporosis isn't either. Neither is GERD, or IBS. These are disorders of lifestyle not diseases. Yet people are popping pills to treat diabetes, osteoporosis, GERD and IBS, all the while living with the side effects. Do they change their lifestyle? No. It's so much easier to pop a pill without even thinking of the consequences.
You've heard drug commercials that imply Osteoporosis causes weak bones. But the truth is Osteoporosis is caused by diet and lack of exercise. Osteoporosis is the result NOT the cause.
"Osteoporosis is due to long-term bone disease caused by the American diet. The acid and protein from the meat and dairy products damage the bone tissues, thus causing calcium and other bone materials to be lost through the kidneys. Deficiencies of vitamins, minerals, and other plant-food-derived nutrients further contribute to the deterioration of the bones. This is why the heaviest consumers of milk and meat in the world – Americans and Europeans – have the weakest, sickest bones."
- Dr John McDougall in his newsletter March 2005
Be a sedentary slug while consuming a diet of refined carbohydrates and meat protein and diabetes will be on your life menu. According to all the commercials just pop a pill to correct your dietary excesses and laziness. But wait! That's crazy! Drugs most often treat SYMPTOMS not the CAUSE. Not to mention drugs come with side effects because drugs most usually are synthetic compilations of chemicals which do not belong in your body.
What is a body to do? Go see your physician for a complete physical. Get his/her OK to begin an exercise regimen. Turn off the tv, get off the couch, move your body! Find a sport or exercise you enjoy! Think about what you eat before you eat it. Processed foods are not nourishing. Chronic illness statistics are exploding because the body cries out for what it doesn't get. When the body cries out it's not crying out for synthetic drugs, it's crying out for nutrients not drugs. Nutrients stave off the cause of chronic illness. Nutrients are the tools the immune system uses for healing.
Folks, it's time to take responsibility for your health. Stop falling for the dumbing of America by the pharmaceutical companies. True wellness is not found in pharmaceutical drugs. True wellness is found in responsibly taking care of yourself nutritionally, physically and emotionally.
Wishing you wellness and joy always!
Pam
http://pamsnutritionstore.com (c) 2005 by Pam Murphy,B.S.,RRT All Rights Reserved
Labeling a given set of symptoms and treating them with pharmacologics as though they were diseases, is a financial windfall for the pharmaceutical companies. I can't wait to see what new "disease" they come out with next!
Diabetes is not a disease. Osteoporosis isn't either. Neither is GERD, or IBS. These are disorders of lifestyle not diseases. Yet people are popping pills to treat diabetes, osteoporosis, GERD and IBS, all the while living with the side effects. Do they change their lifestyle? No. It's so much easier to pop a pill without even thinking of the consequences.
You've heard drug commercials that imply Osteoporosis causes weak bones. But the truth is Osteoporosis is caused by diet and lack of exercise. Osteoporosis is the result NOT the cause.
"Osteoporosis is due to long-term bone disease caused by the American diet. The acid and protein from the meat and dairy products damage the bone tissues, thus causing calcium and other bone materials to be lost through the kidneys. Deficiencies of vitamins, minerals, and other plant-food-derived nutrients further contribute to the deterioration of the bones. This is why the heaviest consumers of milk and meat in the world – Americans and Europeans – have the weakest, sickest bones."
- Dr John McDougall in his newsletter March 2005
Be a sedentary slug while consuming a diet of refined carbohydrates and meat protein and diabetes will be on your life menu. According to all the commercials just pop a pill to correct your dietary excesses and laziness. But wait! That's crazy! Drugs most often treat SYMPTOMS not the CAUSE. Not to mention drugs come with side effects because drugs most usually are synthetic compilations of chemicals which do not belong in your body.
What is a body to do? Go see your physician for a complete physical. Get his/her OK to begin an exercise regimen. Turn off the tv, get off the couch, move your body! Find a sport or exercise you enjoy! Think about what you eat before you eat it. Processed foods are not nourishing. Chronic illness statistics are exploding because the body cries out for what it doesn't get. When the body cries out it's not crying out for synthetic drugs, it's crying out for nutrients not drugs. Nutrients stave off the cause of chronic illness. Nutrients are the tools the immune system uses for healing.
Folks, it's time to take responsibility for your health. Stop falling for the dumbing of America by the pharmaceutical companies. True wellness is not found in pharmaceutical drugs. True wellness is found in responsibly taking care of yourself nutritionally, physically and emotionally.
Wishing you wellness and joy always!
Pam
http://pamsnutritionstore.com (c) 2005 by Pam Murphy,B.S.,RRT All Rights Reserved
Saturday, August 06, 2005
Pondering Malnutrition With A Full Plate
It's happened. The Twinkie, the quintessential junk food we all grew up with, has celebrated it's 75th birthday. Did you know, Hostess cranks out 500 million of these hydrogenated-oil-loaded, sugar-and-preservative-laden, cellophane- encased snack cakes each year. Even as we cry about increased health costs and rising chronic disease statistics, Americans spent $47 million on Twinkies last year. I don't even want to think how many millions (billions?) total was spent on all junk foods. What sad statistics those are!
I was in the grocery store the other day. The man in line behind me at the checkout counter was putting his stuff on the counter. I noticed ALL the food he bought was processed. There wasn't a fresh vegetable or fruit in sight! Unfortunately, this is not an unusual occurrence. Look what other people are buying next time you go to the grocery store.
So what have YOU eaten lately?
The advertising companies have done such a "good" job, most of us don't give a second thought to the preservatives, dyes, fake flavors, etc., not to mention the lack of much, if any, nutrition in processed foods. Don't even get me started about artificial sweeteners. Kind of makes me want to gag.
Is there any wonder that we are the "best fed" people in the world and yet we have disease rates that are climbing exponentially by the year?
Do you know in the past 20 years the U.S. has gone from first in the world for life expectancy to 19th in the world for women, and 29th for men (behind Slovenia)?
Perhaps, we need to take our brains back from the advertising agencies and make good, healthful choices in what we eat. Let's treasure health over convenience.
Ya think?
Wishing you wellness and joy,
Pam Murphy,B.S.,RRT
http://pamsnutritionstore.com
I was in the grocery store the other day. The man in line behind me at the checkout counter was putting his stuff on the counter. I noticed ALL the food he bought was processed. There wasn't a fresh vegetable or fruit in sight! Unfortunately, this is not an unusual occurrence. Look what other people are buying next time you go to the grocery store.
So what have YOU eaten lately?
The advertising companies have done such a "good" job, most of us don't give a second thought to the preservatives, dyes, fake flavors, etc., not to mention the lack of much, if any, nutrition in processed foods. Don't even get me started about artificial sweeteners. Kind of makes me want to gag.
Is there any wonder that we are the "best fed" people in the world and yet we have disease rates that are climbing exponentially by the year?
Do you know in the past 20 years the U.S. has gone from first in the world for life expectancy to 19th in the world for women, and 29th for men (behind Slovenia)?
Perhaps, we need to take our brains back from the advertising agencies and make good, healthful choices in what we eat. Let's treasure health over convenience.
Ya think?
Wishing you wellness and joy,
Pam Murphy,B.S.,RRT
http://pamsnutritionstore.com
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Pondering Labels
Awwww ohhh there I go again. I've been pondering labels.......
We live in a label-ridden world. Lesbian, Gay, Catholic, Baptist, Missourian, Republican, Democrat, Liberal, Conservative, etc. Labels compartmentalize and separate. Labels by their nature set us apart from one another. In many instances, they foster hate, anger, fear and distance between people and even between countries. We have given so much power to a word. Sometimes we see the label and not the person.
There is a freedom, a peace and a lack of judgement in the absence of a label. Without a label the true beauty and uniqueness of each person shines. Without a label the true miracle of each person can be appropriately revered.
Labels.......what do they have to do with wellness? Have you read Walt Whitman?
"If anything is sacred the human body is sacred"
Walt Whitman
My battle with Lupus (which I have won) also has caused me to hear a "different drummer". A drummer I can not completely put into words as of yet. But this I know, our use of labels and the judgements we make because of those labels hurts us all. We don't often listen to our hearts anymore. Nor do we often look beyond the label to see someone elses heart. What do you think about this body you inhabit? What labels have you attached to it? Fat, Skinny, Dumpy, Trim? How does the label you have for your body make you feel? What labels have you attached to other people in your life? How do these labels make you feel?
"To me, every cubic inch of space is a miracle...Welcome is every organ and attitude of me...Not an inch, nor a particle of an inch is vile"
Walt Whitman
Do you realize that we ARE what God is doing? You and I are miracles. Everything we see around us is a miracle. Life is a miracle. The labels you attach to yourself and others reverberate like ripples in a lake, creating positive or negative vibrations across this nation and across this planet.
Do you know the composition of tears changes with different emotional states? The mind and the body are intricately connected. Labels evoke positive or negative thoughts. What effect do you think they have on your health? Or on the people around you?
When I was doing my student teaching to earn my teacher certification for Instrumental Music, the nun professor of one of my education classes told us before she stepped in front of a class she said silently to herself as if talking to her class, "I love you." What do you think the world would be like if everyone took a moment to say "I love you" before starting the day?
I challenge you to make an effort for a day to look beyond labels, to see yourself as a miracle. I challenge you to see the people you meet as unique miracles. Strive to experience the freedom and peace in lack of judgement. I challenge you to love.
Your body will thank you.
We live in a label-ridden world. Lesbian, Gay, Catholic, Baptist, Missourian, Republican, Democrat, Liberal, Conservative, etc. Labels compartmentalize and separate. Labels by their nature set us apart from one another. In many instances, they foster hate, anger, fear and distance between people and even between countries. We have given so much power to a word. Sometimes we see the label and not the person.
There is a freedom, a peace and a lack of judgement in the absence of a label. Without a label the true beauty and uniqueness of each person shines. Without a label the true miracle of each person can be appropriately revered.
Labels.......what do they have to do with wellness? Have you read Walt Whitman?
"If anything is sacred the human body is sacred"
Walt Whitman
My battle with Lupus (which I have won) also has caused me to hear a "different drummer". A drummer I can not completely put into words as of yet. But this I know, our use of labels and the judgements we make because of those labels hurts us all. We don't often listen to our hearts anymore. Nor do we often look beyond the label to see someone elses heart. What do you think about this body you inhabit? What labels have you attached to it? Fat, Skinny, Dumpy, Trim? How does the label you have for your body make you feel? What labels have you attached to other people in your life? How do these labels make you feel?
"To me, every cubic inch of space is a miracle...Welcome is every organ and attitude of me...Not an inch, nor a particle of an inch is vile"
Walt Whitman
Do you realize that we ARE what God is doing? You and I are miracles. Everything we see around us is a miracle. Life is a miracle. The labels you attach to yourself and others reverberate like ripples in a lake, creating positive or negative vibrations across this nation and across this planet.
Do you know the composition of tears changes with different emotional states? The mind and the body are intricately connected. Labels evoke positive or negative thoughts. What effect do you think they have on your health? Or on the people around you?
When I was doing my student teaching to earn my teacher certification for Instrumental Music, the nun professor of one of my education classes told us before she stepped in front of a class she said silently to herself as if talking to her class, "I love you." What do you think the world would be like if everyone took a moment to say "I love you" before starting the day?
I challenge you to make an effort for a day to look beyond labels, to see yourself as a miracle. I challenge you to see the people you meet as unique miracles. Strive to experience the freedom and peace in lack of judgement. I challenge you to love.
Your body will thank you.
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