patriciaswisdom.com

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel for the Elderly and the Beautiful

patricia — Mon, 28 May 2012 08:31:02 +0000

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel movie was a preview which I saw at a theater and just knew I had to see; it looked amazing and what a cast. Then I read a review at Wonders In The Dark and this cemented by desire. It was not playing in my town, even with all the theaters we have available, we still are rarely on the first run and seem to be about 3 weeks behind.

As luck would have it, I made a trip to San Francisco and had a number of daytime hours available to fill up. I found the movie playing at Union Square in 4 theaters at the same time and was given senior rates. I just headed right inside and paid up!

I try to see Judi Dench when she is in a movie and the cast was full of British actors that I find very skilled and interesting interpreters. Here’s the list: Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith, Ronald Pickup, Dev Patel, Tom Wilkinson, Celia Imrie, and Penelope Wilson. There was not a moment of disappointment or too long a segment. There was humor, drama, and the story line just touched on exactly a number of the thoughts I have had in recent months about growing old and retiring.

Marigold Hotel is based on the 2004 novel called THESE FOOLISH THINGS by Deborah Moggach and has been very well interpreted by Director John Madden. It is about 7 seniors who for various reasons end up retiring to India and living in this old hotel. The hotel is one of the relevant seniors. The stereotypical expectations were modified by the gifts of the actors and how they personalized each scene. They are people with a lack of money, a need for non-emergency medical care, the desire for resolution to experiences, and folks attempting to define themselves within the boundaries of their current circumstances. The different styles that people use to tackle their life circumstances were explored masterfully.

I was so drawn to the story lines of seniors not wanting to be taken care of by their children and about remaining independent and in full forward motion. I thought the theme of caring for seniors was an underlining thread which society often layers down low, ignores and yet was exposed in a natural way by the film.

Many seniors develop rigid thinking patterns and often have their fears played upon; within this film these issues were taken up in both a serious and comedic explanation. I enjoyed seeing both paralleling within the story.

This is a film about success and redemption.

It is well worth seeing and I hope you will put it on your list. I liked seeing it early on and with the big screen experience because the scenery and filming in India was lovely. It is a big country with many facets.

For me THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL was a 5 ladybug experience.

Have you seen a film lately that you would like to tell everyone about? Do you enjoy knowing about other people’s circumstances and responses? How do you feel about British Humor?

No one neither paid me for this review nor extended any product, I purchased my own ticket and train fare.

If you purchase anything from Amazon or Powell’s from this site I will receive a few beans in my bucket. You could make a donation! Thank you

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Related Reading:
Poetry
Creation
The Tree Of Life
Temple Grandin

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The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel for the Elderly and the Beautiful

Changing: Quitting

patricia — Thu, 24 May 2012 08:20:40 +0000

For several years I have known that I need to let go of one of my business adventures. In February of 2012 I read a series of quotes in the borders on the Passing Thru Newsletter about the importance of quitting what is not working and how that opens the window to the fresh air of possibilities.

Betsy and Pete Wuebker were all systems forward with building their own business and setting sail to a new life adventure and they were exploring what steps they had taken to un-tether and cast off.

This is the first quote on the side bar:

Ever wonder why’s it so darn hard to quit something, even though we know it’s not working? Often we cite security, or we point to what’s expected of us, or the boundaries of our comfort zone keep us locked in our current location. We look beyond our self-imposed fence, but we stop short of climbing over it to freedom awaiting.

Truthfully, I knew those words were for me and yet for the first time in my life I just seemed to be sliding into taking action, it was as though the cameras were recording in extreme slow motion – there was motion.

I had to take a long hard look, again and again, to decide what to do and as the choice was obvious the facts just kept rolling into the inbox.

The Vitamin and Environmentally Healthy products store that I had been working with for 16 years was losing me money, cheapening their products – calling it improving, and transforming into a GREED machine. The founder of the company was donating money into the political realm, personal funds and then company funds (Citizen’s United Supreme Court Decision) in a millions of dollars way and getting noticed by the news media. He was using the legal system to bully a segment of our society and truly making life miserable for a group of human beings; attacking the victim’s families also. There was not a great deal of wellness being spread around.

Now my efforts with this company had brought a great deal of wellness into our home. I no longer had to boil the sheets every day to keep the mold and dust mites at bay. Bodies that found nutrients difficult to absorb were getting healthy results. (My 65 year old partner came in at age 38 at last year’s Insurance Physical! – He is also a bicycle riding phenom! Who has his own Gluten Free cook.)

My paycheck paid the family health insurance premiums for years and lots of soccer, tennis, swimming, theater and camps. I consistently made a difference.

Last year this business work and my blogs cost us $7,000.00.

I could not persuade any of my clients to take up the business model and do what I was doing, I got stuck.

So May 22, 2012, I became an official quitter. I signed the paperwork and gave up. I was responsible to each of my customers and let them know why and when I was leaving.

The worry is already gone, though with nothing to replace this income stream, the solar panels are breaking even, I feel a bit like a blob of inertia at this moment.

Quote #2

It can be heartbreaking to realize that the thing that you’ve poured your blood, sweat and tears into isn’t working. But a realistic assessment requires that we be honest with ourselves. We can either change what we’re doing within the current framework we’ve created, or step “out of the box” into a new paradigm that offers the potential of greater rewards. If you’re feeling stuck, facing change may require mustering every ounce of courage you have (and even some you don’t). But we’re here to tell you, making a change is something you must do if you’re ever to have a chance for a meaningful and happy life.

I am visualizing and reading my affirmation about the successful payoff of our medical loan and that I am monthly able to pay my phone bill. It was the right decision and that indeed I am lucky in that I have had a very meaningful life with integrity the shining star. I am still reading my many books a week and writing reviews and I always have a number of things to do. It does make me happy as does letting go of the many hours of effort and energy expended.

My best often used quote:

It’s all going to work out just give it some time.

Have you had to quit something to move forward? Were you able to feel happy about the choice? Was it sequential or cold turkey quitting?

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Changing: Quitting

COURAGE: Overcoming Fear & Igniting Self-Confidence ~Debbie Ford

patricia — Mon, 21 May 2012 08:19:53 +0000

COURAGE the new Debbie Ford book was high on my list of reads and I was so pleased when the TLC Book Tours added her recent book to my reading list. I have read all of Ford’s books and discovered her work when I was updating my counseling credentials and her first writing was included as a textbook. I am never disappointed by her insights and I am pleased to see that some of the self- help league is also promoting her work – Dr. Wayne Dyer wrote the forward.

COURAGE is a new look at how to transform all the knowledge a woman has gained about herself, sorting out the specific stuck places and then acting and responding at full volume within your authentic self – confidently. It is about mustering the courage to understand the problems, dilemmas, and old definitions, letting go of fear, and then striding out into the world doing what you do best. It is finding the GIFT in the distress – the reason that it is a part of your journey, and making it work for you at your optimum levels.

I think COURAGE is about moving into one’s fifties, actively moving in the right direction on target, and preparing for the creativity peak in one’s sixties. There was that old hair color commercial that said: “You are not getting older, You‘re getting better.” I think COURAGE is about turning the journey so far, and the lessons learned into response-abled wisdom.

Debbie Ford shares her journey as examples in the book and her stories are more down to earth and recitals of the kinds of things that EVERYWOMAN might experience and benefit from the process revealed. The stories do not need a huge therapeutic intervention they are more likely to open one’s eyes to emotions and shadows and suggest actions that could propel a person forward onto new pathways.

I just felt as though this would be a great book for a support group to use as a guide. With a few ground rules, a gathering of 6 to 10 women could each have a time to share and be mentored by the others as they completed her exercises and studied the book chapter by chapter. They could form the cheer leading squad and long term network to assist and serve others in reaching their best selves. The book is that good.

The book does not go into detail about how to find the stuck spots and the old childhood injuries that created the limits to one’s life, by then combining this book with the CODE TO JOY, it could be most empowering and this book’s whole goal is to identify the sticking point and create forward motion.

This group could produce a great deal of power, motivation, and COURAGE.

What Motivates You? Have you ever thought of making a support group for your life and encouragement?

I am grateful to TLC Book Tours and HarperOne for asking me to review this book and sending me a copy.

If you order anything from Amazon or Powell’s, I will receive a few beans in my bucket. Thank you.

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COURAGE: Overcoming Fear & Igniting Self-Confidence ~Debbie Ford

Transportation

patricia — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:28:06 +0000

Part of the reason to read a book or watch a movie is the opportunity of being transported into another world or experience. So there I was listening to people’s thoughts about 3 movies, we had just experienced, and soon there after I was boarding an airplane for another city. I felt a bit as though I needed an air traffic controller because my thoughts were on so many runways at the same time.

The movies were about boldly and with new eyes looking at change and how people have to wrestle with new information which transports their belief systems. One was the historic depiction of the struggle to know what is the right action and to act and change the whole belief system of a society. The next was an artist taking film though various mediums to show how the human story is such a minimalistic part of the change process; yet it flows within the spectrum of all of life in service and in pursuit of change. One could experience the transportation through the visual, or musical, or human story of the artist’s rendering.

The third story transformed one into the realm of how scary life can be; one entered a “ghost story” and felt the need to run away. The film maker did not present this old tale as a muckraking adventure but as a compilation of all the pieces of a life changed by disaster thus allowing the human spirit to emerge and old beliefs to be deleted.

Those thoughts and words are tumbling through my being as I fly away to another place and present events. I have come to see 100 Graduate students being honored for their distinguished work and service. There are 36,000 students attending this University and these few are being recognized for their outstanding efforts in bringing about knowledge and change to their communities. They are being recognized for their efforts, thoughts, struggles and service and yet they are being asked to VOTE and be thankful for their opportunity, to demonstrate gratitude by keeping higher education opportunities open to this society; to show the world that we know education is the key to a successful evolution and for continued growth and striving for our ideals.

80,000 students were turned away for lack of funding.

Education is in the realm of the public it is not limited for the privileged, the wealthy, and the corporate few.

I have to take a walk to allow my thinking to coalesce and to integrate. I explore another neighborhood by taking a train and a bus and navigating up and down, through the park, and asking directions, until I discover myself to be at the heart of a foment of change in the 1960s. Here I stand, and it seems plain and ordinary, with vintage clothing stores and shops that are only made fresh by the bloom of the planter boxes, the new vegetables displayed at the market, and the fresh paint and solar panels on the Victorian Ladies of the side streets.

We are asked to take pictures of other visitors exploring this corner of change and struggle – that moment of time that transformed.

I am worn out from all the walking and only regain my energy with applauding for each recipient’s efforts recited and the moment their stick their necks out to receive the Hood. Were these wonderful people changed by their experience were they changed enough to transform their corner of our globe, will this moment transform me and will I be grateful?

Will I be left hoping others will transport me?

How’s your week going? Are you feeling the change, are you contemplating your transformations? How have you been transported?

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Transportation

THE PAPER GARDEN: An Artist Begins Her Life’s Work at 72 ~Molly Peacock

patricia — Mon, 14 May 2012 08:55:30 +0000

The Paper Garden was/is a must read book for me, I was drawn to it from our first encounter and have not been disappointed by it even after reading it two times. This book has its own unique story of how it arrived in my hands, even as it is a unique story about a unique artist.

An Extraordinary Book a Wonder Full Read

I first encountered The Paper Garden when I was searching for a gift for my artist friend Jane’s 60th birthday. I have written about Jane before, actually several times, for you see, Jane was waiting to hear if she would be “pink slipped” or if she would be moved to a new state project for less pay and retain her health insurance. Her optimism was infectious as she sorted our whether or not to start her own art business yet hoping to make it to retirement on what she could earn; that seemed an exciting but worrisome leap.

Jane is one of the long term members of one of my book groups. I wanted the gift to be just right and knew it would need to be a book. I went to the TLC online book tours site and started reading reviews.

There it was, The Paper Garden, as I read that it is a biography of an artist who beings her life work at 72 and realized it was about second chances and opportunities, I knew I needed to choose this book and wrap it with care.

Nine months after the purchase, TLC book tours emailed and ask if I would consider reviewing the book. Bloomsbury sent me a copy. Of course! I would love to read this book and it was a lovely and memorable read.

The author, Molly Peacock is a poet and teacher, who has included memories of her own life and second chances which parallel the artist’s life. They were meant to be friends I am sure of it. Peacock used all the historic references she could find and visited London and Ireland numerous times to research and touch base with the still existing works of art, which are treasures of the Royal Museum – all 900 some paper collages. Much of her primary work involved reading the thousands of letters written to the artist’s sister and preserved by family members over time. Both the biography and the memoirs are remarkable stories and how they weave renders them more endearing.

Mary Granville Pendarves Delany was born in England on May 14, 1700. Her Aunt trained her to be a member of the royal court, but she was never chosen and rather at age 16 married off to an older, alcoholic, insecure fellow with a castle. Mary Granville Pendarves was confined to the castle with a huge hole in the roof, and so she mastered her embroidery, designed incredibly stunning gowns for herself and ladies of the court. She sewed and embroidered with mastery. Her other endeavors included rebuilding and designing the castle gardens into a remarkable show piece.

Pendarves died of a heart attack before he could change his will, so the estate went to a niece and Mary was left with a widow’s stipend.

She married a kind and loving man, who was a clergy in Dublin, Ireland and they had a delightful time together. Mrs. D as she was called in the book, painted the walls of the new chapel; she and her husband designed and built a remarkable and stunningly beautiful garden for their home. Mr. Delany was older also and he died a few years after Mrs. D’s beloved sister died.

In her grief, Mrs. D became a sort of companion to a Duchess, the King, and Queen and though she had a house in London spent a good deal of each year with the Duchess. It is here as she grieved the loss of her sister and husband and with 72 year old hands and eyes, she began making her botanical collages. These intricate layers of cut paper also served as a record of what was in the garden preserving the botanical names that were being assigned to the flowers.

Mrs. D not only cut and sculpted the paper into works of art, which are still revered; she also made the paper, the paint and the flour and water paste which was used to produce the pieces. There are 14 chapters each beginning with a template of one of the collages she cut – even in my paperback edition.

The beauty of this book from the words, the lives and livings shared, the art, history, science, and the blooms makes this volume a gallery showcase. This story was strikingly told by the poet and it is masterful.

I have put my copy by my reading chair, so that anytime I feel as though I am too old or that I have not accomplished something worthwhile, I can open it and discover it anew. Just as I am full of wonder for each flower I experience, it is thus with this fine book and awesome read; I think I shall never grow tired of it.

“But in life our routines are the sign posts of destiny.” ~Molly Peacock

I feel privileged to be writing this review on the anniversary of Mary Grenville Pendarves Delany’s Birthday

A stunning book

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British Edition also available at Powell’s for $1 more.

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The Perfect Mother’s Day Gift

patricia — Thu, 10 May 2012 08:00:53 +0000

Ruth M Hamilton

I love to give gifts and I pride myself in giving gifts that truly match up to the person to whom they are intended. The specific event is not so important, it is the thought and intention which matter the most.

Mother’s Day is celebrated in the middle of May in the USA. My older brother holds the record for giving the best gift to our Mother by being born male on Mother’s Day. He was the first grandchild added to my Mother’s family tree and she was so proud to hold that honor. The two daughters had to work very hard for this event and we never quite measured up.

My Mother was very proud of all of her children and extremely equal with her attentions. She taught us all that we must work very hard to achieve anything in life, how to be good citizens and thoughtful people. She wanted my brother to be an elementary school teacher, my sister to be a special education teacher and she thought maybe I could become a secretary because I was so organized. My brother became a policeman, my sister a reading specialist and me, well (sigh) I write a blog or three.

My siblings had a hard time learning to read and I had dyscalcula (she just thought it was being lazy on my part); my siblings took on learning how to be great at what they did and to show her how wonderful they were. My Mother hoped we would win scholarships to college and get awards for our efforts. Rather she became the most requested 1st grade teacher in the district, not because she was a great entertainer, but because the children who left her classroom at the end of the year had a strong foundation to go forward and they felt good about school; had a sense of accomplishment. She earned many a reward from the parents of her students and so many of her students attended her Memorial Service 5 years ago.

My brother did win the Volunteer of the year award before Mother died and she was so proud.

She was so proud of my sister for her frugality and talent with earning and investing money, at one time she thought she should have encouraged her to be an accountant, numbers were her forte’, instead of a reading teacher, which was so difficult. Mother was proud of how hard she worked and her perseverance. She was proud of how carefully my sister followed in her example and how disciplined they both were.

My Mother felt she had taken care of me by getting me to marry a man who would have a stable income and who she liked so very much and he would always make sure I had the basic necessities of life. As a team, we brought her home after she fractured her spine and I took care of her 24/7 – right to the end. I heard her confessions and there were no real regrets and I valued her clear global voice.

Her last Mother’s Day, she told me that I was an amazing mother – loving, guiding, kind, and creative – and she forgave me for sometimes yelling my anger; she apologized for being so critical of me at the time it had seemed appropriate.

Now is time for the best Mother’s Day gift of all – her grandchildren are doing her proud. Those awards are coming this year – IT Girl has just won the highest honor for her master’s thesis at San Francisco State University and was nominated for another award for writing excellence. Librarian Girl just had a week of 32 hugs from her students as she completes her first year of full time teaching. Entrepreneurial Girl has been promoted in her position 2 times this year into management with her own car. Dancing Girl will graduate from Law School this Mother’s Day. Alaska Girl has her driver’s license and is moving towards high school graduation with honors. First born Grandson, and oldest of the crew, is off teaching math and reading for the Navy having to leave his wife and children at home for a long period of time.

The perfect Mother’s Day gift is coming true and I think she knows – I’m sure of it.

Have you ever given the perfect gift? Was someone proud of you? Did you receive a great award for your talents?

Happy Mother’s Day !

If you purchase anything from this site from Amazon or Powell’s, I will receive a few beans in my bucket

CONGRATULATIONS
TO Vered DeLeeuw for winning the book FOODTRIENTS and the APRON from the author Grace O and TLC online book tours.

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The Perfect Mother’s Day Gift

Gullible

patricia — Mon, 07 May 2012 08:24:34 +0000

Gullible is the right word to describe me. Yesterday at this time of day I was in a battle with a telemarketer on my cellphone. I am having a hard time forgiving myself for raising my voice to this fellow and anger at myself for answering the call. I want to think of myself as compassionate and kind 24/7.

The day started with a phone call from an unknown source and with the right area code and city name for where one of my daughter’s resides. My first thought was that maybe it was a medical center or police and there had been an accident. I answered the phone. It was a recording about credit card services. I hung up and became angry at myself for thinking the worst and being gullible to a marketing call. I will say that both my business and my personal phone numbers are on the DO NOT CALL LIST and I changed phone companies last autumn because my carrier would not honor my request. I still get about a dozen calls per week from marketers. I have blocked several calls that I recognize and just do not answer many of the unknowns.

Then came gullible yesterday. I was in the middle of listening to WAIT WAIT… DON’T TELL ME! on NPR. I love to laugh and I can knit socks during this show each week and exercise my hands. I was listening on my cellphone.

I was busy with 4 needles at the most complicated section, and the phone rang and cut out the program. I reached over suspending yarn in my free fingers and complicating the yarn to answer the phone? It was a strange number and I am not sure why?

The heavy accented male voice on the line told me that I was being offered a rescue service which was tracking my computer which was full of viruses and infections. The Mother Board was a mess. I responded, by saying that my computer is fine and I am on the “do not call list” so remove me from their list and do not call again. I then hung up.

The phone rang again, and I answered to put this number on the blocked list. On the other end was the same fellow now yelling at me because I hung up on him; he is saying he is trying to save my computer. I was neither kind nor compassionate; I yelled right back at him, “YOU SIR Are a SCAMMER! DO Not CALL ME EVER AGAIN!

The phone rang in from that number 6 more times. I have now missed 11 minutes of my program and I am so angry. I am angry for the folks who do not know this is a scam and that it puts a tracking system which can steal credit card numbers from you. I am so angry that this man is yelling at me and telling me he is a Good Guy trying to help me.

I calm myself down, rip out a row of knitting because I cannot remember where I am and start over. I also realize that I can download the program onto the phone and still hear the show. I have something I can do to remedy. I feel better. I am frustrated that I cannot tell the world and save others from this scam and potential travesty.

Deep breath in and deep breath out.

Later in the day another gullible experience occurs, though this time I laugh at myself for being foolish. We go to the grocery store where they are playing a game with lots of prizes. I have a game board and pieces to attach come at the cash register. I am hoping to win one of the 4 cars, because my Librarian Girl needs a car, or the mortgage payoff to allow my partner to retire before age 72. I have been so hopeful and dutiful at playing the pieces.

The shopper ahead of me purchased $69 (US) worth of groceries. I notice he has no fruit or veggies going into the bags and he has not brought his own bags. He received 32 stickers for his game board. I think I am going to get lots and lots of stickers because I am having my book group for dinner and I have purchase enough food for a dinner for 12, many items I normally would not purchase. Yep! I have spent $150 (US) and they are all food items – only the 2 bottles of wine are taxed. I receive 1 sticker game piece.

It is at this very moment, I realize one must purchase the specific products which are part of the game. Organic veggies, fruit, and the other items I normally purchase from this store are not playing the game. My optimism just slides down to my shoes and I felt foolish and gullible.

Then I laughed and laughed and laughed at myself! Forgiveness achieved.

Have you ever had a telemarketer or scammer make you feel gullible? Does your hope sometimes blind your perspective? Are you willing to play the game?
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Gullible

Satisfying Conversation

patricia — Thu, 03 May 2012 08:46:56 +0000

Conversation, good solid conversation, real conversation, deep thinking conversation, historic conversation, and fresh and invigorating interpretation was just what I needed this past weekend. I set out to achieve just that at the Pacific Northwest Conference of the United Church of Christ (PNW-UCC) annual meeting in Pasco, Washington. I was content and satisfied by the conversations I experienced.

Clergy in the UCC church are highly trained to listen, interpret, read, research and are able to communicate well in a variety of arenas. These individuals are keenly aware of the culture, news, politics, and how people interact and need to understand situations and events in order to live their lives fully and participate in the world as good stewards, leaders and parents. There is a great deal of attention paid to teaching the youth how to be in conversation, interpret and keep thinking and learning. There is a curiosity and a freedom to question. I watched an 8 year process towards change in governance being discussed and challenged right up to the call for the vote. People truly felt heard and respected. There was no yelling or shouting. There were no age restrictions or gender bias. There was a respectful honoring – lots of contemplation and debate. I was planning on voting one direction and after the discussion and good night of sleep, I changed my mind. It was satisfying.

One thing I cherished in the weekend, that there were no “sound bites” except in the humor of the speeches and lectures, which were extremely fun, funny and informative. It was wonderful to hear folks clarifying what they heard so they could respond to the idea shared and move the conversation in many directions. It was savory to witness true heart/head and head/heart connections being made.

Now the group was not perfect, no way! Lots of the young folks did not even speak to the elders. Several groups came together and did not connect with others. Several people boldly stated that they did not receive an answer to their question even when it was restated. That conversation went on past my bedtime, and I was heartened to see it had created new friend bonds in the morning, when they had reached a point of understanding that enabled them to disagree and to agree upon their disagreement.

I was hungry for the conversation and the depth.

In so many of my daily interactions, I am being told, “Oh I never discuss religion or politics,” “I always keep the conversation positive”; “I don’t know”. These statements assume that discussion or discussing change is negative, religious or political. How does one improve their society without knowing that there is something different that could be accomplished? Without learning the new?

We know that the brain does not make a decision or a change without new research and having conversations about it. I have written about how we make decisions and change several times. If you are just following orders or directions of suggestions and ideas of others – you are just memorizing another path and not choosing; there is no dialogue or integrating of concepts.

I was hungry to have a meaningful, heartfelt conversation.

I have returned home satisfied and fulfilled.

When was the last time you had a heart to heart, mind to mind satisfying conversation? Do you hunger for these? Some people are happy on a restricted diet, I know I am weary of conversation these days, I need to establish trust, how about you?

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Satisfying Conversation

The Riot Within: My Journey From Rebellion To Redemption ~Rodney King

patricia — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 08:08:07 +0000

The Riot Within is an important story to be told and shared in our time. It is Rodney King’s telling of how he became an ICON in the civil rights movement and how that icon status affected his personal life over the past 20 years. It is the 20 year anniversary of the beating he received in Los Angeles.

King has been beaten down most of his life; the moments when someone was not doing it to him, he was busy blaming himself and “beating himself up” primarily thorough alcohol abuse and drug use. He could be an icon for a child of poverty, or a child of substandard education, or the child of an alcoholic parent, or just a survivor of a racist environment.

King is holding onto self- blame for the riots that followed the verdict and for the deaths of people who participated in the riots. As the reader, I am asking, where is the advocate for this person, where is the compassion for this human being become icon, and did he truly need to be on Celebrity Rehab to prove his self-worth?

I am appalled that his lawyers took such a huge cut of his settlement and victimized him again. Lawyer Brutality. We need to know this information. We need to stop blaming and victimizing King. We could demand that his legal counselors give the money back. We could re-exam our prejudice and racism in our culture.

King will probably never reclaim his icon status, and yet because he is doing the ‘work’ he may regain his own selfhood and recovery. The man is job hunting and still has pain.

This book needs to be in every High School Library and included in college reading lists. It is a powerful messenger. Timely.

I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to read and review this book. Thank you Mr. King for writing the book, for HarperOne for sending me a copy and for TLC book tours for asking.

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The Riot Within: My Journey From Rebellion To Redemption ~Rodney King

Shopping with Awareness

patricia — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 08:07:06 +0000

Shopping has been a time consuming project on my list these past few weeks. I am working on health related issues and putting new measures into practice with as much awareness as possible. I realize that folks in other countries besides the USA might find this information unnecessary and shocking, but it is what we must contend with here and at this point in time.

In order to comply with my new health insurance policy, I must have certain tests every year. If I do not comply between now and age 65 I will be dropped from my policy and thus not be eligible for Medicare at age 65. (I will still need to purchase a supplemental policy to go along with Medicare and those are not inexpensive either.)

I personally pay $524.00 (US) a month for a major medical policy with a $3,000.00 deductible which requires me to co-pay for each visit. I must see my Physician every year at least one time and I must have a mammogram every year. I pay full price for these services until I have covered the deductible.

There is no coverage for any alternative medical treatment, massage therapy or herbal supplements.

It has taken me 3 months to plan and take care of the first requirements for 2012. I have met and seen my Doctor, had lab work completed, and a mammogram.

Walking into the Doctor’s office cost me $600.00
Getting the lab work completed was $662.00 (My shopping paid off – see below)
And the Mammogram was $366.46

Who can afford all this? Well not many people can find $1,500.00 and there is a tendency for some to just suffer and save the whole deductible for the Emergency Room.

I instead decided to go shopping. I have no choice over the Physicians approved for my policy, so I interviewed several from the approved listed for my $600 and found a nice young woman who was highly recommended and willing to work with me.

Now I went shopping for Mammograms. There are only 2 imaging centers here and they both cost the same. One makes appointments; the other is a drop in center. The next closest center charged the same price but I would have needed to add gas money into the equation making this option too expensive. I chose the place with the appointments and did not have to sit and wait. (This is new because of the Affordable Health Care Act – Insurance companies cannot randomly set the price for required Mammograms any more)

The really big SHOPPING event was center stage. I started interviewing Labs to get estimates on the 3 lab tests that I needed to have. One group charged over $1,000 for one of the tests, the Hospital charged $600 for the same test, an independent Lab group charged $288.00, and the third independent lab group charged $60.00. For the last 2 labs listed, I did all the paperwork.

I chose the last lab. Not because it was the cheapest, but because I found out all the labs use the same facility to process the actual tests and produce the results. Because if I prepaid through my Naturopathic Physician all three of my tests came to a total of $131.00 and she will mail the results to my new Provider Doctor.

Now I will start the same process for getting the cyst removed off my spine. Remember it is $600.00 just to walk into the Doctor’s office. This last shopping experience took me 3 months to work out all the details. But it is good training as my partner is studying the Medicare plans. I can see clearly how they work and how much expense and energy is going to be needed to maintain our health. It is all good and good practice.

I am willing to be aware. One cannot just assume that it is going to work like company or government policies have worked in the past. I have met 3 people who are trying to get back into the work force just this week, because they are overwhelmed by the cost and time this kind of healthcare is taking and none of them have severe health problems. (Medicare does not cover alternative treatments at all)

As Comedian Jack Benny is quoted,“GROWING OLD IS NOT FOR SISSIES!”

Do you keep a copy of your own health records? Are you aware of all the steps necessary and all the places to look to get the best services? Is the Government in your State working for you or against you? When you do not feel well, who will assist you with this kind of shopping?

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Post from: www.patriciaswisdom.com

Shopping with Awareness