Life Learning Journey

Waiting For The Perfect Time

2011-08-25T04:41:00.000-07:00

Tightly rolled, waiting for the perfect time to blossom..

Don't we all do this? We keep ourselves rolled up in a tight ball, afraid to expose who we really are to the world. Afraid that we will get laughed at or ridiculed. Even worse, people may decide that they don't like us. Then where would we be?

When we think about it in this way we are not just limiting ourselves, but depriving the world. Who we each are is a unique being full of individual talents, thoughts, and ideas, that will benefit the world around us in some way. We may not see how we could possibly do so ahead of time. We may not be able to imagine that simply being ourselves could affect any change at all. Yet, it is in being different that we make a working whole. It is by being yourself that you shine the brightest and can achieve the most.

It may seem easier at times to keep yourself rolled up tightly, but consider how much more you can be if you unfurl yourself and allow the wind to fill your sails..
What a fabulous sight that would be.. just imagine.. each of us sharing our unique beauty with the world!

Which Road Will You Choose?

2011-08-24T22:27:00.000-07:00

On a hike one day we came across this lovely choice. Our path split into two, and we were faced with a choice on which way to go. So often in life we come across choices like this. And as in the well known Robert Frost poem below, we look as far as we can down one choice until we can not see any more. Then we turn to look down the other choice, paying attention to every little difference, hoping to find an answer to which one we should choose.

When faced with such a choice, which do you choose? Do you take the road that is well worn, or do you forge ahead into an unknown direction? Which road entices you?

We chose to head to the right, looking wistfully down the other path as we went. It was a lovely surprise to find as we walked along, that in the end we came out to the very same spot, and had done nothing more than explore a lovely circle of nature!

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim

Because it was grassy and wanted wear,

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I marked the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

By: Robert Frost

Caterpillar Adventures

2011-08-24T02:55:00.001-07:00

We have had the wonderful experience of having a tree across the street that is home to caterpillars! Of course, this means that caterpillars were caught and brought home to be shown. followed up with the inevitable question, "Can I keep it?!" And when you look into that sweet child's face, full of wonder and excitement.. well.. every mother knows how the rest of the story goes!

The little caterpillar was first moved into a mason jar, but the lid sealed too tightly. It was quickly upgraded to a sprouting jar for it's temporary home. Of course a larger jar, full of leaves led to the introduction of more caterpillars into the environment. When we hit 15 caterpillars I knew I had to do something different..

Can you believe I went to the pet store for the caterpillars? I did. Okay.. not quite true.. I went to the pet store for ds8 when he said, "Mom, the reason I want to keep the caterpillars is to watch them and see how they live.. Maybe we can even watch them turn into butterflies to release!" How does one turn that down?!

We now have a 5.5 gallon terrarium in our house. I know my little insect whisperer will find many insects to fill it over it's life.. What an exciting adventure! And it all started with a fuzzy little caterpillar being spotted on a leaf. I love life!

Speaking Your Truth

2011-08-03T06:57:00.000-07:00

Speaking your truth - this is a brilliant excerpt I read today. Well said Tara!

"It doesn’t work when you speak from a place of anger or fear.

It doesn’t work when you fight or demand or criticize.

People shut down when they hear your anger, or feel attacked.

But people hear Truth.

Truth is not angry. It’s not fear-based. It’s not judgmental.

It’s just Truth.

And real Truth comes from a place of love. It comes with compassion and acceptance and gentleness. It doesn’t back down or hide.

And it speaks volumes louder than anger."

Read the full post at Is Our Anti-Child Society Your Fault?

Too Long For Twitter RT! #2

2011-07-31T12:53:00.001-07:00

“There is no failure except in no longer trying. There is no defeat except from within.” Elbert Hubbard #quote http://bit.ly/jdgOy9 via @bluevertical

A phoenix was seen / flying toward the Norse fijords today bowing its head / in sorrow / but promises to soar once more / on the morrow via @fumanchucat

Put your passion into your creations, it will shine through. Both #writing and #artwork. And learn 'on the job', don't wait to be great. ;) via @growlersworld http://bit.ly/pS5ga6

Aerodynamically the bumblebee shouldn't be able to fly but the bumblebee doesn't know that so it goes on flying anyway. Mary Kay Ash via @delphileaders

The art of communication is not only to say the right thing at right time, but to leave UNSAID the wrong thing at the tempting moment! via @ricklgodwin

Like it or not we are all heading in the same direction, a smile and a wave along the way is the least we can give to each other via @citizenwake

Hope is that thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops... at all. ~Emily Dickinson via @rainbowhealing

A painter should begin every canvas with a wash of black, because all things in nature are dark except where exposed by the light. da Vinci via @bluevertical http://bit.ly/qv4liX

Egg Flower Photo

2011-07-31T00:27:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite photos that I have uploaded recently. Have you seen it yet?

"This lovely flower was another find on a hike. It reminded me of watching an egg in a frying pan. July 2011 Arizona" Egg Flower

Racing Beetle Photos!

2011-07-25T02:29:00.000-07:00

You asked for it, now you are getting it! I have a couple of those fantastic racing beetle photos up! I can't believe how many photos I took of that little bugger, and only a very small handful are good enough to show. I'm kind of bummed about it. At least I got a couple of really good ones!

Check out these two photos!
http://bit.ly/alieninsect
http://bit.ly/crazybugbelly

Snowshoe watched the bug for a bit, and then decided to check it out a little closer.. here's the first of those pics too.
http://bit.ly/snowshoebug

Too Long For Twitter RTs!

2011-07-23T05:09:00.000-07:00

These fabulous words would no longer fit into the Twitter limit when RT, so I brought them here to share instead! Enjoy!

You can only discover the extent of your self-imposed limits by going beyond what you perceive those limits to be. #JetNetting - via @heshiesegal

To be able to make a difference is truly a blessing with no equal. - via @ralphmarston

"Failure is only postponed success as long as courage coaches ambition. The habit of persistence is the habit of victory" Herbert Kaufman #quote via - @iain2008

Wouldn't it be great if we chose to live every moment as if to create a memory we'd will cherish for a lifetime? It just takes a smile :) via - @darrensproat

“What no wife of a writer can ever understand is that a writer is working when he’s staring out of the window.” Burton Rascoe via - @quotes4writers

Vincent Van Gogh was a big regular of the cafe society and famously said: I have tried to show the cafe as a place where one can go mad. via - @choosecoffee

A clear & focused mind will last a lifetime. Getting your mind in shape is the key to sustainable success in the world. R Simmons via - @delphileaders

You're beautiful, powerful & capable of achieving ANYTHING. What's stopping you are your self-limiting thoughts & beliefs. Awareness is key! via - @sarah_hopkins_

Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky. ~Rabindranath Tagore via @shivpreetsingh

watch you drift into sleep ~ hold you ~ love and protect you ~ to keep the smile in your heart ~ this is my joy #micropoetry via @paintswithwords #thinkingofyou

Racing Beetle Excitement In Our Kitchen!

2011-07-22T22:20:00.000-07:00

We just found this fantastic beetle crawling around our kitchen! It was about two inches long and had yellow stripes running down it's back, like racing stripes! Perhaps the little thing's speed is what made me relate the stripes that way!

I finally had to catch the beetle in a clear shoe box bin so that we could get a good look at it, and get some photos! This thing had the most marvelous antennae! They had these red feather looking things at the end, that made it look like the silly thing was wearing false red eyelashes, held away from it's head.

The cat even made an appearance in the shenanigans. At one point, Snowshoe even laid down in the bin with the beetle! Mostly she had a great time pawing at it and watching it crawl around.

I am completely wiped from a really long day following on the heels of an excellent all nighter.. so photos will be forthcoming.. hopefully tomorrow!

I bet you can't wait to see them now!

New Photos! Grasshopper

2011-07-22T21:38:00.000-07:00

I have been busy putting up a series of photos of the grasshopper that my youngest brought me the other day! Grasshopper 6 is my personal favorite! This little green guy actually held still at several points as if posing for me! Loved it!

Updated this Hubpage! Cheap & Easy Parmesan Noodles

2011-07-22T14:41:00.000-07:00

I just finished a quick update on this HubPage.

Cheap & Easy Parmesan Noodles

I am thrilled that we found Tinkyada brand rice noodles at Wal-Mart.. who would have guessed it? We haven't been able to find Tinkyada anyplace other than Whole Foods, so it has been a good three plus years since we have had them! I was thrilled to be able to use them for last night's dinner!

Yeah.. I am that excited about noodles.. go figure!

New Photo at RedGage - Snowshoe ~ Comfortable Amid The Toys

2011-07-20T23:07:00.000-07:00

I loved finding Snowshoe curled up on the coffee table with the card game remains and dishes the boys had left when they went outside! She is just the sweetest kitty!

Photo - Snowshoe ~ Comfortable Amid The Toys

Snowshoe caught napping on the coffee table amid the items left behind by the boys.

Source: SparkleChi's Content on RedGage

Join me at RedGage or come see more photos...

New Photo at RedGage Snowshoe ~ You called

2011-07-20T12:53:00.000-07:00

I got up a new photo of Snowshoe.. did you get to see it yet?! See it full size at my RedGage account.

Photo - Snowshoe ~ You Called?

Snowshoe looks over as called, awoken from a cat nap in her cat tree. July 2011

Source: SparkleChi's Content on RedGage

Nuclear Power Phased Out Completely!

2011-07-19T11:49:00.003-07:00

Wouldn't that be an amazing headline to see in the news?! As Japan recovers and rebuilds from the earthquake destruction of March 11, 2011, nuclear reactors are undergoing safety checks before being brought back online. Although Naoto Kan was previously a supporter of nuclear power with proper safety precautions, he has been quoted as saying, "We should seek a society that does not rely on nuclear energy. We should gradually and systematically reduce reliance on nuclear power and eventually aim at a society where people can live without nuclear power plants."

It is time the world woke up to all the dangers we are putting ourselves in, and start turning to the alternatives that are available to us!

Read the full article from this link.

Lasting Impressions

2011-07-18T16:50:00.002-07:00

New content over at Redgage!

Photo - Lasting Impressions

These leaves left a lasting impression on this sidewalk in Prescott, AZ.

Source: SparkleChi's Content on RedGage

Vaccine Dangers and Vaccination Choice

2011-07-14T16:37:00.002-07:00

Vaccinations. I think for some parents that may just be the scariest, most heart breaking word in the English language.
I grew up learning the history of vaccinations, how many people had been saved by them, how many diseases had been all but eradicated by them, etc. I don't remember ever hearing the risks they carry in them or the dangers they present to some people.
I remember my own vaccinations, some 30+ years ago.. the fevers that followed, the pain, the headaches, the weakness, the sore muscles, the upset stomach.. I hated them. They made me sick every single time. The pediatrician had no answers for it.
My first child had initial vaccinations. With every shot, she got sick. By the time she was 4, I was desperate for answers and unwilling to subject her to any more shots of any kind.
My second and third children have never been vaccinated. They have been healthy their entire lives, hardly ever having a cold or even headache.
Parental choice as a legal exemption on this issue would be wonderful. There are current legal exemptions in every state, but it is not always easy to claim them. With some states you may have to know the right wording for it to be accepted.. and "they make my kid sick," is not a currently accepted reason. "I think they are dangerous," is not a currently accepted reason. "I want to wait until they are older, as a larger body size begins to mitigate the dangers," is not a currently accepted reason.
My beliefs are that I should be able to choose what I put into my own body, and my children's bodies, since I am responsible for them. What are yours?

Is Organic Produce Really Better?

2011-06-14T18:33:00.027-07:00

Food is important. That may seem like a simple statement, but how often do you really consider what you are eating? Food gives us life. Without food, our bodies would wither away. But is all food created equal? Is organic produce important? Is there really a difference? The government has been telling us for years that our food is safe. That is the point to having the USDA.. to safeguard our food supply. Right?

A friend pointed out this video that brings the whole thought of what food you should be eating into sharp focus. Is fresh produce really as good as they say it is? Should we be investing in organic produce at the grocery store? How much will any of it really affect our health?

What this little girl discovered doing a simple experiment might surprise you. At some point we have probably all taken pieces of produce from the grocery store, the fridge, or maybe leftovers from the kitchen, and watched it grow in fascination as the roots and leaves burst forth from the plant! I do have to wonder if the produce that does not do that is really safe to eat. In my mind it would at the very least be dead, and not very nourishing. Knowing that the farmers are spraying chemicals on the produce to prevent it from growing makes me wonder what it is doing inside my body when I eat it. With all the failing health at ever earlier ages going on in the country, it may be time that we start thinking about our food for ourselves again. It may be time to realize that not all organic produce is created equal. This may be yet another reason to turn to the local farmer and ask for organic produce.

Signs of Emotional Abuse

2011-06-10T09:39:00.006-07:00

I know I have spent a lot of time talking about healing from abuse lately. What I haven't talked about is how to recognize signs of being in an abusive relationship. After all, it was years before we could admit that we were even in an abusive relationship. Such is the nature of emotional abuse. There is simply nothing you can really point a finger at and say, "That was abusive." or, "That was out of bounds." Taken one event at a time, they are just that, an event.

I ran across a wonderful article detailing four signs of being in an abusive relationship, and I thought I would share a bit of that with you. I went through these things for years, never realizing that it was actually abuse.

(Please note that an abuser can be any gender, any age, and of any relationship to you. I use the common pronoun of 'he' as a matter of simplicity in writing.)

The four signs to watch for are:

1. You walk on eggshells around him. If you have to be careful when he "gets in that mood", something is NOT right.

2. You make excuses for him. Seriously? "HE" had a bad day, has anger issues, had a rough childhood, is NOT a reason for him to be a jerk. They ARE reasons for him to seek help.

3. He makes comments that belittle you. No one has the right to tell you that you are anything other than the wonderful and special person that you are.

4. He is extremely jealous. It may be cute at first that he doesn't like you talking to other guys, but trust me, it isn't later on. Those are his insecurities, not your misbehavior. Don't let him tell you who you can talk to or smile at. Ever.

What do you do if any of this sounds familiar? First, realize you are not alone. Second, get help. And walk away from your abuser as fast as you can, and don't look back. You can't help them. And they are only hurting you.

To read the rest of the article I found, click here.

Clutter, Pain, and the Past

2011-06-08T16:05:00.002-07:00

There is a huge difference between saying that you are ready to give away all that STUFF, and actually doing it. One thing about moving is that, as you pack stuff, you have an opportunity to think about whether or not you really want the things you are packing. And so we did as we packed to move here a month ago. We got rid of tons of stuff, and for those that have followed along my journey for a while, you know that we have long been on journey of healing that has allowed us to get rid of the physical clutter that has protected us for so long.

Since being here, I feel like the healing that I/we have done has intensified and multiplied. At times, I almost think it is out of control. Or perhaps that is simply me, becoming who I have always been and getting used to this new skin that is such an odd shape and size to me at the moment. I am sure I will get used to it, after all, it is me. But for now it is completely strange to me, and yet familiar at the same time.

For this reason, the boxes that we moved are still sitting in the living room. They have been a towering wall that creates a unique path from one side of the room to the front bedroom, leaving the family area perfectly secluded. It has been a fantastic reminder of how much we really do want to let go of the pain of the past, and a total aggravation that we are finding quite hard to ignore!

We have had thoughts of simply placing the boxes into the car unopened and driving them to the donation center. We really couldn't think of what could possibly be so important in those boxes. If we weren't looking for anything as we went about our daily life, what could possibly be in there that we really wanted. That is so much easier to say than do!

Perhaps I would have done exactly that, given them away without looking, if it weren't for the fact that I knew there would be things that my mother would want if I wasn't keeping them. The past is something she clings to in her own way. For her it is history; it is reminders. For me, so much of it is only a reminder of pain. So for her, I will open each box and look through it.

Maybe it is the better thing to do. Maybe facing the past that has become a different lifetime is something that I need to do to truly let go. Maybe facing the pain is what is needed to let it go, or maybe it is how one becomes stronger. I don't know. What I do know is one step at a time, I will get through this unsurmountable task, like I have done with so many before.

Chain Reaction: Memories Uncovered

2011-05-25T21:59:00.056-07:00

More of a follow up from the other day... One of the things that I have found the most interesting about remembering the things I forgot is that I keep remembering even more things that I forgot.

The latest one was a doozey that I didn't even realize was an issue. It was simply a set of words that came to mind when talking with a friend on the phone. I wrote them down, intending to get to them when I hung up. I didn't get to them until the next day.

When I picked the paper up, I read the words and felt no emotion on them what so ever. I decided to tap on them anyways. They seemed like they would cause a very limiting belief is they were to be believed. I did a couple of rounds of tapping using Dr. Pat Carrington's opera technique that I read about in her last newsletter. It was fun to share the technique with my daughter over a cup of coffee sitting on the front steps in the sunlight one morning.

As with so many things, it is the memories that are the best hidden that really are the most painful. All of a sudden, I was overwhelmed by the strength of the emotions I was feeling.. we are talking an 18 on a 1-10 scale. I kept tapping and saying whatever came to mind. It was a really powerful experience. As I kept tapping, I saw that it was a generational pattern, and had images of other times when the same message was impressed upon my family line.

I must have been tapping and talking, crying and rocking for an hour. I kept tapping until I felt strong enough to stop, and too tired to carry on. That tapping session was incredible. The emotional strength was down to a 6 or 7. I have made a commitment to myself to continue working on this issue, but the difference is absolutely amazing.

It has actually taken me two days to recover from the physical effort of the session.. something about dynamic tension and physically reliving all those memories I worked through. When I looked in the mirror last night, the thought came to me that I was looking at a different person. I saw myself, but I wasn't the same. I took a closer look and realized that my eyes were changing color. While that is not all that unusual for someone with hazel eyes, the unusual part is that there was a new color that I have never seen in my eyes before.

Point is.. healing isn't always as simple as it looks from the outside. And pain isn't the only emotional response to being hurt. This is my internal journey, but I share it in the hopes that my words give someone else the strength to heal and the hope needed to change their situation to a better one.

Important Lessons I Remembered I Forgot

2011-05-24T19:46:00.001-07:00

I had meant to do a follow up the next day on what I had learned from that memory coming up. It seems that is not what life had in store for me though!

The most important thing I remembered that day is that at one point I had been strong. In fact I never lost that strength.

The other most important thing I remembered that day is that I had made a choice. I made a choice to believe him. I made a choice to do what he said. I made that choice because it was in what I believed was the best interest of myself, my children, my family. It took strength to make that choice. It took even more strength to keep that choice.

What's more, I remember that I had to make that choice again at another point, perhaps more than one other point. It took strength to make that choice. It took strength to be the victim.

Don't ever let anyone tell you that because you have been a victim, you are weak. And don't believe them if they tell you that because you have been a victim, you are still a victim. Neither of these things are true. To have survived being a victim, you MUST be strong. And you can stop being a victim as soon as you make the choice to.. when you are ready.

It may be that the time to stop being a victim is not now. That role may be keeping you safe until you are prepared to get out of your current situation. That takes incredible strength! Believe that, remember that. And always remember that you can change your situation as soon as you are ready to make a different choice. The choice to believe in yourself again.

Life lessons learned do not need to be lived again. Love yourself. Thank yourself for doing the best that you knew how in that moment. Forgive yourself for not knowing any better, for not changing any sooner. Then let the anger, the sadness, the grief, the excess energy go. Let yourself heal and grow stronger for it.

My Abuse: I Forgot.. And Then I Forgot I Forgot

2011-05-19T13:42:00.008-07:00

Fair warning. This is emotional, painful, written once and not checked. It is a dark secret pulled out of the closet. But I want it on public record. I don't ever want to forget again. There are no names. This is MY story.

I forgot.. and then I forgot I forgot.

This is what I forgot.

I forgot how he would get mad at me for using words he didn't understand, for being smarter than him. I forgot how he used to yell at me, and I would fight back. I was strong then. I would hold my ground.. verbally and physically. And then he would push me out of his way. Worse was when he would physically lift me up and throw me out of his way. That was in Aurora on Grove street. This all got worse when I was reunited with a lifelong friend, and she got me into Discovery Toys. I found where I excelled and could have made a decent business out of it.. toys fairs. I remember my strength.

I made the decision to be who he told me I was because I was pregnant and I was afraid he would hurt the baby.

In Mesa, I thought I had gained back a modicum of control.. I stood up for myself. I made him go outside so we wouldn't disturb the kids.. My daughter was so afraid whenever we started fighting. I wanted to protect them from his anger. We stood on the driveway fighting, screaming back and forth. He threw me up against the van in the driveway, and pinned me against it, his arm high across my chest. Then he balled up his fist and drew it back. I remember the fear thinking he was going to punch me in the face. I remember wondering who would look after the kids while I was in the hospital. I remember praying that my three kids would be safe. All that in a split second.. I watched his fist come towards my face and at the last moment, angle right next to my face as he hit the van. I felt my hair get caught between the van and his fist, as it pulled from my head. I remember the temporary gratefulness.. until he started to pull his fist back. The fear started again and grew stronger as his fist moved back. Then we heard a voice, a yell. It was someone from the campus housing office out for a walk. They had witnessed this. He let go of me and stepped away. He told them that there was nothing going on, that everything was okay. I knew better than to say otherwise. I remember how their face looked funny, a bit twisted up, but then they left. As they walked away the fear returned. "How dare you make me look bad! How dare you do this in front of anyone else," he angrily muttered to me. With that he grabbed me and dragged me back into the house. I remember looking back at the van and seeing the dent that he left.. the one that was right next to where my head had been. I remember thinking, "so that is how tall I am." I concentrated on that thought to keep at bay the fear of what would happen when no one was looking.

That is the one that I remember in all it's detail now. Now I can let it go.

The elephant. That's what the elephant has been about. I had to remember what I needed to let go of. Thank you elephant. Thank you Ganesh.

Perhaps the other times will come back to me now, perhaps I can let go of them now that I remember that they are there.

The time he was so mad at me for telling him he was wrong while we were in the car driving that he pulled over and got out of the car. He slammed his fist down on the roof so hard, that when he got in the door wouldn't close anymore. I was so grateful the car was between he and I at that moment. I was afraid to get back into the car. But that was where my children were, so I did. I had to protect my children. I had to protect my children.

Is it any wonder that we lived in fear of him hurting us physically? I am so grateful that any physical abuse he inflicted was so minor. Throwing and pushing me to the ground. It could have been a lot worse. It was worse. He did the same to my daughter when she was younger than ten. He told her that she was the reason I was "sick". In truth, I was "sick" because I had just had a cesarean section and was ordered to bed rest. He told her that she was to blame for everything wrong with me from the time she was four and a half. He told her not to tell me or she would get it. Twelve years later, when he was no longer in the house, she finally had the strength to tell me. How did I not see it?! How could I not see that my baby was being hurt? It hurts that I didn't protect her from that.

And where is he now? I left him. I didn't know how I would survive with three kids.. still believing everything he told me about myself. I was no longer able to see me for who I really am. I am still just learning to see the truth. And I had forgotten. I forgot.. it was the only way I could protect myself. I forgot. And I treated him like nothing had happened because I couldn't remember what had. And I kept on believing him, because I couldn't remember what I forgot.

I have been healing. I have been growing. It has been a long journey, filled with struggles. And I kept going, one foot in front of the other. Never worrying about what was ahead, just knowing that if I didn't concentrate on moving the next foot forward, I would lay down and die. There is so much more to who I am than he ever saw. I am grateful for that. It is what has always given me the strength to go on. Maybe now that I remember I will have more of that strength back to move forward in new ways. Maybe it will give me the strength to look ahead and see where I am going. Maybe it will give me the strength to choose a direction. I feel like I have been running away from him in a straight line, not caring where I went, just getting as much distance between he and I as fast as I could. I think maybe I am safe now. I know that I can take care of myself again. And I know how to ask for help if I need it.

How could I ever have forgotten?

Sparkle Chi Sat On A Wall

2011-05-02T20:16:00.006-07:00

Have you ever had one of those days where you just feel sick? Nothing to be done about it, and that just makes you grumpy. Have you ever tried to be cheerful on these days? It is not easy. I know.. I am having one of them right now!

I believe instead of trying, I will share a poem that I was inspired to write several days ago. Enjoy!

Sparkle Chi sat on a wall.
Sparkle Chi had a great fall.

Beaten with words that wounded like sticks.
Bruised by indifference that got in it's kicks.

Left battered and torn, but given a sign,
With the world to share what had been mine.

Open your heart, let love grow within.
The long road of life, to share and to win.

To heal, rebuild and bring about peace,
This is love's mission, that never will cease.

Bringing Them Back - Javan Rhinos

2011-04-22T09:48:00.001-07:00

When the world is out of balance, we all suffer. We may not know how today or tomorrow, but there will come a time when we will say, "Remember when.." There will come a time when a photograph is all that is left to share with our children of the wonders that are the world.

My heart always sinks when I see animals that I learned about as a child show up with the words "critically endangered" attached to them. Worse yet are when the word they are labeled with is "extinct". To think that our behaviors have totally annihilated an entire species rips me apart.

Today it was the Javan Rhino that crossed my desk. There are less than forty of these wonderful creatures left in the world. This is what gives them their critically endangered status. Although the video is slow and boring, and there is nothing to really "awwwwww" at, it is wonderfully exciting! Over the last decade (ten years), only twelve Javan Rhino births have been recorded. With so few births, it is hard for any species to recover it's numbers. A natural disaster, of which we have had plenty in the last years, could easily wipe out so few a number.

WWF (World Wildlife Federation) was able to capture some footage during November and December of 2010.

This video is actually spliced to show just the rhinos with their calves, and not the months of time between. What we are left with is video footage of two Javan Rhinos with their individual calves. That is two different babies you are seeing! What exciting news!

This wonderful footage was captured by camera traps in Ujung Kulon National Park, which is located on the southern-most tip of the island of Java, an Indonesian island. It is thought that the last real hope for the survival of this species is in this National Park.

Even within the safe boundaries of the Ujong Kulon National Park, the Javan Rhinos are threatened by poachers. Rhino horn is rumored to be a cure for several diseases, and these mammals are killed just for their horns. Aside from that, they are susceptible to disease that standard cattle being brought to the island carry. There is also nature to contend with. Tsunamis and volcanic eruptions could wipe out the National Park at any time, and all the life it holds with it.

What can we do? Learn. By just being aware of the plight of endangered animals, there is more hope than there was before. Don't let any of the Earth's wonderful animals slide off into oblivion because no one cared. In learning about them, you will learn things like not to buy rhino horn. You may even run across an opportunity to take a specific action that will help them. It might be a simple as a donation to help the park they live in, signing a petition to protect them, or simply telling your kids or friends about them.

Find out more about Javan Rhino at World Wildlife Federation.

You never know what small action you will take that really will make a difference.

If this seems familiar, you might be thinking of my similar article at RedGage.com.

Things You Wish You Didn't Know - Air Fresheners

2011-04-21T07:28:00.001-07:00

It sometimes amazes me that so many people don't know how bad for your health air fresheners are. It is something that just makes sense to me. Even natural scents can affect people. I remember as a child sitting in church with my mother, and having her say, "That perfume is going to make me sneeze. Let's find a new seat." For my children it is a similar experience in every grocery store. As they put it, "Hold your nose and run past the cleaning and laundry aisles. That's where the smelly stuff is."

Air fresheners bring fresh scents into our houses and get rid of the bad smells.. right? Air fresheners can be be plugged into outlets to release their good frangrance continually. Air fresheners are safe to use around children and pets.

Are you ready to hear the truth?

Here are a few facts you may not have known before.

Air fresheners do not freshen the air, nor do they remove odors. They only mask odors, by using a synthetic fragrance or by interfering with your ability to smell by coating your nasal passages with an oil film or releasing a nerve-deadening agent. In some rare cases, air freshening products will actually break down the offensive odor.
Known toxic chemicals that can be found in air fresheners include camphor, phenol, ethanol, formaldehyde, and artificial fragrances can cause symptoms like headaches, rashes, dizziness, migraines, asthma attacks, mental confusion, coughing and more.
Some of the substances in air fresheners are linked to cancer or hormone disruption. A study published on July 10, 2010, in Environmental Health found that women who used more household cleaning products, including air fresheners and mold removers, had a 2x higher risk of breast cancer.
Many aerosol air fresheners contain toxic phthalates, which have been linked to birth defects and reproductive harm, as well as atypical behaviors in children.

Personally, they make me sneeze, swell up, give me a headache, and my throat closes off after prolonged exposure. My son, on the other hand, becomes violently angry for no reason. My other children react in similar ways. And we are not alone in our reactions.

There are better things that you can use to actually freshen the air around you, as well as to actually get rid of odors.

My list:

open a window or two
simmer some herbs on the stovetop
salt lamps
open the shades and let the sun shine in
natural Masala method incense
Sunshine!

Please feel free to add to my list in the comments!

If this looks familiar, you may have seen my similar article at RedGage.com.