Tuesday, September 29, 2009

CSA target audience? Invitation for a guest poster

My friend wrote about her experiences with an intro meeting to the concept... I'd like to invite Amethyst to post her piece on my blog... May I post it here? It's right on target. I'd also like to hear about anyone else's experiences with Community Supported Agriculture.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Go Local: A model for a new economy

Check this out as a model for a new way to interact to offer our services and products and find what we need.


GoLocal's mission is to reclaim our local economic power by . . .

  • Educating the community on the benefits of supporting a resilient, thriving local economy
  • Engaging all community stakeholders by providing ownership in the cooperative and process
  • Formalizing and strengthening community relationships
  • Sustaining well-being through community reinvestment and enterprise incubation

Jonathan Harris, TED Talk: Our individual and collective stories

I've been taking some time for rest and personal exploration: reading Jung, watching movies on Netflix, watching and enjoying TED Talks, and sleeping in the middle of the day.

Please take some time to go to TED to investigate the amazing thinking that is presented.

I am moved to share one particular TED talk, which is a bit arbitrary because of all the other worthy ones I've seen lately. I suppose it's the nature of his work that makes me want to share it on the Blog.

This talk by Jonathan Harris, about our individual and collective stories, will serve as a fantastic introduction if you aren't familiar with TED. http://www.ted.com/talks/jonathan_harris_tells_the_web_s_secret_stories.html

Here are some links to some of the projects he mentions:

Jonathan Harris's website: http://www.number27.org/, which is where I'll leave off because all of his projects are linked there.

Enjoy.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know

[This is cross-posted on my Facebook page; some of you may encounter it twice. I welcome comments, questions, etc.]

We’ve all seen the list ‘20 things about me’ and ‘50 thing about me you didn’t know’. They can actually be interesting if you want to get to know the person better! Well, we’ve got one I haven’t seen anywhere yet, ‘30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know.’

Just copy and paste it below and put it up on your blog, send it to your friends, paste in on Facebook (if it’s too long, put it in your ‘notes’ section.)

Let’s spread the word about Invisible Illness Week this way. It’s a wonderful way to share a little bit about your life. And don’t forget to add the last paragraph so people know where to find us!

30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know
by Heather Severson

1. The illness I live with is: Arachnoiditis (see a good explanation of this condition. It’s right on target for what I endure.)
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: 2007
3. But I had symptoms since: 2003
4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: Losing custody of my children.
5. Most people assume: I can’t begin to guess what “most people” assume about me and this illness. Why don’t you tell me what your assumptions are?
6. The hardest part about mornings is: Waking up from dreams where I was active and moving and free, to find out I’m still in this pained body.
7. My favorite medical TV show is: Oh, I don’t watch tv so I guess the only one I know about at all is ER.
8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: My TENS unit. (Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation)
9. The hardest part about nights is: Insomnia due to pain.
10. Each day I take this many pills and vitamins: 10 prescription pills & occasionally a handful of vitamins.
11. Regarding alternative treatments I: Appreciate acupuncture and wish I could pay for more regular treatments. I wish things like that were covered under health insurance because I think they help keep other health-related costs down.
12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: Neither. I would choose to be healthy. I would like it if I didn’t have to put up with indignant glances and even comments when I need to use my handicap parking placard. On the days I don’t need it, I don’t use it. But when I need it, I really need it. I don’t want the pity or lack of understanding from complete strangers who might judge me if my condition were more obvious, either. I’m still just as much of a human being now as I was before I got sick. You can still look me in the eye even if I’m in a wheelchair or bedbound.
13. Regarding working and career: I feel bereft and robbed of my intentions and efforts to follow my calling and make a significant contribution to my profession. But I’m going to try to do something, anyway. My goal is to support myself and my family (and evidently, whether I want to or not, my ex-husband) with my own work and income, and begin contributing to social security instead of depending on my small disability benefit. It’s not nearly enough to live on, even with the most reduced quality of life or lifestyle. Believe me, it’s not living the high life to have to accept that monthly payment. I really doubt that anyone who accepts this kind of assistance is lazy and content to “live off the government” or whatever it was that a certain person might accuse me of… or that I worried about in the months I put off applying because of a strange sense of pride or guilt or Puritan work ethic. I’m willing to bet that an enormous percentage of people who receive disability benefits would be back at work instantly if they could leave behind the condition that led to their disability in the first place. Part of our purpose as human beings is to do important, meaningful work. It is extremely depressing to feel that one can’t make a positive contribution.
14. People would be surprised to know: Again, I can’t begin to know what other people think. What surprises you?
15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: Besides losing custody of the children, I’m bitter about not being able to teach SCUBA diving, go hiking and camping, take care of the regular household and garden tasks that I could do when I was healthy and strong. I miss teaching. The list goes on. Nothing about this is easy.
16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: Survive 8 surgeries and countless hospitalizations, with the associated trauma that is meant to help heal, but that hurts and causes lasting physical pain and emotional upset. If I explained it, you would probably feel like throwing up, so I’ll spare you the details of spinal taps, central line installation and failure, IV bruises, side effects of anesthesia, spinal headaches and the rest.
17. The commercials about my illness: Don’t seem to exist. At least I’ve never seen a television, print or online ad about it. Of course, in terms of media, I don’t get out much.
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: Rock climbing, SCUBA diving, hiking, camping, climbing up on to my roof to clean the rain gutters, driving long distances, traveling, you name it. I still miss all of it.
19. It was really hard to have to give up: Custody of the kids. I can’t accept it. It’s hard to give up my old active life. I can’t stand being dependent. I was always the one to depend on, the one who could get things done.
20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: Facebook, evidently. ☹
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: Go SCUBA diving or backpacking. Pick up my kids and dance around with them. Run around chasing them and piling on the ground in a fit of little boy giggles.
22. My illness has taught me: Compassion. Appreciation for health. Not to judge others because I never really know what suffering they may endure that I cannot see or be aware of. People are resilient and strong. Unfortunately, some people, in their own pain or lack of experience, can be really mean and insensitive.
23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: “It’s all for the best” type comments or “I know how you feel,” or “Get over it,” or “It’s not that bad.”
24. But I love it when people: Treat me as they ever did, as a friend. I really appreciate it when I can do something to help my friends. I’m not helpless in all ways, I just can’t do much physically.
25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: This too shall pass, or Everything is temporary.
26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: Cry whenever you can. Don’t let yourself become emotionally numb. Be prepared for depression, which is an inevitable companion to chronic pain and probably a result of the lost opportunities and capabilities that are consequences of this condition and whatever led up to it. Be strong. Take your pain medicines without apology. Do a good deal of research so you can learn what questions to ask of your medical team. Ask those questions until you get satisfactory answers. If a medication makes you feel weird in any way, ask the doctor or pharmacist about it. There are alternatives that might not make you suffer strange and debilitating side effects. Try alternative therapies. Ask for help. Accept help. Read the Chronic Pain Patient’s Basic Rights . The one I like best and try to take to heart is, “Do less than you are humanly capable of doing.”
27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: It is still possible to be happy.
28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: I can’t count the specific kindnesses I have received during this ordeal from friends, family, work colleagues, health professionals and utter strangers. One thing that comes to mind is that Cathy came from Ohio to spend a week or so taking care of me after one of my early surgeries. I’ll never forget the comfort that came from knowing my household was in her capable hands. I mean, NEVER. I summon up the feeling as a self-soothing device when I need it. I survive on gratitude. Thank you to all of you who continue to be here for me.
29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: It’s very frightening to put all this out there, even in the limited scope of publishing on Facebook. I’ll take up the challenge to speak for others who may not be able to do so. I’ve learned that what is true for me is often true for many others. If I can articulate some idea or concept that leads to compassionate treatment of someone else in my circumstances, this will have been worth the effort and exposure.
30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: Appreciative. Time is precious and if you have read this I’m grateful for your time and attention. If you have learned anything, pass it on. If you have questions, please feel free to ask me anything.

Find out more about National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week and the 5-day free virtual conference with 20 speakers Sept 14-18, 2009 at http://invisibleillnessweek.com

* 6 Reasons I Support Invisible Illness Week
1. Knowledge is Power.
2. Ignorance is not bliss for the people who suffer from the consequences of ignorance.
3. Compassion can be contagious.
4. It hurts to be sick on so many levels that someone who has never suffered like this may gain appreciation for his or her own relative good health, and may practice more nuanced compassion by learning about illness.
5. It is likely that everyone will encounter a severe illness in his or her life, whether personally or in someone he or she loves. It’s good to know there are resources for support standing at the ready when that crisis occurs.
6. I would like to provide more opportunities and excuses for kindness in this world.