This, Too, Shall Pass
Posted by Michelle Moquin on January 7th, 2013
Good morning!
I so enjoyed reading all of your “6 words”…many of them were so creative, and others deeply preceptive, and still others disgustingly honest, and beautifully truthful. Thank you all for participating by sharing.
Lately, I’ve been feeling like I have been fighting with life. Like everyone, I’ve got lots going on in my life, and these past few days have been especially challenging for me personally, hence I wasn’t feeling very friendly and accepting with things in my life. Growth and challenges go hand in hand, and sometimes we all need a little inspiration. When I am in need, I reach for one of my “bibles”, and for the past 4 or 5 years, it has been Eckhart Tolle’s “A New Earth“, which I’ve written about several times here.
It’s been awhile so I picked up my “bible” a few nights ago and started reading a section that always puts me back where I need to be…”In love with my life”, or at least ‘in like’ with it.” And just like when you get a new car or hear a new song, you start seeing that new car everywhere, and hear that song on every station, while perusing the net, I came across this article written by Oprah, a huge fan of Tolle.
It’s rare these days that I post something personal like I used to do when I first stated blogging. But today I thought perhaps, like myself, some of my readers might need a little inspiration for new year year…
What I Wish I Knew At 21
Wow. Have you ever looked at an old picture and been instantly transported back in time — to the point where you can feel the fabric of the shirt you were wearing, and smell the room you were standing in?
That’s what this photo [below] does for me. I was 21 years old. I had bought the entire outfit off a mannequin at Cain-Sloan in Nashville. (Never was a bargain shopper. To this day, going through racks of clothes looking for a find makes me anxious.) The skirt cost $40. I’d never spent that much on a single item of clothing.
But I was willing to do it for my first major celebrity interview: Jesse Jackson. He was speaking at a local high school, telling students, “Down with dope, up with hope!” and I had been assigned to cover him. My news director didn’t think the event was worth our time, but I’d insisted (okay, pleaded), assuring him I could come back with a piece worthy of the 6 o’clock news. And I did.
I had a fondness for telling other people’s stories, extracting the truth of their experience into a digestible nugget that could inform, inspire, or benefit someone else. Still, I was uncertain about what to say or how to say it. The truth is, I was just moving on instinct.
If I knew then what I know now, I would never have wasted even a single minute doubting my path. It may be human nature to question and doubt, but the older I get, the less I worry about anything. I can see life unfolding in divine order. And even in times of the greatest turmoil, I can stop, get still, and see with utter clarity: This, too, shall pass.
Because everything always does. Until finally we do.
No matter what you’re struggling through — no matter the pain or anguish — you can go inside behind your mind and observe it happening to you. Whatever it is, it isn’t you. You are the observer.
When you come to know this, you realize that even though the canvas of your life is painted with daily experiences, behaviors, reactions, and emotions, you’re the one controlling the brush.
What a wonder! It would have been nice to know this at 21. I could have saved myself a lot of heartache and self-doubt. But to fully understand, at any age, that you are the artist of your own life — and can use as many colors and textures as possible (and erase when necessary!)… now, that’s a revelation.
*******
Blog me. Peace out.
Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
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January 7th, 2013 at 9:50 am
Thanks Michelle, I needed that today.
January 7th, 2013 at 9:51 am
Antibiotics: Watch Out for the Winter Spike
It’s January, which means that it’s time for warm gloves, furry coats and…antibiotics.
Yep, antibiotics.
A new study shows that adults in the US are prescribed antibiotics most often right now, during the first three months of the year.
Now, you might argue, Well, that’s because more people get bacterial infections during the winter.
But check out what else these researchers found, and you’ll see that there may be another reason for it…and, frankly, it’s a reason that outrages me—the findings suggest that many doctors may be behaving badly and putting people at risk.
DOCS PRESCRIBE AT THEIR DISCRETION
Scientists examined the national Medicare records of about 1 million seniors annually over three years.
They tracked antibiotic prescriptions month by month to see when the most antibiotics were prescribed. They also analyzed the prevalence of the following conditions…
Category 1: Bacterial pneumonia. This disease almost always requires antibiotics, according to the study authors.
Category 2: Acute nasopharyngitis (the common cold) and nonspecific upper respiratory tract infections. These diseases are usually viral infections, so antibiotics are almost never necessary, according to the study authors.
Category 3: Sinusitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis and bronchitis. These diseases sometimes require antibiotics, but often they don’t, according to the study authors.
In addition, they compared disease prevalence and antibiotic prescription rates in the four main US regions—the Northeast, South, Midwest and West.
Results:
As I mentioned earlier, antibiotics were prescribed most often during the first three months of the year. And the rate of bacterial pneumonia (category one), which almost always requires antibiotics, also spiked during those months. So upon first glance, you might think that solely explains the spike in antibiotic prescriptions.
But take a close look at this next finding. When the researchers compared the four regions, they found that the areas that had the highest prevalence of bacterial pneumonia, on average, did not have the highest rate of antibiotic prescriptions, on average, as you would expect.
For example, the Northeast had the highest prevalence of bacterial pneumonia, but it didn’t have the highest antibiotic prescription rate—it had the second lowest, after the South and the Midwest. Very peculiar, isn’t it?
In addition, the rates of the diseases that fell into categories two and three (which don’t usually require antibiotics) also spiked during the first three months of the year—not just bacterial pneumonia.
“These findings imply that it’s likely that some antibiotics were prescribed inappropriately to older adults to treat diseases that don’t typically require those drugs,” explained lead study author Yuting Zhang, PhD.
A QUESTIONING ATTITUDE
You, of course, know that overusing antibiotics can cause bacteria to become drug-resistant, leading to disease strains that can’t be wiped out with standard antibiotics.
And taking antibiotics can be pretty hard on your body, too. This knowledge, coupled with the finding above, means that you may want to be extra inquisitive if and when you visit a doctor—especially in the winter.
If your doctor prescribes an antibiotic, should you automatically accept it? That’s a personal decision, but if you ask me, I make sure that my doctor has a darn good reason to give me one before I take it.
In fact, you may want to consider the following advice from regular Daily Health News contributor Andrew Rubman, ND, founder and medical director of the Southbury Clinic for Traditional Medicines in Southbury, Connecticut.
He told me that when your doctor prescribes an antibiotic, always ask, “How confident are you that bacteria are causing my illness?”
Physicians can rarely be 100% certain that bacteria are the root cause of health problems, Dr, Rubman said—but you should expect at least a fair degree of confidence from your doctor before swallowing antibiotics. Here are more of Dr. Rubman’s tips, below…
If bacteria are definitely the cause…Ask these two follow-up questions—are antibiotics absolutely necessary? And what do recent studies show about the effectiveness of the antibiotic you’re suggesting?
Some bacterial diseases, such as bacterial pneumonia, which was mentioned earlier, almost always require an antibiotic. But others, such as the diseases in categories two and three above, can often be resolved with over-the-counter remedies.
“The OTC antihistamine drug diphenhydramine (Benadryl) is a good decongestant for occasional use, and your naturopath may consider prescribing you natural treatments such as nettle, echinacea, horehound, cajaput seed oil and/or henbane to shorten the duration and symptom intensity of your condition,” said Dr. Rubman.
So find out from your doctor whether you can try an OTC product first. Keep in mind that all supplements have potential side effects and contraindications based on certain medical conditions that you may have and drugs that you may take, so take them under a doctor’s care.
If your doctor insists that an antibiotic is necessary and explains that there is scientific evidence that it’s shown to be effective in relieving or curing your particular health problem, then ask whether you need a “broad-spectrum” type or whether a “narrow-spectrum” type will do, because a broad-spectrum type may be overkill for the problem at hand.
If your doctor isn’t sure whether the cause is bacterial or viral…You’re faced with a more difficult decision. Ask what your options are besides antibiotics and how likely they are to help, and then, after weighing all the benefits and risks with your doctor, make a judgment call.
If a virus is definitely the cause…Skip the antibiotics and ask your doctor what sort of treatment might help. If you’re interested in using a natural treatment, specifically, it’s best to consult a naturopathic doctor.
Supplements containing the herbs lobelia (Indian tobacco), Ligusticum porteri (called osha by Native Americans) or larch tree bark (Larix occidentalis) can help clear mucus from the respiratory tract, for instance, if you have a respiratory infection.
Now, your doctor may say, “the cause of the illness is viral, but I want to give you an antibiotic to prevent any secondary bacterial infections.” Dr. Rubman said that in this type of situation, it’s best to consult a naturopathic doctor for a second opinion.
And if you do eventually get a secondary infection, first ask your doctor to try to confirm that it’s bacterial through symptom examination and/or lab tests before considering an antibiotic.
Sources: Yuting Zhang, PhD, associate professor, health economics, and director, Pharmaceutical Economics Research Group, University of Pittsburgh. Her study was published in Archives of Internal Medicine.
Andrew Rubman, ND, founder and medical director of Southbury Clinic for Traditional Medicines, Southbury, Connecticut. He is contributing medical editor to Daily Health News. http://www.SouthburyClinic.com
January 7th, 2013 at 9:53 am
Zen Lill, I read the entire blog. I didn’t see your “six.”
January 7th, 2013 at 10:00 am
Zen Lill sometimes you amaze me. This link was fantastic.
http://www.upworthy.com/nailed-it-if-youre-a-dude-on-the-internet-you-need-to-see-this-video?c=ufb1
January 7th, 2013 at 10:03 am
Howie, how are you doing? The rumor here on the West Bank is that you have been silenced.
Are you still around. I hope you are safe.
January 7th, 2013 at 10:12 am
Michelle, I read the comments on yesterday’s blog about racism. It’s a shame it has to exist. I am so tired of many in my family who are so insensitive to the plight of OTWs.
We are privileged because of our wealth. But also because of our race. My family is the perfect example of people not realizing how manipulated they’ve been by the media.
Most of the members of my family, friends, and associates are more than ready to believe impossible Internet conspiracy theories while ignoring the Right and Republican billion dollar no-stone-unturned campaigns, ready to divide the country for no reason except hate, and profit.
January 7th, 2013 at 10:27 am
Is the world crazy or what. The Log Cabin republicans are against Chuck Hagel’s gay rights record.
Duh! The republican party’s record is one totally against gays. How can you be in a party whose record is against gays and be railing against a person appointed by a party that advocates gay rights?
This shows the power of racism. These ignorants gay shits would rather support a group who hates them that is white, that a group that doesn’t because it isn’t white.
But to add insult to injury they go and complain about this guy’s gay record. White me are much dumber than a box of rocks.
Joyce
January 7th, 2013 at 10:45 am
Gay and Republican is an oxymoron
January 7th, 2013 at 10:46 am
Log Cabin Republicans are embarrassingly irrelevant.
January 7th, 2013 at 10:46 am
Didn’t this GOP group endorse the anti-gay candidate Romney? Jeeezzzz, these people are such hypocrites its almost sadly laughable.
January 7th, 2013 at 10:46 am
Republicans really do have no shame, and what’s really insulting is just because the people that follow them are stupid, they believe that ALL people are stupid.
January 7th, 2013 at 10:47 am
Log cabin Republicans, I should really get on their mailing list, I love irony. Thats why I am on the mailing list for Libertarians for Bigger Government and Dems for Lower taxes on the Rich.
January 7th, 2013 at 10:48 am
I prefer mine without the logs !!
January 7th, 2013 at 10:49 am
How you can be gay and be Republican is beyond me but so is being a woman and being Republican as well as being fiscally responsible and being a Republican or being a veteran and being Republican or being elderly and being Republican or being a student and being Republican and even being religious and being Republican.
The disconnect between the lifestyle of all those groups and their support of the party that hates them can only be credited to one thing….Money. But how can that be true since all these groups are poorer because of Republicans as well.
January 7th, 2013 at 10:51 am
Log cabin republicans are as contemptible as Republicans get—but they’re all contemptible. And since they all hate Hagel for having been right about Iraq, I’m having second thoughts.
Yesterday I was down on Hagel for his anti-gay machismo swagger. Today, I’m all for him. There must be something good there is so many Republicans are determined to do him in.
January 7th, 2013 at 10:52 am
Oprah is an incredibly clear writer. The content of the piece was motivational, and I thoroughly enjoyed the read. It was almost poetic, yet reads almost as if she is really talking to the reader as an individual, and bestowing a wisdom of prophesy.
An interesting and well written memoir.
January 7th, 2013 at 10:54 am
There are quite a few things that I wish I knew at 21, but I wonder if I would have listed if someone told me. Maybe someone did try to tell me, but I didn’t listen.
My own children are young adults now and past the age when I can, or should, direct their lives, but I still try to give advice. Sometimes they complain that I didn’t do what I’m telling them to do.
I try to explain, that is how I know, but they don’t always listen. Somethings we have to figure out on our own. My daughters have come back to me for some things and said, “Mom you were right.”
January 7th, 2013 at 10:54 am
Dearest Oprah, this makes me laugh! Most kids today at 21 are so self-assured their only doubts are whether Mom and Dad will get their rent money and car payment there on time… Many feel special and entitled, and if there are doubts out there today’s youth are certain they are not at fault about anything.
For a reality check, read this:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2257715/Study-shows-college-students-think-theyre-special–read-write-barely-study.html
January 7th, 2013 at 10:55 am
Love this – wish I would have learned to be kinder to myself! It took me another 20 years to learn that one. And as a former Nashvillian, love the Cain/Sloan reference!
January 7th, 2013 at 11:49 am
Hi Mischa, nice piece (the article, get your minds…caught the pun as I wrote it, so enjoy it : )
The observer is an amazing tool in the box of goodies to use in life…I keep mine on no matter what.
Janet, thanks and I’m thankful there’s a young dude out there like that, gives me hope for girls becoming women right now.
Truman, I had to call out to the universe for some inspiration, slept on it and came out with more of a haiku or just a stylistic type statement but, here it is: WHO you are matters, ‘what’ – NOT. (ex. ‘who’ GeorgeWN is is ‘what’ I would never want to be)
Luv, Zen Lill
January 7th, 2013 at 1:33 pm
You and Me makes a We.
PrP
January 7th, 2013 at 6:06 pm
Janet, this one if for you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZAxwsg9J9Q&feature=player_embedded a TED talk as a follow up to that other link…just proof that ‘where there’s a femme, there’s a way’ – (‘Will’ can step aside ; ) – Luv, ZL