It is the small, every day actions that create the makeup of our lives
Posted by Michelle Moquin on January 21st, 2009
So how does it feel? I mean having a new president? I can tell you that I feel that same as millions of others out there….overjoyed!
However, my day yesterday started off not exactly how I wanted it to start. I went to work disappointed that I was working so early and not being able to see and be in the mix of the excitement with Doug, and my friends. I wanted to watch Obama’s speech and him taking the oath ‘live’. Yes, I knew that I could watch it later on youtube etc., but this was such a momentous time, historical…I wanted to ‘be there’ as much as I could, which meant experiencing it as ‘live’ as I could possibly, without actually being there.
So off I went to work, expecting to at least watch it online, all of us coworkers excitedly gathered around the computer. But to my disappointment, our computers were not set up that way. I work for a new company and we aren’t even open for business yet, so things aren’t quite ready. ‘Okay’, I thought, ‘I’ll listen to Obama on the radio.’ Wrong. ipods dominate here – no radio. ‘Shit! What do I do now?’ A few of us excited about the speech were really bummed.
To make a long story short, I busily started working till I heard that some electrician in the building had a radio and Obama was 5 minutes into his speech. I quickly went over to the department head and asked her if I could take a break and listen to the speech on the radio. My coworkers were silent. She looked at me, asked me how many hours I was working. I answered her. She hemmed and hawed a bit and said that if it was more than 10 minutes, I needed to clock out. Yes, I have to admit, it is very humbling to not have my time be my own anymore. I haven’t had to punch a time clock in, I don’t know how many years. (Maybe I’ll blog about this at a later time.)
And now I am being told that I have to punch out in order to watch one of the most important events in my life. Okay, I can accept that you are corporate and you feel you need to play by the rules (yuch). But c’mon, this is not something that happens every day. Can you bend a little? This company has no problem celebrating a birthday and having everyone break for cake. Yet, today, at this very moment, we are celebrating a new president – something this world has been anticipating and she can’t give a little more support, create some camaraderie between this new team of employees. It blew me away.
How cool it would’ve been if she had just stopped everyone from their busy work and encouraged us to take a break and watch history in the making. If she herself had acknowledged the moment that she walked in that morning, that this was a special day and that if anyone was interested in listening to Obama, she supported us taking the time to do so. Even if she said, ‘I have to have you punch out but please do so if this is important to you because I know how important of a day this is.’
But no. No such words came out of her mouth. I felt like I was asking her to take a week off with pay. Everyone there felt the uncomfortable vibe, and no one said a word. I eventually walked away to listen to Obama’s speech on this small hand held radio, sitting next to it, a small Gumby-type figurine of Obama that one of the stock guys propped down for effect. It made me laugh as I and two electricians intensely listened while my co-workers missed out.
I lost a lot of respect for this woman yesterday. I like her still, but her actions revealed more about her that I was not aware of until then. She had an opportunity to shine, an opportunity to create something in this new work environment and she missed the boat. She was playing by the book. Yeah she may have gotten some flack from corporate, if they ever found out that the entire staff stopped working for 20 minutes to celebrate Obama. But I doubt it. And even if she did, how difficult would it be to stand up for her ‘team’ for such an historical event? Who cares if she voted for Obama or not. In her small-mindedness, she couldn’t see past her own corporate concerns to do the right thing. In her small-mindedness she was thinking of herself, her control position, and not her team.
In my mind, her actions didn’t reflect ‘unity’, something that Obama is striving to inspire in this country. Her actions created separateness and I feel they will have a bigger impact on her staff than she is presently aware of. Am I being too hard on her? I don’t think so. It is the small, every day actions that create the makeup of our lives. If we are to live in the now, in the moment, then each moment has meaning and purpose. Each action is a reflection of ourselves and that reflection has an impact on those around us. We have a responsibility to think and make conscious choices and take conscious actions. Enough said.
In spite of my morning I did enjoy the speech. Our country has a long way to go but I am hopeful and optimistic. And I am inspired to be a better person because I want Obama to be a successful president. He can’t do it all on his own unless we are united and doing our part too.
So last night, Doug and I gathered with a few of our dear friends and celebrated hope and change…and of course toasted our new president Obama.
Readers: How was your evening – anything exciting you want to share? Blog me.
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Zen Lill: I love Ghandi’s quote too. It is so relevant and always will be. And again, you are speaking of unity and doing our part. I agree.
Hi Carmen and Maria: You’re welcome. It was difficult doing the research but I learned so much in the process. Enlightening but very disturbing. More fuel for my fire. As far as Madaline is concerned…I have hope that there will be a better way than elimination.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: Your Bad Ass Bitch Editor
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January 21st, 2009 at 11:35 am
Foods that Trigger Deadly Inflammation… and the Healthy Foods to Eat Instead
Leo Galland, MD
Foundation for Integrated Medicine
Most of us associate inflammation with the redness, pain, heat and swelling that accompany an injury or infection. This is part of the normal healing process. However, when the inflammatory process fails to turn itself off when it should, inflammation becomes chronic — and potentially quite damaging.
Chronic inflammation (CI) works slowly and silently at the cellular level. One cause: Poor diet. This may trigger inflammation, which can impair immunity and contribute to artery damage and insulin resistance (the inability of the body’s cells to effectively use the hormone insulin to regulate blood sugar levels). These factors may increase the risk for heart disease, stroke, diabetes, osteoporosis, cancer and arthritis.
Despite these dangers, many people with CI go undiagnosed, in part because the symptoms are vague. Many doctors, not yet fully aware of CI, might not suspect inflammation. Only a blood test can confirm its presence. The best is the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) screening test, which detects levels of CRP, a marker for inflammation in the bloodstream. Health insurance often covers the cost.
WHAT NOT TO EAT
Avoid these common inflammation-producing foods…
Trans fats. Trans fats are created by adding hydrogen to vegetable oil (a process called hydrogenation). Consuming trans fats may damage cells that line blood vessels, causing inflammation.
To do: Check labels and avoid foods with hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated vegetable oil (or aliases, such as shortening or margarine). Most commercial baked goods, such as cookies and crackers, and many fried foods have trans fats.
Omega-6 fatty acids. Needed for good health, omega-6s are found naturally in meats, poultry, shellfish, milk, eggs, vegetable oils and some seeds. They are harmful only when eaten out of proportion to omega-3s, another essential fatty acid. A good ratio of omega-6s to omega-3s is three to one. The typical American diet has a ratio of up to 20 to one — which allows omega-6s to crowd out omega-3s, changing the body’s metabolic processes and creating inflammatory chemicals.
To do: Boost your intake of foods rich in omega-3s (see below).
Processed sugar. Table sugar, candy, soft drinks and other sweets contribute to insulin resistance and extra pounds, both of which increase inflammation.
To do: Satisfy your sweet tooth with a wide variety of fruits. Note: If you have diabetes, talk to your doctor before increasing fruit intake.
INFLAMMATION FIGHTERS
Work these into your diet…
Flavonoids. These natural antioxidants (nutrients that neutralize harmful molecules called free radicals) inhibit inflammatory enzymes. They are prevalent in foods whose natural pigments give them a deep yellow to deep purple color — primarily fruits and vegetables.
To do: Aim for nine daily servings of intensely colored fruits and veggies a day, such as plums, eggplant (with skin) and red onions. Add unsweetened concentrated fruit juices (blueberry, pomegranate) to salad dressings and marinades.
Carotenoids. These antioxidants are found primarily in produce that is yellow, orange or red. Particularly beneficial are carrots and tomatoes. Some green vegetables, such as spinach and broccoli, also are rich in carotenoids.
To do: Use a bit of olive oil or walnut oil to make salad dressing or saut� vegetables. The oil improves absorption of carotenoids by the intestine.
Omega-3s. These fatty acids contain a potent inflammation-fighting component called eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Omega-3s are found in flaxseeds and flaxseed oil, walnuts, navy and kidney beans and leafy green vegetables. Fish is an excellent source, too.
To do: Increase your intake of the omega-3-rich foods above. Also, eat at least 12 ounces of fish a week, choosing types rich in omega-3s and relatively low in mercury — anchovies, conch, herring (fresh or pickled, not creamed), mackerel, salmon, sardines and sturgeon.
Fiber. The more dietary fiber a person consumes, the lower her CRP levels tend to be. Best sources include beans, whole grains and vegetables.
To do: Go beyond your typical high-fiber favorites and try something new — whole-wheat pasta, bulgur (a grain), Swiss chard, yams.
Herbs and spices. Garlic, onions, chives, ginger, turmeric, basil, parsley and cinnamon enhance the flavor of foods and also have anti-inflammatory properties.
To do: Use herbs and spices daily. Healthful combination: Turmeric (a good source of flavonoids) plus black pepper, which increases turmeric’s absorption.
Bottom Line/Women’s Health interviewed Leo Galland, MD, an internationally known expert in nutritional medicine. He is director of the Foundation for Integrated Medicine in New York City and author of three books, including The Fat Resistance Diet (Broadway). http://www.fatresistancediet.com. Dr. Galland is a member of the Bottom Line/Women’s Health advisory board.
January 21st, 2009 at 4:20 pm
I know how much that irritated you and I know how much energy you put into these past months to have to deal with such a different mindset on such a historic day. I also feel that her approach could have been handled with a bit more political sense on her part.
As Obama has shown his awareness of the plight of others and their concerns, and his awareness of his ability to help others, it will be nice to have that role model in our faces for the next 4-8 years as a leader to set an example that many can learn from and follow. Maybe this will give her the opportunity to learn as time goes on from his examples.
January 21st, 2009 at 6:01 pm
The bush boys put the Chief Justice, John Roberts, up to screwing up the swearing in the “boy” to keep him in his place. It had no real legal significance. President Obama became President of the USA as of 12 noon on the 20th of January.
The President being an experienced constitutional lawyer asked the Chief Justice to return and administer the oath in the presence of witnesses and the press.
The RNC has asked their members to act to slow up the appointment of Eric Holder as the first black Attorney General. This one involves more than just keeping the “boy” in his place. It also is a ploy to allow those political appointees bush made to the Attorney General’s office to cover their crimes and to continue making things difficult for the President.
There is an entrenched bunch of racist civil servants that will do everything in their power to insure that Obama’s presidency is unsuccessful.
President Obama is about to find out the extent of criminal activity the bush administration was up to. There is no department of the Executive branch that was not run for profit.
When the American people learn about the extent of the spying that was done against them, they will be astounded. People like you Michelle will be monitored, spied upon, and manipulated for years because the office of HLS has so many secret departments as to have no accountability between one department or the next. Getting control of that department will be a Presidential nightmare. Just try getting your name off a “no-fly-security-list.” No one really knows who is in charge of it once a name gets on it.
The NSA monitored ALL the communications on every communication device 24/7 of EVERY American during the bush administration since 9/11. This information was used to blackmail members of the media, law enforcement, political office holders, judges, medical profession, and anybody that could contest the crimes of the bush administration.
When bush said that he had “political capital” he meant he owned anyone in politics that had a secret he or she did not want known to the world. He often offered to sell blackmail information on anyone to any of us who wished to pay the price. The bush boys were crooks of nonpareil. They have ordered more murders than seeks to rival some of the worst dictators.
Anonz