I have recently been to see an 'Integrated Medicine' doctor (a medical doctor who also looks at the benefits of'alternative' therapies - diet, supplements, mindfulness etc). Now I know I'll loose a few of you straight away - in fact I read a scathing article by an American doctor recently which severely critisized the introduction of "such quackery" into the medical field. But for me, the concept of integration is intriguing and not just from a health perspective.
In my first post "About Me" I spoke about dichotomies...and how sad I think it is that we can't at least listen to opposing arguments. There is a perceived weakness in changing your position - but if you have more information, more examples is it not intelligent to at least modify your position? We've divided our world East/West, Rich/Poor, Science/Alternative Therapies, Muslim/Christian, Left-wing/Right-wing. Perhaps we've even structured ourselves to need those opposing sides - can we have rich without poor? Anyway, I've digressed...
For me, I'll be looking at everything to make me healthy (within the limits of decency - I won't be grinding the horn of a nearly extinct rhino!) and so, back on topic, the Integrated Doctor told me some life altering news "Cancer loves sugar". Is it a fete worse than chemo - a life without chocolate?! I know, I know I shouldn't make light of cancer but for those of you that know me (a twice a day chocoholic) this is a seriously large alternation.
After recovering from the first shock, I was then told:
1. drink two litres of water a day - that's 'do-able'
2. sleep eight hours each night - good luck with that given I have two little ones that have some secret pact to alternate their restless nights
3. have eight (yes EIGHT) different supplements - because I need to be putting more things in my body?!
4. meditate twice a day for 10 minutes...I'm sorry, could you repeat that last one. Meditate twice a day for 10 minutes. Do I look like a monk?
Wow - I have some homework to do. Anyone got some good sugar-free recipes? And any chance I could borrow half an hour to learn how to meditate!
Friday, 8 May 2015
Saturday, 2 May 2015
Money, Money, Money
This should be the easiest section for me to write about. I am, after all, an Accountant by trade. No, STOP! Don't go! Please suspend your judgment. I have long since thrown out the dark pin-striped suits and tax-rebate fist pumps (homage to Irene) and found my way to greener pastures. Remarkably, I've found a job that combines my 'structured' background with an 'inspiring' sustainability focus but more on that later... Let's get back to some stats.
From what I've read lately Australia has a 40% marriage failure rate, 50 million Americans live below the poverty line and working mothers in Britain spend just 81 minutes each day looking after their children. And so, in this zombie-like pursuit of the beloved dollar/pound/yen/peso/yuan/rupee we're OK with our marriages failing, our neighbours starving, our parents working harder and rarely seeing our children?! Surely we've got our buckets muddled. One may be burgeoning but to what advantage?
Don't get me wrong I'm not about to give up my nice house to join a tree hugging nudist colony in Nimbin but Cancer has forced me to think about "what's next?". Do I really need a new car or an investment property? Perhaps I'll take my family to the Whitsundays instead - sail around pristine waters, stopping occasionally to admire the beautiful white sandy beaches or fill up my mojito. But, Sarah you say...a holiday still requires mullah. And right you are!
The unfortunate reality is everyone needs money and no doubt everyone needs "more money". Whilst I'm no Rupert Murdoch or Gina Rinehart I'm comfortable so, for what it's worth, here are my five tips to filling the bucket of prosperity....
1. Set goals
2. Do a budget
3. Swap, share, borrow, make
4. Find cheap stuff - wait for sales, ask for a discount, do your research
5. Find an expert - it's OK if this stuff is boring, leave it to the suits!
From what I've read lately Australia has a 40% marriage failure rate, 50 million Americans live below the poverty line and working mothers in Britain spend just 81 minutes each day looking after their children. And so, in this zombie-like pursuit of the beloved dollar/pound/yen/peso/yuan/rupee we're OK with our marriages failing, our neighbours starving, our parents working harder and rarely seeing our children?! Surely we've got our buckets muddled. One may be burgeoning but to what advantage?
Don't get me wrong I'm not about to give up my nice house to join a tree hugging nudist colony in Nimbin but Cancer has forced me to think about "what's next?". Do I really need a new car or an investment property? Perhaps I'll take my family to the Whitsundays instead - sail around pristine waters, stopping occasionally to admire the beautiful white sandy beaches or fill up my mojito. But, Sarah you say...a holiday still requires mullah. And right you are!
The unfortunate reality is everyone needs money and no doubt everyone needs "more money". Whilst I'm no Rupert Murdoch or Gina Rinehart I'm comfortable so, for what it's worth, here are my five tips to filling the bucket of prosperity....
1. Set goals
2. Do a budget
3. Swap, share, borrow, make
4. Find cheap stuff - wait for sales, ask for a discount, do your research
5. Find an expert - it's OK if this stuff is boring, leave it to the suits!
Thursday, 30 April 2015
I'll Be Back...
I don't want to be a stick - I want to be strong! Think Sarah Conner in Terminator 2 doing chin ups on the prison bed...OK, maybe without the repeated attempts on my life by some steroid-packing Austrian cyborg. But my point is sticks look sick and I have enough sickness in my life at the moment! (Quick caveat: I know there are people who fight crippling eating disorders and don't choose this look - I hope you get the help you need :)).
That said, I'll thank my Mum for giving me genes that err on the side of slim. I've not had to battle food all my life as I know some poor folk do. And I'll admit to writing this blog with a scrumptious Haigh's chocolate frog in my hand. So this chocolate-loving, bicep-admiring cancer fighter just wants a bit of calm. There's a multi-billion dollar industry selling a plethora of quick fixes when we all know Mars Bars don't grow on trees!
Deep down I think most people know what we should eat but money, time or cocoa get the better of us. But wait Sarah! There's something bigger, better, brighter than logic. An omnipotent force...hope. And that's where they get us:
"Look like (insert celebrity here) with only 10 minutes a day"
"Buy this miracle fat burner"
"Blueberries can cure cancer with our help"
And there it is - they've got me. All I need is blueberries then I'll live to see my son's 21st, my daughter's wedding...well done multi-billion dollar diet & exercise industry you've got me - I'm listening.
Next week I'm going to a diet & supplements qualified doctor (yes a medical doctor who has devoted herself to understanding the true value of food, supplements and naturally induced body chemicals). I have stereo-typical visions of tie dye, free flowing dresses, incense and group hugs but then again cancer doesn't discriminate so neither should I. Perhaps 'deep down' I have no idea what I'm talking about.....will keep you posted!
That said, I'll thank my Mum for giving me genes that err on the side of slim. I've not had to battle food all my life as I know some poor folk do. And I'll admit to writing this blog with a scrumptious Haigh's chocolate frog in my hand. So this chocolate-loving, bicep-admiring cancer fighter just wants a bit of calm. There's a multi-billion dollar industry selling a plethora of quick fixes when we all know Mars Bars don't grow on trees!
Deep down I think most people know what we should eat but money, time or cocoa get the better of us. But wait Sarah! There's something bigger, better, brighter than logic. An omnipotent force...hope. And that's where they get us:
"Look like (insert celebrity here) with only 10 minutes a day"
"Buy this miracle fat burner"
"Blueberries can cure cancer with our help"
And there it is - they've got me. All I need is blueberries then I'll live to see my son's 21st, my daughter's wedding...well done multi-billion dollar diet & exercise industry you've got me - I'm listening.
Next week I'm going to a diet & supplements qualified doctor (yes a medical doctor who has devoted herself to understanding the true value of food, supplements and naturally induced body chemicals). I have stereo-typical visions of tie dye, free flowing dresses, incense and group hugs but then again cancer doesn't discriminate so neither should I. Perhaps 'deep down' I have no idea what I'm talking about.....will keep you posted!
About Me
I'm Too Busy To...
I hear that expression a lot - I'd love to take up (insert hobby here) if I had the time. Or maybe you've heard "I don't have time to go the gym/cook my own meals/catch up with friends/drive Dad to the dentist..." . It's not until life throws a cannon ball in your lap that you're forced to reprioritise what you do and don't have time for. Well my cannon ball is Breast Cancer!
I'm 38 years old and have 2 beautiful little children under 5. I'm blessed with a fun, kind husband who can't resist watching, reading about, participating in and teaching sport. I am a daughter, a sister, a friend and try my hardest to be a good employee (the bills need paying after all). I am a pragmatic environmentalist and wish everyday I could do more for my community. So after my son's footy, my daughter's sleepless nights, my husband's marathon training, my veggie patch pruning, the house cleaning, my boss' reports, the sausage sizzle and the infrequent night out to remind myself of life pre-kids, I have NO TIME to fight cancer!
Sounds ridiculous, doesn't it. That should be all I'm doing. But life doesn't work like that...we've structured ourselves to 'need' two incomes, organic food, resilient children, investment properties, mindfulness, low carbon footprints and euphoric happiness. But as we fill the bucket of prosperity do we drain the bucket of happiness?
Why is it that dichotomies work so well in our society? You can only 'believe in' Western medicine not alternative therapies or vise versa. Mutual exclusivity is totally illogical to me. Why can't we take the best from both?! I will try everything and anything to fight cancer and somehow I'm going to do that while balancing all the little buckets of my life!
I'll be having my cake and looking at it too. I can't actually eat it given "Cancer loves sugar" - doesn't it?
I hear that expression a lot - I'd love to take up (insert hobby here) if I had the time. Or maybe you've heard "I don't have time to go the gym/cook my own meals/catch up with friends/drive Dad to the dentist..." . It's not until life throws a cannon ball in your lap that you're forced to reprioritise what you do and don't have time for. Well my cannon ball is Breast Cancer!
I'm 38 years old and have 2 beautiful little children under 5. I'm blessed with a fun, kind husband who can't resist watching, reading about, participating in and teaching sport. I am a daughter, a sister, a friend and try my hardest to be a good employee (the bills need paying after all). I am a pragmatic environmentalist and wish everyday I could do more for my community. So after my son's footy, my daughter's sleepless nights, my husband's marathon training, my veggie patch pruning, the house cleaning, my boss' reports, the sausage sizzle and the infrequent night out to remind myself of life pre-kids, I have NO TIME to fight cancer!
Sounds ridiculous, doesn't it. That should be all I'm doing. But life doesn't work like that...we've structured ourselves to 'need' two incomes, organic food, resilient children, investment properties, mindfulness, low carbon footprints and euphoric happiness. But as we fill the bucket of prosperity do we drain the bucket of happiness?
Why is it that dichotomies work so well in our society? You can only 'believe in' Western medicine not alternative therapies or vise versa. Mutual exclusivity is totally illogical to me. Why can't we take the best from both?! I will try everything and anything to fight cancer and somehow I'm going to do that while balancing all the little buckets of my life!
I'll be having my cake and looking at it too. I can't actually eat it given "Cancer loves sugar" - doesn't it?
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