The Power of Community

Recently large corporations have been making large decisions in our world.  This is not ideal for the vast majority of those who call our planet “Home”.  Based on profit margins, most of these paths chosen and taken have undermined social equality, brought fear to our people and have sordidly unbalanced the ecosystem.  How do we, as a small, insignificant individual, dare go up against a daunting corporate giant?  The answer is to Strengthen Your Community.

People are social creatures.  We thrive in solid family units, form alliances with our friends and neighbors and co-create our community.  But, a community is made up of more than just the people you live nearby.  Your community is a personal assortment of overlapping circles of influence.  These are the people you see face to face, such as folks with whom you attend worship services, your child’s schoolmates and their families, your clients and colleagues, etc.  It also includes virtual contacts such as your Facebook friends, Twitter followers, and email groups.    What does being in constant, current communications with your circle give to you?

It gives you power.   

Being actively involved in your community allows you to more fully define what is your focus and intention. By communicating your goals to others, you can establish a platform from which others may join you on your endeavors to change the world.  You have a large circle of community members that, when set to a unified purpose, can really make a difference.

A poignant example of community making a huge difference is seen daily in Asheville, NC.  Locals and tourists alike come downtown to choose from the eclectic array of shops and restaurants provided by locally owned entrepreneurs.  Not only will you receive more spicy variety in your life by shopping locally made goods and tasting one-of-a-kind treats, you will also be part of empowering someone’s personal dream.  By breaking out of the box stores and unleashing yourself from chain-owned mundanely, you can embrace more unique experiences powered by local creative people.

Looking for Good Theater? Be Sure to See "Jeffry"

Oh Asheville, do we have a treat for you!  When you started printing "Keep Asheville Weird" stickers, and "Love Local" decals, we met you more than half way.  The immergence of the theater group Different StrokesPerforming Arts Collective has invited Asheville to partake of professional theater on a very provocative and intimate level.  By engaging the audience with plays evoking issues with racism, sexual identity, aging, and other social hot buttons , Different Strokes Performing Arts Collective is making theater that makes a difference.

 

"Jeffry" is not your usual "gay-man-with-relationship-issues" type of play.  Set in the 1990s, "Jeffry" looks from the personal perspective of a gay man whose community has been plagued by AIDs.  On the surface, Jeffry is exploring his option to become celibate to stay safe, but as we go deeper into Jeffry's psyche, we start to discover this is more about whether or not to love someone you know is going to die.  Heavy stuff ...for a comedy. 

Rodney Smith, assistant-director with Different Strokes Performing Arts Collective, asks "How often can you say, 'Oh, this is about death and love and dying,' and then laugh about it?"

But there's more: When the curtain goes down, the show is not over.  Different Strokes Performing Arts Collective invites the audience to continue to think and re-evaluate their views on what they have just seen in the play.  During the "Talk Back Session," some of the actors come back to the stage and discuss with the audience the issues brought up.  The audience also meets and talks with the beneficiary of the play's proceeds.  You see, Different Strokes Performing Arts Collective is a non-profit organization.  Each production has one, and sometimes two, beneficiaries. The audience gets to learn about the recipient organization and how we all work together as a community to make a difference. 

For "Jeffry," the beneficiary is WNC AidsProject. 

If you are looking for something unique, memorable and stimulating  to do this weekend, check out the new performance of "Jeffry," running April 18- May 4, 2013 (Thursday-Saturday 7:30 pm) at ACT/35below - 35 Walnut St. in Asheville.  Contact Different Strokes Performing Arts Collective for tickets through Event Brite

 

Combating Candida Naturally

The doctors and I debate about the presence of candida in my body.  They are all adamant that I do not have anything like that going on.  I am adamant that whatever it is that is causing my body such upset is really responding to these few things I've learned to add to my regime: acidophiles/bifidus and oil of oregano capsules.  I have discovered that taking two capsules of each, once per day keeps my body in balance and I do not suffer any symptoms!

I also try to eat a regular supply of fresh broccoli, cabbage, and spinach.  Here's a fabulous recipe for Red Cabbage Slaw that is so very yummy, good for you and will keep for days refridgerated.

RED CABBAGE SLAW
*use only fresh, raw vegetables
sliced red cabbage
chopped brocoli
diced carrots
chopped spring onions or leeks
corn cut from the cob
chopped walnuts
dried cranberries

Mix ingrediants above in a large bowl, then stir in the dressing:
mayonaisse
vinegar (rice, apple cidar or red wine)
S&P


The whole family loves this salad- even picky 12 year old daughters who need their vegetables most especially as they're growing :)

Letters from God

                You awaken from a vivid dream- a dream that you know is trying to tell you something.  The dream is so dynamic, that you even talk about it, or write it down to remember.  Whether you are going through transition, puzzling out a problem, or coming to grips with something important, your dreams are a gateway in helping you through it.  These nightly gifts contain pertinent, poignant and personal information, directed specifically to each of us.   How do you tap into the knowledge and open up your gift?  You call the expert dream analyst: Dr. Tayria Ward.

                Perfecting the symbolism of dreams has been a long-time pursuit of Dr. Tayria Ward, depth psychologist and inter-faith spiritual leader.  "Dreams are like a letter from God," Tayria says. "To discard your dreams is like leaving the letter unopened. "  Working with decades of dream analysis, symbolism and multi-cultural experiences, Dr. Ward couples her wealth of knowledge with spiritual sincerity when she guides you through interpreting your dreams.  

                I've had the pleasurable experience of meeting Dr. Ward on a number of occasions.  Her office, located in the very heart of downtown Asheville, is on the 5th floor of the Flat Iron Building.  As you walk down Battery Park toward the unique triangular building, you breathe in the distinctly dynamic air of Asheville's citizens and visitors.  The Flat Iron Building itself is a masterpiece of architecture in this richly diverse city.  Built in 1926, the original elevators are still operated by liftmen who will take you to your desired floor.  Arriving at the fifth floor, you'll see that Dr. Tayria's office is nearby.  The space is small, cozy and spiritually evocative in decor.  There are two comfortable chairs and a small table by the window which overlook the city and mountainscape beyond. 

                We sit and Tayria lights a candle.  She smiles warmly and invites me to open myself up to receive guidance.  I talk about my dream with her, and Tayria listens, sometimes interjecting questions or comments.  With thoughtful guidance, her words provoke my own connections and understanding of what the dream is telling me.  Dr. Ward uses her experience with dreams and her wisdom of psychology to help me be the one to unfold the letter; the interpretation becomes my own enlightenment.

                Dreams are not the only method for Dr. Tayria Ward to help us uncover how to safely and thoughtfully traverse our own unique path.  Having had the sacred experience of leading groups of people through vision quests, spiritual retreats and intense individual and couples therapy, Dr. Ward is able to use a variety of modalities to gently lead us in knowing our deeper selves.  With openhearted love, thoughtful empathy and a lifetime of wisdom and experience, Dr. Tayria Ward is the expert in effective dream analysis and a valuable, professional guide for bridging our physical and spiritual selves.

2 Men I Trust The Most

I have to confess something: I am undeniably biased toward women when seeking health care practitioners for myself.  My prejudice stems from an unfounded hesitation toward intimate trust with men and my body.  It's enough that doctors are pushed by adhering to insurance regulations time restraints and skimp on bedside manner, but often, I've found, male practitioners' machismo takes precedence over nurturing care.  I point myself back toward the nourishing safety of my commonality with women, where at the very least, I can resound with them on an emotional level.

With all of that told, I would very much like to promote two outstanding male practitioners that have my unyielding trust when it comes to caring for my body: Dr. Thomas Morton, Jr.  DDS  and Dr Simeon Kuic, DC.

My Dentist
When I first moved to Asheville and was able to get dental insurance, I inquired from an RN friend whom she might recommend.  Dr Thomas Morton and his son in West Asheville have been providing care for... generations!  Dr Morton Sr has since retired, however Dr Morton Jr continues the practice with the same staff he and his father have been with for more than a dozen years.  They work with the quiet, efficient hum of a well-oiled machine, each team member supporting the next, following with practiced patterns and years of wisdom. 

Dr Morton Jr has the gentlest touch I've ever known in dentistry.  He is quiet, humbly confident and (his receptionist admitted to me during my last check-out) he is a perfectionist.  There is no pain when he numbs me, no pain during the drilling, the filing, the filling.  I lay there with my eyes closed, my hands on my abdomen and breathe deeply, fully trusting with my mouth wide open for the drill to hum and whirr inside my mouth.

I never knew how spoiled I was with Dr Morton and his staff until the price for gasoline went through the roof a few years ago. Having moved away from West Asheville, it was taking me about 25 minutes to get to their office now.  We had a dentist within walking distance at our new house.  The temptation was an easy one to make: we tried the gentle dentist in our neighborhood the next time our check-ups were due.

Not only were the receptionists there unwelcoming, unsmiling and obviously disgruntled with customers and questions, the waiting room was nearly full with a lengthy, loud wait.  When I was seen, they found many cavities that said needed to be filled as soon as possible.  That was odd.  I had been going for dental checkups regularly for 15+ years and never had a rash of cavities like this before.  I got them filled, as suggested by my new dental office, and listened to the dentist and three staff who were in the room with me, talk about t.v. shows and dinner plans and the like while the drilling and filling were being done inside my head. 

My husband had a similar experience of being pushed into more appointments, being unwelcomed and unknown as a client to this new dental group.  We soon decided that it was so very worth driving 25 minutes to West Asheville for all of our future dental visits.  My only regret was not letting Dr Morton continue to guide me with my oral health; he keeps an eye on the 'buckles' I have in my molars and let's me know when I truly need to get something filled.  I feel taken care of, I feel appreciated by all of the staff, and I am never disappointed in how smoothly my dental visits have gone every time. 

My Chiropractor
Having avoided chiropractic care all of life, something happened around the age of 40 and I think my body's warranty wore out.  My hip was hurting an awful lot sometimes when I tried to stand, and an old shoulder injury from my 20's was flaring up whenever I did yard work.  I guess I complained about it out loud enough that my husband said, "We pay a lot of money for insurance- go make an appointment and get yourself taken care of."  So today, I did just that!

It was an easy choice for me to schedule with Downtown Chiropractic.  I had met Dr Simeon Kuic and his wife Shannon several times separately and together at various networking events.  Before I knew they were a couple, I felt drawn to each of them separately because of the sincerity they both have, and the warmth they exude.  Shannon is open, inviting and very friendly.  Always animate and with a sun-shine smile, it's obvious that Shannon is passionate about helping people live a path of lasting health.  Her husband, Dr Simeon Kuic, is thoughtful, gentle and genuine.  Possessing a more sensitive demeanor that many male physicians lack, Dr Kuic spends precious professional time with his patients, and very consciously, very gently, works on aligning you back into good position.

The husband and wife team of Downtown Chiropractic is looking out for my best health interests; through their fresh-squeezed juices whenever you come for a visit and conscious chiropractic care,
 I know I am being treated as a person with potential, rather than a patient with problems.

Make a Game from Creative Writing

This year my daughter is in sixth grade.  In language arts, they have been studying all sorts of writing genres in literature.  From poetry to prose to drama, each category has several sub-categories, varying in degree from lyrical poetry to journalism to science fiction.  To help my daughter better understand these genres, we started playing a creative writing game.

This morning, we wrote down all the different types of fiction genres, drama and poetry which she has been studying:
fantasy
sci-fi
realistic fiction
myths
mystery
romance
historical fiction
westerns
horror
adventure
lyrical poem
narrative poem
essay
journalism
histories
tragedy
comedy

In another pile, we wrote down story titles (we got to show a bit of creativity here).  Some examples are:
2,000 Glorious Moons
The Fatter the Better
Cowboys Never Know the Difference
Down Below the Sea
Pickled Eggs at Sunset
The Rescue
Baking Cruel Pie
A Million Rats
Dying Quickly
The Strange Keep to Themselves

Each of us took turns choosing from the genre pile, then choosing from the story title pile.  After selecting four couplings, we sat down at our computers to write our stories.

I got started on my first assignment: "2,000 Glorious Moons" in the journalistic style. Sarah started her drama with the title, "The Strange Keep to Themselves." 

About 45 minutes later, we took turns reading our creative writing with each other.  We talked about what our favorite literary devices were, and I'm thinking that the next dimension to this game should include also selecting from a pile of literary devices (alliteration, personification, allegory, simile, metaphors, rhyming, puns....) by which the story should be told.

This is a fun activity for you to do with your kids, and will truly inspire them to be creative while learning all sorts of writing methods.

It's not personal, it's business

Close your eyes and imagine mixing family with business, such as hiring a friend,  or your spouse, or your mother; what comes to mind?  With varying degrees of comfort would you venture forth on such a course.  You know that person's fears and flaws, foibles and faults as well as their assets of experience and expertise.  Inevitably, you are bound by a firmer relationship which holds you both accountable to one another, and to the community that you share (your other friends and relations, classmates and congregation and colleagues). 

By common vested interest, the value of hiring a close relation can be immeasurable!  When trust and loyalty meet experience and enthusiasm, the shared vision is nigh guaranteed. 

There is a flip side.  With equal passion, and equal measure, the opposite is tempted to occur.

What this deepening of the relationship does is test the strength, durability and quality of the material which binds you together.  Like tug-of-war, each of you will be tested by your own merits and faults throughout the course of the relationship.  Will you be able to balance and endure one another so neither of you fall into the slimy pit?  You will if you both thoughtfully attempt equilibrium. 

When you fall, become unbalanced, (for no one is expected to be perfect at all times) is your partner able to lift you up without becoming unbalanced as well?  Will you be able to be forgiven, or will your stumbles be counted like pebbles in a jar, adding up in your partner's mind to be thrown against you in a weak moment of their own?  Will you be able to be the one who forgives when it is asked of you?

Entering a business relationship with a close friend or family member takes trust and constant assessment on both sides.  It is work on a different level, and the benefits are full of grand potential.  Now, close your eyes and imagine that your employee is your brother.  What comes to mind, this time?