Remember those who have Less

           Every year I try to set aside a percentage of my income as a "tithe". I have been doing this since before I can remember. Truly, my parents felt very strongly about tithing to the church. Whatever I made, 10% went to the church. There were so many times where I thought of the things I'd rather do with that money. Despite that, I have always tithed. Currently I do not attend a church, but I still tithe. I simply choose a few charities each year to which I donate. I view the tithe as very important. I have a job and income. I have been very blessed in my life and thus should do what I can to help others.
           Here are a few charities that I think are really wonderful.

          The Festival of Sharing takes place the third Saturday of October in Sedalia Missouri. The group I went with worked as a distribution team. Meaning, cars would pull up to the loading docks and give us a list of what kits they were to get. We would collect the kits and load the vehicles. All different denominations of churches and organizations come together to raise money for kits. There are baby bundles, prison kits, school kits, and so forth. These kits are sent to women's shelters, schools, anywhere that needs them. It was always a satisfying but exhausting time. One year it rained the whole time. One time we PACKED this little car to the seams (were weren't sure we'd manage it but we did) with all sorts of kits, right after that this big bus pulled up and got one box of beans. Anyway, it was a really awesome experience.
Find more information at www.umocm.org
 
          Heifer, as the name implies, is an international organization that helps poor communities to gain a means of income. They also help provide schooling, women's empowerment, clean water, and so much more. They don't just give money. You can buy an animal (seriously, how cool is it you say you bought a water buffalo?), that animal is then sent to a particular community and they are taught how to care for that animal and how to use it to create income. They can sell milk, or use the wool for weaving, honey from the bees, and so on. It's great because they don't just give handouts. They are really trying to get these people to be self-sufficient and create businesses.
Visit their website at www.heifer.org

          Rainbow House is a crisis shelter for children and teens. That pretty much says it all. I believe there are some that might be closer, but I give to the one in Columbia, MO.
www.rainbowhousecolumbia.org

          I also like to support local food banks. The Mid-Missouri Food Bank and now that I'm in KC, Harvesters. These groups are always struggling and need as much support as they can get. No one deserves to go hungry. Other groups I like to support are local animal shelters. We always had strays or shelter pets. Jesse and I got our dog from a state park. She is a wonderful creature. I just can't understand people who can throw them away.

          So those are some of the organizations I support. I feel it's important to help local and if you can, those in other countries. We tend to get so wrapped up in Christmas and finding the "perfect" gift. Helping those who have less and are in need is a wonderful gift.

Just a Short Little Ramble

It is so hard to believe that Christmas is only two days away! I am looking forward to spending time with family. We might actually have a white Christmas this year. I can't say I'm a huge fan of driving in snow, but it sure is pretty! 

This first picture is from Thanksgiving at my parent's house. It was a wonderfully relaxed day. My father made gumbo. He makes REALLY tasty gumbo! The only ones who were not having a good time were Ramses and Abby. You can't see it in the picture, but my parent's cats were very displeased by the presence of my dog. They are lurking on the edges of the room in turns glaring and hissing at Ebony. She on the other hand just wanted to make friends and play. 

So now it is officially winter, here are a few pictures of the first real snow. We've had a dusting, but that doesn't really count. It looks so pretty at night with the soft glow of the street lights. 

Well everyone I wish you a very Happy Christmas and all other holidays you might celebrate. Stay safe and enjoy the time with family and friends.Stay safe, be well, and may blessings abound!

Stress: Nemesis or Slight Annoyance?

           I was reading through my latest issue of AMTA Massage Therapy Journal. There was an article about stress and massage. This got me thinking about how pervasive stress is in our lives. We all expect to be stressed out. It has become such an integral part of our lives we almost don't even realize it's there. Have you ever really asked what IS stress? What does it do? "Stress" even the word makes you feel tense. A comprehensive definition of stress is this: "Stress is simply a reaction to a stimulus that disturbs our physical or mental equilibrium. In other words, as we know, it's just part of our life." (67) So basically, stress is anything that throws our lives off kilter.
          Stress is not always from unpleasant circumstances. Stress can also be caused by fun and exciting events. There are two types of stress: acute and chronic. Acute is a short-term reaction to a stressor (i.e. a loud noise that scares you). Chronic is something long-term (i.e. dealing with a long term illness, or continual work stress). In both cases the body reacts to stress in similar ways. Most people are familiar with the good old "fight-or-flight" response. This is where the body is prepared to fight or run away. The brain releases hormones that increase heart rate, blood pressure, increases repair substances (platelets), slows down non-essential systems (digestive etc.), and the amount of blood sugar used by the brain also increases. These hormones, adrenaline and cortisol, basically allow the body to use it's energy more efficiently in order to protect you.
         In cases of acute stress the fight-or-flight response eventually shuts off and allows the body to rest and recover. However, with chronic stress the body is stuck in a continual loop of fight-or-flight. The body is not allowed to fully rest and restore its reserves. The flooding of adrenaline and cortisol cause a whole host of issues. The body's reserves are depleted. The American Institute of Stress (just think about that for a second - stress is such a big deal it has an institute to address it) has a list of over 50 symptoms of stress.
           Long term stress can have a severe impact on the body. Not only can it cause symptoms, it can worsen pre-existing conditions. Chronic stress can decrease immune response, opening the body to illness and lessening it's ability to heal. It can cause cardiac issues such as arrhythmia, an increased chance of stroke, or pulmonary embolism.
           "Stress isn't going to physically manifest in the same way for every individual... stress is capable of significantly impacting a person's health and well being across a large number of systems in the body." (69)
           In short, stress can be a very serious problem. So what do you do? There are a lot of options for stress management. It's great that there are so many options. However, sometimes it's presented in such a way that it can cause stress of it's own. In the article it is suggested to eat healthier (always a good thing), an hour a day of brisk activity, an hour of meditation or yoga, and making an effort to be more connected with people around you. Don't get me wrong, these are all good things. But I don't know anyone who has time to commit a minimum of two hours a day to stress management.
          My personal view is this: find what works for you. Do not compare your progress with anyone else's. If you only have time to take a 10 minute walk or 10 minutes to spend in a quiet place, that's better than not doing anything. Parking farther away from the entrance of work, or if shopping, is a good way to get a little extra exercise. If you can take a yoga class once or twice a week that's great too. Breathing exercises are an easy way to take a few minutes for yourself.
Here is one I like: When breathing in count to 6 and when breathing out count to 8.
1. Breathe in through your nose and out through your nose three times.
2. Breathe in through your mouth and out through mouth three times.
3. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth three times.
4. Breath in through your mouth and our through your mouth three times.
             Of course I'm always a proponent of massage therapy. Not only is it a great way to relax it is also a very powerful tool in any wellness plan. The important part is to realize that stress is not something you have to just accept. Finding a way to reduce the stress in your life can improve not just your physical health but also mental health.