Thank goodness for continuing medical education, as without it we might not get to travel to warm and sunny places such as Maui.  This year I decided on a pain management conference which just so happened to be in Hawaii, bummer huh?

Even though we love Juneau, I have to admit that the warm sun sure felt good.  We both also enjoyed slowing down a bit and catching up on some long over due reading.  

As I see a lot of chronic pain in my practice, I was anxious to attend this conference and learn more about non-invasive alternative approaches to pain management. From the beginning I knew I was with a different bunch of intellectuals, but in a surprisingly good way.  

We started each day with yoga by the ocean, followed by lectures on preventative medicine, stress management, nutrition, exercise acupuncture, and EFT (emotional freedom technique) / Tapping.  One of the speakers was Dr. Michael Roizen, a preventative medicine  physician at the Cleveland Clinic, or better known for his regular appearances on the Dr. Oz show and for his You book series.  Another presenter was psychologist Lori Leyden, who has been working with genocide victims in Rwanda and survivors from Sandy Hook.  She is well known for her success with tapping acupressure points in the management of stress, depression, and trauma relief. 

I was very impressed with the evidence to back up stress and its correlation to chronic pain and disease. Although I have always considered this connection, I am now more convinced than ever about their relationship in regards to health and illness. The biggest take home point for me was the importance of daily medication/ breathing exercises or prayer.  Although I try to do this daily, I admit to being very undisciplined at times. The evidence suggests that at least 15 minutes twice a day of mindful meditation can decrease the risk for many diseases including: heart disease, depression, arthritis, insomnia, arthritis, and even some cancers.  And, those are just a few among the growing list. 

The medical field has pondered the mind-body connection for a long time, and most recently has begun to embrace the powerful conduit through which emotional, social, spiritual, and behavioral factors can directly affect our health.  For me, the thought that I can harness my thoughts to positively influence some of my body's physical responses is extremely empowering.  I am beginning to see the wisdom in the Socrates quote that " there is no illness of the body, apart from the mind."

I also admire this about Ian. He is very diligent and disciplined in his practice of daily medication and mindfulness. Maybe this explains his unshakable peaceful presence and natural glow?

So whats up with the giant sushi picture you may ask? Well, we spent 5 out of the 7 nights eating  avocado cucumber rolls. Ian just recently decided to give sushi a try once he realized that it can be served sans raw fish.  He has officially grown a Wasabi taste bud.

Even though Hawaii has sun, charm and great sushi, we were both glad to return to Juneau. The familiar smells and feel of home are always comforting. Sometimes though, even the pleasures of vacation can grow old. I am reminded that even in "paradise" one will not find true happiness or contentment, that is something only found from within.

Blessings and peace,
Sarah

 

Ian and I recently celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary. I am not going to write about how wonderful he is, how fast time goes, or how blessed I am to have him for a husband……somehow that almost feels too cliche and lets be honest, no one really wants to hear that anyway . Instead I would rather share with you what these last 4 years have brought for us in a more personal way. For friends, family, and maybe even for the random person who stumbled upon our blog in a google search, there is much more I would rather share. 

Coming upon #4 I reflected back to our early married days. Three of the biggest things that have transformed during this time are: what now fills our conversations, the ways we pass the days, and the things we spend our money on.  Together, these have been catalysts for the renewal of our characters and the alterations in our habits. 

We went on an anniversary hike up Mt Jumbo. The following pictures are during this hike. 

I like to think that even without our move to Alaska our lives would still have evolved, however, I am sure that it did help speed the process! Since being here  I find that we pause more often and look more deeply into the present more than we ever have before.  Although we still talk about the future, being present in every moment is more important for us now. 

We also try to live more simply. Not only / most importantly, as the saying goes,  in order that others may simply live, but to regain our freedom from material stuff. 

Ian and I laugh at my shoe collection when we first met -  I seriously think I had at least 10 pairs of cowboy boots alone!  And besides my Vitamix, I think we have reached a point where the attachments to our material possessions are easier to sever.  And boy does cutting that cable feel good! 

For us, embracing simplicity really has been both life changing and utterly peace giving.  Two of my favorite books regarding simplicity are Radical Simplicity by Jim Merkel and Voluntary Simpicity by Duane Elgin. Definitely worth checking out for the curious and ready to simplify reader!  

OK, so I could probably let go of my Vitamix, but we sure wouldn't eat as well.  Which leads to another big change, (90% of the time) we are gluten free and vegan.  I have been a vegetarian since the age of 8, but Ian the cereal loving omnivore, only recently began his journey; and not only for reasons regarding animal cruelty, but also for the global impact and carbon footprint that our animal crazed food fetishes cause. Not to mention that our over processed food lifestyle and stress is probably the reason behind 99% of our diseases. 

In the past 4 years we have also become more involved and concerned with global affairs. In the past year alone I have probably read 50 books on genocide, the sex slave trade, illegal immigrants, child soldiers, poverty, and humanitarian organizations.  It is actually quite embarrassing that I had little knowledge regarding these atrocities before. However, since learning more, human rights and social justice issues have become my true passion and hence my desire to go back to school once again. 

Here are some of the organizations that I support or volunteer with:

• Friends of the Children of Haiti (FOTCOH.org) - a medical clinic in Haiti, the poorest country in the Western hemisphere.  You can also sponsor a child: helping them go to school, access clean water and food.  I will be meeting the child we sponsor, Blandine, next month! 

• Kilimanjaro Children’s Orphanage ( kiliophanagecentre.org) - an NGO set up to provide shelter, nutrition, safety, health care, and a long-term education to orphaned children at risk.  

• Children of Destiny Nicaragua (codn.org) - two children's orphanage in Jos Cedros and Jinotega, Nicaragua. It is through this organization that I have been traveling on medical mission trips for the past 4 years. You can also sponsor a child through their organization as well. 

• Rising International (risinginternational.org) -  an organization that sells handmade crafts by women living in the poorest and most dangerous place in the world. All the proceeds go to support these woman keeping both them and their families fed and off the streets. 

• Night Light International (nightlightinternational.com) -  this organization works to build relationships with victims of the sex slave trade by providing hope, intervention, rescue, and assistance through vocational training and selling of their handmade crafts / jewelery. 

This bear was a gift for a pregnant friend. I purchased it from the above organization Rising International. It was hand knittied by a survivor / widow from war torn Bosnia as a way to heal from the trauma, to make money to support her family, and to begin rebuilding her life. On the back of the bear she knitted her name. Also, you can't see it too well, but I am wearing a lovely handmade necklace purchased from NightLight. 

Although he also finds these issues important, Ian's interests lie mostly with the mysteries of God/The Absolute, life, man's purpose and how we make sense of it and live it out without destroying each other and our environment. Viable, green living and ways to tread more kindly on our Earth seem to keep his mind active and imagination reeling. 

Still I think the most important growth for us has been in our desire to know and connect with the Divine more intimately. If we do not go within, we truly go without. And, it is only by ways of spiritual growth that all the other changes in our life- from the foods we choose to nourish our bodies with to the organizations we choose to support - have been able to come about.  From the Source comes a source. 

In the last 4 years I have seen our desires reach toward the zenith and Source of love. To not only seek it, but to also find those barriers within ourselves that we have built up against it, to be a servant to it, a warrior with it, and a voice for it. 

Blessing

Sarah

P.S. Ian just read this blog and laughed, calling it the most hippie blog posting yet.