Natural Health Blog

This is the fictional autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan. It is fictional because he was a young boy for most of his journey across Sudan and so some of the conversations are not accurate. Valentino, with the help of writer Dave Eggers, presents a compelling portrait of the plight of the Sudanese people, seen through the eyes of a young boy.

At times light hearted, his story is always moving. The deplorable situation in Darfur has brought the media's attention to Sudan; but the crimes being committed there are not localized to that one province. Valentino, as he is known here in the US, begins his tale with a robbery, not committed in Sudan but here in the good United States. It is as Valentino tries to adapt to our unfamiliar culture that we are presented with flashbacks to his journey across the desert with the thousands of other boys who tried to find safety, first in Ethiopia and then in Kenya. He tells of watching lions leap out of the bush and snapping up a boy in front of him, of unimaginable hunger, and yes, of young boy cockiness.

This is an amazing book, one I highly recommend!

Did you know that in the United States alone, more than 15% of children between the ages of 6 and 19 and 10% of 2- to 5-yr-olds are overweight.  Childhood obesity is an insidious epidemic that threatens the health of future generations.  But why has this rise occurred?

Here are some key facts regarding childhood obesity:

• Breastfeeding reduces the risk of childhood obesity
• What mothers eat while they're pregnant can lead to childhood obesity, especially if the mother is herself overweight
• The rise in childhood obesity is not linked to fat consumption, but rather to high carbohydrate intake.  Soda, especially, is a prime culprit, because of its high sugar content and low nutrient content.  For each additional serving of a sugar-sweetened drink, there is a 60% increased risk in the development of childhood obesity.
• TV also contributes to childhood obesity by decreasing physical movement and increasing snacking
• Family dynamics play a role in childhood obesity as well.  Specifically, parental obesity is predictive of childhood obesity
• Childhood obesity has psychosocial consequences, such as peer victimization or isolation

To find out more, check out the article Childhood Obesity: A Rising Epidemic.

What steps do you think need to happen to stop this alarming trend?

Each night I close my eyes and leave to visit the land of myths, the time of dreams, the home of our collective consciousness, wherein the memories of our people live. And each morning I return, the sun a herald to my arrival. With each breath that leaves my lungs, the boundaries of my self expand and return. We live each moment in a constant state of arrival. We are born into this difficult but wondrous world, a new arrival. And even when we leave, in that fateful hour, it is not an ending but only a beginning of something else. For in truth, there are no beginnings and no endings, only the constant turning of the wheel as the Fates weave their fragile threads.

In the continuing pursuit of learning about myself I realized, or maybe it would be better to say it was reinforced, that I am a fire, wrapped in waves of heat. In centering myself, the heat enveloped my form; the more there was around me, the greater that flame grew. Even sitting in a chair I felt as if I would blister my back. I have found myself attuned to my senses, where the world grows brighter and more intense that my limited senses. Each day I come to realize, more and more, the majestic beauty in the world. Even as I despair at the flatness and disconnection of those around me, I am brought to tears at the sight of the stately evergreens standing tall as the setting sun paints the sky, or the bloom of the rose, a proud red to draw the eye. And then there is music… Nothing can move me more than the strains of a beautiful melody. I, who have been described as stoic, hiding all from the world, am quickly reduced to tears as I listen to some haunting strains. In music, I find my release, my healing.

I'm currently reading a wonderful book, called The Wisdom of Wilderness by Gerald May.  As I read his words, I find myself smiling in agreement, sharing in the wonders he describes as he embraces his inner nature by opening himself up to Nature.  The question that lingers as I finish another chapter:  Why are we so afraid?  It is true that embracing the wild opens us up to overwhelming fear and pain but it is equally true that passion and more importantly, love, spring from this wilderness.  In being afraid to embrace the wilderness in ourselves, to open our beings up to Nature, do we not block out that which makes life all the more fulfilling?

This is my first attempt to create a blog, so bear with me as I struggle to find my footing.  My goal for this blog is to establish a community meeting place where we can talk about natural health, as well as other topics important to the community as a whole.  For me, health and wellness is not limited to the body alone but is intrinsically and irreversibly connected to the larger community.  I hope this will prove to be a forum where we may address issues that are important for our physical well-being, while at the same time tackling topics that are important in a larger context and yet that is still relevant to the concept of community wellness.  To that respect, I ask that those who choose to join in our discussions do so with respect.  My wish is that this forum will be a positive center for change.  While we may not always share the same viewpoints, it is by respecting and understanding these differences that true growth is accomplished.  I look forward to our discussions.  Thank you for joining me on this journey!!!

We are all longing to go home to some place we have never been — a place half-remembered and half-envisioned we can only catch glimpses of from time to time. Community. Somewhere, there are people to whom we can speak with passion without having the words catch in our throats. Somewhere a circle of hands will open to receive us, eyes will light up as we enter, voices will celebrate with us whenever we come into our own power. Community means strength that joins our strength to do the work that needs to be done. Arms to hold us when we falter. A circle of healing. A circle of friends. Someplace where we can be free.                                          ~Starhawk~