keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. keep your words positive because your words become your behaviors. keep your behaviors positive because your behaviors become your habits. keep your habits positive because your habits become your values. keep your values positive because your values become your destiny.
Throughout the year every (i think?) Caribbean island holds its own form of a carnival celebration. In St. Thomas, we hold our Carnival in April...with activities throughout the month leading to a final big week of Food Fair (today!), the opening of the Carnival Village (earlier this week!), J'ouvert (tomorrow!), two parades (children and adults this wknd), and various other activities. This year's theme is Bacchanal Again for 2010.
Side note: I was curious about the origin of the word bacchanal, so of course I looked it up :-) The word comes frombacchanalia, which were wild and mystic festivals of the Roman god Bacchus (or Dionysus). According to wikipedia, it has since come to describe any form of drunken revelry...lol. I guess that's pretty accurate...though you definitely don't need to be drunk to have fun during carnival.
The first carnival was staged in 1912 during the final years of Danish occupation and lapsed during World War I. Revived in 1952, carnival has become the second largest festival in the Caribbean. A month-long series of dazzling pageants and talent shows is held to choose royalty to rein over the festival. Calypsonions offer satirical commentary on the state of the islands, oftentimes mocking the shenanigans of politicians. Other popular events held during Carnival are j'ouvert - a morning jump up - a food fair presenting the islands’ best traditional eats, and a competition to crown the King and Queen of the parade troupes. A children's and adult’s parade close the lively month with brilliantly costumed and decorated troupes and floats.
Throughout the rest of the week and weekend I'll be posting about my past carnival experiences and memories, as well as this year's carnival celebrations.
Of course today's big chune has to be...the quintessential carnival song...aptly titled "Carnival" by my favorite soca artist, DESTRA, and Machel Montano...This isn't a VI Carnival song, so I feel obligated to give yall a double dose of big chune and include a VI (albeit Crucian) one as well ;-)
Every time I learn something (is it redundant to say "learn something new"?), I have two main reactions: 1) happiness that i now know something i previously had not known and 2) worry (worry is a sort of a strong word, i just can't think of what comes right below it in the emotion hierarchy) about how much more i still don't know! Nix (read in an article and) told me just the other day that young people today are exposed to more information in a day than our grandparents were in a whole year....uhm, is that mind-boggling to anyone else??!
While I consider myself generally well-informed and knowledgeable about a good many things, I still can't help but feeling overwhelmed by the vast amount of information that exists. I realize this may sound crazy, but oh well. How did this come up?
I'm sitting here at work, reading through some documents on Social Security Reform for an upcoming paper we are supposed to write. (By the way, nothing is happening with SS reform, in case you are wondering...soooo basically I am doing lots of reading and "monitoring" and who knows whether anything will come of it. Oh well, I'm learning!) Most people our age have no reason to know or be especially concerned about this, but every year the Social Security Administration adjusts SS benefits to account for changes in the cost of living (related to inflation). In 2009, there was no Cost-of-Living-Adjustment...not because the SSA was being stingy, but because prices had dropped during the recession, effectively increasing the real purchasing power of SS benefits by around $700. In fact, during the recession, seniors actually saw their incomes "rise" as those for working-age households fell...I know what you're thinking....tell that to the old people who can't afford to pay their bills :-/ President Obama was thinking that too (lol), so he had proposed a $250 payments to all retirees...politically a good idea, not so much from an economicists' POV...but if Larry Summers were to be like "eh, I don't know Barack, that's not economically sound"...how do you think that would have been received by the general public?
Anyway, all of this is to say that when I read things like this, it reaffirms my resolve to be fully informed about something before taking a strong stance on it. I'm pretty indecisive (btw, research suggests that indecisive individuals utilize more information when trying to make a decision compared to decisive individuals LOL), and I tend not to see black/white, right/wrong on most issues....this is frustrating to some people (I'm thinking of one person in particular, and we don't get along at all lol) but it is really hard for me to be absolute about issues - especially hot-button issues like creation/evolution, religion, war, abortion, affirmative action, etc.(basically most things that involved "taking sides").
I actually used to be even more evasive about getting into "issue discussions." When I really think about it, I realize that my fear of ignorance/being wrong has a ton to do with this....this, in turn, fed into my shyness years ago (I wouldn't say I'm shy anymore). I grew up in a family with 3 super-smart, super-opinionated older brothers. Honestly, I was intimidated by this and I avoided (I sort of still do lol) getting involved in their heated conversations. The older and more educated/informed I've gotten, the more confident (in general, not just about conversations) and less shy I've gotten. I realized the two are correlated for me. Now, I love talking to people about a range of topics, because for the most part I believe that I am able to add something meaningful to the conversations. It's a great feeling.
When I was at GTown, I remember a professor talking about how being an "expert" simply means that you know more than the average person about a certain topic. I used to think of being an expert as some sort of unattainable title, fit only for geniuses. This isn't really the case. One of my goals in life is to become an expert in something(s). This is why I follow so many blogs and make such an effort to be informed. I enjoy knowing things and being able to share them with others. When people comment on my "knowing things" and "informedness" (yes, i'm aware that's not a real word), it makes my day :-)
I hope one day I'll be an expert in some specific area of Psychology, but I'd also like to be an expert in something fun, like Positivity, or Autobiographical Literature, or baking...or needle point (lol).
What about yall? Do you ever feel overwhelmed by how much there is to know...and daunted by a sense of how much you don't know? (Or is it just me?) Do you strive to be an expert in something? Maybe you already are? Other thoughts?
Today's *big chune* is the song that initially made me fall in love with Chrisette Michele: Like a Dream. I LOVE this song!! She's on my mind because yesterday I got tickets to see her when she comes to DC (at the 9:30 club) next Tuesday...with Laura Izibor, who was yesterday's big chune...YAY! Anyone else going?
With Valentine's Day tomorrow, I'm sure flowers, teddy bears, and chocolate heart boxes are flying off the shelves. With that in mind, I have a suggestion to guide your purchases: choose dark chocolate!! Many people see chocolate as a treat/indulgence...and it is...but, you may be surprised to learn that dark chocolate can actually begood for you! I personally LOVE dark chocolate. I have a small piece most days after lunch.
Dark chocolate is less processed and has less sugar than other types of chocolate. Experts suggest that adding small amounts (a one ounce piece a few times a week) of dark chocolate to a healthy diet that includes antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables will give you a variety of phytochemicals (beneficial elements of plants) that have proven health benefits. Dark chocolate contains a high concentration of stearic acid (a saturated fatty acid with a neutral effect on cholesterol), essential minerals including magnesium, copper, potassium, manganese, and flavonoids.
Flavonoids are phytochemical plant pigments that act as natural antioxidants, neutralizing free radicals that can damage body tissue and cells. Antioxidants have also been linked to prevention of cancer and other degenerative diseases. (Since dairy can interfere with the absorption of these antioxidants, only dark chocolate -- not milk -- offers benefits.) Flavonoids also hinder platelet aggregation and improve blood-vessel flexibility, helping to prevent hardening of the arteries. Traditionally-made (meaning minimally processed) dark chocolate actually contains more flavonoids per gram than any other food tested so far, including green tea, red wine, and blueberries.
The high percentage of cocoa in dark chocolate also gives it a low glycemic index, a ranking of carbohydrates according to their effect on our blood glucose levels. This means it produces only small fluctuations in blood glucose and insulin levels (diabetics, take note). Other research supporting the benefits of DC:
Last year, an Italian survey conducted by the Catholic University in Campobasso found that 6.7 grams of dark chocolate per day (about half a bar per week) was the ideal amount for a protective effect against inflammation and subsequent cardiovascular disease.
Scientists at Penn State found that dark chocolate and flavonoid-rich cocoa powder reduced LDL ("bad" cholesterol) oxidation.
An Italian study showed that when volunteers ingested small amounts of dark chocolate, their levels of C-reactive protein (an inflammatory marker) decreased.
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that dark chocolate had an effect on lowering blood pressure.
Finally, research also shows chocolate can increase dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure. Chocolate also contains phenylethylamine (PEA) known as the "love chemical."
Because chocolate is among the most heavily sprayed crops, try to go with organic. For the greatest health benefit, buy traditionally prepared or "artisan" chocolate (most likely to contain more flavonoids because it's made with reduced heat) with at least 70% cocoa to guarantee the lowest glycemic index (try TJ's or Whole Foods). My personal suggestion for those of you who are "new" to dark chocolate is to start with a low percentage and work your way up. The highest I've had so far 85% and I actually like it. Also, if you need to, start with a bar that has other stuff in it...maybe mint or nuts or something.
So, go ahead and buy your boo some chocolate...just make sure it's dark chocolate :-)
Today's *big chune* is even more random and out of left field than usual. It's the score from Schindler's List - one of the absolute saddest movies ever made. I watched this in a class in 8th grade and I'm pretty sure I was bawling my eyes out (side note, I cry pretty easily in movies...even some random movies - Titanic, Little Women, The Holiday). Anyway, this song is sooooo beautiful. Even if you don't like classical music, I think you can appreciate this.
As I wrote yesterday, I'm off from work today...I haven't actually been to work since last Thursday lol. Today is pretty blizaard-like, and we're expecting another 10 inches or so on top of the couple feet we got this past weekend. This ish is crazy! Needless to say my Caribbean backside is staying indoors :-) I wonder if tomorrow will my my 5th day off?
I talk about food in passing quite a bit on my blog, but today I'm going to take it a step further. Over the past year or so I've really gotten into health and wellness -- especially whole, healthy foods. Prior to that, I was all about low-fat, low-calorie and anything that would taste yummy and keep my Weight Watchers points at/below my daily limit LOL. I reached my WW goal so I'm no longer on that....which is a great thing, because I shudder to think about some of the fake crap I was putting in my body and some of the great foods I was avoiding. I'm going to start writing more about food and eating...starting with today's post - some general tips and advice (taken from various sources, as well as some of my own) for healthy eating! I'll be sharing a lot more of my own tips and suggestions, but this is a good start.
2. Drink more water!!! Sometimes when you think you're hungry, you may actually just be dehydrated!
3. Stick to the outer aisles of the store. This is where you'll find fresh produce, and more whole foods. The processed "stuff" is in the middle. If it's not real food, do not eat it!
4. Try the unwrapped diet. If food is in a box and you have to unwrap it, more than the packaging is added. Wrapping means processing, preservatives, and chemicals are packed into the food.
5. Read the labels. What is the first ingredient? Ingredients are listed in order of highest amount to lowest. So of sugar is the first ingredient on a label, you should probably pass. Are vitamins and minerals represented in high or low quantities? What about sugar or high-fructose corn syrup? Are there ingredients that you've never heard of or cannot pronounce? Also, the fewer ingredients the better. Another reason I like to read the labels is to see how something I want to eat is made so that I can make a healthier version of it myself.
6. Make healthy snack choices. I much prefer to spread out my calories throughout the day with well-balanced, evenly portioned healthy meals and snacks rather than three large meals a day. A benefit of this is that the body manages blood sugar levels better if a steady amount of food is consumed throughout the day. So, keep healthy snacks within reach to curb hunger and quell temptation. Some of my go-to snacks: fruit - especially apples! - rice cakes with spread avocado or almond butter, veggies with hummus, greek yogurt, and of course nuts. I admit i used to avoid nuts because of their high fat content, but nuts are nothing to avoid! They have the beneficial type of fat and the different types of nuts have their own benefits. I'll do a whole post on nuts as part of my "10 Things You Should Eat" post, but for now just trust me - you should be eating nuts!! Also...take a snack with you at all times. I generally take an apple and/or nuts with me everywhere I go - just in case. I'd rather have a healthy snack than be starving and have to buy something I wouldn't normally eat.
7. Eat breakfast! Eating a good breakfast helps to jump-start your metabolism and curb the urge to overeat during the day.My go-to breakfast is hot cereal (I LOVE steel cut oats - they are basically a few steps back from the rolled oats that most people are used to eating. Because they haven't gone through as much processing, they have more nutritional value). I like to mix in some almond butter, or crush up some other nuts. Berries and bananas are also good, but I've read that mixing fruit with other foods can cause gas for some people because fruit digests more quickly than most other foods. There seems to be a lack of consensus on this point, so just do whatever works for you.
8. Make your home your safe haven. You control what you bring into your home. Only buy real, good, healthy food so you're not tempted. When I'm having people over, I always warn them lol. And you can use it as an opportunity to share what you've learned with them.
9. Take your own lunch to work. This saves tons of money and puts you in full control of your meal. I take my lunch to work everyday.
10. Make food a priority! A lot of people have this aversion to buying healthy food because of cost. While I agree that beggies cost more than a bag of chips or something like that, good food should be seen as an investment in your health. Spend money on groceries now to avoid even bigger medical bills later in life. Plus, if you shop smart it's easier to shop healthy. Start by trying to find a Trader Joe's. This place makes it sooo easy to be healthy. I love shopping there because it's almost like a first threhold has to have been passed for the food to even be on their shelves. And, i find TJ's to be quite affordable. In fact, their prices are cheaper (on the things I buy) than Ginat/Safeway etc...because for some stupid reason all the "healthy" food at the other chain supermarkets are always more expensive. I also love Whole Foods, but I admit they are a bit on th epricey side for a student or recent grad or someone who has an aversion to spending money on food. But, WF is a necessary compliment to TJ's, which doesn't have anywhere near the specialty selection that WF does.
11. Make food fun! As I've been saying, I really never used to cook to much, but now I LOVE it. I enjoy finding and trying new recipes. You can follow recipes exactly, or get creative based on your own needs and preferences. On ofmy best purchases ever was a bamboo steamer, recommended to me by my brother after he returned from a trip to Asia. This is such an easy, healthy way to cook! I mostly use mine for veggies but you can do pretty much whatever in it. If you live alone and don't like the idea of true cooking, maybe you can start a cooking group with other friends. People can take turns trying out new recipes and having the others over. That way, you have inspiration to cook and people to eat. Then when you're a guest at someone else's night, you get a free(ish) meal with no work on your part. Plus, it would just be somehting fun to do! Or, you can either just cut the recipes down for 1 or two servings, or look for recipes specifically for fewer servings.
Sooooo. What do you guys think? Do you do any of this now? Any seem especially good or especially dumb/unrealistic to you? Do you have your own rules/tips/advice about better eating? Please share!
Today's *big chune* is "Yesterday" by Toni Braxton with Trey Songz. Toni's been gone for a while and this is a great comeback song...Toni looks amazing in this video! And let's face it - Trey Songz could get it lol.
I'm not exactly a "techie" but luckily my brother is, and he put me on to Google Reader a while ago. This application is simply awesome. For those of you who follow blogs - especially a large number of blogs - you absolutely NEED this (or whatever reader) in your life.
Here's how it works. Let's say you want to follow my blog ;-) but you don't want to have to keep checking back to see when I post something new, Google Reader will automatically update to show you that I've added something new. This becomes clutch when you have lots and lots of blogs and it's annoying to check each one for new stuff.
To import things into Google Reader, click on the RSS or Subsribe link somewhere on the blog or site you are interested in. Mine is all the way at the bottom of the page. It should open a new tab/window and ask you to choose your reader. Or you can click on the link in the left side of the page that says "Follow" to follow my blog and it will show up in Reader under "blogs you follow". When you want to access Reader, just look for the tab towards the top of your email homepage or igoogle or however you choose to set up.
You can create folders and tags to organize the different blogs you read. For example, I have a "Fun" folder, a "News" folder, and "Work" folder for blogs related to those areas. Another thing I like a lot is that you can "follow" friends and they can follow you, so you can see what they are reading (when they share them) and leave comments. I'm not going to go into more detail because it's pretty self-explanatory from there and you can just play around with the features.
Here's what my Google Reader looks like:
So, have you already been using Reader? Do you love it?! Have you added my blog yet?
Leave a comment if you have questions.
