Braving the Wilderness

On Thursday evening, scrolling through my facebook feed, I came across a friend's post that stated his children (middle/high school) were not spoken to about Parkside. I immediately felt embarrassed, because Thursday I did not speak to my middle school kids, either. But not because I was trying to avoid the conversation - more so because I don't have cable, my antenna is annoying and spotty, and just really hadn't read much news by that time. I decided then that I would talk to my coteacher about speaking to our students.

So we did.

Friday morning, Andrea and I gathered each of our 8th grade classes in a circle at our meeting space to open up this conversation. With a cup of tea in my hand, I asked who had spoken to their parents or another teacher. Many, but not all, raised their hands. I told them that while God forbid anything like that ever happen at Heritage, we must be aware of the procedures at our school for such a disaster. We reviewed our lock down procedures, spoke to kids about how to move about the room if something like this were to happen and we were to be together at that time. They listened silently, respectfully, and with their hearts as we told them that we are a family, and each one of us is important, that kids must report anything "off" they noice in the hallways or elsewhere. We told them we loved them, and that we would do our best to protect them while they were in our care. We gave them a space to ask questions, and also told them it would be a great idea to speak to their families and friends about this matter.

Thought it was a difficult conversation, it was needed and appropriate.

But then I come back to facebook and I see the black and white conversations going on about this issue that is plaguing our country. To me it seems that many people think that you have to be for guns or against guns, but black and white thinking is a common thinking error. This problem is complex, there are, in fact, many facets to it.

There is a problem with violence in our media. And we all know how much media we consume. Thank you, Holls, for sharing that research.

There is a problem with access to mental health, (thanks, Kaytee) and health care in general, particularly in communities that are poverty stricken. This is a prime reason, I believe, that everyone should have access to health care. As communities, we should want to take care of one another and leave no one behind.

Like it or not, the NRA does have a hand in this mess. They are giving millions to our government officials to run their campaigns, and like it or not, our government leaders are then on the hook for something there. Maybe that is why in Trump's address after Parkside, there was ZERO MENTION of the gun part of the problem.

Guns, too, are part of the issue. Have a listen to this podcast from New York Times, The Daily, for Friday February 16, 2018 (thanks, Coalson). This episode is all about the AR-15. Here you will learn it is easier to purchase this semi-automatic weapon than it is to purchase a handgun.

Another theme we can notice is our family dynamics are changing. Parents, in some cases, are not around as often as they used to be, for a multitude of reasons. Kids are left alone more often, and have high access to the internet's information superhighway, and all kinds of messaging there. While I am a teacher with a very firm set of expectations, and am pretty unwavering in the areas of mutual respect and kindness, one could also argue that kids are different than they used to be. If anyone has a study on this, I'd love to have that in the comments.

I'm sure there's areas I'm missing, please comment with those.

So here's how I want to wrap this up - leaning on Brené Brown, who I admire so much. It started when I read this blog post, which is based on her new book, Braving the Wilderness. While I haven't read that book, I'm coming to understand that this wilderness she speaks of is probably the culture and climate that we are immersed in today.

To speak up about something you are passionate about about takes a lot of courage and vulnerability. To be silent does not. To be curious and seek to understand someone's point of view different than your own takes patience, and courage, and vulnerability. To spout off your ideas only, does not. To be kind in moments when you feel others are on the wrong side of the argument takes courage and vulnerability. To name-call does not. To listen with the passion that you want to speak takes courage and vulnerability. To interrupt, to call something "fake news," to dismiss a side to the argument because the source of the information is not one you believe is factual, does not.

I'm sure we can all agree we want our children to walk into our schools and be safe - both physically and emotionally, and they learn new things and grow. I'm sure we can all agree we do not want people shooting up our schools. I'm sure we can all agree that we want what is best for our children, our teachers, and all those work work in the public sector that make our communities great.

So can we listen to one another? Can we open our hearts and minds and have conversations that will lead to something purposeful happening, that will keep our communities safe?

It can start with you. You can be curios. You can be kind. You can listen with the passion for which you like to speak.

And then together, we can advocate for comprehensive legislation that falls somewhere in the grey area - somewhere between I'm for guns, or I'm against guns. Somewhere where people's rights aren't taken away, yet our communities become safe once again.

I'd love comments with articles on either side of this complicated issue in our country. Even better if they are sourced to studies by the experts.

My apologies if I am mistaken anywhere in this post. In an effort to "brave the wilderness" I'm putting it out there, so just get back at me with anything incorrect and I'm happy to adjust.

#Arbonne30 completed and sustainable!

A few years ago (2012, damn, that was a long time ago!) I competed a Whole 30. This is a program that is a jump start to the Paleo lifestyle. It's an elimination diet. With this program you eliminate dairy, alcohol, grains, legumes, added sugar, Carrageen, Sulfites, and MSG, and "junk" food. What you eat on a Whole30 is veggies, fruit, unprocessed meats, seafood, eggs, nuts & seeds, (some) oils & ghee, and coffee. (Reference)

When I completed that program all those years ago, I lost 6 pounds. You can read about my month-end reflection at this link.

Since then I've tried many things, and most recently it was Arbonne's 30 Days to Healthy Living and Beyond. Our program is also an elimination diet for 30 days but our philosophy is a bit different. We eliminate all things that are acidic, allergenic, or addictive. These foods cause inflammation in our bodies, and lead to poor health and eventually disease. Arbonne's mission is to add health to our lives, and we do that by eating clean, whole foods, and supplementing them with products that support our bodies. More on that in a bit.

Before I dive in a bit more about Arbonne's philosophy and why I have such belief in it, I have to tell you that with Arbonne30, I lost 13.1 lbs in four weeks! That is double what I did in four weeks of the Whole30. DOUBLE. And that's just the scale victory. I had a lot of other non-scale victories, too, like:

• No more cravings
• Eating WAAAAYYY less, but never really feeling hungry
• No head fog after too many carbs
• No headaches from caffeine
• Way more energy
• Clear and glowing skin!
• Clothes fit better (actually pulled out some old pants that hadn't fit in a while)
• Happier - you guys, generally speaking, I'm a happy person, but the past few weeks I've been extra happy. It's kinda crazy!

So, what sets Arbonne apart? This image is a nice summary:

Arbonne is focused on a few things:

1. Whole Foods Eating - we shop whole foods (think: 1 ingredient)  that are organic, cage-free, or grass fed
2. Avoiding inflammatory, addictive, and triggering foods, specifically gluten, dairy, sugar, soy, caffeine, and alcohol, which trigger the immune system and cause inflammation
3. Focus on the importance of absorbing our foods - Our supplements are nutrient dense and not depleting. They are meant to help your organs absorb all the nutrients you take in with each meal

Our philosophy is to guide people into a whole foods way of eating. We give people the tools to put down the inflammatory foods, and also create a lifestyle which is totally sustainable.

Another HUGE difference with Arbonne is that we created supplements to add helath to our bodies and support our organs of elimination - our liver, GI track, skin, and lungs. These organs help our bodies expel what it doesn't need, so, being the smarties they are in our Research and Development department, Arbonne developed products to optimize the work of our elimination organs:

• Detox Tea - replaces coffee and helps our liver work it's best. For example, milk thistle supports detox pathways in the liver. Peppermint (tastes great!) and has an affinity for the GI Tract. (And there's like 5 more - watch the linked video, our Dr. Tanda Cook, Naturopathic Physician and Arbonne Independent Consultant.)
• Digestion Plus - We need beneficial bacteria in our diets because they help us break down and absorb our food. You guys, I've learned: we are not what we eat but WHAT WE ABSORB. Let that sink in. We are what we absorb. So, if you do not have enough bacteria to break down and absorb the nutrition you're eating, you're not getting the benefits of all that kale and raw nut butter and free range chicken! Additionally, serotonin, the feel-good hormone, is produced in our GI tract, and needs these enzymes to produce at good levels. Perhaps this is the reaosn for my excessive happiness? :-) :-)
• Fizz Sticks - These replace pop and coffee (which are acidic, and sugared) but have so many benefits. They are a clean energy source and way more ALKALINE-forming. They taste awesome and have B Vitamins which help us out with stress. They contain chromium, which helps balance our blood sugar. WINNING!

And there are more, including Fiber Boost, Vegan Protein, and a 7 day cleanse.

But wait, there's more still. Our program offers a 30 day private facebook group that delivers education around everything we do, topics including: 

• Gluten
• Gut Health
• Elimination Organs
• Soluble and insoluble fiber
• Balancing Blood Sugar & pH
• Truth about Olive Oils - which are good quality and those that aren't
• Meal planning, including 4 weeks of compliant recipes (that are delicious!)

The list goes ON and ON and ON.

That Facebook group is important for the education, but also the community. It's great to see people's results, have them cheer you on from the sidelines, and have a group to be there together when you are struggling, too!

At the end of the day, I'm not settling. I'm not settling for feeling or looking poorly, not settling for anything less than health and wellness, and from a business standpoint, I'm not settling on a teacher's salary that cannot deliver the things in my life that I want and need.

I share Arbonne because I BELIEVE in their philosophy and what they do, and I get that this company is a vehicle to financial and time freedom. 

So what did I learn in 30 days with Arbonne?

1. You can restrict the American Diet and not feel bad. You can go to a baby shower and have the veggies, salad, fruit salad, and meat minus bread, and still be happy. It's just food, not love. (Friends reference, anyone?) It's okay to let it go.

2. When the scale won't move and you've only "cheated" with a Lara Bar and some fruit, you better start counting your calories and make sure you've gotten enough so your body does not think it's going into starvation mode and store fats, rather than releasing them. My week four my scale was exactly the same as week three until the last day when I added more nutrition. The last day of the week? Down another 1.2 lbs!

3. When you do this kind of program, do so with a friend! There are currently three of us that work together, and we each make different recipes and swap them around for variety. We work together, cheer one another on, and are there to support one another. 

4. Yes you can! Yes you can complete this challenge and actually continue going. I'm planning on continuing for another four weeks, with one cheat meal around Fat Tuesday. With the education and recipes, this program is meant to take you beyond the 30 days, and you most certainly can.

5. It's affordable. Many people skoff at eating organic and grass fed, but if you spend your money there, prepare food at home, and use the supplements as they are meant to be (and in a pinch), it all comes out in the wash. You can afford this. (For perspective, I'm a single teacher living alone on the north side of chicago and I can afford it. You can too.)

6. It's not all just easy and rainbows and puppies. Anything worth doing takes discipline. You will need discipline, especially getting through the first week or two while you are detoxing yourself. The supports are put in place for your success with this program, and yes you can accomplish it. (Nod to my brother-in-law for reminding me of this and inspiring my One Word for 2018: Steadfast.)

7. Working out: In January I did eleven sessions of yoga. That's it. This challenge takes place in the kitchen and is focused the way we are nourishing our bodies, but the yoga? That's helpful too, for physical and emotional well being.

8. From a business standpoint: Lead by example. ALWAYS lead by example. People are talking to me about what I'm doing because they look at me and I look better and I'm happier. If you want your business to flourish, you have to get disciplined about your work.

Want to know more, including taking a look at my before and after photos? Head over to my Private Facebook Group (click Join Group) to check those out. You'll also get a feel for what Arbonne is all about. In this group I share about health and wellness, well being and happiness, and keep my shoppers up-to-date with the new promotions and incentives that Arbonne offers. I'd love to see you over there learning along with us!

Wishing you health and wellness this month and beyond!