Caught in the riptide
When caught in a riptide, it's advised not to fight the powerful current. Even strong swimmers can't overcome it. Instead, you should conserve energy until the tide weakens, then swim perpendicular to shore.
Life presents similar moments when we face forces beyond our control. Like enduring an abusive relationship – it’s often better not to confront the abuser in the heat of the moment. Tread water by finding support until you can safely exit. Or coping with workplace bullying – directly facing the bully could worsen matters. Document incidents, lean on coworkers, and watch for opportunities to leave for better prospects.
Other challenging "currents" include battling a legal opponent with far greater resources, or recovering from illness. There may be times when progress feels impossible no matter how hard you strain.
The key is persevering through difficulties using available supports while awaiting chances to swim perpendicular toward safer waters. With patience and wisdom, the stormy present need not last forever. Riptides eventually weaken entirely. Similar currents in life ease up too, allowing you to move toward relief. Staying afloat through the chaos lets you emerge stronger for the challenges faced and overcome.
So in times when you feel caught in a riptide in life, don't fight needlessly against forces larger than yourself. Tread water, brighten your corner, and keep sight of shores unseen.
This too shall pass.
The self-reflection that came from 'selfish' wishing
At a 12-step meeting last Sunday, I heard that it is selfish to wish someone behaved differently. This gave me pause for self-reflection.
It often happens that I wish people in my life would make different choices. I wish they would adopt healthier habits - better diets, more exercise, avoiding substances that can cause harm. I genuinely want the best for them.
However, I’m realizing these wishes also point to something in me that needs adjustment.
What does this say about my own patterns?
Have I become over-involved, attempting to excessively care for or change others?
Is this a sign I need better boundaries?
I’m learning that wanting things to be different is rooted in deeper emotions - fear, grief, anger. I’m also learning that by focusing less on changing others and more on accepting with compassion, I can become curious about myself and where in my body the discomfort exists.
Then, I can turn my efforts toward personal growth and self-care (ie noting my emotions and comforting myself), rather than trying to shape how others live.
As I learn about myself, my faults, and the pain I’ve caused, I’m seeing many areas for improvement. With time and progress, I can become less judgmental and more at peace.
My hope is to approach my relationships with empathy, humility, and grace. Rather than a selfish desire for others to change.
Reconnecting to my body's wisdom
When I was nine years old, I would hold my urine to the point of having “accidents.” Clearly, I wasn’t listening to my body’s needs, ignoring the signals that I needed relief.
Today, I participated in a virtual body scan meditation. As our guide led us to systematically scan our bodies, I noticed a dull ache in my right ankle likely from recent inflammation. A discomfort in my lower back also made itself known on the hard bench I was sitting on. I thought of a friend living with chronic back pain and wondered if I was hurting myself sitting on such a surface.
That uncomfortable thought prompted me to break meditation and retroactively update my calendar with recent healthy activities like my morning walk and breakfast with friends.
Why is my technology overuse an issue? This over-reliance disconnects me from my body's wisdom. It prioritizes external validation over inner listening.
Later during our debrief, the guide asked, “What do you get out of checking your calendar? “Control and self-esteem from seeing my activities,” I replied. “It keeps the focus on me.”
As the guide insightfully responded, this awareness helps us determine how to healthily integrate technology, not be used by it. When a behavior no longer serves us is when we become disenchanted and can change.
It’s remarkable how tuning into the body can surface us from autopilot mode.
Big Food & Pharma: hooking our kids
In a podcast interview with Dr. Mark Hyman, former Big Food and Big Pharma consultant Calley Means revealed information about why America is getting sicker, fatter, more depressed, and more infertile.
This is worse than the Covid pandemic.
I am horrified about the corruption that’s harming the health of children. Can you believe doctors are talking about prescribing Ozempic to treat obesity in six year olds? Sadly, one in six youth have obesity.
A 2006 study states: “According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 3 children born in 2000 in the United States will become diabetic. The odds are higher for African American and Hispanic children as nearly 50% of them will develop diabetes.” (Ximena Urrutia-Rojas, John Menchaca, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, University of North Texas Health Science Center)
This is insane. The government needs to send the message that unhealthy food is to be avoided instead of subsidizing and recommending it! We need to push for taking Coca-Cola and high fructose corn syrup out of school lunches and hospitals NOW!
Processed food is the new tobacco.
To fix this we need to end Big Food’s funding of government, think tank organizations, academic research, and media outlets. It doesn’t help that there are unhealthy food and pharmaceutical ads on television.
It's time we demand an end to subsidies for processed food and drugs. We need to tax unhealthy food and use the money to fund healthy food initiatives.
It is an election year. Let’s improve health by giving our government incentives to put people before profits.