Jennifer's Recovery Log

charlie

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Jennifer, i have no clue if this is related or not but thought I would let you know what I found. As I have been researching scurvy I have found that stomach issues are a part of it. I wonder now if thats what caused some of my stomach issues of the past and maybe I have been dealing with this in some form all my life.

Well anyways, just thought I should mention it.
 
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Jennifer

Jennifer

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That's really interesting, Charlie! Thank you for sharing.

Hmm...I know when I was doing RBTI, my tests showed that I was deficient in vitamin C. What's interesting is I did a fruitarian diet for two years yet I lacked vitamin C, which leads me to believe Reams' theory of certain foods being more bioavailable (better utilized by our bodies) in certain nutrients despite containing less of a certain nutrient. I explained it over on the RBTI thread so hopefully what I'm trying to say will make more sense. I used the vitamin C in onion soup as an example.

With the gum inflammation you're dealing with and if I remember correctly, you're also dealing with excess stress hormones (?) I have a theory of my own in regards to the adrenals and vitamin C.

Weston A. Price found out by the woodland indians in northern Canada (I think it was) that the adrenal glands in animals were a rich source of vitamin C and kept away scurvy. Now, to me and this is just me, I believe this says that the adrenals most likely require plenty of vitamin C. What happens when life happens and we get stressed? Is it possible that this sends our adrenals into overdrive burning through vitamin C and/or requiring more of it in times of stress?

Anyhow, this is just something I've thought about for years now ever since reading Dr. Price's Nutrition and Physical Degeneration.
 

Amazoniac

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Hi Jennifer, keep us updated when the results come out.

Regarding your avoidance of starches, I think some of them are not problematic. The ones that are absorbed faster, like some varieties of rice, before reaching the parts that are more colonized.
I suppose that the generalization that Dr Peat makes, to avoid all starches, could be better interpreted this way: if one has any disturbance in the GI tract, be careful with complex carbohydrates. This is why Justin Sonnenburg proposes the term: Microbiota-Accessible Carbohydrates. It is more accurate to approach the situation this way.
 
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Jennifer

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Yeah, I'll definitely post the results when I get them, Amazoniac. I'm hoping you guys will be able to help me decipher blood values and the GI test and how to proceed given the results.

Okay, so for starches, I should be sticking to more refined types?

I honestly only want those Japanese sweet potatoes or even some creamer potatoes, but I think that's because I'm starving for calories in general. When most of my calories were coming from dairy and sugar, I had no desire for starches, but I was also getting over 3,000 calories a day at that time.
 
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Jennifer

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So the creamed honey I got from Trader Joes was not what I thought it would be. After scooping out some of the honey and taking a bite, I thought "Hey! Where are those melt in your mouth crystals and that blast of sugary goodness? This tastes and feels an awful lot like raw honey." Sure enough, I looked at the package more closely and in small print it read unfiltered and uncooked. Though a 16oz tub of raw honey for $4.99 is a really good deal, it wasn't what I was looking for.

Creamed honey like the McLure's is actually a spreadable honey in the form of tiny, smooth oval shaped crystals. It also goes by the name whipped honey, spun honey, set honey ect. and has an amazing mouth feel. The McLure's has almost a fruity note to it and a very clean almost non-honey like taste. To me, regular honey has a hint of herbal notes or is ever so slightly medicinal in flavor, but the McLure's is more like sugar to me.

Anyhow, if anyone's interested, here's a really good link that explains creamed honey and how it's made:

http://thebeejournal.blogspot.com/2012/ ... honey.html

I'm slowly making my way through the chocolate bars I bought yesterday. I fished off the mint chocolate Equal Exchange bar this evening and all I kept thinking while eating it was that it reminded me of a Thin Mint Girl Scout cookie. So if you like those, you'll probably like this chocolate bar.

I'm still loving the strawberry juice, but I'm so over chicken. I think I'm starting to sprout wings! Actually, that could be to my benefit. I'll certainly have no problem getting to the summit of a mountain if I take flight. :)

Speaking of mountains, I've been spending a lot of time on the road these past few weeks and I can't help but notice all the mountains in the distance. I'm really itching to climb again and with the winter season coming, I'm not looking forward to being trapped indoors all day. So I'm pretty determined to strap on my snowshoes when the snow hits and get out on the trail that runs through my family's property. It's only steep in a few places so I think it'll be a good primer for getting me back out there and utilizing my whole body again without overexerting myself.

There's also an old rail trail that runs through my town and stretches about 7.5 miles. Ever since I fractured my spine and had to stop hiking, one of my old hiking buddies has been checking up on me, asking if I'm ready to get back out there and if I'll do the rail trail with him. I might take him up on his offer this year or maybe my brother will do the trail with me. It would be nice to feel a little more like the old healthy Jennifer.

For tonight's songs...

I like the beat of these and have been dancing to them all week.

Jessie J, Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj's Bang Bang:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YswhUHH6Ufc

Lorde's Royals:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nlcIKh6sBtc

And besides the cool beat, this one also has beautiful lyrics - Jessie J's Masterpiece:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=888dYl07d88
 
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Jennifer

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I'm sure you're all on the edge of your seats in anticipation of what useless thing I'll come up with tonight to talk about so I hope I don't disappoint. We have all been given gifts and we should all share those gifts with one another so lucky for you, this gifted girl's talent to ramble on about absolutely nothing will continue because if anything, I'm a giver who believes in being consistent. :P

Let's see...I covered the topic of my technicolor poo and then there was my painfully boring talk on creamed honey and my ability to grow wings. Hmm...note to self, look into bee keeping as a side business to my main career as the dancing DJ. Perhaps I shall marry the two and become the bee whisperer, soothing them with my smooth tracks and well, we'll just disregard my dancing as to not scare the easily angered critters.

I haven't had any gut pain the past two days, which is quite the relief, but the digestion has only gotten worse. Everything goes right through me now. I managed to eat a chocolate bar everyday except for yesterday and this morning was the first time since the cocoa marathon began where I didn't wake with a headache. So I continue to disappoint Wonka and will most likely find myself as one of those dud eggs disposed of down the chute. I'm perfectly fine with that, though. I don't have time to waist skipping around singing about candy and what not in his factory. I've got a spine to rebuild and trails to hit. ;)

I'll be taking those blood tests Monday and will hopefully be able to get the results by the end of the week. My doctor is also having me tested for Giardia and H. Pylori at the same time. As crazy as this sounds, I wish my intestinal discomfort was due to something as simple as an H. Pylori infection. I'm honestly tired of trying to figure out what could be causing it and having to constantly exclude foods from my diet. I really need to be able to just eat without repercussions so I can get my appetite back, along with what little sanity I once possessed.

Anyhow, if my issue isn't one of those two infections, I hope you beautiful and highly intelligent people will be able to help me figure out my blood test results and what to do with them. I would truly appreciate it. :)

On to tonight's music...

Over the past two days I've done less shaking of my money maker (Trust me, it's a money maker! People pay me to stop shaking it.) and more stripping down of my manic moves to give my soul a chance to breath. These are some of the songs I've listened to...

I love John Mayer's version of Free Falling:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=20Ov0cDPZy8

Black Crowes' She Talks to Angels:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8_5U0M9ErGA

Van Morrison will rock your gypsy soul Into the Mystic:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=O0DJ8hWgNes

And I'll leave you with this beauty of a song. It gives me chills every time I hear it. Blessed Union of Souls' I Believe:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=m0GFRRbve1g
 

Amazoniac

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Hi again Jennifer,

I forgot to mention in my comment about the fermentable carbohydrates that even if you choose a starch that doesn't contribute further to the GI problem, it can become problematic just by storing them in the fridge. If you cook your starches for an entire week for example, by the last day it will probably cause you trouble. The resistant starch isn't broken down just by a brief reheat. Ideally, starches in the fridge should be treated as uncooked for those with GI issues. I thought this wasn't a real concern until I started noticing that they behave entirely different the longer they stayed in the fridge.
I suggest you experiment by yourself but, in my experience, more than 2 days is enough to start causing trouble.
 
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Jennifer

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Thanks, Amazoniac! That's good to know.

In the past and out of habit, I've always cooked up potatoes or rice to eat immediately, but now I'll definitely make sure I continue doing that as to avoid the resistant starch.
 

Amazoniac

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But when you restore balance it's quite beneficial to have a bit of resistant starch in meals.
One interesting (and contradicting) issue is that every step that you can take to stabilize blood sugar and insulin response after eating a refined carbohydrate doesn't affect that much the microbial fermentation. In other words, you can still find sources of starch that won't feed the microbes significantly but still mitigate their potential negative effects. These strategies act mainly by delaying the transit time and absorption. Something acidic before or during the meal; eating along with fats, preferentially saturated chains; include some fiber; eating only in the context of a meal, never alone.
If we look at sushi, they do almost all these steps unconsciously.
 
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Jennifer

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Okay, I think I'm understanding, Amazoniac.

So when I get my gut under control, having an acid such as apple cider vinegar along with my meals that include a starch such as a potato with cream/butter, could be beneficial?

Lindsay said:
However, if the pain is in your lower GI, I could recommend to you something Phedre at Peatarian recommended to me once - I know you are not eating dairy, but it might be worth a try to have a little kefir or raw milk, mixed with a resistant starch and honey. The starch carries the good bacteria from the kefir or milk to the lower GI and helps it feel better.

I've been thinking about what Lindsay suggested here. I had completely forgotten, but back when the farmer I get my raw milk and meat from had a bad case of diarrhea and was to travel to Germany, I told him about an old Cherokee remedy of taking corn starch and mixing it with some milk and he managed to stop his diarrhea long enough to make it through the entire flight without one bought of it.

So I assume the benefits had to do with the resistant starch (corn starch)?
 

Amazoniac

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The problem with resistant starch is that it can fuel commensal and pathogenic microbes. Or even provide fuel to beneficial bacteria that populated wrong places, which is the case of SIBO. Some types of RS can help to shape to a healthier composition but I doubt someone with considerable gut issues can be cured by it.

What I meant by those strategies have nothing to do with fermentation, in fact I suggested the opposite: that even someone with GI issues can apply those methods to purposely mitigate the effects of refined carbohydrates, by delaying transit time and absorption without feeding the microbes.

Regarding Lindsay's comment, I think that mix can be beneficial due to the buffering effect provided by the RS, making the meal bulkier and diluting the digestive juices. This way the fermented cultures can reach the intestine along with the RS. Also, raw milk is full of microbes.
..It's just my speculation.
 

pboy

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eating raw starch can be very bad, and resistant starch really isn't a great idea, unless you like having gas.

I haven't read everything here or don't know your whole story Jennifer, so its hard for me to say one way or another. It might just be something dietary or nutritional, but to me it seems like more. Ive gone through a lot of changes, ups and downs, people would be quite shocked...but an absolute thing ive noticed, is that a depression of sorts...not serious, but just the kind of heaviness that comes from not having fun, interacting, outdoor engaging outlets can lead to many problems in the body. It starts with the heart and lungs I honestly think, then spreads the general lethargy and water retention to the GI, then eventually the limbs and head. I don't know if you got injured or what exactly happened, but chocolate cravings (not that that isn't normal) but things like wanting to drink wine, eat a lot of chocolate, dance...I mean, ive had similar times...I know for certain that energetically the body aligns, not just nutritionally...but the whole way our seed wants to grow, and the way neuro chemicals are released...the body doesn't just do things for the sake of it, like if it has a bunch of dopamine ready to be fired once you do activity A, and you cant do it, or don't for some reason...it sends a bad signal, and the whole system can slow down...even if everything dietary was right, if that makes sense. The sense of freedom and openness, what a state of buzzed on alcohol or high on chocolate induces, it opens your heart basically, and has you doing things youd have done as a child and still want to do, to expand, explore, interact. Im having a hard time putting exactly what im trying to say in words...but basically, sometimes the thing holding up, or causing energetic kinks in the body, anywhere, is simply not fulfilling, or attempting to with some fire behind it, what your dopamine neurons are waiting to fire off once you engage in a certain task or something. Physical problems can be simply from not acting upon open hearted urges in life...sometimes it might be out of fear or social fear, or it might be literally because your life situation is boxing you in like that...but theres often always something you can do. As a child, im sure you could always find a way, anywhere anytime to entertain...im still trying to get back into this way of mind. And its huge. Im meticulous about recording things...and there have been times where the same diet for a month or more, continuously gave the same pattern, elimination, sleep, results, and was going good...and then some stuff in life would happen that would test my heart, and if I didn't act on it, the slight depression seemed to ruin metabolic flow. Food and drink seemed heavy and not able to move...would just sit, and urine stopped flowing fast. Many times I had to just do something pretty intense or crazy, or rearrange, have a good night with friends, something like that to re kick start the flow, and the diet was the same the whole time. I think genuine open hearted fun interaction with other people is extremely important...and that's not a simple statement, because it has to be genuine, can be forced or stale. Having said all that, diet is extremely important also...but mainly if you are eating enough, its pretty well rounded, and doesn't give a lot of gas or acid feel...then from there its more the life itself things that can cause hangups in the body
This might be way out there, cause im not a woman or don't know your life or exact health situation...but I hope this helps even a little, and wish the best for you. Id absolutely love to go hiking in the mountains right now, snow or not...I need to spark my fun and invigoration engine again
 

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Jennifer said:
I've been thinking about what Lindsay suggested here. I had completely forgotten, but back when the farmer I get my raw milk and meat from had a bad case of diarrhea and was to travel to Germany, I told him about an old Cherokee remedy of taking corn starch and mixing it with some milk and he managed to stop his diarrhea long enough to make it through the entire flight without one bought of it.

So I assume the benefits had to do with the resistant starch (corn starch)?

My understanding is that the resistant starch is just a carrier for the good bacteria in the raw milk or kefir. If you eat raw milk or kefir without mixing them with the starch, the bacteria doesn't make it past the small intestine, but the resistant starch kind of soaks it up and carries it all the way to the lower GI where the good bacteria can work it's magic. This is because the starch cannot be absorbed - thus the term resistant. So it's really the good bacteria, but the starch is it's carrier.

When I ate a caesar salad dressing I had made that went bad, I had a violent case of food poisoning - vomiting and extreme lower GI pain. I tried Phedre's remedy and was feeling good as new within a couple days, whereas my previous food poisoning experiences took my digestion weeks to feel back to normal. I keep telling myself I should eat the stuff daily, but I don't. However, I should. Definitely worth a try. If you don't notice a difference within a couple days then you know it's not helping. I used Kefir mixed with raw honey (also antimicrobial) and potato starch. It's not terrible tasting either, so long as you put enough honey in the mixture.
 
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Jennifer

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Thank you, pboy for taking the time to write such a thoughtful post. I apologize. I probably should of given some back history when I started my log.

Well, I guess here's the part where I get brutally honest and candid. I've only told a few people privately some of the things I'm about to share so it's a little hard and a bit embarrassing, but maybe someone will gain something from this...

In my early to late twenties I was into extreme mountain climbing, did a fruitarian diet to try and overcome depression and got down to 70 pounds and developed one of the most severe cases of osteoporosis that my doctor, bone specialists and the tech doing my DEXA scan had ever seen. I ended up fracturing half my spine (12 vertebrate) and with that I had to relearn how to walk and build up the ability to do anything for myself again because I basically became a vegetable. I won't go into too much detail on that part of my recovery because this post will already be far too long, but I'll just say that I spent most of the first two years after the accident in the most unimaginable pain and as a person who was use to some intense pain from the kind of climbing I did, this says a lot. My osteoporotic ribs became interlocked from the loss of 3.5 inches in my spine and would constantly snap together anytime I used my arms. As for the rest of my body, if I moved even an inch, my entire body would spasm like that of charlie horses so I spent a lot of time trying to stand/walk only to end up on the floor in a puddle of my own urine.

I know I've written this to you before, pboy, but for those who haven't seen it, my former doctor wrote about my story on her blog. If you scroll down to where it says "The Worst Case of Hormone Deprivation I have EVER Seen," that's my story. Just to clear up a couple inaccuracies, I followed the 80/10/10 diet by Douglas Graham, not the China Study and I was 28 when I became Dr. Shanahan's patient and received the DEXA scan.

http://www.drcate.com/the-china-study-d ... p-or-harm/

I know for me, my past contributed to my deterioration. I know there are people who have a different opinion and I can respect that. For me personally though, I know in my heart that as a five/six year old being sexually abused by my friends older sister, this affected me in so many ways, not only with developing a fear of affection, but right down to the decisions I made for myself and in which affected my health. Had I not blamed myself for the disgusting things that had been done to me as a little girl, had I not lost trust in my own judgement, had I even the tiniest inkling that I mattered in this world and wasn't some horrible girl because of my not so pretty past, I would of made better choices that kept me out of harms way. But for me at the time, I felt I needed to make up for my past "sins" and became a perfectionist. In a futile effort to be perfect, this became my downfall and here I am.

As for chocolate, I realize I can't stand the stuff, but I bought a bunch of bars and I don't like to waste food and thus you get my daily cocoa binge. Dancing and music have been a part of me since before I could walk. I was put into dance classes starting at the age of three, did cheerleading and coached squads, was part of two choral groups in high school and my dad is a musician. Growing up, my bedtime lullabies were classic rock coming from the basement as my dad and his band practiced. So dancing and music are very healing to me. For me, it's an amazing way to let myself be free with my silly moves and not be perfect.

As for my current digestive issues, it's been a really tough year what with losing my cat and dog to Cancer and then my current dog, Bee having to be operated on due to cancer also. My dog, Cricket in particular was young and went through 3 months of hell. And I think many can understand the human/animal bond that arises when you go through hell together. She was there for me through all the torture I went through over the past 6 years. I mean, I had very close friends and family members who bailed on me when I became sick, but this dog never left my side. I lived for her when I wasn't reason enough to live for, so losing her was devastating. The rash has been ongoing ever since doing a raw vegan fruitarian diet over 5 years back, but this year's stress has really set me back on all the digestive improvements I had made.

You and I have chatted on peatarian and share similar and not so "socially accepted" views in regards to health and the soul's involvement so your views are not "way out there" to me. Not at all! :) I've done the unloading of past baggage and now all that's left is getting my gut to heal, but I haven't stopped living in joy and thus you get my ridiculously silly log posts. I try not to take myself too seriously and can laugh at myself.

I'll try and muster up some courage to post comparison pictures of what I looked like before the extreme weight loss and what I looked like after. Maybe this will help give perspective of how bad it got and why I'm now dealing with what I currently am and why it's taking a long time for me to heal. Maybe I'll post those later when I get the chance.
 
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Jennifer

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Thank you, Lindsay for explaining the resistant starch/raw milk. It makes sense to me now how it all it works. :)
 
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Jennifer

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This morning I went for my blood tests and spent over an hour at the lab.

It took the tech 30 minutes just to find the blood test codes in the computer. She had to call for help on the test for whole blood serotonin. In the process, I found out that I wasn't suppose to have any bananas, avocado, coffee, tea or pineapple for at least 3 days prior to taking the test. Since my current diet is pathetic and only consists of chicken, eggs, maple syrup and natural sodas, it wasn't an issue that I hadn't been informed of this prior to testing. I'd feel bad for others though who aren't informed ahead of time.

The tech had 3 tests she had to code as miscellaneous. Her response was that Dr. Oteri (my doctor) always orders off the wall tests. It's true that Dr. O orders tests that the average doctor doesn't, but these off the wall tests were ordered at my request based on Ray's blood test recommendations. Did I mentioned my doctor is awesome!? :D

So I got into the room to have my blood drawn and two phlebotomists appeared. One was in training and both looked at the order sheet very puzzled and said that they needed to check how to do the serotonin and lactic acid tests. They said they would be back in ten minutes. When they returned, they were fumbling around trying to figure out what vials they needed and realized that the one for the serotonin needed to be put on ice and so they went to the lounge to get some, bumping into each other on their way there. Guys, it wasn't looking promising at this point and I had a feeling something bad was about to happen.

So when they finally returned, they were still a bit confused about the vials, but proceeded to draw my blood anyway. Mind you, I've gotten my blood drawn at this lab dozens of times and I never had a problem. Not once! So as the phlebotomist was filling the vials, she got to the 7th one and I could feel major burning all up my arm. By the 8th vial I felt really queasy and knew something was wrong.

The two of them continued chitchatting while labeling the vials and I tried my best to focus on the red vial caddy attached to the arm of the chair because I had a feeling I was going to pass out. As their voices became muffled and my head really foggy and lightheaded, I told them I was passing out and got my legs elevated and my head back. One went and got a cold cloth and I could hear them saying that I was turning weird colors.

Sadly, it wasn't over. They still needed to get another vial of blood from my other arm. They needed to take one without the tourniquet. I went to leave and they had forgotten about the stool test for the H. Pylori and Giardia so I reminded them, grab the container and got the heck out of there. I knew being ill these past few months was a reason for almost passing out so I told myself that I wouldn't be doing anymore blood tests anytime soon and felt relief that it was over.

Unfortunately, it seems the universe loves to mess with us every now and then so I got a call later this afternoon from the lab saying that I needed to come back in to have my blood redrawn. They messed up the lactic acid test, putting it in the wrong vial and they couldn't do the serotonin test because they were missing a vial. Apparently, they had to order a smaller one to complete that test, but it won't be in till the end of the week and with the holiday, I'll have to wait till Monday to get my blood drawn.

What's concerning is that before I was about to pass out, my first thought was that I was having another one of my major brain fog/lightheaded episodes. Even the muffled voices/sounds are what I experience when the brain fog sets in and these were the same symptoms that were happening right before I was about to pass out. Something is not right in the noggin and I'll be curious to see what my serotonin levels are.

Tonight's bloody songs:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5c1m2BAg2Sc

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7_weSk0BonM

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OnuuYcqhzCE
 

Blossom

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:thumbup I absolutely love reading your Log Jennifer and look forward to the updates!
 
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Jennifer

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Oh, phew! Thank you, Blossom. That's a relief to read. I say things on here sometimes and then think to myself "Good Lord, girl! Why on earth did you have to share that!?" :roll:

I seriously can't help it, though. I can't not be open and honest about myself. After my accident, I noticed it wasn't just my spine that broke down but my walls as well.
 
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Jennifer

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So one of my good friends my brother and I met through hiking posted on his facebook page that he found his 2000th geocache. This is huge, guys!

My friend lost his daughter to suicide within a month of me fracturing my spine so both of us weren't in the best of places, mentally. Over the next couple of years, his health really started to decline. His mind was entrenched with thoughts of the daughter he lost. So leave it to my brother to try and help get us out of our funk and back to the woods hiking again. My brother gave our friend his GPS and got him into geocaching and started taking me out every weekend to go geocaching, as well. I love that boy!

Anyhow, my friend's post got me thinking more about what pboy said in his comment about trying to get back to that childlike state of mind. I've been trying to do the same myself for quite some time now. I'm honestly tired of living the life of a very sick elderly person. It's really sad how illness and life in general have a way of doing that to even the youngest at heart.

Okay, so back to where I was originally going with the geocaching. There's something about discovery. When you were a child, did you ever go exploring with your friends off some beaten path, deep in the woods? Do you remember what it felt like? I do. There was this freedom and excitement of not knowing what to expect or what you would find. All that was needed was a fearless curiosity and a knapsack filled with a half eaten pop-tart and bottle of juice. Oh and a pretty bracelet. Just because we were going exploring didn't mean we couldn't do it in style. Girls, you know what I'm saying. ;)

I remember the first time my cousin and I set out into the woods all by ourselves and came upon a waterfall. It was a few muddy miles into the woods and completely hidden from the rest of the world. Or the time I was ten and rode my bike through the sandpits with my friends. There was a huge manmade water hole that my friends left me standing by alone after they had taken off without me. I had a tendency of getting absorbed in my surroundings and had been looking out at the water daydreaming, when all of a sudden, I looked up to find a huge Great Egret less than 3 feet away, staring back at me. After a minute of our staring competition...well okay, maybe it was more like me gawking at it, the egret unfolded it's gorgeous white and quite massive wings like an angel about to take flight. I was in awe and remember that exact feeling to this very day.

We adopt our roles as men and women, sometimes forgetting the child that still inhabits us. A child that needs to play and explore every now and then or else it becomes like one of those agitated toddlers at the supermarket. You know, the one that tries to grab their parent's attention by pulling at their coat and repeatedly asking the same question over and over, only to be ignored and you think to yourself, won't you just answer your child already!?

So how about answering your inner child? If you're in need of a little playtime or as pboy so eloquently put it "need to spark my fun and invigoration engine again" and love a good treasure hunt, geocaching is an amazing one on a global scale. http://www.geocaching.com

They really are all over the place. I even found one on my families own property way up in the trees attached to this very cool pully system. It's a great activity to get us out there exploring and for those who are trying to overcome illness and still can't quite make that trek up a real or even that "theoretical" mountain, this is a much gentler alternative and can help shift the mind's focus from sickness to adventure for even a short while. Even better if you can do it with friends like pboy suggested. Misery may love company, but not nearly as much as joy does. :)

I'll be donning my snowshoes and getting back out there to get some more geocaches under my belt and hopefully keep my mind off of "trying" to heal. I think it'll be a great form of meditation for me. Anyone else game?

For tonight's songs...

I love this version of Forever Young and I'm dedicating it to all of you:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GWbriM2NQdE

Now that I've completely covered you in sappiness, it's time to rock out...

Sweet Child of Mine:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1w7OgIMMRc4

Do you know the muffin man, the muffin man, the muffin man, Zappa:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=M-6U0ccc_Hg
 

Amazoniac

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Jennifer, like Blossom, I like it too. It's great to read real life logs because testimonials always leave some context out. Also, writting this you'll be able to read it back some day and laugh.

Regarding pboy's post, I agree completely when he mentions the importance of being able to be free as a child.
Now don't take this in a negative way but I think it's just a matter of balance. The problem is that most of us are lacking the freedom of a child. But there are problems with seeking that. We have to make choices constantly, and when we are in that childish free state, we are innocent and think that nothing will harm us, we are invincible and never going to die. Nietzsche, in his book Beyond Good and Evil I guess, wrote:
The danger in happiness. ‑ 'Now everything is turning out well for me, now I love every destiny ‑ who would like to be my destiny?'
What I'm trying to say is that it's just a matter of balance and being able to access that part when you want to.
By the way, if you read this, I like your posts pboy. You seem to resonate a lot with Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Ps.: the book I mentioned changed my life. And consider the fact that I only understood 20% of it.
 

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