I Am Breathing

If you recall in my first blog I said I need to do Thai Chi, Yoga , Deep breathe or something.  Well guess what? I am breathing!  I practice this every day.
I remember many years ago scuba diving.  On one particular occasion, I was on a night dive.  At one point we turned off our flashlights and just lay suspended over the ocean floor.  We were enveloped by total darkness, The only sound was that of my own breath.   It was calming and invigorating at the same time.
As you know I like to swim; I have been swimming for many years.  After a swim, my body feels more relaxed, my stiffness goes away and I feel fresh.  Over the years I have taken lessons and have joined a Masters swim program in attempts to improve my technique..  Timing and Breathing are important aspects of my stroke, but guess what?  My breathing technique is now improving my experience!.  I am now feeling that same sense of calm  and invigoration that I experienced on that dive many years ago. Now with every breath I take I use my breath for energy.  On exhalation, my arm reaches even further (or so I think)  I feel more powerful, although my time has not changed. I leave the change room feeling like I have accomplished something great.  Just Breathe!

Different Styles different messages

As I continue my journey through wellness, I have found myself thinking about the people in my life that help have supported me. Teachers, family and friends and coaches all help guide in this process.  Attending the Mane event really got me thinking about my own style in the classroom.  I  have started paying much more attention to the way I move amongst my students, role model interactions with patients and so on.
My daughter is a dancer.  she does hip hop, jazz, lyrical and ballet.  She loves them all, but struggles with one of her ballet classes

She describes her situation as feeling picked on.  She has two different teachers.  After Tuesday class, she comes home engaged, happy and thoughtful.  On her Thursday class she gets in the car with a negative energy.  It wasn't until last week that she described why she was feeling so low.
Tuesdays, my teacher  S says I am doing great.  "Today she really liked my point."  She loves me.  Then on Thursdays "I feel  really humiliated.  Ms R is always picking on me. "  It all came flooding out.  One day she put duct tape along the inside of my legs so she could watch them turn.  She didn't do that to anyone else."  Last week she took a video of me and made the entire class watch what not to do."  She continued with stories of classroom humiliation.
Now my daughters confidence is eroding and we  are both confused.  Is the first teacher giving false  praise and allowing my daughter to think that she is doing well?  I am sure that the second teacher is well intended, however singling a child out amongst others is having negative consequences.

 

Leading a Horse to Water

Last weekend I made the familiar ttrek to Chilliwack to visit my mom.  Only this time my journey was multipurpose.  So I got to moms and said "Put on a warm jacket we are going to a horse show."  Although she was dubious she showed good spirit as we loaded up my car with her walker,

Once at the Mane event, we met up with my peers and Prof.  Sitting next to my mom, I kept hearing words"amazing", fascinating", look at the way their eyes are locking."  As she made these observations, I too was reflecting on the different styles, throughout the day.  I was taken back by the first trainer, and felt threatened by his voice However he left me with an everlasting message...
"I am only asking what I know you are capable of.."
The trainers that followed had a more gentle approach where I could certainly see  trust role modelling, mimicy  and liberty all be used to teach and guide the horses.  These elements are part of my teaching and learning practice, but need to be advanced.
I now am questing the old  phrase "you can lead a horse to water, but you can not make him drink."

Farm Fresh

  

 My mother lives in Chilliwack, and while  I may complain about the travel time for my weekly visits, I ensure that I always come home with baskets full of local fruits and vegetables.  The Fraser Valley has long been known for it's fertile soil and  food production. I hope you have an opportunity to visit one of these farms on your way up to our field trip next week.

I often go to Wisbey's Farms in Chilliwack for vegetables.

In the summer the kids and I pick berries at Krause Brother's Farm; rewarding ourselves with a berry milkshake and a slice of artichoke corn pizza (made on site)  Check it out!

http://www.bcfarmfresh.com/fraser-valley-farm-index.html

What is Thanksgiving without stuffing

Happy Thanksgiving:  

 I went to the farm this week and got my vegetables for our Thanksgiving meal.  I managed to pick up a variety of mushrooms for this recipe.  The first time we had it was around my friend Liz's table.  It has since become a family favorite.  I make it with vege stock and olive oil so it is a great recipe for the vegetarians in my family.

So as you stuff your life full of work, and school, think about the other ingredients that are important to you. 

This weekend I will stuff my life full of hiking, friends (like Liz) and family (and a bit of mushroom stuffing too.)

The recipe for Mushroom Bread Stuffing can be found right here (without reference to butter): Note: The author notes that this stuffing can be cooked inside the bird - any extra can be cooked on the side 1/3 cup olive oil 2 onions, coarsely chopped 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 3 ribs celery, sliced 2 leeks, trimmed, cleaned and chopped 1 lb.(500g) mushrooms (mixture of wild and cultivated), sliced 10 cups (2.5L) crusty bread, cut into chunks (about 1 lb/500 g) 2 cups turkey or chicken stock or vege stock 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped 1/4 cup (50 ml) fresh sage, chopped (1 tbsp/15 ml, dried) 2 tsp. (30 ml) fresh thyme Salt and pepper, to taste Heat oil in large, deep skillet or Dutch oven. Add onions and garlic and cook for a few minutes, until fragrant. Add celery and leeks. Cook gently for 5 minutes, until softened. Add mushrooms and cook until any liquid evaporates. Add bread cubes and combine well. Add chicken stock to moisten. Add herbs and season to taste. Place stuffing in a 3 qt/3L oiled casserole. Cook uncovered for a crusty top, or covered for a more moist texture. Bake in a preheated 325F/160C oven for 30-40 minutes, or until heated thoroughly. When turkey is finished, spoon some juices from the turkey over the stuffing. Makes 8-10 servings. Source: http://life.nationalpost.com/2010/10/01/thanksgiving-classics-from-bonnie-stern/

Trying to focus

I have given you some insight into who I am, my successes and my struggles. My goal is to keep my blog real.  I want to focus and build on the healthy parts of my life and what keeps them there.

Let's start with the food group I belong to.  We created this group last year as a means of getting together, sharing recipes food and food ideas.

At our meeting last week, we met for a coffee to discuss themes for our upcoming events.  I arrived late to find the discussion had turned to the quality of food being served in the cafeteria.  

Not an issue for me...I only send packed lunches so does it matter if a few times a year my son has fries/pizza and an over sized bagel?

I guess it does - childhood obesity is on the rise...could we change our cafeteria, would the kids and families respond?  Well if Jamie Oliver could do it, maybe we could too! http://www.jamieoliver.com/us/foundation/jamies-food-revolution/school-food

Back to reality.  We shared some healthy lunch ideas that are easy and kid friendly...this is what I shared:

Mary's variation of a Pizza pocket

You can make these little pockets ahead.  They freeze really well and can be taken out the night before lunches served hot or cold the next day.  You can by whole wheat pizza dough at many shops and bakeries.
These pockets are inexpensive and it is easy to get the kids involved in making them

My kids lover them - really you can stuff whatever you want in them depends on what you like.  

I make whole wheat pizza dough in my bread maker (I add some flax- just because)

I have  two pans on the go - one for my vegetarian daughter and one for my son 

they both start out the same - saute onions and garlic add herbs and spices

(my kids like cinnamon, and cumin and coriander 

add either lean turkey or vege ground / or a variation of your favorite beans

add grated carrots and some peas

the mixture should be dry

saute a little longer.....add salt pepper or other spice as you like

roll out your pizza dough and cut into rounds - stuff with the mixture and fold over pinching and turning the edges very well.

bake at 400 until golden - you can use an egg wash  if you like them shiny.

Let them cool 

http://www.jamieoliver.com/us/foundation/jamies-food-revolution/school-foodA

Here I am

Here I am

Mary Peters

Work Experience

When I was eighteen, I was enrolled in a fashion design course, I soon recognized that I was lacking talent and commitment. So in my spare time I volunteered in a therapeutic pool, where I assisted people with disability in the water.  That experience shaped my career journey – I knew then that I would be on a quest to help people achieve better health.  I have now been  a Registered Nurse for 28 years! I have worked primarily within the Pediatric area including acute care, management, policy development, research and public health.  I am currently employed at Langara College, as a Nurse Educator in Pediatrics.  I also keep my clinical skills current by picking up shifts at BC Children’s’ Hospital in the Emergency Department.

Career Expectations

I always laugh when I think about this because I keep talking about my 10 year retirement plan.  So why enter a MED program so late in life?  I think that I have several opportunities to make an impact in my career.  These include taking elements of healthy living with respect to my students and the clients they are caring for.  That being said, I see myself staying in Education, but perhaps shifting the classes I teach from general pediatrics to community health, where more opportunities to interface with public health nurses, school teachers and “healthy children” exist.  P.S.  when I retire I plan to become a dog walker in order to get out there rain or shine!

HEAL MED Expectations

I fully expect this program to be exciting!  I am nervous about the technology but I am dwelling in possibility as to what it may offer.  I am definite that the course will advance my knowledge of health and wellness both professionally and personally.  I know that I live in a demographic that values health and wellness, yet I am not necessarily living a balanced life and certainly I am not achieving my optimum health.  I am hoping through this educational journey that I will not only understand my own obstacles, but will be able to critically examine them and take some action to achieve better health. In addition to my own personal journey, I am hoping the course will offer insight and tools to recognize and deconstruct the social determinants of health in order to better understand the obstacles that many face. 

Health interests, concerns and questions

When you read about my sense of active living, you will see that I am all over the map.  So I left this part for last.  I find have many interests, but lack of commitment, time for follow through (there may be some determinants affecting my ability – to be explored!)

I am very interested in the health of our children and their nutritional status.  In saying that I think this is an area that I should focus in for myself.  I would like to learn more about my own nutrition, my needs in order to achieve optimum health for myself.  Another key interest and necessity for me is to focus on some sort of meditation technique to manage the stress of school, work raising a family etc.

I have some logistical concerns about the class and the program which primarily centre on time management/booking holidays etc.  Maybe we could talk about it.)  Lastly I am concerned about the use of technology.  I am a slow learner – albeit acknowledge some benefits.  I am hoping that the bulk of what we do is face to face.  I still believe this is the best method of learning for me.

Sense of active living (pursuits and pastimes)

I really think it is important to pursue active living.  My sense of fitness has changed over the years, with age, interests and some disability. Despite this I believe in constant adaptation and change. I always strive for balance, but rarely achieve it.  I value family, friends, food, and fitness. No matter the activity I am usually with my family or closest friends.  My current routine is swimming 1- 2 times a week – followed by a muffin and coffee with a friend – then off to work.

Tennis one evening a week – followed by a beer (and a late night)

Walking the sea wall 1- 2 times a week with a friend– followed by – you guessed it a muffin and coffee then rushing to work.

Going to the gym weekly and then rushing to work

I also enjoy walking the dogs with my daughter (her job) 2x week. Playing family games of tennis and kayaking.  I love watching my kids sporting activities and supporting their quests. Lastly I belong to a food group, where we meet monthly, share food, food ideas and recipes.   Other pastimes such as reading and playing the guitar are usually reserved for holidays because with raising a family and working, I find that there are not enough hours in my life to always achieve this balance.  I am sometimes stuck in my pursuit of balance.

I am interested in improving my own personal nutrition, as mentioned below, I belong to a food group where we exchange, recipes, ideas and sometimes food.  Most family dinners are planned and healthy and somewhat tasty.  Where I fall apart is the rest of the day.  How can I pack the children healthy lunches yet leave the door with only a cup of coffee in hand?   Certainly I am not alone. 

My other personal interest is to improve my own inner well being, or spiritual self.  I am busy busy! I need to deep breath? Yoga? Thai Chi – something.