This past weekend I attended a food conference sponsored by “Brooklyn Food Coalition” which was held at Brooklyn Tech High School in the Fort Green section of Brooklyn. It was fantastic. So many aspects of our food supply were discussed.  Cooking demos which covered everything from food substitutes for people with allergies to cooking with essential oils to the making of fermented foods. Their were classes on everything from proper digestion to selecting wholesome organic products. Children were shown easy cooking techniques as well as exposed to practicing yoga.  For the more politically minded there were seminars on how to become more active in determining what foods should be available, as well as what could be done to make a safer environment. I want to thank all who were involved for such a wonderful day and urge all to contribute to the Brooklyn Food Coalition who sponsored this event free of charge to the public.

http://brooklynfoodcoalition.ning.com/

     Americans are avid consumers. There is nothing wrong with that.  It stimulates the economy and rewards us for our hard work. Everyone loves something new. Whether it be new clothes, up to date technology, new items for the home or garden or maybe new sports equipment.

      All of these give us another dimension to our lives.           

     Problems arise when we refuse to let go of the old and replace it with the “new”.  How do we free ourselves from the “old” before it becomes CLUTTER! we begin to feel JAMMED! or we begin receiving offers to star in a reality show called HOARDERS!

     Some of us take the route where we buy colored bins and storage containers and attempt to store and organize all the clutter. A few of us take the quick route of simply dumping everything in our basements or attic spaces or actually renting storage space. Out of sight out of mind. Others choose the procrastination route which can lead to frustration, irritability and lack of focus. 

    A good start–go through your clothing, anything you have not worn in the past two years should be donated.  There are wonderful recycling programs provided locally for any outdated computer or technical equipment. If you are in the habit of accumulating information about this or that, organize and file it in whatever tech device you use, get rid of the paper in your life! On a personal note, there is just so much duct tape that you should use before it’s time to say goodbye to old, worn out sports equipment.

     Practicing breathing techniques, yoga, meditation, weight training, martial arts or simply strenuous exercise can help us focus on what we really need in our lives instead of filling it up with clutter.

                                                                      And don’t fret, if all of these suggestions fail–there are lots of people that would love to do this for you for a fee.

So many of us are plagued with headaches and as a rule they should never be ignored. They can range from the very severe, almost blinding to a mild throbbing of the temple region. Almost 40% of the population suffer from reoccurring headaches annually. Some resort to pills others to natural remedies. Regardless, if a headache continues to be persistent and becomes unmanageable then a professional should always be consulted as a precaution.  Does that mean that every time we have pain in our head we should be running to the doctor?  First consider how often they occur. Do they have a pattern? Do they occur at a particular time of the day? If so, what activity were you involved in?  Does this occur after having eaten a particular food or a combination of foods? This could be an allergic reaction.  Maybe your environment is bringing on your head pain. Does the throbbing begin when you use a particular household product ( Ex. detergent,air freshener). Gone to a friend’s home and suddenly you have head pain?  Don’t blame your dear friend, it might be their pets.  Do you have a tendency to come down with a headache after having performed strenuous exercise? This could result from improper hydration or not having eaten substantial energy producing foods. Have you recently or at present taken medication for another ailment. Too much alcohol intake can lead to improper sleep which will display itself as a headache.Try to keep a record of when your headaches are occurring, whether you decide it is something you can eventually deal with on your own or whether you decide to see your doctor. Sometimes a relaxing bath,or a message,or yoga or simply quiet time are really all that is necessary.

“Color is to the eyes, like music is to the ears”…Louis Tiffany

“Spring comes once a year, don’t forget to take it all in” …Lenny Variano