The hubby and I watched a show on people downsizing their lives into a 200 sq ft house. Some of them were single, some were couples. None of them had kids or more than one pet. It was interesting (in that social-National-Geographic-special kind of way) but we readily admitted not for us. While watching it, I commented that it would be great if there were a way for people without a house to have one of those for themselves.
I then launched into my whole "If I was Oprah, I'd buy some of the dying towns across America and let homeless people work them and bring them back to life. Thus reviving commerce and giving homeless people jobs and homes.... I mean, if you're going to have more money than you can EVER spend in 10 lifetimes, why not make the difference of 10 lifetimes, right?" spiel. I could go on about this forever. I have definite opinions on people with that much money who can't be creative and make a real difference. Don't give away free cars - give away a chance at a real life!
I digress.
Anyway, I sort of let the thought go (mostly) and moved on. Imagine my surprise and extreme pleasure at reading this article in Good Housekeeping. (OK, the online article...)
Did you read it? Go back and read it! Now. It's a stunning reminder that people have it in them to be creative and awesome in ways that only benefit others. Imagine taking an empty lot (say of a now defunct shopping mall) and putting in a subdivision of tiny houses for the homeless? Better yet, if they build their own house - they could also start businesses right there! You could have them run a community center, community stores (swap centers, DIY rehab facilities, etc.), and public services facilities. Locals in the community could work alongside to help them grow and establish roots.
If they outgrow the tiny community, hopefully by then they have saved what they need to acquire a larger space (or build it themselves) as well as a resume they can now use to get new employment if needed. Seriously, it's DIY rehab for people who may have lost hope.
Now I know there is a segment of the population incapable of holding down regular jobs or requiring medical care and oversight. There are those that may never be able to truly escape the homeless cycle for valid reasons (that do not include alcoholism, laziness, or oppression). I still think the idea could work for them. On-site medical care for them provides employment for a dedicated staff while they get whatever dignity possible by having their own actual home.
200 sq feet is not a lot of area. You could probably fit 2 in the back of a townhouse, 4in a 1/4 acre back yard, and so forth.
I know I'm a silly idealist, but even if you can find a hundred reasons my idea wouldn't work - you have to admit it's creative and inspiring. It may not be perfect but it's POSSIBLE. The people of Wisconsin are proving that! Despite the results, even if it's a giant failure or has serious hiccups along the way - I think we should all take a message of hope from the effort.
Are you inspired? I am!
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
10 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 1
Let's be honest. If this post was titled 10 days of complaining, you'd say it wasn't a long enough period of time. In the US, we're pros at the art of complaining. I'm not knocking other cultures - the French, British and a multitude of Middle Eastern countries have a pretty solid lock on the complaint as well. But if this were the Olympics, we're definitely one of the countries that places every time.
It's kind of amazing if you think about it. Living in a country with so many freedoms and opportunities and we use them to complain about crap that probably wouldn't even register if we had to fight for food, warmth, and employment. Don't worry, I'm including myself in this. Especially living the DC bubble of political sewerdom, it's sometimes hard to remember the reasons to rejoice.
So, from now through Thanksgiving, I'm going to make a point of publicly acknowledging some of the multitude of reasons I have to be thankful and happy.
Day 1: ME!
I'm not talking vanity here. When I think of the fact that I was born healthy and have continued (for the most part) living a fairly robust life, I have to be thankful. Sure I've had my fair share of medical challenges, you guys have been privvy to some of them, but in the large scheme of things - I'm in pretty good shape. I don't require special services to be ambulatory, speak, hear, see, or breathe. My brother is a hemophiliac, and while he is very blessed as well, I have seen him struggle. I've been around enough children with lifelong illnesses that I know childhood for them, while not necessarily bad, was not as carefree as mine.
So, I'm thankful for the me that is - all the parts of me (good and bad) that make me work. I'm thankful for the parts I hate (being too tall / too big / too everything) and the parts I love (being tall / talented / too everything). I'm blessed that someone with my skin color, my big mouth (yeah - I said it), and my faith not only can exist but thrive.
What are you thankful for today?
It's kind of amazing if you think about it. Living in a country with so many freedoms and opportunities and we use them to complain about crap that probably wouldn't even register if we had to fight for food, warmth, and employment. Don't worry, I'm including myself in this. Especially living the DC bubble of political sewerdom, it's sometimes hard to remember the reasons to rejoice.
So, from now through Thanksgiving, I'm going to make a point of publicly acknowledging some of the multitude of reasons I have to be thankful and happy.
Day 1: ME!
I'm not talking vanity here. When I think of the fact that I was born healthy and have continued (for the most part) living a fairly robust life, I have to be thankful. Sure I've had my fair share of medical challenges, you guys have been privvy to some of them, but in the large scheme of things - I'm in pretty good shape. I don't require special services to be ambulatory, speak, hear, see, or breathe. My brother is a hemophiliac, and while he is very blessed as well, I have seen him struggle. I've been around enough children with lifelong illnesses that I know childhood for them, while not necessarily bad, was not as carefree as mine.
So, I'm thankful for the me that is - all the parts of me (good and bad) that make me work. I'm thankful for the parts I hate (being too tall / too big / too everything) and the parts I love (being tall / talented / too everything). I'm blessed that someone with my skin color, my big mouth (yeah - I said it), and my faith not only can exist but thrive.
What are you thankful for today?
Monday, November 17, 2014
The day we all grew up
For me, it was a Tuesday. Everyone's day is random and unexpected. It's the day you realized you are no longer a kid, young adult, or whatever euphemism represented "carefree youth" to you. The funny thing is that it didn't happen at an expected time.
Graduation? Nope. First real job? Nope. First major debt? Nope. It happened before the loss of my father and my marriage, but after the age of 25. Speaking of which, let me reiterate that if you're a female under the age of 25 beware making major life decisions. There's something about the early 20s that leaves us a little crazy and undecided. Most of the women I know have zero clue who they are and every future plan they may have had is constantly changing.
This is NOT the time to be making major life choices. Why? Because it is much more likely they won't stick and you will either have to undo them or live to regret them. This is just my opinion after almost 40 years of observation and a family with a LOT of females.
Anyway, I say it was a Tuesday because it was a weekday. I remember that much, but I know it wasn't a Monday or a Friday. So Tuesday is just as good as a Wednesday in this case. I was at work and since this was pre-9/11 (a day which totally changed me in other ways), security was much different. We were much more relaxed at work. Life was good.
I had a coworker ask me about a project. The difference was this was a project I was the lead on and was managing the schedule for, so I was only beholden to my boss. I gave them an answer which they did not like and being in a government setting (meaning I was a young female surrounded by a lot of older men and ex-military types), I got a nice dressing down.
It was like a switch flipped in me. The realization that I did not have to accept being treated like an uninformed person because I had chosen to take the responsibility. The understanding that I was the subject matter expert but more than that, I was a human being that deserved the minimum respect of being spoken to professionally if not with courtesy. I remember calmly explaining to the person why I would not be spoken to in that manner and that the schedule was the schedule. I even offered to go with them to address the issue with leadership if the schedule needed adjusting. They refused, content to be angry and helpless. I, on the other hand, was done with the conversation and returned to work.
From that moment on, I no longer just "took what came my way". That, in my opinion, was the mark of no longer being a kid. Young people are content to be victims or recipients of other people's actions and opinions. Their worlds are made or broken by public opinion. They are reactive in their general life philosophy. From relationships to work ethic, there is a general childlike opinion that none of it really applies to them. It's other people that have issues, cause problems, overreact, or fail to do the right thing. They are just along for the ride.
An adult realizes that they play a part in their lives, even passively, and that they must choose to own responsibility for their part in every aspect. Sometimes it's great, most times it's a lot of apologizing, and on the rare occasion it is a true failure that cannot be corrected. In each situation, owning your part and accepting it (which, hey, we all struggle with) is the key. It is this process that grows us into the leaders and elders of a generation.
If you learn nothing from your life and are constantly just reacting to the situations you find yourself randomly in, there is no life experience gained here. Unlike a video game, you don't get credit just for being in the room.
In thinking about that day and every event that has happened since, I realize that the reason I'm not a broken mess on a corner or in a bar is because of that change in me. It was the foundation on which I grew. Now, as a Christian, I credit that foundation's strength to my faith. Because honestly, if we were all just dependent on our human, fallible selves - most of us wouldn't last long. That's the beauty of the relationships we cultivate in life, they are also part of that foundation. Building us up and giving us the courage to be honest when it's hard; work when we're tired, and vulnerable when it's required.
When was your "grow up" moment?
Graduation? Nope. First real job? Nope. First major debt? Nope. It happened before the loss of my father and my marriage, but after the age of 25. Speaking of which, let me reiterate that if you're a female under the age of 25 beware making major life decisions. There's something about the early 20s that leaves us a little crazy and undecided. Most of the women I know have zero clue who they are and every future plan they may have had is constantly changing.
This is NOT the time to be making major life choices. Why? Because it is much more likely they won't stick and you will either have to undo them or live to regret them. This is just my opinion after almost 40 years of observation and a family with a LOT of females.
Anyway, I say it was a Tuesday because it was a weekday. I remember that much, but I know it wasn't a Monday or a Friday. So Tuesday is just as good as a Wednesday in this case. I was at work and since this was pre-9/11 (a day which totally changed me in other ways), security was much different. We were much more relaxed at work. Life was good.
I had a coworker ask me about a project. The difference was this was a project I was the lead on and was managing the schedule for, so I was only beholden to my boss. I gave them an answer which they did not like and being in a government setting (meaning I was a young female surrounded by a lot of older men and ex-military types), I got a nice dressing down.
It was like a switch flipped in me. The realization that I did not have to accept being treated like an uninformed person because I had chosen to take the responsibility. The understanding that I was the subject matter expert but more than that, I was a human being that deserved the minimum respect of being spoken to professionally if not with courtesy. I remember calmly explaining to the person why I would not be spoken to in that manner and that the schedule was the schedule. I even offered to go with them to address the issue with leadership if the schedule needed adjusting. They refused, content to be angry and helpless. I, on the other hand, was done with the conversation and returned to work.
From that moment on, I no longer just "took what came my way". That, in my opinion, was the mark of no longer being a kid. Young people are content to be victims or recipients of other people's actions and opinions. Their worlds are made or broken by public opinion. They are reactive in their general life philosophy. From relationships to work ethic, there is a general childlike opinion that none of it really applies to them. It's other people that have issues, cause problems, overreact, or fail to do the right thing. They are just along for the ride.
An adult realizes that they play a part in their lives, even passively, and that they must choose to own responsibility for their part in every aspect. Sometimes it's great, most times it's a lot of apologizing, and on the rare occasion it is a true failure that cannot be corrected. In each situation, owning your part and accepting it (which, hey, we all struggle with) is the key. It is this process that grows us into the leaders and elders of a generation.
If you learn nothing from your life and are constantly just reacting to the situations you find yourself randomly in, there is no life experience gained here. Unlike a video game, you don't get credit just for being in the room.
In thinking about that day and every event that has happened since, I realize that the reason I'm not a broken mess on a corner or in a bar is because of that change in me. It was the foundation on which I grew. Now, as a Christian, I credit that foundation's strength to my faith. Because honestly, if we were all just dependent on our human, fallible selves - most of us wouldn't last long. That's the beauty of the relationships we cultivate in life, they are also part of that foundation. Building us up and giving us the courage to be honest when it's hard; work when we're tired, and vulnerable when it's required.
When was your "grow up" moment?
Friday, November 14, 2014
Food of the day: Protein!
Did you know that 20% of your daily dietary intake should be protein? That's anywhere from 60 - 90 grams for most women and 90 - 120 grams for most men. It's not a small amount and it's almost impossible to get solely from meat alone. In this world of processed foods, it's almost impossible to get from your normals foods alone. Catalog what you eat for a couple days and note how much sugar and protein you're taking in - I bet it's more sugar than you realize and way less protein.
The protein helps keep muscles strong and active (including major organs) and processes as energy for longer, so you can burn off the sugar and fat in your system. If you have too little protein, well you can guess what your body chooses to store and use as alternative fuel, right?
Anyway, I've been researching recipes that can give you the biggest bang for your buck in terms of protein intake. Here's what I've found (I am doing my best in this list to avoid processed sources):
1. Eggs are your best friend. The amount of protein you can get in one egg is pretty great (6 grams). If you ate 10 - 15 eggs over the course of a day, you'd get in your full protein requirement. You may also hate breakfast, but there's always a tradeoff, right? My point is, you can really get a kickstart by having eggs in some form every day - from scrambled to hard boiled. The danger is what you cook them in or add to them, because you can take this great source and turn it into a fat bomb very easily! My favorite simple egg recipe is homemade egg drop soup. It's this easy: Bring a cup of chicken broth to boil (use homemade or store bought, just watch the sodium content!). Scramble an egg in a bowl and drizzle into boiling liquid. Add a dash of pepper (or sriracha). Done. If you like your soup a little thicker, add a second egg. Easy, filling, and healthy. Otherwise, check out these recipes.
2. Chicken - I know, sensing a theme right? But honestly, these birds can't fly - which is good because they are a pretty excellent source of nutrition. 3 ounces of chicken breast is 23 grams of protein. 3 ounces is not a large piece of chicken, by the way, for that amount of protein. For example, the Chik Fil-A grilled chicken nuggets 8 count entree is 140 calories, 23 grams of protein, and weighs in at right about 3 ounces of chicken. Pretty good, right? A whole breast off a chicken is roughly 4 oz, so you're actually getting closer to 30 grams of protein there. Imagine eating a breast and a wing - half your daily requirement could be met right there!
3. Fish are food, not friends. Sorry Nemo, but the truth is a 6 ounce piece of halibut can provide 35 grams of protein. The range of protein goodness is 23 - 45 grams for a fillet, depending on the size. Not all fish are equal though, so taking the time to find out which ones provide you the most nutrition is important. Because of overfishing, mercury concerns and other industry issues a lot of the commonly served white fish varieties lack a lot of benefits. Here are some that come up as winners in a sea of choices (I've included some shellfish as well): Albacore Tuna (Troll or Pole Caught); Salmon (Alaskan, Wild Caught); Sardines (!) (Pacific, Wild Caught); Rainbow Trout (Farmed); Freshwater Coho Salmon (Tank Farmed); Dungeness Crabs; Mahi Mahi; Cusk; and Snapper (45 grams!). Don't mistake me, Cod, Haddock, Flounder, Perch and Halibut are good choices as well, but you need to be sure to research their sources. Fish to avoid right now might be another thing to note, for instance: Bluefin Tuna, Chilean Sea Bass, Grouper, Monkfish, Orange Roughy, Atlantic Farmed Salmon (actually any farmed Salmon that isn't from Alaska).
4. Dairy! Back to your childhood, where milk does a body good. That still holds true, guys. Milk gives you 8 grams of protein per serving. Cottage cheese can give you 15 grams per serving. I do have to caution you to beware the other cheeses because while they have protein, they are also hefty in fat content which can nullify some of the good you're doing. Also, yogurts can pack a protein punch but if they are over processed, you're looking at a ton of sugar and fat as well.
5. Beans. Beans, beans, good for your heart. The more you eat, the healthier you are! I know that's not how it goes, but it's true. Lentils, black beans, pinto beans, white beans, navy beans, chickpeas and the list goes on - long enough to include my favorite split peas. These guys can add a lot to a meal in small doses because a cup of them ranges from 20 - 45 grams of protein. Chickpeas, for instance, pack a wallop. Fresh made hummus could be a great staple in a changed diet!
6. Nuts? No I'm not crazy. Most people feel these shouldn't be on the list because of the fat content, but moderation is the key here. Nuts are an easy snack and addition to salads or entrees. A few nuts can make a big impact on a meal lacking good protein. The key is which nuts you choose. Almonds, Peanuts, Sunflower seeds, Pumpkin seeds, Hazelnuts, Macadamia nuts, Brazil Nuts, Walnuts, Pine Nuts and Flax seeds can give you 8 - 15 grams of protein per half cup. Most people eat between a quarter to half a cup as a snack. That's a reasonable amount for a pick me up or addition to a meal. Even the 10- 20 grams of fat aren't that bad if these are not overused in your diet. Sorry to say, Cashews, Pecans, Chestnuts don't make the list because of their high sugar and fat contents compared to relatively low protein content. They are yummy, but don't help the overall intake enough. If you choose peanut butter as a source, go natural with reduced oil, sugar and salt. The other ones are so processed, your benefits are dramatically reduced.
So, you're wondering why I haven't listed beef or pork, right? Like you, I love a great steak or pork chop. Admittedly, a 6 oz steak gives 42 grams of protein but there are some serious issues with large amounts of red meat. The hamburger that has 28 grams of protein also has so much of the bad fats that you would have to seriously rework your diet to counteract it on a regular basis. While the pork chop (23 grams of protein) and the loin (29 grams for 4 oz) are great, the rest of the pig has some big issues regarding fat and other contaminants. If you can get something organic and fresh, great, but it's hard these days. So these meats are sometimes treats - not part of the regular diet. Yes folks, that means bacon can't be a staple. I'll give you a moment to grieve.
Now - this short list is not a complete list of the only things you can eat, but if you can work them into your meals on a regular basis you might see some serious changes in your overall health. I'm not knocking the calorie counters but just meeting the required amount of protein your body needs to be successful can make startling changes. The only way to do that is know what you're eating and make choices to include more of these items.
That's what I'm doing, so I thought I would share the news.
The protein helps keep muscles strong and active (including major organs) and processes as energy for longer, so you can burn off the sugar and fat in your system. If you have too little protein, well you can guess what your body chooses to store and use as alternative fuel, right?
Anyway, I've been researching recipes that can give you the biggest bang for your buck in terms of protein intake. Here's what I've found (I am doing my best in this list to avoid processed sources):
1. Eggs are your best friend. The amount of protein you can get in one egg is pretty great (6 grams). If you ate 10 - 15 eggs over the course of a day, you'd get in your full protein requirement. You may also hate breakfast, but there's always a tradeoff, right? My point is, you can really get a kickstart by having eggs in some form every day - from scrambled to hard boiled. The danger is what you cook them in or add to them, because you can take this great source and turn it into a fat bomb very easily! My favorite simple egg recipe is homemade egg drop soup. It's this easy: Bring a cup of chicken broth to boil (use homemade or store bought, just watch the sodium content!). Scramble an egg in a bowl and drizzle into boiling liquid. Add a dash of pepper (or sriracha). Done. If you like your soup a little thicker, add a second egg. Easy, filling, and healthy. Otherwise, check out these recipes.
2. Chicken - I know, sensing a theme right? But honestly, these birds can't fly - which is good because they are a pretty excellent source of nutrition. 3 ounces of chicken breast is 23 grams of protein. 3 ounces is not a large piece of chicken, by the way, for that amount of protein. For example, the Chik Fil-A grilled chicken nuggets 8 count entree is 140 calories, 23 grams of protein, and weighs in at right about 3 ounces of chicken. Pretty good, right? A whole breast off a chicken is roughly 4 oz, so you're actually getting closer to 30 grams of protein there. Imagine eating a breast and a wing - half your daily requirement could be met right there!
3. Fish are food, not friends. Sorry Nemo, but the truth is a 6 ounce piece of halibut can provide 35 grams of protein. The range of protein goodness is 23 - 45 grams for a fillet, depending on the size. Not all fish are equal though, so taking the time to find out which ones provide you the most nutrition is important. Because of overfishing, mercury concerns and other industry issues a lot of the commonly served white fish varieties lack a lot of benefits. Here are some that come up as winners in a sea of choices (I've included some shellfish as well): Albacore Tuna (Troll or Pole Caught); Salmon (Alaskan, Wild Caught); Sardines (!) (Pacific, Wild Caught); Rainbow Trout (Farmed); Freshwater Coho Salmon (Tank Farmed); Dungeness Crabs; Mahi Mahi; Cusk; and Snapper (45 grams!). Don't mistake me, Cod, Haddock, Flounder, Perch and Halibut are good choices as well, but you need to be sure to research their sources. Fish to avoid right now might be another thing to note, for instance: Bluefin Tuna, Chilean Sea Bass, Grouper, Monkfish, Orange Roughy, Atlantic Farmed Salmon (actually any farmed Salmon that isn't from Alaska).
4. Dairy! Back to your childhood, where milk does a body good. That still holds true, guys. Milk gives you 8 grams of protein per serving. Cottage cheese can give you 15 grams per serving. I do have to caution you to beware the other cheeses because while they have protein, they are also hefty in fat content which can nullify some of the good you're doing. Also, yogurts can pack a protein punch but if they are over processed, you're looking at a ton of sugar and fat as well.
5. Beans. Beans, beans, good for your heart. The more you eat, the healthier you are! I know that's not how it goes, but it's true. Lentils, black beans, pinto beans, white beans, navy beans, chickpeas and the list goes on - long enough to include my favorite split peas. These guys can add a lot to a meal in small doses because a cup of them ranges from 20 - 45 grams of protein. Chickpeas, for instance, pack a wallop. Fresh made hummus could be a great staple in a changed diet!
6. Nuts? No I'm not crazy. Most people feel these shouldn't be on the list because of the fat content, but moderation is the key here. Nuts are an easy snack and addition to salads or entrees. A few nuts can make a big impact on a meal lacking good protein. The key is which nuts you choose. Almonds, Peanuts, Sunflower seeds, Pumpkin seeds, Hazelnuts, Macadamia nuts, Brazil Nuts, Walnuts, Pine Nuts and Flax seeds can give you 8 - 15 grams of protein per half cup. Most people eat between a quarter to half a cup as a snack. That's a reasonable amount for a pick me up or addition to a meal. Even the 10- 20 grams of fat aren't that bad if these are not overused in your diet. Sorry to say, Cashews, Pecans, Chestnuts don't make the list because of their high sugar and fat contents compared to relatively low protein content. They are yummy, but don't help the overall intake enough. If you choose peanut butter as a source, go natural with reduced oil, sugar and salt. The other ones are so processed, your benefits are dramatically reduced.
So, you're wondering why I haven't listed beef or pork, right? Like you, I love a great steak or pork chop. Admittedly, a 6 oz steak gives 42 grams of protein but there are some serious issues with large amounts of red meat. The hamburger that has 28 grams of protein also has so much of the bad fats that you would have to seriously rework your diet to counteract it on a regular basis. While the pork chop (23 grams of protein) and the loin (29 grams for 4 oz) are great, the rest of the pig has some big issues regarding fat and other contaminants. If you can get something organic and fresh, great, but it's hard these days. So these meats are sometimes treats - not part of the regular diet. Yes folks, that means bacon can't be a staple. I'll give you a moment to grieve.
Now - this short list is not a complete list of the only things you can eat, but if you can work them into your meals on a regular basis you might see some serious changes in your overall health. I'm not knocking the calorie counters but just meeting the required amount of protein your body needs to be successful can make startling changes. The only way to do that is know what you're eating and make choices to include more of these items.
That's what I'm doing, so I thought I would share the news.
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