Tread Earth Lightly

Smart Talk - Dr. Sylvia Earle Part 2

  

    This past week my husband and I were fortunate enough to see Dr. Sylvia Earle (a Marine Biologist for National Geographic) speak for the Smart Talk Series. We also had the pleasure of meeting her before the talk, as you can see from the above picture.
    Her physical stature reminded me of my husband's Grandmother, yet her knowledge and wisdom was something that I had only read and dreamed about as a little girl. Throughout her talk I was continuously taken back in time to when I wanted to be a Biologist and work with any kind of creature I could find. Her knowledge of the oceans reminded me of when I meticulously read every National Geographic article I could get my hands on, and religiously watched the Discovery Channel's Shark Week. I so desperately wanted to dive in with those sharks, even though it frightened me. I believed, and still do, that I could help the Earth by learning as much as I could about its creatures and environmental emotions. Her love for the ocean, and all it's inhabitants, is inspirational and contagious. I gained more from her talk the other night than I had expected.
    Dr. Earle explained why the oceans are so important to us and to our struggling planet. How the ocean is the "blue heart of the planet," and that it is a greater source of oxygen for us than trees. She discussed her love of Google Earth and how she got them to start adding parts of the ocean into it. Google Earth is now blue as well as green. Her wish for all of us is to be able to see the ocean, to dive in and really get to know it. Before we are 81, like her mother was when she first went in.
    Her advice to everyone is to just be aware. Aware of everything we do and how it effects the world and oceans around us. To not only be aware, but to also bring that awareness to our children because they are our future. You don't have to be a scientist to do this either. Dr. Earle says that you can use whatever talent you already have, whether it is music, math, etc. to help bring awareness to others and into your own life. Also, to help the oceans and lands around you.
    Not only is she an inspiration when it comes to science and nature, but she is a role model for women everywhere. She grew up in a time when women becoming anything but housewives was unheard of. Yet she still became one of the greatest pioneers in her field as well as for her gender. Her determination and love for the great blue yonder helped her fulfill her dream, and helped make it possible for future, female generations  make their dreams come true. Even though I did not follow the path to becoming a Biologist, it is because of women like Dr. Sylvia Earle that I was even allowed to dream of becoming one. And have the opportunity to still to do so, if I choose. Who knows, maybe one day I will be in a cage hand feeding Great White Sharks submerged in the great blue heart of our planet. 

 

    If you have not seen her speak I highly recommend that you do. Dr. Sylvia Earle will inspire, as well as teach you something at the same time. Let her lead you into the wild blue yonder that is our ocean. Tickets for the 2009 Smart Talk Series are still on sale, highlighting many leading ladies like Dr. Earle. Below is a clip featuring her from National Geographic. Enjoy!

SoulPancake

I have recently become more involved with Twitter and started following SoulPancake and the actor Rainn Wilson (one of the creators of SoulPancake) and have found that this one is going in my favorites. It is a community, a website, a blog all in one with a strong emphasis on community and sharing. Here is a video about SoulPancake and what it is. It's a great site and definitely one to visit regularly.

Honda FCX Clarity - The Car of the Future

I know what you're thinking: "Really the car of the future? Wasn't the Prius the car of the future?" The answer: no not really. It was a step in the right direction, but far from being the answer to our petroleum addiction. So now the new "Car of the Future" candidate is the Honda FCX Clarity. A hydrogen/battery powered, zero emission 4 door sedan. And it looks a lot like a normal car. It pretty much is a normal car except for how it's powered. As for safety they have that covered too because really that's the biggest concern. Sure, for my husband and most men, they like to know about the speed and power, as well as safety, but I could care less about how fast it goes from 0 to 60. Though this car is only available in California (for now hopefully), it is not an experimental or prototype vehicle. It is a certified, assembly-line produced car ready to be driven by the general public. More fueling stations just have to be opened world and nation wide. Here is Top Gear's review of the Honda Clarity.

A Different Side of Jim Carrey

This is a great interview with Jim Carrey. It shows a side of him that we don't often get to see. He is intelligent, down to earth, and as always funny. He believes that everything, yes everything, that happens to you is the greatest thing to happen to you. His positive view on life is wonderful. His ideas on a higher purpose and alternative ways of dealing with depression are thought provoking. Amazing! I love it!

Welcome President Barack Obama

Wow what a day!
Whether you voted for him or not this is definitely a momentous occasion. "Change" may not be as drastic as we want in the next four years, but the fact that we now have an African American president is change in itself. My only hope, prayer, wish (whatever you want to call it) is that the next four years go well and are not as disappointing as the last four years. Also, I hope that everyone can remember one thing: that just like us, President Barack Obama is human. And in being human we all make mistakes and not everyone agrees with us at all times. It is also not up to one man to make change happen in this country, it is up to all of us.

And as for former President George W. Bush I hope and pray that we can all remember that he too is human. That our current situation is not just his fault. And that we try to put ourselves in his shoes as a person. Imagine, even though he does not show it, how he really feels when he goes to bed at night. Imagine how much he probably does worry about the mistakes he has made because he is human. If Britney Spears had a breakdown because of her negative press what do think he is feeling with all of his? What kind of medication or therapy does he need right now? Sure, maybe he is not bothered at all. Though, I think, highly unlikely. I get upset when someone flips me off while driving let alone when someone throws eggs at my car on inauguration day. So just remember we are all human and all have feelings no matter what job, position, or party we have or belong to.

I have a positive outlook for the future knowing that "change" has already come. Let's all think positive for the future and for our new President Barack Obama!

In Honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

In honor of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. here are some of his quotes. We think this day is best remembered in his own words.

“Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.”

“Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What

 are you doing for others?'”

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

"Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted."

"A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching
spiritual death."

"We will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."

"Nonviolence means avoiding not only external physical violence but also internal violence of spirit. You not only refuse to shoot a man, but you refuse to hate him."

Martin Luther King Jr.
January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968

Thank you for your many words and actions of wisdom and peace.

Quotes found on the following sites:
www.brainyquote.com
&
http://en.thinkexist.com

Pressure & Mommyhood? Do those go together? UUHH! YEAH!

In this post I will be going past my comfort level. It's nothing crazy or crude, but it's something I need to show and tell.

SO here it goes!

Pressure and being a Mama? Oh Yeah!

But I a m not talking about the normal pressures here. Nope, not the great quantities of dirty diapers or piles of laundry (clean and dirty). Not the sleepless nights with early mornings. And not the extremely high pitched screeching of a 2 year old or teenager. No, this pressure lasts way beyond all of that. What is it? It's the body image pressure. I even think that becoming a Mother is harder with body image than as a teenager's some times. Don't get me wrong even as a young girl I had great issues with my changing body, but though it was awkward, it was also somewhat embraced. But with the changes of becoming a mother it's different (for me at least). Sure my husband does not see what I see, and thinks I am even more beautiful than before, but this is not the point.

The point is that "society" just as it has labeled "heroine chic" as beautiful, has labeled post pregnancy bodies with no stretch marks or loose skin as what the norm should be. Oh and by the way it needs to bounce back in 5.5 seconds, not years. Actually you should start bouncing back before you even give birth to your child, so it seems.

To make matters worse during my first pregnancy I saw a note posted to the board in one of my doctors offices that read: "If you would like to schedule a tummy tuck at the same time as your c-section please let Dr. Blah Blah know in advance." Let me make this clear...I am not judging women who want to or who have had surgery, believe me it has crossed my mind too. But really in the doc's office? In plain view of the hormonally pregnant moms? Who already have to deal with the discomforts of pregnancy now have to be reminded of the aftermath, or possible aftermath with their post natal bodies.

TALK ABOUT PRESSURE!

GIVE ME A BREAK!

During this first pregnancy I knew that I had a good chance of getting stretch marks because I had them on other areas from just plain growing. I was never an overweight person either. I was actually a really skinny child, so much so that my uncle called me string bean and toothpick. Both of which I hated because I wanted to be strong not skinny and easily breakable like a toothpick. Though, looking back at pictures, my legs were so skinny I don't know how I stood up even though I ate like a horse.

Anyway, because I was prone to stretch marks I lathered on all of the oils and creams that I thought would work. Everyday I would rub my growing belly with oil in hopes that it would prevent the inevitable for me.  However, I am little person and my son was born weighing almost 9lbs. My body had performed a great task and very well I might add, but it was stretched to the max. The oil didn't do squat! Except help the itching of my expanding belly. I was not too disappointed. I did not gain much extra weight and what I had came off quickly. Plus, I was too elated with the birth of our first child to even care. Though, in the back of my mind I knew I would never wear a two piece bathing suit again and would constantly worry about doing certain inversions in my Yoga class for fear of my shirt inching up exposing a tiny bit of my stomach. Secretly I was looking at the celebrities in envy (though their pictures aren't real). I saw other moms with no stretchmarks and envied them too. I even tried to just ignore it, but every time someone told me I looked great all I could think about was how they hadn't seen my stomach yet (and they never would).

And I know that it doesn't matter. That these are my heroic battle scars. Proof that I survived. Proof that I have achieved and produced something too wonderful to even describe. Yet still I am embarrassed, but no more will I hide. That is the true purpose of this post. To come out of hiding and get over it. And prove to other moms that it really doesn't matter and post natal bellies ARE BEAUTIFUL!

I have birthed two beautiful boys and I know each gave me certain marks on my belly. Certain ones belong to my first and others to my second. If I have any more children I am sure that they will make there own marks as well. And this is where the true beauty of the body lies. In the stories and people behind them. Just like a scar from a dog bite, bike fall, or bully there is a person and a story behind them that we usually do not try to hide. So why hide this? A story of a life created in love and brought into the world through me. I will from hear on out be able to say to my kids, "See this one? You gave me that mark and you, you gave me this one. And yeah this scar is from when a dog bit me when I was a little girl. I was tough huh?"

So here..no more hiding.

  

Russell Simmons Connecting Breath w/Movement