Living in 4 Rooms

Inspirations: Change

"Some women wait for something to change and nothing does change, so they change themselves"
-Audre Lord

The only constant is change, so even when it seems like nothing is changing something is- you. That change can be positive or negative, depending on your part in the process. Positive changes are conscious, active changes that you decide on in order to make yourself or your life better. Negative changes are passive changes that you sit back and allow to happen, either because you are don't see the change, aren't in the right mental space to stop the changes, or don't think you have the power to stop the change.

I went through a long period of isolation being stuck in a place I didn't want to be, a place I felt was devoid of all spiritual, mental, and emotional sustenance. I allowed that place to make negative changes in my life and to myself. Now I am making positive changes with clarity of mind and action to improve my life again. Everyone, at some point, gets stuck in a physical or mental rut where negative changes take over but you can stop the negative changes by being aware of them. Sit down today and identify one positive change that you can make right now. Change your attitude, change your negative self talk, you can even change your nail polish if that's what it will take you get you back in the right mindset to make positive change. Just one positive change, today, will lead to another, and another, and another and take you further on the path to your authentic self and an authentic life.

Inspirations: Living in the Present

"Live neither in your past, or in your future. You cannot change the past nor definitively predict the future. For if you hold yourself hostage to the sins and bitterness of the past and occupy yourself with the fears of suffering in the future, you will be losing on your present, hence not living at all. What is worse than suffering itself is living hostage to such fears."

(Shaykh Muhammad Bin Yahya Al Husayni An Ninowy)

Our Frayed Social Safety Net, in 8 Infographics | The Nation

This quick graphics page by The Nation shows all too clearly the impact of the fallen economy on the people of this country. If anything this should serve as a wakeup call that it's time to revamp the "American Dream" and realize that no longer is it the case that if you work hard and apply yourself you can rise out of your socioeconomic class or acheive wealth. Unchecked corporatism has made us all virtually slaves to consumerism. That needs to change, and only we can change it.

Check out the infographics on The Nations's page here.

Eating Well Without the Grocery Store

A friend posted a link to this story this morning, written by the family at Dog Island Farm.

They went a year without buying food from the grocery store or big box stores, and blogged their experiences. Very interesting and inspirational. Do you think you could do it?

What I found most interesting in this piece was this passage:

We learned that you don’t have to produce your own food to give up the grocery store, you just have to get out there and meet the people that do produce your food. Not to mention that we saved money on food while buying higher quality products.

It's this kind of action that is truly revolutionary in this country. For decades we've been poisening ourselves with unhealthy food just because some ad campaigns tell us to. But buying all or most of your food from the grocery store is mostly an American adaptation, and it's relatively recent within American history. Even 30 years ago it was common for people to have small backyard gardens and grow their own produce or trade canned food with friends. There are a lot of great websites devoted to bringing back a measure of self sufficiency and healthier eating to Americans, like Punk Domestics, which is one of my favorites.

If there's one thing the last few years and the fall of the economy should have taught us it's that we have to take back our own power as consumers and take a hard look at how and where we spend our money. The New Year is almost here. Isn't this a great time to Occupy your own kitchen and change the way that you and your family eat?

Great Finds: A Must for Cat Owners!

I found this great "No Home is Complete Without Cat Hairs" decal on Etsy for just $12 and it's so cute!

We just moved to a new home and it was one of the first things I put up. I put it in the stairway surrounded by pictures of our cats, past and present.

I am a huge fan of decorating with decals. I had a custom one made for Christmas that has a quote from the Grinch on it and I have several others throughout the house.

At first my husband thought I was nuts to put it up, like "old cat lady" nuts, but the cat/dog double standard bugs me. Why is it if you're insanely devoted to your dog or dogs everyone thinks you're 100% normal, but if you feel the same way abour your cats  and you show it people look at you like you're a few cat hairs away from wearing cat themed sweaters and being featured on an episode of Hoarders?

The seller shipped it quickly and it was here in just a few days so I absolutely recommend this decal to other cat owners who want to declare their cat pride!

The actual decal looks like this:

Fooducate: Learn What's Really in Your Food

I just downloaded this app to my iPhone and in theory I think it's fantastic. How it works is that you put the app on you phone, scan the bar code of any item in the supermarket, and get the real scoop on how healthy it is, how much sugar/salt/unhealthy things it really has and when applicable the app will suggest healthier alternatives. If you're a label reader like me you'll find it very useful. I am making a real effort to start cooking more,and to cook healthier food for my family.  Check out the video of how it works here and find out where you can download it.

Reading Now: Half the Sky

I've had my eye on this book for awhile, so I picked it up today. I haven't had a chance to start it yet but I'll start it this week.