Better Living though Brand Name Dropping

I wake up this morning, eying the clock which says 7:14, as usual.  My muscles are stiff and sore, and I don't feel rested, but I know I am as good as it gets since I've had eight and three-fourths hours of sleep.  Before I get out of my warm, form-fitting Tempurpedic bed, I reflect on the dream problems I worked on last night:  three houses to sell on gravel, undermined and washed out roads as their only access.  Ten people who are relatives, former friends, and one drug addict who is a compulsive liar.  Swimming in a swimming pool and a blizzard with a pile of snow in the house, all at the same time.  And I can't quite find my keys, or the way to get to the houses.  At the end of the dream, I decide to go to Arkansas, but can't find that either.  I know the dream is my "soul" talking to my "self,"  and neither one of us really knows which way to go, because all ways are filled with challenges and road hazards.

In my red flannel Victoria's Secret PJs and Smart-Wool socks I pad downstairs for my morning "wake-up," followed by two or three dogs to let out on the chain, and greeted by a gray cat who wants petted and her "wet food."  I used to jump on the mini-tramp for a minute or two, which always makes me smile.  Today, I just reach for the coffee cup, fill it with filtered water, and stick it in the microwave.  I'm still very sore and achy.  

I am fumbling for my morning tonic.  I used to drink Berry Brothers Organic Free Trade coffee to wake up, but I had to keep drinking caffeine all day to to stay awake.  I drank more and more caffeine, and still was falling asleep as I drove, as I exercised, as I read.  So I experimented, and studied natural health from Prevention Magazine, Dr. Andrew Weil's Health Letter, and my friend Janet, and Oprah on Shaklee.  I finally came up with my morning tonic which seems to work:  

(1)  a packet of cherry or raspberry Emergen-C, 

(2)  a tube of Shaklee Cinch Pomegranate Energy Tea, and 

(3)  a scoop of  sugar-free Citrucel fiber.  

With this hot drink, I reach for my one prescription (Effexor) which also helps to keep me from falling asleep, and the packet of Shaklee Gold vitamins.  By the time I have my second cup of tonic, I look around to cross check and see if there is an empty vitamin packet sitting on the counter.  There is.  I have remembered to take my vitamins, and probably my prescription, too.  So much for "mindfulness."  

At about the third drink, which I have reduced to only the Emergen-C (this makes 3,000 milligrams of C so far) I notice that my muscles aren't sore any more.  I start on my morning pages post, here, without checking OS or email because if I do, I will never get back to writing because I'm having so much fun reading.  

Here I am working toward sustainability on my little urban organic farm, making changes in my lifestyle to become more natural and pure in my habits, my water, and my food.   I rail against the corporate economy that robs us of our humanity,  yet I see that I am still a product of corporate America.  I still look for my health in the convenient single serving package, as advertised on Oprah, as recommended by my health care professional.  I just renewed my gym membership, and  I still throw away packaging and buy too much food.  I still am dependent on the system.  I am also very hard on myself because I know that ecological cost when each of us is wasteful or takes more than necessary.  

That's why I like Permaculture (tm).  Bill Mollison, its developer, acknowledges that we will not all become healthy, sustainable, independent communities immediately, but we must, "Do what you can, where you are."  I think that's good.  I'll keep doing what I can, where I am.  And that has to be enough.  Until then, thank you Oprah, Shaklee, Emergen-C, and the YWCA.  I'm still with you!

_________________________________________________________________________