(no subject)
The show was good…if you ignore that only white faces were featured at the 15th anniversary of the UC Davis Cross Cultural Centre. And you ignore that the white representative from the CCC shared nothing with the audience about the work the centre does (she was also the worst public speaker I’ve ever heard). It just seemed like such a shame to waste an opportunity to educate a large group of people on social justice issues. It was rather unsettling.
The pre-show reception this was interesting. Chris Pureka is that awkward kind of shy that intimidates the crap out of me. Andrea is pretty cool and quite witty (not at all unexpected). Lyndell Montgomery, who was completely ignored by the organizers of the event which really pissed me off because she’s pretty fucking amazing, was the only reason the reception was not a complete bore. While the organizers consumed a fair portion of Chris and Andrea’s time, Lyndell just chilled and chatted with the rest of the group.
Ultimately, I got to hear some really great tunes and poems, meet a few people that I admire, spend time with Macy and Foster and crew, have a real nice post-show talk with Lyndell about my permanent Canadiana, border crossing, and immigration. While the event made little impact in the world and left me wondering what social justice really means, I had a real nice time.
Today is the final day of my bet with K to eat raw vegan for one week. For added fun, we gave up coffee and beer. She lost the bet on day 3 with a giant whole milk mocha. She gave up completely by the end of day 4. I did cave on day 4 with a small cup of coffee because of the massive caffeine withdrawal headache and because advil is not vegan. Although I technically won, I still felt like it was important to show myself that I can do this. Now that it’s been a week, I feel so good that I don’t want to give it up. Although I have no intentions of sticking to a completely raw food diet, I think a large portion of this positive experience has been the result of the nutrients in the raw food so I’m going to choose raw options as often as possible.
I’ve been practicing conscious eating (or yogic eating). I’m finding that my body isn’t actually in need of food each time I’m hungry. In fact, I’ve discovered the feelings which I’ve always gauged my hunger by is really my body saying that I’m stressed or bored or feeling some emotion that is not completely comfortable. My belly doesn’t growl when I need food, it growls when I want it. When I need food, I get a hollow feeling that isn’t filled by breathing or meditation. It’s hard to explain, I just feel very in tuned with my body.
I’ve loosely called myself a vegetarian for years, but truthfully, I never have been. There’s the whole fish is not a vegetable thing, right? Also, I’ve just made a habbit of eating anything quick so long as it didn’t have cow, chicken, or pig in it. Really, I think I’ve been living on cheese most of my life which is probably why I’ve only ever gained weight as a “vegetarian”. In one week of conscious vegan eating, I’ve lost a little over 6 pounds. This is just a bonus, though. I care so much more about the way my body feels.
So all I really need to do now is quit smoking. I know. How many times can a person quit? I quit for 4 months earlier this year. I can do it again. Also, I have some real inspiration to quit…the other day I bumped into a friend walking downtown. She’s been battling lymphoma for the past couple of years. She has not discussed her experience with cancer with me and I have not discussed mine with her…we just don’t talk about it. When I was saying goodbye to her, she hugged me and said, “I really want you to quit smoking.” And this was one of those hugs that felt like the last one, if that makes an sense. ALthough she seems rather healthy so I dont think it is the last one. It was just one of those moments that really made an impact. So we’ll see how this next week without a cigarette goes. I’ve learned I can do anything for 7 days.
Unil next time.
Namaste.
Shalom.
Be well.
The pre-show reception this was interesting. Chris Pureka is that awkward kind of shy that intimidates the crap out of me. Andrea is pretty cool and quite witty (not at all unexpected). Lyndell Montgomery, who was completely ignored by the organizers of the event which really pissed me off because she’s pretty fucking amazing, was the only reason the reception was not a complete bore. While the organizers consumed a fair portion of Chris and Andrea’s time, Lyndell just chilled and chatted with the rest of the group.
Ultimately, I got to hear some really great tunes and poems, meet a few people that I admire, spend time with Macy and Foster and crew, have a real nice post-show talk with Lyndell about my permanent Canadiana, border crossing, and immigration. While the event made little impact in the world and left me wondering what social justice really means, I had a real nice time.
Today is the final day of my bet with K to eat raw vegan for one week. For added fun, we gave up coffee and beer. She lost the bet on day 3 with a giant whole milk mocha. She gave up completely by the end of day 4. I did cave on day 4 with a small cup of coffee because of the massive caffeine withdrawal headache and because advil is not vegan. Although I technically won, I still felt like it was important to show myself that I can do this. Now that it’s been a week, I feel so good that I don’t want to give it up. Although I have no intentions of sticking to a completely raw food diet, I think a large portion of this positive experience has been the result of the nutrients in the raw food so I’m going to choose raw options as often as possible.
I’ve been practicing conscious eating (or yogic eating). I’m finding that my body isn’t actually in need of food each time I’m hungry. In fact, I’ve discovered the feelings which I’ve always gauged my hunger by is really my body saying that I’m stressed or bored or feeling some emotion that is not completely comfortable. My belly doesn’t growl when I need food, it growls when I want it. When I need food, I get a hollow feeling that isn’t filled by breathing or meditation. It’s hard to explain, I just feel very in tuned with my body.
I’ve loosely called myself a vegetarian for years, but truthfully, I never have been. There’s the whole fish is not a vegetable thing, right? Also, I’ve just made a habbit of eating anything quick so long as it didn’t have cow, chicken, or pig in it. Really, I think I’ve been living on cheese most of my life which is probably why I’ve only ever gained weight as a “vegetarian”. In one week of conscious vegan eating, I’ve lost a little over 6 pounds. This is just a bonus, though. I care so much more about the way my body feels.
So all I really need to do now is quit smoking. I know. How many times can a person quit? I quit for 4 months earlier this year. I can do it again. Also, I have some real inspiration to quit…the other day I bumped into a friend walking downtown. She’s been battling lymphoma for the past couple of years. She has not discussed her experience with cancer with me and I have not discussed mine with her…we just don’t talk about it. When I was saying goodbye to her, she hugged me and said, “I really want you to quit smoking.” And this was one of those hugs that felt like the last one, if that makes an sense. ALthough she seems rather healthy so I dont think it is the last one. It was just one of those moments that really made an impact. So we’ll see how this next week without a cigarette goes. I’ve learned I can do anything for 7 days.
Unil next time.
Namaste.
Shalom.
Be well.