Early February


I think part of "knowing thyself" is knowing thy limits. No matter what I would wish, my body has limits. I have to stay within those limits if I am to be at peak performance, both mentally and physically. I know that I can do only so much physical labor. I have to have at least eight hours of sleep. I've proved to myself again and again that I have to eat good food. Junk food or skipping meals puts my head out of order. I just cannot ignore the fact: If my body is not in good shape, my mind does not function at its peak potential. It's a unique relationship. The body is dependent on the mind; the mind is dependent on the body. Good food is essential in keeping my spirits high and my brain clear.

Once I had the mind-body relationship proved to me in a most poignant, although quite painful, manner. It's a lesson I'll never forget. Steve, my roommate in Phoenix was a very talented acupuncturist, so he taught me enough so that we could exchange acupuncture treatments. Of course, I had to use the “beginner” needles that you just thump in, but I managed to overcome my needle “thumping” apprehension. One day, to see if it would increase my overall energy, Steve included the Spleen-21 point in my acupuncture treatment. For certain reasons (in hindsight), it was a mistake. We were experimenting, so I did not complain.

Wired like a racehorse ready for the starting gate, I spent days without being hungry or sleepy. I kept bolstering myself, I just have to go through this experience as I have many other challenges that I have had to embrace. I may learn something useful. And I did. I learned something important. No one could have ever convinced me how much our emotions are physiologically based had I not experienced the effects of Spleen-21 personally.

Today, since I am feeling so energetic, I work in the garden all day. Then in the afternoon, I continue working on clearing some vines out of the thicket along the fence and tagging trees to preserve, so Billy can get in there with a chain saw to thin out the undergrowth. Then I transplant a couple of redbud trees into one spot where I dug out a particularly tenacious prickly vine. That task bestows me with a batch of fresh wounds. However, I am rewarded by finding a bird nest-right across from the deck. I don't know how I missed it before.

I work until my body feels thoroughly tired. In a way, I do feel good being physically tired-for my body to have stretched itself to its limit. However, my body looks as if it is a battlefield. The scars of country life are beginning to show. There's hardly a square-inch patch on my arms or legs that doesn't have a scratch from some branch or briar, along with plenty of itchy welts from fire ant stings. Most of the scrapes are from clearing out briars or grass with burrs. In addition, a couple of patches of poison ivy look like strawberry skin on one ankle. To top it off, I have a long gash on one fingernail where the scraping tool slipped while I was cleaning wax off the bee box.

After a warm shower that cleans my body and clears my mind, I have my usual nourishing salad. On a large plate, I start with a bed of romaine lettuce, coriander leaves or parsley, centered with half of a can of water-packed solid tuna (Trader Joe's or Whole Foods brands only). Then I surround the tuna with wedges of tomato, onion and one hard-boiled egg, topped with black olives. Then I drizzle on a good-quality dressing, which gives me the oil I need to keep by joints and brain lubricated. I love the Newman's olive oil dressing and even douse it on steamed vegetables. Although on my salads, I usually just use olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

My family has a tendency to be overweight. Fortunately I have managed to steer clear of that group set, for I have always maintained an average weight for my height. It's partly because of pure vanity: I like to look good. But the real reason is more selfish: I like to feel good. A lean body moves and dances with life more smoothly. I'm not willing to miss out on any adventure because my body is sandbagged with extra pounds.

I have found two techniques to avoid overeating. Number One is never let myself get hungry. Hunger has no discrimination; it eats anything. The second rule is I eat healthful food. Since I don't eat a lot, I need the food to be packed with vitamins and minerals. I feel good mentally and physically when I am eating natural organic fruits and vegetables. For bulk, I eat nuts (almonds soaked in water overnight) and potato, instead of processed flour products of bread and pasta. I have never had to diet when I am eating healthy natural food.

I have not yet figured out why we tend to comfort ourselves by eating, but I'm working on it. (By now, you must have noticed that I like to figure out things for myself.) Usually, whatever we seek externally is a search for wholeness. Does it mean that we need some nutritional support that we are not getting in our normal diet? Or is it an emotional thing? Since the mind is dependent on the body, is the mind making a demand?

For me, no matter how nutritious the food is; it has to taste good. And this is another secret to success. When I eat something that is not on my usual diet, I only eat treats that I really really relish, something yummy enough to satisfy the taste buds. Strange but true, I have discovered that often I eat more of something that I don't particularly like. It seems as if I am searching for that certain gratified feeling that I get when I eat something good. For instance, I was going to treat myself to a cup of hot coffee this crisp cold morning. I don't know what I did differently, but it turned out too weak. Then the phone rang, so it was lukewarm. Without hesitation, I poured it out and started over. I want to enjoy my one cup of coffee.

Yet there's nothing I do not eat—in moderation. There's no food I avoid totally, particularly when I'm traveling, or with family and friends. It's too much of a bother. Well, that's not true either. I totally and completely avoid any salad dressing without oil. If the label says “fat free,” I pass it up. My taste buds were made to help me want to eat, so I don't fight against them. I would hate to know what they put in that diet stuff to compensate for simple healthy olive oil. If everything tasted like the artificial stuff that passes for food these days, the human race would have passed on centuries ago for lack of interest-and lack of health too.

The truth is, when I am nutritionally packed, food that is not wholesome doesn't appeal to me. From my own experience and watching others, I am sure that our cells want to duplicate themselves. If they are made of sugar and cream, they want sugar and cream. If they are made of broccoli and carrots, they want broccoli and carrots. We know sugar and chocolate are addictive, but I'm saying the healthy stuff is too.

And what do I do when I am confronted with a big luscious dessert? I just remind myself of the many great creamy desserts that I have consumed in the past. I think I've had my quota for one lifetime. In other words, if the 2001 chocolate chip cookies I have consumed have not done anything for me, one more probably won't make a difference either. Of course, if we truly realized we are mortals, we would be committed to eating the most nourishing food available. However, that certain something in the human psyche that makes us take for granted that we will live forever—no matter what—keeps us compromising.

After dinner, I light up a blaze of a fire. It's for atmosphere; the temperature tonight really does not call for warmth. On cold nights I have to sleep on a pad in front of the fireplace. Even though the house has central heat, when winter chill visits, the system just does not touch my bedroom. In the meantime, I've become attached to sleeping by the cozy fire.

As I'm busying myself with lighting candles and incense, my mind insists on reminding me about what has not been written today, since I was outside in the garden. It must be sensing that I am still not moving in the direction of the computer. I tell it to loosen up because I am going to relax and give my body a little attention.

I'm one of the few women I know who do not have any complaints about my body. I like my body. I suppose, since I like my body, I take it for granted; therefore, I have not been inclined to give it much attention. Tonight I decide to give my body a treat. God knows it deserves it. What a trouper!

While music of a Celtic harp soothes my nerves, I spread a pad by the fire and give my entire body a rubdown with almond oil. My skin just soaks in the oil, while the scratches and scrapes sigh a few moments of relief. I know that my skin will repair itself soon and be just like new. Amazing bodies!

What an incredible mechanism the body is. . . just the physical, not even considering the mental. Where did we get the intelligence to create such a fine instrument? Just to contemplate on that one miracle would take me eons away and surely blow my mind. Some scientists say this body was once swirling stardust. I want to believe it, but where was I when the stardust of my body was whirling through outer space?