Empowered Spirit

Wildlife in the Samaria Gorge National Park, Crete  My hiatus from Philadelphia ended a month ago, and I am once again questioning when I am at, which naturally leads me to a reflexion of where I have been. My writing has also been in a drought, so I am making moves to water it again. But first, I gotta quote Regina. Regina Spektors lyrics have always stuck with me: "And people are just people, they shouldn't make you nervous." ("...maybe you should kiss someone nice, or lick a rock, or both.") Transporting myself through the country of Israel, bouncing around a couple of Greek islands, and getting lost in the bustling city streets of Istanbul had its moments of wondering what it meant to be a part of this people .  Meeting peoples of different values allowed me to become evermore connected to my identify as a human, especially as a Jewish human. Israel greeted me with a bright light of welcoming presence, as I traveled from Tel Aviv, to Jerusal

As I sit accompanied by boxes and scattered books and winter sweaters, I think about this ever fleeting moment, captured so well in Richard Linklater's new film, Boyhood .  The changing faces of Ellar Coltrane I got to Philadelphia on September 2nd, 2013 with not much of a clue of what my life would look like moving forward. And as my year reunion of residency in this beautiful, dirty, and historic city approaches, I am yet again jumping on a flight, east bound, to imbibe on more adventure. On the itinerary: Israel, Greece, Turkey. With my beautiful lady, Erica, and many strangers.  I couldn't be happier with what I have continued to learn, each day during this Philadelphian road, and I plan to continue being a part of this community come post-Columbus day. In the last scene of Boyhood , a now 19-year old Mason sits on a rock in the wilderness of Texas, with a newly found friend at college. They're talking about life.   "You know how everyone's always say

As I admire my shiny cassette and newly wheeled hybrid bicycle, I think about mechanics. Much like the human body, when the parts of a bike are placed correctly, they function properly. However, when the system is not in place, conflict will arise. As a premed student, I was keen on following this western path into medical school and am now faced with an ultimatum. What do I really believe in... in regards to health, healing, and mechanics? And which path should I embark on? I'm a new doula, trained to support women emotionally and physically during pregnancy and during their labor. It's the most beautiful process I have been able to take part in, even as a bystander (birth coach aside!). But now that I get to take part with many women and families as an active assistant, I have become outwardly obsessive over this outrageously breathtaking process.  And as a stepping stone into my future as a health care provider, I have been playing around with the idea of my fut

Besides this great landscape throughout the Ohio land and a great book by Ina May keeping me company, sadness on the bus lingers in the air. When a young boy asks his mom what cautious means - when she talks about her own mother discovering her birth control and cigarettes in her purse as a teenager. Discusses smoking at age 10 and how she can't wait to get off the bus to take a smoke. Little one proceeds to squeal with excitement to look at the lush green trees we pass and ma yells, "shut your ass up." No wonder our wonder dissipates as we age, curiosity continues to be suppressed. Still can't blame mom, but why do I feel so angry? 

My program is coming to a close, as this week marks the end of my service with Philly Health Corps.  Weird changes, bittersweet feelings.  I'm going to stay in Philly for a little longer. I am intrigued by the spirit of this city.  Things I thought were worth talking about at my last day at the health center:  1) I missed my surprise party. What can I say? I didn't know about it...  2) I learned about this fabulous artist  Fred Tomaselli .  3) There are cucumbers growing on the roof top garden!  I really want to expand, but my eyes feel heavy. 

I attended a yoga class earlier this week that had profound, yet simple, quote hanging in the bathroom. "Peace. It does does mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart." -Anonymous When I find myself sitting in silence - breathing, exercising, stretching - I notice myself trying to bring quietness, an element of peace, to the mind.  But maybe that is all wrong. I have encountered a similar sentiment with a Sensei in a Warrior Yoga class at Santa Cruz. He'd tell us to let the thought come to your mind, and allow it to sit with you. Like these feelings of "bad" emotions or negativity, we must allow it to be. We must allow it to be, for it to pass. This quote illuminates the significance of being self-centered, this concept of being calm while the world frantically carries on. It's so easy to wrapped up with the stress and enumerable tasks that consume a

So tell me... why we are always running?  Escaping this moment, seeking for more, gasping for air, a breath, when this moment is no more than right here, but ever gone. As   Millennials , we become caught up with the social pressures of dating, exploration, and movement. We are programmed to go to school, play sports, play video games and/or read a book (depending what child you are), go to bed, repeat. You graduate college, then what? No more guidance, no more school to keep you bound to the pages. You are now free to choose.  But now we don't want to commit, for we are an ever-fleeing generation.  This pertains to relationships, work, and home. I want to argue that this is a product of our society (don't think I'll meet much contention there), and possibly a product of our parents that rushed off to tie the knot. Why can't we appreciate, hold tight to this feeling of JOY, of love, appreciation, that faults us into fear, soaks us to our tips in c

Children, just want to play, to share, to explore to question, to know, to wonder, to color. let's dig, and discover! unfolding the worlds wonders or the dust that tickles your nose. the sweet flower thrives, trees present a polychromatic array to fill our eyes, our souls, our spirits! let's explore! ask, please ask - for you are their vehicle to wonder to curiosity read, hunt, cultivate life. Discover disappointment or tragedy and sit with it. Read together, harvest tomatoes! be full.

"I'm entirely interested in people, and also other creatures and beings, but especially in people, and I tend to read them by emotional field more than anything. So I have a special interest in what they're thinking and who they are and who's hiding behind those eyes and how did he get there, and what's the story, really?" -Alice Walker

Advair is one of the most sought out medications through the Patient Assistance Program at the health centers through Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH).  Advair is used for severe asthma and COPD. According to GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the pharmaceutical company who provides this medication, "once asthma control is achieved and maintained, assess the patient at regular intervals and step down therapy." My instincts say that GSK is on to something, but why is this not happening? Are the pharmaceutical companies guilty or are the physicians to blame? Aside from my personal frustrations with the pharmaceutical world, I try to err on the side of caution when interacting with our patients at the health center. A commonly used expression in our office:  "I NEED my medicine."  I'd like to believe this need is earnest, but I'm not convinced that patients haven't been brainwashed by the medical world, a world notorious for pushing meds and ingra

I think all my peers would agree that it is a constant struggle to watch the verbal and physical abuse that exists on the public transportation system in Philadelphia. We've had many conversations about how this affects us while transporting to our host sites and how we feel hopeless in the watching. This is typically occurring from parent to child, but it also happens between two couples or among teenagers. This morning I watched a young mother drag her child up the stairs from the subway station. A child being scolded for talking or saying the wrong thing. It would be erroneous for me to assume that all of these parents are "bad parents" because of the parenting style that I've witnessed. Stress,  financial instability, and lack of support are just a few of the compiling factors that may contribute to this snap that I witness daily on transit. Aren't they doing the best they can? It's also easy to forget (especially not being a parent) that kids, while

Gestation is fascinating. When I studied physiology during my last year at Santa Cruz, I kept finding myself drawn to the intricacies of fertilization, development, pregnancy, and birth. So, this fall I decided I was going to take a Doula course to learn more about women and babies - and how to support women prenatally, during labor, and during the 4th trimester. I have been able to learn so many incredible strategies to comfort women during this delicate process - techniques and comfort measures to physically cater to women during labor, problems or complications that should be (and are) so normalized, and ways to support during the emotional roller coaster that woman and those surrounding her encounter during this time.  We explored the needs of the mother and the child - the connection that is formed during that first moment, while the newborn is insulated with a coat of vernix, and should be placed skin-to-skin with the mama, creating an eternal bond. The antibodies and surpl

I like to give. Giving feels good. Giving to others has always been a constant in my life. Sharing with siblings, serving in the community, gift giving, or giving support. Don't you? Why are we so ready to give? (Okay, maybe I should stop making assumptions that we are all ready to give, but I am noticing that it's a pattern in health and medicine). Is there an element of giving that may be a subconscious (or conscious) escape for us? A way to avoid personal confrontation or personal struggle? I give to you. This feels good. Because as a result,  you feel good. And this is a beautiful thing. However, by constantly giving our services, we tend to lose touch with our own agenda and needs. Beyond this, our services may actually be disservices if we are not mindful, whole, and self-centered. Are my services to you the best possible service (the best, in terms of what I can give - cause, of course, that's subjective) and most genuine? I've have many conversations on

This is fun. Although suffocating on city air has its challenges,  I am overall content. I am living in a new city, across the country, away from my sweet, little nook of a town - Danville , CA. Let's not get into the politics or my feelings about Danville right now. All that matters (in regards to Danville) is that it holds some ravishing yet spunky individuals (my family, mostly) and contains a truly beautiful landscape (Hello Mt. Diablo, may you remain the mighty and triumphant mountain of 3,848' that you are...no need to mention Whitney or Shasta who triple your peak). With my undergraduate world barely a chapter in the past, Santa Cruz , CA is more of a jem in my heart. Those glorious Sequoia Sempervirens, jam sessions, and Pacific waves. More on that later. I moved to Philadelphia , PA on September 2nd, 2013. -- Philly, oh crisp winter air your colored walls, zestful mural land surround the streets, of trash and must. Quaker land, William Penn contests wandere

"Take a course in good water and air; and in the eternal youth of Nature you may renew your own.  Go quietly, alone; no harm will befall you." - John Muir   Hello, hello sweetness. I have no intention to write for you or that stranger next door or for my mother. I am not sure what I am writing for, and I am going to try to allow this to be a space for free thought and creativity. I am humbled by my surroundings, each and every day; yet my walls are crumbling by the oppression and contempt that exists, concurrently. This self-contention is worth expressing - for every soul. So, I'm not here to uplift or depress. Just express. Happy reading!