"FOLLOW YOUR BLISS..." 'Bettejo Dux" (Classic Wednesday)

Bettejo Dux has lived on the cosmic garden island
of Kaua'i over 30 years. She is an animal lover, people lover and lover of life.
She will be 83 years young next month and still active in life and community.
www.bettejodux.com

FOLLOW YOUR BLISS

Joseph Campbell said that and it’s good advice.

It’s wonderful if you could have followed your bliss all your life, but you can start anytime. You’re never too old.

I think it’s another positive part of the aging process, out with the old, in with the new. If you’ve always wanted to write. Write. If you’ve always wanted to paint. Paint. Learning to do something new is healthy for mind and body and spirit, if you’re into that.

Confession: I always hated to cook. Used to warn my friends, “If I ever invite you to dinner and you know I’m cooking, head immediately for Nome.”

All ‘ugly Americans’ have a cook in the kitchen. For all my years as an expat I stayed as far away from a stove and oven as possibly. I remember one occasion when I discovered-suddenly, in the middle of the night when welcome guests hinted for a snack- that I didn’t know how to turn the lights on in the kitchen.

Today, at a ripe old, I’m learning to be a creative cook. 2013 style. Microwaves are fun. But the greatest latest cooking device in the place where I keep the refrigerator is the Vitamix. I’m not selling them, I don’t hold any stock, and I don’t expect anything for the mention, but that is the greatest culinary discovery since deviled eggs. The greatest cooking device since the campfire coffee pot.

Soups- soups, soups, beautiful soups -are an art form I’m learning to master and there’s one thing I know-other than I’m not Julia Child- everything I put in that little wonder is as nutritious as the stuff I toss in. No nourishment gets lost in the shuffle. Whatever you put in comes out in the wash.

I haven’t learned the fancy lingo but- boy oh boy- do I love the whirr of this hard-working cooker. I love to toss in unexpected flavors, a squeeze of lemon, a sprinkle of dry white wine, an experimental herb. Color. It’s a work of art. Tomatoes are red. Potatoes are white- with a brownish tinge if you toss in some mushrooms. The aroma when you take off the lid- don’t forget to turn it off first- lets a hot healthy smell fly up your nose.

I’ve got to stop, my taste buds are screaming, “Feed me. Feed me.”

I don’t know how I lived to be 82 without it.

Quick share. Make chicken broth or vegetable broth. Or buy it in a jar an add water. Bake a potato in the micro. Saute onions, artichoke hearts in oil, garlic, green peppers, carrots, bite size bits of chicken -whatever-in the microwave.

Toss it all in Vita dear-don’t forget the magic stuff, Brewer’s Yeast and Wheat germ-flip three switches-whirr, whizz, sing. Open. Pour. Enjoy.

Delicious for breakfast, lunch or dinner. A treat for a welcome guest who’s yearning for a snack.

I even ordered an 11 inch  chef’s cap.

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared From Facebook...

"Genetic modification saved the papaya..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen'

I would like the opportunity to respond to Douglas Henry citing me wrong in his recent letter in the Garden Island News “GMO lovers want labels.”
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-sunday-june/article_b28f2c10-dbb7-11e2-a496-001a4bcf887a.html

If Douglas Henry and others had read my recent letter to the editor they would have seen I agree that GMOs should be labeled just as kosher and organic foods are labeled. Please re-read my letter you’re commenting on (GMOs = Great Meal Offering, 06-10-13).
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-monday-june/article_66ae5600-d184-11e2-8614-001a4bcf887a.html

Mr. Henry and others missed my point. My point was that GMOs really aren’t the anti-Christ. The papaya industry was rescued in 1998 with the birth of the rainbow papaya during the ringspot  virus invasion. Commercialized in 1998, the Rainbow papaya produced immediate results, single-handedly rescuing one of Hawaii’s major industries.

Genetic modification has made it possible for barren couples to conceive with the process of in vitro fertilization.

It’s not the GMOs that are bad. It’s the toxic chemical fertilizers being sprayed. If only an organic natural fertilizer could be used in lieu of spraying with chemicals, I believe we’d have a win-win situation.

Ironically the people most objecting to and protesting GMO's are the transplanted Yuppies and hippies whose ancestors came to Hawai'i on cruise ships, not the locals themselves. 

The same crowd that protested a much needed ferry system , the same crowd that protests any new road or business,these same people many of whom smoke pot, smoke GM0 enhanced marijuana without even knowing it, these are the contrarians, transplants, all while the majority stay silent, and that really is sad.

GMOs. Can’t live with them, can’t live without them.

Aloha, check out my opinion article in today's (06-28-13) edition of the Kaua'i Garden Island News.
"Genetic modification saved the papaya."
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-friday-june/article_3dac75e4-dfbb-11e2-bc51-001a4bcf887a.html

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared From Facebook....

"Paula Deen is not a Serial Killer.." 'James "Kimo" Rosen'

Racial slurs are an everyday thing on Kaua'i, one must have thick skin to withstand
all the racial inequality in the "Aloha State."

Hawaii News Now reports about a new anti-haole t-shirt selling at a skateboard shop in Honolulu, and they think Paula Deen is a racist!?
http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/22708781/skateboard-shop-tee-shirt-causes-stir

Paula Deen is being treated as a serial killer for saying the "N" word 30 years
ago, all while many in Hawai'i degrade white people with the "H" word in the open, oy vey.

Paula Deen is not a Serial Killer

Celebrity  Chef Paula Deen has been accused of using the "N" word and making racial slurs about plantation life in the south. Deen says she may have used the 'N" word 30 years ago during an attack but claims she is not a racist

Why all the controversy, after-all it's not like she is a serial killer? Rappers use the "N" word all the time, yet  one white  person who admits to using the "N" word 30 years ago is currently being burnt to the stake.

 The Food network fired  her, and several companies have suspended ties in marketing relationships due to her  use of the "N" word. The media is chastising her and treating her like a serial killer,  all while the man  responsible for the Boston marathon bombings is being treated more humane than Deen.

It's a fact that racism  is still alive and well, especially in the Aloha state of Hawai'i where I have resided the past 13 years.
 It's a place where whites are hated and the 'H' word (Haole) is equivalent to the 'N' word. I understand racism and feel bad for Ms. Deen.

People in Hawai'i freely use racial slurs as a way of life, many say it's a cultural thing and no harm intended, while others still feel offended.

Maybe Paual Deen should move to Hawai'i and see what  it feels like when the shoe is on the other foot and she is the minority being slammed?
I think this would be an adequate punishment, no need to crucify her any longer in the media, just have her move to the Aloha state of racism where Caucasian people learn to grow thick skin or move back to where they came from.

 Ironically during this whole media which hunt the  sales of the celebrity chef’s upcoming cookbook have skyrocketed.
Deen’s latest book, “Paula Deen’s New Testament: 250 Favorite Recipes, All Lightened Up,” has jumped all the way to No. 1 on Amazon’s best-seller’s list and No. 7 on the Barnes & Noble Top 100 in advance of its scheduled release. 

Let those without sin be the first to cast their stone, it's time to let bygones be bygones...God bless you Paula Deen.

Hana Hou,(Encore) Shared from Facebook...

"New Advances in Macular Degeneration..." "Judith Whitehead' (Inspiration Sunday)

"Guest-blogger Judith Whitehead lives in Amherst N.Y. and has worked in the

 ophthalmology field of medicine for over 30 years...

Today she talks  about  her specialty, eye care, I know, I care... Enjoy! ;D)

New Advances in Macular Degeneration Treatment

AMD or Macular Degeneration is an insidious eye disease that mainly affects the senior population although there are early signs of the disease if you are pre disposed to it.  

Macular Degeneration  can be hereditary in some cases or just the unfortunate condition that many people can get if they live long enough  as  many develop.   It may start out with findings in the retina called Drusen or ageing spots thatare found in the retina during a dilated eye exam.  That may be the start of the eye disease or they may just stay as ageing spots for the long run but must be watched carefully.  

Living a healthy lifestyle of limited sun and UV exposure and eating a healthy diet of green  leafy vegetables are ways to help insure that AMD may not affect you.  Also taking anti oxidant vitamins such as I caps or ocuvite that are rich inzinc and leutin  are also helpful  but we cannot always beat our heredity.If you are unfortunate to get AMD, there are two types;  wet and dry.  Macular Degeneration affects the center of ones’ vision  called the Macula which is responsible for the fine reading and fine tasks one needs to perform.  The peripheral vision stays in tact so you will always have your “walking around”vision and never go completely blind.  

The center of the macula called the fovea is the most delicate part of the retina and sometimes treatment  in  itself can cause vision loss.   The Dry type can only be treated with antioxidant vitamins but the wet type which has  the leaking and swelling areas in the retina can now be treated with injections into the eye. This is an in office procedure done in a very sterile environment that takes a minimal amount of time and is made to be painless with topical numbing solutions.

Several years ago an injection called Lucentis and Avastin came on the market and were used to try and hault the progression of the disease and treat the areas that were swollen in the macula.  Injection therapy requires many injections spread apart over time  and are not a short term commitment.

Today we are lucky enough to have two new injectables  to treat the condition called Eyelea and Jetrea.

They are the latest medicines on the market for treatment for AMD; some insurance companies are covering these treatments and are worth pursuing if you have the Wet Type.

For anyone with AMD,  depending on the severity of the disease, there are many lifestyle changes. Driving becomes more difficult if impossible and reading a great challenge.  There are devices on the
market that can help with managing your lifestyle along with services from the Low Vision clinics that are very often covered by insurance.  Our local low vision clinic in Buffalo even makes house calls if needed.
Living with AMD can be very challenging; there are new advances being worked on every day.  Just remember that you will never go completely blind with AMD .  The best way to combat acquiring the disease is having regular eye exams and leading a healthy lifestyle.  If caught early, you have the best chance for treatment.


P.S. Check out Flight Cars Facebook page, This is a great story as seen on ABC's 20/20.These 3 teenagers start a business in San Francisco where you park your car for free and they rent it for you, and upon your return you do not pay for parking and have a clean car and a small percent of the rental fee if your car  happens to be rented, genius!
Would you let your teenager, bound for a top college, give it all up to start a business?

https://www.facebook.com/FlightCar?directed_target_id=0

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared From Facebook...

" How I Learned to Handle Anxiety..." 'Harmony Bentosino'

 Welcome back Dakinetalk's good friend 'Harmony'  for another adventure or should i say crisis in her life..' Harmony is currently working on her Masters degree in counseling. She is  studying drug abuse counseling. Harmony  resides in Kapolei, Hawaii on the island of Oahu...
Harmony is a true free spirit as seen here swimming with dolphins on the island of Oahu...Harmony blogs about her recent fate...

How I Learned to Handle Anxiety
                                                             
Have you ever had a panic attack that you believe to be a cardiac arrest because your heart is pounding hard enough to jump out of your chest?  You also find yourself shaking and panting.  Luckily, I have never had that experience, but I have been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder which means I get anxious about anything that has any degree of uncertainty.  Although anxiety feels awful, I used to think that it didn’t show and would never stop me from doing anything.  But as some of my friends know, I was recently fired from the practicum where I was working, and part of the reason was due to anxiety.  

Some background info for those of you who don’t know me that well:  I’ve been attending Chaminade University getting my masters degree in counseling.  Last fall I began my practicum.  I was working with sex offenders, but ironically, none of my anxiety was related to the clients.  Some of them were making tremendous strides learning how to feel empathy for their victims. No, all of my anxiety was due to the staff- particularly the director who was not the same director who had originally hired me.  Whenever this director had a complaint, she would tell my supervisor who would inform me.  One day she told him she didn’t like that I was wearing striped socks and brightly colored sweatshirts.  I went shopping and bought a new wardrobe in dull colors. Next, she complained that I was asking too many questions in staff meetings.  So, the next staff meeting, I shut up and didn’t say a word.

Finally, she demanded I sign a piece of paper saying that if I didn’t shape up, I could be terminated!  At this point, I knew my placement at this agency was in jeopardy, but I naively believed I could overcome all the obstacles until something happened that was the straw that broke the camel’s back.  I discovered to my horror, I had missed a training given by this director simply because I got the time mixed up.  I discovered this about an hour after the training was over.  I knew it was curtains.  There was a meeting with the director, my supervisor, and my teacher from Chaminade.  I was fired, and there was nothing I could say or do to change that outcome.  And as I said, part of the reason was because of my anxiety.  Although, I wondered was I really fired because I was anxious?  Or maybe I was anxious because I knew I was going to be fired.  It’s like asking which came first- the chicken or the egg?  But regardless of which came first, I knew I had to deal with my anxiety particularly because Chaminade told me I could come back next fall and repeat the practicum under the condition that I sought professional help for my anxiety.

I had been seeing the same therapist for many years, but I only saw him once a year, and then, we would just talk about fun stuff.  Now, we began to meet more often and do serious work.  He taught me a technique for anxiety that is the best I have ever seen, and believe me I have tried them all.  I had taken a course in health and stress management and learned all these techniques for anxiety.  Although they seemed to help, none of them ended the problem.  

This technique is based on an acronym for the word AWARE.   The A stands for Acceptance.  This is the most important step, and it was the step I had been unable to take because I thought there was something wrong with me if I was anxious.  But if you are anxious over the fact that you are anxious, then you are twice as anxious as you need to be.  It’s the equivalent to becoming so frustrated you have a headache that you begin banging your head against the wall.  It is obviously not going to help and will probably make things worse.

There are a couple of reasons why it is a smart idea to accept your anxiety.  Although, it’s not pleasant, feeling anxious does not hurt your health.  Even if you’re having a heart pounding, panic attack, it does not jeopardize your health, and it does not mean you’re going crazy.  The other reason it is smart to accept your anxiety is because it will end on its own regardless of what you do or don’t do!

The W stands for Watch and Wait.  This is so you don’t take any rash actions you might regret.  It’s like counting to ten before you blow up at somebody.

The A is for the Actions you take, but this is a very important distinction.  These are not actions you are taking to end the anxiety (because it will end on its own), but rather actions to make yourself feel better while it is happening.  It is the distinction I failed to make when I tried all those techniques I didn’t think were working.  Actually, they were working.  I just didn’t know how to work them.

There are many actions you can take to make yourself feel better when you’re feeling anxious.  You’ve heard of breathing techniques.  You can also use your cognitive skills to convince yourself there is no reason to be anxious in the first place.   But you need to understand that knowing there is no reason to be anxious may or may not end your anxiety at that moment, but at the very least, it will help you to feel better while it is happening, (and then it will end on its own regardless of what you do or don’t do about it.)

The R is for Repeat.  You repeat the first three steps over and over until your anxiety ends.
The E is for End.  Your anxiety ends.  Hooray!

To summarize these steps, remember it is never your job to end the anxiety.  Rather it is merely your job to make yourself feel better while it is happening, and then, the anxiety will end on its own regardless of what you do or don’t do.

If you would like more information on this technique, I refer you to the website  www.anxietycoach.com/overcoming-panic-attacks.html 

As for myself, I know I will be starting my practicum again in the fall.  I would be lying if I didn’t admit I’m a bit anxious about that.  But that’s OK because now I know how to handle my anxiety.  I am also elated to tell you I will be at a different agency with a different director!    

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared from Facebook...

P.S. Aloha, check out my opinion article in today's (06-28-13) edition of the Kaua'i Garden Island News.

"Genetic modification saved the papaya."

http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-friday-june/article_3dac75e4-dfbb-11e2-bc51-001a4bcf887a.html

Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen'

Obama Da Dog  still uses  an outdated photo from 4 years ago, those
bloggers and columnists sure are  vain.

My next bike, I plan on flying over the island of Kaua'i on my new bicycle along with Obama da dog!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=TtylFugOT_4

Why do Columnists and Politicians use outdated photos


Why is it that so many periodicals including Midweek Hawai'i run outdated photos with most of their columnists?
http://www.midweek.com/valedictorian-is-harvard-bound/

 Dan Boylan, Larry Price, Jade Moon and Mufi Hanneman are some examples of photo's accompanying their columns that must  be at least 10, 15 and even 20 years old.( If you do not live in Hawai'i Just substitute your own local columnists names..)

Is it because these publications cannot afford to hire a professional photographer and get a good current head-shot, or is it  these columnists are in denial of time and aging?

Politicians are also guilty of using photos to promote themselves that are years old. I once met a politician only after seeing her campaign posters and was blown away because I thought I was talking to her mother.

There's nothing wrong with an aging columnist or politician, in fact I trust older people more, with age comes wisdom,understanding and knowledge.

The only columnist in Midweek with a current photo seems to be Publisher Ron Nagasawa, his column is my favorite, it's the funniest, has the most wit and wisdom and that only comes with age.

I will now write Ann Landers to see what she thinks about the usage of outdated photos. (Note Ann Landers is dead and still publishing a syndicated column.)

Shortened version for all periodicals

Why is it that so many periodicals run outdated photos with most of their columnists?

 Many photo's accompanying  columnists must  be at least 10, 15 and even 20 years old.
Is it because these publications cannot afford to hire a photographer,or is it  these columnists are in denial of time and aging?

Politicians are also guilty of using photos to promote themselves that are years old. I once met a politician only after seeing her campaign posters,I thought I was talking to her mother.

There's nothing wrong with an aging columnist or politician, in fact I trust older people more, with age comes wisdom, understanding and knowledge.


I will now write Ann Landers to see what she thinks about the usage of outdated photos. (Note Ann Landers is dead and still publishing a syndicated column.)

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared from Facebook...

" THE WISDOM OF LAOTSE..." 'Bettejo Dux' (Classic Wednesday)

Bettejo  has lived on Kaua'i over 30 years and is a people lover,

animal lover, lover of life and strikes a dashing yoga pose...

Today Bettejo blogs about  wisdom... Enjoy!

Enjoy...

www.bettejodux.com

THE WISDOM OF LAOTSE

Okay, I cheated. I went to Island Breath and found this: “When man interferes with the Tao, the sky becomes depleted, the equilibrium crumbles creatures become extinct.” Lao Tzu. A voice from the past but so appropriate today. I posted it and received a response from a very scholarly fellow in the discussion group and was on my way.

I hadn’t opened the book for years, not since 1985, the year my husband died, but I went directly to the site.  I don’t think the book had been dusted or moved since 1985. Talk about dusting a book off with a shovel. It’s a mess. Books need lots of tender loving care to survive a tropical climate and my books are not treated nearly as well as my animals. Anyway, I opened it and the center fell out. I picked it up and reinserted it. Further, and please don’t tell anyone, discovered it was a library book I’d ‘forgotten’ to return. The last date was June 10, 1985.

The very first words that came to mind was-excuse me while I sniff and wipe away a tear…

“The little toy dog was covered with dust but sturdy and staunch he stands

“The little toy soldier is covered with rust with his musket still in his hand.”

That’s a big stretch but you can see how my mind works and I don’t read a book, I fight with it. If this book had been a dog, it would have bitten me. If it had been a soldier he’d have shot me down.  I wrote in the margins. I turned down the pages. I underlined.  I argued.  I raged.  I throw the damn thing across the room when it wouldn’t talk back and sulked. When I’d cooled off and  picked it up again I’d lost the page. That was twenty-six years ago. Today I take it to bed with me. Is that an up or or is that a down?

The introduction  was written by Lin Yutang, another guy I hadn’t thought about in years. The first notes in the margin was on page 15  in response to, and I quote , “The thought has been constantly on my mind to find a religion that is acceptable to a scientist.” I underlined this. In the margin I drew a * and wrote  THE FORCE in caps. Remember I was twenty-six years younger, Star Wars was fresh in my imagination and my juvenile mind was still very impressionable.

I had a fight with Lin on page 17 when he said “intuitive knowledge and mathematical knowledge never meet.” I drew an arrow and noted in the margin, black ink, “Yeah? Well Einstein relied on intuition.” Lin ignored my sass.

On page 18 we made up. He said, “Only one who can imagine the formless in the formed can arrive at the truth.” I made a sweeping gesture of agreement and replied, “I find this reasonable.”

I finished the introduction and threw Lin, baby, out of bed and cuddled up with Lao.  It’s raining today. I’m going back to bed with Lao and sending you home. Come back tomorrow and see how this guy fares. Course you can leave a note on the table. I don’t know whether I’m moving ahead, backward or sideways. I wonder what Lao would think if he were here.

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared From Facebook...