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Insights Earth Time
Pema Chodron The earth is in trouble. The news is rife with reports about natural disasters caused by man-made activities, causing many of us to fear. But is the earth really in danger, or are we in danger of extinction? I will live a finite number of years, and mass extinction of the human race doesn’t really ring true to me. How would it affect me anyway? I may live only another 40 or 50 years if I’m lucky. Will I care what I’ve left behind? Well, my grandchildren will have children, and I think I’d care about them, their children, and their grandchildren. Since I see the cycle of life continue, I may not want to see it end because of thoughtless decisions fueled by the greedy. I may not want breathable air to end due to smokestacks spewing waste. I may not want to see the oceans stagnate due to dumping of raw waste and sewage. I may not want to see the growth of dead places and deserts due to over farming and over extraction of the earth’s resources. I live in a suburb of San Bernardino, and recently I made a trip to the mountains. Up in those mountains, the earth seems oblivious to our activities in the city. The earth seems ignorant of our mass assault upon it. I hear nothing of the city and see nothing of its activities as I observe the bees pollinating wild flowers. I hear birds calling. I see lizards and snakes darting out of my path. Amidst all of that I am humbled when I realize, that on the larger scale of Mother Earth, I am insignificant. Earth time runs in measures of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of years. My existence is barely a blip on the screen of earth time measured in eons. So I essentially am nothing, and yet in the moment that I exist, I am everything. We’ve seen forests burn down and animals flee from their burning habitat only to return a few months later, slowly at first. In those mountains, having seen the evidence of last year’s fires, I was quite awestruck by how quickly things have grown back. When I entered a small town store to buy some groceries, the clerk told me the story of a bald eagle family that appeared after many years of absence. This was in the small city of Julian, San Diego County, Cleveland Mountain area. As I walked down the streets of downtown Julian, famous for its apple pies, I found myself praying that we don’t destroy this, that we keep at least this much. It was so beautiful. Maybe, just maybe if we do harm ourselves to extinction, the earth will have a way of resurrecting new life. Maybe even old friends will return, like the honey bees and other earth creatures we’ve diminished due to our activities. We’ve often heard that the moment is now. The most important is now. While we are here, let’s make the most of it. Let’s not forget to clean up our mess and take out the trash. Let’s not forget to leave something for the ones that we’ll leave behind. |
Category: Columns
Time for the Teeny-Weeny Bikini?
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Time for the Teeny-Weeny Bikini?
Today, my philosophy is be passionate, meet deadlines, and try to smile in the midst of chaos.” For the most part, I can successfully meet this overall goal. But as I’ve learned from several other writers, business owners, and family, putting my health above all else is hugely important. They are all so true. When I spend more time on the computer than I do with my family, my boyfriend, my friends, and being the silly ‘ol me who likes to dance and sing in the mirror, go to fashion shows, and taking walks outside…I know something is up. Especially with Southern California weather reaching 100+ degrees, and wanting to wear as little as possible on the weekends, I gotta stay focused on my other goal: maintaining a fit bod. While I am loving my Old Navy and Target (on sale!) sundresses, I have been avoiding bikinis altogether. The “thickness” of my arms, thighs, and butt have always been my problem areas – even being a size 6-8 for the last 10 years (with or without the gym) – totally makes me want to avoid buying a sexy swimsuit. My favorite bathing suit for awhile was my Bebe white and brown cheetah bikini. Loved it! But then I wore it at the spa and got in a mud bath…now it’s light brown and dark brown. So much for that. In order for me to enjoy shopping for a bathing suit, I am just going to have to be as gutsy as I am when shopping for shoes. No matter the type of shoes I am looking for – flats, stilettos, boots, sandals – I choose what I want free-spiritedly without a care in the world. While, of course, a bikini is much more of a provocative statement; I’d like to experiment with trendy, new looks. I am very aware of my body shape and size (I look at my body from all angles in the mirror every morning), and I do know of fun ways to accessorize and play with a bikini to make it my own. Yesterday, I spent the day walking around the shops along Venice Beach and checking out the printed sarongs. Now that’s a great poolside cover-up to flatter my hips, thighs, and boo-tay while wearing a cute two-piece underneath. I also love to wear my big hoop earrings and scarves in my hair while wearing a bikini, which not only shows my boho personality – it also sort of navigates eyes upward instead of downward. Who knows what I wind up with as I plan to start scouring boutiques and department stores. However, in order for me to feel confident going forward and take a chance on new styles, I must continue to do what’s right for my body, in regards to health, fitness, and wellness. This means shutting the computer off by eight in the evenings, taking warm baths for relaxation, drinking lots of water, eating lots of fruits and veggies, going out dancing more often, getting use out of my treadmill, and making it a point to enjoy the outdoors. If I can just push forth with these goals, that teeny-weenie bikini might just be one of the best purchases I ever make. Written by Elana Pruitt Visit http://www.diaryofapersonalshopper.blogspot.com andwww.myspace.com/talkingchic. |
Choosing Peace
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Choosing Peace
But don’t we all suffer from the plague of war? And if we allow ourselves to think about what is happening to some of our fellow human beings, don’t we feel like we have to do something? I do. I want a personal meeting with God and ask Him why there is no intervention. Where is the earthquake to swallow up the war machine? Where is the tornado to end the various holocausts being waged against the Palestinians and Iraqis? I’m sorry, God, but where are you? And then I begin to think that maybe we humans are gods, like those on Mount Olympus wreaking havoc upon the world to declare our superiority over the earth while destroying everything and everyone in our path. After all, the earth is limited in its supply and in what it can sustain. Do we really believe we will live forever? How can we if we continue to waste each other and the planet? Over one million Iraqi civilians have died. Over three thousand troops have died since the beginning of the war. That offends me. That tears me up inside. Why is it O.K.? Tell me, who is being liberated? I believe that I can share my planet with others. I believe that I do not have to hoard everything for myself. I have enough. I thought about the war and how it seems to be a war over resources, because nothing else makes sense to me. It’s O.K. to kill people because we need to maintain authority in that region. It is no longer a war of liberation; it stopped being that years ago. I know. You want me to change the station, right? O.K., who won on American Idol last night? I have no clue. How about on Project Runway, my favorite show? But now I don’t know because I refuse to be distracted while the indigenous peoples of the earth are suffering en masse in holocaust-type conditions. I refuse to watch my favorite show. What can I do if God won’t reveal Himself! What can I do to stop the “madness?” Nothing! So like all others who happen to linger too long on the wrong radio station, I will hurry up and change to music I love, to anesthetize myself and shield myself from feeling even a hint of the mass grief of the abused peoples of the world. I will not allow myself to feel despair. But I can no longer sit with my eyes closed. I must see what we are doing and the crimes we are committing. Then I must take action. What can I do? Plant a garden, ride my bicycle, depend less and less on oil, use recycled goods, write to the President, my congressman, march for peace. I will not grease that squeaky wheel. I will ride my loud and squeaky protest against the well-oiled machine of war and outrageous assault against the earth. And I say to gods and goddesses alike… Amen. By Lisa Trimarchi |
Make the Most Out of Your Purchase
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Make the Most Out of Your Purchase
This group of guests arrived to my “Good Girl Gone Shopping” launch party in celebration of my going forward with a new venture: helping individuals uncover their inner styles with personal shopping and wardrobe consulting. So in between cocktails being poured, hors d’oeuvres being devoured, and a table of male and female accessories being plowed through, I decided to show four different ways I could wear my new, red top (with the price tag kept on to prove that it was a real demonstration showing I have yet to wear it). With my own clothes, shoes, and jewelry set out on display, I illustrated casual and chic, casual and funky, dressy and sophisticated, and dressy with an edge. As I was talking to the group sitting on my couches, I felt completely comfortable and ecstatic that I was giving others ideas on how to make the most out of their purchases. I also gave each person a challenge: The next time they see a mannequin wearing a whole outfit they love, they should visualize how changing one piece would give the total outfit a different appeal. I also suggested that they refrain from telling the salesperson, “I’ll take the whole thing. I want exactly what the mannequin has on.” Whatever I do and wherever I go, I am always noticing how style is exemplified and how fashion is used to express one’s personality. Yet with so many factors that play into the decision-making process while getting dressed, I can’t help but wonder how many people fear wearing one of the favorite pieces the wrong way. Who Cares? That’s what I say in regards to playing around with a purchase. Exploring your options now is perfect timing! Springtime is pretty much here in Southern California; and shortly thereafter, the salty beaches quickly become the favorite go-to place (despite the heavy traffic on the 22 Freeway towards Huntington and the 55 Freeway towards Newport). There are already uniquely cut bathing suits in the stores, and the cutest darn sandals making their way on my must-have lists. So as I envision myself basking in the sun with Lucky in one hand and sifting through the grains of sand with the other, I will continue to enjoy the versatility of fashion. It makes me smile to think that someone such as Jacquie, my friend, co-worker, and new client, is looking forward to having fun with her outfits and steering away from playing it “safe.” Admitting that my services are influencing her new-found excitement to shop and stand up a bit more confidently, Jacquie is growing into quite the “stylista” simply by stepping out of her comfort zone and exploring her personality. I encourage everyone to do the same! If you’re a loyal “Talking Chic” reader, you may remember when I wrote, “The ‘F’ in Fashion is for ‘Fun'” after Britney shaved her head. Well, when it comes to exploring your options with your wardrobe, I think that pretty much sums it up. But O. K., so you take your favorite pink blouse and pair it up with your black and white pinstriped pants, and those bright blue shoes you just had to have, and walk through the doors upstairs to work. But soon enough, you feel completely silly. You feel foolish for thinking that you could pull off a look you always wanted to try out. But how else will you know what really works for you and what doesn’t? How will you ever truly feel confident in trying out new trends? Sometimes the worst stares and comments are the best comments you could get. This tells you that you’ve taken a brave step and tried something new. Incorporating a purchase into a full-blown outfit is what it’s all about. Although every item in your closet and jewelry box should have a special quality, sometimes you have to experiment and mesh new items together. It could be quite the explosion. Written by Elana Pruitt Visit http://www.diaryofapersonalshopper.blogspot.com andwww.myspace.com/talkingchic. |
Make it a Happy Holiday Season: It’s OK to Shop For Yourself As Well!
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Talking Chic
Make it a Happy Holiday Season: It’s OK to Shop For Yourself As Well
And just like many people, I also envision a busy mall full of germs, greedy folks trying to get the last of everything, and waiting in line for impossible parking. That is what I despise about the holiday season. So, I figure, if I am going to put myself through this hellish routine, I’m also gonna treat myself to something new and fabulous in the process. (Don’t get me wrong though – I totally believe in giving to others without expecting anything in return and giving to charitable causes.) So, instead of making huge lists of what I would like for Chanukah, Christmas (yes, I am one of those people who celebrate and appreciate both holidays), or my birthday, which falls on the day after Thanksgiving this year, I like to ask for small gifts so that I am not putting anyone out. Plus, it is important that I pick out my must-haves of the season…myself! This has nothing to do with not trusting that my mom, boyfriend, or sister will pick out the right gift for me; it’s more about me wanting to enjoy the process of finding the perfect this or that. Because amongst what I despise about holiday season shopping, I thoroughly enjoy the sales galore. If things are gone when I finally make it to a certain aisle or department, then guess what? I will walk away, and figure it wasn’t meant to be! So as I mentally try to prepare for my last-minute holiday shopping, I have a few items in mind that, if I’m lucky, will score for a cheap cost with great quality:
So those are my big-ticketed items I hope to find on sale this holiday season. Now, if I skipped out on everyone’s gift and just shopped for myself, I would consider myself heartless and quite selfish. Yet, in allowing myself to update my wardrobe in the process, I feel happy. Doing just that, I will also feel prepared in entering the New Year with fresh fashion pieces, and having family and friends who understand my logic around this time…and still love me for being me. By Elana Pruitt (http://www.myspace/talkingchic) |
One Day at a Time
Insights
One Day at a Time
One Day at a Time
You can’t grasp time
And times you can,
are never time itself
Why configure time you cannot grasp?
-Verses from the Center, Stephen Batchelor
Christmas is the season where we’re under the gun to get things done quickly, and as the Target commercial so eloquently and beautifully sings, “Counting down, counting down.” In other words, hurry up! Buy those presents, shop, shop, shop. Don’t miss that deadline of Christmas Day.
Christmas comes and goes year after year, and to me, there have been many a day suspended in time. Like Christmas Day the year I was six. I received my Easy Bake Oven and roller skates. Everyone on our street received a pair of white Roller Derby Roller Skates, and we skated all Christmas Day almost until the sun went down. None of us lost a wheel, and that Christmas is forever emblazoned in my mind. Slow down, and take it all in. One moment is here, and then in the blink of an eye it is gone.
I am a busy person these days. I work a full time job, sing in a band and with an opera group, and I also tutor students in math. I believe every moment has its place in eternity, however, and I try to relax, no matter what I am doing, and remain where I am. I try not to worry about the next day or even the next hour. I realize that as the years have gone by, there are so many things I really want to remember; and because I rushed through events in the past, I have to strain to remember a smile, a hello, or even a thank you from a favorite friend or relative.
I remember the year the fire trucks came to our neighborhood. I was probably five years old. Those trucks released the water from all the hydrants in the area. All the neighborhood children had a blast. We made paper boats and floated them down the stream that filled the street. We squealed with joy as we ran through the jets of water, and felt disappointment as the last bit of water dried up.
I remember the donut vendor that used to come by selling hot glazed donuts. Those were the best donuts I ever had and the reason I am not obese today. None today can compare to the hot gooey pleasure I derived from those donuts. These simple childhood memories are forever etched in time and seem just as alive today as they were then. When you can grasp time, it isn’t really time. It’s an eternal moment.
As people, we are always planning ahead. This has been conditioned in us since the dawn of our existence because we realized that if we did not plan for tomorrow, we would surely die in a storm, as the result of a drought, or as the result of extreme heat or extreme cold. Maybe even be eaten alive by wild animals. We have a sort of fear reflex that if we do not worry about the next day, hour, or moment, it will be to our peril.
In present times, it’s easy to worry. Many people live from paycheck to paycheck, and if they suffer a loss of income or property, they might become homeless. So there are valid reasons to worry about the unknown. However, there is an argument for living in the moment and taking each day as it comes. If this is the moment that matters, then what happens to us if we miss it?
There’ve been a few times in my life where I found myself one step away from being homeless, but what I learned was that I always found myself in better circumstances later, whether I worried or not. I spent many years living from day to day; and through this I discovered the idea of being present. I began to appreciate the little joys in life, while remaining focused on going no farther ahead than today in my mind. I still made plans, and I still put money away when I could; but in my mind I worked very hard to stay focused in the now. My reasons were few. I simply wanted to feel joy now, not ten years from now.
I stopped saying I will be happy when I get that car, when I buy that house, when I earn that degree. I started recognizing that my little girl’s smile or the sun shining in the window was all I needed to be happy. And that happiness was worth an eternity to me.
How can life flow without flowing before, flowing now, or flowing later? (Stephen Batchelor)
Therefore, the moment now is the most current, the most present, the most significant. During these stressful times try being mindful of where you are now. You will find this season becomes a permanent etching to be viewed and re-viewed from time to come.
Written by Lisa Trimarchi
Tattoos, Fashion, and Rock ‘n’ Roll
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Talking Chic
Tattoos, Fashion, and Rock ‘n’ Roll
I prefer to place my tattoos in discreet places, regions where I can show them off when the time calls for it. Wearing a bikini by the pool or at the beach makes me feel oh so sexy. Lounging around in low-waist sweats and a midriff tank with my boyfriend makes me feel comfy and cute. But that’s me. As for those out there who have adorned their skin with tons of pop art, personal portraits, pin-up ladies, and names of their loved ones for all the world to see, I praise your bravery. In my eyes, the tattoos that have been permanently imprinted on a person’s body are merely an extension of that person’s style, the season, a time, or a reason. Just as a pair of vintage kitten heels passed from a grandmother to her granddaughter stands for a memorable era, a tattoo depicting this very time period might also carry the same meaning. A granddaughter can show her love for her grandmother by either keeping the shoes forever or tattooing a specific memoir on her skin forever. Although I may not choose to display my body art to the public on every occasion—you’ll notice my leopard heels before you catch any glimpse of my tattoos—I can’t help but feel in awe of people who take tattooing to a whole new level. Such as Kat Von D! This 25-year-old tattoo artist grew up in the Inland Empire of Southern California, starred on the reality television show “Miami Ink” on TLC as the shop’s only female employee, and eventually scored her own show and shop “LA Ink.” Although, I am more impressed with her entrepreneurial spirit, rock ‘n’roll vibe, and her insane platform heels than simply her massive number of tattoos, I enjoy seeing a soft-hearted gal committed to her clients and staying passionate about the art of tattooing. With stars lining alongside her temple and, if you look quickly enough, tattoos underneath her chin, the most common thought might be: Why would she do that to herself ? I say, “Why not?” Elana Pruitt (www.talkingchic.com) |
Raechel Cunningham – Aesthetician / spa owner – NY
The Beauty Agenda
Aesthetician and Spa Owner, Raechel Cunningham of New York Laser
Aesthetician and Spa Owner, Raechel Cunningham of New York Laser
Raechel Cunningham is a licensed aesthetician and the director at New York Laser & Aesthetics, located in the center of Manhattan. Raechel is a highly motivated aesthetician with extensive knowledge in the Skin Care industry. She is a graduate of Florida College of Natural Health, where she received an A.S. in Natural Health and obtained courses in both Aesthetics and Massage Therapy. Raechel has extensive experience in various Laser Treatments such as IPL, Laser Hair Removal, Laser Vascular Treatments, and Photo Facials. Raechel’s non-laser experience includes facial treatments, microdermabrasions, enzyme and acid peels, pre-/post-operative skin care, hair removal, camouflage make-up, anatomy and physiology, and nutrition of the skin.
“New York Laser & Aesthetics is a skin spa. We provide skin care solutions to our clients that serve to aid in the promotion and preservation of a healthy, beautiful skin appearance by using well-researched skin care products and treatments. Since not all skin care treatments work the same on people, we offer our clients an assortment of the most up-to-date skincare practices for the best possible results. “
—Raechel Cunningham—
Tell me about your spa.
We’re right off 5th Avenue, next to the Plaza. And when you walk into the spa, you’re greeted like you’re in a home/waiting room with a nice couch, flat screen TV, and music playing. We wanted to create a very comforting environment. We sell skin care products here with our organic skin care products called Imminent. I like to combine laser treatment with organic skincare.
What kind of laser treatments do you provide?
Laser hair removal (FDA approved machine); we also do photo facials for sun damage, hyper pigmentation due to hormones or the sun; we do skin tightening, and one of my fortes is laser vascular therapy.
What does laser skin tightening entail?
You come in and show us the areas that are bothering you. I come up with these things called vector points. The laser’s going to focus on tightening. The laser puts out an infrared heat source, which heats up collagen on the dermal layer. Collagen is lying on the surface under your skin in little coils. This treatment creates those coils to tighten up, and it almost kills them; but you’re not having any burns on the surface of your skin. You have nothing that looks like you had anything that was done. In 3-4 weeks when the dead collagen cells reach the surface, they come
off; and your body senses that you have a wound, so it starts promoting new collagen at a very quick rate. After the second treatment, you really start to see results and a fifty percent improvement. So someone who’s not ready for plastic surgery, if you have a lot of fatty tissues under the skin like somebody’s neck or jaw line, skin tightening isn’t going to work as well as it would with somebody with hanging or crappy skin. When somebody also has spider veins, the laser also targets the spider veins, like legs, red vessels on their face, nose, cheeks….
Do you know what causes spider veins?
It’s basically a lot of pressure on the legs. And the veins that are responsible for moving the blood along have so much pressure that they start forming all these little veins that help search for new channels so they can handle the pressure more effectively. Sometimes we treat the veins, and they might come back in other areas. Somebody would probably need to see a doctor if that happened.
The treatments last for how long?
With the vein treatments, if they go away and your body doesn’t produce more veins, it can be permanent; or they may come back in the same area. It just depends on once we close those little channels, your veins still have those pressures, so it may form new ones. People get great results here. People we did a year ago still don’t have new veins. It can last for quite a few years. The same thing with all the hyper pigmentation, all the treatments I do here take a few treatments; but once they’re gone, the only way they’ll come back is if you’re doing things to cause them to return.
Laser hair removal, is it a better method than electrolysis?
It is a better method, but whether you’re doing electrolysis or whether you’re doing laser hair removal, there are three phases of hair growth. These are things as a consumer you wouldn’t know. It’s very easy to misunderstand or get talked into buying something. So what I’m trying to do is explain that there’s the one phase of hair growth. It’s called antegin and that’s when the actual hair is attached to the pila. That’s what develops the hair. So when you do electrology or laser or anything that delivers heat into the pore, it has to conduct to the follicle so that it damages it, [keeping it] from making any new hair. You’re only in this phase for a short period of time. You can be receiving the treatment, your hair may fall out, but you’re still going to have hair grow in. So that’s why with laser hair removal, we try to promote it in packages of six. That’ll give me enough time to get all the hairs that are in that “right” phase. With laser you can do a larger surface area in quicker amounts of time and you’re not risking inserting a needle and probing into a hair follicle, putting too much heat in that follicle and creating a dark spot—I see it happen a lot. I also went to school for electrology so I am very familiar with how that works, and I definitely think laser hair removal is a better way to go.
In your professional opinion, is the laser hair removal actually permanent?
It is permanent, but if I did it to you and you were in that phase of antegin, which is the growth phase, your hair’s going to fall out and not grow for a month; and then it’s going to start to grow. So it is permanent, but you have to have the right amount of treatments.
How long have you been doing this?
I’ve been doing this for over eleven years. 1996, I started doing manicures and pedicures. I was working in a spa where they gave facials, and I was interested, so I went to school to learn that. And I had been a licensed aesthetician for almost eight years. I am originally from Florida. I’ve been working for a dermatologist most of my career, so I have a lot of experience in corrective skin care. I moved to NY about a year and a half ago. I worked for a large laser company chain. I decided to quit and work for a plastic surgeon who was really adamant about being partners with me and opening up a spa. So I pretty much did, and here I am. I have a partner who owns the place, and I pretty much run it and have a small share of the business myself. I was very lucky. It’s not like a regular spa. I wanted to run it like a doctor’s office, so far as the treatments that I offer, but still very relaxing, like you’re at somebody’s home. I have two rooms: a laser room where I do all the treatments (looks like a doctor’s office), clean and sterile; the other room is where I do all my facials. It’s very personable here.
What are your prices?
Titan Skin Tightening, full face $1,100;Laser Spider Vein Treatment, 30 minutes $400; Laser Hair Removal, Brazilian, $340 per treatment;Cranberry Pomegranate Treatment, $250.
Of all the skin care treatments that claim to do what the laser treatments do, you chose the laser. Why is this the better way to do it?
I chose laser because of all the treatments that I do, the laser is more aggressive (hair removal). It’s kind of a tool of the future. There’s no other tool that lets you do hair removal in a timely manner. I feel like laser is going to be very popular in the future, more so than it is now. As long as you have an FDA approved machine, and you’re trained on it, I think it’s safe as long as the user is licensed and educated in the laser.
Have you ever had a client where there was nothing corrective you could do?
On my level, I have had clients on an aesthetic and cosmetic level where I couldn’t help them. I refer them to a plastic surgeon on staff. I have a dermatologist I refer to.
So in other words, you’re a skin care specialist, not a magician. Any tips you’d like to give to your average female on taking care of her skin?
I reference to laser. If anybody’s contemplating doing laser, they should really do their homework and make sure that where they go is licensed, the people are licensed, and that they have an FDA approved laser to prevent burns or things that could happen that they don’t want to happen. And maintaining at home with a good skin care line that’s good for their skin.
What about acne? Is there a laser that can help that?
There are certain treatments that are called LED lights. They come in different colors. The blue LED light helps to kill the bacteria that’s responsible for causing acne. It’s a temporary treatment. How I handle acne here would be a series of chemical peels and then a laser treatment called laser genesis. It helps kill the bacteria as well.
Can any age do this?
I usually start treating kids from 12-13. I do a mild chemical peel or laser treatment. Hair removal, I like to do it starting from age 16 and up. Do your homework, make sure whoever you go to is really licensed and knowledgeable. I’ve seen a lot of burns and bad things happen to people, and I don’t want that to be something people think about when they think of laser.
You said earlier that you see laser as the treatment of the future. Not that you’re a psychic, but in five years where do you think laser might be?
The technology will be much more advanced. Currently, the FDA regulates how deep the wave lengths go into the skin. I think in the future, maybe the lasers will be able to penetrate a little bit more. I also think that they will be regulated a lot more. Some states are not regulated, and anybody can do them. I think it will be something that will be taken more seriously, but I definitely think the effects of laser will keep improving.
To learn more about New York Laser, visit www.nylaskin.com for before and after shots. If you’re in the New York area, make an appointment with Raechel Cunningham, Director of Operations:
New York Laser & Aesthetics
21 W. 58th Street #1C/D
New York, NY 10019
212-753-SKIN
www.nylaskin.com
Interviewed by Kaylene Peoples
September
Insights
September
September
September has always marked the beginning of a new year for me, not only because my birthday falls on the last day of the month, but also because it marks the end of summer and the beginning of the school year. Having raised three children into adulthood, I’ve been conditioned by long practice to be sensitive to the changes in the rhythms and routine that this time of year sparks.
I hope that this is a new beginning, not only for me, but for the world. Will there ever be an end to war and warmongering? Will we ever as civilized beings face that we’ve wrecked and depleted our resources and are continuing to do so? What of the world Karma? What debt are we incurring against the future generations? How can we continue to deface our world and put the least of us in the way of famine, disease, and treacherous warfare (as if warfare could be anything else but treacherous)? How is it that my comfort is at the expense of another’s welfare?
I’m a small splinter in the machine. How do I stop the machine? How do I make my voice heard and declare that I want no more part in a country that goes around killing, killing, and killing with total disregard to the sanctity of life? I want to make a change. I want to change the world. Mahatma Ghandi once stated, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”
I have to be the change I seek, so I started making a change. I stopped eating meat. I like animals, and even though I like the taste of meat, I don’t like causing suffering to my fellow creatures. I walk more. The more I walk the less gas I use. I’ve taken yoga. The more I practice yoga, the more I can walk, and the less gas I use. I’ve taken to meditating, chanting, and doing everything I can to be at peace with my family and others I exist with. It’s not enough, but I have distanced myself from the machine.
I believe that if I learn to make peace instead of war, that like the 100th monkey, my habits will rub off on others. What is the story of the 100th monkey? That one monkey on one distant island that learns how to wash his food in some way causes another monkey on a distant far away island to wash his food, no way influenced by the first island.
It really happened in 1952, on the island of Koshima (http://www.dead.net/forum/ what-would-be-answer?page=2). Scientists provided monkeys with sweet potatoes that had been dropped in the sand. The monkeys liked the taste of the sweet potatoes, but not the dirt.
One day an adolescent female named Imo discovered that by washing the potatoes in a nearby stream, she could rid herself of the sand. She taught her mother to wash the sweet potatoes. She also taught her playmates, who then taught their mothers this new method.
Gradually, other monkeys on the island learned to wash their sweet potatoes, and all the young monkeys learned to wash sweet potatoes to make them more edible. But for the adults, only those who imitated their children learned how to do this. Other adults kept eating the dirty sweet potatoes.
Then one day, 99 monkeys began washing their sweet potatoes. Later that morning, the hundredth monkey learned to wash potatoes. By that evening almost everyone in the tribe had begun washing sweet potatoes before eating them. The hundredth monkey created a momentum that produced an ideological breakthrough!
Written by Lisa Trimarchi
Plant Your Own Garden
Insights
Plant Your Own Garden
Plant Your Own Garden
The other day I got the idea that I would prune my mother’s trees. I’d had enough of looking at those monster trees and thought she might like to have a nice tidy garden, come outside and have a cup of tea while enjoying her day. I created a whole scenario in my head where she would be seduced from her hermetic existence to sit outside in the shade and get some sun. Her cat would be allowed outside, as long as she was there, to stalk and explore. So I set out to shape her trees.
About an hour into my work, I began to reflect on how it seems that one tree—in this case overgrown bush—has so much in abundance. I thought about how I had about a couple of days’ supply of firewood already, and I hadn’t even completed the task. Do we really need to cut down forests when one tree can yield so much wood and still be allowed to live?
I pruned only five trees and had filled over twelve large garbage bags with branches and leaves. Imagine if I had pruned an acre. I wouldn’t be able to do it, but with assistance I could yield several hundred if not a thousand bags of excess branches and leaves.
When I was a child, I thought the world was infinite. The earth would always give up her gifts to me if I wanted. I watched my father garden and was in awe every harvest. We had so many tomatoes, squash, greens, okra, and eggplants. We had so much from such a small piece of land, less than 1/4 of an acre. I hadn’t yet noticed how this compared to others devastated by famine and wars.
When I grew older and became aware of global suffering, I had the sense of putting my hand in front of a tidal wave to stop it. What could I do? Absolutely nothing but be overwhelmed and drowned by the momentum of the rushing waves. If I survived the waves, I would be crushed by everything that they carried away.
I discovered that because we are a greedy people, our mouths open like baby birds wanting to be fed, taking and seldom giving, we are destroying and depleting the earth. When we see others in need with their hands out, we turn away. We don’t want the ugly picture of suffering to put the taste of bile in our mouths, thus embittering our oasis.
We exist on an oasis. It may not always feel that way. We have our own homeless, our own crime, and our own areas of famine. Overall, however, we exist on an oasis, and in the majority of the world, people have to struggle to obtain their next meal.
It causes me sadness. What can I do? How can I change the world?
As I raked up branches and leaves and filled bags, I thought about this. What could one person do? What can I do?
One person can foster a sense of gratitude that we won the lottery of life. We eat and live in relative peace compared to many other parts of the world. An individual can start making changes that will add to others’ efforts to create a wave that could begin to form from unified efforts, such as choosing what we purchase, how we eat, what we eat. Choosing to rein in some of our desires.
In America, we consume most of the world’s resources but yet only comprise a small fraction of the population. One person can make a difference and influence others.
I’ve chosen to consume less. I do need to drive from place to place, but sometimes I choose to walk and ride my bicycle. Maybe we can choose work that is closer to home. Maybe we can choose to carpool. If we can’t make that choice, maybe we can choose to grow some of our own food, thus placing a smaller demand on the supply. Maybe I can choose to plant drought-friendly plants, using less water. Maybe I can choose to be aware and do what I can, whatever that is, to help make the world a better place.
After admiring how lovely I made my mother’s trees, I tied up twelve bags of branches and leaves, put them in the garage for trash day, and realized that by composting I could take that refuse and make from it something beautiful. In a small way, my garden could contribute to making the world a better place and I could make the earth groan less under the pressure we’ve placed on her.
Lisa Trimarchi
