" Just as our bodies are one super-system, so is Earth. We are thousands of interacting systems that make our mental and physical health, a fine balance of many feedback loops keeping us as evolution has brought us to be. To keep our mother earth healthy we need to respect her, understand her balance, her interacting systems. We can start by doing minimal harm, by having the least impact we can. However, more than that, we need to understand what virtuous cycles are and how they are the same in principle as the feedback loops of the body, how by applying them to the way we care for our planet, our local environments, and each other we can truly start to build a better world. "


The human body is a complicated organism, just ask anyone who studies it! It is so complex that we have experts highly trained to understand very small parts of how it functions - specialists. Yet it goes on day after day, for the most part, without any help or interference of any kind. Each system has checks and balances and is harmonious with all the other functions of the body. When looked at as a whole,  both mental and physical health can be regarded as one supersystem - a term I first heard from Dr. Gabor Mate (well worth looking up on youtube). To regard the systems as separate may be necessary for the human mind to work on health problems, to comprehend them, but in truth they are all interconnected and so the holistic approach to health is always more beneficial than just pills or mechanical manipulations.

If we could model our care of Earth on our own biology, make sure that every part of human life coexisted with our planet in harmonious ways, then we would have environmental and social stability ongoing into the future. In the body we call these systems "feedback loops," in other systems they can be called "virtuous cycle." These cycles would produce some benefit or improvement as they are applied rather than deleterious or antagonistic effects, bit by bit improving the planet we all depend on and helping humanity to be healthier and happier. To do so is a huge task, given the complexity of the world in terms of food production, health care, education and societal justice - but there are billions of us, surely we can do anything we set our minds to. 

"When we can see the world without prejudice, we can let go of jealousy and hate, moving closer to understanding and unconditional acceptance." ​

I wrote this poem as a circle, the end is also the beginning. I put it on my facebook page first (Janurary 11th) -

If

If I help you... it is my honour,
If I hurt you... it is my shame,
If you trust me... I will work to deserve it,
If I err... I beg forgiveness,
If I love too quickly... it is in my nature,
If I run from you... I need solitude,
If I ask for help... I need it,
If I am afraid... there is a reason,
If I call to you... please come,
If I offer a hand... please take it.

More and more the success and failure of corporations depends on the creativity and kindly dispositions of their workers. Throughout evolution there is one thing that makes us better at both - exercise and daydreaming at the same time.

When we take a hike, a long swim, an enjoyable bike ride our minds wander in much the same way they do in our dreams. It is in this state we are most likely to solve both personal and academic problems. In our days as hunters this is when we were at our most crafty - looking for dinner! Or as a weaver back at camp the meditative quality of weaving is when we may have solved social problems. So how does this tie into questions of corporate sanity? 

In modern corporations workers are "human resources" and treated as disposable - work 'em hard, wear 'em out, replace 'em mentality. I'm pretty sure it was the same deal when the pyramids were built/railroads were laid. Thing is, in our modern age we live and die by our creativity (which is the same thing as intelligence). So...

If you as a corporation rely on your workers ingenuity, creativity, kindness and diplomacy... yet you treat them like slaves... give them inadequate time to exercise and socialize... you are shooting yourself in both feet. 

We never evolved to work 8 -12 hours in a cubicle farm, that's why they're all texting and on reddit. Give them 4 - 5 hours desk work, 2 -3 hours enjoyable physical "work" of any kind (preferably in the open air and daylight) and see what happens. My prediction - soaring creativity in engineering/creative departments, greater accuracy in technical disciplines (workers will also sleep better), happier employees who are nicer to your customers, lower sickness rates, greater retention of skilled workers and loyalty, new grads lining up to work for you...

If you wanna be the best... be the best, what's stopping you?

2015 is almost over. I guess this is one of my more experimental posts, but I can honestly say the "no diet plan"  works for me in terms of getting leaner and healthier. As always, consult  a doctor before changing diet or exercise.

For me diet and exercise are always put the wrong way around. Personally, I wouldn't even think of a dietary change as a first step. Why? I'll tell you.

If I walk about 2 hours a day for several weeks I start to feel healthier and my appetite starts to decline. Sure, I might eat two veggie burgers and a wholewheat pancake (with syrup) after a hike, but then I won't have much (if any) appetite for dinner, and so getting leaner just happens.

I also don't weigh myself unless necessary, I know by the fit of my clothes and my reflection in the mirror how I'm doing.

Before walking so much I would sit at home (stay at home mom/writer) and eat much more food, not always junk, but with a really pronounced sweet tooth. When I tried to diet I failed faster than anyone I know and then put on more than I'd lost. Yet the exercise first approach works very well for me.

The increase in exercise lets my body know that I need more nutrients: proteins, vitamins, minerals etc. From an evolutionary point of view the idea stands up very well. Here's how:

- Cave person gets injured and can't hunt anymore. They are then sitting around helping teach the kids. This means being colder more often, so time for some fat layers. Appetite increase and nutritional requirements change.
- A different person in the tribe is now required to join the hunting party but is heavier. Their body adjusts to help them get leaner. Fat is burnt, appetite decreases, desire for protein increases to build muscle. 

As an ex-science teacher I know it is of course very far from any kind of proof! However it works for me. Exercise in some way that works for you. For me gentle exercise every day (hiking, up hills included) for 2 -3 hours does it, but not everyone has that amount of time. However, no matter how you choose to exercise, good luck. Your health is important not just to you personally, but to all those who love you now or will love you in the future. So take care of yourself, be the most healthy version of you that you can be.

Wishing you all every good thing in 2016 and beyond!

1. Be kind.
2. Be useful.
3. Love without measure
4. Never give up on someone you love, especially if you're angry with them.
5. Hungry = eat (mostly healthy)
6. Thirsty = drink (mostly water - more milk for kids)
7. Stress = exercise - (preferably in nature and not stressing joints unreasonably - walk/bike/swim) This also enhances creativity; you can't think properly until your mind relaxes.
​8. Guilt = Early warning system that you are damaging your life and/or someone else's, listen to it and alter your behaviour.
9. Mentally tired = stress (see no 7.)
10. Physically tired = sleep/rest
11. Trust is foundational to all human relationships (and intelligent mammals) - don't break it.
12. Grudges = pointless.
13. Forgive easily but still protect yourself and those you love from future harm. 
14. Stop fad diets. Either admire your reflection or amend your diet and exercise habits. Throw the scales out.
15. Learning to love yourself (as per Whitney Houston) is about boosting your self esteem not your selfishness or narcism. When you love yourself, you are better able to love others and be both kind and useful.
16. Listen to others properly, they may know something you don't or be agreeing with you when you think they aren't.

*Not medical advice, consult physician regarding dietary/medical matters*

My natural diet is different from my best friend (First Nations origins). I do best on mostly veggies with whole-grains, eggs, dairy and a little fish. I'm European origins mostly and that's what we've eaten for thousands of years. Admittedly peasants didn't get as much of the dairy/meat as the rich folks, but they ate it too. So for me, mostly vegetarian does the trick.

For my First Nations friend, she does best on meat plus fruit and veggies. She is opposed to a low fat diet, liking grass fed butter. She does not do well on grains. Essentially, she has found by trial and error that what works best for her is closer to her ancestral diet also.

Now, two people don't make a scientific proof, and folks have random allergies and reasons for not wanting certain things and that's okay. I just think that the mythical "magic diet" is just that - a myth. We're all different! 

I would say, find what works for your body - your biology. Personally I find myself getting in better shape when I don't weigh myself or calorie count; I know how I'm doing by my reflection in the mirror and how my clothes fit. I eat mostly healthy choices (wholegrains) but have something sweet every day (we Brits say "a little bit of what you fancy does you good!) I don't stick to set meal times (eat when I'm hungry) I walk the dog most days (some Vancouver rain is monsoon quality!).

I think with some listening to your own body you can figure out what you need. Just like most recipes work when you put together flavours you like - these things are actually just about having the courage to try a way that works for you and stop googling for answers.

Ah, time I used my Mater's Degree for something! 

We need diversity in our plants to be safe from massive amounts of any harvest being wiped out by a single virus/adverse weather condition.

The more uniform a crop is, the more vulnerable we are to some kind of blight taking out a significant chunk of our global food supply.

We do have seed banks, but living populations are better; over time fewer and fewer kept seeds will grow into healthy plants.

Genetic diversity of our plants is so crucial to our survival as a species it cannot be dictated to us by greedy mega-corps who make genetic alterations and then treat it like any other patentable goods.

They make "terminator crops" whose seeds cannot be used, yet pollen travels on the wind.

There are good uses for genetic engineering, but we need to work with mother nature, enhancing genetic diversity, keeping our heritage cultivars alive for future generations.

Teenagers – The Importance of being a Good Hypocrite


We're all told not to be hypocrites, and that's where the problems begin. We aren't “allowed” to care about animal rights if we love hamburgers, or about the environment if we drive a car. We are pillared for caring about the poor if we live in a nice house or wanting people to be fed and eating quality food at home. This attitude starts shutting our brains down as teens and keeps on into middle age as we work to support a family. That's why in middle age we either shut down or break down (the only alternative is to wake up, to remember who we were as teens or even as younger children). So teens, if you learn the art of being a good hypocrite now you will never shut down or break down, you'll just stay beautifully awake and in tuned to your own wonderful nature, the good person I know you are inside.


I once had a chat with my own daughter who is passionate about animal rights. We discussed a mythical person we called Bob. Bob ate burgers every lunch time, what would she think about him? Well, she thought he didn't care for animals (she was quite young at the time). Then we changed the story just a little; Bob who eats the burgers volunteers at an animal shelter every month because he feels bad for the kitty's in the cages and wants them to be happy. Well, now she thinks Bob is a great guy and wants to be his friend. Maybe, if we take it further, all Bob can afford to eat is burgers. His Mom (single mom) works at a burger place and he eats for free (or at least at a discount). What now? The thing is, very few of us ever get past that first impression and get stuck with the “Ugh, that guy doesn't care about animals! I won't like him!” We could all do with being a little more Keanu Reeves in “Wayne's world” about how we approach others, try to understand and be friendly. Totally.


So how does “Bob” tie in with being a good hypocrite? Well, maybe Bob is struggling with other issues and his diet is the last thing on his mind right now. Maybe he's really concerned about LGBT rights, pollution, mental health/stigma, that his folks are fighting, that the rent is overdue... Maybe Bob is being a good hypocrite in his own way, triaging his own life as issues arise. For those of us who have the ability to think more broadly than where our next meal is coming from, then we are truly one of the most fortunate on earth, and need to keep that in mind.


For us that have enough food, the good news is that we can care about everything! We can want zero waste, zero pollution, healthy ecosystems, everyone fed, peace, equality, fair treatment of all, liberty, fraternity... But to try “walking that walk” with the way earth is now... not even remotely possible. To stay sane, to not shut down, you need to be a “good hypocrite.” You need to be able to see all the issues and still live your life knowing that you'll do what you can to be part of the solution. That may be as simple as changing the way you think to something more open minded, an attitude of learning about others, getting to stage two and three of the “Bob” story rather than getting stuck on an initial reflex of “Ugh!” What we do as a society is to take different parts of the “pie” – environment, humanitarian, social justice... That just makes sense so long as we realize that the environmentalist just chose that part of the “puzzle” to work on, it doesn't meant that they aren't also a humanitarian that wants liberty, fraternity & equality.


So in short, to save your own mental health as you transition from teenage years to being an adult, learn how to be a good hypocrite. You can drive a car and want a world where we work from home and don't need cars anymore. You can eat meat and campaign for better treatment of farm animals. You can be rich and want the world's poor to have food and shelter. You can be on a private medical plan and campaign for everyone to have access to first class medical treatment regardless of income. We are supposed to care, we are mammals capable of deep love and emotional bonds; we are supposed to stay open hearted, to retain our humanity no matter what. We are supposed to be true to our own natures, yet also to be the angels of our better natures.