"Must do" on auto pilot

This morning I was getting ready to go to a seminar. I woke up early and had plenty of time to get ready. When I was meaning to head out the door to get to the seminar on time, I couldn't find my cell phone. I knew it was in my house since I had used it the same morning. So I searched and searched until I finally found it. Even though I ran to the bus stop I missed the bus with a few seconds. I really hate not respecting other peoples time by being late so I felt really frustrated. When I was standing at the bus stop, out of breath and stressed out, I realized that I didn't actually need to have the phone with me. We had to turn the phones off during the seminar anyway. And if I really would need one I could probably have gone home on the lunch break to get it or maybe used someone else’s. I'm not a doctor on call in case there are lives to save. I can go a day without a cell phone in my pocket without endangering myself or anyone else.  The thought of going out without one gives me a feeling of being free and a little mischievous. No, I'm not reachable 24/7… I'm on my own time for a while…

How many things do we get stressed up about and feel that we have to do that isn't really that important? When we feel stress or pressure by a "must do", maybe the "must" is in our mind and not really necessary... If I had paused and taken a deep breath... perhaps I would have realized that the cell phone was better left were it was before it hit me while seeing the rear of the bus disappearing in front of me.

Start your day with hot water/börja dagen med en kopp varmt vatten

Start your day with a cup of hot water with lemon and/or a little grated fresh ginger. Or just hot water. It helps your digestion and cleanses the intestines after the night's fast. A soft way to start your day that your body will thank you for. Great "side effects" are clearer skin and more regular bowel movement. Adding the juice from half an organic lemon helps the body get pH balanced, which strengthens the immune system.

Do this before breakfast:
Squeeze half an organic lemon in a little cold water. Fill up with boiling water.
Drink and rejoice that you are doing something that is really good for your body!
//

Börja dagen med en kopp varmt vatten med citron och/eller lite riven färsk ingefära. Eller bara varmt vatten. Det hjälper till att få igång magen och rena tarmsystemet efter nattens fasta. En mjukstart din kropp tackar dig för. Härliga "biverkningar" är friskare hud och mer regelbunden tarmrörelse. Pressar du i en halv ekologisk citron hjälper det kroppen bli ph-balanserad vilket stärker immunförsvaret.

Gör så här före frukost:
Pressa en halv ekologisk citron i lite kallt vatten. Fyll på med kokande vatten.
Drick och gläds åt att du just nu är riktigt snäll mot din kropp!

PH balancing mouthwash/PH-balanserande munskölj

If you eat something acidic or sugary it is a good idea to balance your oral ph afterwards. The sugar feeds bacteria in your mouth that creates acid. Areas with plack can remain acidic for several hours. This can create serious damage if you are not careful. Most mouthwash in the stores are slightly acidic to create a longer shelf life. But you can solve the problem by using this simple recipe for a mouthwash that balances the ph-value in your mouth,

• 2,5 dl Water
• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate/baking soda
• a few drops of peppermint oil (optional for taste)

Rinse for 1 min after eating acidic or sugary meals/snacks and before brushing

Om du äter något surt eller sött är det en god ide att balancera ph-värdet i munnen efteråt. Sockret föder bakterierna i munnen som gör munnen sur. Områden med plack kan ha ett lågt ph-värde i flera timmar efteråt. Detta skadar tänderna om du inte är försiktig. De flesta munskölj du köper i affären är lite sura för att hålla längre. Du kan istället göra ditt eget balanserande munvatten med detta enkla recept:

• 2,5 dl vatten
• 1 tsk bikarbonat
• några droppar pepparmintolja för smak

Skölj i en minut efter att du ätit något surt eller sött och innan du borstar tänderna om du borstar direkt efter en måltid.

Where do you go when you need to recharge your batteries?

Do you have a a place where you really feel calm and nurtured? A special place you go to when it isn’t enough just to find a place to rest? When you need to recharge from your very roots? A place where you feel connected and at peace?

I have a place like that. It's in a forest close to where I grew up. I have a 45 minute drive to get there. Sunday afternoon I needed some serious recharging so I packed a small backpack with tea and a snack. The weather was unstable. The sky was full of heavy clouds and the air smelled of autumn rain. I made sure I had a raincoat and rubber boots in the trunk and headed off to my sacred space. The drive was more beautiful than usual since the sky offered a great diversity of impressive cloud formations.

I turned from the main road to the small bumpy road that leads into the forest and parked my car in a small pocket when it wasn't possible to drive any further.  Changed to rubber boots and headed into the forest. I hadn't gone far when I saw a flash and heard a great thunder. Rain started pouring down but the trees sheltered me from getting soaked. I stood still for a while  and noticed that I was standing next to several chanterelles. Whenever I venture into a forest I always bring a bag or something else to carry any eatable treasures in. So I collected the chanterelles in the thunder and pouring rain and I loved it. It made me feel alive and connected. The sound of the rain was soothing and the simple task of collecting food made my mind still. After a while the rain stopped. I took a walk by a creek connecting two small lakes feeling my batteries charging. Rejuvenated I drove back to where I live. Getting closer, the sky lit up by lightning and the thunder rolled over the city. On Sunday night a fantastic scenery of lightning, thunder and rain displayed over the entire Gothenburg area. Many locals watched in awe and documented natures fantastic exhibition. Some minor incidents occurred but nothing serious.  This was a fantastic night and I felt like I was charged with life force, like Frankenstein’s monster. Watch out! Here I come...

Love life and prosper!

ERAS shortens recovery time and creates a higher survival rate

It gives me hope to read that by using a common sense protocol you can shorten the recovery time from surgery AND get a higher survival rate for cancer patients. A multi win situation. Shorter recovery time means less time spent in the hospital after surgery and less money spent for hospital care and more room for new patients. Shorter recovery time means less time spent worrying for both the patients and for their loved ones.  A higher survival rate is just simply fantastic! This is a major win for the patient, their families, the hospital, care givers, society and everyone! Let’s hope this protocol is implemented all over the world!

I think that it is VERY probably so... that most people that has to go through surgery wants to recover as quickly as possible and that they are more than willing to do what it takes to have that happen. When I had surgery to remove my tumour I wanted to be well enough to go home even before I was admitted! I was terrified that there would be any complications so I would have to stay longer than minimum time to be expected after treatment. I got to leave the hospital the day after surgery and I have never before been so happy to see my sister as when she came to pick me up and drive me home. That was a Happy Day!

ERAS Enhanced Recovery After Surgery

Study shows that patients that have a colon rectal surgery has a better recovery and survival rate if the ERAS protocol is followed. The protocol is designed to minimize the stress on the body during major surgery.
Of the 20 points listed in the protocol includes that the patient gets acquainted with the clinic prior to surgery, that the patient drinks an energy drink before surgery, that intake of food, drink and visits to the bathroom are logged. And that as little liquid as possible is given during surgery.

"The immediate challenge to improving the quality of surgical care is not discovering new knowledge, but rather how to integrate what we already know into practice".
  Urbach DR, Baxter NN. BMJ 2005

 http://www.erassociety.org/

Article in Swedish

To Regain Balance and Joy of Life

A retreat called "To Regain Balance and Joy of Life" in the archipelago outside of Goteborg is offered to cancer patients in Sweden. It is arranged by an organisation that support the victims of cancer and traffic accidents, CTRF. This is a wonderful opportunity to get support and help. You can find more information in Swedish at www.livslust.net. 
When I was going through my vegetarian cook books this afternoon I found the brochure for this retreat that I had picked up in the hospital during radiation treatment. The brochure fell out as I opened a book searching for a recipe for a sugar free desert I was craving. When I saw the headline on the brochure, I held it for a while and felt a bubbling joy rising in my chest. I never applied for the retreat even when it was offered to me since I didn't feel that I was sick enough to deserve the support. So it was not a joy felt because of a loving memory. It was a joy felt because I realised that I now had not only regained the balance and joy of life that I had before cancer but cancer had helped me to more balance and to be able to feel more joy of life than I thought possible. I felt joy because this kind of support exist for people that need it. I felt and feel joy because there are wonderful people in this world that makes it possible. And last but not least, I felt and feel joy that I now understand that I'm also deserving of receiving help and support. Love life!

Yin Yoga

Yin yoga is to me the perfect combination of a relaxing stretch and meditation. A wonderful way to take care of both mind and body simultaneously. I find it a very useful tool to help me wind down after a busy day. Yin yoga is the gentle side of yoga and a great practice when you are recovering from a disease and/or need to improve your health. http://www.yogaseeker.co.uk/

You can lead a horse to water but you cannot make it drink

I firmly believe that you stand a better chance to recovery if you are suffering from a disease if you are open to receive and accept help and tools that are offered and available that may help you. You need to help the helper. So if God, Qi, your higher self (or whatever you believe in) and your immune system, your doctor and/or your Guru is going to help you get well, you need to do something too. You need to go to your doctor's appointments, take your medicine, take care of your immune system, meditate a s f to help the helper.