Wellness seminars are supposed to be productive, and relaxing. With participants’ introductions reflecting to the womb, my mind roamed. Stating name, one positive event, and keeping it brief was difficult for many. Loudmouth Bragging Man gave lengthy intro, “My name is So-and So. I feeeel great! I had $1400 to spend on a love seat, and found a sofa plus more for ooonly, git this, $900. Then I….” As he spoke, I imagined snipping articles of his clothing and making a VooDoo doll. I wanted to duck tape its lips to silence him, tie its feet to stop him from tapping, and paralyze his brain when he had a not so bright thought. Once everyone went round robin, the mediator discussed the benefits of lavender. The mediator then handed everyone a sandwich bag with three lavender-scented cotton balls. Then the forum was handed over to me. Rude I Leave Everything Up to God Girl blasts, “You can git that at the Dollar Store. Don’t pay no $8 for half ounce bottle.” Then Rude Girl and Loud Mouth engaged in a side conversation as others listened in agony. After mediator redirected their attention, I began discussion on environmental and medicinal properties of plants. In a child like voice, Loud Mouth interrupted, “What plants! What plants! Give some examples!” Cutting my eyes, and my tone of voice I asked, “Is that a Smartphone you’re holding? Then use it? Look it up.” Sinking to seat, Loud Mouth raised another question, “I have a cat. Will a plant help with cat odor?” ”Search Caring for Cats, Safe Plants for Cats and stop interrupting me,” I said. Near the end, the mediator announced, “Monique kindly brought Diabetes Living and Diabetes Forecast magazines that’ll benefit health regardless of not having the disease.” Rude Girl announces she had Gestational Diabetes with all three kids, but it went away. “Are you taking proactive measures for health? There’s a possibility that diabetes could return?” I stated. Rude Girl used stupid logic, telling me if I think it, it will happen. So she’s leaving her health up to God. God, once again burden with people’s nonsense and inadequacies, refusing to think for themselves. A man, silent during entire fiasco tells me since he doesn’t have diabetes, just high blood pressure and cholesterol, forgoes books. “You don’t have to take this, but there are tips and recipes for those conditions in the magazine.” Wobbling away and shaking head no, I left him alone. Then he had a thought. ”Are you dating anyone?” he asked. ”No,” I responded, and I’m not available. I’d know how to care for you, but you wouldn’t be beneficial to me.” Loud Mouth intervenes, “I have neuropathy, but not diabetes.” ”You know there’s a list available for foods benefiting those with neuropathy. Never-mind,” I added, “I’m not wasting any more of my precious breath.”Nine people in a circle suffering different auto-immune diseases, connected by way of diseases triggering interrelated conditions could have been benefited from one another.
* Note – Food/Health section of your newspaper includes tips. Clip and insert in binder
Book – Complimentary Treatments for Diabetes by Kathi Head, N.D. (small pocket-size book, 147 pgs with tips, scenarios in layman’s terms)
http://www.gardenguides.com/75424-positive-effects-indoor-plants.html
http://www.dlife.com/diabetes/information/slide_show_pdf_files/new_pdfs/Anti_Inflammatory_Foods.pdf
http://theconsciouslife.com/top-10-inflammatory-foods-to-avoid.htm
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=140 (foods for neuropathy)
http://www.livestrong.com/article/441275-health-foods-for-neuropathy/
http://www.livestrong.com/article/73576-foods-aggravate-neuropathy/ (foods that aggravate neuropathy)
