Tag Archives: Books

what I read in 2014

31 Wednesday Dec 2014

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When visiting with a friend recently, I realised during our conversation I was mentioning quite a few books I had read. It started me thinking about how much what I read effects my life, so I’ve done a quick flick back through this year of reading. I’m not a fast reader, and alas, neither do I have high retention, but I enjoy reading and persevere, regardless.

The advent of e-readers has been a boon to my reading. Books are now cheaper, and for me, living where I do, more readily accessible. Also, there is not the problem of what to do with the physical book after I’ve read it. Do I keep it, or do I move it along?? That is not to say that holding the e-reader and turning virtual pages has quite the satisfaction of a real book, but to me, it is a trade-off I’m willing to make with most books (not all). I have noticed that the iPad mini (gift to myself) is much easier (than the old iPad) to hold, and enhances my reading process.

But I digress.

Here’s the list from this year, though I’m not sure they sound very interesting. I’m mostly a reader of non-fiction. I’ve listed the books in the order I read them, starting in January up until now. This is not necessarily the order in which I enjoyed them!

Almond Cake from Elana Amsterdam book

Almond Cake from Elana Amsterdam book

The Gluten Free Almond Flour Cookbook by Elana Amsterdam. As some of you know I can’t eat wheat or any grains very well, so this was a help for some all-important comfort food. I also subscribe to her blog.

Protein, veggies, and whole food fats is the way to go!

Protein, veggies, and whole food fats is the way to go!

The Calorie Myth by Jonathan Bailor. It helped me understand the science of how our body uses food, and it reinterprets old research, as well as reveals new research with regard to healthy foods and eating styles. I do not advocate slavish dedication to ‘diets’, I just found this book gave me a new understanding of how my body uses food. I have been using most of its guidelines for nearly a year now, since January, and can honestly say I have not felt as well for many years.

 

 

In the same spirit of inquiry I read:

Vitamin K2 and the Calcium Paradox by Kate Rheaume-Bleue, BSc, N.D. – pretty informative but not light reading, found it after hearing Kate in a radio interview, not recommended except for those health geeks among us, or those with calcium absorption issues.

The Wahls Protocol by Terry Wahls, M.D. This is a book about Paleo principals and functional medicine and how she cured her own MS. I also found this through a radio interview. Kind of interesting, probably more so if you have been diagnosed with MS, which, thankfully, I have not.

Magnesium Trace Mineral (am sure this was some 6th grader’s science project—awful book)

Magnificent Magnesium by Dennis Goodman MD. It sounds awful and corny, but was actually pretty informative, proving once again you cannot judge a book by its cover. Magnesium is a really wonderful mineral for our bodies. Since starting to take supplements in May of this year, I’ve seen improvement, if not elimination, of leg cramps and heart palpitations. It has also been good as Mother Nature’s little helper to ‘move things along’, if you know what I mean. Dr Goodman is a heart specialist, and much of the first part of the book focuses on the function of the cardiopulmonary system, but it does go on to include the multitude of benefits the right amounts of magnesium can bring to our bodies. The ‘right’ amount is key here, and, much to my surprise, was more than I am able to consume in my day to day diet. Any mineral that is contained in chocolate can’t be all bad.

Stitches by Anne Lamott. Loved this book and highly recommend it, short and entertaining as well as thought provoking.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. The one piece of fiction that sneaked into my list this year! You would have to be sleeping under a rock to have not heard of this one. Loved the book, thought the movie was average.

Your Personal Paleo Diet, by Chris Kresser. I read this to educate myself on this new trend in eating. Some very useful information, much of which was in The Calorie Myth, but enough of a different interpretation of the information to make it worthwhile. He also has a very good website and I like his relaxed approach to the Paleo lifestyle. A key thing I learned was to soak pulses before cooking and eating them. Has saved my digestion no end of distress!

Next came my melancholic phase of dealing with my Dad’s passing 18 months previously…

Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast. I’d read a review of this book and thought it might be interesting. It is written in a very unusual format, that of a comic strip. The content somewhat reflected my own experience, and was a bit of confirmation, but I found the format somewhat distracting, and I’m not sure I can recommend it.

Dad and Me, circa 1997

Dad and Me, circa 1997

The Long Goodbye, a memoir by Meghan O’Rourke. This was my breakthrough book in the mourning of my Father. She writes of the loss of her Mother with such raw intimacy I found it extremely helpful. I cried more than once while reading it, but it was very productive for me.

Being Mortal by Atul Gawande. This should be on everyone’s ‘must read’ list. And the reason we should all read it is so we can have the discussions about dying and illness and infirmity before it happens to us or someone we love. The first part of the book does not paint a pretty picture, I nearly put it down, following so close on the heals of starting to recover from Dad’s passing. But then it got interesting. He describes many case studies and scenarios both from a medical point of view, and from that of a son with aging parents. Very worthwhile, if not easy to get through, at times.

And now I’m back to regaining some balance in life…

Eat to Cheat Ageing by Ngaire Hobbins. Excellent, practical book for over 60’s, but also for younger people who plan to get old! Hobbins is an Australian dietician and writes from her experience of working with older adults and their difficulties with maintaining healthy weight and eating patterns. You may be surprised at how important it is to maintain your muscle mass, and even a few extra pounds, in later life. This should also be required reading for us all.

Thrive by Arianna Huffington. I’m actually cheating just a little bit here, I still have just a few pages left in this book, but I’ve read most of it and thoroughly enjoyed it. I started it because I wanted to know if I should recommend it to our daughter when she had a bad patch a couple of months ago. Her life seemed a bit unbalanced and took a physical toll on her. What I found was a book that I could relate to! You may know Arianna Huffington as the editor/founder of the Huffington Post. I thought she would write something for the high powered, achievement-oriented, career woman. However, she writes with great dexterity about how to live well in all areas of our lives. I especially love the quotations she uses often throughout the book. I am not familiar with her other books but I think I may go have a look… as soon as I finish the next two books awaiting me on my iPad!

Liquidz cafe, 'famous' bananas, appear on their Facebook page!

Liquidz cafe, ‘famous’ bananas, appear on their Facebook page!

Happy 2015 to you all.

xx Ardys

 

 

 

 

 

What is Real?

02 Wednesday Apr 2014

Posted by in Inspiration, Life

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When we try to help others, we often receive a gift even greater than that which we give. Personal insight. Recently, while trying to help another person I recalled this passage from my favourite ‘children’s book’, which, I did not read until I was 22 years old!IMG_9027

 

“What is REAL?” asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. “Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?”

“Real isn’t how you are made,” said the Skin Horse. “It’s a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real.”

“Does it hurt?” asked the Rabbit.

“Sometimes,” said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. “When you are Real, you don’t mind being hurt.”

“Does it happen all at once, like being wound up,” he asked, “or bit by bit?”

“It doesn’t happen all at once,” said the Skin Horse, “You become. It takes a long time. That’s why it doesn’t often happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.”

–The Velveteen Rabbit, by Margery Williams

It reminded me to love myself, wrinkles, bulges, grey hair and all. The journey it has taken me to get this way has been worth every step.

 

-Ardys

 

Kicking it with Kiki

28 Thursday Nov 2013

Posted by in Books, Cancer, Health, photography, Recommendations

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A few days ago I selected the ‘publish’ button on this post.  But you didn’t see it, did you?  That’s because, for some reason (operator error!) it didn’t publish.  And I’m glad.  A few hours after thinking it had published, I wished I had written it differently.  Sometimes the Universe and I are on the same wavelength and I get a second chance at things! Has that happened to you?  Well, let me try again…

Kiki was an Australian resident who migrated here from Netherlands a few years ago.  She was a 27 year old photographer, with a husband and two young children when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.  She chose to document her very difficult journey using her photography skills in an e-book titled ‘Courage Through A Lens – A breast cancer journey’.  This book is raw and beautiful, confronting, and heart wrenching, especially for those of us who have been on part of that journey. It explains and photographically documents the journey of breast cancer in a way I have never seen it done.  It is the book I wished I had two and a half years ago.  Kiki passed away, as I understand it, very recently… within weeks. But she has done something for women everywhere that will live on and be remembered.

selfie

‘selfie’ taken two and a half years ago

During this time of the year when we sometimes have difficulty staying centred, here is a reminder of what is important.  If you have a daughter, sister, girlfriend or Mother who has survived breast cancer, be grateful. This book might help them share their experience. If you have a loved one who has breast cancer now and you would like to be better informed about what she is going through, I recommend this book.

As for cancer, I’m kicking it with Kiki… it’s butt, that is.  She was an awesomely ordinary woman who stepped up and did an extraordinary thing to help others. I just want to do my little bit to keep things kicking along.

Thanks Kiki, regrettably I won’t get to tell you this in person.

(This is an e-book, so it works on your iPad or other tablet device, or your computer.  It is downloaded as a PDF document.  Half the proceeds go to benefit breast cancer.)

Perfectionism in Writing

23 Saturday Nov 2013

Posted by in Books, Inspiration

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Today I am referring you to an excellent blog post that appeared in my Brain Pickings Weekly email this morning.  I have read the book about which it is written, Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott.  Her advice about writing and her hard won life experience is a good read. If you don’t like well written, warm and funny then you won’t like it, but I do.  Enjoy.

(Will also put in a plug here for Brain Pickings blog, very well written and always something of interest)

XX Ardys

Granny’s Secret

23 Thursday May 2013

Posted by in Books, Food, Health

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Granny's Secret

Granny’s Secret

Recently I needed some plum jam for a recipe.  Plum jam is usually ubiquitous here in Australia, so thinking I’d quickly grab some to have when I made the recipe in a week or so, I dashed down the jam isle at the grocery, in between picking up a short list of essentials.  At first scan, I locked in on what looked to be a lovely little homemade looking jar of plum jam called ‘Granny’s Secret’.  Being the ever vigilant shopper I read the label: 80% plums and the remaining ingredients were sugar and pectin.  Perfect.  No nasties and lots of plums.  Having not previously seen the brand I had a look for the manufacturer.  Hmmm, ‘product of Serbia’.  I nearly fell over.  As far as I know I’ve never even seen anything from Serbia, let alone bought it.IMG_3852 IMG_3853

Since the Serbian contender was about a dollar more a jar than the other well-known brands I decided to at least compare labels.  There were three other plum jams none of which had over 40% plum content, HALF the plums of Granny’s Secret.  All of them listed either sugar or glucose/fructose syrup as their first ingredient, followed in some cases by some preservatives, grape juice and other things.  Cheaper was, well… cheap.

Daily we hear about nutrition, eating organic and consuming products that have a reduced carbon footprint—that is, the total greenhouse gasses dumped into the environment to produce and transport the product or service.  Add to that my personal challenges with food sensitivities, and eating has become somewhat of a minefield at times.  I can appreciate that not everyone has, or thinks they have, the money to buy the better quality products, but consider what eating half the amount of fruit and twice the amount of sugar might taste like, never mind what it may do to your blood sugar? And don’t even get me started on the use of Fructose for sweetening things!  And what if these large multinationals are importing ingredients but manufacturing the product within the country?  What is truly good and what is false economy?  It is befuddling, to say the least.

Just to be thorough in my research I popped into the local health food store, which is very good.  They had not a single jar of any kind of plum jam.  So that was that.

What do we choose, the product that contains the best sounding ingredients, or the one that is cheaper and maybe produced ‘locally’??  Michael Pollan writes “In Defence of Food” “Do not eat anything your great grandmother wouldn’t recognise as food.” Probably good advice.  It seems granny still has a few little secrets for us!

What’s in a Number?

04 Monday Jun 2012

Posted by in Books, Life, Uncategorized

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hand turned tea cups

I am not a superstitious person.  Nor am I a person who follows my horoscope regularly, or any other discipline, except that which ‘feels true’ to me and which is a useful ‘tool’ for understanding myself and Life.

However… some years ago I did participate in a series of workshops about colour therapy.  Within those workshops was an overview of Numerology and how numbers and their energy (vibrations) relate to colour vibrations, and therefore are useful in therapeutic situations.  As I understand it, this is a discipline that attempts to explain all things, based on numeric values which have inherent vibrations.  (Apologies to devotees, if I oversimplify this, I welcome your comments…)  If it helps, most of us learned in high school science that each colour has a different ‘wave’ of energy assigned to it, red being larger, blue being smaller etc.  Carry this idea of energy to the broader world to understand that everything, even our thoughts and prayers have ‘energy’ to them.

The way I was introduced into this concept was through assigning numbers to each of the letters of my name and birth date (the numbers are specific, not at my discretion).  Eventually, the numbers are reduced down, by adding them together, to a single digit, except in the case of the numbers 11 and 22 as they have a special meaning.  (consult a book called ‘Numerology and the Divine triangle’ by Javane/Bunker, if you want a more detailed explanation)  In my own case the numbers 7, 11 and 4 were very significant.  The number 4 was the product of the procedure for finding one’s ‘Life Lesson’ number.  As I have understood it,  a person’s life lesson is about why they are here on earth, and what they are meant to learn from experiences in life.

The number 4, among many things, is about balance and building foundations in one’s life (as in the four corners of a building).  When you have a number for your Life Lesson, you will also find that multiples of that number have significance as well.  So in my case, 2, 8, 12 and 16 will also bring to bear on the experiences contributing to my life lesson.  Are you still with me?

Last year when I turned 58, I confess to the sceptics, I was aware that this would be a number 8 ‘year’ for me, all year, and that it had a strong ‘4’ vibe to it, but I had only made note of the fact and pushed it to the back of my mind.  My birth day (17th) and month (05) adds up to 13 which is reduced to a ‘4’ and then you add the year, 2011, another four, which made it an ‘8’ year all up, but because I had turned 58, which also adds up to 4 made my Life Lesson ‘4’ vibration very strong for the year.  Three days after I turned 58, on the 20th of the month (a ‘2’), I received a phone call that my mammogram had something unusual on it and I needed to have another one.  On the 26th (an 8) I had the mammogram and ensuing needle biopsy the same day.  On the 31st (4) I received the news that I had cancer.  By this stage I was not surprised.

On the 2nd of June I learned I had ductal carcinoma.  On the 16th (16/06/2011 = 8) I had the surgery.  I was in room #4, bed #2 and was operated on in theatre #8.  The day I left the hospital, the 17th (8) Don and I had lunch at a little café around the corner from the hotel and when we sat down I noted the table was #4. (I did not consciously orchestrate any of this.  I did not choose the date on which I was operated, or the room I would occupy etc.  However, I do acknowledge it may be possible to subconsciously ‘cause’ these things to happen on these dates etc. based on vibrational energies, though I profess NO skill in this area.  Also, there are many ways to interpret numbers in numerology and it’s entirely possible someone else would interpret them differently.)

On November 20 (20/11/2011 = 4) my dear friend died of breast cancer (see ‘Remembering Ivy‘), and in February our daughter left home to begin her new life and I noted… it was the 4th. (see ‘She is gone‘)  I’m not trying to draw any conclusions, on which to base future decisions or life path, but likewise, I don’t believe in coincidences.  I do think there probably is some significance in all of this.  What it is, I’m not sure, but of one thing I am very certain.  There is no doubt in my heart that I have been on my true path the passed year.  I’m also certain that numbers bring with them an energy, just as colour has ‘waves’ of energy, and our thoughts, words and deeds are accompanied by energy.  If you doubt me, look for a book by Gary Zukav called ‘The Dancing Wu Li Masters’.  It explains the ‘new physics’ called Quantum Physics, so that the non-academic reader can (mostly) understand it.  There are many things in this world/Universe that we don’t understand, and I like to think I can expand my mind to at least include the possibilities they represent.

What did I learn from my #8/4 year?  That I am extremely blessed and loved.  What greater lesson can life hold?

(I began writing this several months ago, and have only finished it today.  Just now I looked down at the calendar on my computer desktop to see that it is indeed the 4th.  I swear I didn’t plan this.  My year of 4’s was over on the 17th of May 2012, but as you can see, there is a lingering energy, perhaps trying to help me make sense of it all… or perhaps the Universe is just revealing its wonderful sense of humour!)

Our sense of Wonder

18 Thursday Aug 2011

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“We never actually lose the sense of wonder.  We just let it fall into disuse.  It resurfaces now and then to be put to use as we try to decide what meaning we shall give to life” – Dorothy Rowe (The Successful Self)

When I read this, only a couple of days ago, as I finished one of transformational books of my life, I was stunned by it’s simplicity,  and truth.  It helped explain why I’ve experienced my own sense of heightened awareness during recent months.  I liken it to travelling, which makes me question if this isn’t a major reason many of us like to travel, to reconnect with our own inner sense of wonder?  To marvel at mountains at sunset in the Tetons, to smell freshly baking bread in the streets of France, or coffee in an Italian café (there I go thinking ‘food’ again!), or most recently listening to the tropical birds at sunrise with the smell of rainforest in my nostrils.  These stir my sense of wonder.

It doesn’t escape my thoughts that if it weren’t for cancer, I may not have read this marvellous book, or had a chance to observe and contemplate so many other things.  In The Successful Self, Dorothy Rowe also explains how it can be that I have not experienced the classic Kubler-Ross ‘stages of loss’, anger, denial, etc.  This has reassured me I am not in denial, or shock, as I once thought possible, that I have been able to accept what is happening in the moment and have the inner knowledge it will not destroy me.

Long live our sense of wonder, and may we access it easily and often!

I wonder...