The Biggies

[Andrew Gubb]

The Biggies for integral health are diet, exercise, adequate hydration, good climate and weather, social connection, laughter, and I guess just overall emotional health. There are probably a few more that I haven't thought of or don't know about.

In the past I've focused a lot on diet while hydration and exercise got either ignored or underplayed. I took big strides in improving the nonphysical Biggies after those, but on the purely physical level it seems like there was something out of balance.

I don't think it's worth improving the diet after a certain point if you're not improving the other things too. At some point the weakest link is going to be where you're losing the most possible gains. It's not worth focusing on one thing, however important, to the exclusion of something else that's equally or at least very important.

[stanmrak]

The missing link in your equation: grounding your body to the Earth as much as possible.

Earthing: The Most Important Health Discovery Ever?

[Greek Dog]

I was scanning some of the forums with a desire to find a topic that I could add support and encouragement to. Yours drew me in. The blurb that I read before clicking in connected. I have been having thoughts that agree with your post. THEN - I saw the title of your blog entry at the bottom. Stunning.

Before I proceed I want to say that I have read a number of your posts across the periods that I am in an out of here and found them well written and usually of interest. Today I was mesmerized. Let me explain.

The very issue I have unearthed in my life, a stumbling block, a huge obstacle, is obligation. That word came to me months ago but I could not make more out of it than what is obvious with it. But in recent days the full force of obligation and resistance to it has been revealed. But here is the real point that gave me a feeling of extraordinary synchronicity to have stumbled into your post [U]today.[U]

I have a 10 year old who has began articulating his utter refusal and anger (perhaps rage) at "obligation" both at home and especially at school. Without going in depth I will say that I have been a student of educational paradigms for some time and am very dissatisfied with what is presently available particularly for my child. But not my child alone. I see so much as I tutor bright secondary school math students who are struggling and it is all because of the system you describe rather than any lack in these students. That said, I read several of your blog posts eagerly and felt such a connection. In some you describe things that I believe are the very thing that my child is experiencing. I think perhaps he may be an indigo child. I have thought that for some time though I have some reservations. He has many of the qualities that you and others write about but he also seems to have not so much sense about seeing "how things really are" and he does not yet seem to have a profound concern for others. But perhaps this has to do with his enormous frustration with "obligation."

You are such a young man and yet you have opened up so much to me. It is not that the ideas are new to me it has more to do with the way you have presented them. It was clearly meant for me to read today.

I feel that I have been given a new direction to follow in a sense but even still I am not sure how to proceed. It will be interesting to see how I figure it out. But more than anything I am so happy about getting a confirmation about how and why my precious child has been suffering and how I have played a significant role in that - pushing him though channels of normalcy even though they did NOT work for me. I see that I felt fitting through those channels were a result of "good" parenting and I planned to do a better job than my own parents. But that would be like trying to get a good meal out of poor ingredients by simply focusing on culinary skills. It ain't going to turn out.

[firenexx]

I agree that focusing in one area will only get you so far. I have been guilty of this at times.

I have managed to combine some areas. For instance, my gardening takes up a couple hours a few days a week. Even throughout the winter, as I am maintaining indoor plants and forming new permaculture beds for the spring. So I am combining exercise and food and financial stability - physically working to create healthy food that I do not have to pay for.

[WilliWibald]

Andrew, I agree 100 percent. And I can think of getting sufficient amount of sleep as another important factor.

Let's all be as healthy as is reasonably possible and then enjoy our bodies to the fullest to create a wonderful life.

@stanmrak: I have heard of this grounding thing too. Have you tried it already and if yes what did change for you?

[stanmrak]

Originally Posted by WilliWibald

@stanmrak: I have heard of this grounding thing too. Have you tried it already and if yes what did change for you?

Earthing is the most magical thing I've come across since binaural-beat technology for meditation. The Earth's electrical energy is the most powerful and most natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that exists.

I ground myself about 12 hours a day, with no effort or inconvenience: Earthing Products Let You Ground Yourself Almost Anywhere

Meditate as well as a Tibetan monk with zero effort: Immrama Institute—Brainwave audio for health and wellness

Why do I call them magical? Unparalleled benefits, very inexpensive, zero effort.

[Andrew Gubb]

Originally Posted by Greek Dog

I was scanning some of the forums with a desire to find a topic that I could add support and encouragement to. Yours drew me in. The blurb that I read before clicking in connected. I have been having thoughts that agree with your post. THEN - I saw the title of your blog entry at the bottom. Stunning.

Before I proceed I want to say that I have read a number of your posts across the periods that I am in an out of here and found them well written and usually of interest. Today I was mesmerized. Let me explain.

The very issue I have unearthed in my life, a stumbling block, a huge obstacle, is obligation. That word came to me months ago but I could not make more out of it than what is obvious with it. But in recent days the full force of obligation and resistance to it has been revealed. But here is the real point that gave me a feeling of extraordinary synchronicity to have stumbled into your post [U]today.[U]

I have a 10 year old who has began articulating his utter refusal and anger (perhaps rage) at "obligation" both at home and especially at school. Without going in depth I will say that I have been a student of educational paradigms for some time and am very dissatisfied with what is presently available particularly for my child. But not my child alone. I see so much as I tutor bright secondary school math students who are struggling and it is all because of the system you describe rather than any lack in these students. That said, I read several of your blog posts eagerly and felt such a connection. In some you describe things that I believe are the very thing that my child is experiencing. I think perhaps he may be an indigo child. I have thought that for some time though I have some reservations. He has many of the qualities that you and others write about but he also seems to have not so much sense about seeing "how things really are" and he does not yet seem to have a profound concern for others. But perhaps this has to do with his enormous frustration with "obligation."

You are such a young man and yet you have opened up so much to me. It is not that the ideas are new to me it has more to do with the way you have presented them. It was clearly meant for me to read today.

I feel that I have been given a new direction to follow in a sense but even still I am not sure how to proceed. It will be interesting to see how I figure it out. But more than anything I am so happy about getting a confirmation about how and why my precious child has been suffering and how I have played a significant role in that - pushing him though channels of normalcy even though they did NOT work for me. I see that I felt fitting through those channels were a result of "good" parenting and I planned to do a better job than my own parents. But that would be like trying to get a good meal out of poor ingredients by simply focusing on culinary skills. It ain't going to turn out.

Hi Greek Dog,

I have to admit I put off replying to posts like these because they can be a bit overwhelming at first But in a good way. I'm really glad I could do something to touch your life.

He has many of the qualities that you and others write about but he also seems to have not so much sense about seeing "how things really are" and he does not yet seem to have a profound concern for others. But perhaps this has to do with his enormous frustration with "obligation."

Hmm, it could be that he is an indigo. When I was younger I think I didn't have such a profound concern for others either - it was somewhat under the surface - because I, like your son, was too lost in my rage with the obligation I was experiencing. I think it's a subtly different anger than other people; anger but not malice. Time will probably tell. In any case if any kid has this great issue with obligation he must be pretty awake in my book - and it's worth listening to his natural wisdom! Sounds like you are blessed with a young partner who will help you learn and grow a lot.

Anyway, I'm glad you've come to this conclusion, and inspired at how ready you've been to find a new way... by the way, if you want more clues I can give you two.

"Unschooling"

and "free schools" (aka democratic schools, sudsbury schools, etc) - WELCOME | Summer Hill Holidays | Self Catering Accommodation in the English Lake District Cumbria and you can also google "sudsbury valley school"

These are two obligation-free solutions for children's education. To be honest the free schools can be probably considered unschooling solutions, but unschooling is usually talked about in the context of homeschooling or simply as a parenting philosophy.

Check them out

[lifetimelearner]

Originally Posted by Andrew Gubb

The Biggies for integral health are diet, exercise, adequate hydration, good climate and weather, social connection, laughter, and I guess just overall emotional health. There are probably a few more that I haven't thought of or don't know about.

In the past I've focused a lot on diet while hydration and exercise got either ignored or underplayed. I took big strides in improving the nonphysical Biggies after those, but on the purely physical level it seems like there was something out of balance.

I don't think it's worth improving the diet after a certain point if you're not improving the other things too. At some point the weakest link is going to be where you're losing the most possible gains. It's not worth focusing on one thing, however important, to the exclusion of something else that's equally or at least very important.

I agree

some people are from the school of one thought and small changes
whereas others like myself think you gotta go the full gamut

or as you said something will be out of balance

[lifetimelearner]

so who's for running naked though the forest to the waterfall ?:

must be the wine talking

[Andrew Gubb]

Originally Posted by lifetimelearner

so who's for running naked though the forest to the waterfall ?:

must be the wine talking

Yes - except, ..yes, and yes?

[Greek Dog]

Thanks andrew.
I looked up the Sudbury schools after I read your first post.
I have spent quite a bit of time researching the concept and the american schools. In fact, I have been in touch with the Sudbury Valley School and have planned a visit in January. My son loves people and longs to be with a group. When he watched the 27 minute video on the Sudbury Valley School webpage he was very excited and eager to visit. The whole concept seems like a great fit for him. We'll see.