Recommendations for sleeping with pain:

Back pain – Low back pain may be decreased by placing a pillow under the knees if lying on your back or, if you sleep on your side, placing a pillow between your knees for added support.  This helps to align the spine and reduce torsion.

Neck pain – Neck pain may be decreased with sleeping on your side or back, and not on your stomach.  A good pillow is important with neck pain – avoid pillows that are so thick or thin that they angle your head and neck away from your body.  Again, alignment is key.

Other aches – Shoulder conditions such as bursitis or tenditis/tendonosis can also be aggravated with sleeping positions.  If sleeping on the side, sleeping on the non-injured arm is often recommended, and a small pillow or towel can be tucked under the elbow on the affected side for added support.

Dangers of the heating pad – A quick safety tip is also appropriate here.  Avoid sleeping with a heating pad as they can be deceptively hot.  So much so that I’ve seen people end up with blisters from the continual low-grade heat after having fallen asleep with one.  It can be like a sun burn in the way that it sneaks up on you.  Best practice is to just not use a heating pad while sleeping.

Recommendations for falling asleep:

Keep regular hours – Try to go to bed and wake up around the same time each day, including weekends.  This helps to regulate your body’s sleep-wake cycle.  If you need to take a midday nap it is best to limit it to 30 minutes.  Also try not to nap too close to your normal bedtime as you may find yourself counting more than your fair share of sheep later on.

Careful with caffeine – Limit intake of coffees, colas, and teas in the later part of the day as the caffeine is a stimulant to your body. Everyone is affected differently, but for some people having caffeine after 12pm can cause sleepless nights. For most people it is best to avoid caffeine after dinner time.  If you feel the need for something warm to drink try decaffeinated or herbal teas.

Alcohol too – Although alcoholic beverages close to bedtime may make you feel sleepy, they can disrupt your sleep pattern and cause a restless night.

Feeding the furnace – It is best to not eat a large, heavy meal just before bed.  A late dinner may interfere with sleep as your body’s metabolism kicks in to digest the food you’ve eaten. Try to eat dinner at least two hours before bedtime.

Exercise time – A regular exercise program can also help you sleep more soundly at night.  However, avoid exercising close to your bedtime – usually at least 2 hours prior is recommended as any later may interfere with your sleep (again, increased metabolism).

Slowing down – If you have a difficult time falling asleep, try incorporating bedtime rituals such as light reading, listening to soft music or sipping a cup of herbal tea. These cues will help let your body know that it’s time to prepare for sleep.

Happy bedtime stories – Many people like to watch the news before bed, however, the news is often focused on the negative and can trigger the release of cortisol (a stress hormone) making it more difficult to fall asleep.

Recommendations for staying asleep:

In-line sleeping – In general, it is best to sleep on your back or side, and not on your stomach.  Lying on your back or side allows your head, neck and spine to relax into their natural alignment reducing stresses which may otherwise cause discomfort throughout the night.

Mattress madness – A mattress should be flexible enough to adapt to your body’s shape, while firm enough to provide support.  Studies regarding how firm the mattress should be have been inconclusive.  Mattresses should be replaced every 8-10 years to ensure proper support and comfort.

Pillow talk - Choosing a pillow often seems harder than choosing a mattress – be selective. When lying on your side, your head, neck and shoulders should remain level with your mid and lower spine. When lying on your back, your head and neck should remain level with your upper back and spine.  For most people, it is best to avoid very thick pillows or too many pillows that can cause your neck to be in a state of flexion (cranked forward).  Ideally your neck should be in a neutral position – imagine how your upper torso looks when you are standing with good posture and try to replicate this when laying on your side or back.

We spend approximately one-third of our of life sleeping; it is important that we get the most out of it and wake up feeling refreshed for a new day.  The above tips are a good start for getting the sleep you need.  Do you have anything that you would ad to the list?  What has worked well for you?  Please let us know below.

Photo credit

1.  Stay active. Jabba The Hut sat around too much.  And although financially powerful he was a bit of a wimp and easily taken down by a princess (not that a princess can’t be tough…I’m just saying).  While being a couch potato can be fun every once in a while the risks far outweigh the benefits.  Heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, and just general weakness are all waiting in the wings for the sedentary.

2.  Eat your veggies. Whether on their own, on sandwiches, or lightly steamed, vegetables and fruits are definitely on a Jedi’s plate.  Studies show that a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables promotes a high midi-chlorian count.  Or is it a strong immune system?  Either way, it’s a good thing.

3.  Water is good. They didn’t have moisture farms on Tatooine just for the fun of it.  We’re made up of 60-70% water and it is vital for normal functioning.  Contrary to popular belief the blue lightning from the Emperor’s fingers was not Dark Side derived, rather it was a consequence of dehydration resulting in a build up of uncontrolled electrostatic charge (trust me, you don’t want to be standing next to that guy on a floor with shag carpeting).  But dehydration has other consequences as well:  tight muscles causing back pain, neck pain, and headaches, harder working kidneys, and mental fatigue.  So make sure to drink up and get the water that you need.

4.  Put the “time” back in meal time. Fast food has become more than just a restaurant choice; it’s become a way of eating.  But food should nourish more than just our caloric need.  We should make the time to experience our food, its’ tastes, textures, and even the people we’re sharing it with.  The Sarlacc is a model representative for taking the time to fully appreciate food and allowing one’s meal to digest (10,000 years should be sufficient).

5.  Variety in exercise. Strength, agility, and cardio are all important components of physical fitness.  Although all three are best developed simultaneously while running through a swamp with a green troll on your back, you may not always have such facilities at your disposal.  When that’s the case you can always shake up your own routine by periodically substituting a bike ride for a run, or a swim for the weight room.  Variety is the spice of life in galaxies far, far away as well as our own.

6.  Take time to stretch. Think of sitting in front of the computer as the equivalent to mini episodes of being frozen in carbonite.  Over time the tightness will build up and if you don’t shake things out regularly you’ll end up stumbling around like Han after being thawed.  Get up from the computer/desk every 30 minutes or so.  Pick one or two muscle groups and take them through their range of motion.  It doesn’t take much, but it can make a big difference in keeping you feeling refreshed and productive throughout the day.

7.  Relax. Obi-Wan Kenobi kept things in perspective and didn’t get all worked up when facing Darth Vader – in fact he became more powerful than Vader could possibly imagine.  An over-stressed and over active mind can not only hamper thinking, it can can contribute to increased blood pressure and weight gain.  Meditation, relaxation breathing, and yoga (not to be confused with Yoda) are all great ways to calm the mind and body and let the Force flow through you (as opposed to letting anger build up like the Dark Side would have you do.  Oooh those Sith…they’re just so bad).

8.  Know your limits but shoot for the stars. Even though the odds of successfully navigating that asteroid field were 3720 to 1, Han still knew it had to be done.  We all know that the odds are often against us – that losing weight and keeping it off, or exercising regularly will be tough to maintain.  But with some self-confidence and support from your Wookie (or friend/spouse) you can beat those odds and turn it into a reality.

9.  Take time to rest and repair. If you are injured make sure to rest and rehabilitate the injury properly.  Sure we don’t all have access to suspended scuba gear in clear acrylic walled hot water tanks like Luke did on Hoth, but following the R.I.C.E.  principles (rest, ice, compress, elevate) can go a long way to reduce inflammation and speed the healing of minor injuries.  As well, rest in the more general sense of the term, is also vitally important and a regular sleeping pattern encourages healthy day-to-day functioning.  In fact Darth Vader was misunderstood when he told Luke “You underestimate the power of the Dark Side.”  He was actually referring to a sector of the Death Star called the Dark side, a special low light  sleeping dormitory adjacent to the Tropical Plants room.

10.  Be proactive about prevention. Yoda was a very capable Jedi even in his later years.  He understood the importance of a healthy body and a healthy mind.  Try new things and challenge yourself.  Keep learning and moving in order to stay active both mentally and physically.  I’m hoping to be able to jump around just like that little green senior when I’m 865 years old.

We don’t yet have the technical mastery to seamlessly replace a fully functioning hand lost in a light saber fight.  We’re not quite there when it comes to the finer points of using over-sized shiny black helmets for rehabilitation (you know it was shaped like that to prevent him from scratching at the stitches on his neck).  But Star Wars has shown us that there are many simple and modifiable lifestyle factors that can help us live better, healthier lives.  And I’ve only touched on some; if you have other insights and tips that you’d like to ad I’d love for you to leave a comment.  How has Star Wars helped you with your health…?

]]> http://www.clearpathchiropractic.com/star-wars-top-10-health-tips/feed 5 http://www.clearpathchiropractic.com/putting-a-green-thumb-to-health-care?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=putting-a-green-thumb-to-health-care http://www.clearpathchiropractic.com/putting-a-green-thumb-to-health-care#comments Mon, 04 Apr 2011 13:01:54 +0000 Dr. Mark Kubert http://chiropractorguelph.com/?p=879 Continue reading →]]> The physical, chemical and emotional stresses that we expose ourselves to on a daily basis affect our body’s performance – does applying chiropractic care, using other therapeutic modalities or taking a vitamin heal our body?

Two months ago your friend handed you a plant to revive.  The leaves were yellow-brown and withering.  The soil dry.  Clearly it had been neglected and subject to stresses which gradually wore it down.  But you took up the challenge, placed it on the window sill and began your efforts.  You re-potted it in a foundation of healthy, nourishing soil.  You watered it to keep it from drying out and periodically added plant food.  Given the new conditions the plant flourished and grew, its’ roots taking hold and leaves and blossoms spreading.

Now ask yourself: were you the one that made the plant grow?  Ultimately the answer is no.  The plant had all the information within it to revive.  It knew at what angle the stalk goes up, where the buds for the leaves form and how often to flower.  You imparted none of that information into the plant.  That all lies within its’ own natural makeup.

You did, however, play a pivotal role.  You gave it a healthy environment that met its’ needs.  You facilitated the right conditions for the plant to fully express itself.

The same reasoning can be applied to role of chiropractic, medicine, acupuncture and all other healing professions and modalities. When you are suffering from aches and pains, tight muscles and stiff joints, your body is telling you that the environment it’s in is setting up poor conditions for it to function well.  The physical, chemical and emotional stresses that you expose yourself to on a daily basis affect your body’s performance.  Does applying chiropractic care, using acupuncture or taking a vitamin heal your body?  Or is it that, when used correctly, they help to set up the right environment within so that your body can repair and heal itself?  Reducing the tension and stiffness within your joints and muscles can help free up otherwise wasted energy and enables your body to function at its best.  Once corrected, your body can go from just “hanging on” to using its innate ability to  be strong, relaxed and resilient.

Treat your body well and have faith in its ability to heal and maintain itself.

For more information on how chiropractic care can help you please contact your Guelph Chiropractors at Clear Path Chiropractic Health Centre in downtown Guelph.

]]> http://www.clearpathchiropractic.com/putting-a-green-thumb-to-health-care/feed 0 http://www.clearpathchiropractic.com/little-white-lies?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=little-white-lies http://www.clearpathchiropractic.com/little-white-lies#comments Mon, 14 Mar 2011 13:22:20 +0000 Dr. Mark Kubert http://chiropractorguelph.com/?p=705 Continue reading →]]> You know that you’re guilty of them:  in your coffee, on your cereal, in snacks and confections.  Small, seductive, and sinfully sweet, sugar crystals are the little white lies we live with every day.  We fall for them every time our sweet tooth calls with a craving thinking that they will make us happy and content.  And for a time we do feel better, but it’s short lived.  And the long term consequences of the proverbial “moment on the lips” is much more insidious than we’d like to believe.

Don’t get me wrong, sugar isn’t all bad.  In fact quite the contrary; sugar is vitally important and our body knows it.  When we ingest sugar, or other substances that are easily broken down into glucose (the digestible form of sugar), like white flour and white rice, the body releases insulin which helps glucose to enter the cell.  At the same time, the body also releases IGF (Insulin like Growth Factor), another hormone which helps to stimulate the cell’s growth.  We can see then that sugar not only nourishes tissues but helps them to grow faster as well.  Insulin and IGF are also active in promoting the process of inflammation which, when in kept in check, is important for tissue repair and injury recovery.  This is a great system to have if you’re living the physically demanding lifestyle of the hunter-gatherer and finding sources of calorie dense, sugar rich foods are few and far between.

But it’s not often these days that we don’t have easy access to high calorie, high sugar foods.  And this extra sugar is taking its toll.  In his book Anti Cancer: A New Way of Life Dr. David Servan-Schreiber demonstrates the danger associated with an over-abundance of sugar and its links to cancer.  It used to be (centuries past) that the average person consumed no more than 4 lbs of sugar, mostly in the form of honey, per year.  By the year 1830 that figure had risen to 11 lbs.  Today, the amount of sugar we consume in one year is a staggering 150 lbs! With today’s predominantly sedentary lifestyle and easily accessible food our bodies have no need and no room for all of that sugar.  And this is where cancer starts to rear its head.

Dr. Servan-Schreiber uses the analogy of a garden to describe the relationship between our bodies and cancer:  In every garden there are some weeds.  But with proper tending and care, the weeds are kept at bay and the garden flourishes.  Similarly, each of us has small micro-tumours within our body.  When we live a healthy lifestyle we keep our immune system strong which in turn helps to keep those micro-tumours from growing and spreading.  Although the contributors to and processes of cancer are multifactorial, the over-abundance of sugar in our diet is a major influence.  As stated earlier, in the right amounts, sugar helps maintain healthy growth.  But when there’s too much around, the same effect it has on healthy cells is also occurring in cancer cells and subsequently promoting their growth.  To make things worse, too much sugar also has the effect of depressing our immune system which then has a much harder time keeping micro-tumours under control.  Excess sugar packs a powerful one-two punch making us more susceptible to cancer.

So what can you do to help prevent the side effects of sugar?  First, try to reduce and limit your intake of sugar and other foods composed of white flour (breads, cereals, pastas, pastries) or white rice.  Next, replace the above foods with whole grain versions.  This is often easier said than done (sometimes I think I have more than one sweet tooth vying for attention in my mouth).  And when you find yourself struggling with a sugar craving call on nature’s candy: fruit.  I know, I know – it doesn’t satisfy the same way that some chocolate cake or a doughnut does.  But it will take the edge off of your craving and in the long term your body will thank you for ending the parade of little white lies.

Have you had a tough time with sugar?  Do you have any tips or tricks to help you get past those cravings?  Please share your story with the rest of us and let us know what’s worked well for you.

Photo Credit:  wynk

Skip ahead a few years… When I was nineteen I broke my ankle and I was on crutches for eight weeks.  For those of you who have had to use crutches you know that although it’s inconvenient, it’s not all that bad.  You learn how to adapt to getting around and as you become more comfortable you can even start to show-off your crutching skills to friends – I was able to “walk” for some distance without putting either of my feet on ground.  But the novelty quickly wore off and to my surprise I started to miss walking.  Not just the ability to get from one class to the other or back and forth between my car and the school.  I missed being able to go out for a walk just for the sake of a walk.  I missed not only the freedom to do so but also the simultaneous invigoration and relaxation that walking brought.

Now, years later, I fully appreciate and enjoy the benefits of walking.  Although walking can mean different things to each participant, here are some of main factors that make it a great activity.

Exercise – Our bodies are meant to move.  Regular physical activity keeps bones, muscles and joints strong and resilient.  Walking provides an enjoyable, low impact option to keep our bodies in motion.

Stress Relief – Going for a walk (especially outdoors) helps to calm the mind and redirects anxious energy into something productive and healthy.

Energy Boost – Studies have demonstrated that regular physical activity can increase our alertness and energy levels while reducing fatigue.

Participant Specific – Some of us enjoy the solitude of a lone walk while others enjoy it as a group activity.

User Friendly – Walking can be enjoyed by almost anyone, anytime, anywhere.  It is cheap to get started, it requires very little practice (right foot, left foot, repeat), and you can feel accomplished with each excursion.

For these reasons and more get out there and enjoy the benefits of walking.  If you’re looking for company a couple of great places in Guelph are the Guelph YMCA which hosts indoor starter walking groups and the Guelph Hiking Trail Club which goes on weekly excursions on surrounding nature trails.  If you would like more information on walking  and other healthy activities you can contact your Guelph Chiropractor at Clear Path Chiropractic Health Centre.

How has walking helped you?  What tips would you suggest for those just getting started or wanting to get back into it?

]]> http://www.clearpathchiropractic.com/why-i-walk/feed 6 http://www.clearpathchiropractic.com/a-quick-and-happy-note-about-guelph?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-quick-and-happy-note-about-guelph http://www.clearpathchiropractic.com/a-quick-and-happy-note-about-guelph#comments Thu, 13 Jan 2011 20:08:08 +0000 Dr. Mark Kubert http://chiropractorguelph.com/?p=476 Continue reading →]]> It was a beautiful and sunny day today as I went for my run in the Grange Hill area.  Sometime between 12:10 and 12:20 I was running northwest on the sidewalk along Starwood Dr just past the marshy area.  I looked over into the street as a Guelph Transit bus came towards me.  As I ran past I saw the bus driver give me a wave.  It wasn’t a grand statement.  Just a simple and friendly gesture of acknowledgment.  And it made me feel good.

So what does this have to do with good health?  Well it’s worth mentioning for a couple of reasons.  The first is that we often hear about the negative happenings going on all around us in the news.  Although staying informed about the world we live in is important, being exposed to information which is excessively weighted towards the negative has an impact on our general outlook and self image, especially at this time of year when sunlight is fleeting and we’re coming down from the festivities of the holidays.  I think it’s equally important to share good news when we see it.  It builds us up and strengthens our hope in one another.

The second reason this relates to good health is that it gives a glimpse into how a healthy community can act.  My wife and I moved to Guelph only a few months ago but have met nothing but friendly residents and business owners.  When we go out for a walk or run there is always a courteous “hello” as we pass by neighbors and strangers alike.  It may not be an overt gesture, and that’s just the point – it’s the small, everyday examples that demonstrate the sense of community we feel here.  A wave, a smile, lending a hand, all of these go a long way in promoting a happy community.  And a happy community is a healthy community.

Thank you to the driver of the bus who made me feel welcome.  And thank you to the rest of you who do this everyday in Guelph.

]]> http://www.clearpathchiropractic.com/a-quick-and-happy-note-about-guelph/feed 4 http://www.clearpathchiropractic.com/headaches-part-1-identifying-the-main-players?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=headaches-part-1-identifying-the-main-players http://www.clearpathchiropractic.com/headaches-part-1-identifying-the-main-players#comments Mon, 10 Jan 2011 13:36:40 +0000 Dr. Mark Kubert http://chiropractorguelph.com/?p=429 Continue reading →]]> If you’re in Guelph (or anywhere else in this connected world) and looking to find information on headaches then this is a good place to start.  In this three part series I’ll give an overview of some of the most common types of headaches, what you can do to manage them on your own, as well as in-clinic treatment options.

Headaches come in a variety of sensations, intensities, durations, and of course causes. Today we’ll be focusing on the more common headache types.  And while most headaches are benign in nature it’s recommended to see your chiropractor or other health professional for evaluation in order to rule out any other underlying causes.

Migraine Headaches (with and without aura)

Migraines are one of the most well known reasons people seek treatment for headache type pain.  Migraines present as a throbbing or pounding sensation typically affecting one side of the head.  It is often debilitating in nature.  Sometimes the actual headache portion of the migraine is preceded by an aura.  The aura may consist of the formation of a blind spot within the field of vision and accompanying flashing lights around the edges which can increase in intensity.  This is soon after replaced by the pounding headache sensation which typically can last anywhere from one to three days.  Patients often seek out a quiet, dark room in order to avoid aggravation of sensitivity to light and sound.  There may also be associated nausea and vomiting.

Common triggers for migraines can include variations in sleep patterns, environmental pollutants, medications, and specific foods including but not limited to:  chocolate, caffeine, nitrates, cheese, nuts, and wine.  Tightness and restriction of muscles and joints in the neck can also be associated with migraine headaches.

Tension Type Headaches

Tension headaches are usually described as feeling like a tight band wrapping around the head.  Unlike migraines, tension headaches are most often felt on both sides and are steady in their pain as opposed to pulsing.  The headache may last for days or even weeks.

The underlying cause for tension type headaches is usually a buildup of trigger points (focal areas of tight and tender muscle) in the neck and suboccipital (base of the skull) region.  This is often due to, you guessed it, a build up of tension and increased or chronic stress. Some research indicates that tension type headaches are a part of a larger continuum of headaches where patients may start out with a migraine which then develops into a tension headache.

Cervicogenic Headaches

These headaches can arise from dysfunction of pain referring structures in the neck.  Joints and muscles, when out of whack (that’s the technical expression), can become irritated locally and eventually refer, or transmit that local irritation to the head.   With cervicogenic headaches there may also be reduced movement in neck motion which can produce neck pain in addition to the headache.  These headaches may present on a daily basis.

There can also be overlap between cervicogenic headaches and other headache types. Dysfunction in the joints and muscles of the neck are often found in migraine and tension type headaches.  Again, daily stresses or even minor trauma can precipitate neck dysfunction and the resulting cervicogenic headache.

Headaches hurt.  If given the opportunity, I would suggest avoiding them.  If you can’t avoid them then check out the next two posts coming up on treatment options.  And if you know of someone having a headache, help them out, because they’re not having any fun.

For more information on headaches, treatment options or finding a chiropractor in Guelph, you can contact Guelph Chiropractors at Clear Path Chiropractic Health Centre.

]]> http://www.clearpathchiropractic.com/headaches-part-1-identifying-the-main-players/feed 0 http://www.clearpathchiropractic.com/take-care-with-your-food?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=take-care-with-your-food http://www.clearpathchiropractic.com/take-care-with-your-food#comments Mon, 03 Jan 2011 14:28:57 +0000 Dr. Mark Kubert http://chiropractorguelph.com/?p=397 Continue reading →]]>

From pasture to plate, our turkey in Guelph was well taken care of.

One of the the great things about living in Guelph is the access to good quality organic food (it’s ironic that I should have to qualify food as organic but that’s a topic for another post). And this past Christmas I wanted to take advantage of it.  The turkey was from Rowe Farms; the stuffing, made of bread from the Market Fresh bakery;  and much of the produce from the Guelph Farmer’s Market.

Often, when speaking with others about organic food there are always a few issues that come up:  cost, regulation, and benefit are three of the biggest.  For me, each of these issues comes down to what I choose to support.

What is the cost of Organic food?

Buying organic was not, in the case of our dinner, the cheapest way to go.  In fact most of the time, buying organic is noticeably more expensive than industrially produced foods and it’s usually the biggest concern that most people have.  My approach is that I want food with as little petrochemical residue and synthetic hormones in it as possible.  When I purchase organic food I’m showing, with my dollars, that I support it.  And the more people showing that they want it, the more the price can come down so that everyone can afford it.  Not everything in the basket needs to be organic all of the time.  But regularly including even one organic item on your grocery list sends a message to producers that your support is there.  When we all take small steps together, it sends a loud message and makes a big difference.

How is Organic Food Regulated?

Another concern with organic food is the disparity of regulations, standards and assurances that it is, in fact, organic.  This whole notion of organic and naturally produced food is fairly new within the current industrial complex.  There are always stories and rumours that the  only difference between these apples and those apples is the little “certified organic” sticker.  My support in buying organic goes not only to the food, but also  to supporting better regulation of that food.  Once again, it comes down to the demand for a product and what it stands for.  The system may not be perfect right now, but it will only get better if we continue to push it in that direction.

What is the benefit of eating Organic food?

The third concern is benefit.  Are organic foods actually healthier for you?  The scientific evidence to support or refute the claim of superior nutritional value is thin on either side.   But health by nutrition is only one field in the over all health landscape.  I don’t believe that conventional, industrial procedures add to the health of our food, our land or us.  I don’t think that petrochemical fertilizers, preservatives, flavour enhancers, dyes, and hormones are necessary or even healthy.  Although industry and governments  give their stamp of approval I prefer to follow the precautionary principle in this case and  support methods which require less artificial means of production.

Taking care with your food is more than just how much or how little you eat.  It’s about more than just what your food does for you.  It’s about knowing what’s in your food, where it’s from, how it’s produced, and how you support it.

For more information on healthy food, healthy eating, and feeling well you can contact us at Clear Path Chiropractic Health Centre in Guelph, Ontario.  Also, when you get the chance, I would suggest reading Michael Pollan’s book The Omnivore’s Dilemma – he gives a much more eloquent overview of the choices we can make with our food.  I’d also suggest watching the documentary Food Inc.  Well worth your time.

For convenience in this post I have used the term “organic” in its broadest sense.  I have purposefully left out terms such as local, sustainable, sustainable organic, industrial organic, and others to be discussed at another time.  As well, this post is only one aspect of a much bigger picture and discussion in how to best produce and provide good, quality food for us all.  Let’s keep the conversation going.

Old…or…Experienced

Slow…or…Considerate

Prolonged…or…Thorough

Easy…or…Simple

Plain…or…Elegant

Expanding…or…Improving

Resigned…or…Content

Crisis…or…Opportunity

Problem…or…Challenge

Alive…or…Living Well

Do you have any to add?

Remember that your chance to choose who you are and what you do doesn’t come and go with the new year.  It’s there every day and it’s up to you.

Photo credit:  Clker.com