2nd Tuesdays Program  

Tuesday, January 10, 7-9pm 

This night we cover the 4th in our 3-part series on Anatomy & Physiology.  Yes, you read that right, I didn't quite get it finished in 3 parts!  But if you always wanted to know about the Respiratory, Urinary & Immune systems, this is your chance.  Please join us to help wrap up this series.  It's free and no reservations are necessary.
Sowing Circle - Wrapping Up & Starting New!  How wonderful it was to send a check to Hidden Harvest in the amount of $360.86.  Thank you all for your contributions in our collection jar, as well as your purchases these last 4 months.

Our charitable organization for the first quarter of 2012 is the Toni & Trish House.  While most people don't want to think about dying, it is an inevitable part of all our lives.  AND it can be done in a "wellness" oriented way. 
   Since accepting its first guest in 2008, The Toni & Trish House (T&T) has offered a home environment for hospice patients who do not otherwise have an appropriate place to live the remainder of their lives.  And living that life is an important piece of T&T and hospice care in general.  Even when our physical being is nearing its end on earth, we can still be "well," focusing on the hopes and joys of each day.  Support to all in this circumstance can make this time of transition a less fearful, and even meaningful, peaceful experience.  There is no charge to stay at T&T.  Room and meal expenses are covered by donations and fundraising and most the labors of love are accomplished by volunteers. 
   I have had the great opportunity to be involved with a number of hospice programs and end-of-life care is a matter of great importance.  Because of this, and in honor of a dear friend of mine who died last November, I am happy to support the Toni & Trish House in their efforts.  As always, a percentage of medicinary sales and all monies collected here in the office will be donated at the end of this quarter.
   For more information about Toni & Trish House and to learn about volunteer opportunities there, follow this link to their website:  T&T House  and this one to a YouTube clip:  T&T YouTube

Being well is WAY more than not having any physical symptoms of illness.  Using The Wellness Workbook by John Travis, MD & Regina Ryan as a guide, let's join together in a year long exploration of what it means to be well!  Each month will focus on a particular aspect of wellness.  We'll meet twice a month - first to review the topic, learn how it applies to our wellbeing and ways to incorporate some positive aspects into our daily lives.  Then later in the month to trouble-shoot, problem-solve and share this journey. 

   WHAT:     A Shared Exploration into YOUR Best Wellbeing
   WHEN:     1st & 3rd Mondays, 6-7:30pm, January - December 2012     (Except January which will be the 2nd & 3rd Mondays)
   WHERE:    The WellSpring Studio
   COST:       $40/month + Wellness Workbook cost

While we might add people mid-year, we need a minimum of 6 people to begin.  If you're interested, call soon as we begin January 9!

Your path to your best wellbeing is going to be different than anyone else's path and it is your great challenge, opportunity and joy to discover it and make it REAL in your life.  But it need not be a lonely path!  Make this journey your 2012 gift to yourself.  We look forward to hearing from you!

Of the Month

In December we talked about Sound - and the many ways it can be used in healing.  Here's an about face to talk about Silence.
   Actually, when I started doing some research about Silence and its effect on health, what I found most information about was not silence, but Noise.  So probably we should consider that January's Of the Month topic is really noise.  But that just doesn't sound as pleasant (no pun intended), so I'm sticking with calling it Silence!
Disruption of Silence History & Background.  In a strictly physical definition, there is no difference between Sound and Noise.  Sound waves are vibrations in various frequencies and intensities regardless of whether we call it sound or noise.  That designation has a lot more to do with our interpretation and appreciation of a particular vibration.  Part of our emotional response to sound is cultural or environmental - some kinds of music or instruments are comforting and familiar to some, and annoying and grating to others.  But in general, most of us can probably agree on many, if not most, sounds that we would consider to be "noise." 
   Noise has a long history of being considered a problem.  Ancient Rome had rules about the noise iron wheels made on the pavement stones in the city.  Some cities in medieval Europe prohibited horse and carriages and even single horseback riders at night because they disrupted peaceful sleep.  Today, especially in urban areas, noise is considered to be enough of a problem that it is called noise pollution and has caught the attention of the World Health Organization (WHO).  Most cities and towns in the U. S. have noise ordinances governing acceptable levels of the stuff. 
   We have probably all been annoyed at some point by noisy neighbors' parties, crying children on an airplane or ____ (fill in your own personal noisy pet peeve here!)  But beyond annoyance, repeated exposure to excessive noise does have real negative health effects.  The WHO/Europe official position on noise includes research that shows significant harm to human health.  It can have negative cardiovascular effects including increasing blood pressure and heart attacks.  It interferes with daily activities in school, work and home environments.  It disturbs sleep - which then contributes to a host of other physiological problems.  It decreases general performance skills and causes changes in social behavior - like provoking annoyance responses, increasing aggression and decreasing helping behaviors.  And of course, excessive and repeated exposure to loud noise is a cause of hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing in the ears).  In fact, occupational hearing loss is the most common work-related injury in the U. S., costing over $200 million annually.  22 million U. S. workers are exposed to hazardous levels of noise in their workplaces.  Subgroups of us that are most susceptible to noise-related damage are babies and young children, the elderly, those recuperating at home or in the hospital, the blind and already hearing impaired. 
How is Sound Measured?  Measuring sound is a combination of frequency, sound pressure levels and variations of these over time.  Most sounds are a combination of different frequencies, and some frequencies are more problematic than others.  There is a weighting system to account for this and the "A" weight is considered most damaging.  There's a more complicated answer and name (that we're not going to discuss) for what we commonly know as the decibel (dB).  What is important to know is that decibels are logarithmic - so a jump from 10 to 20 dBs isn't double the sound level, it's 10 times as loud. 
What's Considered a Safe Decibel?  This partly depends on who you ask, of course!  The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) says the upper limit in the workplace is 90 dBs for 8 hours.  NIOSH (National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health) says that only 85 dBs for 8 hours is appropriate, and that every 3 dB increase doubles the amount of noise and halves the recommended amount of exposure time.  So NIOSH believes that at 90 dBs, an 8 hour work day is not healthy.
   In general, unprotected exposure to 100 dBs should not exceed 15 minutes.  Regular exposure to 110 dBs for longer than 1 minute poses a risk for permanent hearing loss.  Prolonged exposure to 85 dBs leads to gradual hearing loss.  Hearing impairment is not generally expected at levels less than 75dBs. 
   WHO/Europe recommendations for noise levels include a 30 dB limit inside the bedroom and 40 dB outside the bedroom for the best sleep quality.  A maximum 35 dBs are recommended for background classroom noise for optimal learning conditions. 
Examples of Decibel Levels.  Those numbers are all well and good, but for most of us, they don't really mean much, do they?  Here are a few examples of common noise levels.  Heavy city traffic is around 85 dBs - the amount contributing to gradual hearing loss.  A power lawn mower is 90 dB.  A whisper in a quiet library is about 30 dBs, while normal conversation is 60-70 dBs.  A Walkman set on a volume of 5/10 is 94 dBs.  (This reference was written when Walkmans were still "it" - I presume Ipod earphones are comparable!)  Your refrigerator comes in at 50, the garbage disposal at 80-95 and the hair dryer at 60-95.  For a neat little table of noise levels, you can follow this link:  Decibel Levels 
Cultivating Silence.  We can't really ever be in complete silence - even our breathing is about 10 dBs.  And obviously, there are things we need to do to protect ourselves from excessive and constant noise.  Using appropriate ear protection, turning down the earphones, etc. is just plain smart - for our hearing and apparently also for our heart health, performance and mood as well.
   Take a look around your home and workplace and consider your personal use of sound.  Do you always have the TV or radio going in the background at home?  In the car?  Can you take a walk or exercise without the IPod?  How much waking time each day do you spend in silence?  Some say we have some sort of addiction to noise/sound, or that we are actually afraid of silence - that silence brings to mind fears of being alone, or just being with ourselves and our thoughts and having to deal with those thoughts. 
   Most spiritual traditions honor silence and use it as part of the practice.  Both Christian and Buddhist monks believe silence is necessary for mental strength and conditioning.  It is in silence that we can listen for - and hear - the messages our bodies and our hearts are sending to us.  Quietness gives our brains a rest, reduces the stress of constantly having to filter, interpret and defend against the barrage of noise that surrounds us in our typical environments. 
   Spending time in nature - like our ancestors did - can help develop an appreciation for quietness in general, as well as the quieter sounds of nature.  Wind in the grass, crickets, songbirds, trickling creeks disappear under the earphones and are drowned out in the traffic. Why not try a day without adding extra noise?  See what else you can hear when the TV and radio are turned off.  Notice if you are more relaxed. See what new things you notice on your daily walk.  Consider what thoughts have the opportunity to surface when your attention isn't distracted by extra noise.  Maybe those thoughts will be a solution to a problem or an idea for your next great project! 
   Sound, and sometimes even noise, is a great gift.  But without silence, we wouldn't appreciate the sound.  Let's appreciate the silence too.