Passion and Productivity

Two words that I love and wish I took full advantage of daily: Passion and Productivity.

Today was a good day. I met with a client. I did my mommy duties. I had some good quality time fine-tuning some web pages. I made a lovely dinner. I enjoyed my family. I watched one of t.v. show obsessions. Drank some wine. And read some of my favorite blogging friends.

A good day.

A productive day.

But was it a passionate day? I'm not sure. I do think it was more passionate than a lot of other days. I do love when I have really great moments with one of the loves of my life. She made me laugh hard today. Gut-wrenching hard. One of the best feelings ever.

I really enjoyed making a lot of progress on a web site that has been on hold for months now. I made a lot of improvements. I was able to weave in some creative moments into the site. And I'm so relieved my client is ready to move forward and publish it soon. Nothing is more dispassionate to me than being stagnant.

Passion can be so evasive even when we're enjoying what we're doing each and every day. And I honestly can say I don't enjoy every day. But I'm glad I have them. I'm glad I have a new canvas every day.

What am I passionate about? These days I think I'm passionate about being creative and doing something meaningful. Hence my jumping on the "I gotta reform health care for those living with T1DM" bandwagon. Definitely a passion these days. Don't get me started...

Hmm, other passions. I know I have them.

I don't know if you know, but I have been known to paint. Yes, paint on canvas. Oil painting. The last time I painted was over 5 years ago.

I got passionate about painting when I was quite distraught about not being able to conceive. It was a cathartic and relaxing past-time when I was trying to grapple with life's hardships.

I don't think it was a conscious decision to put the easel hidden away in the garage when I was pregnant, but it happened. It's hiding the garage. Every day when I pull the car out to go on the day's errands, I see it. It almost calls to me. In fact, I think it is calling.

I'm not a "trained" or "educated" artist. But I love it. Whether anyone likes what I do or not. I force any guests in my home to witness it, as it is placed strategically throughout my house next to many GREAT artists. I envy the oil as it blends and swirls and forms textures and shapes. The sheen of it on canvas feels rewarding.

OK, I think I'm establishing something that draws out passion in me.

Words bring out my inner-bookworm and librarian. I don't read or write as much as many. In fact I must be drawn to bookish people because many of my friends read, write, and read, read, read. Now I don't strive to write a novel or prize winning book of art, but every time I pick up a children's book I think to myself, it's time. It's time to write a book that everyone can enjoy. Literally. I know I've said this time and again. In fact, I've even remarked about it in this blog months ago. But I'm hoping in 2010 I make it happen. For the passion of it all.

So while I was quite productive today, I'm not convinced I was passionate about my production.

Maybe tomorrow I'll dust off the easel. I have Chayse's easel in the living room. Maybe I need to put mine near it. We can paint together. She with her lovely finger paints or Tempura. Me with my oils.

Or maybe I'll finally put all my childish thoughts down on paper. I literally run through stories and ideas in my head when I'm waiting at the red light on the way to Target. They're in there. Time to get the out I guess.

Passion. I guess it's not something that just happens.

Green Parenting

I'm constantly searching for new ways to be Green. Not literally green, but you know what I mean. Environmentally-friendly.

In today's world, especially as a parent, we create so much waste in materials, packaging and toxins, that I can only imagine what our world will look like in another 100 years. Disgusting and toxic.

Who is tired of not being able to recycle small plastics? I unfortunately dispose of an abundance of pill bottles and glucose test strip bottles. And what's up with not being able to throw plastic bags in the big blue container? They're garbage in Portland. Can't be recycled in our city-wide recycling program. Apparently they clog the sorters. I've run out of re-uses for them. So what can we do with them if they can't be recycled?

Or how about that guilt you felt when you threw diapers away? OK, I felt guilty, not sure how you felt.

Well, I found a new resource to help avoid the guilt and discover more choices to care for Mother earth and to better care for our own health too.

A Facebook friend, whom I only really know from a brief encounter at our children's preschool and former preschool (she and her family have left the co-op), started up a great little community building and environmentally forward organization. It's in Portland, of course. It's online and looks quite promising.

Portland Green Parenting.

If you've ever wanted to join an organic produce or grains bulk purchasing group, buy earth-friendly and health-friendly meat products, start your own urban chicken farm, or learn how to garden organically, I think this site may just help.

http://portlandgreenparenting.com/

And in addition to all the online resources, it seems that it may be a way to help you meet other moms and dads trying to make healthy life choices for their families too.

I signed up for the free 30 day trial to read and participate in the message boards and take advantage of the online resources. If I decide I can't live without the resource, I can become a member and pay an annual fee that I determine is reasonable and which I can afford. Another neat concept in today's economically-challenged world.

Hope to connect with you soon on the greener side of parenting...

TO Life

I was doing a search this morning about glucosamine and type 1 Diabetes and possible side effects, etc. Something really I should do whenever I decide to take a new supplement. I'm often shocked by how some supplements can affect T1 diabetes care.

Well, in doing my research, I stumbled onto a site called TO Life (Type 1 Life, www.t1life.com). It's a community, much life Facebook, for all types and ages of people with T1DM. It's quite a rarity to find a community or advocacy group for T1DM patients of all ages. Today's world is still quite behind in general knowledge about the differences between the two main types of diabetes and still often refers to T1DM as "Juvenille Diabetes," ignoring the thousands of us who are diagnosed well into adulthood.

In recent months, since my adult brother was diagnosed as well with T1DM, I've been searching for ways to advocate for patients such as us. I was thinking developing a community for T1DM adults may be in my future. I'm happy to say that one already exists.

It's not very active yet (only 49 members). But it's founder is passionate and I hope with some additional "spreading the word," more people like myself can find it.

If you are a person living with T1DM or if you know someone who is, pass it on...www.t1life.com/profile/HopeRed.

TO Life, indeed.