11/11/11 - Honoring Me as a Veteran - Claim Your Power Back! Here's How.

Alex,

Thank you for taking the time to write this. This creation for Veterans Day grew out of something I'd posted on Facebook the weekend before Veterans Day about Naomi Wolf's book. I'd gone to look at what was on Facebook about her, as I found it interesting that Rosie O'Donnel gave up her monologue time in the first month of her new show on OWN (The Oprah Winfrey Network) to have Naomi come in, via Skype, about her experiences in New York city, after she was detained and almost arrested.

What struck, or I should say concerned me, to be more accurate, was how much knowledge she needed to navigate into and out of the situation with as little difficulty as she did. When I see the coverage of Occupy in other cities, I wonder if they have enough support in terms of legal expertise.  

I have been trying to do my part in joining the group on Facebook for Occupy Grand Junction.  I'm sharing information so my Facebook friends could be aware of the group, and checking in every day to the group page to see what they are posting.  If there's something I feel I am capable of doing, I 'do'.  

I felt the best thing I could do for the overall effort is to spend some of my time, energy, and indirectly or direcly "money" resources developing something at Lumigrate.  So thank you for inadvertently falling into that plan, and thank you for adding time to your busy schedule to work on this piece with me here at Lumigrate. 

I clearly am one of the 99%, not one of the 1% "elite".  I also align with the concepts being presented by the Occupy movement; I created Lumigrate in 2008/9 out of my experience as a mainstream medical consumer and provider (occupational therapist, registered in 1997 with NBCOT).  For those who are reading, Alex and I met in the early to mid 1990s at Colorado State University in the "Nontraditional Student Organization" -- older students at that time were considered non traditional. 

It was just before my health crashed, for a second time, and I worked my way out a second time, but this time first approaching non-mainstream, private pay providers, while additionally utilizing what insurances and mainstream provided.   

We've been friends ever since, though often go long periods of time without being in touch.  Facebook changed that (but as I edit this in 2021, ten years later, he was not long on Facebook and I'm reminded that I'll need to reach out to him the old fashioned way).  

Our professional lives have lead to our moving around the state of Colorado in such ways that we've ended up being able to cross paths to spend time in person together; if I recall correctly, he even helped celebrate the retirement of my former 'beau', also a Veteran, but of a different era (Vietnam in his case).  Ironically, Alex met me when I was a 'civil servant' working for the State government (student health center, after being in air quality research funded by the National Park Service). 

It was before I got into OT school, which lead to my  working in the private sector of the dog-eat-dog world of medical businesses, both in the private and public sectors.  I was getting a mere bachelors of science, he went on through graduate school and at the time of this thread creation, worked for the Federal government protecting our lands and things that live on (and in) them. 

And here we are -- in 2011 (and editing in 2021 after TEN YEARS!)   GRATE-FULL-Y!

Live and Learn!  Learn and Live Better!! (and We're All in this Together!) ~~ Mardy

You're welcome. Thanks for the support & forum to increase getting the word out.

I saw your post on Wolf's book. Your post prompted me to go back and re-watch her 45" lecture I linked to above. (BTW a 7" update is available here:Naomi Wolf on The End of America - summary & update [26]). I've also taken advantage of the 75% off sale & ordered the Director's Cut movie (http://www.endofamericamovie.com/ [27]) for $15 to view myself and to show and share with others.

Rather, my knowledge comes from reading the document I've many times, as a public servant, sworn to "uphold and protect" - the US Constitution. If I'm giving my sacred oath, I had better know what I'm promising to defend and uphold hadn't I? I'm sad & ashamed to say that most civil servants have not read and do not know what is in the supreme law of the land they too have "sworn to uphold & protect", and worse yet, show little interest. 

I find it ironic that when I was hired by my current agency, there was a block on my in processing checklist for taking a training on the US Constitution. To their credit, this has been the ONLY agency which even mentioned it, other than to require the oath. Yet NO one could tell me how to access the Constitution curriculum I was supposed to have studied. Apparently, it didn't/doesn't exist. So I offered to create & teach such a class. I never heard back. (Keep in mind, please, this is YOUR government, YOUR representatives, people who largely don't know what they've sworn on oath to fundamentally uphold and protect - namely YOUR rights!! All the more reason for YOU to know don't ya think)?

As for my education process on this in the past, I've also attended two of my local police department's Citizen's Police Academies. During the first one, in Gunnison, Colorado, one of the training officers made it a point to challenge us to learn, know and exercise our rights during police encounters "especially if/when" we have "nothing" to hide. This was a public servant who actually "got it" encouraged me to "get it" & share it as well. Check & see if your local community offers such opportunities at the city and/or county level. My Lakewood, Colorado community also offers a free Civics 101 class every year which I plan to take the next time it's offered. 

Wow!  This is GRATE, Alex, it gives people the overview and 'tip of the iceberg' in terms of the 'who' and 'why' and then the nice list of links sets up a good distillation for those who want more about WHAT, WHERE, and WHEN!

Lumigrate's followers/customers are very varied in terms of their energy levels for different matters, but in general we/they're an intelligent bunch who do a lot of thinking about the BIG PICTURE, and this will be very helpful I think! 

I'm currently reading Tom Brokaw's new book The Time of Our Lives: A Conversation About America. I'll come back and add some more about it when I've finished it -- he has compiled a really good overview about the overall of the problems facing our country related to all the systems, as I have stated, above.  Naturally, we mostly focus here on the medical but integrative medicine embraces wellness of the body, mind AND spirit, and I believe that if a person is not operating in their highest plane related to our responsibilities as citizens, that will cause a problem in a person's health/body.  I want to recognize here, that we encourage people to 'do what they can' and do things for their wellness and the wellness of the overall surrounding them, and recognizing that will be affected by a person's health.  But looking at 'what can I DO about this, with my energy, time, money' and making any shifts to make YOUR life be closer to the way YOU want it to be.  

We're all in this together, as I always say.  As well as "Live and Learn! Learn and Live Better!!

Again, thanks, Alex! Glad we met (in 1992 was it?) Thank YOU for what YOU do to serve today as a citizen and government employee, I know you work a LOT, and naturally, in the past in the Armed Services.  Sharing your perspective here at Lumigrate with this contribution of your knowledge and opinions (two different yet interrelated things) goes far to help us.  Again, we're all in this together. Glad you're among us still!) ~~ Mardy 

I got this message and wanted to share it, with the permission of the writer, who is a Veteran of the US Military/Navy (retired Navy Chief) as well as a veteran among the ranks of clergy as a Southern Baptist Minister currently: 

"I understand his point of view and share part of it. However, I think we as Americans need to take more responsibility for our lack of attention to who we vote for. Spend more time looking at who the media thinks is best. Statisics prove the one who advertises the most just prior to election wins. So Tea party and the retake Wall Street are great ideas, but in general they have no idea what they are fighting for or against. 

 So ... as a Veteran, the oath I swore was to was to defend the constitution againist "ALL" enemies foreign and domestic. What does that all the mean? The true hero in my mind is that 18 year old voters who takes the time to educate themselves on the facts and what a candidate really stands for."

I do not disagree with my former brother-in-arms and good Chaplain.  I wholeheartedly agree that one primary duty is an informed and "knowledgeable" citizenry that votes and ensures a "proper meshing;" as another famous veteran (and President) once said.

My dawlinks,

As a meydele (little girl) I was here in the states during WWII but most of my mishpokhe (family) was over in Europe in the (may G-d forgive) camps.  If it weren't for the beautiful soldiers that liberated them I wouldn't have had many of my Tantes (Aunts) or Feters (Uncles) let alone shvesterkind (cousins).  To honor the veterans is both a pleasure for me and a duty.  To uphold the Constitution and speak of it with reverence fills me with pride that I don't see in the young peoples.  They don't farshteyn (understand) what the struggle was to get them here.

Like you, Mardy, we are also part of the 99%.  As alta kakers, however, our resources are limited; our mouths are not.  Phone calls have been the main flow of our showing disdain for what's been happening.  Some of mine friends have actually reverted to their childhood and had to be put in time out for the "Is your fridge running?  Well you better go catch it" call.  Shande (shame).  For the most part we believe we might actually be making a little headway.  Lottie was hung up on yesterday with a "stop calling all ready!"  Too bad she couldn't remember who it was.

I know Ellen's best friend's new husband is serving as we speak.  She's made a blanket for him since it's cold where he is and will be sending things in the care package her friend sends. 

These men and women that protect us, honor those that served before them, whether or not it's a war, a police action or stand by, or any other name the government gives it.  These veterans deserve our respect, our thanks, our praise, our prayers, and whenever possible our hugs.  It couldn't hurt!

And for one of my Tantas; Thank you Her. Shindler.

Your

Yenta

Lovely thoughts, Yenta -- thank you for your gift of creatively writing in the forum on various topics which touch your heart and mind to comment in a way nobody else can. ~~ Mardy 

 This is a well-written article which I thought was a good follow up here, related to what has occurred since 9/11 and what we might be doing from here to be to our benefit as a nation.

 www.huffingtonpost.com/robin-koerner/a-decade-after-911-time-t_b_957236.html [39]

We are 'jumping in' with both feet at this time related to vaccinations and 'resident rights' as US citizens in this topic at Lumigrate, so I wanted to set you up with the link here to complete the 'loop': I've provided a link from the topic about vaccines and having a plan about them to this topic for those wanting to study up about the rights aspect, as so many have come to Lumigrate and read this topic by Alex. Again, the read #s is how I know where the interest is by our 'followers', I prefer to think of them as 'guests', and then that is where I do more development.

I also cover things that might NOT have as much attention -- just because the wave hasn't hit the majority of people yet doesn't mean it's not a wave to keep your eyes on.  (Foods is another one that's gaining in popularity and that even gets into some of the 'rights' issues related to our food sources and monopolies that have driven agriculture in recent decades, with profound influences on the wellness of people, in the US and worldwide.) 

So here's the forum link, you'll see the topic about vaccines -- Do YOU have a plan about vaccines? is the title, essentially.  Do you?  remember, at Lumigrate, it's all about YOU! www.lumigrate.com/forums/be-prepared-medically-impaired-happens-all-ages/being-prepared-medical-visits-problems-best-l [41]

~~ Mardy. Live and Learn. Learn and Live Better!    

I realized it was the fifth anniversary of this topic having been on Lumigrate.  It was, without my knowing it then, going to be a turningpoint for Lumigrate.com, and for me.  Perhaps a demonstration of 'manifesting what you put your attention on', but I was doing other topics and had my attention on other things as well..... this topic had a LOT more reads than I had expected 'off the bat', and it's continued to have a good number, showing 13,285 currently.

I'd not set out in 2007 and 2008 to create a website that would be a major tool for me personally to be deepening my spiritual beliefs, that had not occurred to me would come from focusing my work efforts via the Internet on a website.  But that is what has happened.

When it was our 'development year', 2008, I'd been distraught one morning when I realized that both of the providers who I'd arranged to have provide seminars on chronic pain and fibromyalgia were working on other things they'd added to their plates after committing / agreeing to what we'd agreed upon would be going on my website.  I started walking to my office and can recall the exact place I was where I 'got it' / had the 'aha moment' as Oprah made popular as a saying. To translate my thoughts into words, it went like this: "I get it, I was thinking and planning this to be about 'pain' and 'fibromyalgia' but that's not what the big guide(s) out there is wanting!" 

We'd launch with an impressive lineup of well-produced videos covering topics that applied to many more people than those who 'identify' with 'pain', 'fibromyalgia', but which were definitely of great value to those who did.  For example "hypothyroidism", "detoxification and cleansing", "strategies for lasting change" (about psychological resistance), were offered by the MD, ND, and PhD psychologist, respectively, all part of an integrative center we'd come together to get off the ground, which only stuck together that first year of 2008, everyone eventually went their separate ways (but remain in their separate businesses around town). 

I'd then venture to the Internet using Facebook, which was massively taking off at that point and wasn't the problematic place it became as time went on.  Thankfully I'd had a trainer who taught me about Facebook from day one, and I didn't have any delusions about what Facebook was about.  It's a marvelous tool for learning and health information, I don't dissuade people from using it, I really encourage it more than ever today -- but I encourage people to understand what it's about, who's behind it, and how trolls and shills work.  I'd connect with my next group of providers for content, and the next layer after that, too, on Facebook!  Hand-selected people I found with chronic pain using Facebook, and providers who were savy using Facebook to reach potential customers, respectively.  Like an onion, with the layers, Lumigrate has it's layers, and it was up to three by 2012. 

The second Friday, I believe it was, in December was another turningpoint for me, and for our nation and the world.  I knew the moment I saw it on television, that it was massively significant, to the point of being a turningpoint.  I said it to SpoildeyCat, who was alive and well at that time.  Well, she was never 'well', but she hadn't gotten into the horrendous autism-like, seizure-like, "Cujo-crazy like" episodes of young adulthood yet (similar to what occurs with many young people with autism, whose mothers helped me figure this out in 2014-2015). 

But prior to that, the fourth layer of Lumigrate would begin with this topic, without my realizing at the time it was going to be a layer -- or really maybe dictate the rest of the layer to come after.  I began writing the content topics myself beginning with the occurrence of the Sandy Hook story / occurrence / event, which I and most who study it believe was a hoaxed event we were unaware was hoaxed at the time, so we 'fell for it' (but don't believe me, YOU do your due diligence to study what's on the Internet about it, talk to others, etc. and decide for your self just as the Lumigrate YOU! Model demonstrates people are encumbent to do for their wellness / health information and actions (or lack thereof).  I'd been concerned about their having the alleged shooter be someone with a diagnosis on the autism spectrum, and I'd address the issue by delving into truthful information about what's causing brain / mind / behavioral issues from a dietary standpoint.  It was a tip of an iceberg, and lead me to finally start into the autism information I'd been waiting for others to provide, when my format was to utilize other providers and reserve my spot in the mix on Lumigrate as the 'moderator'.  

Back in those days my new topics would be on the blog tab.  So today, to prepare and provide something of an update on five years since the 11/11/11 'smash hit' by Alex Birchfield which was a bigger step than I'd taken in content towards becoming what might be considered a 'truth movement website' with Lumigrate, I reviewed what I'd written in the blog that day, and chuckled.  I'd made coffee -- organic, low acid coffee.  Water is from my big purchase 'treat' to myself this year, a Berkey water filter.  It wasn't the same 'deep experience' I had five years ago where I was living solo in the 'sanctuary' I'd created for myself, as my life has changed a great deal with Lumigrate.  The truth movement people who are GENUINE and not being funded secretly somehow are generally not making a lot of money, and I'm not exception to that -- it's very different than when the photo of me, below, was taken almost fifteen years ago and I worked for mainstream medicine as an occupational therapist. 

But I was proud of what I wrote in 2011, and thought it worthy of including here, with this elaboration on the process.  Alex and Rick had become friends through me, friends that didn't last through our breakup.  Alex and I would remain friends through his relationship breakup about a decade ago, but not long after this topic was on Lumigrate I'd turn to him on Facebook with a question that would be something under his jurisdiction with his job. It appeared he immediately unfriended me.  Thankfully, this summer, I would be in his part of town in the Front Range for a month and contacted him by phone -- he had no recollection of what had occurred via Facebook and had taken his profile down.  I'd had so much 'yuk stuff' happen on Facebook that I was using it less and less and took a break as well.  So there was that 'data point' about how Facebook is working to influence people's connections.  Just sayin', as the saying goes.

I thank all who serve our country and communities and world.  I thank Alex for having provided this on 11/11/11 and hope some of the 13,000+ who have found the topic have benefitted from it.  I thank the process unfolding of what Lumigrate does in my life and the overall.  Without further elaboration, here's from my 11/11/11 blog: 

 

 

 

 

---

I made a special cup of coffee today and drank it looking at the sun coming onto the beautiful Colorado National Monument that is the backdrop to one side of Grand Junction. Last night on PBS there was a wonderful program about Vietnam, where they interviewed Veterans of the war, including some women.  I've written in the past about my appreciation for My Greatest Teachers in becoming an occupational therapist (OT), and those were the 'guys' who came three times a week at noon through the locked door of the psychiatric unit at the Denver VA Medical Center, where I'd gone quite out of my way to have an internship. They came to chat with the OTs who would eat their lunch out in the room around a table.  It was rare any of the 'guys' brought food, they came for the conversation.  I was privileged to have the experience and have been a different therapist because of it.   

Due to the changes in medical care in the US, which were driven by various funding sources as well as the increasing reliance on pharmaceuticals prescribed by psychiatrists, and away from other effective treatments for mental and behavioral health, there were virtually no OT jobs in psyche anymore.  But, I'd always resonated with the history and theory underlying occupational therapy, and 'psyche' was an enormous part of occupational therapy, so I wanted to experience an internship since I likely wouldn't get a job in it in the future.  

My supervising OTs who worked for the VA were older, one was "motherly" and the other "grandmotherly".  The elder was the matriarch and she reminded me of a slightly quieter version of the mother on "The Golden Girls"; she was a tiny little thing with big glasses and she could be firm, funny, and kind.  Essentially, she had developed the group eight years prior, so in 1988, and three times a week, 52 weeks a year, 'they were there' at midday on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays.  You can't take off at the holidays -- that's when people need it the most sometimes, naturally.  Basically, they lead the group to address the issues from Vietnam and combat, but instead of focusing on the PTSD and what caused it, they focused on what was going on currently which was causing someone to have an issue.  Perhaps it was the interaction they had with a loved one.  Perhaps it was fireworks being shot off for July 4/Independence Day.  They'd find strategies to suggest then talk about how that went the next time the 'guy' dropped by the group.  They came regularly.  

I was amazed that when one of them had fears about his upcoming knee replacement surgery and the rehabilitation after and what that was going to cause in his life (such as not coming to group for a while), the 'guy' next to him put his hand over on his leg and comforted him a bit.  What I found out later was that man had been an officer and initially there was a lot of dislike and tension between the members of the group based on their attitudes about rank from the past.  That all was neutralized eventually through the group's process.  There was a group lead by psychologists for Veterans with PTSD, and they focused on PTSD and the events that caused it, I heard, and there overall wasn't the progression that had occurred with this group.  I've used that experience intricately with groups I've established since and in my work through Lumigrate, which is now reaching hundreds of people a day.  

The experience also helped me understand and be able to navigate a significant relationship that begun about five years after I became an OT.  My beau had been in the 101st Airborn and ended up essentially being part of a 3 man 'code talker' team; there was a 4th man with them whose job it was to kill them if they were definitely going to be captured by the enemy.  Their equipment was made to destruct as well.  At one point they were so close to being captured, they destroyed the equipment and just then the chopper came in and they were, again, safe.  Until the next time.  

I made a special cup of coffee and contemplated Veteran's Day in honor of what I learned from the years in a relationship with him; for his 21st birthday, which fell while he was on duty with the Army's "Screaming Eagles", the 101st Airborn, around New Years 1970/71 in the now-famous A Shau Valley.  This timeframe and 'hot spot' was part of the PBS show last night, where I learned that he was there during the last big surge there.  The American public had become increasingly in protest of the casualties in the war and after that time they quit putting the US troops in such dangerous situations in major numbers.  

My beau had not had a great relationship with his commanding officer and, as he stood in the cold night at his post on guard duty, his C.O. came up to him with a cup of coffee and wished him a happy 21st birthday.  He never looked at coffee the same again, nor his birthday.  And after I heard the story, I hope I didn't as well.  So that's my story of how I started my Veteran's Day and why, with a special cup of coffee and though around that.  It happened that we'd started dating JUST before 9/11 -- we were eating breakfast on a Sunday in early September and talked about how we were overdue for an attack and what might be the 'unsuspected' means and our vulnerabilities.  48 hours later, 9/11/2001, we had the answer.  

Colorado Springs has Army/Fort Carson and the US Air Force Academy.  As my beau's colleagues and he were retiring from their city government jobs, we'd be out 'on the town' dancing on the same floor with the new 'guys' who were celebrating their imminent deployment.  Here's photo of us from the Navajo Hogan, our favorite blues joint at the time, around the time of his retirement party there.                                                                                              

Our relationship conflicts, which were related to what had occurred in Vietnam and before in his life, which included some childhood trauma in addition to much that was extraordinarily good due to his father's job in aviation and a former stewardess mother, increased.  I didn't end things because of my respect for his having served his country, subjecting myself to turmoil that I never had before in my life. He'd also relied upon a religious system for support which was shifting for his beliefs and he matured.  Growth sometimes causes things to become destabilized for a while.  If you're interested, I suggest you check out the adverse childhood experiences content that I've been working on getting onto Lumigrate: currently in the Forums in the one about psychology and things related.  

I'm glad for the whole relationship now, as it makes me able to more fully understand what the families of our military go through. Your teachers in life come in so many people and situations.  To his credit, he looked me not too many years back and essentially gave me the gift of knowing it was a special relationship to him as well and that he just had something that kept him from 'sticking' to someone.  He'd been married for over 25 years before our relationship so I'd seen him as a good prospect for the long term. That was not meant to be -- I believe I am on an 'accelerated curriculum' in this life to get a LOT of lessons by moving through some situations in months and years and not decades.  

He also encouraged me to get Lumigrate to the VA -- 'these guys coming back now have SUCH needs, Mardy'.  I asked him to help me with that; he'd been asked by his doctor at the VA to get involved and basically he was handing the torch over to me and saying he wasn't 'together enough' at the time.  Too bad -- he's an extremely talented person within organizations and he is among the best trainers/teachers I've ever seen. 

This is what else I plan to do today. My friend Alex, who I met before I went into the OT program at CSU, prepared a piece for Lumigrate for Veteran's Day; he actually knew the love in my life that I refer to anonymously, above. I don't recall they ever talked about their having served in the Army, at least beyond the basics of "where and when and with which division".  They both are born educators and are both extremely funny men. Alex's request as a Veteran for Veteran's Day is that people educate themselves about our country's 'foundational concepts' and he has set up a curriculum of links to websites and a DVD suggestion which is how he furthers his education about 'the process'.  I wholeheartedly believe we are heading into times that are remarkably similar to the late 1960s and early 1970s, evidenced by the protests in the world and US, as well as trends in our political parties.  I encourage you to follow the link and take a look at the piece. Yenta even commented on it!  As she says "It can't hurt!"  

www.lumigrate.com/forum/111111-honoring-me-veteran-claim-your-power-back-heres-how [43]

To all our military men and women, and their families and communities; thank you for your service and what you do to support it.  No matter what that is.  Many of us serve in jobs that support our country in other ways beyond 'military', but there really isn't anything like signing up to protect your country.  I'm grateful to all who have and are, and will be in the future.  I hope we all pitch in and make this world the most peaceful and prosperous it has ever been.  The link above gives much a person can apply to making that happen

~~ Mardy