.SOMETIMES RAW.

“My book sat on the coffee table. I felt great. I felt frozen, completely frozen in my life. It would never stop being exactly like this. I was a great poet and I would always be alone. This was my curse. I took a couple of values and fell asleep on the big brown velvet couch that always felt like a casket. I always heard a little voice yell my name just before  lost consciousness. I thought my death would be this way. I loved it.” – Eileen Myles

How did I end up with this book? My husband sent it to me a couple of days ago because he thought I might like it. Cute! Before I start telling you if I indeed did like it or not I will give you a little insight on Eileen Myles. I actually never heard of her before. This made me think how many awesome authors are still out there that I have not read or never will? Damn… I want more time to read.

Eileen Myles was born in 1949. She is an American writer and poet who has written a volumes of poetry, nonfiction, fiction and plays. She also won a plethora of awards – the 2010 Shelley Memorial Award, Lambda Award for lesbian fiction. She also received several Arts Writers Grants. In this autobiographical novel she describes how, as a young artist, she struggled with drugs, alcohol and sex. Reading through the first fifty pages or so I found that Myles has had a similar life growing up as Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe.  Myles also describes in one of her short stories in this book how she met Allen Ginsberg. The cover of the book depicts Eileen Myles. The photographer is no other than Robert Mapplethorpe himself. (explained in her short narrative “Robert Mapplethorpe Picture” p.221)

What I loved about the book is that she writes in a candid style and very contemporary. Reading about her life is simply art. The way she wrote about her alcoholic father made me sad at points.

“Dad, the worst time ever with you was when Mary McClusky was over and you had your red lumberjack shirt on and you are lying down and you had those awful headaches which kept pounding and made you always look like you are going to cry, and you put your two fingers to your lips – were you talking on the phone lying down or were you watching a movie on teevee. You couldn’t talk and you kept making a that two-fingered gesture even though I felt like it wasn’t what you wanted I knelt down and kissed you in front of Mary. […] I think I just wanted to kiss you in front of Mary because you were lying there sick.” 

In the book you learn a great deal about her being a lesbian and how she dealt with it and lived out her sex life in the 70s in New York City. I like that the book has many short autobiographical essays but I must say that I had trouble getting into it at first. The first quarter of the book is nothing but sex, drugs, writing, art and lesbianism  – actually, the entire book is about sex, drugs, writing, art and lesbianism. Overall I have to say that I loved it. I am into the Beat Generation and I love most of the authors. I thought some of her sentences and paragraphs were insanely long but once I got into it I was fine. Sometimes I had the feeling she is writing a poem. It is really good writing and I have to say that after I finished this book I read a bunch of her poetry online. Oh, and thank you mon amour for the book. <3

I want to share this great interview of Eileen Myles about writing, New York City in the 70s and how poetry can help one to survive – if you would like to see.

Thank you for reading my blog. 

“You want to write a book? Make a song? Direct a movie? Decorate pottery? Learn a dance? Explore a new land? You want to draw a penis on your wall? Do it. Who cares? It’s your birthright as a human being, so do it with a cheerful heart. (I mean, take is seriously, sure – but don’t take it seriously.) Let inspiration lead you wherever it wants to lead you. Keep in mind that for most of history people just made things, and they didn’t make such big freaking deal out of it.” – Elizabeth Gilbert 

Have you heard about #1 New York Times Bestseller “Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert ? If you are into books and registered on a plethora of book review sites you know that this book is on the must-read list. Of course I read it. Not because of that list, but because I love Elizabeth Gilbert’s books and her way of writing. I fell in love when I read “Eat, Pray, Love” which was better than the movie.  However, the movie has Julia Roberts in it so win-win either way. Of course I picked up her book “Committed: A Love Story” after. And then all her other books. Feel free to ask questions about them. When I heard about her latest book I thought, wow, this book will be great. Simply because she might share some insight on what drives her to write awesome books and what sparks her ideas and why she is so creative. I consider myself a writer simply because I love to do it. In my childhood  I wrote short stories, my diary, scribbled something down and was into books. And my little blog here is just a place for myself to be creative. I live, I learn, improve and love to do so through great writers. Let’s dive into the book review.

After I read the first couple of pages I thought about Anne Lamott and her book “Bird by Bird”. Gilbert gives great advice on how to keep writing and be creative. Something inspires you and there is this urge to write or create you should simply do so and follow your intuition. You should not listen to others or worry what they might think of your work. She shares this great example of her friend Susan who started to “figure skate” by the time she was forty years old. She always wanted to be an ice skater and knew how to skate.  However, at some point as a teenager she felt that she will never be good enough. Not as good as professional figure skaters. She stopped skating. For a long time. The question Gilbert asks is, “Why bother, if you can’t be the best”? Her friend Susan turned forty and felt restless and in search of something. She asked herself when she was really happy in her past forty years and she knew the answer instantly. She put on skates and simple denied this inner voice; this voice  that used to say that she is not good enough and that she is crazy for trying to figure skate now. And she just did it. Does she still skate? Yep! Almost every morning before work. And she loves it! Will she ever become a professional figure skater? Most likely not but she does not care. This is when Big Magic happens I believe. Follow your dream, don’t give up.

Another very inspiring story she mentioned in her book was about her friend Eileen. She is heavily tattooed and just says things like: “I think I will get a new tattoo today.” Upon asking her what kind of tattoo and where she wants it to be placed on her body she simply says: “I dunno. I”ll figure it out when I get to the tattoo shop. Or I’ll just let the artist surprise me.” Gilbert now wonders, like many of us would. Can you just walk into a tattoo store without having a plan or an idea about what type of tattoo you would love to get? Eileen explained:

“My tattoos are permanent; it is just my body that’s temporary. So is yours. We’re only her on earth for a short while, so I decided a long time ago that I wanted to decorate myself as playfully as I can, while I still have time.”

In this awesome book you learn that you do not need anybody’s permission to be creative. You learn about this importance of being authentic. Are you curious about something? Follow along and see what you may find! Once you put your work out there and you trust yourself, it does not matter if you succeed or fail.

Overall, this book is different from any book Gilbert has written so far but I found it very helpful. I learned that it is not important what others think about you or your work. Actually it is YOU that is important. You and how YOU feel about you work. As Gilbert’s friend put it: “We all spend our twenties and thirties trying so hard to be perfect, because we’re so worried about what people will think of us. Then we get into our forties and fifties, and we finally start to be free, because we decide that we don’t give a damn what anyone thinks of us. But you won’t be completely free until you reach your sixties and seventies, when you finally realize this liberating truth – nobody was ever thinking about you, anyhow.” They aren’t. They weren’t. If you are supposed to create things, then you will create. And sometimes it is great to just show up at a party in a lobster costume. 😉

I love this video of Elizabeth Gilbert on TED if you would like to see

Thank you for reading my blog.

How many times have you heard the questions: “Have you got your flu shots yet?” You see the signs to get a flu shot in front of every pharmacy or drug store. I have never gotten a flu shot and; knock on wood, have been pretty healthy throughout the year. For two days now I have written articles on natural beauty, homeopathic medicine and want to round it up by adding tips on how you can naturally fight flu and cold symptoms. My son is still coughing so  I recently had a scratchy throat, stuffy nose and just felt tired – well more tired than usual while running after my son all day long. Flu season really starts with the “ber-months” – so in September. 🙂

The leaves start changing and falling and you need a sweater instead of this t-shirt you have worn. Don’t head to the pharmacy right away to buy all type of medications. Why don’t you try natural remedies for a change? Plus, if you do get the flu, it really doesn’t matter what you take. My mom always says that “a cold takes two weeks to get rid of with medication and 14 days without”. This is sort of true.

This is how I fight the cold and flu season:

1. Linseed Oil. This oil is liquid gold. I eat one tablespoon of this oil a day and there are so many benefits. I have written an article about Linseed Oil. Check it out here.
2. Ginger. When my throat starts scratching, I slice up small pieces of fresh ginger and eat it raw. It is very spicy and probably makes your eyes water but it does the job of killing the bacteria in your throat. In my recent Smoothie recipe I shared

   

   “The Health Benefits of Ginger:

   Ginger is very nutritious because it is high in vitamin B6 and magnesium (both are great to reduce stress). Ginger is also very high on potassium (good for the heart) and the mineral copper. Ginger is good for digestion. If you have an upset stomach, Yogi ginger tea always worked for me. I used to drink a cup here and there when I felt a little nauseous when I was pregnant. The last benefit I want to add is that ginger is anti-inflammatory and great for pain. I have read once that ginger also might reduce arthritis pain. Who would have thought no?”

3. Lemon. I usually start my mornings with a glass of lemon water. I simply squeeze an entire lemon in a glass of water and drink it before I eat or drink anything else. It hydrates your body really well and lemon is very high in vitamins to help boost your immune system. Give it a try.
4. Lavender oil. I am reading on Aromatherapy these days to get some knowledge on what essential oils work best in different situations. I know that Lavender essential oil is antiseptic besides smelling awesome. I love drinking a cup of Lavender tea. It calms me down after a stressful day. Also you can add some drops of the oil in a warm bath. It helps sooth muscle pain.
5. Peppermint. If you have an upset stomach or sore throat, drink a cup of Peppermint tea.
6. Tea Tree oil. You can add a couple of drops in an inhaler, in your tea or bath. Tea Tree Oil has antiseptic and antibacterial properties and can help you with and cold or flu symptoms. Itchy scratchy throat? I take a couple drops of tea tree oil on my tongue and leave it there.
7. SunBreeze Essential Oil by Sunrider. This oil is very helpful and I have felt almost instantly better after taking it. Bad breath/sore throat/itchy throat? Take one drop on your tongue and leave it there. If you have a stuffy nose, put one drop on your finger and rub underneath you nose for easy breathing. When my son was sick, I put a 2-3 drops on his sleeping bag for easy breathing throughout the night. It gave him and I an uninterrupted sleep.

Is there anything else you can do? Yep, read on!

• Make sure you get some rest! Take it easy when you feel a flu or cold is around the corner. Rest on the couch with some lemon water or hot ginger tea! Give your body the chance to heal. Read a book! 😉
• You should avoid milk. What does dairy usually do when you drink it? The production of mucous is stimulated. I had this mucous feeling every time I drank a latte – so I try to stay away from it. Mucous supports bacteria and viruses to grow. I drink almond milk instead with my coffee or cereal/chia pudding. 
• You should drink a lot of fluids. I drink approximately one gallon of water a day – more in the summertime. When my son is sick, all he wanted was drink apple juice and water. Your body tells you what you need to do. All you have to do is listen!

How do you stay healthy during the flu and cold season? Do you have any tips? Let me know in the comments below.

Thank you for reading my blog.