How the mighty fall: I have a cold.

I hope you are all having a lovely Memorial Day weekend! I’m out of school Monday (thank goodness), and then I only have 4 days of ninth grade left! (Not including my Biology exam.)

Anyway, I haven’t been sick since I can remember, but since Saturday I’ve been feeling under the weather. I have a sore throat and an occasionally drippy nose, plus a dull headache.

This comes after a week of occasional and mild exercise. Besides normal walking around at school, I went running once and biking once, just 4 miles both times. I really left exercise in the ditch this past week. It’s a problem: it’s so hard for me to find balance. It’s either the 6-days-a-week track workouts or nothing.

Ugh. Now I can’t run because of the headache. I pray that I will feel better soon (also for my mom, who’s also sick).

This is more than just a physical problem. It’s a shock to my health-obsessed self. I take pride in my lack of sickness, headaches, weakness, fatigue, and allergies. I credit it to my healthy diet and lifestyle, including sleep and exercise.

I have this desire to transcend the physical problems that everyone else seems to struggle with. I want to always feel alive. I love to run fast and strong. I hate weakness, because I fear it in myself.

So now I’ve been taken back down to earth. I’m human. I co-exist with bacteria and viruses that think I’m a wonderful host (not a compliment in this case, I’m afraid). I hate being sick!

Do you have any tips for helping colds? To relieve my throat, I’ve gargled water with about 8 drops of tea tree essential oil, and I have these great ginger chews. I’ve heard vitamin C and zinc reduce the length of the cold. Any other ideas?

Do you ever struggle with balanced habits or health obsession?

PS – What kind of pictures do you put with a post like this? Bacteria dividing in my throat? Tea tree oil? I hope you still read it without pics to catch your eye!

Why I Buy Second-Hand

For Those With a Conscience

I’ve been reading a dynamite book called The Rough Guide to Shopping with a Conscience. I call it dynamite because it gets me passionate about the issues discussed—it makes me want to do something.

Often, however, I can’t do much, and I get frustrated. So this is my way of channeling that passion—sharing it with people! So read and believe! (At least, read.)

This book covers topics such as:

• sweatshops
• fair trade
• ethical investment
• organic produce and free-range meat
• “green” energy
• transportation 

Interested at all in the consequences of where you put your money? Check out this book.

From the back cover:

Shopping can sometimes feel like a moral minefield.

The issues: Do boycotts work? Is buying local better? How can we reduce our impact on global warming?

The products: From coffee to cars, fish to furniture, pensions to plane tickets—the problems and the ethical options.

The companies: Where to shop and what to look for in food, clothes, banks, travel agencies and much more.

The book presents the pros and cons of boycotts, localization, and selective shopping (choosing among companies), making me re-think some of my guiding principles when it comes to spending money. I still have my “Buy Local” enthusiasm, but on the other hand, what about impoverished workers overseas? Am I harming them? This leads to the problems of sweatshop and fair trade. As you can tell, it’s complicated and I won’t attempt to explore those topics in this post.

My solution: support neither the locally-produced goods nor the imported clothes—buy second-hand and bypass all the mess.

CLOTHING

Plato’s Closet

I’ve mentioned Plato’s Closet before, when writing about a particular Saturday. This is a teen-clothing shop that buys and sells brand-name, gently-used (or even new) clothing. It has over 250 stores across North America; the nearest to me is in Matthews, NC.

I love that the store has everything I need all in one place—shirts, jeans, shorts, shoes, belts, jackets, hats, jewelry and sunglasses. The only thing you won’t find is socks and underwear! They even sell books and DVDs.

Also, there are some great deals. I’ve bought a shirt for $4 (that I’m wearing right now) that had its original price tag for $24.50!

Another attracting quality of Plato’s Closet (which makes it relevant to this topic) is the “recycling” theme. Apparently, the philosopher Plato spoke of reusing and preservation, parallel to the founders’ idea. For my purposes, I’m not buying directly from any company (thus supporting the production of new stuff), but supporting the re-use of products.

Another “re-use’” store close to home is Sweet Repeats (in Waxhaw). They sell both teen and children’s clothing at this consignment shop. The selection is less than Plato’s, but the overall quality is higher. The store is also less busy and crowded, with more room to browse. This store is competitively priced with Plato’s Closet.

BOOKS

There’s a store in Waxhaw that sells donated books for very low prices, and all proceeds benefit the public library. That’s what I call guilt-free shopping.

BETTER YET

It’s easier and simpler to not buy anything at all. Of course, that’s not possible, but personally I’m trying to refrain from unnecessary buying for a while.

Update to UliMana product review

1. Goji Cherry Truffle                      

Read the original review.
2. Dark Truffle                                  

This was plain and almost bitter. For simplicity in chocolate, I look to TJ’s 73% bar.
3. Hemp Nut Brownie                     

I disliked this the most. I don’t think it’s worth the money.
4. Chocolate Apricot Walnut       

On to the delicious ones! What a great idea… the apricot and the walnut were of high quality and the three elements (fruit, nut, chocolate) balanced each other well.
5. Lemon Fig Bar                            

Mmm… there’s some coconut in there, too. This reminds me of Katie’s “babies,”
6. Chia Moon Drop                         

This was the prettiest, and I saved it for last, but unfortunately I didn’t enjoy it much.

Look for more reviews soon!

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UliMana Review

This is exciting!

I am now going to attempt to write an unbiased review about the first product I have received exclusively for reviewing on this blog!

So, here’s my disclaimer: I received this product for free, and am trying it for the first time. The views expressed may or may not be influenced by this fact. Also, I just signed the “Blog with Integrity” pledge! 

Blogging has real perks now, doesn’t it? (Just kidding. I don’t do it for the material stuff.)

The company:

UliMana (short for UliManaMana) is a raw, vegan, certified-organic chocolate and superfood treat company started in 2005 and based in Asheville, NC. Did you catch all that? Raw chocolate. Good enough for me!

The goods:

They sent me "Tao of Cacao,” an assortment worth $14, according to their website. Expensive, but you’ll get what you pay for. If raw, organic, vegan, quality is worth it to you, then go for it! However, it might be reserved for gift-giving, I imagine.

It includes the Lemon Fig Bar, Chia Moon Drop, Goji Cherry Truffle, Dark Truffle, Hemp Nut Brownie and Chocolate Apricot Walnut. I’m not entirely sure which is which here…

Each is made with ingredients like nuts, dates, agave, coconut oil, raw cacao powder, vanilla beans, hemp protein powder and Celtic sea salt.

Look, the container is recyclable! haha

So, I didn’t want to eat all of these at once…

Yummy! I tried the Goji Cherry Truffle—I’ve never had dried goji berries before, or raw cacao nibs. It was basically like healthy fudge rolled in those two delicieux ingredients!

So, I still have 4 out of 5 "chocolate treats” to sample, but I like the first one I tried! It was thick and fudgy but not chewy, and satisfying to my dark-chocolate-loving self. The slightly tart goji berries were a nice touch, and the cherry flavor was present as well. Or was it the goji? Does it matter? They’re both tart. Both good.

Thank you, UliMana! You made one blogger very happy.

Academic Pressure

fellow achievers

Yesterday evening, my high school celebrated its’ students’ achievements with Awards Night. Graduating seniors were highlighted, but my friends and I were there to receive our “letters” and “bars”—signifying high grades last semester.

I received a letter. Consecutive high grades will be recognized with a bar to be pinned on.

A couple months ago, seeing the few dozen seniors poised and beautiful, and hearing their scholarships and achievements announced—it would have been bad for me. Some underclassmen come away inspired; I come away feeling burdened by expectation.

If you saw my visual journal, you’ll know of my conscious anxiety and subconscious drive in this area.

It doesn’t come from any one source—not my parents; not my friends; not teachers; not the school. If anything, it comes from my head. But I simply feel the weight of the world—I feel that I am expected to be the best.

According to guidance counselors (who, incidentally, care not for the student but for the school’s reputation), it’s not enough to be the best academically—you must also take active roles in clubs and play sports consistently. Everything is centered around being well-rounded “Renaissance men.”

I’ve tried, certainly. My freshman year of high school is almost over, and to most, I  probably seem like the model student: I’m president of the Beta Club, and I go to every Key Club event. I ran cross-country in the fall, and track in the winter and the spring—which of course means I’m in SASS club (Student Athletes Standing Strong) as well. I have the highest GPA of my class—I’m getting the award for that next week.

These accomplishments are driven in part simply by my personality, but also by a subconscious fear of failure. But they don’t satisfy. And you know why? I am not meant to impress the world. That’s what has slowly been realized in my life. Failure in the world’s eyes means nothing—should mean nothing—to me.

I wanted to meet the world’s standards of successful. Sometimes these standards intersect God’s, but they are never the same or with the same motives. I wanted to get a great scholarship to college, impress people, have a purposeful career, leave my mark on the world. I wanted to mean something. And I said, of course, I wanted to serve God and glorify Him, blah blah blah.

But according to the book TrueFaced, I was living in the Room of Pleasing God, where one dons a happy-faced mask and then slowly dies on the inside. This is a result of trying to resolve your own sin in attempt to please God, taking matters into your own hands and failing miserably. Jesus already took responsibility in erasing your sin and my sin—we can do nothing.

The world operates the same way—we live in the World of Pleasing People: teachers and universities, bosses and businesses, friends and colleagues. No wonder there’s so many problems!

What’s the way out of this mess? It’s found in the Room of Trusting God. It’s taking the path of grace, maturity, forgiveness, love. It’s being authentic and accepting yourself, accepting who God made you. (I highly recommend reading the book yourself.)

My conclusion is that, given the talents God has blessed me with, all I need to do is my best and trust God with the rest, and I will be successful. My success will be measured by God’s standards—I will fulfill the Destiny planned for me.

Whether that means I will sweep streets or win a Nobel, that’s up to God. It’s my desire to do my best in the place He has put me, with the knowledge that I am fulfilling my perfect Destiny.

Walk-A-Thon and one stinky (or not?) shirt

Alisha + Sidney at the Walk-A-Thon

Members of my school’s band came to the track today to raise money by walking (or running) laps. Both the middle and the high school band benefited from the $0.XX-per-lap sponsorship.

counting laps

I’m not in the band, and I don’t play an instrument. So what was I doing there? Well, most of the distance runners on the track team are in the band or were also at the Walk-A-Thon, and so I came to hang out with them and some other friends.

Hi, Sidney and Cameron! You look wet!

Unfortunately I wasn’t sponsored, because I ran and walked 48 laps—12 miles! (Approximately… the count was not precise.) 

My buddies John and Jake were shooting for 100 laps (25 miles), and were well on target, but the event ended a couple hours’ early due to some crazy rainy May weather. Nevertheless, I’m sure the band’s financial situation improved by the students’ (and parents’!) efforts.

running from the rain

During the four hours we were out at the track, I enjoyed the following: chocolate cherry chard smoothie (consumed while walking!), avocado+tomato wrap, dates and almonds, and a MannaTech cherry snack bar.

Why am I sharing this? I feel it is time to share about my green smoothies. (I can hear my dad groaning at this point! haha) Look for more about it coming up! (It deserves its own post!) [Updated to add link]

I’m an official product tester!

The shirt I’m wearing in the first picture is a free test shirt from Agion Active. One half of it is treated with the company’s patent technology and the other half isn’t. From the website—

Agion Active is the latest in stink technology for apparel and gear and is so new it’s not even on the market yet. The patented system is built into apparel and will eliminate odor from any source.

[It] attacks both microbial based odors and ambient, absorbed odors, leaving you with long-lasting odor control. This dual action odor elimination system is the first of its kind and is the most advanced anti-odor system to ever be available for apparel.

Agion Active isn’t a clothing or gear company. It’s a technology for fighting odor, able to be applied to mostly textiles (like workout clothes and gym bags) but could also be used on carpets, pet bedding, or anywhere odors are an issue. 

They treated a select number of technical shirts with the no-stink stuff—but only on one side, for comparison. Get your own t-shirt to try out!

My analysis: After running and walking 12 miles (over a time period of four hours), I would say one side definitely smelled better than the other. Sweat is sweat, with all the bacteria and stink that comes with it, so it wasn’t exactly like being in a field of wildflowers in the Swiss Alps, but I’m sure I smelled better than some people out there.

This type of technology is good for me—I don’t use antiperspirants, only Tom’s of Maine deodorant. Combine that with sweaty track workouts and gym class… yeah. Come on, I don’t smell that bad, do I?

Also,on my missions trip this summer, washing facilities are limited (think: a bucket and not much time). So any clothing treated with this stuff would be great!