~~~~~~ Where do you stand on the matter of shelter in place orders? Here in Austin, Texas, we were told to remain at home in mid March. Here and now, like everyone else, there are some who are determined to go out and take full advantage of the relaxed standards surrounding the mandate to stay … Continue reading On Stay At Home Orders And Shifting Sands: Thoughts, And Some Questions For You
~~~~~~ In November 2019, I started this essay by with the following opening paragraph: “Reviews are in for Tim Burton’s 2019 version of Dumbo and I am so glad that I ignored them and saw the film anyway. After viewing more than once, and going back to review the original 1941 movie, I am that much … Continue reading Baby Mine: Tim Burton’s Dumbo (Now, Then, And Revisited In May 2020)
~~~~~~ Where do you stand on the mask question? I have been asked by patients about my thoughts on whether or not to wear a mask and it feels like the time for a quick blog post on the topic. It seems like there are a lot of pros and cons, so I’ll give three … Continue reading Wearing A Mask: Some Thoughts On Loving Thy Neighbor And On Being Fabulous During A Pandemic
~~~~~~ The dust does settle as we all reluctantly become more accustomed to the COVID19 pandemic with its shocks and aftershocks. Some are handling it better than others, true. No matter what, we are all doing our best. And yet, the specter of racism and scapegoating casts a looming shadow over everyone’s attempts to manage … Continue reading Racism Is A Virus: (Some Thoughts On What You Can Do To Promote Intercultural Competence And Solidarity During A Pandemic)
~~~ If you are reading this you are more than likely not a racist. You may be monolingual and/or somewhat culturally sheltered. You may not be. Whatever your subject position as you read this essay is, you’re here because its title called to you. You do care when you see news stories about anti-Chinese sentiment. … Continue reading It Is A Small World And We Do Share It (Some Thoughts On Critical Thinking During A Pandemic)
~~~~~~ COVID-19, or–more colloquially, corona–is causing a lot of confusion and concern. As my patients and as those who follow my blog already know, I am a former academic, a life-long scholar and educator, and a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist. When I write, I do from from both my previous and my current professional roles. … Continue reading Coronavirus 2019: Common Sense & Self Care
~~~~~ ~~~The Citizen Police Academy of Austin~~~ A Citizen Police Academy (CPA) is a series of classes that local police departments offer to their community. Depending on your city, a CPA consists of between six and fourteen weekly meetings. They are designed to give citizens a basic working knowledge of all facets of police work … Continue reading Citizen Policy Academy of Austin: Six Reasons Why You Should Apply (Yes, You!)
~~~~~ Are you too busy to cook? Or maybe you haven’t a lot of experience in the kitchen so you don’t cook much and/or you’re not able to create an enticing variety of culinary magic when you are in the heart of your home, e.g.; the kitchen. Or maybe you love to cook and you … Continue reading Mindful Cooking For Better Eating (Thoughts On My Rong Ai Knife)
~~~~~ Living with the seasons–in tune and in synch with weather changes and harvesting patterns, for example–can make you healthier and happier. There’s a reason why going with the flow is good idea–it conserves energy, for one thing. It’s a strategy for the long haul that works. As a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), … Continue reading Living With The Seasons According To Chinese Medicine: Spring Tips For Health And Happiness
~~~~~ It’s always a bit of a balancing act on holidays. On the one side, who wants to read downer posts? On the other, it is also true that holidays can be heartbreaking for a large swath of the population. It’s only in advertising world that Valentine’s Day and other holidays are perfect and filled … Continue reading Valentine’s Day: Some Thoughts From The Heart
Two Hearts Wellness 