Monday, September 26, 2011

Is Your Home Healing or Hurting You?

A L O H A !





" Society is like a stew. 
If you don't stir it up every once in a while
then a layer of scum
floats to the top. "

 Edward Abbey















































" All my life through, 
the new sights of Nature
made me rejoice like a child. "

Marie Curie





" Health is the thing 
that makes you feel
that now
is the best time of the year. "

Franklin P. Adams
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



























" To get rich never risk your health.
For it is the truth
that health is the wealth
of wealth.

Richard Baker







" Health is the greatest gift,
contentment the greatest wealth,
faithfulness the best relationship. 

Buddha




 > < } } ( ° >




On my morning walk,
a few days after moving ashore
(after 20 years on our boat)
I noticed something interesting:
Where did my morning stiffness go?

I always suspected that living on the water
wasn't really healthy,
the confinement alone
is akin to enforced bed rest.
You sit in one spot,
and move (at best)
a few feet away-
and back.

My (blog invisible) husband
experienced the same thing!
Where did morning's aches GO?

I'm remembering what it's like
to have a kitchen,
flush bathroom,
a real bed - not a 'bunk'
room to breathe!

So it got me thinking:
When is a home
bad for your health?

Is there radon, or pollution?

Are the neighbors - or extreme weather
stressful?

What about the local economy?

Are you financially over-extended
to pay for it?

Or is it SO modest
that you feel jailed
and held back?

(Formerly  Boat) Kitty
is begging for less treats.

I've noticed a slackening
in some of my own cravings too.

I feel upbeat,
healthy and young here.

Is YOUR home healing
or hurting
Y O U?

Makes you wonder.

41 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love my spacious house. Someone told me that it is a shame only 3 people live here. She was from the Philippines, where extended families in one abode was the rule. Ah, well, space is relative. You might think your home is spacious, but someone else might think it's too small.

Erik Donald France said...

Great question s-- and observations.

I'm a big believer in feng shui or its equivalent -- space, interiors, line of sight, reflective surfaces, decluttering, all in a holistic way, where possible. Overall size is less important, but it helps to be able to move around some, certainly!

FilipBlog said...

Love the first picture with the clouds and palm trees.

Top.

Greetings,
Filip

Karen Jones Gowen said...

What a profound question! And I'm afraid to answer for what I might discover LOL.

Anonymous said...

It has become a healing place, after a while for me. Returning some times after breathing tear gas, other times after being beaten up, many times leaving stress behind, playing for hours with Lego and soft pets.
Thank you for this great entry of yours. Please have you all a good Tuesday.

Windsmoke. said...

My unit is medium size and very comfortable suits me to a tee :-).

JTG (Misalyn) said...

Living in the UAE for more than 6 years, I can say that I am seldom at home for I find this place that I currently live in is A HOUSE. Home is where my heart is....in my home country but there are lots of things that I need to consider why I am still here.

Wonderful post Cloudia. Thank you for sharing these quotes and great images....and thank you for making me think and miss home again.

Elephant's Child said...

Inside my home I constantly run into things and bruise and batter myself. Not the home's fault, but the injuries are still there. It is in my garden I find healing.
I am glad that your morning stiffness has eased, and wonder whether it was caused by bracing yourself against the movement on the water? Lovely post. Thank you.

Commander Zaius said...

" Society is like a stew.
If you don't stir it up every once in a while
then a layer of scum
floats to the top. "

Edward Abbey


That one was awesome!

Jeannie said...

When I was hurting - my home was too much for me. Now that I am healing, and getting stronger, caring for my home is becoming fun again. Granted, I pull muscles constantly because I'm really not physically up to all the tasks but I really WANT to do these things now.

SandyCarlson said...

Elbow room is important. I am glad you have it. It's interesting how our living space affects us.

I have suggested at work that the quality of our space (the school) could affect our kids' academic performance. I have been scoffed at for caring about bulletin boards when there are standardized tests to be (brainwashed) prepared for. Alas.

Charles Gramlich said...

my house now out in the country is definitely helping my health.

Carol said...

Wow, I'm so glad that you're doing better. I think that the limited area would bug me, almost like living in a camper but the views are better.

Kavita Saharia said...

I think our home does effect our health and state of mind.A well aired ,clean ,uncluttered and pleasant looking house does make us feel relaxed and happy.I am happy that your new home is suiting you all so well .God Bless.

Teresa said...

Thanks for the timely warning and question!! Glad you're feeling so good.

Anonymous said...

Love the golden tones in your shots!

My home heals me because it is near the water with soothing views. But you're right, we had some awful neighbours a few years back, and it was quite stressful for a while.

Lori Skoog said...

You are on to something. So glad you were able to move into your new digs.

Rick said...

Oh I like that first quote !! (I think we're due for a good stirring !).

Although our home has now outgrown us, we're perfectly happy, especially being out in the country away from all the hustle and bustle and accompanying stress.

Wonderful shots, Cloudia ! Aloha !

magiceye said...

home is an extension of our selves

namaste /\ from mumbai
aloha!

RONW said...

excellent photo of Mt. Leahi.

黄清华 Wong Ching Wah said...

Beautiful words of wisdom for today !

PerthDailyPhoto said...

So happy that your aches and pains are disappearing Cloudia, sounds like the moving experience has all been for the good. I think I must love my home, we've been here for 26 years and both my children grew up very happily here. Love the garden too, though sometimes I think it's too much work. The Richard Baker quote and image..fantastic!

Lynn said...

Wow - that is so great - no more stiffness.

I find that my bed is perfect for my back. So is my own couch and computer chair at home. My sister has this wonderful vacation home in the North Carolina mountains and I always come home with an aching back. There's no place like home.

21 Wits said...

Home is where your heart is they say...and the fact that we moved out of the city and into what used to be the country (not so much any more, farmers are fading away)...mostly just hobby farms, horses and such...but like my (blog invisible hubby says) every morning he wakes up he feels like he's on vacation....that saying really defines the feeling...not that being near water and the city doesn't draw me in..but this is wear we hang our hat so to speak!..and love it!

the walking man said...

I think the Marie Curie quote to be a bit off the mark seeing as how her life unfortunately ended.

Our home is just the right size for us and the dogs and as long as no one shoots at it or us there is never any problem that needs resolution that we can't fix. Hell even if the shots come this way they can be countered so that too is no problem.

Dianne said...

that first quote is wonderful
I think our current world could use a good stir

I'm so glad you're happy in your new home

Pearl said...

I love my home, the woodwork, the stained glass. ANd yet I've noticed, because it's on the second floor, that once inside I tend not to leave. Of course, for six months out of the year the world is covered with snow, but even in the summer, it's hard to walk down those steps again...

Strange.

Pearl

foongpc said...

Love all the quotes and especially love that first photo! : )

The Weaver of Grass said...

Hi Cloudia. According to our weather forecasters our weather is set to become warmer than Hawaii by the weekend!

Daryl said...

I love our tiny apartment .. it means less to clean

Myrna R. said...

So glad your home is healthy. Mine is very healthy, i love it.

wenn said...

I love my home but at times can be very messy..

Akelamalu said...

Interesting - I think you're right.

Indrani said...

Great captures, so well taken.

irinapictures said...

I am so glad that you feel so healthy in you new home. Mine is my little beloved fortress. Only the breathing of pollution in the air in rare windless day can ruin the harmony.

Travis Erwin said...

It's always good when a change brings about a positives.

bobbybegood1 said...

I love this post. I have learned that you should give your home a name, first. Then everyday - if you remember - go around touching the walls and objects in it telling them how much you love them. Always buy what you truly love. That way you love what you have. And this process clears clutter or at least keeps it to a minimum. This goes for plants, too. Touch and talk with/to your plants. When you show love toward someone or something it grows positively. Giving you its greatest energy. I absolutely love my home. Her name is Joy. Joy brings me joy whenever I enter her. I tell her how much she makes me happy and how wonderful she serves my needs. She has white walls so I decorate her in fabulous colors that suit her and me. Cheers!!

Marguerite said...

Lovely photos! I love having a lot of space and find it invigorating. De- cluttering my home has been very liberating, also. So glad your aches are going away. :)

Cloudia said...

Awesome Comment Party!

Thanks so much-

Lifecruiser Travel said...

You know, damp air can make really bad things to your body too.

Very nice sayings and photos - love them. I've got a similar photo as the feather and it's my favorite one - along with yours now :-)

Though it's your writing here that is VERY interesting and did catch my interest: so true... I've been thinking of that too. Not that we live at a boat, but you see, we live in a very small and dark apartment - for me it feels like a bunker of some kind.. almost... Especially since we decided to have this compact living to afford to get to travel a lot. Lately other things have made us homebound and it getting on our nerves now. We want to escape!!!! NOW!!!! (lol)

SandyCarlson said...

So beautiful. Just the wisdom I needed to revisit tonight.