Be Your Own Sanctuary

And he raised his eyebrow at me. We'd been discussing addictive medications a few minutes before, like the Tramadol I finally got from the pain specialist to take once a week or so to give me a break from my chronic pain, so I reassured him that methylpenidate (Ritalin/Concerta) is not addictive (at least not in people with ADHD).

His response? To raise his eyebrow even harder and say "Well it sure SOUNDS like it's addictive!"

And I had to explain to this man - who works in a healthcare related job by the way - that just because medication makes you feel good and helps you, just because you look forward to taking it, that doesn't make it addictive or dangerous. And he wasn't convinced.

The simple fact that I was excited to take a daily pill that has literally changed my life, after decades of fighting to get that medication, made him think I shouldn't be taking it so often. That it must inherently be dangerous.

I'm not even in America, but I'm pretty sure this attitude began there and then spread over here to Europe. This Puritan idea of "if something feels good, you must beware of it. Pleasure is dangerous, it is sinful, it is addiction, it is evil."

I know too many people who subconsciously believe that pleasure = addictive = dangerous = bad. Joy is a slippery slope to hell.

So here is your reminder for today that you don't need to be afraid of feeling good. If something improves your life, use it. Even if it is addictive - learn what that addiction means, whether the addiction is inherently dangerous or not, and whether the benefits outweigh the drawbacks and risks.

My ADHD meds are, in fact, not addictive. But I will take them every day because they make my life orders of magnitude easier. I will enjoy them every time I take them.

My tramadol is addictive. I will still take it. I will keep it on a schedule to avoid becoming addicted, primarily because addiction in this case would mean reduced effectiveness. But I am not afraid of my painkillers. They are life changing.

Lion King II: Simba’s Pride

MOST POWERFUL SCENE IN THIS FILM!!!

Everyone knows by unwritten law that most Disney sequels are crap, but this one isn’t, especially not this scene. Read into it deeper:

Look around at them, some are skinnier than others, but that’s only because they’re starving; they lack the proper nourishment from where they live! Give them some food and they’d all be identical!

It’s like out here, racism! African America, Caucasian, Hispanic, Native American, you name it! The only reason their skin is different is because of where their ancestors lived. They adapted to the sun on their skin to survive, much like all of us developed opposable thumbs. Is that so wrong? How could they control their history? No! 

The more important aspect: Should they be ashamed of how they are? NO! & yet people make them feel like they should, every day. How is that fair?

“Them? Us?" 

"THEY ARE US”

time can’t hurt me