Cape Cod Holistic

Flock of Gulls

Why does helping others make people happy, less stressful and motivated? Why do many psychologists recommend that it is better to help yourself by helping others? Read on:

Based on psychological theory and research, you can gain considerable benefits by helping other people. Being kind and generous causes a person to perceive others more positively. Volunteering or helping others often relieves stress, guilt, discomfort and suffering. It also inspires a sense of awareness and appreciation for your own blessings. Simply put it: you help yourself by helping others because it makes you feel more advantaged and thankful compared to other people.

Here are more advantages you can get by helping other people, especially the less fortunate:

1. The benefit of self-perception – Helping other people causes you to begin viewing yourself as an altruistic and compassionate person. This perception can foster a sense of confidence, optimism, and usefulness. You feel good about yourself, thus your self-perception becomes optimistic rather than pessimistic. Your loneliness is shadowed by your wanting to be a good person whose abilities and skills shine through in your daily life.

2. Helping others or volunteering helps you hone your abilities, resources, and expertise – You help yourself by helping others because it makes you highlight the best aspects of personality in you, like leadership and management skills, project planning and implementing skills, and more.

3. Helping others helps you feel you have a control over your life – Helping others gives you a sense of control. It reminds you that “you can choose to be good” and not every detail of your life are driven by consequences and scripting (like the role you have to play dictated by family or bosses).

4. Helping other people gives you the opportunity to learn new skills or discover talents – People or social skills are usually gained by connecting to people. Helping others not only exposes you to people but empower you to gain confidence in yourself and your friendship with other people. There are more other skills that you can learn by helping other people of volunteering. In fact, some people uses volunteering opportunities to hone skills needed for their job or careers.

5. Helping others promotes a sense of meaningfulness and value in one’s life – Psychologists recommend helping other people or volunteering as one of the ways to topple depression and loneliness. When you learn to focus on the needs of others you start to perceive life in a positive way. Acts of kindness can jump-start a cascade of positive social consequences – more people like you, appreciate you, and offer gratitude. Some even consider you as an inspiration to do good and also help others.

6. Helping other people creates bridges of love and camaraderie – You help yourself by helping other people because you allow yourself to become a part of society that values camaraderie, friendship and love. Helping others satisfies the basic human need for connecting with others, winning smiles, gratitude, and valued friendship. According to social experiments, happiness increases when people learn that their acts of kindness are appreciated and recognized.

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Living on Cape Cod, especially in the summertime, is bittersweet. This is a huge tourist area in the summer and there are more and more people visiting every year….but this is not a diatribe on the infringement of the populace on our natural resources, it is in fact a celebration of the life that flourishes in the midst of it.

In earlier times on “the Cape”, railroad was the main means of commerce and tourism. With the development of highways and infrastructure the railroad fell out of use and a huge leg of it went unused for decades.

In the 1970′s the state began transforming the old rail bed to a bike trail, now commonly known as “The Cape Cod Rail Trail“. It is a wonderful natural resource and passes within a mile of my home. Biking, hiking, rollerblading and even cross country skiing (in season of course) are right at my doorstep.

Cape Cod Rail Trail in Brewster

We do our best to not let the crowds keep us cooped up in the house.

Yesterday, though tired, we felt beckoned to the trail for a walk. The energy of the coming full moon and eclipse have us very energized and full of a nervous, yet positive energy.

Going where the spirit leads most of the time, we are sensitive to the energies of the surrounding landscape. One spot in particular that we pass is in a low lying, swampy area (swampy this year anyway), draws our attention every time we pass it. Sometimes these “calls” are because it is a place where animals bed, or cross paths…but this spot seemed to really be singing out to us yesterday. Susanne and I both got the impression (this time) that the call was because of the history of the spot. Not that we know what that is in particular, but there was a darkness and a sorrow attached to it.

We discussed this for a bit as we continued our walk, and before long we began noticing the abundant life of the trail and the bounty that it brings. As we walked along we began to pick blackberries, (my absolute favorite) using a stick to help bring down some of the higher vines. Our hands, lips and tongues were all stained purple. Growing right under and among the blackberries were a mix of huckleberries and high bush blueberries that weren’t quite ripe yet, but we still enjoyed a few sour bites.

The more we celebrated our berries, the more we noticed along the trail. Not fifty steps further down and there was a small group of black cherry trees….and apple trees. We were giddy with the bounty of harvest that we were experiencing on a stroll down the bike path, almost unbelievable.

Of course, all along the ground, in and amongst the poision ivy and such were mint, lavender and many other edible or medicinal herbs. The very ground was singing out to us.

Just a few more bends in the trail and we came across a grapevine that had entangled itself and grown along with an old, wise and very sturdy pear tree. Now Cape Cod does have “wild grapes” growing over a large portion of it, but this vine that I’m referring to was offering us Concord Grapes. Big, fat, juicy, end of your thumb sized concord grapes. They were amazingingly plump and though slightly tart, still very, very edible.

I got to thinking about how this “farmers harvest” of fruit could happen to be in one place with such diversity, and then it struck me that the trains that had previously used this trailbed sometimes carried tourists (even in the early part of the last century) on sightseeing rides and no doubt offered snacks and beverages on the train. My guess (or intuition) is that on that particualr stretch of railbed (two miles or so) the cooks would possibly scrape the dishes clean….right out the window.

The fruit salad that we enjoyed may actually be the result of pie droppings from an era gone-by.

After feasting on our “fruit delight” we headed off the main trail to one of our favorite “power spots”, a single large rock at the edge of a backwoods kettle hole pond. The land here is rich with Indian history and this particular rock has a very rich energy.

Unfortunately, someone had arrived at the rock before we did, and out of respect we decided to leave that person to their privacy.

Things happen for a reason…as we all know. As we got back onto the Rail Trail and heading back toward home, a shadow passed over the trail. Three more steps revealed a large, mature, red-tailed hawk, that had flown from a tree on one side of the trail to sit atop a tree on the other side of the trail.

The majesty and magnificence of this regal raptor sitting in the top of a 25 foot Juniper was breathtaking. It raised goosebumps and sensitivity.
As you can imagine, the trail was not altogether quiet or secluded. We pointed the bird to a Swedish couple that was riding up behind us on their bikes, and then a family of 6 stopped to see what we were gawking at.
Our hawk stayed right there and studied us studying him.

After a couple of minutes all of the bike riders went on their way and Susanne and I stood there, still admiring this beautiful creature. Just as we were about to continue our walk, we verbally thanked him for his blessing and we had not yet taken our first step when he swooped from his perch and passed about 10 feet directly over our heads. We could hear the beat of his wings and almost feel the down draft from his efforts.

Feeling completely re-energized, we thanked him again for his blessing and continued on toward home.

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According to the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association there are many ways that we can all do our parts to save energy in our homes.

The typical usage in a New England home looks something like this:

61% goes to heating the interior space in our homes.

4% goes to Air Conditioning that same space.

4% goes toward keeping our food cold (refrigerator).

16% goes toward other electrical loads from various appliances and electronics.

17% goes to heating our hot water.

By tracking your energy bills you can see the fruits of your efforts. It’s certainly reassuring when you see results that actually put money back into your pocket.

EnergyStar® also has a way for you to compare your home’s energy use as compared to others across the country and get recommendations for improving your own energy usage. It’s called the EnergyStar® Home Energy Yardstick. (You’ll need your last 12 months of utility bills or a 12-month summary from your utility co.)

If you follow these 10 suggestions you will be able to realize a significant savings in your energy budget each year.

• Water Heater – Your hot water heater uses up to 17% of your total energy bill.

• • Set your hot water heater to 122° and add an insulating blanket.
  • By using water that’s not OVER heated and adding the blanket you can save up to 7% yearly.

• Lighting – Technology has come a long way since Edison’s light bulb.
  • Replace incandescent bulbs with CFL’s (compact fluorescent lights)
  • By using compact fluorescent lights you can save up to $65 per year.

• Phantom Loads – Many appliances and electronics still draw a load even while switched off.
  • Use power strips to and timers to maximize the efficiency of your efforts.
  • These methods can save you up to 14% yearly.

• Programmable Thermostat – By automating your heating and cooling needs you will use energy more efficiently.
  • Use Energy Star® approved thermostats and save yourself up to $150/yr.

• Air Seal Your House – By sealing all of the gaps and holes in the exterior of your home you’ll increase it’s heating efficiency.
  • Seal the sills, pipes, wires and lights in your basement.
  • Seal the walls, windows, doors and electrical outlets.
  • **USE A PROFESSIONAL** to get the job done correctly and properly.

• Appliance Efficiency – It may just be time to get rid of that second refrigerator out in the garage.
  • By using Energy Star® appliances you may be able to keep up to $75 in your pocket each year while saving the environment.

• Attic Insulation – Since we live in New England there are considerations that may not apply in other areas of the country.
  • Make sure that your attic is insulated up to 14″ of blown in cellulose to bring it to a level of R-49
  • Get an audit to determine your actual need.

• Wall Insulation – Many modern homes are already up to code but too many older homes still need to be looked at.
  • Ask your contractor to determine your actual needs here too.

• Basement Walls – Your exposed exterior basement walls are like a single pane window without the solar gain.
  • Apply 2″ of sheet insulation bonded to the concrete wall with ½” concrete board outside of that and cap it with flashing.
  • This is a MAJOR project and should only be undertaken by professionals.
  • Doing this can save you anywhere from 5-20% yearly.

• Heating System – Heating and Cooling comprise 75% of your total energy budget.
  • Replace old systems with EnergyStar® compliant heating systems.
  • Be sure to seal all of the ducting in your heating system too.
  • These actions can save you an additional 10-20% as well.

Follow these tips and suggestions and you’ll realize both the monetary savings and benefits as well as the self satisfaction of knowing that you’re doing your part to reduce and sustain the overall reduction on the dependence for oil in this country.

You can find other great resources, calculators and software at the US Dept. of Energy’s “Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy” website.

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Marine biologist Stephen Palumbi reveals the surprisingly tight link between the health of our oceans and our own health and well being. By showing how toxins enter the food chain at the bottom of the ocean’s scale and ultimately end up in our own food supplies.

His study of Japanese fish markets and the origins of the food sources found there are highlighted in this video  from TED.com:

Stephen Palumbi studies the way humanity and ocean life interact and intertwine. His insights into our evolving codependence offer practical solutions for protecting both the ocean and ourselves.

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According to the survey of the Natural Marketing Institute, there are Americans which they considered as LOHAS or those following and practicing lifestyles of health and sustainability.  About 63 million Americans are considered to have this kind of lifestyle.  These consumers are the perfect reason to establish a green business.

These people are intent on keeping a healthier and greener lifestyle and according to Fast Company are willing to spent more than 20% just for greener alternatives.  They are not the only target consumers.  There are also moderate green consumers who are willing to spend on clean and healthier alternatives based on the price and from time to time.

For entrepreneurs who are thinking of venturing into green opportunities, it is important to understand market trends.  There are leading products that consumers consider important to be natural or green. Aside from that, there are services which are important to keep people and the environment healthy and clean.

Here are some ideas that you can consider when looking for a business opportunity.

•    Trash disposal.

Everybody has trash that they want to be removed.   According to EPA statistics, there are about 245.7 million tons of rubbish disposed by Americans in 2005. Homeowners, businesses and even construction sites need to remove or dispose their trash.  About 10 million computers a year end up in dumpsites.  Cell phones, tone cartridges and electronic items are dumped.  Paper recycling entrepreneur can earn as much as $100,000 every year.

Small items and scraps could be recycled and used again. For example, collecting soda cans and papers, dropping and sorting them in recycling centers can already help you earn bucks.  Learning how to collect large numbers and identify what would be valuable from other people’s trash could pave the way as a recycling entrepreneur.

•    Selling organic products.

The demands for organic products are increasing.  In the United States, organic food and beverages sold an estimated $20 billion in 2007, according to the OTA Manufacturer Survey in the same year. The sales for 2009 reached $26.6 billion, achieving 5.3% of growth.

In the OTA Manufacturer Survey of 2009, the food industry only generated 1.6% of growth.  But organic food sales grew 5.3% which indicates that even if the economy is difficult, consumers are still trying to make smart choices and trying to live a healthier lifestyle. Organic non-food items like cosmetics and toiletries have earned $634 million which is about 35% of the entire non-food sales of 2009.

Such demand makes it ideal to explore venturing into this business.  There are different organic food and non-food starting kits available for beginning entrepreneurs.  The internet lists different organic companies which could be contacted for enterprising or retailing.

•    Organic and healthy restaurants

According to a recent survey, about 80% of Americans consider themselves environmentally aware and concerned.  The GRA or Green Restaurant Association said that there is a growing trend that instead of just eating outside, Americans also want to do something good, too.  Why not do two things in a GRA certified restaurant?

In fact there are some restaurant owners who would say that having their restaurants GRA certified was able to attract more customers and solidify their relationship with existing customers.

•    Green buildings

Green construction is another great business idea.  Homeowners and building managers are showing interest in practicing constructing methods that are energy efficient and green.   According to the Green Building Market and Impact Report released in 2009, the growth of green construction is getting steady.

Energy auditing is part of green construction and building.  Allowing you to identify areas/ appliances in your existing home or building that could be changed to become more energy efficient.

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1) Accept the problem
You have to be at peace with a problem, WHILE it is in existence, for the solution to come to you. i.e. you have to accept yourself where you are, no matter what – you cannot solve any problem without first accepting it, and yourself. We spend so much of our time trying to deny what has happened or deny a part of ourselves, pushing it away, which only leads to more of the problem appearing in your life. Very often simply fully accepting the part of you that is creating the problem will be enough to have it disappear, as it is so used to being pushed away/rejected. Part of you is trying to send you a message; maybe it’s time you listened. Read the rest of this entry »