kdmarkstrom's Blog

In America, women have learned to play the 'Man's game' whereby we get emotionally slapped down, and we then understand our place is not to speak out, not to make waves, not to say anything that could be taken as a negative. American men's self-esteem is very delicate. I think that is probably the case in many parts of the world. In order to move on, we suck it up, take deep breaths and try to move on as best we can. Perhaps you find that to be the same in your part of the world too? I would be interested to know. What we women need more than anything is a place to go where we are uncensored, supported, united in purpose and understanding, clearly identified as valued. My hope is that BraveHeart Women is such a 'safe' place -- a safe port, so to speak, where we can moor our vessel for comfort and rest.

Almost three years ago, in one month, I suddenly lost my job which I absolutely loved. I worked for a church as coordinator of Christian Formation and Education for children and youth. I also separated from my husband of 20 years and started back to college. It took me 16 months to finally become so overwhelmed and exhausted by the emotions that swirled around and were supressed inside me by being rejected. The last thing I was supposed to do was to allow anyone to feel bad by what they had done or by decisions they had made.

I so badly wish I could have had the ability and knowledge to let go of all those emotions after being consumed by them, but I didn't, and I stayed angry for far too long. I took college classes in Buddhism to understand the need to let go of negative feelings -- to let go of the past. I'm still struggling with 'letting go' of many things. What I find though is that my life takes a downturn when I start to allow those same painful feelings of three years ago to take over.

When we as women become healthier -- NOT playing the Man's game -- we will be able to teach others the viability and importance to value everything in our lives. When we can start to value the other person who we are sitting next to, sitting across from, writing to, hearing from, calling, loving the way we ourselves want to be loved and valued, then we will begin to grow a much healthier environment.

Here's my hope to all those connected with BraveHeart Women that we absolutely value every person, even when we don't necessarily agree, because we won't. Yet, we need to learn to start somewhere in how to 'let go' by positively working through our pain.

May blessings be in abundance in your life today and always,

Krista
EcoFem

The past two weeks have been a whirl of doctor's visits because of something 'suspicious' that showed up on a CT scan when I was recently in the hospital. Today, the results indicated that everything looked good -- all tests were negative. What a huge sigh of relief! What heaviness lifted and a sudden lightness of being! Yet, it could have gone the other way. For many, sadly, more doctor bills and more expenses are near and long-term. Yet, determination and the will to make the best of the moment is foremost in many brave and big-hearted minds.

Here we are, together early into another milllennium of this Earth's life. We seem to be doing something different -- like making many trips to the doctor to ascertain if there is something that could be potentially wrong with the health of our environment, which if it comes back as a positive means our environment is very unhealthy and something has to be done. So far the many tests that have been done have shown unhealthy results.

And, now many people seem to be getting more and more sick these days. Oftentimes it is as simple as colds or as debilitating as cancer and as anguishing as depression. Yet, there seems to be an increase in people seeking medical/professional attention.

If there is a direct correlation between the health of our environment and the health of the people who tap into Mother Earth each day for nurturing and sustenance, all the way from water to food to fresh air, then what can we do individually and collectively to ensure we protect our environment so she doesn't become more ill -- and we as well?

Here's to your good health and to the good health of this beautiful island in the cosmos we call Earth! May you think of ways to be good to her... and filled with gratitude for all the abundance we receive from her daily.

peace,

Krista
EcoFem

Or life on a baguette? Or life on a bun? All I know is that I feel caught between what I want to do right now and what is.

What is is that it is very busy. I've started my fall semester in my final year of Religious Studies. In only a week, I've learned new names of those who have already forged roads, made bridges where there were seeming impasses. Rita Nakashima Brock, a feminist theology professor and codirector of Faith Voices is one of them. She has opened up a new portal through which I hope to step with regard to understanding key concepts of feminist theology. This I hope will continue to take shape in order for me to know what it is that I am sent and purposed to do after graduating with my B.A. in Religious Studies and a minor in Ethics at a 'mature' stage in life.

Meanwhile, I have been helping the wounded in recovering from a near fatal motorcycle mishap caused by a four-legged who ran out between its companions and my motorcyclist. Being a person who believes in the power of safety lying in not only being a knowledgeable cyclist but a wearer of all-out protection, the mishap was not nearly as horrendous as it could have been for my two-legged significant other and for the four-legged, who reacted to danger in a very natural way. Yet, damage was done, and I spent much of the past month as an essential component in the healing process.

And, then I ran into my own mishap with regard to not taking care of myself and ended up in the hospital, which due to some other unrelated issues, undergoing tests which indicated some suspicious density of cells on one of my ovaries. This has required multiple doctors' visits, which are ongoing, and have not yet provided final results to ascertain what lies ahead.

Should the results indicate that dreaded 'C' word, what I do know lies ahead is that through the ability to be in touch with amazingly brave, strong, compassionate women, there will be many other life stories through which I will be inspired. These stories will offer paths upon which I will be able to mindfully walk. Lana offered her inspirational and touching story of her dear friend-turned-family who recently died. And then there are the always inspirational messages from Rijuta and many, many others.

Blessings to all...

Krista
EcoFem

Hi All!

Ecofeminism relates to a spectrum of topics with the most dominant being environmentalism and feminist theology. Ecofeminism is pretty serious and daunting at times with words like 'oppression' and 'dominiation.' I like to look at the glass half full side of ecofeminism and see a progression towards non-domination and the erasure of oppression in every society and culture. This won't happen in my lifetime, yet we have to begin somewhere!

My blog's name is EcoFem. I do not espouse any particular form of religion and/or spirituality, although I strongly feel religion and spirituality play an important part of our lives and tradition. I do support environmentalism as a better approach to living.

One hot topic these days of environmentalism is concern about global warming. Whether rightly or wrongly, according to each individual's perspective, it is very much front and center these days. We have over only the past one hundred years greatly abused the environment. That truth hopefully everyone would almost agree with.

I do feel what we have done to our environment equates a great deal with how women are treated. This is 'Mother Earth' from which all life springs. If Mother Earth is constantly excavated for natural minerals and resources, eventually there will be nothing left to give. If Mother Earth is cleared of timber and plantings, there will be a lack of ability to oxygenate and purify the air. Carbon dioxide is a threat as we have seen repeatedly higher levels occurring as a result of global deforestation.

So what's my concern? That there can and should be reclamation of some minerals and metals because in the process, we will learn to not exploit Mother Earth.

Bauxite ore, which is used to make aluminum products, is a process that requires other natural resources to be used in order to create something as simple as what we use in our kitchens quite frequently -- aluminum foil. Aluminum foil is not just what we use in simple, flat sheets. It's everywhere in our own homes used in containers for pre-packaged goods we buy from Sam's Club and Costco. Many beverage cans are made of aluminum. Thousands of gallons of water are used in the processing of bauxite ore to make aluminum. We are not yet in a state of crisis with regard to water; however, we will be if we do not learn how to conserve our fresh waters. Following is a link for the mining and processing of aluminum.

http://science.howstuffworks.com/aluminum2.htm

In my blogs, I hope to pass along information that will help us all gain a better appreciation for recycling, reusing, and conserving in order to preserve our precious environment. Also in my blogs, I will talk about cooking as it is one of my favorite pastimes. I love to look at food and I love to eat! There are two wonderful movies about food which I greatly enjoy -- one is old and the other is brand new. Babette's Feast has such spirited, theological implications along with the basic goodness of how food offered in and with love restores souls to health. Julie & Julia, a new release about the love of food and others, is a movie that has given my love of cooking a huge boost! What a delight to watch what happens in people's lives through food

My blog could become rather serious in tone... forgive me if that happens! I tend to not be serious enough for loved ones most of the time. Life is MEANT TO BE LIVED and to be FUN ! However, my hope is that through my blog you will find something of value, something of interest that makes you stop to think... as well as to sometimes just stop and laugh!

I invite anyone who wants to participate in this journey with me to please do so! Offer your own advice and information! We are here through this symbiotic forum to uplift each other!

My thanks to all the community leaders whose communities I've been learning through these past few months. The one important lesson of value you have taught is the goodness of positive thinking and affirmations and how you have made others' days much more special because of what you are doing! To Ellie and all her staff, a very special thanks for making all this possible! I've 'growed' to about 10 feet tall these past few months because of standing taller through all the many BraveHeart Women's offerings I've received, although the doctor's office still maintains I'm still 5'3"

Have a glorious day!

Krista
EcoFem