Take a look at this month's edition of The Power Pulse!
August 2020
FINDING FORGIVENESS HOW WE CAN HEAL FROM THE ISSUES OF 2020
When I discovered that Aug. 2 was International Forgiveness Day, I knew exactly what I wanted to write about this month. This year has run our country through the wringer, and there are so many thoughts and emotions going through my mind each day, as we process how to move forward together. I believe one of the most powerful ways we can do that is through forgiveness. After the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody on Memorial Day, the country erupted into protests and calls for better accountability against systemic racism. If it wasn’t obvious, America has not fully addressed our history of racism, and while there has been progress since the Civil War, there is still so much white citizens have yet to understand or address. As a white kid growing up in a standard middle-class home, I learned about the civil rights movement of the 1960’s. It seemed as if it was ages ago, but I was learning about this in the 1980s when it had only been 20 years since Martin Luther King Jr. led a march on Washington.
in 1964- close to 100 years after the Civil War!) For those who are white, this may have been easy to overlook. As someone who isn’t a minority, I cannot fully understand how these symbols have shaped the lives of people of color. Do I believe that our country is in a better place compared to 30 years ago? Yes, but I also believe that we can do better, and do more. Yet, as someone in an interracial marriage — my wife is of Asian descent — I have a unique perspective on how our racially charged system impacts minorities. My family has many diverse backgrounds, too. My sister is married to a black man, and we have military and law enforcement members in our families. Because of our unique position as a family, we see the arguments from both sides and as a whole, and we believe that our family members are good people. I’m thankful to know that my interracial sons have also never experienced any outright racial issues. (Although, as brothers, we’ve had to teach them many lessons in playing nice and offering forgiveness!) Our country is at a crossroads, where moving forward and growing together is our only option. Addressing our racist tendencies is a start, but I also believe we have profound work to be done on forgiving one another for our mistakes.
Jesus’ disciples are struggling with how to forgive someone after they have been wronged. They believed that after the seventh time forgiving someone, they never have to forgive that person again. Jesus responds that we should forgive people not just 7 times, but 77 times, essentially insinuating that forgiveness is an active response we should always offer. We can only move forward when we learn to forgive each other, no matter how difficult it can be or how many times we feel we have been wronged. Our deep-seated issues have been the cause for a lot of pain, and that pain is valid. But I believe there are good people found in all races and professions. People make mistakes, and in the process of learning how to be better citizens to one another, the best thing we can offer is a little grace and forgiveness. The ability to move forward is only possible when we can all forgive. –Mark Nowlin
With recent announcements to abolish symbols that have racial undertones
— such as NASCAR banning the Confederate flag or Mississippi
changing its flag— and even the length that some states held onto Jim Crow- era laws, we can see just how ingrained racism has been in our country. (These pro-segregation laws were struck down
As a Christian, I wanted to share one of my favorite Bible passages. In this story,
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HOW PHYSICAL THERAPY PROMOTES A HEALTHY CORE YOUR MIDSECTIONMATTERS
When you think of the word “core,” you probably picture rock-hard abs, but there’s so much more to this group of muscles than that. Your core is made up of 29 different muscles in the middle and lower back, pelvic floor, buttocks, and hips, and they all work together to support your body’s movements. No matter where a motion starts, it either originates in the core or eventually moves through it, which means if your core is compromised, then a lot of other activities are compromised. Luckily, you can strengthen your core in many ways. BALANCE Your core muscles serve as your body’s natural stabilizers and make constant adjustments in response to nerve cells called proprioceptors, which help with your sense of spatial awareness. When your core becomes weak, it’s more difficult to balance yourself in your center of gravity, which increases your risk of falls and affects upper and lower body movements. Standing on stability boards, which are flat boards with
curved undersides, is a great way to work on improving your core balance. You can even practice maintaining your stability by standing on one leg.
rolling your shoulders back. When you first begin training to strengthen your core, it’s also essential to establish proper pelvic alignment. Try rocking the pelvis forward and backward in a full range of motion until you find a comfortable middle portion of the movement. Many additional practices, like yoga and tai chi, can also help improve core alignment. When it comes to physical therapy sessions, you’ll find that even if you’re there to address pain in your arms, neck, or legs, your therapist will often include core movements in your regimen because the core is such an integral part of everything we do. Whether you’re lifting a bag of groceries, practicing your golf swing, or recovering from an injury, strong core muscles are the support system your body needs to get the job done.
STRENGTH Core strength is different from
core balance: Strength determines how well your muscles produce functional movement. An array of both static (nonmoving) and dynamic (moving) exercises are great for any level of physical fitness. Static movements include exercises like planks or bridges, while dynamic movements include situps, pushups, and crunches. More gentle dynamic exercises for those just starting out, like leg lifts or pelvic tilts, can also help strengthen your core muscles. ALIGNMENT Achieving a healthy core can also improve your posture, which relieves stress on the spine and encourages proper alignment overall. Address your posture by standing up straight and
DEPRESSED, ANXIOUS, OR ANGRY? TRY LISTENING TO ROCK ‘N’ ROLL!
THE POWER OF MUSIC TO SHIFT YOUR MOOD
2020 has been a difficult year. If you’re feeling frustrated, angry, or depressed right now, you’re not alone! All over the world, people have been trying different strategies to cope with their feelings, including yoga, meditation, exercise, binge-watching their favorite TV shows, and even baking banana bread. But perhaps the most universal outlet and cure for pent-up emotions is music. Do you remember the clip that went viral in March of Italians in quarantine, singing together from their balconies? If you do, that’s probably because it made you smile. TIME heralded it as proof that “the country’s spirits are still strong,”
and it’s just one small example of how music uplifts people. This isn’t just an anecdotal effect, either. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, music can help us process emotions and fight mental health conditions like anxiety, dysregulation, depression, trauma, sleep disorders, schizophrenia, and more. So, how can you take advantage of music’s power to turn your mood around? One option is to create music of your own, but another is simply to listen. When it comes to flipping a bad mood on its head, a survey conducted by the Family Center for Recovery (FCR) suggests that rock is the genre of choice. “During any given year, depression affects approximately 5%–8% of Americans,” FCR reports. “According to our survey participants, the vast majority — around 89% — turn
to music in order to feel better. The top genre for depressed listeners is rock, followed closely by alternative, pop, and hip-hop/rap.”
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the blues came in last on the list.
To put the power of music to work, create playlists for each mood that you want to turn around, like “Anger,” “Frustration,” “Sadness,” “Anxiety,” or “Grief,” and fill them with songs from genres associated with fighting that feeling. According to FCR, rock is the most popular antidote to sadness and anxiety, and it’s also high on the list for anger, along with pop and country. Frustrated people opt for variations of rock, pop, punk, and heavy metal, and those stricken by grief turn to soft rock or soul. The artists are up to you, so fill up your lists, press play, and let the music do its work.
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YOUR ‘CLEAN’ WORKOUT ROUTINE TURN HOUSEHOLD CHORES INTO EFFECTIVE EXERCISE
Everyone knows how labor-intensive cleaning can be. A long day of scrubbing down your house is a great way to work your muscles and get your blood pumping, so crank up some tunes, grab a mop, and get ready to transform your cleaning routine into a great workout. To get physical benefits from cleaning, you need to turn up the intensity of your methods. Exaggerate your motions, pick up your pace, and keep your abs tight and knees flexed. Nearly any chore can be turned into an exercise, but here are some ideas to get you started. • Vacuum: Vacuum briskly nonstop for at least 20 minutes, switching arms as you go. For an added challenge, do lunges as you vacuum and remember to keep your toes pointed straight ahead and your knees bent at 90-degree angles. • Pick Up: Instead of simply bending over to pick up toys or clothes, do a squat with every item you grab. Remember to use your legs, not your back. You can also do squats while unloading the dishwasher or with any other chore that involves repeated bending. • Wipe Down: Whether you’re wiping windows or scrubbing appliances, do big, exaggerated arm circles until your muscles start to burn and make sure you’re switching arms as you go.
• Cook: It’s not cleaning, but it’s still a chore with useful downtime. While food is simmering or thawing in the microwave, do some pushups, situps, or planks to get your muscles moving. You can implement dozens of exercises to turn mundane activities into beneficial workouts. Some chores will burn more calories than others, but every bit of activity helps. Now’s the time to work your way to a cleaner house and a healthier you.
WORLD’S BEST VEGAN CHIMICHURRI
TAKE A BREAK!
Inspired by Simple Vegan
INGREDIENTS
• 1/2 cup oil (extra-virgin olive oil recommended) • 1/4 cup vinegar (apple cider vinegar recommended) • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 4 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
• 2 tbsp dried oregano • 1/2 tsp salt (Himalayan pink salt recommended) • 1/4 tsp ground black pepper • Cayenne pepper, to taste
DIRECTIONS
1. In a bowl, add all ingredients except cayenne and whisk until well mixed. If desired, add cayenne pepper a little at a time until you reach your preferred level of spiciness. 2. Serve immediately or, for an even better taste and texture, refrigerate for 1–2 days. 3. You may increase the batch size, but keep the ratio of oil and vinegar the same — 2-to-1. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 months.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1.
HEALING THROUGH FORGIVENESS
2.
HOW A HEALTHY CORE AFFECTS EVERYTHING YOU DO THE BEST GENRE OF MUSIC TO COMBAT DEPRESSION
3.
EXERCISE YOUR WAY TO A CLEAN HOME
WORLD’S BEST VEGAN CHIMICHURRI
4. ARE YOUR THRIFT STORE
DONATIONS BEING THROWN AWAY?
ARE YOUR THRIFT STORE DONATIONS BEING THROWN AWAY?
Are you thinking about donating your kids’ old clothes or that slow cooker you haven’t used in months? Though donating your unwanted items is a great thing to do, amid the pandemic, many people have not considered the future of secondhand shopping and charity-based thrift stores like Goodwill. In 2018, Goodwill funded nearly $5.3 billion in charitable services, like educational assistance, job training, and work placements. But now, Goodwill and similar organizations are facing a unique problem: They’re receiving too many donations. To prevent your items from ending up in a landfill, consider the following before you donate. Under the circumstances, this situation is understandable. Thanks to nationwide stay-at-home orders, many took advantage of their newfound spare time to spring-clean and
subsequently donate unwanted items to charity. However, with the confusion about how long the COVID-19 virus can live on clothing, secondhand shoppers have been staying home, worried about the health risks of buying used goods. Famously, thrift stores still keep unsold goods out of landfills. Up to 75% of Goodwill’s merchandise, for example, isn’t sold in their stores. Instead, it’s sent to discount outlets and then into global markets. However, Mexican traders, who account for 30% of business at thrift stores close to the U.S. southern border, and Kenya, the world’s largest buyer of unsold secondhand clothes, have stopped buying during the economic shutdown. Meanwhile, some good-intentioned Americans are leaving their goods outside thrift stores’ front doors, not
realizing that without enough space to house the excess donations, many of these thrift stores will have to pay disposal fees, costing the business potential revenue and sending your items into local landfills. However, Goodwill still wants your donations! You just might have to hold on to your items for a little bit. Check to see if your local thrift stores are open for donations. Many recommend waiting until the influx slows down, but others have expanded their inventory storage and are ready to keep up. Just make sure to follow their guidelines on acceptable items because any broken or worn items only add to their costs. Happy donating!
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