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Women Encouraged to Conquer Fears & Follow Dreams in ALL Arenas of Life… but ONE.

Women are encouraged to conquer their fears and follow their dreams at all ages and in all arenas of life… but ONE.
Are We Discouraging Motherhood? 10-5-2015
In education, sports, the arts, business, career, personal relationships, sexual conduct, health, body image, culinary endeavors, exercise goals, relaxation, travel, fashion, entertainment… YES! Women are told, “YES, YOU CAN!”

But not motherhood for many pregnant women. In that arena, they are told they are too young, it’s not the right time, it’s not the right circumstance, and they are told of all the bad things that could happen… straight-up FEAR MONGERING.
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WHY do the SAME people who champion ALL the other arenas of growth and promote all the other types of choice… persist in their fear of women choosing motherhood?

Why don’t they echo their usual (perhaps even idealistic) confidence and encouragement… in THIS arena?

Why don’t they tell women, “You can DO it! You CAN have your baby!” ?

Why don’t they tell them, “You are infinitely innovative and the world is FULL of resources for you and your baby!” ?
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Is it because they fear for the future of the baby? Is it because they focus on the negative among all possible occurrences? Do they fear judgment? Do they fear their friend won’t be a good mother?

Is it because they do NOT actually believe their woman friend to be a capable, innovative, resourceful person… when a LIFE is at stake?

Are they afraid of life in general? Are they afraid of challenges?

Do they fear the woman will end up tapping into the social welfare system, and they aren’t feeling generous enough to personally help meet their friend’s new needs?
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Is their confident approach to other life endeavors and arenas simply a charade? A mass chorus of platitude to lift a woman’s mood… that no one actually believes?

And what about their belief in life’s longing for itself? The most natural, inherent desire — to live — is SO STRONG. Do they doubt this?

What about the power referenced by parents EVERYWHERE — the power of our CHILDREN to draw strength from us where we didn’t know we had any strength?

Sorry I don’t have all the answers to these challenging questions.

I do see that maternity is feared. I see mortification about pregnancy. I hear chastisement of pregnant women. I feel some people’s disdain for motherhood. And I see this fear and discouragement promulgated even by thousands of otherwise STRONG WOMEN.

What is UP with this?
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“HUMANO” film asks, “What is it to be human?”

HUMANO
SOUTH AMERICA A NEW AWAKENING
DIRECTED BY ALAN STIVELMAN
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Available November 17, 2013 Exclusively On Yekra and DVD

SYNOPSIS

Alan is twenty-five years old and is searching for the reasons for his existence – the meaning of life. A camera and a notebook filled with questions are all he needs in order to begin his journey to the Andes and into the deepest corners of the subconscious. Through the eyes of Plácido, an Andean paqo(“priest”), the existence of an invisible world that coexists daily with the visible world will be unveiled before him. Alan seeks to discover the origins of humanity on earth, but in order for him to do this it is first necessary for him to learn to be human. Rituals, initiations and new challenges will unfoldbefore him as the “keys” to unlocking and broadening his consciousness.

Accompanied by Plácido, he will be taken on an introspective journey. Such a journey has never been documented before.

Web: www.humanofilm.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/humanofilm.com

Twitter: @humanofilm

YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/HumanoFilm

IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt2175828

Press kit: http://humanofilm.com/en/

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOrowLpeTLk&feature=youtu.be
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I watched this movie with my fiancé Edgar, and will share a few thoughts. In Spanish, with English subtitles, the protagonist speaks Spanish beautifully! The art & form of the movie is quite lovely… and evocative. You may resonate with the psychic journey because of how the visuals evoke familiarity with your own search for meaning.

Journeying to Peru in the search for meaning… for ME is a non-sequiter… I don’t see why, and the movie does not explain why… such an existential quest would or should take one to Peru, although I imagine it’s as good a place as any to seek out the meaning of our lives.

A Shaman escorts the young protagonist, asking provocative philosophical questions, along a journey of experiential practice interspersed with guiding nuggets of wisdom. “Humano” is an “artist’s film”… an “anthropologist’s film”… a “culturalist’s film”. Not to be watched for excitement or sheer entertainment, but rather it provides a foil for one’s own ponderings of existential questions — the meaning of life, the role of fear, how to discern and make sense of myth and reality, our connection with the earth, forgiveness, universal dreams, ascension, creation, dualism, etc.

Setting out as slowly as the film does, we were both moved to a spiritual readiness platform of discomfort. And the subtitles often require struggle to see.

The ancient Peruvian cultural wisdoms weave and inform the entire journey. “Fear only exists as much as you need it. Fear doesn’t let us see the beauty in things. It doesn’t let us see the Reality.” “Icaro” — a song sung without words. “People built this place with a purpose in mind.” We are called to engage with our universal connection to our ancestors, and to the earth. “All exists to be learned from, not judged, not rejected.”

Since I promote a wellness program based on the wisdom of the ancients, it is fascinating just how people of all places in the world instinctively look to our ancestors for spiritual and practical guidance. Some cultures are particularly long-lived, healthy, and happy, and these are the cultures whose wisdom and lifestyles I most like to embrace and promote.

As a catholic Christian, I definitely had some uncomfortable experiences with the film, witnessing how people dabble with the occult with nary a caution. Yes, we are dust, and unto dust we shall return. But not only are we “matter” — we MATTER. And I could not relate deeply with this film because I experience being “human” so entirely differently than the two protagonists of the film experience being “human”.

As a longevity advisor, I found the entire “almost anti-social” approach disturbing, because while the title is “Humano”, there is a profound disconnection from “PEOPLE” in this young man’s journey for the meaning of being “human”. He listens to one isolated shaman’s philosophical and esoteric perspectives and engages with only this shaman’s exercises, as he interacts mainly with non-human nature, like rocks and water. Nature is truly marvelous, but disconnection from humans goes against MY sensibilities of what it is to be human, which necessarily implies being born of woman, and into SOCIETY. We all need Nutrition, Movement, Relaxation, Connection, and Purpose. This film deals with Purpose, but I find it bereft of all human Connection except with the ancestors’ nuggets of wisdom and stories. The only mention of woman that I recall is an exercise of experiencing a cave as if it were a mother’s womb.

The protagonist is an intellectual, largely residing in his head, and I believe part of the great value of his journey is how he more “comes into his body”… in the beautiful mountains, cold lakes, weighted trekking, etc.

I think particularly some young men who resemble our protagonist… are ever seeking… and see themselves as ALONE in a vast wilderness, rather than learning and listening to and responding to the valuable and complex individuals who are woven in a complex and interdependent community all around them. I think this viewpoint is consistent with a pervasive DEPRESSION in our modern society. Isolation. Lack of affect. Clinical Depression.

In enormously densely populated NEW YORK CITY, I’ve heard that 50% of the population eat dinner ALONE.

Like “water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink…” we have people, people everywhere, but not knowing how to Connect. At least not in a fulfilling and meaningful way.

The film ends with describing our body as the most evolved form of matter… with serious cautionary implications for what will happen to this evolutionary chain if the earth is irreparably harmed.

For those who want to experience a sacred journey, and/or learn about Saqras and Apus in a South American setting, this movie will add artistic depth and interesting sights and sounds to the journey and lessons.

A prayer for healing of Depression is what this movie evokes for me. A deep love for my young artist brothers and sisters who battle feelings and experiences of VOID and NULL… who want to FEEL, to experience PLEASURE, HAPPINESS, and CONNECTION. I appreciate their efforts and their artistic pieces which elucidate people’s internal struggles.

At the risk of over-simplification, I feel called to say that I believe much chemical-imbalance can be resolved with nutrition in a social context — seriously, I’ve watched it work so quickly, and I feel this is a very common imbalance in the modern world. THIS FILM SHINES A BRIGHT LIGHT ON OUR HUMAN NEED FOR COMMUNITY. In the absence of community, one yearns for and can better appreciate community. Humans. God made us — not just you, not just me… but US. We need to break bread together. Share. Delight. Experience art — music, literature, movies, dance, comedy, philosophy. So if you go see “HUMANO”, go with a friend, and chat about it over dinner afterward.

Borders, People, and a Spirit of Connection

Inspired to respond to a Facebook posting.

Inspired to respond to a Facebook posting.

People in my different circles of connection are often coming from really different places. The holistic healers are generally different than my Catholic Church community. My longevity enthusiasts buddies are different than my neighbors. And my business networking friends are quite different than my family members.

But one of my roles, a significant part of my Purpose, actually, is to be a bridge, if not always directly between people, then at least between the spirit and lessons of the different people, so an indirect bridge, experientially.

So take a look at the “photo” blog above, which happened as I responded to a Facebook friend who feels adamantly opposed to undocumented immigration to the U.S. You don’t need to see the vehement rhetoric that prompted my response, as it was nothing new or especially interesting. Same old angry, one-sided, anti-immigrant views. But when such views are shared in the context of people who care about health and wellness, it is a little jarring to me.

If we look through the lens of the healthiest, happiest elders in the world’s Longevity Hot Spots, most live a faith-based life, and most are very gracious and generous towards visitors. I would be somewhat surprised, but not entirely shocked, I guess, if some of the nonagenarians or centenarians were to espouse anti-immigrant views and argue for such policies. It seems a waste of the resource of good, wholesome energy to spend it begrudging the way others meet their livelihood needs. Somehow I do not feel that traveling from one place to another can correctly be interpreted as a crime. Erecting a border may be an extension of building a home and locking a door, but I still feel for the right of people to pursue work, an honest livelihood. What you do when you GET to the destination… is a whole ‘nother story.

Connection as an Anti-Depressant

Mina and Me, on a walk in the Berkeley HillsI want to share something: I LOVE walking… pretty much any time, any where. In the U.S., people spend a lot of time alone. And I used to spend a fair amount of time walking alone, even though I generally prefer to be accompanied. One time, I took a trip to Mexico to spend time with my (now ex) husband’s family. There, and in many other countries and cultures, most people spend very little time alone. I found this a little odd, but rather pleasant, as I’ve always been gregarious and I appreciate company. If I walked to pick up fresh veggies at the corner market, one of the relatives would walk with me. If I had to do any other errand, someone would offer to accompany me. And I always said yes. I got used to this and enjoyed the walks quite a bit.

Upon my return to the U.S., I resumed my walks, and the first time I was walking alone, I observed something profound. My mind happened to take a little unhealthy detour — something related to worry and seeing things from a negative and somewhat twisted perspective. I caught it, and noticed it. I thought, “That’s funny; I haven’t had that kind of thought lately. I wonder why not, and I wonder what elicited that just now.” I followed the train of thought back, and knew that this kind of thought had not been a completely uncommon occurrence for me… particularly while walking, so I wondered why it seemed unfamiliar to me all of the sudden. And it came to me: I realized I had not been ALONE for a while. I had not been walking ALONE for quite a while.

As a Spanish Medical Interpreter, I had interpreted for several psych appointments for depressed and other mentally ill patients. And I began to reflect on the CULTURAL differences between depression and other mental illnesses and treatment for such HERE in the U.S., and in Mexico. And I learned at a deeper level one of the most important Principles of healthy, happy, longevity: Connection. When you are WITH people a LOT, you may feel a little imposed upon, (oh darn!) but there are built-in checks and balances when you start to think and say things that are not true and objective, like negative thoughts and perspectives that don’t take into account the positive aspects of a scenario or the ability to resolve difficult dilemmas by obtaining community/family support and not being left solely to one’s own devices (which are sometimes woefully inadequate). “Your problem” becomes/is “our problem”. “Let me make you a good meal and that will help you feel better.” See, a lot of times people get into a negative spiral here in the U.S. because they get a little out of sorts and then they don’t have the energy or focus to do good “self-care”, so they get worse because they have inadequate nutrition or they stay up too late, don’t shower or get dressed or get out, etc. Each of those things happens because they are not fully integrated in a community. The brain then functions worse and worse. If there are people around, they can and do help reverse a spiral, or elevate a person enough to keep them from plummeting.

If YOU see what I’m saying here, and have your own experiences which corroborate this concept of the importance of “Connection” to mental health (which plays out statistically), then please join me at http://TheBluePrintForLife.com It is my mission (Purpose) to help bring the wholesome lifestyle of the world’s Longevity Hot Spots to the United States. I could use your help. The BluePrint for Life includes: Nutrition, Movement, Relaxation, Connection & Purpose. Thank you!!!

A “Less Annoying” way to organize ALL your contacts.

Less Annoying CRM

For frustrated entrepreneurs who know a HUGE number of people…

Okay, I WAS going to write this just for entrepreneurs, but after writing the whole thing, I realize I want to share it with EVERYONE.

For entrepreneurs, I just want to share something I have been seeking for YEARS, and finally just found a few days ago. Do you know what a CRM system is? That stands for Customer Relations Management. It’s basically a computerized Rolodex that gives us lots of features to help us keep track of all the customers and prospects we have, and where we’re at with them. It reminds us what they have requested of us, keeps track of our appointments with them, and helps us follow-up and not forget things. There are MANY different systems that do this, and they can run from $0 to around $500 per month. The most expensive systems send automated messages to your contacts, etc., and personally, that is something I hope I never do, no matter how successful I become. Why? Because I find those “personalized” impersonal automated messages really annoying on a social and emotional level… especially the ones that are so well-written that at first I think they are actually personally written to ME!… only to be let down and realize I am a unit, a number, “just” a customer. The cheapest (free) systems don’t allow for much adjustment to suit your own particular business needs… it’s very “cookie-cutter, take it or leave it, one size fits all”.

But in any case, the truth is, I know a LOOOOOOTTTT of people. And I like to keep it personal. And while I like to think I have a good memory, the fact is I can’t keep track of many things that actually do matter to me about each individual I know. My Dad was one of the first people to use a “Palm Pilot” a couple of decades ago, and I discovered, in the most lovely way, how he used TECH to enhance the very personal, caring nature of his relationships. He was always taking a couple of minutes to jot down little notes in this device. I didn’t pay it much mind (“Oh, there goes Dad and his TECHIE stuff.” — insert eye-roll here), but I noticed that he would always remember to ask people things that showed he had listened very closely to their previous conversation, and tried to follow up and help them with their needs and goals.

Many years later (Feb. 2008), when he was on what turned out to be his death bed, my Dad was on life support after a very tragic and dramatic fall. The whole family flew in to pay our last respects and to support one another. We (per my mother and father’s wishes) turned off life support and had a last incredibly meaningful and memorable few moments. We went back to one of the large, cozy rooms this hospital had for family members grieving. The moment came — the announcement that my father had passed, and we were all consoling one another for a good while. We were just barely collecting ourselves emotionally, and suddenly we all heard my Dad’s palm pilot go off. We looked at each other with that, “Oh, dear. Ugh. Powerful sentiment. And what do we do NOW?” kind of look. My sister Mary Pat had brought my Dad’s Palm Pilot for him, and she had planned to re-purpose it. Everyone freaked a little. I asked her to hand it to me, because I would want to see ANYTHING from my Dad at that point.

I opened it up, clicked on the reminder, and up came this one task: “Give Mom Live, Laugh, Love.” I kid you not. So I read it out loud to a stunned room who became an incredibly BLUBBERY room… truly the spitting image of my always-sentimental father. Easy with his happy, loving tears. Walter Bergenn keeps loving and guiding even after his death — that is one COMMITTED DUDE!

Let this be a reminder that while TECH will never replace the human touch, the looking into someone’s eyes and listening; those of us who love “warm, fuzziness”, and “CONNECTION” should really UTILIZE TECH to enhance our ability to serve our highest Purpose. If you really want to help people be happy, healthy, reach their goals, etc… there’s nothing impersonal about being well-organized in how you do it.

That said, here is a link (http://www.lessannoyingcrm.com/a/32) to a system I have just chosen to utilize to make my next big leap in organizing my “customer” relations, which is really about organizing to best meet the needs of EVERYONE I know and care about. It’s on the way-inexpensive side, is service-oriented, and the system is pretty intuitive. Plus it allowed me to upload our Longevity Community Questionnaire! How cool is that?

Thanks for reading! Delight in your business, and share the Joy!

T. Bergenn

Longevity Consultant

They COME, so YOU don’t have to GO.

GO.   Go shopping.  Go get the best organic produce.   Go drive and create emissions.  Go use gas.   Go wait in the grocery store line.  Go and miss time with your loved ones.  Go and miss a call you were waiting for.  You get the point.

So to COMBAT all this GO, GO, GO… call G.O. — Guerrilla Organics!

I met Mark Deutsch and Martha Matsuda in around 2003.  About one year prior, their business Guerrilla Organics indeed started organically.  Mark Deutsch began this company in 2002 when he moved to San Francisco from St. Louis.  Going to a local organic foods store to stock his refrigerator, Mark was shocked at the cost ($200!) for two bags of groceries which contained mostly produce.  Going to San Francisco’s Wholesale Farmer’s Market, Mark bought something affordable – a box of potatoes.  He shared his potatoes with housemates and friends, who told other friends, who wanted in on the deal; someone else asked if he delivered.  Thus was born Guerrilla Organics – a small organic produce delivery business that still operates guerrilla-style… but now in Oakland, Berkeley, SF, Daly City, & Pacifica  http://guerrillaorganics.com/html/boxes.html

The cool thing for me, personally, is that Mark invented and patented the most amazing musical instrument, called a Bazantar.  He plays mesmerizing, heady, transformative music that can deliver you into a new consciousness.  And Martha shares her passions in a unique and fascinating art form — Butoh dancing.  So they support their performing arts habits by slinging local, organic produce.  They are SUPER consistent in their organic produce delivery and they are particularly enlightened and spiritually developed people… made it a very easy decision for me to switch to them from my previous “Box” delivery service.  I think participating with arts and cultural events is an important Longevity Practice.  It can re-connect us with all of humanity, and also with our Purpose.  And gives us a vehicle to bond more deeply with our loved ones and friends.

Can you imagine how cool I felt when I realized that my organic produce delivery purchases would create proceeds that help 2 cutting edge community artists practice their crafts in the arts?  AND that staying with their services meant that I get an “organic” way to continue developing my own connection with that kind of people?

YUMM.