The Sixth Sense- (Proprioception)

Twelve years ago in a post about the 5 senses of the body, a 6^th sense was mentioned as important as the other 5 - sight, touch, hearing, taste and smell. Movement or proprioception as it is called is an important sense like no other. It involves the whole body and its 'placement' in the daily world in which we live, move and learn.

In today's modern world, the study of proprioception - the 6^th sense - is slowly taking root. It is an important learning support as are the other 5 well known senses. Self-confidence emanates from the body's ability to move in perfect synchrony. Sports, dancing and just plane walking are significant in our learning game, especially for children. Synchrony is the goal and is as important as algebra and reading.

Having an awareness of movement is critical to the growth and development of children, both intellectually and physically. Could 'dancing' factor in to this equation? The 'sit still' directive made to young children in class, might be misdirection. Busy children are busy for a reason. It is an inherent phase in which they live, breathe, grow and learn.

When I was a little girl, proprioception was probably ignored for little boys. Their right to move about might have been stymied. No one thought of their right to move. Their DNA spoke and off they went in the school yard or at home with boundless energy. Though recess was mandated 5 days a week during the school hours, did anyone fully understand the critical importance of this active period of the school day for young children? ... The moving body learns through repetition. Confidence builds in appropriate extraordinary ways. Now we understand how exercise - the moving body- impacts everything in life - health, learning and success.

Today's scientists studying proprioception understand this critical component of the living body. Even our Mr. Wiggles is expected to run, play and fetch on a daily basis. Choreographed  and random movement is central to his life as a dog, a moving creature that never ceases to amaze. And if he cannot I have a problem as does he. 

Proprioception is central to his health, strength and longevity. It is central to all humans. Though Mr. Wiggles' sister of 14 years is no longer with us, having died last July, her presence aided in his physical and cognitive development as well as her own. They have impacted my own proprioception, too. My 'Sally' would have turned 15 in September. She was at the top of her game in my life and heart.

Couch potatoes have no place in our daily moving and learning lives. Have we relegated the concept of proprioception to the bottom of the list? I hope not. It is a central feature of lifelong learning, health and self awareness, beginning with the youngest among us, babies, children and dogs.

Those Intruding Commercials!

Those intruding commercials. What a nuisance they have become. Advertisers have no problems showing their product or service during a show or movie we are watching. When does it stop? Or will it? In your obsession of profit at all costs you are losing my support.

I fully comprehend the importance of advertising. We all do. But the decision to suddenly interfere while a movie or show is being watched is unbelievable, an act of defiance. Is it in your business plan to annoy your customer base by having us share half of the screen space with your product or service shots? Is that what watching television has become today? Money. Money. An endless invasion of our personal space. When does it stop?

In the beginning of a program, the commercials are fewer to entice the audience to watch. Then the perversion begins. (A three hour movie at the theaters does not exist). It is usually only two hours or less. Once invested in the movie we are not going to change channels - 10-20 minutes before the end, regardless of the interruptions. That will not happen. The movie becomes tedious to watch now. A program I watched had its ending suddenly stop, upended by too many commercials. There was no ending for the audience -me!  Thank goodness for the mute button, a mere consolation prize for us.

Movies for the television audience have been lengthened. Networks have bills to pay, obviously. The 2 hour theater movie now becomes a three-hour made-for-T.V. commitment with an exaggerated add-on, by the side or top of the  television screen.. How unsightly! How unseemly! Love it or leave it. The decision is ours to make.

Thank goodness for taped programs. Time stands still for no one while being a precious commodity as well. Infusing all shows with one enticement after enticement to buy, buy eventually exhausts us all. There is no more money in the bank. We're tired and the consumer will revolt. The winner will be decided. Guess who?

Dialing Down the Sodium!

As I read the labels of canned soups, I was left wondering. Are they aware of the deleterious effects of excessive sodium chloride (salt) in processed foods on our health? High levels of this 'spice' is found everywhere. So stop it! It's not nice and is unhealthy!

I was comforted by the fact that a majority of the soup for dinner that night would be my soup not theirs. The simple ingredients called vegetables were there. 'Real stuff' they keep telling us. Fake food pretending to be real?

The sodium amount in the can would be reduced considerably because I was adding more water to increase volume thereby reducing salt per serving. The soup 'du jour' was pea soup, the delicious soup I have adored since childhood. The brand I was using had several versions of this pea soup line-up. I had bought the one with the simplest recipe. I would add my own ingredients called vegetables, healthier with a plan in mind.

Into the pot went a small amount of water, diced carrots, cubed potatoes, celery (lots) and onions. Next came the pricey organic bay leaf. Its impact on overall taste is noticeable. So I only use organic. Once the diced vegetables were nearly cooked I emptied the can of pea soup into the pot, mixing the contents of the can well to make my version of pea soup. (Ham can be added if desired).

I noticed that the soup seemed thin, watered down as I mixed it. Had I added too much water? I thought for a moment, then peeled, soaked, then diced, in large cube sizes, yellow potatoes to help add flavour and thicken the soup. (No need to add flour, gluten-free or not.) Potatoes are the best thickener for any soup or stew. And they taste superb no matter how we eat them. Two or three might be enough, depending upon size. Pot size will also help to decide amount of soup you want to 'expand' as leftovers. You're the boss.

I tasted the new pea soup. But something was still missing. So into boiling water in another pot went the homemade spaetzle. (I love this german noodle - eggs, flour and water - in all my soups, especially chicken noodle.) My accessory for making this noodle was broken so I used a grater with very large holes to determine size, turned it over, added a small amount of dough on top, forcing it through with a small metal lifter over boiling water. It cooked for a few minutes till done, was drained, then added to the finished product and mixed. Oh so delicious. But still something was missing. So I added nutmeg to the soup. I had forgotten to add it to the egg dough. So into the soup it went. This last minute addition was important. What a difference! What a pot of yum.

Personal touches to anything in a can is possible thereby reducing the salt by increasing the volume with more water, fresh and frozen vegetables to supercharges the soup in every way. If the salt is excessive in a processed product 'revise' the recipe. Lower the sodium amount. With canned meat I run cold water over it in a colander in  the sink. Juice half a lemon and pour over slices that have been cut. Lemon juice helps to 'remove' the nitrites -(cancer causing) - used as a preservative in meats. Salt is minimized, too. The tang of lemon lingers but after a while the taste is a healthy welcome change.

In restaurants, the salty meal arrives. Salt has been added when not requested. Send the meal back. That costly lesson will be noticed. So will our health when salt is used with caution and respect.