Rochester – Mayo Clinic

Photo R. Meshar

Not to worry, I’m perfectly healthy. But I did have the opportunity recently to visit a friend who lives in Rochester, Minnesota. While I was there she gave me a mini tour of the Mayo Clinic. It’s at the center of most things in Rochester and one of the top three medical facilities, attracting people from around the world.

The hospital, originally started by Charles and William Mayo with the Franciscan Sisters of Rochester in the late 1880’s, gradually became a center for medical training, medical education and research.

Below I’ve posted pictures of the view from the 15th floor. Above you can see the sculptures of Dr. Mayo with a Franciscan Sister exhibited on the plaza in front of the clinic. As it happens, my friend is a Rochester Franciscan sister too which is why she made the perfect “Mayo guide” for the day.

During my visit we stopped at Chester’s Kitchen and Bar (it was packed) to taste their delicious sweet potato fries. In addition I had a grilled citrus shrimp salad that was really fresh.

Downtown Rochester is accessible, while offering shopping, dining surrounding the Peace Plaza. The Plaza is used for weddings, performances as well as market shops and live music during the summer. People can shop, walk, eat and enjoy the music

.

Photo R. Meshar
Photo R. Meshar
Photo R. Meshar

While we often seek physical healing, sometimes healing occurs in other ways – maybe psychologically or spiritually instead. Are we prepared for other ways of being healed?

Here was the sunset when I returned home.

Photo R. Meshar

You may also like Stillwater Stop, Duluth Day and Cabin Fever.

Occupy Minnesota

This article in MinnPost by Eric Black highlights the fact that more and more Americans are waking up to the devastation of an under-regulated financial industry.

I have discussed often on this blog about the importance of speaking truthfully about reality. Language forms and informs HOW we think. People are beginning to realize this. Take a look at the language on some of the signs reported in the article. Here are what some of the signs read:

“Lower the Maximum Wage”

“The winds of change are blowing”

“This is not a crisis; it’s a slam”

“Capitalism encourages greed”

“Billions of our tax dollars went to bailed out bank bonuses and trickled down to cutting social services”

“Blame Reagan and Bush; Not Obama”

(Or, on the contrary:)

“Bush? Obama? Same policies – Join the Ron Paul Revolution”

“A 4-day 32-hour workweek = more real jobs for Americans”

“Wall St. Econ 101: Privatize the profits; Socialize the losses”

“No slaves; No masters”

“Wake Up America”

“The 99% is too big to fail”

“Eat the Rich”

“Economic Justice means forgive loans, not lawbreaking banks”

“Be Warned: The Nature of your oppression is the aesthetic of our anger”

“Corporate Greed is Killing this country and its future”

“We are still a colony of the British Empire under the jurisdiction of the Magna Charta”

“Health Care is a Right”

“Wall Street Cheats—Stop Naked Shorting”

“Audit the Federal Reserve”

“Corporate America: Join me or face your doom!”

“Money is not Evil; Buying and Selling Congress to protect Wall Street Is”

“I dissent”

“Tax the 1%”

“Can I please get a bailout to pay for college”

“You’ve Got to change the world and use this chance to be heard; your time is now” (This, the sign holder told me, is a lyric from a song called “Butterflies and Hurricanes” by a group called Muse.)

“We ARE the government”

“Jesus: Please rescue the other 99 sheep”

“This is what a global revolution looks like”

“We now have government by the corporations, for the corporations”

“Ministry of Propaganda: Fox News”

“If they are saying ‘Let them eat cake,’ maybe we should say ‘Off with their heads.’”

 

InnerPeace – Walkin’ on Sunshine or Eggshells?

Photo R. Meshar

Remember the song, “I’m Walkin’ on Sunshine”? Most of the time our closest relationships should feel like walking on sunshine. But what if, like me, you’ve had an experience in many family relationships that feels more like walking on eggshells?

Walking on eggshells is a warning flag that something is very wrong. In healthy relationships, even when one of the participants is in a bad mood, tired or irritated, trust still underpins the relationship. Because of the underlying trust, neither one ever feels like they’re walking on eggshells.

Walking on eggshells means you can’t be sure what is coming next. This is because your experience has been that what is coming next could be a “rocket across the bow” to you.

People who live with those caught in addiction frequently describe their relationship with the addict as one of “walking on eggshells.” Similar descriptions will be used for relationships with narcissists, manipulators and other types of self-centered behavior.

Over time, walking on eggshells can create severe stress, may even cause depression or worse. No one deserves this in her or his life.

Stop. Assess. Consult a therapist. Make changes. Your life and health depend on it. Start walkin’ on sunshine.

Photo R. Meshar

You may also like Thinkers Anonymous, Difficult People, and Question the Culture.

Stories About Fighting Back

Shine light in the darkness. People are becoming empowered to fight back.

Check out the Guardian’s Series, “Fighting Back” – “A series of investigative documentaries about poverty, commissioned and editorially controlled by Guardian Films, in association with Christian Aid”

 

You may also like Farmers Pushed Off Their Land By Investors, Life of Water; Water of Life and What Can You and I Do?


Cafe Saturday

In case you were otherwise occupied, look around – autumn has arrived. Last Saturday I went for a walk to enjoy the colors and then stopped by a cafe, sitting in the  sunshine. Here are some pictures of fall color just beginning to emerge.

Photo R. Meshar
Photo R. Meshar
Photo R. Meshar
Photo R. Meshar
Photo R. Meshar

You may also like Another Prairie Walk, August Evening Picnic and Great Lakes Revisited.