Times Are Changing.

Hello Y’all! I Hope you are doing well in your part of the world. It’s been a minute since my last post and here we are at the end of July; thanks to corona, the past months have been a blur. Summer is almost over and adapting to this new normal is all we can do besides not catching this darned virus. If you’ve been a reader for a while, you’d remember that I did a post on Hillary Clinton a couple years ago; and as much as my blog is not political, I believe it’s only fair that I do one on President Trump as well.

One of the things I have come to understand about politics and the rule of democracy is that when dealing with human beings, there are no hard and fast rules. People are not sheep and the popular slogan of ‘one size fits all’ does not always apply. So, what’s good for the goose isn’t always good for the gander. In the past couple of months, it’s been wild with everything from power play, political sabotage, racial injustice, to mass censoring. It literally feels like a movie unfolding before our very eyes. Its like being a spectator at a game of chess, and observing the moves made by the players.

Speaking on the parties we currently have, there are those people who are either for or against one side or the other and literally demand that we pick a side as if that will bring a solution to the issues we are facing as a nation today. I personally believe that there is no such thing as an absolute ‘good’ or absolutely ‘bad’ party because upon analyzing both options, there are certainly things that are favorable to all people within each group. But when I look at the foundation, what they stand for, the track records and I weigh those things against my conscience and the moral standard of what is acceptable in the light of our humanity, one side definitely outweighs the other in being a better pick. The older I have grown, I have developed a keen eye to observe and an ear to listen – not just to what is being said but the motives behind it, the actions that preceded before and what is being displayed or shown in the present. I have come to the realize that I would rather have truth screamed at me that the soft sweet words of a venomous snake as it slowly circles and strangles me while keeping me calm and at ease. Here are some of the things that I have noticed in our culture today that is slowly becoming our new normal.

The Cancel Culture: It’s like people have finally had time to dig up dirt on celebrities and public figures mainly because they are soft targets, and bringing a lot of things to light. I’m neither for or against these happenings but I do believe that Karma is a b***h and whatever is done in the dark will one day come to light. But still, it’s a painful thing to watch.

Massive Censorship: First and foremost, we have human rights and one of them is the right to freedom of speech or expression. People can’t even laugh or be comedic anymore because a large majority of people have become snowflakes and can’t take simple humor. I am waiting for the day that I get up in the morning and look on social media without seeing anyone apologizing for only god knows what. Anyway, here’s a link to get yourself up to speed on what your Human Rights are…and if you ‘really’ have them. http://www.youthforhumanrights.com

The Rise in Racial Discrimination: Shying away from the reality of racial discrimination is like have a rotting wound that’s oozing out puss but covered with the finest cashmere throw on. It still stinks and the only way to fix it is to uncover it and treat the wound head on. This seems easier said than done but kicking the can down the road has not gotten us anywhere, so why not just start now.

Attack on Religious Freedoms: I have noticed that over the past two to three years, there have been a rise in the number of cases going all the way to the Supreme Court due to attacks on Christians in the work place. This was not always the case in the past but thankfully there are law firms dedicated to the sole purpose of defending peoples religious rights and freedoms most especially in the work place.

The Power of the Camera: We live in a time where we are seeing ‘instant karma’ because someone had a camera in the moment and was able to report an incident with proof. Shakira once said ‘My hips don’t lie’, well the videos don’t lie so people need to be on their best behavior at ALL times because it’s not worth loosing your job or career over just because you were caught behaving badly…in public. I believe this is a heart issue. If you are a good human being with integrity, you won’t need to pretend

So….What Now?

A lot of things have happened since the pandemic, so much so that when I think of the months to come, I’m not so certain on what to expect. Folks have gone back to stocking up on food, piling up ammunition for only God knows what, and buying up survival kits plus catching up on episodes of Mountain Men, Alone and all those survivalist shows that depict people living off the grid in the woods some where. Or the other extreme where people are trying to hold unto life as they knew it aka choosing to be sitting ducks by not watching the news and hiding their head in the sand and refusing to accept that the country is changing and may never be what they knew it to be. I don’t have the answers folks but I’ll keep my eyes peeled and do my best to be upbeat. Feel free to share your thoughts, views and comments. Don’t forget to like and follow for more great content. Until I come your way again, I remain

Periwinkle Starr

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A Blessing In Disguise?

Hello Y’all! I hope you are doing well in your part of the world? It’s been a trying couple of months, but we are going to find a way to be all right and make it work – whatever it takes. The year 2020 has been interesting to say the very least. With the COVID-19 pandemic and being forced to stay home with limited movement for the first couple of months, a lot of us had to get used to this ‘new normal’ in order to make it through. I found myself dusting off my old recipes including my Great British Bake Off cook book and looking up recipes and YouTube videos to create some variety in meal prepping. Don’t get me wrong, trying out new recipes whenever I get a chance to do so is something I have always done but this time, I had more time on my hands, so I decided to dig a little deeper. Since we couldn’t go out, I could feed my eyes by watching food and travel blogs including my all time favorites which are Mark Wiens and High Carb Hannah.

A Health Reset!

In my attempts to find healthy and quick recipes online, I stumbled on several bloggers who figured out a way to reset their bodies, loose weight, repair their health, and turn their lives around just by making tweaks starting with their food intake and an upgrade to their exercise routines. All these amazing feats they did without surgery, expensive treatments or anything weird. Before I dive into the information gleaned from these individuals along with the tweaks I incorporated into my daily routine, I’m making a quick disclaimer that ‘I am not a certified nutritionist or a medical practitioner’, so please check with your primary care physician before incorporating any of these tweaks into your lifestyle. As I started with tiny tweaks here and there, before you know it, I began loosing a few pounds. My love handles (and yes, I said ‘love handles’ LOL) started disappearing. I also noticed I wasn’t as out of breath when I got to the top of the stairs as I usually did and my mind became clearer and my thoughts fog-free. What I am sharing below are some of the things I did to get me to where I’m at today. Should you choose to embark on this journey with me, please feel free to share your process and what worked for you. Here it goes!

*I got myself a smart scale. One that not only gives you your weight in pounds or kilograms but also gives you your BMI, water weight, fat, muscle mass and required caloric intake. With that info in hand, you can track your progress as you go along.

*I did a 3-day colon cleanse. There are so many out there. Opt for the safest, most natural and verified solution that fits your body type.

*I slowly cut down and cut back on artificial sweets (chocolate, ice cream, gelati) and slowly began to replace these sweets with fruit. So when I would get cravings, instead of reaching for a Snicker or Kit Kat mini, I would have a pear, guava, peach or any fruit on hand. It’s Summer y’all, you have multiple options right about now.

*Choosing zero calorie soda over regular soda and choosing natural fruit juices with little or no added sugar.

*I started making a conscious effort to ‘eat the rainbow’ or parts of it at every meal.

*I cut back on cooking oils. Not until very recently did I realize that cooking oils contain an insane amount of calories even when used in small quantities. So I cut back on how much oil I slathered on and in my food especially when prepping.

*I began looking for healthy alternative ingredients to my favorite recipes. I love making pancakes from scratch (not out of a box), and so instead of using flour, I have incorporated oat flour instead and use a little bit of white flour as a binder. Its a much more healthy option and has a lower caloric value.

*Incorporating an hour of exercise into my routine for a minimum of 5-7 days a week. Track your steps, do Zumba, HIIT, take walks, swim.

I tend to be a ‘late night snacker’ but after a couple of weeks incorporating these changes, my night cravings reduced considerately and right now, I’m at a point where, I seldom snack as much at night like I used to and I am looking forward to a time where I don’t need to snack at all. Folks, 2020 has been rough to say the least but we have to be able to count our blessings and be optimistic for our future because that’s the only way we are going to come out on top on the other side. I hope you had a wonderful Independence Day celebration and got to enjoy the fireworks amid the ongoing social distancing enforced in Texas since we got the spike in new COVID-19 cases. Be safe, healthy and upbeat until I come your way again! I remain

Periwinkle Starr