On Equipment

On Equipment

I've learned a lot of things from my parents
Some of them intentionally
Some by years of imitation

My father taught me
by intention or imitation who knows
that no matter what you can accomplish

your goals through your heart
the equipment doesn't matter
adaptability and ingenuity will get you far

right of course, he is my father after all
yet the equipment does matter
he gave me a brain and a heart


I was out for a bike ride today, missing the racing bike that I used for my triathlon.
So naturally, I wrote a poem. 

Burnout and CHD or Sabbath? I'll choose Sabbath

The article suggests that people at the top of the burnout scale are also much higher at risk for Coronary Heart Disease. The life style that creates job burnout also seems to create heart disease. That is terrible. I am glad that the article has some suggestions both for ways to avoid burnout and coronary heart disease. I have been conscientious to try to make sure that I work in exercise, eating healthily, and getting enough sleep into my lifestyle, but I certainly do not get enough rest and prayer as I should. I don't think I am at risk for job burnout at the moment, but it is a problem for some priests. The passage I read today from the Bible was from Jeremiah. He was telling the Israelites of Judah and Jerusalem that they need to keep the sabbath day or otherwise God will destroy the land. It seems kind of round about, but over work of the land because of overwork of the people would lead to destruction of the land. The consequences are a bit more dire in the prophesy, but the Israelites at the time had a lot to contend with during the post-exilic period. No matter who you are, you should take time to rest, relax, and be connected with your self, your family, and your community.

Another interesting article which I read today was about a triple quasar system. That is cool!

Keeping the Heart of the Matter - Marie Daly

http://www.usasciencefestival.org/schoolprograms/2014-role-models-in-science-engineering.html?pid=366&sid=767:Marie

Today is a history lesson. The first African American woman to get a PhD in the US did so in Chemistry in 1947 from Columbia. Her determination alone is enough to commend her to our eyes. Not many women at the time were able to set out and accomplish that which they wanted to at the time. Even still today, many women do not feel that they are able to accomplish what they want with their lives. For many it is family responsibilities, feeding, clothing, and caring for their loved ones. For others it is the institutions of the world who refuse to allow women to work in certain places or who do not take the words and actions of women seriously. Thankfully, I have grown up in a time and place which has afforded me the ability to be who I want to be and to work for what I want to accomplish. I am very grateful to the women who walked before in me in the world and in my chosen career field. (If you follow Lent Madness, I can tell you I will be voting for Florence Li-Tim Oi.) There are plenty of ways in which the world has worked against these institutions and towards better lives for women. Recently we had the One Billion Rising campaign day, which goes against violence towards women in the world.
I don't know much about Marie Daly, but she obviously followed her heart and I think that is what is great about anybody who makes their own life in this world. Its an especially easy analogy to make considering she studied heart health as related to cigarettes and diet. Marie Daly is not the only woman or man or person who is notable because they followed their heart and made an impact on the world. I am hopeful that in the coming days I will get to think and learn about other new people in science who followed their hearts and made an impact for which we can all be grateful.