The Nekked Lizards

Medical Facts

Here's the final word on nutrition and health. It's a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting medical studies.

1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.

2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and also suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.

3. The Japanese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.

4. The Italians drink excessive amounts of red wine and also suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.

5. The Germans drink a lot of beer and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.

CONCLUSION: Eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is apparently what kills you.

A little more to go...

Yes, I know I haven't been writing a lot lately and when I do, it is rather boring. I have my reasons, so I will share them here. I am on my last leg of my collegiate journey. I am in my last class with less than a week to go and I have 4 papers to write by Saturday. You, my dear reader, are getting the scraps. I can't be witty while I am am trying to be a scholar. It just doesn't work.

Oh but it doesn't end there. Beginning March 3rd, I have 7 weeks of comprehensives - whatever that is. It means I am going to be tested over the last two years before I get my degree. So look for more sporadic blogging. After that, I will offer pics of camping and riding throughout the summer. I can't promise it will be wonderful, but it will be a site better than my mundane ramblings. Wish me luck.

Be safe - protect yourself.

The purpose of fighting is to win. There is no possible victory in defense.  (waiting for attack)

The sword is more important than the shield, and skill is more important than either. The final weapon is the brain. All else is supplemental.
 
1.  Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.
 
2.   If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck.
 
3.   I carry a gun cause a cop is too heavy.
 
4.   When seconds count, the cops are just minutes away.
 
5.  A reporter did a human-interest piece on the Texas Rangers. The reporter recognized the Colt Model 1911 the Ranger was carrying and asked him 'Why do you carry a 45?' The Ranger responded, 'Because they don't make a 46.' 
 
6.  The old sheriff was attending an awards dinner when a lady commented on his wearing his sidearm.   
'Sheriff, I see you have your pistol. Are you expecting  trouble?' 'No Ma'am. If I were expecting trouble, I would have brought my rifle.'
 
7.   Beware the man who only has one gun. HE PROBABLY KNOWS HOW TO USE IT!!!

Do you take life for granted? More school stuff...

Choices made during one’s life are based on a perceived reality. For some, choices hinder the embrace of life itself. The result is an ideology based on our actions we had hoped would meet with self-satisfaction. Concurrently, as stated by Frew and Spiegler (2008) and many other philosophers throughout history, as we begin life we also travel down the path to inevitable death. A majority of the world’s human population make life choices based on value systems in the hope that their lives are extended in the spiritual world after death.

The ultimate life experience is its termination. For that reason the simplistic passing into an unknown void gives absolute value to the present. The memories of the past, actions of the present and the goals of the future consume the thoughts of the living. It is often said many things to include simple pleasures are taken for granted. Other philosophies suggest we live like there is no tomorrow. We passively agree and promise to better our lives.

Unfortunately, the true essence of life does not reveal itself until death is upon us. A recent movie gave many of us pause to contemplate the end and to accomplish those things we otherwise did not or were not able to do for various reasons. Reiner and Zackham’s The Bucket List (2007) focuses on living life while possible, knowing full well that death is imminent. The plot focuses on making a list of things you have always wanted to do before you ‘kick the bucket’.

The loss of a friend or loved one brings us closer to the realization that we are not invincible. The triumphs and failures of our lives follow us by providing memories, pictures, contributions or a cold stone marker over our grave. I do not believe life has little meaning. I see it as an opportunity to learn, grow, teach and share our experiences with others. Its seriousness does not mean working toward ultimate death. Our reality is that we recognize we not only live in the world but are also an intricate part of its existence.

 

References

Frew, J., & Spiegler, M. D. (2008). Contemporary Psychotherapies for a Diverse World. Boston: Lahaska Press.

Reiner, R. (Director), & Zackham, J. (Writer). (2007). The bucket list [Motion picture]. United States: Warner Brothers.

Psych - 101: The Bathtub Test

During a visit to the mental asylum, I asked the director how do you determine whether or not a patient should be institutionalized.

"Well," said the director, "we fill up a bathtub, then we offer a  teaspoon, a teacup and a bucket to the patient and ask him or her to empty the bathtub."

"Oh, I understand," I said. "A normal person would use the bucket because it's bigger than the spoon or the teacup."

"No.." said the director, "A normal person would pull the plug. Do you want a bed near the window?" 

Reflection huggy-feely stuff.

I am in my second week of my final class on the theory of counseling. Our assignment is supposed to be a reflection about a time in your life when you stumbled but somehow picked yourself up and changed your attitude. So if you don't want to read anything about my early failures, then stop here. Otherwise, if you wish to confirm that I was at one time other than the super human you now know me as - please continue.

B. Adlerian Reflection: Identify any mistaken assumptions you hold now or have held in the past. How do some of your basic mistakes impact how you think, feel, and act?

One of the most basic mistakes I believe I made in my life is the conclusion at an early age that I had reached maturity and enjoyed the world’s knowledge. Granted, I do still believe I matured faster than many of my friends directly due to the premature deaths of my father (33) and mother (48) but I lacked the wisdom to sort out long-term goals.

Without the realization at the time, I was living between two theories – Gestalt’s here and now and existentialism. I associated the ability to live in the now, because there was nothing I could do about the past and I operated on a mission of day-to-day tasks with only immediate future intentions.

For instance, during my senior year of high school I bought a Chevy Corvette that boasted of high speeds but 12Mpg. My friends had used beat-up trucks that barely ran. Of course, my Vette’ was used, but still not a practical mode of transportation during the late 1970s’… especially when I wanted to commute to college. Second, I ‘thought’ I had fallen in love and married at the tender age of 19. Maybe I was only severely infatuated. In any case, the marriage was annulled after only six months due to immaturity and the eye-opening wonders of the world outside our hometown.

The third and possibly the most enduring piece to the ‘living for the now’ was the realization that indecision existed and it began to feed on my insides. Indecision evolved into second-guessing, which led to not making any decisions – thus failure. I was 24 at the time and no sustainable future or goals. There were no psychologists for a small town youth, at least that I was aware of. My friends had graduated college while I dropped out. They were beginning their careers and I was delivering pizzas part-time in a 20-year old VW Bug. I was on the verge of losing my day job because I was exhausted from the amount of hours I had to put in to pay the rent. I was no longer invincible or king of my own world. I had become a resident of reality.

How did these and many other setbacks impact my thoughts? I needed an extreme change in attitude. I needed to mold myself into something I had not done before. I wanted to be part of a team or family – to be needed as much as I needed them. In my case, my choice led me to a recruiter of the U.S. Air Force. I will never forget his name – MSgt Charles Edwards. Many times, I wondered if I had made the right choice. Again, second-guessing but this time I could not run away and many of my choices were made for me.

Our independent attitudes were either broken down further or stripped away completely. At the same time, each individual rose together as a team. I learned how to depend on someone knowing full well that someone depended on me. I regained composure, became assertive and responsible and began to see the world as a big picture. I also noted my insignificance might someday play a role in its development.

In reviewing the Adlerian theory, I made the all-embracing basic mistakes. According to Frew and Spiegler (2008) I exhibited a withdraw from people, excessive self-interest and had a desire for power. Achieving that state probably did not take too long. However, the realization that something was wrong did. Luckily, I picked myself up off the floor and made the right choice for me.

This evolution did not take place overnight and most will still tell you I still maintain my stance of immaturity. But I did grow. I tried to keep a few things to include my sense of humor and easy-going nature. It took falling down quite a bit but I did learn the here and now must incorporate a plan for the future. It is still not easy. I still quip, “I don’t know what I want to do when I grow up.” But I do know I want to enjoy life and its pursuit. I am just on a better path to do so.    

Reflections Part II

The second area that may impact my therapeutic relationship with a client is substance abuse and addiction. Unfortunately, I see this more of a personal fault than that of the client as I cannot speak on their behalf. I have never taken drugs or medications other than prescriptions and have never thought to consider why I would venture into the extreme. Though I did drink alcohol to excess during my early twenties while in college, I never considered consuming more than most after an exam or during a weekend party. As a therapist I am unable to place myself in the position of the client for such abuse and addiction and have trouble understanding the need to indulge in order to forget or runaway from problems. I do understand there may be a chemical imbalance that drugs and alcohol inflicts into the human body, tricking the mind into believing a void necessitates satisfaction. 

As I cannot personally relate to that need, I am skeptical it exists and my comprehension of why a continuous abuse of the body is necessary, precluding all rational thought and action. However, my lack of personal knowledge should not discourage the reality that addictions do exist and therapies are developed for treatment and resolve. There are countless studies and valid research that confirms substance abuse is real. Studies also show that many of these same addictions can be cured with the right mix of therapeutic support. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) are two such support groups that not only incorporate peer encouragement but spiritual guidance.

Reflection: Things that I find interesting, but can't do anything about them...

A portion of my belief system and one that affects many other matters within my life is skepticism. A bias regarding personal vices, values, morals and consequential actions for others and myself is the ability or inability to distinguish truth and reality from fiction and myth. I find the predominate and most damaging fault of a potential counselor that a client may not have the empathetic support required to achieve treatment and resolve. While I see potential barriers between client and therapist, I believe it is possible to hear with an open mind and assist the client with concerns based on their belief system.

My thoughts on skepticism are that I do not take everything at face value and question authority or the source. Our society is over-saturated with information – some true, more fictitious. This is one of the reasons that we as post graduates are mandated to gleam information from scholarly sources and not from information sites found on Wikipedia, Yahoo, or Google search engines.  Personal skepticism directly impacts several belief systems that could inhibit appropriate assessment and therefore, therapy. Three common beliefs or biases, which I believe, are abused or misrepresented are: religion, substance abuse/addiction, and racial prosecution. However, as with all concepts I view skepticism as a learning process and opportunity for education.  

Religion and spirituality is regarded as the foundation of many belief systems, moral aptitudes and actions. Faith is the building block of each religion and each individual places their lives in the spiritual hands of their maker. Unfortunately, the world’s cultures have waged war, persecuted groups, and attempted to establish their religion as the one true way to absolve sin and achieve spiritual enlightenment. Which religious path is right? What interpretation of the world’s beginnings is true? Was spirituality a way to keep the immoral in check and from rampant chaos?

Many theories and therapeutic sessions center absolution and treatment on the spiritual level. The physical human form is faulty, thus we delve into the mental enlightenment and tranquility. If a therapist can assist by leading the individual to appropriate moral choices, does it matter the religious preference of the client? Unless there is a specific need, then the objective of promoting an un-named higher power to change maladaptive or irrational behavior is appropriate. The positive attributes of encouraging behavioral change based on spiritual beliefs is that no one truly knows whether there life after death. It is faith that substantiates a living soul after life and the physical form is left behind to be absorbed back into the earth.

The negative aspect is for a therapist to voice his or her opinion on the belief system of the client. I propose it is appropriate to remain skeptical of one’s beliefs, but that they remain dormant and do not influence the client’s decisions. As most religions propose a utopia upon death based on actions during a life, a spiritual catalyst can be the marker and ultimate prescription for behavioral change.

Unannounced sabattical and the return...

We get writer's block. We can't come up with anything witty and our conversations loom on the uneventful or boring. Yes, you may not think so but I might come across as boring on occasion. Then there were the holidays. Not so boring, but not enough time to give the blog the proper input it needed. There is contemplation of exercising the demons and quitting the blog altogether. If that happens, you will be the first to know as I don't send my announcements to the local media - though they have requested my thoughts on various important subjects and matters of interest. 

Unfortunately, my classes have also started up again (11th) and I am in for another 8 weeks of frenzied unpreparedness as I write one paper after another - attempting to impress and baffle the instructor at the same time. I figure if you offer just enough important scholarly work, then the rest of the gibberish will go unnoticed. So tomorrow, my dear readers is the first paper for the new psychology class. It will involve 3 things I am biased against or subject matters that might compromise my counseling abilities as one who cares. Tune in and let's see what I come up with.

happy new year! How's that change working for everyone?

Some homework... Transference, thought you would never ask.

Transference - as it applies to us in our daily lives. Without delving too much into the past, we are supposed to learn our lessons from a historical aspect and promote what were the good choices versus those that were bad, in order to prevent them (the bad) and therefore progress into a more acceptable utopia. This theory will never be a reality because we will always believe our autonomy allows for better decisions. We just do not learn. We adapt.

I have always been under the perception that we are products of other humans... emotions, behavior, actions, status, etc. We see others and say to ourselves, this is who I want to be or "I hope I never treat my children that way". However, as transference is understood by me, we are at the mercy of unconscious feelings or a displacement from earlier memories. As a therapist I could see the relationship  or the interpretation of a patient's early experiences and how they reflect during a present relationship. Is the patient considering taking on the good? Or are they defining the bad and making decisions not to condone an action as it reminds them of a previous experience? As a therapist, we must recognize those repressed feelings or somehow bring them to the surface to study and work though.

Secondly, in regards to the "first indication of a preconceived notion", it is my personal thought that if someone from outside the demographic, enters a room that is unfamiliar to them, they will automatically assume from folklore, rumors, friends, television or other "sources" that the group emulates that dynamic. Here is my true life example (Smith, 2009):

I grew up in southeastern Oklahoma / northeastern Texas, residing for the most part on Red River. I never considered myself "redneck" but I did take note that our lifestyle was at a slower pace. We said, "yes ma'am " and skipped school the entire week of Thanksgiving to go hunting. After attending a small college, I joined the Air Force. I new of the big city lights of Dallas and San Antonio, but it was a higher class of cowboy. Instead of keeping our guns in the rack behind our heads, we put them under the seat.

As we got closer to graduating, we were asked where we wanted to be stationed. I put in for all bases in Texas - there were 16 at the time. As they called my name, I knew for sure I would be close to home. I was wrong. I opened my packet and found I was going to NEW YORK. Can you imagine? A country boy was about to be sent to the land of concrete, gangs, Wall Street, dialects that I couldn't understand....
This is a preconceived notion. I was about to leave my wide open country for a sure death. I did a little research and attempted to quell my fears, but I was still very apprehensive, but it worked out in the end. I made friends and they protected me and my accent against Yankee vermin. It was actually one of the better tours and I will always have fond memories of the area. Consider this on the smaller scale. Instead of the state, its a group. It is still a person who is scared of the unknown and until their fears are put aside, they will be wondering why they are there.