Lessons learned from watching The Andy Griffith Show

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As I was searching for free things to watch through Amazon Prime, I saw that the Andy Griffith show was free. I started watching the first episode. My kids seemed to like it and asked to watch more.

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen the show. I used to watch it before we ditched cable. That was before kids. Now that I’ve had kids, I feel like I was watching the show through different eyes.

What caught my eye:

  • Opie said his prayers before bedtime
  • Good old family values
  • No bad language
  • No disrespectful talk by the kids toward parents or kids with attitudes
  • It had a simple message
  • I love how Andy spoke toward Opie, the tone of voice he used and his word choices

It was refreshing to see these things. I’m used to my kids wanting to watch sitcoms which I do not feel are altogether wholesome. Many are on a channel that has a mouse as a logo. How often do they see a child praying at bedtime? It’s a routine that I try to instill in my kids, but I sometimes wonder if they understand the point. To them, it’s just something I want them to do. But to see someone else do it, could have an even greater impact.

I loved how Andy spoke with Opie. While I know this is just a show, I gathered tips from listening to him. I could always be more gentler with my words. I’m quick to judge and don’t listen well. Andy was patient and always listened to Opie (well.. in this particular episode). I am not that calm, nor am I that “playful” with my kids. I’m more serious.

Overall, this was a show that I did not have to worry about my kids picking up something bad. Nor was it violent.

(My disclaimer is that I am basing all my opinions on this one episode. I don’t remember if all future episodes are like this, but I’m pretty sure that they are.)

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Jesus the One and Only Bible Study by Beth Moore

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I’m doing Jesus the One and Only Bible Study by Beth Moore right now. Just listening to the intro video had me hooked. I love how Beth describes the silence of God between the Old and New Testaments and how it served a purpose in creating a hunger in the people.

Imagine – you feel God has been silent. However, behind the scenes, he’s setting the stage up for something great. He sends an angel to Zechariah, then to Mary and Joseph. God speaks again. To the average person, God is still silent, but to these few select people they knew that God was up to something – something great! Then, the climax comes – the birth of Jesus! God was announcing to the world that He was indeed here. God is back. Actually, He was never gone. He was always there, doing something. The people of the day just didn’t know.

How does this relate to my life? When I feel like God is silent and not answering my prayers about certain situations, I know that God is still working. He may be working to create a spiritual hunger in the other person so that they will eventually have the strong desire to “know” God like never before. God is always at work. He has a plan that will eventually unfold before my eyes. That’s exciting!

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That Sugar Film Review – Amazing!

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On the advice of a friend, I watched “That Sugar Film“. The movie is about an Australian guy, Damon Gameau, who has been sugar free for 3 years. He decides to consume 40 teaspoons of sugar a day for 60 days to see what effects sugar would have on his body. He kept up with his usual exercise routine during this time.

Damon doesn’t just choose your typical sugary foods, he chooses the ones with hidden sugar, the ones we think are good for us like yogurt, smoothies, fruit juices, health bars, etc. I was amazed at how many foods that I think are healthy and are advertised as healthy, are loaded with sugar. Even if there is just a minimal amount of sugar, the sugar we consume throughout the day really adds up.

Damon reported the effects on his body. He started having liver damage, he gained weight (even though he was still exercising), he gained inches around his stomach, he started to feel less stable emotionally and felt tired alot. Food did not satisfy him as he rarely felt full. I was really surprised to see how much fat he gained in his stomach area while “eating healthy”.

At one point during his experiment, he went to the United States to talk to some experts. He had a hard time staying under 40 teaspoons of sugar a day. Sugar was everywhere. In the US, ads are everywhere pushing candy bars, smoothies, sodas. We can’t get away from the sugar! He noticed that while driving around, it was hard to find “real” food to eat. Everything was fast food. I can’t even fathom any other type of place to eat at. I only know fast food when traveling.

As the movie ended, I felt sick to my stomach over the adverse effects of sugar on our diets. And I felt a little hopeless. I don’t eat a very sugary diet in the “traditional” sense with lots of candy, ice cream, desserts, etc. I do eat alot of the “healthy” sugary foods  – like crackers, chips, granola bars, yogurt, etc. This is all I know. I don’t know what it’s like to not eat these things. That doesn’t mean I can’t change, but I have no vision for what this looks like. How does one eat “healthy” in our society of processed & convenient foods? You think you’re doing good feeding your family a not-sweet item like spaghetti sauce from the store, but come to find out it has sugar in it! Sugar is everywhere

Our nation is addicted to sugar and we are a very sick culture. We live in a developed country, yet we’re still sick – our diets help us become sick. We have diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, etc. We are sick, but we don’t care because we are addicted to it. We need the “high” of sugar.”

I like sugar, so this is very hard to hear. I don’t really want to give up sugar. I can’t image a world without it. It’s easier to give my kids sugary snack when their hungry – like granola bars. BUT, I want to be healthy. I want my kids to be healthy. I wonder about the effects of sugar on their brains. Would they be more calmer and focused if they ate less sugar? Probably. I like that idea.

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Reading “Stop the Thyroid Madness” book by Janie Bowthorpe

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I just started reading “Stop the Thyroid Madness” book by Janie Bowthorpe. I’ve only read a few chapters, but so far I can identify with her. In her intro chapter, three things stick out at me. She describes how:

  • she had low stamina
  • had extreme reactions to exercise or the sun
  • could not stand on her feet for more than 30 minutes without extreme tiredness setting in
  • had brain fog

That’s me. I’ve come a ways in my thryroid journey, but these symptoms are so familiar and I do still feel them, although not necessarily in the extreme I once did.

I remember how alot of things made me feel tired. Walking up and down one flight of stairs in my home would tire me out. Carrying a laundry basket would tire me out. Standing to do dishes would tire me out. When it was time to set the table for a meal, I had to work quickly because I would soon tire of standing/walking.

When I exercised I would be so fatigued, all I could do was lie on the couch afterward. My whole body felt limp. I felt sick and sometimes nauseous. Telling people this is embarrassing because most would think I was just out of shape. I wasn’t necessarily, it was just that exercise made me extremely tired. I the early days (before it got worse) I remember exercising on an elliptical machine at the gym and wanting to fall asleep. That’s not normal.

I would feel so fatigued that even driving was hard. I wanted to fall asleep some days. It was tough.

Add in brain fog. In addition to my body feeling extreme tiredness, when you add in brain fog, it makes everything worse. It took alot of effort to focus to take care of the kids. It was hard to focus enough to figure out what to make them for lunch or dinner. It was hard to focus on setting the table. The kids used kid plates and kid utensils. I would sometimes stare at the utensil drawer because I couldn’t figure out which ones to pick up. If everyone used the same exact plate and utensil, it would have been easier on my brain, but it wasn’t. At this point, I think my husband felt left out. I didn’t always get his plate because I couldn’t focus enough. It was hard enough to get the kids settled with food that by that point I couldn’t think anymore. It took every ounce of energy and brain power I had just to do little things.

My fatigue was even worse when pregnant. I remember forcing myself to sit down on the couch to rest, but felt scrutinized by visiting family in my home who may have thought I was lazy. I felt bad resting. I felt like no one understood. My husband didn’t, family didn’t. I hated to complain because I didn’t want to be labeled a complainer. I should be able to have life all under control – being a mom and housewife. It was hard.

Fast forward to now after seeing a naturopath to help me. I do have less fatigue. I can stand for long periods of time. I still have to be careful about exercising because it can make me tired for days after. I’m not where I’d like to be yet, but I’m getting there. I can’t wait to read more of the book and glean some new information that might be helpful for me.

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