What is an empath?

What is the difference between being sensitive and an empath?  I wonder because someone thought I was an empath...lol.

I have always considered myself a sensitive person, but not an empath. I always thought an empath knew things not just felt them or read body language from people or an animal, of which that is what I do.

If I watch a movie it stays with me, same with tv shows. I watched Medium one night where a child had been murdered by rat poison and that episode still haunts me. I know somewhere this has happened, it just made me cry.

Whenever I see an animal killed in the road my heart sinks.

Usually I do stay away from tv and the News because very little is positive and the violence haunts me.

I remember one day (when I was working)  I was in the breakroom eating lunch and all the women  there started to discuss the woman who murdered all her children in the bathtub one by one. They went on to discuss these poor kids last words...I could not stand it. How can you sit there eating and discussing this? I excused myself from the conversation and walked out silencing the room.

Not sure if I was being too sensitive or not?

As of late I find myself not able to make decisions well and I am second guessing myself all the time. I think oh I being too this or too that...sheesh.

I think it's good I can focus on school soon..lol

 

 

This list was compiled from Vegetarian Times.

I don't agree with some of the findings here, for instance I believe blueberries do have a high level of pesticide residues, and eggs no matter the label (which is hard to define anyway) does not  guarantee the chickens are living in a cruelty free environment. They are still sent to slaughter as soon as they are "spent" and can still have their beaks seared off without pain medication. In my opinion it is better not to eat eggs unless you have your own chickens or  can get local eggs where the chickens are treated with compassion and kindness,not a product-see my note below.

Vegetables to buy organic

Green Beans-are sprayed multiple times with pesticides and herbicides, and fungicides.

Potatoes-especially russets, are highly likely to contain multiple pesticide residues.

Spinach-is often grown in less-than-ideal conditions, so conventional farmers uses significant amounts of pesticides,fungicids,and herbicides. More than 60 percent of the nonorgainc spinach tested by the FDA contains pesticide residue, including DDT and permethrin.

Winter squash- Mild pesticides are used on hard winter squashes. Conventional grown winter squash is coated with an oily wax, making the skin inedible. Organic is a better choice, but nonorganic is acceptable if you don't eat the skin.

Vegetables ok no buy nonorganic

Asparagus, Avacados,Broccoli,Brussel sprouts, Cauliflower, Cabbage,Sweet Corn,Eggplant,Garlic,Onions,Rhubarb,Sweet Potatoes,Tomatoes-buy local, Zucchini-does not tolerate many pesticides but the pesticides used on this crop include several known carcinogens

Seeds, nuts,legumes buy organic

Almonds-Many toxic pesticides and herbicides are used on almond trees. If you eat almonds daily, buy organic

Peanuts (and peanut butter-Peanuts grow underground and are known to absorb toxins from the soil

Pecans-If you can find organic-pecans, they're a good choice because pecan trees tend to be sprayed frequently with pesticides, herbicides,a nd miticides.

Soy foods-Soy milk and tofu are so processed that few pesticides residues remain; however, several very toxic pesticides are now used to grow conventional soybeans. Buying organic soy products encourages more organic production. Organic is the best choice for children.

Ok to buy nonorganic

Beans-dried,Cashews, Macadamia nuts,Sesame seeds-organic is better.

Fruits to buy organic

Apples-Multiple pesticides are found on apples, a favorite food of many children

Apricots,Nectarines, peaches- Most stone fruits are highly likely to contain pesticide residues. Peaches are No.1 on the Environmental Working Group's Dirty Dozen list

Cherries-are sprayed 8-10 times during their growth cycle and likely contain various pesticide residues.

Grapes, imported-Buy only organic or avoid imported entirely, specially for children. Imported grapes may be fumigated iwth highly toxic methly bromide.

Lemons, limes organges- Most pesticide residue is concentrated in the peel, so buy organic when using the peel in baking or drinks.

Pears-highly likely to contain pesticides

Raspberries-Buy local- highly likely to contain fungicide residue

Strawberries-USDA's Pesticide Data Program releases its annual list of produce samples with residues that exceed tolerable levels, strawberries appear more often than any other.

Ok to buy non organic

Blueberries,bananas,Grapes-domestic-for small children organic is best,Grapefruit,Tangerines,Mangoes, Watermelons.

Cantalope-eat domestically grown nonorganic melons in season. Cantalope imported from Mexico frequently test positive for pesticide residues and should be avoided

Dairy to buy organic

Butter-typically shows low pesticide levels, but pesticide residues are stored in fat and butter is nearly all fat

Cheese is mostly fat, and pesticides tend to accumulated in animal fat. Organic cheese is best, but hard to find. For children, buy only organic. Local cheese may be a good option.

Eggs-Local,organic eggs are the next best choice,followed by cage-free eggs.

Milk,yogurt-organic milk contains no hormones or antibiotics.

*A note about organic and dairy*

Many times your local farmers market has produce that is organic but the farmer does not have the label due to paperwork or restrictions. Organic also does not mean the crops  grown are sustainable.

Become friends with your local farmers market.

With dairy, organic has nothing to do with cruelty. It is a labeling system that requires no pesticides,growth hormones or other artificial means of production.

While I believe in organic it is not always the answer. A farmer can loose their organic label if one of their cows becomes sick and they use an antibiotic to help her, even if she is removed from the food chain. I could be wrong but this sounds insane.

There are other reasons to find alternatives to dairy. Cows give milk only while pregnant and nursing their calves like any animal. So they must be kept pregnant and then many times the calves are taken from the mother (which causes distress and the mother often cries as the baby does) this is the reason for the veal industry, a very cruel industry where a baby is kept in a crate and kept anemic for 4 months before slaughter. Often it is the male calves because they are deemed worthless on a production line.

Organic has nothing to do with a cruelty label. There may be some farms that are cruelty free but lets be honest if an animal is no longer producing it costs them money so they send that animal to slaughter. Cows on average live about 20 years I believe. In a farm situation they only live about 5. Chickens have a 10 year life span. On a production farm they typically only live 3-about as long as they can produce eggs.

Other chickens like broiler chickens don't get to live that long and don't get to live in a loving environment. They  are treated as a product, boiled alive many times than not. A cruel death indeed.

I highly recommend finding the many dairy and egg alternatives.

We have the power within ourselves to change what we do to this planet and her creatures-including ourselves. What we do comes back to us in more ways then one, and we are already seeing this with the warming of our planet.

Namaste,

Sky

 

 

to all my friends!

I am so sorry to be away for so long. Many thanks for stopping by sending love and blessings and saying hello, so sweet and very much appreciated!

Things have just been really busy this summer and about to get even more so...lol.

I must be insane but I signed up for fall classes at the local community college.

I'm taking United States History II and United States Government.

This happened because I was working on getting my 18 year old registered for classes and a little voice said you go too.

The cool thing is we will both be taking the government class together...well he may not think it's cool to have his mom in the same class with him..LOL.

I'm excited about going back even though I've said I never would..well here I am..going back..lol.

I've been a stay at home mom now for 3 years and I need need need something to focus on and what better way than to learn and maybe maybe maybe even get that degree I've been wanting since I was 23!

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend!

Sorry I seem to have a difficult time keeping up..lol.

I hope everyone is doing well.

My oldest graduated high school last week.

I was sad as I remembered him chasing after ice cream trucks, the difficult transitions of dropping him off at daycare...lol  now I'm the one having a difficult transition.

He says he's going to live at home for awhile, we'll see. He's not interested in driving and does not have a license.  His favorite thing to do is play video games. I look at him and sometimes see that little 7 year old boy playing video games.

My nine year old daughter made first honor roll the last grading period. Second honor roll several times in the year.

My three year old, keeps me on my toes...lol. Hugs me with such force I can't breathe..lol..and says to me...I love you mommy...my 18 year old still says he loves me...even in front of his friends when leaving..

I'm much blessed...I never finished college..never had a career or a job where I could really stand on my own and support my kids when I was single..but I am a mom, and I always will be.

I hope as they look back on their childhood, they will think I was the best.

 

 

A new day....

I greet  June 1 with a recital..this afternoon....yikes! Been practising for months now and hubby and I are going to play Paperback Writer, a 12 bar blues riff my guitar teacher taught us and we are playing guitar back up to two girls singing Let's Get together ...oh my hope is it all comes together well..lol.

Last week the Tibetan Monks were in town and I went to a bookstore and listened to a tea ritual that must have lasted 25 minutes..lol. The chanting was beautiful! There was a question and answer afterwards which was very interesting. I took pictures but I am unable to load my pictures from my camera to my computer. Not sure what is going on. I do know we need a new computer.

My oldest graduates from high school this week!

A new month....

New beginnings this month as school is over, summer begins and my oldest starts a new chapter in his life.

I already have a few art projects in mind for the younger ones to do this summer and will post them soon, hopefully with pictures.

I need to go and make some snacks for the recital, I'm thinking mini zucchini muffins and some cool iced green tea.

Many blessings to everyone!