MY MIND TO YOURS by Debra Merryweather

My Mind To Yours by DEBRA MERRYWEATHER

Up to This Minute

On January 22, the State of Utah joined 18 other states in outlawing so-called conversion therapy intended to change LGBTQ children into straight children. An NPR report applauded the conservative Mormon Church for supporting the new law. A Reuters report states the Mormon Church supported the ban because the law exempts clergy, lay pastoral and spiritual counselors, including Mormon counselors, from the ban. The January 24 Post-Standard featured an article by Jean Hopfensperger Tribune News Service announcing that Exorcisms are back. During exorcisms, priests seek to stop demonically driven rages, intrusive voices, house hauntings, abnormal strength, and feelings.

In Greek mythology, demons were bad spirits; daemons were good spirits. We all experience the good and the bad. While exorcism is associated with Roman Catholicism, other charismatic and Pentecostal groups practice faith healing and the casting out of demons. Ms. Hopfensperger writes that speaking an unknown language is a sign of possession. Often, Pentecostal groups speak in tongues, a manifestation of being possessed by spirit.

We think and communicate in words. An exhibit, years ago, at the Everson Museum focused on the literal and metaphoric baggage some patients brought with them to the Willard Psychiatric Hospital near Ovid, NY. Willard treated one man because he spoke an unknown language. Eventually, someone at the facility noticed he was speaking a unique, I believe, Slavic dialect. Would the Willard patient have fared better with an exorcist? The Tribune article quotes one exorcist who says, “I’ve seen eyes rolling to the back of the head, foaming at the mouth, people hissing, people speaking in strange voices.” These manifestations are also associated with vasovagal syncope, epilepsy and seizure. And, the rolling of eyes into the back of one’s skull or head might be part of a developed skill set. YouTube features the video of a young boy happy to teach viewers how to do it. The boy rolls his eyes back in a step by step process.

El Greco, The Vision of Saint John (1608-1614)

On January 23, the New York Times published a bit of testimony from Harvey Weinstein’s trial for rape. Actress Annabella Sciorra testified that in late 1993 or early 1994, Weinstein forced himself on her after entering Sciorra’s secure apartment building. Ms. Sciorra said she answered the knock at the door thinking it must be a neighbor or the doorman. Annabella Sciorra testified, “I said, ‘No, no,’ but there was not much I could do,” she said. “My body shut down. It was so disgusting my body started to shake in a way that was unusual. It was like a seizure or something.”

I have a theory. Well, I have many theories, but I have a particular theory that relates to the “me too” movement, issues of so-called personal responsibility and all of the issues

• Hood Cleaning Starting at $299!

FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION, CALL (315) 474-1011

around love and romance that most people don’t like to talk about especially on Valentine’s Day. It should be obvious, and maybe it is obvious, that, early on, girls learn how to sit in a ladylike manner while boys learn to test their limits and develop their strengths. Things are changing. Still, any human body primed to be nice is a body primed to shut down when nice doesn’t work.

The 10th cranial nerve, the vagus nerve, the longest nerve in the body, plays a significant role in the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. An emerging body of trauma work reveals that freeze responses in times of terror work to conserve energy so an animal, including human animals, might survive (if they survive). Dr. Stephen Porges, Dr. Peter Levine, and Dr. Bessel van der Kolk disseminate much practical information about how patterned mind body connections affect us.

What Annabella Sciorra described in her testimony seems very much like a dorsal vagal response to danger. Most of us, or at least most of us females, learn to watch out for stranger danger. We learn to not open the door to strangers. Guarding against the unknown is simpler than trying to interpret the, sometimes, mixed signals of people we’ve met. Trying to play nice, in the hope of not being played, doesn’t always play out well for the nice person.

The Greek story of Daphne hints at a dorsal vagal freeze. Most Greek myths, like most religious and psychological interpretations flow forth in different versions. In a nutshell

PAGE 29 • February 2020 • TABLE HOPPING here, Daphne, a naiad and daughter of the river god Peneus and the nymph Creusa, finds herself receiving much unwanted attention from the god Apollo. Unable to outrun Apollo, Daphne prays to her river-god father, who, in response, turns Daphne into a tree. Much oppression, pain and psychic trauma results from misguided methods of protecting against Cupid’s arrow. Happy Valentine’s Day.

See & Board Over 500 BOATS!

FEB 20-23 NY State Fairgrounds

Exercise & Fitness by JENNIFER NASTASI GUZELAK

Stay Committed to Achieve Your Goals

Do you complain about not achieving your goals? Do you grumble about all the obstacles and problems that make it so difficult? Everyone wants things, but we don’t get what we want, we get what we are committed to. In other words, unless you are fully committed to something, you don’t have a hope in the world of bringing your desires into reality.

With commitment comes a single-minded purpose, improved ability to spot opportunities, and the impetus to take more risks on your journey.

Many people —especially when it comes to losing weight— never really fully commit. What they see as “commitment” is nothing more than the act of simply being merely “interested” in doing something.

When you are committed to something, you have a very clear idea of what lies ahead on your journey; the sacrifices you must make; the resources you must acquire;

continued on pg 32

WE OFFER POWER SCULPT • ZUMBA FITNESS • P90X LIVE • INSANITY LIVE CLASSES • STRONG BY ZUMBA AND MUCH MORE!

OFF SITE CLASSES AVAILABLE

PAY-AS-YOU-GO OR MONTHLY UNLIMITED PASSES AVAILABLE Please visit us on facebook

2019

and how you’re going to respond to the challenges that you will face along the way.

To get the ball rolling, you must first recognize the difference between a commitment and the act of merely being interested in something. When you’re merely interested in something you have no clear path as to how you will achieve your desired outcome. If I am interested in doing a group fitness class, it’s not the same thing as showing up and taking the class. Following through makes all the difference in the world!

Before you start your journey, there are a few really important questions you need to ask yourself:

Why do you want this? Why specifically do you want this right now? What are the benefits of having this in your life? Take a few minutes to really think about it and answer these questions honestly! Now, you’re ready to begin. Stay Committed to Achieve Your Goals continued from pg 31

Here are 5 Essential Truths to Empower You to Make Unwavering Commitments

Commitment is demonstrated by action. You are what you do, not what you say you’ll do. Your commitment to reaching your fitness goals is not measured by your words. If it was, a lot of us would have a whole lot more accomplished by now.

The real progress of commitment is demonstrated by the consistent actions you take daily. For example, if you want to lose weight, it is necessary to commit to a daily exercise and eating plan that you will follow faithfully.

Commitment determines what is worth putting to rest. It’s important that you put to rest the things that are keeping you from making lasting commitments. Life happens and there are many obstacles that will stand in your way. When you expect these road blocks and make a plan to face them head on, you will make the progress you need to accomplish your goals.

Commitment originates in the heart. When confronted with a challenge, the committed heart will search for a solution. The undecided heart searches for an escape.

Commitment does not occur because you dream about doing something great or you see someone accomplishing awesome things. It is not something that someone can give you by attending a seminar or reading a bestselling book. These are of course good tools to inspire and encourage you, but true commitment originates in the heart of a person that desires to achieve something of significance.

An unwavering commitment to your vision that rests deep in your heart will push you towards victory even under adverse circumstances. You won’t let anyone or anything detour your progress. You won’t let any outside source get in your way. You won’t allow failure and doubt to discourage your journey.

Commitment can be measured over time. If you ever want to see how committed you are to a goal, measure your progress. Document your goal with specific dates that you want to accomplish certain tasks. After a couple of months, review your progress and see how you measure up.

If you set a goal to lose ten pounds, check your goal sheet periodically to see where your stand. If after a couple of months, you have gained a few pounds or you are at the same place, you need to take a step back and reevaluate your commitment to reaching your goal. Have you set a goal you never had any intentions on truly achieving? Maybe

continued on pg 34