Old white people

Maybe I'm just caught up in the young, multi-ethnic colorful rainbow trend of this election season, but I'm noticing old white people a lot more lately and feeling bothered by them.

Hear me out. Tonight I attended an event where a former Chairman of the SEC talked about the current state of economic affairs, how it all came about and where he sees it going. Aside from being incredibly dull (he didn't share anything we hadn't already heard), it was so.... milky. And old. A sea of wrinkled pale faces. And this is an organization whose theme is international. There was one Indian dude. A Japanese woman and a Mexican lady. Other than that, all "Harry"s and "Mildred"s.

Throughout our recent campaign I was confronted with my own ageism. Every time I saw McCain I just saw the past. History. A chapter that I really wanted to close, with the help of fresh young blood and a new vision. And so tonight I was faced with it again. I'm noticing a desire in me to just send these folks en masse to the Shady Grove nursing home and to leave the world to the rest of us to fix. And then I feel horrible for having these thoughts - afraid of what neglect, mistreatment and illnesses will haunt me in my golden years.

I think part of it is frustration over the lack of interest by youth today in deeper issues. I hope that the grassroots involvement and passion displayed by the young this election season will continue to blossom. But we need them to actually attend events like the one I went to tonight. There's no reason why a lecture on the current economic crisis delivered by an internationally-focused policy group should be attracting only retired folks with nothing better to do on a Thursday evening.

OK, I just reread what I wrote and realized how incoherent it all is. Any way, I guess what I'm trying to say is that I want to see more young people at the events that attract me and that I'm a bit of an ageist.

Dosha revisited

Last Friday I went for an Ayurveda 107-point Marma massage. The doctor performing the massage felt my pulse and told me my constitution:

1. Fire
2 Air and Space

What does this mean? I am heavy fire (Pitta dosha) followed by air and space (Vata dosha).

After reading about these doshas, I saw very clearly how I am a blend of the two and I see how they confirm things that I had already known about myself.

Pitta - If the Pitta dosha is most lively in our nature, we tend to be muscular, smart and determined. If balanced, we are warm, intelligent and a good leader. If out of balance, Pitta can make us critical, irritable, impatient and aggressive. They are sharp and determined in thought, speech and action. There is an element of purpose to their step, an intensity to their voice. Ambition is usually their second name. Pitta people need cool foods and environments. Can't overheat.

Vata - If we are predominantly Vata, we tend to be thin, light and quick in our thoughts and actions. Change is a constant part of our lives. When Vata is balanced, we are creative, enthusiastic and lively. But if Vata becomes excessive, we may develop anxiety, insomnia or irregular digestion. They are quick and lively in thought, speech and action, and make friends easily. There is an element of airiness to their step, a quality of lightness in their laughter. Change is usually their second name. Vata people need warm foods and environments. Hands and feet tend to be cold.

I've realized that I'm pretty out of balance, so on the negative side this means: quick to anger, inflammation, impatience, irritable (Pitta), coupled with anxiety, too quick in action/movement, don't stay in a position long enough to establish grounding. How does this manifest physically? Top-half I'm Vata (lanky), bottom half I'm Pitta (solid frame). My feet and hands are usually cold (VATA) and during the fall/wintertime I CRAVE warm, hearty soups and foods (Vata balancing), but in the summertime I need to keep cool (Pitta) because overheating makes me VERY angry (like the time I took a Bikram yoga class and found myself wanting to punch the teacher. I can't stand moist heat and prefer cooler yoga classes).

Apparently my Ph is very alkaline, acidic.

Recommendations:
Pitta balancing - keep cool, calm, breathe and stay in the moment. These mental changes can keep the fire under control. Avoid spicy and fiery foods. Add cool foods to the diet (though for me, I need this just during the summer months).

Vata balancing - keep focused on one task at a time. Stop jumping from one thing to the next without completing it (This is soooo me!). Breathe and stay in the moment to establish grounding to hold back anxiety. Add warm foods to the diet, and keep especially warm during cold months.

So after the massage, she put me in a steam-tube. I was sweating up a storm, which felt incredible. Releasing toxins (or amma). Going again this week. It's expensive but helpful. It was strange that this woman knew my constitution just by taking my pulse, and she also knew what ailments I had in my body because she could sense chakra blockage.

You can take a dosha quiz online to figure out what yours is & I'd recommend a Marma massage. I'm thinking of other Ayurveda treatments, though they're creepier (enemas and induced vomiting).

T -1

Eve of the big day. I'm traveling tomorrow afternoon (going to my polling station extra early, though I'm not sure how intense it'll be in NY). I imagine I'll be glued to the TV much of the evening when I arrive in Boston. I'll either be unable to sleep due to absolute glee. Unable to sleep because of suspense over a delayed outcome. Or unable to sleep out of sheer depression and mental gymnastics trying to figure out which country I could apply to for political refugee status.