Living Diversity

Diversity of Species
Where I grew up, there were cookie cutter homes, with mostly rock landscaping, a few cactus, and at times grass lawns. Since moving to northern area of California 6 months ago, I am in awe of the diversity of species that is ever present. Looking outside my window, I see squirrels, and varieties of birds scrambling around. There is a creek close by with not much water flowing in it, but enough to allow you to hear the different tempos and dynamics it possesses. There are trees and flowers plentiful in this area. I'm sad that I don't really know the names of many of them. I ask frequently what they are, but can't seem to remember them. Nearby is an old train track that has been paved over for others to walk on. As you walk on this path, you are able to see chickens in backyards, tall trees, little bridges with dried up canals, a collection of bird houses, and patches of grass and weeds. This is very different than where I grew up.

Chocolate
With all things, everyone is different regarding what is beneficial for their body and what is not. I feel like at times you can find health benefits with anything. And if you are good at marketing and propaganda, than you can convince others that it is the correct way to live. 

I LOVE chocolate. The flavor, color, textures, all the many things that you can combine with it (seems as if it tastes good with everything). The latest health craze is dark chocolate, and all the health benefits it will give to you. When my grandma was alive, she would go through depression times during the winter months where she lived. The sun was hardly present, and this was hard for her body. We would stock her with Finnish chocolate bars (there chocolate tasted so much better than the US). She would eat a little every week, and this helped pull her through the winter months with minimal depression episodes.

For me at this moment, chocolate is more of a beautiful thing to look at, than to eat. As with all the health benefits and wonderful tastes, it is also very high in oxalates. Oxalates contribute to inflammation in the body. This is something I am trying to lower in order to heal. So while I cannot partake of the constant supply of chocolate society tends to offer, at least I can subdue my desires through watching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory :)