Sandra Steingraber: A Heroine for our times

Sandra Steingraber is a heroine for mothers and children everywhere.  This courageous mother, ecologist and activist was recently sentenced to 15 days in jail for trespassing.  Sandra and a group of 12 people, known as the "Seneca Lake 12" stood together with arms locked to block the entrance to an Inergy Natural Gas Facility in Seneca New York.

At the age of twenty Sandra was diagnosed with bladder cancer.  Other members of her family were also diagnosed.  Because she was adopted Sandra realized that their condition was not genetic.  Her conclusion to the diagnosis was that the cause had to be environmental.  That was the beginning of her career as a scientist and activist.

Sandra has written several books, and lectured on environmental issues that impact the health of women and children in particular.  Living Downstream, Having Faith, Raising Elijah and Post Diagnosis were all penned by this gifted writer, poet, ecologist and activist.  She offers insightful and informed ideas about how we can change the way big business treats the world in which we live.  She asserts that we have a moral obligation to insist that these organizations treat our land, water and air in a more responsible way.

For more information about the work of this gifted writer and activist check out the books listed above or go to her website.

For Aria

Back in May of 2010.  My daughter and I were sitting at home on a beautiful spring day.  She told me that she was bored and wanted to do something fun.  I said, okay grab your cell phone.  We are going to go out into our community and take pictures.  When we're done we will come back home and make videos.  This got her very excited.  Here is my video.  I hope you enjoy it!

Love Yourself!

When I look at my daughter I see glimpses of myself at age 15. Like her I was tall, very thin but shapely. The difference is that I did not have one tenth of the confidence that she does. I remember feeling so inadequate and unattractive. How could that have been? Looking at her now and seeing myself it is unimaginable how I could have missed my own beauty and gracefulness.

Like so many young women of my era I undervalued my own worth. Fortunately for me, and I suspect for you as well, it is not too late. I'm not as svelte as I was then but that doesn't mean that I'm not as beautiful. It's just that my beauty has a different definition. It feels good to be a more confident person.  It feels good to like the person that I've become. The more I appreciate and honor who I have become, the happier I feel.

My daughter is growing up way too fast it seems to me. She will be fifteen this summer and already she is asking me to teach her to drive. The thought of her independence is both liberating and a bit scary. As I move with her through this experience I have the opportunity to teach her all that I can. And, I have the opportunity to learn from her all that she has to teach me. Learning to love myself has been her most valuable lesson.  Thank you Chica!