See the Light
October 1, 2014
“Every moment of light and dark is a miracle.”
~ Walt Whitman
A new sunrise is on the horizon. A company co-founded by former engineers at Tesla and Nasa has developed a new smart light bulb. Called the Alba (the Italian word for “sunrise”), the bulb contains sensors that track motion, room occupancy and ambient light. These sensors enable the Alba to reduce or increase its light output and even to make that light warmer or cooler, depending on available natural light and time of day, as well as whether or not someone is in the room. This “smartbulb” will use 60% to 80% less energy than a regular LED bulb.
The concept makes sense, not only regarding our energy use as a society but also for our personal mental, emotional and physical energy use as well. Too often we run on a constant level of power all day, without paying attention to the needs of the moment.
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is in charge of the body’s response to our environment. It regulates the functions of internal organs such as the heart, stomach and intestines as well as some muscles, skin and glands. It causes our heart rate and blood pressure to rise or fall, depending on our situation.
The ANS has two different ways of responding to the moment. The sympathetic nervous system kicks in if we are under stress or afraid. It raises blood pressure and heart rate, slows digestion and releases adrenalin. Our parasympathetic system, which takes over when we are relaxed, slows the heart and pulse rates, lowering blood pressure and facilitating digestion. These responses evolved in order to help us to run, if we were being chased or facing some other dangerous situation, or to conserve energy, rest and digest our food, if all was well.
The modern problem with these systems arises when our minds keep us in a constant state of full power, via our sympathetic nervous system, by constantly focusing on past situations of stress or on fears of stressful situations in an imagined future. The present moment may call for rest, relaxation and conservation of energy, but we are on full power thinking about what happened six months ago or what may happen tomorrow.
In order for our nervous system to work as intended, we must be able to see the light of the moment. Chances are, the present moment does not require a stress response. We must retrain our minds to let go of anything but what is now.
A good way to teach your mind to stay in the present is to practice conscious breathing. Taking deep, full, rich breaths by inhaling, if possible, in and out of the nose, can help to facilitate the parasympathetic response, slowing the heart rate and pulse and lowering blood pressure. Also helpful is to make the exhaling breath just a bit longer than the inhaling breath. This helps because the heart beats more slowly when we exhale, so extending the exhaling breaths helps to “convince” the body that we are safe and relaxed, allowing the parasympathetic response to take over.
Another exercise to encourage an awareness and focus on the present moment is to practice conscious breathing while also maintaining a soft visual focus on a single point in the distance. Softly gazing at one point in the visual field and letting the surrounding areas blur can help to keep the mind and body relaxed and in the now.
Both of these exercises, practiced one or more times a day, can help to retrain the mind to stay focused on the present, so that the nervous system and the body’s other systems can do their jobs efficiently and, in the process, help us to be happier and healthier.
“Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around in awareness.”
~ James Thurber
Let your inner light become a smartbulb. Keep your mind’s eye focused on the now.
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The Alba starter kit contains two bulbs and sells for $150. It is available through Stack Lighting. Visit stacklighting.com for details.
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Cheesy Mashed Potato Portobellos will keep you focused on the present delicious moment.
Cheesy Mashed Potato Portobellos
These tasty mashed-potato-filled mushrooms make a scrumptious side-dish for omnivores or a lovely lunch or vegetarian main course when paired with greens. Use organic potatoes so that you can include the skins; they contain lots of nutrients.
4 large portobello mushrooms
Extra virgin olive oil (for brushing mushrooms and potatoes)
Salt and pepper to taste
2 large or 4 medium organic Yukon Gold potatoes, scrubbed (1 & 3/4 lbs)
Butter (optional, for surface of potatoes)
1/2 cup plain whole milk yogurt
1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
1/8 teaspoon smoked paprika
Preheat oven to 375°F
Clean portobellos with a damp cloth. Remove stems and discard or save for another use.
Brush/rub with olive oil and lightly season with salt and pepper.
Place rounded side down on a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, make mashed potatoes:
Rub surface of potatoes with butter or olive oil and pierce deeply with a fork. Place on a paper plate or paper towel and microwave until super fork-tender (sticking a fork into potato is easily done). This will probably take 7 to 10 minutes on full power. Cook for 5, then check, then for 3, then check, and so on.
Chop cooked potatoes into chunks and let cool a bit. Add potatoes to a bowl with yogurt, cheese, chives and paprika and mash/combine with a fork or potato masher. Taste and add salt to your liking.
Divide mashed potato mixture among the portobellos, mounding filling inside cavities to create a rounded dome. Return filled mushrooms to oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until surface of potatoes is beginning to brown and crisp.
Serves 2 as a meal, 4 as an appetizer or side dish
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