Take My Period, Please!
A few weeks ago the Birmingham (Alabama) News ran story about earth-friendly feminine hygiene products. Some of the offerings are organic cotton tampons and such, and some things that are uh, reusable. The writer interviewed a woman (perhaps she prefers womyn!) who made the switch to reusable products. Her choice was a cup (I guess it works sort of like a diaphragm) that is available on line. Other earth-friendly products are available at health food stores and other retailers specializing in natural foods and remedies.
I am glad these alternatives are available for women who want to use them. Women should have a choice. I did, however take issue with this woman's comments: she said that ideally, women should be able to go to a hut as per 3rd world and bleed in comfort until period is over. Women should stop seeing their period as a "curse" and just celebrate it, even enjoy it. Huh?
As a college student this woman belonged to a a group who called themselves the "Radical Bleeders". I'm not sure what they did when they got together. I don't think I want to know.
Here is what I do know: since she thinks having periods is so wonderful, then she can have my cramps, my bloating, my out-of whack emotions, my skin break-outs, sore breasts, and all the other" joys" of menstruation!
If there is one thing that ticks me off, it is a woman who is critical of choices other women make; be it about breastfeeding, homeschooling, family planning, natural or medicated births, etc. Here is a message to all of you out there who think you know what is best for the rest of us: get over yourselves. Mind your own business. Lose the self-righteous attitude. I don't feel like celebrating my period. I want to be knocked out if I ever have a baby. I may choose to remain child free. And much as I care about the environment, sorry chicks, when it comes to feminine protection, it's disposable for me!

Crazyand Normal. My music therapy prof. says there is no such thing as "crazy" and "normal". Only diagnosed and undiagnosed. I just started an internship at a psychiatric facility, and even some of the staff are a little cracked--but in a good way!
If someone had told me 10 years ago that I would leave my career, go back to school, major in music therapy and intern at a mental hospital, I would have laughed--hard. I have always made a point of staying away from mental hospitals. Those who know me might say I saw myself in the patients. That is probably true, but I am also just plain scared of the unknown. But here I am. God has an "out there" sense of humor.
There have been times over the past week that I have asked myself, "what in the sam hill have I gotten myself into? Can I really help these people?" That's why the professor's wise words comfort me. I don't have to be totally sane myself (thank God!) to be a good therapist. 12 step programs tell you to "act as if". So I will act like I know what I'm doing. In scripture the Psalmist tells us to "trust the Lord and not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path". I will repeat that until I believe it. I will remember that I am a ragamuffin. My clients are ragmuffins. God will use me in this place not in spite of weaknesses, but because of them. Let's see where this takes me....