Homemade Vapor Rub

For my birthday I received some essential oils and the makings for different salves.  Today in the midst of studying for finals, instead of taking a nap when I was exhausted I made a cup of chai tea and made a vapor rub.

melt in a double boiler:
-1/3 ounce of beeswax
-1 Tbsp. shea butter
turn off heat and add:
-4 Tbsp. coconut oil
-30 drops of various essential oils
transfer to a 4 oz tin 

I used
-10 drops eucalyptus
-5 drops tea tree
-5 drops camphor
-5 drops peppermint
-3 drops rosemary
-2 drops lemon

So basically that means :
-1 part beeswax
-2 part shea butter
-8 part coconut oil

I'm in!

So I had a great trip to the Pacific Northwest! I was accepted to both schools; I received the acceptance letters on my birthday! I fell in love with Bastyr University in Seattle and have sent my letter of intent to start their ND program in the Fall. Now all I have to do is successfully complete my last prerequisite, a General Psychology class which starts in two weeks.

Here's a couple of links with a little more information on the program in addition to naturopathic medicine:
Explorehealthcareers.org
Bastyr

14 Mindfulness Trainings

In preparing for naturopathic medical school interviews next week, I have been looking at many common interview questions. One was: name three people, dead or alive, that you would invite to dinner and why? This got me really thinking. I initially wanted to spend it with some family members, some dead and some in California, but then I thought about the actually opportunity this dinner would provide. I decided there were three people I was interested in meeting, each covering the training of my mind, body and spirit.
Mohatma Ghandi-famed social justice activist, Rodney Yee-my favorite yoga guru ;) and Thich Nhat Hanh- a buddhist monk famous for his spiritual guidance. I know these may sound like cliche choice, but I think it would be a life changing dinner! (Anyone else notice the Eastern connections??)

In that spirit I decided to take the next 14 days to practice Thich Nhat Hanh's trainings in mindfulness. Today:

Openness

Aware of the suffering created by fanaticism and intolerance, I am determined not to be idolatrous about or bound to any doctrine, theory or ideology, even Buddhist ones. Buddhist teachings are guiding means to help me learn to look deeply and to develop my understanding and compassion. They are not doctrines to fight, kill or die for.

Personality Type!!

I am an INFJ! They are sometimes described as counselors, a very unique and most rare personality type, I believe it accurately described me in many ways, especially myself in work and personal relationships. Interesting discovery...

Find out your type here

Some Famous INFJs:
Gandhi
Sidney Poitier
Eleanor Roosevelt
Jane Goodall
Emily Bronte
Sir Alec Guiness
Carl Jung
Queen Noor
Aung San Suu Kyi

New Beginnings???

It's been over two years since I've been back from Africa and let my blogging come to an end. I spent the good part of those two years taking classes at UNCG in order to enter a medical school program. Along the way I found a part-time job at the local hospital as a transporter/clinical assistant.

These past two years, I have tried to help Ousmane with his transition to life in the US. It has been very rough at times but I think we've come a long way. Despite his stubbornness and his keen ability to drive me crazy I love him with all my heart.

I'm flying out next week to the northwest to interview at two schools for their Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine program. Bastyr University in Seattle and National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, so excited and nervous at the same time!