On our planet, 3.8 billion years ago, the rocks claimed their hardened forms from the fiery surface of the cooling lava and oceans rained down from the sky. There was much shifting from place to place, but relative quiet as the rocks made their home. The first tiny organisms formed of the protein and minerals in the seas. Their waters were rich with methane, sulfates, carbon dioxide, and nitrates. The tiny creatures grazed upon the rock on the ocean floor. The rock did not mind. The tiny creatures created tiny rocks that grew (if they were kept close enough together and the weather was just right) into new and pretty rocks. The rocks cultivated their little friends and grew beautiful rock gardens. They lived in peace together this way for nearly 500 million years. Then the first lifeforms that could generate energy by absorbing the light of the sun evolved among their anaerobic cousins. They did not need to munch on rock all day. And they did not create more tiny rocks. The new lifeforms created oxygen. In areas where too much oxygen accumulated, the rock gardens stopped growing, or even changed color. The oxygen killed the tiny creatures that lived upon the seawater and the rocks. The rocks were children of change and were not alarmed. They took up the oxygen, keeping the balance, harboring their tiny friends. This helped for quite some time. Very gradually, the iron in the rocks changed color and grew brittle. Soon the rocks at the surface of the sea floor grew softer and softer. The youngest volcanoes rumbled and pulled forth more iron-rich lava from the Earth up to the surface. The iron absorbed the oxygen. The volcanoes quieted. Satisfied that they had done all they could, they slept for 250 million years. Nothing could stop the sun-loving lifeforms. Over millions of years, they released so much oxygen that the rocks could not keep the balance anymore. They were full. The volcanoes were asleep. The oxygen began to congest the oceans and rise up into the sky. The tiny creatures who had pleased the rocks with their little rock gardens began to die until only those who had acclimated to the rising oxygen, or who had hidden deep in the Earth herself, survived. Between the silence of the volcanoes and the chemical mingling of the waste oxygen with the gasses high in the sky, a climate shift began.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Perhaps, the spirits of stones in their early days...
On our planet, 3.8 billion years ago, the rocks claimed their hardened forms from the fiery surface of the cooling lava and oceans rained down from the sky. There was much shifting from place to place, but relative quiet as the rocks made their home. The first tiny organisms formed of the protein and minerals in the seas. Their waters were rich with methane, sulfates, carbon dioxide, and nitrates. The tiny creatures grazed upon the rock on the ocean floor. The rock did not mind. The tiny creatures created tiny rocks that grew (if they were kept close enough together and the weather was just right) into new and pretty rocks. The rocks cultivated their little friends and grew beautiful rock gardens. They lived in peace together this way for nearly 500 million years. Then the first lifeforms that could generate energy by absorbing the light of the sun evolved among their anaerobic cousins. They did not need to munch on rock all day. And they did not create more tiny rocks. The new lifeforms created oxygen. In areas where too much oxygen accumulated, the rock gardens stopped growing, or even changed color. The oxygen killed the tiny creatures that lived upon the seawater and the rocks. The rocks were children of change and were not alarmed. They took up the oxygen, keeping the balance, harboring their tiny friends. This helped for quite some time. Very gradually, the iron in the rocks changed color and grew brittle. Soon the rocks at the surface of the sea floor grew softer and softer. The youngest volcanoes rumbled and pulled forth more iron-rich lava from the Earth up to the surface. The iron absorbed the oxygen. The volcanoes quieted. Satisfied that they had done all they could, they slept for 250 million years. Nothing could stop the sun-loving lifeforms. Over millions of years, they released so much oxygen that the rocks could not keep the balance anymore. They were full. The volcanoes were asleep. The oxygen began to congest the oceans and rise up into the sky. The tiny creatures who had pleased the rocks with their little rock gardens began to die until only those who had acclimated to the rising oxygen, or who had hidden deep in the Earth herself, survived. Between the silence of the volcanoes and the chemical mingling of the waste oxygen with the gasses high in the sky, a climate shift began.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
My Answer - Why don't I charge a set rate for acupuncture?
I don't generally talk about my life as an acupuncturist on my blog. However, I'd like to address a question I am frequently asked. I also like to explain the surprisingly controversial answer I give in response.
The question is simple: "How much do you charge?" Before people step one foot through my door, this is the most frequent question I am asked about acupuncture. My answer: "I do not charge a set rate. You decide how much each visit is worth and pay me accordingly."
My answer appears to make a number of people very uncomfortable. That is certainly not my aim. My aims are as follows: 1. I want to remove barriers between human beings and quality health care. 2. In an area where the average annual income is quite a bit lower than the average for Texas, charging a set rate might actually harm my business. 3. I support the pursuit of dreams, because it brings happiness and better health. 4. I want to be a responsible capitalist.
There are two barriers to quality health care that affect myself and many of my fellow South Texans: local availability and money. In answer, I have opened a clinic in Beeville, Texas. Here I work as a licensed acupuncturist while my husband grows an olive orchard and builds sustainable answers to energy consumption. If I refrain from charging a set rate, I keep acupuncture an affordable option for anyone.
The question is simple: "How much do you charge?" Before people step one foot through my door, this is the most frequent question I am asked about acupuncture. My answer: "I do not charge a set rate. You decide how much each visit is worth and pay me accordingly."
My answer appears to make a number of people very uncomfortable. That is certainly not my aim. My aims are as follows: 1. I want to remove barriers between human beings and quality health care. 2. In an area where the average annual income is quite a bit lower than the average for Texas, charging a set rate might actually harm my business. 3. I support the pursuit of dreams, because it brings happiness and better health. 4. I want to be a responsible capitalist.
There are two barriers to quality health care that affect myself and many of my fellow South Texans: local availability and money. In answer, I have opened a clinic in Beeville, Texas. Here I work as a licensed acupuncturist while my husband grows an olive orchard and builds sustainable answers to energy consumption. If I refrain from charging a set rate, I keep acupuncture an affordable option for anyone.
Bee county's median annual household income is less than $35,000/year. With rents and the cost of living on the rise, I feel that I need to remain flexible if I want to stay in business. Many medical professionals use sliding scale, but that's kind of a classist approach. Sliding scale tends to make some folks feel like they're being overcharged and other folks feel like they're getting lower quality service. And I don't want to know my clients' incomes.
It's safe to say we all know people who stay in jobs they hate for the health care benefits. We also all know someone who accepted a reduced rate of pay in exchange for better health insurance benefits. Ever shopped around for private health insurance? When you do, I hope the heavens are with you. Sadly, if you've had a chronic health problem in the last ten years, if you have a spouse, if you have children: you're going to have a very difficult time finding affordable health insurance - unless you have a job with a good benefits. I propose that we are happier, healthier people when we are free to pursue our dreams and do what we love. If we could do that and not have to worry about whether we could afford health care, probably more of us would. On the other hand, if you have learned to love your job with benefits, or your dream job comes with great benefits I am so truly happy for you! Salud.
It's safe to say we all know people who stay in jobs they hate for the health care benefits. We also all know someone who accepted a reduced rate of pay in exchange for better health insurance benefits. Ever shopped around for private health insurance? When you do, I hope the heavens are with you. Sadly, if you've had a chronic health problem in the last ten years, if you have a spouse, if you have children: you're going to have a very difficult time finding affordable health insurance - unless you have a job with a good benefits. I propose that we are happier, healthier people when we are free to pursue our dreams and do what we love. If we could do that and not have to worry about whether we could afford health care, probably more of us would. On the other hand, if you have learned to love your job with benefits, or your dream job comes with great benefits I am so truly happy for you! Salud.
Finally, and this is most important: I want to be absolutely certain that I serve my clients with the best possible combination of my knowledge, skills, and care. When my livelihood absolutely depends on it, there is no room in my clinic for shoddy, slightly lazy, or marginally unfriendly service. When I am at less than my best, I might get an instant pay-cut. I have to be at my best every single day! Asking my clients to choose my pay-rate is the pinnacle of responsible (and responsive) capitalism.
Bless you all. Have a happy, healthy day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)