Just How Hungry Are We?

Two major events occurred last week; the opening of the movie "The Hunger Games" and the ruling by the NFL on the New Orleans Saints' "Bountygate."

Both are closely aligned. One is based on a novel about teenagers in a futuristic land who are placed in a lottery and if chosen, fight to the death for the entertainment of others in a reality TV format. The other is the uncovering of a scandal involving a  football team offering cash as a reward for injuring key players of the opposing team and forcing them out of the game. Commonly, these events are rooted in over-zealous competition.

Over the years the NFL has tried to even the playing field with salary caps and a draft that enables the worst team from the previous year an opportunity at first pick of the most talented rookies. Yet the Saints' coaching staff and even some ex-players who were in the pool, felt the need for extra incentives to give them the edge.

In the "The Hunger Games," everyone had an equal chance of being chosen in the lottery. Although the poorer teens put their names in several times in exchange for food to keep their families alive, thus increasing their chances of selection. Representatives of the richer districts had certain advantages over others with  wealthy donors offering them extra gifts and supplies to help secure their survival. The citizens from all the districts placed bets on which teen would survive.

All of it sounds not too distant from the Romans watching the Christians fight for their survival in the arenas. We have always reveled in exciting sports, and even in business healthy competition spurs us on. But most of us agree we like to  have everyone play by the same rules. 

What other modern day organizations skirt the fringes by having unfair advantages? Is the banking debacle not as scandalous as we watch Wall Street CEOs squander our money, take government bail-out money, then give themselves enormous bonuses? Or how about Congress and its lifelong career path, with extended benefits and a health plan the rest of the country doesn't have access to? Is the tax system fair when the 1% pay less in comparison to the rest of the 99%?

As we see major institutions openly cheat and not get punished, or watch while our sports idols engage in injury for reward, we feel powerless. We may not be in the deplorable conditions described in the "The Hunter Games," yet.  But if we- the- people don 't speak up, uncover and demand things are right and equal, we might find ourselves inching towards that state very soon. Just how hungry are we? Hopefully enough to eventually shift the focus to a kinder, gentler way to play the game.


Becky Arrington guides individuals and businesses to discover their purpose and live authentically. Whether you’re a company looking for innovative ways to lead and engage employees or an individual trying to prioritize, reduce stress or decide what you want to be when you grow up, learning to accept and thrive in change is key.

The Thrill of Victory…A Talking Bear and Other Battles Won

This past week signaled March Madness at my house. Not the typical frenzy most households have over NCAA hoops, but something that spurred within me a competitive gene I thought was long dormant after leaving corporate, the new iPad. Personally I could care less about electronics, so it wasn't the new technology that had me hooked, it was the thrill of the chase.

About 25 years ago there was a new toy on the market called Teddy Ruxpin. It was a cute furry bear that moved its mouth and eyes while reading children a story. There were books and accompanying cassette tapes with a variety of stories. My son was young, it wasn't on his wish list and I doubt if he had seen it advertised, but his momma had.

In the rush of Christmas shopping, a friend called to tell me a local store was receiving a shipment of bears in that next day. Caught up in the exclusivity and scarcity of the product, I was determined my child was going to have one. Isn't that what manufacturers and advertisers count on? At 4:00 a.m. I joined countless other sleepy mothers huddled over their coffee , bundled against the cold, in a line that stretched around the building and down the block. All were warriors in hopes of scoring the Holy Grail of the season.  My child was among the privileged that year on Christmas morning to have the talking bear under his tree. He gave it a cursory glance and ran straight to a large red ball I purchased at the grocery store as an afterthought. No moving parts, no glitz, no glam just a plain old bouncing ball.

Those same feelings of snaring the prize crept in this week when my husband casually wondered if anyone had any  iPads left. This was Friday evening after they had been on the market since morning with the news reporting retailers had sold out within hours. He called a few places with no luck, then my aggressiveness took over and it became my mission to find one we could pick up on our way to meet friends for dinner, making location crucial to the mix, not to mention a short window of time.

We called the usual suspects with no luck, but then happened on a major electronics retailer not known for being on the cutting edge. In the past they normally run several weeks out on stocking the latest trends. Not to be deterred, I called them, knowing they were enroute to the restaurant ,and found the make and model he wanted. We were able to get to the store, buy the iPad and still make our reservations.

It's funny how a thirst for victory can overshadow the prize and certainly can make many throw caution to the wind in how they achieve it. Countless people have sold their souls for success, jobs, promotions, material wealth, etc. only to find an emptiness once it was achieved.

 I've yet to turn on his iPad, but take heart that unlike the abandoned bear, my husband does love it. Sometimes he even takes it to bed.  And we've nicknamed it Teddy Ruxpin. Ah, the thrill of victory.

Becky Arrington guides individuals and businesses to discover their purpose and live authentically. Whether you’re a company looking for innovative ways to lead and engage employees or an individual trying to prioritize, reduce stress or decide what you want to be when you grow up, learning to accept and thrive in change is key.

A Quick Fix Doesn't Cure What Ails Ya

It's common to look for a quick fix.  The first sign of a sniffle or ache and most of us start rummaging in the medicine cabinet for an over -the- counter remedy  or leftover prescription to take the pain away.


If the symptoms persist, we seek the advice of a doctor and, in most cases, a drug  is prescribed to alleviate the issue. If you're lucky it's one of the super drugs like a Z-Pack that really starts acting quickly, getting you up and functioning within a day or two. When I feel awful, there is nothing more frustrating than the doctor delivering the dreaded news, "it's a virus," which translates to no fast acting antibiotic to give me relief.

My father was in medicine, so our normal household reaction was to go to the doctor, take the medication and move on. After all, science  had all the answers.  I never looked past the obvious to what may have caused the ailment in the first place. And that is the issue, the symptoms are treated but not the root cause. Working with people in holistic health has made me realize that everything in our bodies is interrelated, therefore you have to treat the entire organism. Could it be a food sensitivity or caused by stress, both conditions that affect the total system? It is reported that 75% of all doctor's office visits are stress related.

This past month I have been visiting an allergist to figure out why I felt tired, sluggish, achy and generally lousy.  I had been working with a health coach for six months and felt like my diet was cleaned up and my awareness level  and education regarding nutrition was excellent; no gmos, whole grains, vegan diet, etc.  I was in the process of working with an elimination diet to determine the culprit of my distress, which I felt might be caused by a food allergy.

In our first session, Dr. Mike immediately zeroed in on my stress levels. Getting out of corporate should have afforded me a lot less angst in my life, but was replaced with concern over developing a new career, business and the related financial concerns. All I saw on the exterior was a more laid back lifestyle, what I didn't see was the underlying tension apparently eating away at my body. My adrenals had been working overtime producing cortisol to effectively allow me to flee situations -think of the adrenaline cavemen needed in the flight or fight response. Stressed adrenals cause weight gain, sluggishness, depression, illness, etc.  He also detected a corn allergy.  Anyone who has seen the movie "King Corn,"  knows that high fructose corn syrup is in just about everything on the market.  After working on those two issues through holistic methods for several weeks I felt decidedly better and know my health will continue to improve.

There is so much information available regarding exactly how our adrenals work and how stress affects the body that I am not going to give any further information. My intent in this blog is to share my recent experience and urge you to look closer for the core issue when any part of your health is not functioning to its optimum. 

Popping pills is such a short-term quick fix.  As our bodies begin to build up resistance to medication, even that remedy has a reduced life span. Learning how to minimize stress, eat healthy and lead a more balanced life on every level is key to developing a long term plan that will sustain longevity. Sure it is more of a tortoise approach as opposed to the hare, but "slow and steady wins the race" and keeps you healthier.

Becky Arrington guides individuals and businesses to discover their purpose and live authentically. Whether you’re a company looking for innovative ways to lead and engage employees or an individual trying to prioritize, reduce stress or decide what you want to be when you grow up, learning to accept and thrive in change is key.

Dear Reader,
I love feedback and welcome yours. This site can be a bit particular when adding comments on my blog, please use these easy instructions to post yours. Thanks, Becky

• Click on the small word "comments" at the bottom of my post
• Post your comments, you may sign or not sign, your choice
• Select profile "Anonymous"
• Click "Publish"
• Complete the security question, then click "Publish" again
• If you have a Google account and want to publish via that, you are welcome to

It's Not All Monkey Business

Daily my e-mail, Facebook and Twitter are filled with commentary on the state of our planet; the "dirty dozen list" of organic foods, the banking debacle and the Federal Reserve, natural remedies vs pharmaceuticals, Monsanto and GMOs, political sparring, the Occupy Movement, chemical trails in the sky, alternative energy, sustainable communities, PETA, etc.

I try to be a compassionate, conscientious person and each of these deserve my attention to research and understand the issues in order to form an opinion and ultimately take action. But how? What can I do to make a difference in what happens in Washington or go up against big business or the banking cartels?

There is a story called The Hundredth Monkey about primates on a deserted island who began washing the grit off of sweet potatoes before they were eaten. Over time and through imitation, eventually all the monkeys in that community were doing the same. But the interesting fact was that at the same time OTHER monkeys in OTHER remote locations began washing their sweet potatoes before consuming them.

When enough people share a common thought or activity, eventually a critical mass is formed. Whatever the magical formula that defines the number is, once reached , a tipping point occurs and a universal shift is made. By living your beliefs and "walking your talk" you set up an energy or a vibration that adds to the collective whole in the world. When enough people hold those same thoughts, things begin to change.

Social media is a perfect venue to draw attention to causes in the world that the mainstream media are not covering. Awareness is the first step towards enlightenment, therefore it's important to be informed. But it is also necessary to seek out a wide variety of references in an attempt to get a clear picture. There is a myriad of information about every subject, much of it slanted for or against the topic, so be prudent in getting a good cross-section of research before you arrive at your opinions. And once you determine your beliefs, live them.

Sometimes we feel helpless, unable to change the seemingly unchangeable. It's important to continue to believe in your cause and live it, demonstrating every day what your values are, even if they aren't what everyone else is doing. Who knows the impact you will have. You may end up being the hundredth monkey causing a final change, or maybe even the first, starting a new movement.

Becky Arrington guides individuals and businesses to discover their purpose and live authentically. Whether you’re a company looking for innovative ways to lead and engage employees or an individual trying to prioritize, reduce stress or decide what you want to be when you grow up, learning to accept and thrive in change is key.

Dear Reader,
I love feedback and welcome yours. This site can be a bit particular when adding comments on my blog, please use these easy instructions to post yours. Thanks, Becky

• Click on the small word "comments" at the bottom of my post
• Post your comments, you may sign or not sign, your choice
• Select profile "Anonymous"
• Click "Publish"
• Complete the security question, then click "Publish" again
• If you have a Google account and want to publish via that, you are welcome to