Happy MT Week Thursday: Values
“Until you value yourself you will not value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it.” – M. Scott Peck
Today I want to talk about values and what is it in life that we value? And do we live our lives in line with what we truly value?
I’ve been on a personal journey the past few months to really figure out what I value and to find that elusive balance in my life so that my life’s activities truly address my values. It’s not always an easy task, and yet one that has been well worth the soul searching to do. As I’ve done this, I find myself making changes in how I do things, in how I allocate my own resources. About a year ago, I read a book called “The Four Agreements” that really gave me some guidelines for life in general. While it’s a real “new age” book and that’s not generally my thing, I find that you can take the value in anything you read and use that part, whether you agree with everything or not. The Four Agreements are four simple principles by which to live life: Be impeccable with your word (say what you mean, mean what you say, and always do what you say you will do), never take anything personal (okay, sometimes this is a tough one), never make assumptions (much of problems in communication with others come here!) and always do your best. If you do the last one, the others are easy.
It’s often easy to make a list and say “this is what I value.” What’s tougher is to make that list match with how we live our lives. For example, I value health, but I still can’t make myself get on that exercise bicycle every day. I value periodic quiet times of solitude to reflect and yet I often feel I’m too busy to stop and take that time. And those things which don’t get done, even though they are on my values list, are usually those things where I say I simply don’t have the time. But then, my question is this: If I don’t make the time, do I really value that? And then I found the first quote above—until you value your time, you will not do anything with it. My time has become valuable to me. It is the only thing in this world that isn’t given to us in a finite amount. You can never replace what you lose or waste and there are only 24 hours in a day.
It’s easy as we live our lives to simply get too busy to do those things that we really value. When that happens, then we begin to feel like we’ve somehow failed. And we all know that a sense of failure doesn’t lead to good things in life. So, you see, I believe it begins with valuing our time. For me, it means walking away from this computer at a certain time every evening, only returning if it’s something I want to do for pleasure. For me, it means taking the time to go outside and play with my dog because of the joy he brings to my life. It also means making the time to sit and do that quiet reflection, even when days are hectic and busy. Because you see, I have to start with valuing the TIME so that I use it wisely.
Take some time today to think about what you value. I hope that your life lines up with your values list. It’s not just about work, there’s the personal, family side to each of us. What do you value there and how do you use your time wisely there?
What is it that you value, and how do you manage to live a life that shows that?
Today I wish you all the gift of valuing the time you have and spending it wisely. Happy Thursday!
MT Puzzler: Enter to win more prizes! Remember, too, that each entry also places your name in the pot for the grand prize drawing at the end of the week. You also need to comment each day to be in that day’s drawing. For today’s drawing, we will be giving away a Credentials Study Course from MT Tools Online and a HIPAA Introduction Course from HIPAA4MT. Comment here on the blog topic and/or the MT Puzzler and then post a link to this post inviting other MTs to come and join the fun to be eligible for the prize drawing.
A patient receiving monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor therapy for depression MAY eat or drink any of the following foods or beverages, but ONE of them will not cause a possible tyramine crisis? The foods are bananas, chicken liver, strawberries, and beer.
Happy Hunting!
Related posts:
- Happy MT Week Tuesday: What is Holding You Back?
- Happy MT Week Saturday: Be a Linchpin
- Happy MT Week Wednesday: It’s all about Choices!
- Happy MT Week Monday: Goals
- Happy Medical Transcriptionist Week 2011
Tagged with: Goals • Medical Transcriptionist Week • values
Filed under: Medical Transcriptionist Week
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Actually, I think this was the most interesting commentary you’ve written since I joined, Kathy. I find myself putting in WAY too many hours at the computer, even given that 75% of it is work time, but the rest is just mindless emails and game playing when I could be using that time to be doing something (or doing nothing but just BEING) with my husband, maybe doing some household chores (and I’m always complaining that I don’t have enough time), or exercising (which could help both in my weight-loss efforts AND in strengthening my back). I guess I’ve never thought about this to any extent before, but you’ve got me thinking now, and I thank you for it (I think).
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Kathy Reply:
May 20th, 2010 at 8:31 am
I do the same thing, with too many hours at the computer. And yet, I am really trying these days to be sure I have walked away by 6 in the evenings, only coming back briefly to check email later in the evening. Those online games can get you as well! As a relative newlywed (one year next month), I should be spending some time with my husband. My grandmother also lives with us (she will be 96 next month) and that presents it’s own challenges with time. It IS a balancing act, yet perhaps a little easier to prioritize when you think about values.
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I believe the answer is bananas. Chicken and beef liver, liver pate, and game generally contain high amine levels due to frequent mishandling. The freshness of the food is a key issue with MAOIs and that as long as foods are purchased from reputable shops and stored properly, the danger of a hypertensive crisis is minimal. Some foods should be avoided, the most dangerous being aged cheeses and yeast products used as food supplements.
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Okay, about the tyramine crisis. From what I read, a tyramine crisis will occur when you “overdo” tyramine, which can be a by-product of “fermentation, aging, or spoilage.” I KNOW that will make BEER (what I read online said “tap beer” specifically, although I cannot understand why they specified that) the guilty party for certain on your list of things (which included bananas, chicken livers, strawberries, and beer). However, my question is this: IF tyramine will result from aging and/or spoiling, COULDN’T it also be found in ALL of the items listed? Of course, I’m sure we wouldn’t consume already-rotting bananas, chicken livers, and strawberries–but I just thought I would ask.
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I loved your commentary. I am working really hard on this. My problem is trying to juggle, 3 children, full-time work, and class among other things. I want to do so much but so little hours to do it in. And now that I am taking this transcription course, I want to read everything, and make notes of everything. Which has taken a lot of my time away from actually doing the assignments. I was proud of myself last night. I made a commitment to myself that before I went to bed I was going to complete the one assignment. And I did. Tonight, the next.
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Kathy Reply:
May 20th, 2010 at 8:33 am
Sonya, making that list of small steps is a good idea. I find if I really made a to do list with everything that I need to accomplish on it, it can be overwhelming. It’s better to take it in small chunks. One of my favorite ways to think about that is this: How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!
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I believe the answer would be beer.
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Sherry I had the same question. It seems like the answer could be all of the above in one aspect. Although I read that ripe banana pulp contains 7 mcg/gram of tyramine compared to a peel which contains 65 mcg/gram and 700 mcg of tyramine and dopamine.
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES – avoid Chianti wine and vermouth. Consumption of red, white, and port WINE in quantities less than 120 mL present little risk (Anon, 1989; Da Prada et al, 1988; McCabe, 1986). BEER and ALE should also be avoided (McCabe, 1986), however other investigators feel major domestic (US) brands of beer is safe in small quantities (1/2 cup or less than 120 mL) (Anon, 1989; Da Prada, 1988), but imported beer should not be consumed unless a specific brand is known to be safe. WHISKEY and LIQUEURS such as Drambuie(R) and Chartreuse(R) have caused reactions. NONALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES (alcohol- free beer and wines) may contain tyramine and should be avoided. Did I open a can of worms here…lol
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Hm….now you got me wondering about the imported beers. My husband particularly loves Guinness! And did you know that NOT all Guinness comes FROM Ireland? We found that out when an area restaurant (Red Lobster) served him one that didn’t…and he said it was so bad that I insisted he have our waitress exchange it for one that came from Ireland, and then we were all happy…and the waitress got educated that there was more than one Guinness! LOL As far as I know, neither of us takes a MAO inhibitor (at least by prescription); however, now I am getting freaked out that I need to research the “natural” MAOIs? grrrr (I think this is a case of the more I learn, the less I’m sure I want to know!)
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Well the chicken liver definitely, and the bananas if they are too ripe!
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Kathy Reply:
May 20th, 2010 at 8:29 am
NOTE GUYS: Now you have my face red this morning. Here’s the value of one very small word. Go back and read the question again. And no, you didn’t misread it the first time, I left a word out! YIKES!
Now that you have the RIGHT question, let’s try this again! 
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oh, yes, the beer too! (oops)
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After checking out several web sites with complicated “conversation,” I found the simplest answer in wikipedia, naming beer as the culprit for a possible tyramine crisis.
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I have a husband, a dog, and a horse, all of which I value, aside from the material things, which are of the least value and at times of no value at all compared to others. I also have a career and my self that I value. I list these latter, not as an afterthought, but because I often do put the other 3 before myself yet. I do find that there are times when I must put myself first. I need time for me. To throw in the mix, I have family and friends that I value as well, and time for fun. The more that I think about this topic, the more I find that I value. Rearranging priorities, being flexible, and participating in compromise usually help in balancing all that I value.
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Kathy Reply:
May 20th, 2010 at 8:34 am
I think women are particularly guilty of not taking that ME time that we all really need so much. It’s important because it sets us in a better state of mind to take care of the other things and people in our lives. It IS all about balance!
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What about the people and/orthings that we valued but are lost to us (in the present)? I think we need to take time to value and honor them. In particular, I think of my dad, my gran (Mom’s mom), grampa (Dad’s dad), and (don’t laugh at me now) our parakeet that we lost just after Thanksgiving last year. Believe it or not, that bird was NOT a pet…he was our son. We could hold conversations with him that actually made sense! He had a vocabulary that was so cool, and I know he learned, “Where’s the PUP-py?” from television because neither Chris or I ever said that until after we heard Sammy say it. We still have 3 parakeets, but they are for the most part “just pets.” Anyway, I just thought it was important to say that some of what (or who) I value aren’t even here IN THE PRESENT TIME anymore, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have value for me. The importance of my dad, gran, grampa, and Sammy to my life cannot be measured OR forgotten. They all contributed to making me the person I am today.
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Okay, with Kathy’s correction to the post, I’m thinking that the ONE thing that will NOT cause the crisis would be the chicken liver. With the definition including the word “fermented,” I tend to think that will include those things with sugar in them–which would be the bananas, strawberries, and (of course) beer.
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The one item on the list that will NOT cause a problem would be strawberries.
I have been taking stock of my life as well, and I am deciding the things that I need to keep, the things that I only want to keep, and the things I can do without. It sounds easy but it is not.
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Linda, I agree with you that it is not easy deciding which things you can do without, which you can’t live without, and those that are just hanging around “cuz.”
I have found that since I live actually within our “borough” limits, I hear the fire siren blow whenever they call out the volunteer fire department. At least twice this past year I have been able to do a lot of closet cleaning by calling the fire department and getting put in touch with 2 families who had lost everything in their house fire. Unfortunately, my closet seems to be the EASIEST thing to sort through and make those decisions.
I have boxes and bins that all hold bits and pieces of my past life that I go through occasionally, and I always tell myself that I will be ruthless, but it doesn’t seem to make much of a difference. The 1 or 2 bins that I am able to clear out are soon refilled with newer things. These aren’t even IMPORTANT things…they are just “things.” I wish I had a working fireplace because I’m sure I’d save a lot of space in landfill!
Of course, besides that “physical baggage,” there is also the mental and emotional stuff that we need to make decisions about. What do we need to let go of, forgive and forget, or JUST forget? What things are so important to us (usually related to love and loss) that we want to keep these locked away safely forever so we can pull them out anytime to appreciate? What things are really trivial but we seem to have them run through our minds seemingly all the time…how about those songs we will hear a few lines of and then we find ourselves humming the tune on and off all day long, or we hear a few of the words and then all day long puzzle over what the rest of the words to the song are?
Some things just aren’t important while other things you’d guard with your life. So much to think about, so much to sort through, so many decisions to make. On the face of it, none of these decisions are really easy to make, but I guess if I implemented Kathy’s suggestion about keeping things “of real value” and prioritizing what I do based on the importance or value to my life, I’m sure it would be at least a bit easier!
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Linda, why do you think it would be (or more accurately would NOT be) strawberries that would cause a crisis?
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I love this article, Kathy, and I have been doing exactly this for the past year – or at least trying to – which is to value my time. If I don’t enjoy what I’m doing, I stop doing it. I also have a different view now on volunteering my time. I now find it easier to make time to do the things I enjoy.
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Regarding going through your stuff and simplifying: I once blogged about a Family Circle article I saw about 5 years ago now. It was about how to simplify your life by deciding what to keep and what to toss. Here is their advice:
Is It Junk? Use these guidelines to help you determine what you’re hoarding:
You’ve got junk if:
- It wouldn’t really affect you if you saw it again.
It’s not junk if:
- It generates good feelings.
- It will enrich or delight the coming generation.
I’ve also heard you can ask yourself: Is it useful (in use)? Do I cherish it? A yes to either of these is a vote to keep. I like to add another question: Does it make me smile automatically when I see it? There are some things in my “past” boxes that I threw out because I know the kids wouldn’t care about it (a program for a symphony concert I once saw, etc). I threw out greeting cards unless they had something I cherish written inside by the sender. I got to be an old pro at culling the treasures from the “stuff” from my past – the hard part was setting out to work on my quilt/sewing/cross-stitch stuff/books/patterns!
My sister and I are in the middle of cleaning out Mom’s attic and house of 50 years’ worth of accumulation (she’s 87, but living with my sister now). Believe me – it is a lot easier you do this gradually for yourself and not wait until you’re old or dead and leave it to your kids to do.
Introspection on values and priorities is always good for the soul. They say on one’s death bed, one never says wistfully, “Oh, I wish I’d spent more time on the computer or watching TV or at work.” No, it’s always, “I wish I had spent more time with my family, enjoying the beauty of the world, helping others, making a difference, using my time and talents to have had a fulfilling life.” The worst thing in the world to waste is time. It’s the thing that can’t be replaced.
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In the 8 web links I have so far navigated to, they all seem to use the same or similar 3 lists of foods to avoid, use with caution, or have insufficient evidence of tyramine crisis. So far not one of those lists include strawberries. My answer is strawberries do not cause tyramine crisis.
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What great responses to this post today! Wow. This is a challenge for all of us. I am in the process of reading a book called “The Happiness Project.” The first thing it has you do is start with making a list of things you value. If any of you want to follow along, I am going to try to blog about it on my personal blog and hopefully will have some of you come along and participate! Those kind of things are always better done with friends! You can find that at http://kathynicholls.com, and there is a sign up form on that blog just for the happiness journey.
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What a great reminder. I think you brought it all down to its essence by suggesting we think about whether we are living our lives in line with our values. It is so easy to get distracted by all the “have to dos” that come up. Thank you.
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Sherry,
I googled the items and asked if they would cause the crisis. I found a site, which I believe was from the Mayo Clinic and they listed all of the things to avoid in your diet to avoid the crisis. The only item they included in the diet plan that was okay was strawberries.
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I’m still trying to put 2 and 2 together to figure out how strawberries can be correct, because strawberries will ferment (and rot). I’m still connecting fermenting with sugar and also alcohol but not chicken livers. I’m going to have to check it out more later. Thanks, Linda.
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Sherry,
Sorry, it was not the Mayo Clinic but Vanderbilt. If you bring up this Menu Book and look at page 12 it gives a recipe for strawberry fruit smoothies. I could be off base, but I see it as strawberries being okay.
http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/neurology/Tyramine%20Menu%20Book%2006227101.pdf
Linda Kirvel
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Sherry,
Nope, I was wrong. The smoothies use Frozen strawberries and a half of a banana. You can have the banana, but not the peel as the peel is what causes the crisis. I think you are right about the strawberries fermenting, hence, the frozen strawberries.
Linda
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MAOIs and diet: Is it necessary to restrict tyramine?I just started taking MAOIs for depression. Do I really need to follow a low-tyramine diet?
Answer
from Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D.
A low-tyramine diet is important for anyone who’s taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).
Tyramine is a naturally occurring amino acid that helps regulate blood pressure. Tyramine is present in various foods, such as certain cheeses, wines and meats. Tyramine can also result from the bacterial breakdown of protein in foods as they age. Also, the amount of tyramine can vary among specific brands of certain foods due to different processing, storage and preparation methods.
In turn, MAOIs impair the function of the enzyme monoamine oxidase — which is responsible for the breakdown of tyramine in the body. If you include too much tyramine in your diet while you’re taking MAOIs, you may experience a dangerous increase in blood pressure. Eventually, excess tyramine in your blood could trigger a stroke.
While you’re taking MAOIs, your doctor may recommend eating only fresh foods — not leftovers or foods past their freshness dates. Other tyramine-rich foods and beverages to avoid may include:
■Avocados
■Bananas
■Broad bean (fava bean) pods
■Chocolate
■Aged cheese and any dish prepared with aged cheese
■Sausage, pepperoni and salami
■Sauerkraut
■Soy sauce
■Tap beer
■Red wine, including Chianti
If you haven’t received one already, ask your doctor or a registered dietitian for a complete list of foods to avoid while you’re taking MAOIs.
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My answer is chicken liver.
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I would be totally out of luck then for a few of my favorite foods if I was taking an MOAI. I’m not sure I could enjoy life very long without bananas, chocolate, aged cheeses, sausage, pepperoni, salami, sauerkraut, and the occasional (VERY occasional) glass of beer or red wine! That would be AWFUL!
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Angie: I did note strawberries wasn’t on that list, but it did say they recommended eating fresh foods, so I imagine strawberries would be a good food for people on MAOIs.
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Kathy Reply:
May 20th, 2010 at 10:33 pm
What great discussions today! Wow. Here’s the info on the first question for the day: The answer is strawberries. This comes from the “Understanding Pharmacology” by Turley, 3rd Edition, pages 287-288. It says” The enzyme monoamine oxidase normally breaks down norepinephrine and serotonin in the brain; in the intestine, it also breaks down tyramine in the foods we eat. Because this enzyme is blocked when a person takes an MAO inhibitor, tyramine is not broken down, but is absorbed directly into the bloodstream. The tyromine in the blood stimulates the release of large amounts of stored norepinephrine, and this causes violent headaches, severe hypertension, and possible stroke. This can occur quickly if a patient taking MAO inhibitors for depression ingests food that contain high levels of tyramine. These foods include aged cheese, red wine, beer, chicken, liver, bananas, bologna, salami, sausage, avocados, sauerkraut, raspberries, dried fruits, anchovies, caviar, meat tenderizer, soy sauce, ginseng, coffee, tea, colas, and chocolate.
On the second puzzler, it seems you all got it. Yes, the superstition is that this will cure warts.
Way to go on your hunting today! Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!
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I took MAO inhibitors for sometime and was glad to be able to get off of them because of having to be so careful, so I knew it was strawberries. About your book you are reading, I noticed my parents started getting rid of possessions in about their 50′s or 60′s and wondered why. Now we have been doing it too. I believe the less you have the less you have to keep straightened up and clean. I also don’t find I want so many clothes, etc. Things don’t have to be the newest either. My mind is less cluttered if my house is not cluttered. I am thankful I have a hubby who is retired too and helps around the house. We are not neatnicks, but it feels good not to have stuff laying around. I also find I need some quiet time each day. Health wise, I know I want good health but have not conquered getting to the gym for a swim often enough. Cannot walk due to disability in foot and leg, so swimming is it. I like the sound of the book.
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So, if a person DOES take an MAOI, they should not eat: Aged cheese, red wine, beer, chicken, liver, bananas, bologna, salami, sausage, avocados, sauerkraut, raspberries, dried fruits, anchovies, caviar, meat tenderizer, soy sauce, ginseng, coffee, tea, colas, and chocolate? (Note that I did a copy/paste here and you have “chicken, liver”–so did you mean chicken LIVER, or did you mean to avoid chicken AND liver? I don’t exactly understand what an MAOI is or does, either, so I’m also wondering if that is ONLY something that you get when you take a medicine or if it is something that can occur naturally in our foods? I’ve heard of MAOIs in TV commercials in the “You shouldn’t take this if you take an MAOI” type of warnings for drugs, but I rarely ever even type MAOI, so this is the most I’ve ever researched on it.
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Kathy Reply:
May 21st, 2010 at 7:53 am
Sherry, it’s MAO Inhibitors, and I believe I just put MAOI as that is also used. They are an older form of anti-depressants that are used less and less because of the interactions they have with food, making it such that people have to be really careful. It is chicken AND liver. Hate it when you leave out a comma!
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LOL I had to ask about the chicken liver vs chicken and liver as you had “chicken liver” in the original post and “chicken, liver” in the big answer paragraph. LOL (Yes, commas can be VERY important parts of sentences–definitely giving different meanings. Chicken and liver is very different from just chicken liver. LOL)
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Well, it looks like I missed the boat on this puzzler. I’ve been working like a fiend today, lol. Anyway, the blog post has given me quite a bit to think about.
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