Rethinking Everything Conference 2011

*update* This year the conference is from:
Thursday, September 1st through Monday, September 5, 2011.
Kevin is teaching several sessions.  If you want to know more about living holistically and/or being an unschooler, you should come to the conference.  I love this conference and think its *awesome*.

Here are descriptions of Kevin's classes.  Kevin speaks on many subjects, including Star Trek (www.undiscoveredcountryproject.com) as well as the health benefits of barefoot living.  If you want him to teach a session at your event or church, please contact me. :)


So, What Do
Unschooling Parents Do?

Getting out of your child's way, letting them find their own path, avoiding coercion - ultimately, isn't this a passive role? Beyond paying the bills, are there any responsibilities that unschooling parents have? How do we raise children with absolutely no interference, no philosophy and no rules?


Unschooling and the Christian Life

When we seek to encourage liberty for our children, how do we reconcile that with a Christian faith that often seems to take on forms of rigidity and inflexibility? Do guidelines, ethics and values have a place in an unschooling family? What are our responsibilities as parents and followers of Christ as we seek freedom in our families' lives? In this engaging session, we'll explore a view of freedom and responsibility that takes its cues from Scripture, allowing Jesus, the Lord of Liberation, to help us become "free indeed."

Barefoot Living

Connected. Grounded. Confident. Free. These are just a few of the words people use to describe how they feel being barefoot. Who doesn't love kicking off their shoes? But did you know its also a great way to live a naturally healthier life? Running barefoot is popular, but living barefoot is best! Experienced barefooter Kevin C. Neece shares his insights in enlightening sessions on how you  and especially your children  can live a freer, more natural, healthier life by living barefoot. He'll act as your personal guide to escaping the confines of shoes and finding the whole body benefits of healthy, uninhibited feet!

Barefoot Walk

When we're walking barefoot, we're learning a whole new way to walk. We'll take a barefoot walk outside to experience the Earth (and the city) in all its textures and learn to adapt to a new way of walking, step by step, so everyone can try it out at their own pace. Kevin will answer your questions about various challenges and we'll take turns experiencing different surfaces. Its the way we were designed to walk - barefoot and free!

Prayerfoot Barefoot Prayer Walk

This expression and exploration of contemplative prayer and spirituality through barefoot devotion comes from a Christian worldview perspective, but is open to all who wish to participate. We'll meet together and talk about some of the spiritual aspects of barefoot walking, as well as a brief introduction to the Christian tradition of contemplative prayer. Then we'll spend some time sitting, standing, walking and praying in a unique liturgical setting.


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2010 post

I just love the title of this conference.

Because since I turned 30, that's what I do.  I rethink everything.

Of course, when I was 20, I changed my major 5 times, but that is not quite the same.

I've changed careers 4 times now - from bridal consultant, to teacher, to librarian, and now to mommy.

But that is not it either.  Rethinking everything usually means to reconsider your worldview.  To think about something, then take your hand into your mind, and twist it and consider if from another angle.  To look at something differently.  To walk in others' shoes.  To be open to changes.  To be just open in general.

God is so awesome that He made our minds to be capable of change.  To be capable of Rethinking Everything.  To not always be brainwashed into one set parameter, but to consider our options, our choices, and our decisions.  And if new info comes our way, we can reconsider it all again.  I love that.


Here is a great conference that is actually in the metroplex full of people who like to rethink everything, who are definitely not mainstream thinkers.

Check it out:

http://www.rethinkingeverything.net/

Cluster Headaches - CH Syndrome

 Update June 2011 - So we are out of remission of 3 years, sigh.  We are finding one thing that might be helping - Fenugreek pills - 4 pills every four hours. You can do 6 pills or more if you like. This keeps all congestion away.  Then with Sinol, and a special rubbing technique, they are not as bad and they are short.

2012 - Gluten is also a known substance for causing all kinds of havoc in the head.  Its a protein that if it gets in your bloodstream, it can lodge in your head, and depending on your dna/genetics, it can cause many issues.  My husband is mainly gluten free now, and rarely gets headaches of any kind.

2014 update - He has been gluten free for over 2 years now, and he has been in remission for that long as well.  Try making gluten free a part of your lifestyle!  Google Paleo for autoimmune diseases and it might really help you!

There are also many essential oils that can at least help somewhat.  Frankincense is considered especially helpful.  There are also many blends that might help from all the different companies.  Try Native American Nutritionals, Butterfly Express or NHR oils from England (the best in the world).
http://www.nativeamericannutritionals.com/Copal-Blends-Essential-Oils/View-all-products.html

Update November 2008:
Well, this year we have successfully staved off 4 beginning ones by using this combination. Thought I'd pass it along:
2 Hawthorne pills
2 Cool Cayenne pills
2 Omega 3 1000 mg pills
washed down with Yogi tea's Calming tea combined with yerba mate and other green teas
I've also ordered Sinol - a nasal spray with capsaicin pepper - its suppose to be very promising. We shall see.

Sinol update: This is the best thing we've tried. So far its stopped at least 3 from forming, and seems to have cut short several. Following the directions is useless though - He usually does it twice, then blows his nose, then does it again five more times or so. Then 20-30 minutes later if he's in the middle of one, he'll use it again several times, and will continue to use it intermittently until the pain is gone.
*legal precaution* - I am not a doctor nor do I advocate using a product more than what is recommended. This is just an experience-sharing and what works for him.

For those who suffer migraines: Cluster headaches and migraines are completely separate.
Here is a great resource for migraines:
Spearmint: A new natural anti-migraine remedy

Here is a list of homeopathic remedies for migraines:
http://www.drmomma.org/2008/06/homeopathic-solutions-to-migraines.html 

2007:  To our friends and family:
Kevin is a seven year sufferer of cluster headaches. *Thankfully* he is an episodic sufferer, and gets them for six weeks in the fall/winter. One of the hardest parts is waiting for them to hit, and praying that they won't. They are very debilitating, and very depressing for him, so if you could cheer him up, give him a call, whatever, that would be great....If he has to leave in the middle of an activity, then at least you will know why. Most people don't quite understand what cluster headaches are, so the following is a great letter that explains it.

From the www.clusterheadaches.com website:

As we all know it is very difficult to explain what it is we go through....
Many look at us as if there is no way in hell something can be that debilitating.

Here is a letter that you can give your employers, colleagues, professors, fellow students that will explain in very simple language what it is that we go through.
How CH is a misnomer!!

It is known to us as "Simon's Letter"
Simon is a UK CH'er who had the wherewithal to develop this perfect letter.

http://www.ouch-us.org/chgeneral/colleagueletter.htm

Here are some helpful websites on Cluster Headaches:

The episodic type, the most common, is characterized by one to three short-lived attacks of periorbital pain (Fig. 6-1) per day over a 4 to 8 week period, followed by a pain-free interval that averages 1 year. The chronic form, sometimes called chronic migrainous neuralgia, which may begin de novo or several years after an episodic pattern has become established, is characterized by the absence of sustained periods of remission. Each type may transform into the other. The cluster syndrome is genetically, biochemically, and clinically different from migraine; propranolol is effective in treating migraine but has not been shown to be effective in cluster headache. Lithium is beneficial for the cluster headache syndrome and ineffectual in migraine. Nevertheless, the two disorders occasionally blend into one in occasional patients (Solomon, 1986), suggesting that their mechanisms bear some degree of commonality.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cluster_Headaches

http://www.clusterheadaches.com/about.html

http://www.clusterheadaches.org/

http://www.ecureme.com/emyhealth/data/Cluster_Headache.asp

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/articles/37974-1.asp

http://headaches.about.com/cs/cluster/a/ch_exploding.htm

http://headaches.about.com/cs/diagnosis/a/diary.htm

http://www.w-h-a.org/wha2/index.asp

http://216.25.100.131/members/Sections/members/login/Temp_Frame/frameset_26_06_02.htm

http://www.ouch-us.org/chgeneral/colleagueletter.htm

http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi


From Wikipedia:

• Algorithm for diagnosis and treatment from National Guideline Clearinghouse (DHHS)
• Clusterheadaches.com, the largest online support group for people with cluster headaches
• Organization for Understanding Cluster Headaches, a non-profit education and advocacy group
• National Headache Foundation
• American Council for Headache Education
• Cluster Busters
• Some personal stories of dealing with cluster headaches.

What we have used in the past that sometimes works (most-times doesn't)

Taurine - in energy drinks - Red Bull

Magnesium supplements

Homeopathic pain relievers - Calming tonic, arthritis pills, etc - can lessen the peak

Benadryl - can sometimes knock him out

Melatonin

This year, we will be trying the above, plus:

a good quality magnesium supplement

Acidoliphilus and a good multivitamin like Garden of Life (at least it will keep him healthy when the pain hits)

and we might try Ambrotose or some type of glyconutrient.



*suggestions are always welcome
*we have no access to oxygen and have yet to try that route