Contact Michele
Welcome to Coastland Contemplation, a column intended as inspirational entertainment. I'm Michele Oksen.
My home, since 1983, is a remote cabin in the Santa Lucia Mountains between Cambria and Paso Robles. I overlook Lake Nacimiento from land my grandfather traded a horse and some tires for in the early 1930's.
My sincere hope is that each month you will join me for an online nature walk somewhere in these magnificent Pacific coastlands. Each time we step into the virtual great outdoors together I aspire to, with nature's guidance, encourage you to find opportunities to contemplate life and evolution.
Contact Marcia
In 2004, Marcia Rhoades and her husband, John, moved from Salt Lake City to Cambria. Life at their Grace Meadows Ranch in the Santa Lucia Mountains gives Marcia endless opportunities to photograph wildlife and the natural beauty of the Central Coast. |
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Coffeeberries – Relieve Stress, Laugh a Little
by Michele Oksen
While hiking the woodlands of our SLO coast you may see signs left behind by black bears. One of the most common indications that a bear walked the trail before you is a big pile of bear poop. This time of year these piles are likely full of seeds that resemble coffee beans because the coffeeberry shrubs are ripe with fruit.
Coffeeberry—otherwise known as Rhamnus californica—is native from the Oregon Coast, which ranges through most of California into Arizona and Baja. It tolerates sun to partial shade and has low water requirements, which helps it thrive even during drought years. The berries are round and turn from red, to purple, then black as they mature.
Long ago coffeeberries were consumed by some native tribes as an herbal laxative. Supposedly a small amount is sufficient for the desired results. That's not to say it's recommended that you experiment with them. As with other Rhamnus species, the purgative properties are reportedly very powerful, even dangerous if used improperly. But, as you can imagine, it might be tempting to try just about anything that claims it could relieve the shooting pains, cramping, and frustration of constipation. It's really hard to be a happy camper when you're blocked up and miserable.
True enough, if you suffer from any kind of internal pressure, strain, or struggle it can be very difficult to be cheerful. And although these conditions are not conducive to a sense of humor, they create a critical need for it.
Like coffeeberries, humor functions as involuntary stress relief. People often assume a relaxed, contented, and comfortable position following an episode of laughter or amusement. When you don't take life too seriously you don't miss out on comical and humorous human absurdities. Thus, life is much more enjoyable.
That's why you can use coffeeberries to remind you to seek silliness. They can be the stimulus that provokes hilarity. To tap into some knee slapping, tear inducing comedy is to ease the burdensome crap that may tend to turn your smiles upside down.
Whether what ails you is perceived as humorous or not may at times simply be a matter of choice. Maturity and wisdom contribute to the decision to challenge your concept of what's funny. True enough a rock hard stool can be something to groan about. But if you think about it, when—like a financially savvy head of household—you finally do manage to 'budget,' you have to admit that's something to chuckle about.
As with the effects of ingesting coffeeberries, you too can eliminate the waste that weighs you down. It really is possible to lighten your load with laughter.
Photos by Marcia Rhoades.
Banner image by Fugle
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