 With a powerful film title, the documentary Vaxxed: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe might deter proponents of vaccines and conventional medicine from seeing it, assuming this is an anti-vaccination tirade. In fact, the documentary was “deselected” from the Tribeca Film Festival at the end of March 2016 after being considered “anti-vaccine” by some filmmakers and journalists who had not seen the film. And, of course, there are those who wish to dismiss it as another conspiracy theory. Yet, this compelling and well-researched film clearly reveals an alarming story from a whistleblower, a Senior Scientist at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – a story every citizen should know, especially parents, parents-to-be, doctors and those in the health care industry (whom we all expect to be well-informed). After viewing Vaxxed, actor Robert DeNiro, a Tribeca Film Festival co-founder, renounced the de-selection of the film saying, “I think the movie is something that people should see.” I do, too. Throughout the film, recorded phone conversations between the whistleblowing scientist Dr. William Thompson and biologist Dr. Brian Hooker are woven around disturbing family accounts of notable onsets of autism after receiving the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR), instances of fraudulent activities within the CDC, and informative insights from well-respected doctors and scientists, including pediatrician Dr. James M. Sears and a recipient of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, virologist Dr. Luc Montagnier. Vaxxed is clearly not an anti-vaccination film. The documentary doesn’t even question the efficacy of vaccines, but rather poignantly asks some deeper questions regarding the significant rise of autism cases over the past two decades, the transparency of the CDC, the monetary motivations within the industry, the practices surrounding vaccine testing, and the distribution – or perhaps omission – of critical data related to the MMR vaccine. Director Dr. Andrew Wakefield became a controversial figure in the medical industry after getting “discredited” for a study he submitted to a medical journal, The Lancet. Yet he has never stated that parents should stop vaccinating. In Vaxxed, Dr. Wakefield openly shares his deep concerns with the MMR combination vaccine, advocating for a single dose vaccine as a safer alternative – which, interestingly, is no longer available. In 1993, while pregnant with my first child, I had no idea vaccines were optional in my state; I hadn’t even questioned them. Once their potential dangers and questions of efficacy came to my attention, I dove deep into research wanting to make the best choice for my baby before giving birth. A critical component I learned was that my decision didn’t have to be an all-or-nothing resolution, but rather – if I opted to vaccinate – could be thoughtful assessments of which and when. In addition to concerns over combination vaccines, Vaxxed reveals the potentially hazardous consequences of inoculating children between 12 and 15 months of age with MMR, especially for African-American males. Even though I had kept somewhat abreast on the vaccination topic over the past 23 years, Vaxxed took me “behind the scenes” of the autism-vaccine controversy and illuminated some bigger concerns. Aside from parental observations, I have never been able to do research on the health of vaccinated versus non-vaccinated children because they do no exist. In 2002, I was able to order a tetanus-only vaccine for my two older children, but didn’t realize that other single dose vaccines have since become unavailable in the United States. As well, I did not realize that vaccines are not tested under the same provisions as pharmaceutical drugs. The lack of CDC transparency and government action exposed in this film, unfortunately, did not surprise me. At the end of Vaxxed: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe, the documentary lists four demands to help ensure safer vaccines, summarizing the goals of the film. Vaxxed is more than a documentary, it is a call to action, requesting:
As a California mother of four, my medical-choice rights have been stripped in the area of childhood vaccinations. Thus, I found myself irritated at the footage of Dr. Richard Pan pushing Senate Bill 277 – a bill he authored to mandate vaccines for all children in public and private California schools – which has now become law. And, whether it was one of the several pro-vaccine commercials or the snippets of Vaxxed-casted children offering an alternative view, I find the use of child actors unnecessarily manipulative, as I’m not convinced these youth have developed their own informed viewpoints. Aside from these personal responses in watching the film, the only other drawback I found was there seemed to be a negative portrayal of autism. Most of us understand that not all vaccines cause autism, not all cases of autism are the result of vaccinations, and autism spans a wide spectrum of conditions. There are many people on the autism spectrum living productive, happy lives. In 90 minutes, Vaxxed focuses on the sound concerns of the whistleblower and other experts, highlights heart-wrenching stories of families with vaccine-injured children, offers disconcerting facts about vaccine testing, and reveals disturbing weak links in regard to public information and child safety. Educational, concise and in some cases passionately raw, the interviews are certainly persuasive. Assumedly for his protection, Dr. William Thompson is never filmed in the documentary, nor are his images revealed, which could lead some critics to question his existence and/or the validity of his claims. The sooner Congress subpoenas Dr. Thompson, the better – for a multitude of reasons.
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 In her book, What now?, Ann Patchett shares her educational and professional journey as she moved from hopeful high school student to successful author. Originally her commencement address at Sarah Lawrence College, Ann's insights and perspective about the ever-looming question, "What now?" are both wise and inspiring. In a time when life is shifting faster than we can imagine, the simplicity of college life seems easy in comparison. Yet, from the eyes of our younger days, we can remember just how pivotal each and every decision seemed at the time. This college or that? What major should I choose? And what about those times when we felt alone and afraid? With wisdom and hindsight, Ann points out that, "Sometimes the circumstances at hand force us to be braver than we actually are, and so we knock on doors and ask for assistance. Sometimes not having any idea where we're going works out better than we could possibly have imagined." With all the changes happening in our lives today - even though it seems to be happening to many of us simultaneously - we can often feel very alone. Moreover, as adults who are supposed to 'have it all together', we can sometimes let our pride stand in the way of asking for assistance. Are you knocking on any doors right now? It is perfectly human to long for stability and ease, yet "Sometimes the best we can hope for is to be graceful and brave in the face of all of the changes that will surely come." She continues, "It also helps to have a sense of humor about your own fate, to not think that you alone are blessed when good fortune comes your way, or cursed when it passes you by. It helps if you can realize that this part of life when you don't know what's coming next is often the part that people look back on with the greatest affection. In truth, the moment at which life really does become locked down, most of us are overcome by the desire to break it all apart again so that we can re-experience the variables of youth." This small offering of a book (and commencement speech) is overflowing with wise words for young, inspiring students as well as those of us in the midst of great changes and are wondering to ourselves, "What now?" "The secret is finding the balance between going out to get what you want
and being open to the thing that actually winds up coming your way."  Are you feeling as if you’ve been spinning your wheels just to get nowhere? Does life have way too many demands on your time? Are you considered a “Type A” personality always doing, doing, doing, or are you simply a product of today’s hyperactive, overly-scheduled culture? Do you feel downright guilty when you do nothing?
"Whenever friends or loved ones kindly suggest we relax – take a deep breath or unwind for a few days – we almost always protest. Slowing down takes too much time. A generation of doers, we have dedicated our lives to making things happen. We feel, quite rightly, that there is nothin’ we can’t do – except, of course, doing nothing." In her book, The Art of Doing Nothing: Simple Ways to Make Time for Yourself, Véronique Vienne offers creative, humorous and even scientific views on doing nothing. Each of her ten chapters highlights an indulgent art – Procrastinating, Breathing, Meditating, Lounging, Yawning, Napping, Bathing, Tasting, Listening and Waiting – tempting us to revitalize the art not just for its own sake, but for ours. Although this small, unassuming book was written over a decade ago, the wisdom of its subject and contents are timeless and refreshing. And, at a time when multi-tasking and break-necking paces are the norm, one could use a little encouragement to not only slow down, but perhaps do nothing at all. More Info: In Vienne's selected bibliography at the end of her book, she includes books which might be of interest to those seeking more exquisite idleness including Essays in Idleness, by Yoshida Kenko (translated by Donald Keene), The Right to Be Lazy by Paul Lafargue, In Praise of Idleness and Other Essays by Bertrand Russell.  I learned how to knit about nine years ago. Although I had learned to crochet as a young girl – some very basic patterns, I must admit – I always thought that those two straight needles looked much too complicated to use, so I never had any interest in knitting prior to 2000. Well, that year my oldest daughter started first grade, and learning how to knit is part of the first grade curriculum in all Waldorf schools. Then I thought, “Surely if first graders can learn to knit, I can learn too.” Plus, I wanted to be able to help my daughter in school and this was one skill I hadn’t gotten in my first grade. Thus, I began my journey into knitting and purling, casting on and casting off, cabling and other complex stitches, not to mention an entire – sometimes overwhelming – world of yarns! My first project was knitting a few cotton dishcloths using wooden needles. Though I had no need for a set of fancy dishcloths, each one offered an interesting pattern for learning. (My children have used those sentimental prototypes many times for playing, but I have never let them get wet much less wash a dirty dish!) Knitting is a joyful, creative endeavor, allowing me to tap into my passions for color, texture, beauty and form; it can also be soothing with its rhythm, simplicity and order. In her book, The Knitting Goddess, Deborah Bergman gathers together instructions, mythology, projects and advice for knitters, novice and new. Through stories of Goddesses, archetypes and martyrs – such as Isis, Brigit, Rachel, and the Moirae – she traces strands of fiber to find the roots of knitting, weaving spirituality and magic into every page and stitch. As readers we begin to see how deeply our spirituality and human needs have been intertwined and supported by fiberwork around the world for centuries. As we awaken more and more to our own spirituality and the connectedness of all, I must wonder if this has something to do with the latest resurgence in knitting and its sudden popularity in the new millennium. And, now, as the economy and structures of our current systems begin to shift, I can see the Goddessly wisdom of Bergman’s words a she reflects on the story of Ariadne: “And even as the old dynastic pattern crumbled, another was gestating and was eventually born. Ariadne partners with the god of fertility and a prolific and joyous new dynasty issues. Pasiphaë gave birth to the toxicity of old Greece. Ariadne played a role in breaking that pattern, and the many children she had with Dionysus went on to seed the Helladic tribes. The small ball of magical yarn played a part in this work. Our own knitting, weaving, spinning can take us on a similar inner journey. The knitting patterns we learn and execute can literally repattern us within. A change in the gauge, however classic a rite of passage, can do the trick.” Maybe you haven’t tried knitting before and you’re looking for something new and creative to delve into during these tumultuous times. Perhaps you’ve whipped out a few fashionable scarves, or have mastered the basics, found a fabulous pattern, some luscious yarn and made yourself (friend, partner, child) a whole sweater! Whether it’s the knitting or the stories that draw you, The Knitting Goddess offers inspiration to our hands, heart and soul. In my own knitting pilgrimages, I have reverently discovered Bergman’s observation, “…the rhythm of our craft opens us and introduces us to our own natural creative and spiritual keenness.” And she urges, “Try it sometime. Somewhere in the deep background of your soul, whole ancient civilizations of the spirit can rise and fall while you knit a sweater. Try it. You’ll see.”
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