Older Is Better

There are some who can't ever imagine being OLD,
Some who have been old their whole life,
People who are certainly old before their time,
And those who will never have a chance to be old ...

In my life,
OLDER is BETTER !!!





Thoughts On Living The Good Life

By Regina Brett The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio 
 

 

1.
Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

 

2.
When in doubt, just take the next small step.

 

3.
Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

 

4.
Don't take yourself so seriously.  No one else does.

 

5.
Pay off your credit cards every month.

 

6.
You don't have to win every argument.  Agree to disagree.

 

7.
Cry with someone.  It's more healing than crying alone.

 

8.
It's OK to get angry with God.  He can take it.

 

9.
Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

 

10.
When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

 

11.
Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

 

12.
It's OK to let your children see you cry.

 

13.
Don't compare your life to others'.
You have no idea what their journey is all about.

 

14.
If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

 

15.
Everything can change in the blink of an eye.
But don't worry; God never blinks.

 

16.
Life is too short for long pity parties.
Get busy living, or get busy dying.

 

17.
You can get through anything if you stay put in today.

 

18.
A writer writes.  If you want to be a writer, write.

 

19.
It's never too late to have a happy childhood.
But the second one is up to you and no one else.

 

20.
When it comes to going after what you love in life,
don't take no for an answer.

 

21.
Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie.
Don't save it for a special occasion.  Today is special.

 

22.
Over-prepare, then go with the flow.

 

23.
Be eccentric now.  Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

 

24.
The most important sex organ is the brain.

 

25.
No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

 

26.
Frame every so-called disaster with these words:
"In five years, will this matter?"

 

27.
Always choose life.

 

28.
Forgive everyone everything.

 

29.
What other people think of you is none of your business.

 

30.
Time heals almost everything.  Give time time.

 

31.
However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

 

32.
Your job won't take care of you when you are sick.
Your friends will.  Stay in touch.

 

33.
Believe in miracles.

 

34.
God loves you because of who God is,
not because of anything you did or didn't do.

 

35.
Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

 

36.
Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

 

37.
Your children get only one childhood.
Make it memorable.

 

38.
Read the Psalms.
They cover every human emotion.

 

39.
Get outside every day.
Miracles are waiting everywhere.

 

40.
If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's,
we'd grab ours back.

 

41.
Don't audit life.  Show up and make the most of it now.

 

42.
Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

 

43.
All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

 

44.
Envy is a waste of time.  You already have all you need.

 

45.
The best is yet to come.

 

46.
No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

 

47.
Take a deep breath.  It calms the mind.

 

48.
If you don't ask, you don't get.

 

49.
Yield.

 

50.
Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.


(  10, 11, 13, 15, 21, 23, 33, 35, 39, 43 and 45
stand out to me today.
Which ones speak to you?  )

Making Connections

 

Although the idea of all things being connected is not a new idea, it is a wondrous idea to discover and rediscover over and over again.

Those connections can be in big ways.

After centuries of creating medical specialists, modern medical techniques are beginning to adopt the holistic idea of treating our bodies, minds and spirits as one.  For example, an eye, ears, nose and throat guy might consider that the symptoms he/she is treating just might have roots somewhere else.  Oncologists are seeing a greater survival rate in those patients who take a spiritual approach to their cancer as well as altering their diets, exercising and taking their medicine.

Those connections can happen in small ways.

 

Our minds process thousands of images every day, recording them and storing them, saving them for our dreams or our designs.  It might be easy to see how our dreams, if we remember them, use some of those images, and the meanings we assign to them, to send messages to our conscious world.  But what do I mean by designs?  Whether it's decorating a room, designing a piece of jewelry, composing a photograph, arranging a buffet table, planting flowers, or organizing our work files, unrelated patterns like buildings in a row, colors in a piece of fabric, shapes in a garden, cars parked around a fountain, a shop window, a painting, or children playing ... the things we see find a way of influencing the things we do and most of it happens without our even knowing it.

I am finding greater intrigue in the amazing way our minds work.  No matter how disconnected and unrelated images are, if we were to see five images in a row ... our minds can't help but try to connect them in a way that makes sense for us.

 

Let me show you what I mean.  Let's say we are standing in front of a blank wall.  On that wall are five different pictures:



   
 

 

As far as I know, at his very moment, there is no connection at all between these five objects.  I chose them randomly, and yet, even as we look at them, our minds are making some sort of connection between them.

We can't help it.

 

Every time our minds say, "WHAT?!!", we start processing the images, chewing on them, rolling them over in our minds, tasting the possibilities.

I love those things in life that jump out at me and make me say, "WHAT?!!"  They stop the daily routine and force me to look at them.  I can almost feel my imagination stretch, my mind broadening to include a set of images that have no connection with the rest of my experience. 

It is in those tiny moments that we grow! 
It is in those tiny moments that we find inspiration. 
It is in those tiny moments that answers come to us.

How many times have you been thinking about a big decision or worrying about an assignment and you seek out a park bench or a big rock in the middle of the woods or a quiet chair in a coffee house?  Your mind finds your answer by watching life go by, whether it's bees in a flower garden, two rabbits stepping out from a grove of trees that are in the shape of a company logo or the lady across from you passing out rolls to her children and all of the sudden the pattern of her dress clicks open a place in your brain where the perfect answer comes tumbling out?

You see, right along side the "WHAT?!!"s are the "AH-HAH!!!"s ... my other favorite ... those tiny moments where the curtain pulls back, the fog clears and our hearts jump ... where we know that we know that we know.

"AH-HAHH!!!"

 

 

While I have been writing about connections, I have looked at those five pictures and my mind has connected them. 

The connection, for me, is Lucerne, Switzerland.  We didn't fly a Geebee, but we flew a 747 to Europe, and took an evening train to Lucerne.  Behind the sign in desk at the hotel were beautiful oil paintings that included the colors in these images.  We woke up early, and had a wonderful continental breakfast that included breads, meats, eggs and fresh fruit.  We took two pears with us for a snack later on and walked through the city, among the shops, where I chose a silk scarf among a beautiful display of hats and scarves.  We walked to the statue of the Lion of Lucerne which, in itself, is a story I'd like to share:

The Swiss have a long tradition of supplying mercenaries to foreign governments (the Swiss Guard has been assigned to guard the pope for centuries and still do today). Because the Swiss have been politically neutral for centuries and have long enjoyed a reputation for honoring their agreements, a pope or emperor could be confident that his Swiss Guards wouldn't turn on him when the political winds shifted direction.

   

The Swiss Guards' honor was put to the test in 1792, when--after trying to escape the French Revolution--King Louis XVI, Marie-Antoinette, and their children were hauled back to the Tuileries Palace in Paris. A mob of working-class Parisians stormed the palace in search of aristocratic blood. More than 700 Swiss officers and soldiers died while defending the palace, without knowing that their royal employers--like Elvis--had left the building.

In the early 1800s, the Danish artist Bertel Thorvaldsen was hired to sculpt a monument to the fallen Swiss Guards. The sculpture was carved in a sandstone cliff above the city center, near Lucerne's Glacier Garden and the Panorama, and it has attracted countless visitors since its dedication in 1821.


The statue is one of the saddest statues I have ever seen.  We couldn't help but walk away quietly, thinking of those brave men, giving their education, their courage, their valor, their military prowess, their principles ... their EVERYTHING for nothing.  What a tragedy.  What a noble lesson and such a price to pay that we might all learn from it.  We left there and walked through the streets another way to where we stopped and ordered hot tea with sandwiches at a sidewalk cafe.  It was the most thoughtful day.



For me those images connected to form of a memory, but for someone else, they might inspire a story or a dream, a poem or a speech ... 

I'm wondering ... What inspires you?

What images do you feed your mind and what connections does your mind make?  How do you process them?  What inspires you?

The Lighter Side

 

This email made me laugh ...
Wonder if this Doctor is taking any new patients?


          



Q:   I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life;
is this true?

A:   Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it ...
Don't waste them on exercise.  Everything wears out eventually.  Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer;
that's like saying you can extend the life of your car
by driving it faster.
Want to live longer?  Take a nap.



Q:   Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?

A:   You must grasp logistical efficiencies.  What does a cow eat?  Hay and corn.  And what are these?  Vegetables.
So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system.
Need grain?  Eat chicken.
Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable).  And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.



Q:   Should I reduce my alcohol intake?

A:   No, not at all.  Wine is made from fruit.
Brandy is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way.
Beer is also made out of grain.  Bottoms up!



Q:   How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?

A:   Well, if you have a body and you have fat,
your ratio is one to one.
If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.



Q:   What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?

A:   Can't think of a single one, sorry.  My philosophy is:
No Pain ... Good!



Q:   Aren't fried foods bad for you?

A:   You're not listening ...
Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil.
In fact, they're permeated in it.
How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?



Q:   Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?

A:   Definitely not!  When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger.
You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.



Q:   Is chocolate bad for me?

A:   Are you crazy?  HELLO Cocoa beans!  Another vegetable.
It's the best feel-good food around!!



Q:   Is swimming good for your figure?

A:   If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.



          

 

 

Getting To The BOTTOM Of It

 

WOMENS ARSE SIZE STUDY

There is a new study about women and how they feel about their arses, the results are pretty interesting.

30%   of women think their arse is too fat

10%   of women think their arse is too skinny

60%   say they don't care, they love him, he's a good man, and they wouldn't trade him for the world !!!

 

          




P.S. Wouldn't it be GREAT if Santa could just deliver a hydro-derm arse?

(have you seen those ads pop up?)

I'd wake up Christmas morning and POOF!

The body I always wanted!
... BUTT if Santa really had those powers ...
seems like he'd use them on himself first!
Right?


Maybe, I should order hydroderm?

NOT !

I just don't believe anything can ever replace good old-fashioned
EAT HEALTHY AND EXERCISE

And, since Santa isn't going to deliver ...
and even though Joey says he likes my butt "just the way it is" ...
a little exercise can never hurt!

(google big butts)

Oh my!  That might be what I was thinking but that is not what I meant.  Better try a different search ...

(google butt exercises)

There!  That's what I'm talking about!



I want to make your life a whole lot easier by giving you my 10 best butt exercises list. However, don't make the mistake of thinking that all you have to do is perform some of these exercises to get a great butt — it takes a little more than that.

You still need to follow the rules of a calorie-reduced diet to lose body fat, cardiovascular exercise to burn calories and strength training for the entire body to stimulate the metabolism and tighten your muscles.

If you're following the above guidelines, then the following exercises will help tighten and firm your valuable assets.

Some of the exercises may take the entire leg muscles into consideration, but there's nothing wrong with that. The key is to make an impact on the glutes so we change our butt definition to, "the body part looks bodacious in every item of clothing."

THE 10 BEST BUTT EXERCISES

1. Walking Lunges — Stand with your feet hip width apart, grasp a pair of dumbbells with your arms straight at your sides, palms in. Take a large step forward and lower your body so that your front knee lines up with your ankle. The back knee is almost touching the floor.

Push off with your back foot and take a large step forward with your other foot. Walk lunge 15-20 steps and then turn around and return to the start using the same form. You should contract your glutes on the lowering of each movement.

2. Extension Step Ups — Hold a pair of dumbbells by your sides with palms facing the side of the body. Stand behind a 6 -to 12-inch high step (normally used in aerobic step classes) and keep your arms straight. Step onto the middle of the step with your right foot and then lift your left knee high (to hip height). Step down with your left foot, then repeat on the right side. This is a great one and you'll really feel it.

3. Bent Leg Reverse Kick Up — Start this exercise on your hands and knees on a mat. Raise your left leg up until it is parallel with the floor with a slight bend in the knee. Support your weight with your arms and right leg. While contracting the butt, lift your left leg up and toward the ceiling, maintaining a bend in the knee.

Slowly return to the starting position. After completing the set on the left side, repeat on the right side. To increase the difficulty, you may want to add an ankle weight to the working leg.

4. Lying Gluteus Lift — Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet on the floor. Place your arms at your sides for support. Contracting the glutes, project your hips up toward the ceiling as you lift your glutes off the floor. Slowly return to the starting position stopping just short of your glutes touching the floor. Exhale while lifting your butt, and inhale while returning to the starting position.

5. Smith Machine Rear Squat — I prefer free weights, but for safety reasons, a Smith machine will work just fine. Place the bar across the back of your shoulders. Be sure it's not resting on your neck. Your feet should be shoulder-distance apart. Lower the weight, keeping your knees behind the toes at all times. Think of sitting back into a chair and contract the glutes on the lowering phase.

Stop when the knees are at a 90 degree angle. Return to the starting position and repeat. Inhale while lowering the weight and exhale while returning to the starting position. Do not let the knees ride over your toes (you should be able to see your feet at all times), and don't arch your back.

6. Cycling — Riding a bike is great for your glutes, hips and thighs. Get your glutes involved by leading with your heels when you push down on the pedals. On the upswing, pull up on the pedal (providing you've got foot straps) to make sure you're using every part of your legs during your workout. For brief periods, lift your butt off the seat and slowly pedal as you contract the butt.

7. Stepmill — This is one of my favorite cardio exercises, and it works the glutes with absolute precision. This machine is not to be confused with the Stairmaster. The stepmill actually has revolving steps and is extremely difficult.

When I go into the gym these units are always available and the elliptical machines are unavailable — what does that tell you? Yep, it's hard, but it will turn your butt into a J-Lo look alike.

8. Running — I've never trained a female who didn't get a smaller butt from a running program. If you have excessive body fat to lose, then this may not be your best bet due to the stress it places on the knees.

However, a gradual program works great for those who have less than 25 pounds to lose. Try to build up to 4 days per week for 30 minutes and remember to invest in high quality running shoes.

9. Leg Press/Feet High — It's amazing what a simple change of foot positioning can do. Try the leg press with your feet placed high on the platform. This simple change of positioning will activate the butt and hamstrings as well. Lower the weight until you feel the glutes contract. You'll definitely feel this one.

10. Ankle Weight Butt Blaster — Get on the floor on your hands and knees. Relax your shoulders and find a neutral spine with your head at a natural extension of your neck. Extend the left leg up with a 90 degree angle at the knee. Your foot should be parallel with the ceiling.

Contracting the glutes, push your foot up toward the ceiling. Stop when your leg is at a full extension from the hip maintaining the 90 degree angle at the knee. Return to the starting position. After completing the set on the left side, repeat on the right side.

*Whether you're a beginner or more advanced exerciser, incorporating some of these exercises into your program and remaining consistent with your online weight loss program will grant you access into the world of tight tushes.  As always, check with your doctor before beginning any exercise program.

 

Healthy Choices Means Taking Care Of YOU - Part 1

 

 

Sometimes, it's good to review what medicines and vitamins we are taking ... boring topic ... but necessary.  We have to take care of our bodies if we want to live healthy lives.  Of course, we may have inherited weaknesses, but eating healthy, exercising, drinking plenty of water and taking vitamins will help us make the most of the good health we already have.

Our physical health can effect our emotional and mental well-being too.  If we are depressed and can find the motivation to exercise (which will release endorphins - nature's pain killer), eat healthy foods to build our strength and drink lots of water to flush out toxins caused by stress, we will find ourselves in a better frame of mind.

Of course, it all works together!  This morning, I read this from the Daily OM about making healthy choices.  I had planned to post the vitamin breakdown, as notes to myself and anyone else who might be interested, but decided to add the Daily OM article because even though I have the best intentions, I sometimes have to be reminded that the BEST vitamins in the world won't do me any good at all unless I take them!

 

Shedding Light On Ourselves
Parts That Don't Want To Heal

In almost every case, we know what is best for us in our lives, from the relationships we create to the food we eat. Still, somewhat mysteriously, it is often difficult to make the right choices for ourselves. We find ourselves hanging out with someone who leaves us feeling drained or choosing to eat fast food over a salad. We go through phases where we stop doing yoga or taking vitamins, even though we feel so much better when we do. Often we have no idea why we continue to make the less enlightened choice, but it is important that we inquire into ourselves to find out.

When we choose that which is not best for us, the truth can be that there is a deep seated part of us that does not want to heal. We may say it’s because we don't have the time or the energy or the resources, but the real truth is that when we don't take care of ourselves we are falling prey to self-sabotage. Self-sabotage happens unconsciously, which is why it’s so difficult to see that we are doing it. The important thing to realize is that this very part of us that resists our healing is the part that most needs our attention and love. Even as it appears to be working against us, if we can simply bring it into the light of our consciousness, it can become our greatest ally. It carries the information we need to move to the next level in our healing process.

When we recognize that we are not making healthy choices, we might even say out loud, “I am not taking care of myself.” Sometimes this is the jolt we need to wake up to what is actually happening. Next we can sit ourselves down in meditation, with a journal, or with a trusted friend to explore the matter more thoroughly. Just shining the light of our awareness on the source of our resistance is sometimes enough to dispel its power. At other times, further effort is required. Either way, we need not fear these parts that do not want to heal. We only need to take them under our wing and bring them with us into the light.

     ( Want more DailyOM?  Register for your free email, or browse all articles )

 

I think I have been hearing ... Don't forget to drink your water (8 glasses a day) and take your vitamins most of my life.  I used to laugh at the idea that we need anything other than to eat healthy ... Yeah, right!  How many of us eat healthy all the time? 

It turns out Mom was right ... Was there ever any doubt?!!!  Taking vitamins on a regular basis actually keeps us young longer.  It is preventative maintenance, like changing the oil regularly in your car!

Here is an overview of the vitamins we should be taking and what they actually do for us:



Vitamin Overview

All natural vitamins are organicfood substances found only in living things, that is, plants and animals. With few exceptions, the body cannot manufacture or synthesize vitamins. They must be supplied by the diet or in dietary supplements. Vitamins are essential to the normal functioning of our bodies. They are necessary for growth, vitality, health, general well being, and for the prevention and cure of many health problems and diseases.

HOW VITAMINS WORK:  A lot of people think vitamins can replace food, they cannot!  In fact, vitamins cannot be assimilated without ingesting food.  That is why they should be taken with a meal.  Vitamins regulate metabolism, help convert fat and carbohydrates into energy, and assist in forming bone and tissue.  See References.

VITAMIN A (Beta Carotene)

IMPORTANCE: A powerful anti-oxidant which helps protect the cells against cancer by neutralizing "Free Radicals," necessary for new cell growth; guards against heart disease and stroke; lowers cholesterol levels; slows the aging process; protects against colds, flu and infections of the kidneys, bladder, lungs and mucous membranes; promotes healthy wrinkle-free skin, and helps in the removal of age spots and acne; promotes healthy hair and nails; protects against air pollutants and counteracts night blindness and weak eye sight; builds resistance to infections; slows the progression of osteo-arthritis and cataracts; helps prevent macular degeneration of the eyes. BETA CAROTENE IS A SAFE NON-TOXIC FORM OF VITAMIN A.

DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS: May result in night blindness; increased susceptibility to infections; rough, dry, scaly skin; loss of smell & appetite; frequents fatigue; lack of tearing; defective teeth & gums' retarded growth. See References. 

 

VITAMIN B-1 (Thiamin)

IMPORTANCE: Known as the "Morale Vitamin" because of its beneficial effects on the nervous system and mental attitude. It enhances circulation, assists in blood formation, carbohydrate metabolism and digestion; plays a key role in generating energy; promotes good muscle tone; acts as an anti-oxidant, protecting the body from degenerative effects of aging; helps prevent reoccurring canker sores; helps maintain a healthy nervous system; prevents depression, alleviates fatigue, optimizes brain function and mental alertness; has been used to treat numbness of the hands and feet, poor circulation, tingling sensations, weak or sore muscles, forgetfulness, heavy breathing, and irritability.

DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS: May lead to the loss of appetite ; weakness & feeling tired; paralysis & nervous irritability; insomnia; loss of weight; vague aches & pains; mental depression & constipation; heart & gastrointestinal problems. See References. 

 

VITAMIN B-2 (Riboflavin)

IMPORTANCE: Necessary for red blood cell formation, anti-body production, cell respiration, and growth; alleviates eye fatigue, and is important in the prevention of cataracts; aids in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins; promotes the oxygenation of the skin, hair, and nails; eliminates dandruff; aids in the release of energy from food; reduces the occurrence of migraine headaches; helps eliminate cracked mouth, lips, and tongue; supports the production of adrenal hormones.

DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS: May result initching and burning eyes; cracks and sores in the mouth & lips; bloodshot eyes; purplish tongue; dermatitis; retarded growth; digestive disturbances; trembling; sluggishness; oily skin. See References. 

 

VITAMIN B-6 (Pyridoxine)

IMPORTANCE: Can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease by inhibiting the formation of homocysteine, a toxic chemical that attacks the heart muscle and allows the deposition of cholesterol around the heart muscle; aids in maintaining the central nervous system and normal brain function; reduces muscle spasms, leg cramps and stiffness of the hands; relieves nausea and migraines, lowers cholesterol; improves vision, and aids in the prevention of PMS; promotes red blood cell formation; aids the immune system and antibody production; aids in cancer immunity and in the prevention of atherosclerosis; is destroyed by alcoholic beverages.

DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS: May result in nervousness, insomnia, skin eruptions, loss of muscular control, anemia, mouth disorders, muscular weakness, dermatitis, arm & leg cramps, loss of hair, slow learning, and water retention. See References. 

VITAMIN B-12 (Cobalamin)

IMPORTANCE: Helps in the formation of red blood cells, thus helping prevent anemia; increases energy levels; promotes a healthy immune system, and nerve function; is required for the proper digestion of foods, the synthesis of protein, and the metabolism of carbohydrates and fats; aids in cell formation and cellular longevity; prevents nerve damage; improves concentration, memory, and balance; may protect against smoking-induced cancer.

DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS: chronic fatigue, bone loss, constipation, depression, digestive disorders, dizziness, drowsiness, enlargement of the liver, eye disorders, hallucinations, headaches, labored breathing, memory loss, moodiness, nervousness, pernicious anemia, ringing in the ears, binge eating, and spinal cord degeneration. See References. 

 

NIACINAMIDE (Niacin- vitamin B-3)

IMPORTANCE: Dilates blood vessels, thus increasing circulation and reducing high blood pressure; significantly lowers blood cholesterol and triglycerides; improves resistance to stress; regulates blood sugar; treats dizziness and ringing in the ears; helps prevent depression, mental illness, and migraine headaches; aids in the functioning of the nervous system; helps eliminate canker sores and bad breath; protects against pollutants and toxins; gives you healthier looking skin and stimulates the sex drive.

DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS: May result in pellagra, gastrointestinal disturbance, nervousness, headaches, fatigue, mental depression, vague aches & pains, irritability, loss of appetite, insomnia, skin disorders, muscular weakness, indigestion, bad breath, canker sores. See References. 

 

PANTOTHENIC ACID

IMPORTANCE: Is considered the "Anti-Stress" Vitamin because of its important role in the functioning of the adrenal glands, which produce hormones that help our bodies respond to stress; plays an important role in making hemoglobin, which transports oxygen throughout our bodies; helpful in detoxifying harmful chemicals such as herbicides and insecticides; along with anti-oxidants, zinc, copper, and vitamin D, will prevent accelerated joint degeneration, by encouraging your body's ability to regenerate cartilage; fights infections by building antibodies; prevents fatigue, and used by athletes to boost performance; used to reduce the adverse and toxic effects of many antibiotics; stimulates the release of energy from carbohydrates, fats and protein; promotes the production of red blood cells and sex hormones; helps with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and menopausal discomforts; lowers high cholesterol and triglycerides.

DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS: May lead to painful & burning feet, skin abnormalities, retarded growth, dizzy spells, digestive disturbances, vomiting, restlessness, stomach stress, muscle cramps. See References

(to be continued)

Rising Above The Everyday

The past few weeks have been awesome !

Part of the 4th of July was spent with my kids who attended a family reunion of my ex-inlaws.  Joey and I sat among 40-50 people and realized that twenty years of shared history creates a bond, whether we wanted it to or not.  (smiling)  My daughter said that they crowded around me like I was a rock star.

Joey and I walked down to the lake where old friends were.  That's all. 

I have lost too many friends in the past few years to not appreciate the ones that remain a little more than I might have before so many passed away.  Who really knows if I will see any of them again, or if they will see me? 

I will make the most of NOW, because NOW is what we have.  If my daughter saw me being greeted like a rock star, she missed the part where I greeted them like they were rock stars too!  You know, we almost always get back what we give.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *


The light has been amazing for the past few weeks and I have been taking a lot more pictures (posts to follow).
When I had a few free minutes, I put pictures in two more photo albums ... and the layouts did themselves.
I still look at them and wonder where the inspiration came from! 

 

 

I have started writing that book on healing and it seems to be writing itself ... which of course it would.
I have experienced healing in the most wonderful ways,
but true healing all comes from the same place,
arriving custom fit for each of our individual hearts and needs.
I can only write as a tourist in the land of Healing,
reporting the wonders and highlights
of a most magical journey.

I also have started making jewelry again.  I can't quit designing necklaces, bracelets and earrings in my mind ...
I am currently in love with the free style, sundance type designs.


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It is hard to describe the way my life feels these days ... to put it into words ... I suppose a good example would be waking up one day and realizing I can fly!  Of course, it's not normal or even natural ... and way too new to trust this new found gift.  It's scary to know I have somehow tapped into the better part of myself and being afraid that I will do something to screw it up ... to shut off the flow!  It's like Peter Pan blew fairy dust into my every day, only this time, it's real, and this is my chance to make a difference.

... Even "making a difference" has changed meanings many times in the past few years.  I started writing here with the intention of sharing what I was learning and some of you may have found it helpful, but I see now that I wasn't brought here to make a difference to anyone else ... I was brought here to find how to make a difference in me!  Writing helped me.  Your feedback and comments helped me.  Your stories helped me.  My friends and family would occasionally offer feedback that matched feedback here and somehow, the classroom continued, weaving in and out of the books I was reading and the conversations I was having.  Everything worked together, leading me to a place I never thought I would be ... to the REAL ME!

 

There is one more thing I had not considered ...

Even if I drew a detailed map and told you ever single thing I have learned, you would not be affected ... until you, yourself, make your own journey and draw your own map.  We all have to earn this place individually.  Imagine that we are all pilgrims.  We all set out on separate paths that lead to our own mountain which we will climb in our own way, and when we each get to the top of that mountain, we will be given one sentence that will bring meaning to the climb ... but it's not the sentence - a single chain of words - that really makes the difference at all, but the price we are willing to pay along the way. 

I could read you my little sentence and say, "Isn't that awesome?" but until you have walked your own path and collected your own sentence, my sentence won't have much meaning to you at all! 

As much as I would like to, I can't do the work for anyone else without taking away from their wonder at the top of the hill.  The MOST I can do is plant seeds and hope they will bear fruit along the way.

 

There is still more mountain climbing for me to do!  As much as I am enjoying this plateau ... this resting place ... I also know that there is more ahead for me to meet and greet, but from now on, I really do KNOW that everything will be okay, because THIS is what FAITH is ...  Everything that happens to us or around us is an opportunity to learn something new or to grow into the next thing coming down the road ...

Today, I feel the need to rise above the everyday and hold the things that really matter ...

 

 

RISE

                          ~ David Wilcox


I see you dreaming by the ocean window
I hear you breathing like the waves upon the shore
The tide is turning on your time of sorrow
You will never be so lonesome any more

The breezes whisper as the curtain dances
Your dreams are deeper than the mystery of the sea
The sun itself is in the room beside you
With a message of how good your life can be

I know that a heart can just get buried
Stone by stone, crushing hope until it dies
Far away, but the message somehow carries
Beloved, it is time for you to rise. Time for you to RISE UP...

With a sudden sense of wonder
As the joy comes to your eyes
From the burden you've been under

Though the promise goes unspoken
When the joy comes to your eyes
For your soul was never broken

Beloved, it is time for you to rise, time for you to rise.

There's nothing wrong with taking time for sleeping
Your eyes are weary with the things that you have seen
A deeper promise your soul is keeping
Right in time for this appointment in your dream

Angels whisper so as not to wake you
There's nothing else in this whole world for you to do
But follow on to where your dream may take you
To see your footsteps from an eagle's point of view

With a sudden sense of wonder
As the joy comes to your eyes
From the burden you've been under

Though the promise goes unspoken
When the joy comes to your eyes
For your soul was never broken

 

About David Wilcox:

A warm, baritone vocal tone and poetic lyricism are combined with a unique guitar style that blends soft jazz and folk sensibilities and an intimate stage persona by singer/songwriter David Wilcox. Often compared to James Taylor and John Martyn, Wilcox has built a solid fan base for his well-crafted folk-pop tunes.

Cleveland-born Wilcox was inspired to play guitar after watching a fellow student play in a stairwell at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, OH. Transferring to Warren Wilson College in Asheville, NC, in 1981, Wilcox began taking music seriously. Although he took four lessons with a classical guitarist, Wilcox developed most of his playing technique on his own. In addition to being inspired by Joni Mitchell to play in a variety of tunings, he designed a capo that produced an unusual sound by leaving one or more strings unaltered.

Wilcox strengthened his skills as a performer through regular appearances at an Asheville night club called McDibbs. His debut album, The Nightshift Watchman, was released in 1987 on his own label, Song of the Woods, and reissued in 1996 by Koch International; it featured scaled-down arrangements and launched Wilcox's career as a touring musician. After performing at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, Wilcox signed with A&M in 1989. His first release on the label, How Did You Find Me Here, sold over 100,000 copies by word of mouth. Wilcox subsequently recorded two other studio albums for the label -- Home Again in 1991 and Big Horizon in 1994. In 1991, the label released a six-song CD, Mostly Live: An Authorized Bootleg.

His contract with A&M ended after four albums in 1994, but Wilcox has continued to share his love of music and his explorations of personal growth. His 1997 album Turning Point recorded in the log cabin studio in the woods behind his home, represented a shift to a more controlled approach to music, while his February 1999 release, Underneath, continued to focus on his vocals and guitar playing despite the additional instrumentation of electric guitars, keyboards, and rhythm section. Although his albums have featured diverse arrangements, Wilcox continues to perform in concert as a soloist. In August 2000, What You Whispered was released. A best-of collection followed the next year, released during his successful national tour. Due to his popularity, the demand for a live album became too great and he offered Live Songs and Stories in the summer of 2002. Into the Mystery appeared in 2003, followed by a joint effort with Nance Pettit, Out Beyond Ideas, in 2005 and Vista in 2006. ~ Craig Harris, All Music Guide

• See David Wilcox Songs & Videos
• See David Wilcox Discography

 

 

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Happy Independence Day !!!

Happy 4th of July !!!

Sorry, I have been out of touch ...

But I have NINE very good reasons!

 

Meet my kids and grand kids !!!
They are a FUN crowd !!!