In today’s hectic and harsh world, the amount of stress one experiences everyday and the manner in which stress is dealt with can seriously impair one’s ability to thrive. The definition of stress: “…occurs when demands exceed the personal and social resources the individual is capable of mobilizing.”
Stressors are everywhere, cell phones, traffic, weather, family, jobs, bosses, bills, and crime are just a few that come to mind. So many busy schedules and daily pressures it is not very difficult to get stuck into a rut. For this reason, millions of Americans are taking antidepressants just to get through the day. A surprising number of folks are just in the passenger seat on a trip to hell, going through the motions and not taking time out to enjoy the good things that life can bring.
Too much stress can cause high blood pressure. High blood pressure can lead to stroke or a heart attack. Stress is also the cause of many self destructive addictions to drugs, alcohol, tobacco and overeating. These bad habits also lead to many health conditions and chronic illnesses. Due to stressors in everyday life, it’s not surprising that an individual would resort to one or several of these habits to try and “take the edge off.” The vicious cycle continues for a number of years until finally the individual realizes that they have a significant health problem that cannot be reversed. Then, unfortunately, it is too late.
Fortunately, there are a myriad of ways to prevent and reduce stress. As time goes by more and more tools become readily available for one to use and deal with stress. These tools include, exercise, journaling, meditation, hypnosis, caring for a pet, taking vacations, making time for personal enjoyment and fun, obtaining a good night sleep (eight hours or more), and positive thinking are only some ways to reduce stress. Taking time out to do fun and enjoyable things balance out the negative experiences one has daily, creating a more peaceful outlook. A good night’s rest allows the brain to work properly instead of overtime. Taking vacations can give a necessary break needed from an everyday grueling daily routine. Spirituality and prayer is also a positive form of enlightenment one can choose to engage in as another stress buster.
I believe that taking the initiative to utilize stress reducing techniques can lead to a more productive and peaceful life experience. Peace is certainly something everyone wishes for. Happiness is a personal choice that must be made in order to feel content. Many people continue to live a life of despair and depression, but only the individual has the power to change their attitude, to change their life, to change themselves
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Changing nature of childhood....
Childhood back in “The good old days,” is more like a pleasant dream compared to what our kids are faced with today. Children experience more pressure to get good grades, go to a certain college, get a certain job and maintain a certain standard of living; certainly don’t forget about all those detour signs along the way.
I interviewed my maternal grandmother who just turned eighty this year. She grew up during the Depression in the 1930’s in a coalmining town in rural Pennsylvania. She was the youngest of fifteen siblings. Seven of those siblings died in infancy. She has no recollection of any of her other brothers or sisters ever looking after her. She did recall one event. When she was a toddler her mother had one baby younger than she. Her mother sat the baby up next to her, my grandmother was told to watch the baby. The baby fell over and hit her head and began to cry. This scared my grandmother and she hid in a closet. That was the last memory she had of that baby.
The family lived on a small farm with chickens, two cows and a few hogs. Her chores consisted of scrubbing floors, dishes and milking cows. They were poor but still had enough to eat. Their free time was spent outside swimming in the river in the summer or skating on ice in their shoes in the winter; this was simple yet still fun.
When she graduated high school she moved to Michigan (where the jobs were) with her sister and brothers who were obtaining employment in the auto industry. She recalls her first job in 1943 was working in a donut shop making $18.00 per week. Later she and many other women were hired at a local General Motors factory during WWII making parts for airplanes while the men were overseas. She made approximately $39.00 per week. After the war was over, the men came back to their jobs and she married and started a family.
Today growing up is much more complicated. The majority of households require a two person income, leaving Johnny and Sally to fend for themselves until Mom or Dad get home from work. Their free time can be spent unsupervised on the internet, watching television or even playing violent video games which in studies has been shown to cause aggressive physical behavior in young children and adolescents. Both children and adults today have to worry about natural disasters, terrorism, the child molester that lives down the street and toxins in our food and environment.
It’s simply impossible to go back in time to the day where everyone simply had fun swimming the river with no worries about what would happen tomorrow or next month or next year. I now realize why my mother was so protective of my sisters and me. I can only pray that my daughter and her children will have a decent life to look forward to.
I interviewed my maternal grandmother who just turned eighty this year. She grew up during the Depression in the 1930’s in a coalmining town in rural Pennsylvania. She was the youngest of fifteen siblings. Seven of those siblings died in infancy. She has no recollection of any of her other brothers or sisters ever looking after her. She did recall one event. When she was a toddler her mother had one baby younger than she. Her mother sat the baby up next to her, my grandmother was told to watch the baby. The baby fell over and hit her head and began to cry. This scared my grandmother and she hid in a closet. That was the last memory she had of that baby.
The family lived on a small farm with chickens, two cows and a few hogs. Her chores consisted of scrubbing floors, dishes and milking cows. They were poor but still had enough to eat. Their free time was spent outside swimming in the river in the summer or skating on ice in their shoes in the winter; this was simple yet still fun.
When she graduated high school she moved to Michigan (where the jobs were) with her sister and brothers who were obtaining employment in the auto industry. She recalls her first job in 1943 was working in a donut shop making $18.00 per week. Later she and many other women were hired at a local General Motors factory during WWII making parts for airplanes while the men were overseas. She made approximately $39.00 per week. After the war was over, the men came back to their jobs and she married and started a family.
Today growing up is much more complicated. The majority of households require a two person income, leaving Johnny and Sally to fend for themselves until Mom or Dad get home from work. Their free time can be spent unsupervised on the internet, watching television or even playing violent video games which in studies has been shown to cause aggressive physical behavior in young children and adolescents. Both children and adults today have to worry about natural disasters, terrorism, the child molester that lives down the street and toxins in our food and environment.
It’s simply impossible to go back in time to the day where everyone simply had fun swimming the river with no worries about what would happen tomorrow or next month or next year. I now realize why my mother was so protective of my sisters and me. I can only pray that my daughter and her children will have a decent life to look forward to.
Renewable Energy...
Renewable energy is energy that is derived from natural resources. There are five sources of renewable energy that are used in this country. They are hydropower ( a dam), wind (windmill), biomass (from plants and animals), solar (sun) and geothermal (from the earth’s heat).
Renewable energy is a topic of discussion because these resources are not used enough in our lives today. There has been a decline of these types of power sources fifteen percent in the last ten years. The reason for this is because the natural sources have very limited potential, not enough wind, for example. My husband and I are currently about to build a house and I am insisting that we get solar panels. Even though there is quite a cost involved initially, I believe that because we live in Florida, the benefits will significantly outweigh the cost. I agree with these types of resources should be utilized as much as possible.
Renewable energy is a topic of discussion because these resources are not used enough in our lives today. There has been a decline of these types of power sources fifteen percent in the last ten years. The reason for this is because the natural sources have very limited potential, not enough wind, for example. My husband and I are currently about to build a house and I am insisting that we get solar panels. Even though there is quite a cost involved initially, I believe that because we live in Florida, the benefits will significantly outweigh the cost. I agree with these types of resources should be utilized as much as possible.
Certified Organic, what does that mean?
As of October 21, 2002, when one purchases a food product with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) “Certified Organic” stamp of approval on it, it means that this particular item is made or processed without the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, hormones and antibiotics. The National Organic Rule indicates that all “organic” labeled foods must be 95% free of the above-listed items. Many people believe that the use of these products are poisons and are contributing to the increase in cancer and other diseases that effect many Americans today. It is interesting to note that the cancer rates (particularly breast cancer in women) are higher here in the western cultures than that of the eastern such as China and Europe. Many people blame the typical American diet of cheeseburgers and french fries. However, that is a topic of another paper altogether.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) absolutely makes it known that there is no supporting research to indicate that non-organic foods are harmful to one’s health. However, the increase in organic foods and the demand for them is very significant. Due to the increase in the demand for these products, farmers must increase their crop as well as their land size. Organically grown crops are safe for the farm workers, the environment and the people who choose to buy and consume their products. The organic produce is grown in soil in which living microbes remain in order to break down the organic material so that the plant or tree retains all natural nutrients to survive and bear a natural and quality crop. The flavor the organically grown product has is also better than that of a non-organic vegetable or fruit. Obviously one would pay significantly more for the organic produce, however the saying remains true that one actually gets what they pay for!
Organically raised livestock must be fed only organic grain and free of any antibiotics or hormones. They must also be able to breathe fresh outdoor air. The rule for chickens is that two days following a chick’s birth the chick must be placed in an organic environment and any sick animal that must be treated with antibiotics is not considered organic anymore. It is interesting to note that to date there are no (at least not in my area) organically raised fish. I believe that introduction of such a product would be absolutely in great demand by the organic market (the people who buy organic food.)
Personally I prefer to buy organic foods over non-organics. I’ve been purchasing organic foods for approximately five years now and I definitely taste a difference. I also prefer organic mean over non because the organic meats do not contain sodium nitrate, which I have just recently found out is a highly addictive toxin that causes endometriosis as well as other health concerns. The other organic product that I buy religiously is organic cereal. Recently, Kellogg’s has jumped on the organic “band wagon” by coming out with organic Rice Krispies, Frosted Mini Wheat, and Raisin Bran. I actually know someone who worked on a wheat farm when they were young and he is only in his 50’s and he has less than 20% of his lungs because of all the pesticide he has inhaled! Due to this and many other reasons I will continue to buy organic products.
REFERENCES
1. Newsweek Magazine: September 30, 2002, Cowley, Geoffrey “Certified Organic.”
2. http://www.mofga.org/tabid/166/Default.aspx
3. http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/consumers/brochure.html
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_certification
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) absolutely makes it known that there is no supporting research to indicate that non-organic foods are harmful to one’s health. However, the increase in organic foods and the demand for them is very significant. Due to the increase in the demand for these products, farmers must increase their crop as well as their land size. Organically grown crops are safe for the farm workers, the environment and the people who choose to buy and consume their products. The organic produce is grown in soil in which living microbes remain in order to break down the organic material so that the plant or tree retains all natural nutrients to survive and bear a natural and quality crop. The flavor the organically grown product has is also better than that of a non-organic vegetable or fruit. Obviously one would pay significantly more for the organic produce, however the saying remains true that one actually gets what they pay for!
Organically raised livestock must be fed only organic grain and free of any antibiotics or hormones. They must also be able to breathe fresh outdoor air. The rule for chickens is that two days following a chick’s birth the chick must be placed in an organic environment and any sick animal that must be treated with antibiotics is not considered organic anymore. It is interesting to note that to date there are no (at least not in my area) organically raised fish. I believe that introduction of such a product would be absolutely in great demand by the organic market (the people who buy organic food.)
Personally I prefer to buy organic foods over non-organics. I’ve been purchasing organic foods for approximately five years now and I definitely taste a difference. I also prefer organic mean over non because the organic meats do not contain sodium nitrate, which I have just recently found out is a highly addictive toxin that causes endometriosis as well as other health concerns. The other organic product that I buy religiously is organic cereal. Recently, Kellogg’s has jumped on the organic “band wagon” by coming out with organic Rice Krispies, Frosted Mini Wheat, and Raisin Bran. I actually know someone who worked on a wheat farm when they were young and he is only in his 50’s and he has less than 20% of his lungs because of all the pesticide he has inhaled! Due to this and many other reasons I will continue to buy organic products.
REFERENCES
1. Newsweek Magazine: September 30, 2002, Cowley, Geoffrey “Certified Organic.”
2. http://www.mofga.org/tabid/166/Default.aspx
3. http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/consumers/brochure.html
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_certification
A Proper Affirmation...
Proper Affirmation…
A spiritual girlfriend of mine told me the way her mother used to do affirmations. This method is extremely powerful and I normally write it out ahead of time and meditate over the information before I actually sit down to complete it. Take a regular sheet of paper (legal paper for best results) write what it is that you want over and over again, copying the language exactly word for word. Leave no space blank front to back. (With legal paper this took me about two hours.) After that take it outside crumble the paper, burn it in an outside fireplace or something similar and blow the ashes. (Take care not to burn your hand or start a fire outside!)
A word of caution: make sure you are VERY specific and also make sure that you really want what you are asking for because you just might get it!
A spiritual girlfriend of mine told me the way her mother used to do affirmations. This method is extremely powerful and I normally write it out ahead of time and meditate over the information before I actually sit down to complete it. Take a regular sheet of paper (legal paper for best results) write what it is that you want over and over again, copying the language exactly word for word. Leave no space blank front to back. (With legal paper this took me about two hours.) After that take it outside crumble the paper, burn it in an outside fireplace or something similar and blow the ashes. (Take care not to burn your hand or start a fire outside!)
A word of caution: make sure you are VERY specific and also make sure that you really want what you are asking for because you just might get it!
Life Path Numerology....
Generally speaking, the life path number is the level that your spirit is currently at. With each number there is a different lesson to be learned. The more advanced number you are, the more difficult the lesson is. The possible numbers are 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,11, and 22. 22 being the highest. From what I gather, if you are a 22 chances are you are not on earth plane to learn a lesson, rather to help someone else learn there lesson.
The simple way to figure it out is this: add each number individually until you get to one number. For example: if your birth day is October 27, 1979: begin by adding 1+0 (for October)+2+7+1+9+7+9 equals 9. When you find your number than Google whatever number it happens to be along with the words "life path numerology" and you'll see the lesson that corresponds with this lifetime
The simple way to figure it out is this: add each number individually until you get to one number. For example: if your birth day is October 27, 1979: begin by adding 1+0 (for October)+2+7+1+9+7+9 equals 9. When you find your number than Google whatever number it happens to be along with the words "life path numerology" and you'll see the lesson that corresponds with this lifetime
Mercury Retrograde 2009
Typically, Mercury is in retrograde approximately three times per year and as a general rule communication of all sorts is upset. Any planet that is in retrograde period means that the planet appears to be moving in a reverse position from the normal movement. Although it appears a planet may be moving backwards, it actually remains in the same place, which gives it a false appearance to the naked eye. Phone calls, appointments, travel, (including automobiles breaking down leaving you stranded on the side of the road!) voicemail, e-mail, you name it things are a mess. People also tend to misunderstand the words coming from your mouth. The impact that Mercury has during the retrograde period varies depending which zodiac sign it occurs (which time of year.) As a general rule, it is advisable to not schedule any important business matters (e. g. big contracts, important meetings or expensive travel, etc.) during retrograde periods if it can be helped.
December 26, 2009 to January 15, 2010
December 26, 2009 to January 15, 2010
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Holy Mother Miracles!
Recently, I was reading Sylvia Browne's book, "Psychic Healing." Shortly thereafter I picked up my four-year-old to put her in her car seat and I felt a 'twist,' in my back. I was not able to do much for about a week after. During that week a friend of mine who is a psychic medium, came for an out-of-town overnight visit. She said that she saw I had a slightly turned vertebrae. In Sylvia Browne's, "Psychic Healing," she talks about how Mother God can intervene with a miracle when asked. That night before I went to bed, I said a prayer to Mother God to heal my back during the night while I slept. A few hours later I rolled over to my right side (where the problem was) and I heard a "snap!" I thought, "Thank you Holy Mother!" I woke up the next day and everyday ever since, feeling totally relieved! No doubt in my mind I was healed by another Holy Mother miracle!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Are you a Libra?
If so, we have a message for you. The planet Saturn has just begun to move through your sign. Some Libras recently that have had their lives turned upside down since the transition began several weeks ago. These particular individuals are Libras who’ve been habitually procrastinating with regard to making major much needed life changes. Libra friends ask yourself this question: What areas in your life need to be reckoned with? What isn’t working in your life? Do you need to quit smoking or drinking? Is it time to end a broken relationship? It’s time to take inventory and be honest with yourself and others. Do your homework and then make a conscious decision that brings about the necessary change you desire. Also it is strongly advised not to take any unnecessary risks at this time. A great example: if you go out and celebrate with a few drinks, then please make arrangements for a sober ride home! This more than two-year-long Saturn in Libra transit is adamant about receiving balance and justice.
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