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7-10-10: A Homeless Man's Funeral
As a bagpiper, I play many gigs. Recently I was asked by a funeral director to play at a graveside service for a homeless man. He had no family or friends, so the service was to be at a pauper's cemetery in the Kentucky back country. As I was not familiar with the backwoods, I got lost and, being a typical man, I didn't stop for directions. I finally arrived an hour late and saw the funeral guy had evidently gone and the hearse was nowhere in sight.
There were only the diggers and crew left and they were eating lunch. I felt badly and apologized to the men for being late. I went to the side of the grave and looked down and the vault lid was already in place. I didn't know what else to do, so I started to play.
The workers put down their lunches and began to gather around. I played out my heart and soul for this man with no family and friends. I played like I've never played before for this homeless man. And as I played 'Amazing Grace,' the workers began to weep. They wept, I wept, we all wept together.
When I finished I packed up my bagpipes and started for my car. Though my head hung low, my heart was full. As I opened the door to my car, I heard one of the workers say, "I never seen nothin' like that before and I've been putting in septic tanks for twenty years."
6-18-10: The Meaning of Life...
as told by a foremost Psychiatrist and Holocaust Survivor
"The meaning of life differs from man to man and from day to day... Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather he must recognize that it is he who is asked. In a word, each man is questioned by life; and he can only answer to life by answering for his own life; to life he can only respond by being responsible.
Let me recall that which was perhaps the deepest experience I had in the concentration camp. The odds of surviving the camp were no more than 1-in-28... it seemed as if nothing and no one would survive me... so I found myself confronted with the question whether under such circumstances my life was void of meaning. It seemed to me that I would die in the near future... in this critical situation,, however, my concern was different from that of most of my comrades. Their question was "Will we survive the camp? For if not, all this suffering has no meaning." The question which beset me was, "Has all this suffering, this dying around us, a meaning? For if not, then ultimately there is no meaning to survival; for a life whose meaning depends upon such a happenstance - as whether one escapes or not - ultimately would not be worth living at all."
Life’s Transitions: "Those things which seem to take meaning away from human life include not only suffering but dying as well... but those things in no way make it meaningless... for everything hinges upon our realizing the possibilities and making choices... a choice which will be condemned to nonbeing or which will be actualized... an "immortal footprint in the sands of time."
For instance a pessimist may be a man who with fear and sadness, tears a sheet each day off his wall calendar and notices it growing thinner with each passing day. On the other hand, the person who attacks the problems of life actively removes each succeeding leaf from the calendar, jots down a few diary notes on the back, and files it neatly with its predecessors. He can then reflect with pride and joy on all the richness set down in these notes, on all the life he has actively lived to the fullest. What does it matter to him if he notices that he is growing old? Has he any reason to envy the young people whom he sees, or wax nostalgic over his own lost youth? What reasons does he have to envy a young person? "No thank you," he will think. "Instead of possibilities, I have realities in my past, not only the reality of work done and of love loved, but of sufferings bravely suffered. These sufferings are the things of which I am most proud, though these are things which cannot inspire envy."
"The meaning of life (may) always change, but it never ceases to be... we can discover this meaning of life in three different ways: (1) by creating a work or doing a deed - by acting on our beliefs and needs; (2) by experiencing something like goodness, truth, beauty or nature, or someone and in his/her own uniqueness by loving him or her; and (3) by the attitude we take toward unavoidable suffering... by striving to transform a personal tragedy into a human achievement.
-- "Man’s Search for Meaning"..... Viktor E. Frankl --
6-12-2010: People You Meet
Many people will walk in and out of your life,
but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.
To handle yourself, use your head;
To handle others, use your heart.
Anger is only one letter short of danger.
Great minds discuss ideas;
Average minds discuss events;
Small minds discuss people.
God gives every bird its food,
But He does not throw it into its nest.
He who loses money, loses much;
He who loses a friend, loses more;
He who loses faith, loses all.
Beautiful young people are acts of nature,
But beautiful old people are works of art.
Learn from the mistakes of others.
You can't live long enough to make them all yourself.
The tongue weighs practically nothing,
But so few people can hold it.
Friends, you and me....
you brought another friend...
and then there were 3...
we started our group...
Our circle of friends...
and like that circle...
there is no beginning or end..
[Author unknown]
6-9-2010: Playing Golf
Moses and Jesus were in a threesome playing golf one day. Moses pulled up to the tee and drove a long one. The ball landed in the fairway, but rolled directly toward a water hazard. Quickly Moses raised his club, the water parted and it rolled to the other side, safe and sound.
Next, Jesus strolled up to the tee and hit a nice long one directly toward the same water hazard. It landed right in the center of the pond and kind of hovered over the water. Jesus casually walked out on the pond and chipped the ball onto the green.
The third guy got up and randomly whacked the ball. It headed out over the fence and into oncoming traffic on a nearby street. It bounced off a truck and hit a nearby tree. From there, it bounced onto the roof of a shack close by and rolled down into the gutter, down the drain spout, out onto the fairway and straight toward the aforementioned pond.
On the way to the pond, the ball hit a stone and bounced out over the water onto a lily pad, where it rested quietly. Suddenly, a very large bullfrog jumped up on a lily pad and snatched the ball into his mouth. Just then, an eagle swooped down and grabbed the frog and flew away. As they passed over the green, the frog squealed with fright and dropped the ball, which bounced right into the cup for a hole in one.
Moses turned to Jesus and said, "I hate playing with your Dad."
6-6-2010: Tips for Happiness in Daily Life
~ Remez Sasson
Daily life can be made happier. It is a matter of choice. It is our attitude that makes us feel happy or unhappy. It is true, we meet all kinds of situations during the day, and some of them may not be conductive to happiness. We can choose to keep thinking about the unhappy events, and we can choose to refuse to think about them, and instead, relish the happy moments. All of us constantly go through various situations and circumstances, but we do not have to let them influence our reactions and feelings.
If we let outer events influence our moods, we become their slaves. We lose our freedom. We let our happiness be determined by outer forces. On the other hand, we can free ourselves from outer influences. We can choose to be happy, and we can do a lot to add happiness to our lives.
What is happiness? It is a feeling of inner peace and satisfaction. It is usually experienced when there are no worries, fears or obsessing thoughts, and this usually happens, when we do something we love to do or when we get, win, gain or achieve something that we value. It seems to be the outcome of positive events, but it actually comes from the inside, triggered by outer events.
For most people happiness seems fleeting, because they let changing outer circumstances affect it. One of the best ways to keep it, is by gaining inner peace through daily meditation. As the mind becomes more peaceful, it becomes easier to choose the happiness habit.
Here are a few tips for increasing happiness in daily life:
1) Endeavor to change the way you look at things. Always look at the bright side. The mind may drag you to think about negativity and difficulties. Don't let it. Look at the good and positive side of every situation.
2) Think of solutions, not problems.
3) Listen to relaxing, uplifting music.
4) Watch funny comedies that make you laugh.
5) Each day, devote some time to reading a few pages of an inspiring book or article.
6) Watch your thoughts. Whenever you catch yourself thinking negative thoughts, start thinking of pleasant things.
7) Always look at what you have done and not at what you haven't.
Sometimes you may begin the day with the desire to accomplish several objectives. At the end of the day you might feel frustrated and unhappy, because you haven't been able to do all of those things.
Look at what you have done, not at what you have not been able to do. You may have accomplished a lot during the day, and yet you let yourself become frustrated, because of some small things that you did not accomplish. You have spent all day successfully carrying out many plans, and instead of feeling happy and satisfied, you look at what was not accomplished and feel unhappy. It is unfair toward yourself.
8) Each day do something good for yourself. It can be something small, such buying a book, eating something you love, watching you favorite program on TV, going to a movie, or just having a stroll on the beach.
9) Each day do at least one act to make others happy. This can be a kind word, helping your colleagues, stopping your car at the crossroad to let people cross, giving your seat in a bus to someone else, or giving a small present to someone you love. The possibilities are infinite. When you make someone happy, you become happy, and then people try to make you happy.
10) Always expect happiness.
11) Do not envy people who are happy. On the contrary, be happy for their happiness.
12) Associate with happy people, and try to learn from them to be happy. Remember, happiness is contagious.
13) Do your best to stay detached, when things do not proceed as intended and desired. Detachment will help you stay calm and control your moods and reactions. Detachment is not indifference. It is the acceptance of the good and the bad and staying balanced. Detachment has much to do with inner peace, and inner peace is conductive to happiness.
14) Smile more often.
2.26.10: Please check this out. I hope that you all find this as awesome as I did.
http://enwaterment.com/13-amazing-water-miracle-prayer.html
2.20.10: Sometime this year, we taxpayers will again receive another 'Economic
Stimulus' payment.
This is indeed a very exciting program, and I'll explain it by
Using a Q & A format:
Q. What is an 'Economic Stimulus' payment ?
A. It is money that the federal government will send to taxpayers.
Q.. Where will the government get this money ?
A. From taxpayers.
Q. So the government is giving me back my own money ?
A. Only a smidgen of it.
Q. What is the purpose of this payment ?
A. The plan is for you to use the money to purchase a High-definition TV set, thus
stimulating the economy.
Q. But isn't that stimulating the economy of China ?
A. Shut up.
Below is some helpful advice on how to best help the U.S. Economy by
Spending your stimulus check wisely:
* If you spend the stimulus money at Wal-Mart, the money will Go to China or Sri Lanka .
* If you spend it on gasoline, your money will go to the Arabs.
* If you purchase a computer, it will go to India , Taiwan or China .
* If you purchase fruit and vegetables, it will go to Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala ..
* If you buy an efficient car, it will go to Japan or Korea .
* If you purchase useless stuff, it will go to Taiwan .
* If you pay your credit cards off, or buy stock, it will go to management bonuses and
they will hide it offshore.
Instead, keep the money in America by:
1) Spending it at yard sales, or
2) Going to ball games, or
3) Beer or
4) Tattoos.
(These are the only American businesses still operating in the U.S. )
Conclusion:
Go to a ball game with a tattooed girl that you met at a yard sale and drink beer all day !
No need to thank me, I'm just glad I could be of help.
2.14.10: INSTALLING HUSBAND?
A woman writes to the IT Technical support Guy
Dear Tech Support,
Last year I upgraded from Boyfriend 5.0 to Husband 1.0 and I noticed a distinct slowdown in the overall system performance, particularly in the flower and jewellery applications, which operated flawlessly under Boyfriend 5.0.
In addition, Husband 1.0 uninstalled many other valuable programs, such as Romance 9.5 and Personal Attention 6.5, and then installed undesirable programs such as NEWS 5.0,MONEY 3.0 and SOCCER 4.1.
Conversation 8.0 no longer runs, and House cleaning 2.6 simply crashes the system.
Please note that I have tried running Nagging 5..3! to fix these problems, but to no avail.
What can I do?
Pam
Reply
DEAR Pam,
First, keep in mind, Boyfriend 5.0 is an Entertainment Package, while Husband 1.0 is an operating system.
Please enter command: ithoughtyoulovedme. html and try to download Tears 6.2 and do not forget to install the Guilt 3.0 update.
If that application works as designed, Husband 1.0 should then automatically run the applications Jewellery 2.0 and Flowers 3.5..
However, remember, overuse of the above application can cause Husband 1.0 to default to Silence 2.5 or Beer 6.1.
Please note that Beer 6.1 is a very bad program that will download the Snoring Loudly Beta.
Whatever you do, DO NOT under any circumstances install Mother-In-Law 1.0 (it runs a virus in the background that will eventually seize control of all your system resources.)
In addition, please do not attempt to reinstall the Boyfriend 5.0 program.
These are unsupported applications and will crash Husband 1.0.
In summary, Husband 1.0 is a great program, but it does have limited memory and cannot learn new applications quickly.
You might consider buying additional software to improve memory and performance.
We recommend: Cooking 3.0 and Hot Looks 7.7.
Good Luck Madam!
IT SUPPORT DESK 1.30.10: What is Life?
2.10.10: New Credit Card Scam
Snopes.Com says this is true. To verify see this site: http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/creditcard.asp
This one is pretty slick since they provide YOU with all the information, except the one piece they want.
Note, the callers do not ask for your card number; they already have it... This information is worth reading. By understanding how the VISA & Master Card Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll be better prepared to protect yourself.
One of our employees was called on Wednesday from 'VISA', and I was called on Thursday from 'Master Card'.. The scam works like this: Caller: 'This is (name), and I'm calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. My Badge number is 12460. Your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card which was issued by (name of bank). Did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for $497.99 from a Marketing company based in ?'
When you say 'No', the caller continues with, 'Then we will be issuing a credit to your account. This is a company we have been watching and the charges range from $297 to $497, just under the $500 purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to (gives you your address), i s that correct?'
You say 'yes'. The caller continues - 'I will be starting a Fraud investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 1- 800 number listed on the back of your card (1-800 -VISA) and ask for Security.'
You will need to refer to this Control Number. The caller then gives you a 6 digit number. 'Do you need me to read it again?'
Here's the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works. The caller then says, 'I need to verify you are in possession of your card'. He'll ask you to 'turn your card over and look for some numbers'. There are 7 numbers; the first 4 are part of your card number, the next 3 are the security Numbers that verify you are the possessor of the card. These are the numbers you sometimes use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card. The caller will ask you to read the 3 numbers to him. After you tell the caller the 3 numbers, he'll say, 'That is correct, I just needed to verify that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your card. Do you have any other questions?' After you say No, the caller then thanks you and states, 'Don't hesitate to call back if you do, and hangs up.
You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the Card number.. But after we were called on Wednesday, we called back within 20 minutes to ask a question.. Are we glad we did! The REAL VISA Security Department told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase of $497.99 was charged to our card.
Long story - short - we made a real fraud report and closed the VISA account. VISA is reissuing us a new number. What the scammers want is the 3-digit PIN number on the back of the card Don't give it to them. Instead, tell them you'll call VISA or Master card directly for verification of their conversation. The real VISA told us that they will never ask for anything on the card as they already know the information since they issued the card! If you give the scammers your 3 Digit PIN Number, you think you're receiving a credit. However, by the time you get your statement you'll see charges for purchases you didn't make, and by then it's almost too late and/or more difficult to actually file a fraud report.
What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from a 'Jason Richardson of Master Card' with a word-for-word repeat of the VISA scam. This time I didn't let him finish. I hung up! We filed a police report, as instructed by VISA. The police said they are taking several of these reports daily! They also urged us to tell everybody we know that this scam is happening.
Please pass this on to all your family, friends and neighbors. By informing each other, we protect each other.
Life is a challenge... meet it
Life is a gift... accept it
Life is an adventure... dare it
Life is a sorrow.... overcome it
Life is a tragedy.... face it
Life is a duty.... perform it
Life is a game... play it
Life is a mystery... unfold it
Life is a song... sing it
Life is an opportunity... take it
Life is a journey... complete it
Life is a promise... fulfill it
Life is a beauty... praise it
Life is a struggle... fight it
Life is a goal... achieve it
Life is a puzzle.... solve it
9.18.09: Seeing Clearly
Next time you wake up,
instead of dreading the day ahead, rise and shine and
expect something wonderful to happen today!
When you go outside,
notice people going about their lives, and wonder to
yourself what they're thinking, and if they're happy.
Feel the rain or wind on your face,
don't hide from it. Isn't it refreshing?
Smile at everyone you meet.
It is a fact that people tend to respond to the
look you are wearing on your own face!
Wiggle your toes if you are bored.
Be happy that you have toes to wiggle!
Be polite, and say 'please' and 'thank you'.
That girl taking your order at the fast food place
is a human being too, be nice to her.
When you are eating, really slow down and enjoy every bite!
It's good... well, and even if you don't like it,
isn't it great that you have food?
Never underestimate yourself!
You are always growing and learning. Just because you
didn't succeed at something in the past doesn't
mean you can't get it right this time around!
Stop complaining about your life.
Never take for granted all the joys and blessings you have.
Remember those who have less.
Tell everyone who is important to you how you
feel about them! You do not ever want to spend your
days regretting things you never told them.
And last but never least,
remember that life is about love.
Give love when you can, and it will be given to you!
~Author Unknown~
9.16.09: Ways to Be Inspired Take Time Out
By Laurie Sue Brockway and Victor Fuhrman
There are so many ways to find inspiration in daily life. It does not require a lot of money or time. The only requirement is to open your spiritual eyes and choose to see life, and life’s natural wonders, in a new light.
Take a few minutes just for you to click through this gallery for easy ways to observe nature, meditate, pray, clear your head, have a good laugh or simply relax.
Watch the Sun Rise
Watch the sunrise and sunset from the best vantage point possible.
Observe Birds in Flight
Look up into the sky on a bright day and observe birds in flight.
Words Can Make You Happy
Read a book or inspirational quotes that help you to believe in the magic of life.
Express Gratitude
Acknowledge at least five experiences or people in your life that you are grateful for. Express gratitude to anyone on your list.
Connect to Nature
Take a walk to a special place that makes you feel connected to nature. Enjoy the sights and smells of a beach, garden or greenery.
Let the Children Play
Watch children at play. Take a moment to appreciate the spirit and joy they express, and the way they live in the present.
Let Music Move You
Put on your favorite music and dance, or just listen.
Pet a Furry Friend
Pet an animal you love and feel its heart beat against your skin.
Let Water Clear Your Mind
Sit by a waterfall or on a beach, and feel the pure and positive feelings that emanate from water.
Have a Good Laugh
Watch a movie or have a fun moment with a loved one that makes you laugh, and laugh some more.
Smile Often
Smile, as often as possible, even when you do not feel like it. Just the act of smiling will change your day.
Soak Your Cares Away
Take a warm bath in scents or bubble bath you love, and relax your mind.
Acts of Kindness
Do something nice for someone in need and allow others to do for you.
Light a Candle
Light a candle and enjoy the warmth of the light. Watch the fire dance, as it casts a light in your life.
Say I Love You
Tell someone you love them, and mean it. Allow someone to express love to you.
Remember Good Times
Call or get together with an old friend and reminisce about a truly happy time and generate feel-good memories.
Open Your Heart
Treat yourself to an uplifting movie, a poetry reading, an event, or an experience with others that opens your heart.
Let Good People and Places Abound
Turn your world into a happy and loving place by surrounding yourself with people and things you love.
Dream About the Life You Desire
Make a list of things you would love to do if you had the time, money, and energy. Every day, allow yourself to daydream that they all come true!
9.10.09: Understanding Chemical Imbalance
What is a Chemical Imbalance?
We’ve heard a lot about “chemical imbalance” as the cause of emotional distress and disturbances. Researchers have spent decades trying to get to the bottom of what causes common disorders such as anxiety, depression and ADHD, and they believe that some form of chemical imbalance is involved in some way. While the exact link between chemical imbalance and emotional disorders has not been found, clinical studies and medical observations have been able to identify a number of chemical inconsistencies that occur in individuals who report experiencing symptoms related to these disorders.
Common chemical imbalances related to emotional disorders such as anxiety and depression include:
Reduced availability of neurotransmitters like Serotonin, Dopamine, Norepinephrine, GABA and Acetylcholine.
Increased levels of toxic neurochemicals such as Homocysteine
Lower levels of serum Magnesium, Zinc or Potassium
Unhealthy, or deficient levels of essential vitamins like B6, B9, B12 and Vitamin-C
Undersupply of key cofactors like amino acids that are used to help transport neurotransmitter precursors into the blood-brain barrier.
Increased cortisol stress hormone levels
What causes chemical imbalance?
If we take a look at the research and conclusions of clinical study after clinical study, not even doctors, scientists or clinical researchers know exactly what causes a chemical imbalance. In fact, it was virtually impossible to come up with conclusive evidence.
If you ask a medical professional the reasons and causes for anxiety or depression, their answer would most likely be “A chemical imbalance.” It is because of this “chemical imbalance that the first impulse for most medical professionals treating someone with anxiety or depression is to prescribe an SSRI, MAOI or similar “chemical balancer” to treat the condition.
But in the majority of cases, the most important question has not yet been addressed:
What’s causing the chemical imbalance?
Over the years, researchers have noted a handful of possible underlying reasons for a chemical imbalance, from genetic factors to irregular brain development.
The most promising is the theory that chemical imbalance actually stems from our own thoughts and actions.
Thoughts, behaviors and chemical imbalance
You might be asking yourself, “How can my own thoughts and behaviors affect the balance of brain chemicals?”
Everything we do and every thought that goes through our minds happens as a result of the production, release and absorption of naturally occurring chemicals in our brain like hormones, neurotransmitters and amino acids.
For example:
Imagine you are driving along the highway at 55 mph. The car in front of you slams on its brakes— as a result, your brain immediately responds with a command for your foot to hit the brake peddle too. At the same time, your brain may begin rapidly releasing neurotransmitters like norepinephrine, which, in this situation, may lead to the production of adrenaline. Your awareness immediately increases. And in what feels like a split-second, you feel nervous; an immediate tenseness falls across your entire body. Your eyes widen, your palms begin to sweat. Your heart is pounding.
Your car comes to a stop and you realize the accident has been avoided.
However, your body still feels a little tense, nervous of what could have happened. You take a deep breath, and then exhale. As traffic starts moving, the chemicals in your brain slowly begin to re-balance, and your thoughts and bodily responses eventually return to a normal state.
In this example, we were presented with a stressor. The body’s fight-or-flight response interpreted the brake lights ahead of us as imminent danger and responded by releasing neurotransmitters to tell the brain what actions to take. More often than not, our immediate interpretation of a stressor and the behaviors that follow as a result commonly stem from fear, which can be either rational or irrational.
The complex sets of chemicals in the brain are designed to process incoming information and create a response. All of these processes happen extremely quickly in the brain. And, though the effects of chemical imbalance may lead to undue stress, nervousness and worry, they are an important part of being human. Without an ‘imbalance’ of chemicals in the brain, we would never know laughter, sadness, worry, nervousness or love. Chemical imbalances, or fluctuations, cannot be avoided because we are supposed to interpret and react to situations, whether they are stressful or joyful; this is simply human nature.
Managing Chemical Imbalance
Prescription medication has been the main course of treatment for chemical imbalance tied to emotional disorders. Prescription drugs, however, have failed to be the silver bullet that the drug manufacturers have hoped they would be. Synthetic drugs have been reported to work only about 50% to 60% of the time, while individuals have reported negative side effects that far outweigh any benefit. Additionally, prescription drugs only target the chemical imbalance. Medication cannot treat the underlying cognitive and behavioral roots of the problem.
Though they are not approved to treat anxiety or depression, natural alternatives may provide some relief for chemical imbalance. Natural supplements like St. Johns Wort, 5-HTP and SAM-e are believed to directly affect the availability of neurotransmitters in the brain. Clinical studies have shown that, over periods of 7 days to 12 weeks, individuals taking natural reuptake inhibitors saw significant clinical benefit. Moreover, botanical sedatives like Valerian Root, Kava Kava, Passion Flower and Ashwagandha root have been shown to quickly act on and relax the central nervous system, helping to reduce stress and symptomatic anxiety.
Clinical research into other, non-synthetic methods of coping with chemical imbalance have come to light in recent years and have shown very positive responses from patients. The theory behind these coping techniques is that chemical fluctuations are actually caused by our own thoughts and behaviors. One such treatment, cognitive-behavior therapy, focuses on addressing the thinking patterns that we have when faced with stressful or depressing situations. CBT helps one to provide evidence for creating new thought patterns, and, when these new thought patterns are applied during certain situations, they help to trigger completely different behavioral responses to the stress.
In theory, cognitive-behavioral therapy actually targets the underlying causes of chemical imbalance. When we are able to control our thought patterns and understand why we feel the way we feel, our brain begins to respond differently when faced with anxious or depressive situations. Just as the anxiety and depression we may experience now took many months or years to develop, reversing the hard-wired thought patterns may take some time to take effect.
Learning about the specific thought patterns that trigger our stress, anxiety or depression is one of the most important steps for coping with chemical imbalance. Once we identify the negative interpretations and thoughts we have in these situations, we can begin to develop and apply positive thinking patterns and behaviors that can help us to manage chemical fluctuations.
9.05.09: Hormones and Weight
Do you ever feel like your body is working against you, fighting every effort you're making to lose weight? Well, it just might be. Our bodies are designed for survival even during times of severe food deprivation, such as famine — which makes it difficult to get rid of excess body fat. And it all comes down to hormones, the regulatory chemicals running through the bloodstream.
In ancient times, to survive in the cold, cruel world, people needed a way to hold onto their body-fat stores during periods of famine. After all, there was no all-night supermarket to pick up bread and peanut butter! Body fat provided a concentrated source of energy that was readily available when there was no food to eat. To survive these times of deprivation, our bodies kick into "starvation mode" — that is, our metabolism slows down so our fat stores last as long as possible.
This lifesaving adaptation can wreak havoc when you're purposely withholding food — such as when you are dieting to lose weight. Because the body becomes more efficient at storing fat and takes longer to break it down, it becomes harder and harder for weight to come off.
The good news is, we know a lot about how this process works. It's run by a hormone called leptin, one of the key hormones in weight regulation and metabolism. Leptin (which is made by fat cells) works by alerting the brain to your "starvation status," that is, whether or not you are currently in a state of starvation. When leptin levels in your blood are high, this signals a well-nourished state, which keeps your appetite in check and your metabolism running strong. When leptin levels fall, this sends a message to your brain that you are in a "starvation state." This sets off a chain reaction in your body that:
Decreases your metabolism, so you burn less fat
Breaks down muscle mass and starts storing more body fat
Increases your appetite
Each of these responses is intended to keep you alive even when you don't have enough food to eat. Unfortunately, they also make it harder to keep the pounds coming off when you are dieting.
Leptin levels are affected by several factors:
Since leptin is secreted by fat cells in your body, the more fat you have in your body, the higher your leptin levels. As fat stores decrease, leptin levels also fall.
Leptin levels correspond to calorie intake; as you cut calories, leptin levels decrease too.
Leptin levels fluctuate along with insulin, a hormone released by the pancreas that works to keep your blood sugar levels stable. When insulin levels are low (such as when you are cutting down on your carbohydrate intake), leptin levels decrease.
You can see, then, that when you cut calories, lose body fat, and/or reduce intake from carbohydrates, it becomes harder to lose weight — your body is really working against you!
9.01.09: Rub Away Your Pain: Feel-Good Pain Relief Trick
Ever notice how having your arm lightly stroked feels really calming? Stroke a cat’s head and you will hear instant purring. People -- and some animals -- like to be stroked and now a group of Swedish researchers at the University of Gothenburg has discovered why this feels so pleasurable. They also uncovered evidence of how this simple act might someday be harnessed for pain control.
An earlier study showed that we have a separate sensory system in the skin that carries the perception and pleasure of being touched to the brain. The nerve fibers in this system are called "CT-afferents"(C being a label for "very slow" and T meaning tactile). These researchers took this finding a step further, discovering that the pleasure signals evoked by stroking skin lightly bypass other types of messages traveling from the same area to the brain. This discovery may open the door to a new -- and entirely pleasant -- way to control pain.
I contacted study coauthor Johan Wessberg, MD, PhD, an associate professor of physiology at the University, to learn more. Emphasizing that the research is a first step toward an application that remains speculative, he says it is "well grounded in current theories about brain mechanisms for pain" and that he and his colleagues have started a new study to investigate the potential of these interactions among pleasant touch, CT afferents and pain.
If you are interested in giving it a try in the real world right away, it’s helpful to know that in humans the pleasure paths of the CT-afferent system are located on the hairy skin of the arms, hands, legs and the face. Go ahead and lightly rub these areas on yourself or someone else, using a very light, soft touch. Dr. Wessberg noted that the longer the stroking took place, the happier the study participants became. At worst, it feels good -- at best, we may someday learn how to use it for specific pain relief.
Source(s): Johan Wessberg, MD, PhD, associate professor of physiology at The University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
September 09: If Tomorrow Never Comes
By Unknown
If I knew it would be the last time that I'd see you fall asleep, I would tuck you in more tightly and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.
If I knew it would be the last time that I see you walk out the door, I would give you a hug and kiss and call you back for one more.
If I knew it would be the last time I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise, I would video tape each action and word, so I could play them back day after day.
If I knew it would be the last time, I could spare an extra minute or two to stop and say "I love you," instead of assuming, you would know I do.
If I knew it would be the last time I would be there to share your day, well I'm sure you'll have so many more, so I can let just this one slip away.
For surely there's always tomorrow to make up for an oversight, and we always get a second chance to make everything right.
There will always be another day to say our "I love you's", And certainly there's another chance to say our "Anything I can do's?"
But just in case I might be wrong, and today is all I get, I'd like to say how much I love you and I hope we never forget, Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, young or old alike, And today may be the last chance you get to hold your loved one tight.
So if you're waiting for tomorrow, why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes, you'll surely regret the day, That you didn't take that extra time for a smile, a hug, or a kiss and you were too busy to
grant someone, what turned out to be their one last wish.
So hold your loved ones close today, whisper in their ear, Tell them how much you love them and that you'll always hold them dear, Take time to say "I'm sorry," "please forgive me," "thank you" or "it's okay".
And if tomorrow never comes, you'll have no regrets about today
Flower In The Desert
by Loki
This happened many many summers ago.
There was a young flower in the desert where all was dry and sad looking...It was growing by itself...enjoying every day...and saying to the sun "When shall I be grown up"? And the sun would say "Be patient"---Each time I touch you, you grow a little"...And she was so pleased. Because she would have a chance to bring beauty to this corner of sand...And this is all she wanted to do---bring a little bit of beauty to this world.
One day the hunter came by---and stepped on her.---She was going to die---and she felt so sad. Not because she was dying ---but because she would not have a chance to bring a little bit of beauty to this corner of the desert.
The great spirit saw her, and was listening.---Indeed, he said ...She should be living...And he reached down and touched her---and gave her life.
And she grew up to be a beautiful flower...and this corner of the desert became so beautiful because of her.
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My Flower In The Desert
By Debbie
There is someone very special to me and this story reminds me of him. Because all he wants to do is to bring a little bit of joy and happiness into the world. To bring a bit of beauty into the world. He cares so much about people that sometimes he overlooks his own happiness to try and do this.
And he has had many, many people try and step on him. Not always physically, but then again sometimes physically. But more often than not emotionally and spiritually. But, still he always shines on like the shining star that he is.
And I believe that the great spirit (or whatever is your belief) watches over him all the time. Because there have been many times where he should have died, but he didn’t and for that I am so very, very grateful for.
And he is growing too, maybe more so today than ever in his life before. Because he was existing all of those past years, but with all that he was dealing with trying to recover and start his life over, his life was a bit surreal and he lived somewhat unfocused and in a fog.
The great spirit saw him, and was listening.---Indeed, he said ...He should be living a full life...And he reached down and touched him---and gave him a life.
And he grew up to be a beautiful flower...and this corner of the desert became so beautiful because of him.
Thank you great spirit for bringing this special flower into my life.
MY LIFE LONG BATTLE WITH WEIGHT LOSS
My name is Debbie. All my life, I have had a weight problem, it was in my genes, oh yeah, and I guess it was in my other jeans too. LOL
I dealt with weight issues growing up, and in my twenties and thirties, I spent a great part of those years going from one weight program to another. Whatever new product or program came down the pike, I was one of the first people to try it. I was like everyone else with a weight problem, I was looking for the miracle cure. What I didn’t realize at the time because I was so crazed to lose weight, was that there wasn’t any miracle cure. I even opted at that time to have my stomach stapled. Now, my husband, who was my biggest supporter through all of this, put his foot down and said there was no way that was going to happen. At that time, this procedure was not perfected, and if I remember correctly, a lot of people ended up getting sick.
In all that time that I spent in my twenties and thirties, I must have lost enough weight for about twenty people. Then I hit my forties. I decided I was not going to be thin that was just the way it was. So, I went on living my life trying to be happy being heavy. But, as hard as I tried, I wasn’t happy. But, on the other hand, I wasn’t jumping from diet program to diet program driving myself crazy either.
I am not sure why it all changed for me. I don’t know if it was my sister, who also had a weight problem, was able to conquer her weight demons. Or, if it was my doctor telling me about a woman, who was heavy like me, but that she was now a size 4. I laughed at her and told her that I was never a size 4. But, she told me that I could do it. And, I proved her right. I did do it.
I think maybe that I was just at a point in my life where I was tired of fooling myself into thinking that this was where I wanted to be. That I could accept myself at this weight. I was now at the heaviest weight that I had ever been at. I was 270. And things were starting to happen to my body that I didn’t like because of the weight. My ankles would swell. I ended up with a knee problem that one doctor told me that of course was made even worse by my weight.
Finally I started it l, by just cutting down on all of the junk food that I consumed during the day. I stopped going to McDonalds, Burger King or Wendy’s at lunch. I stopped the snacks in the afternoon at work. And I stopped picking up something to eat at the grocery store to eat in the car while I drove home that I felt I needed to hold me over until dinner. Yeah right! LOL
Another thing that I tried was visualization. I would continually tell myself everyday that my goal was for me to weigh 150 pounds. I kept that thought in my mind. I didn’t really believe that I could do it in the beginning. But, I kept telling myself that anyway. And I did make it happen.
So, just by cutting out the junk, I was amazed at the weight that I started to lose. I think just by doing that I lost twenty pounds. Considering how much I had to lose that didn’t seem like much. But, the funny thing is that twenty pounds was a catalyst for me to continue. The more I started to lose, the better I felt about myself. Then people started to notice. And the more I got noticed, the more confident I got. And the more it made me want to continue losing.
At this point, I think I ended up being at a plateau. So, I continued to look for other ways to help me continue my weight lose goal. At this point, friends from work and I decided to join a gym. I think this was probably at a good point for me because I had lost 90 pounds. Although, in hind sight, I think it would have been good to join the gym in the beginning. But, I know for me joining a gym at my heaviest would have been hard for me to do because I was so self conscious about my weight.
I also tried various weight loss plans. After the initial regime of cutting back on the junk food and watching what I ate, the next plan was a 3 Day Diet. This plan worked for a while and whenever I ended up at another plateau, I would keep trying various other plans and programs. But, unlike the past, I didn’t just jump to any weight lose program. The program had to be safe, it had to make sense. I knew this time, I wasn’t looking for a quick fix, but a healthy way to continue on my weight loss quest.
Next was Maximize Your Metabolism, which did help boost my metabolism and helped me to continue to lose weight. And finally I tried Weight Watchers. (Any of these plans that I mentioned, I will of course be happy to explain in detail.)
So, all in all, I went from 270 pounds to my present weight, which is between 140 and 144. This was not a quick fix this time, unlike all of my previous weight loss attempts in the past. I started losing my weight in November of 2003. And I wish at this point, I could say that I was through losing weight and that I was on a life long weight maintenance plan, but I have some more that I feel that I want to lose. So when I accomplish that, I will then be on my maintenance plan. Because one thing that I do know is that I never want to go back to where I was before November 2003.
TERRY'S STORY
When I drink alcohol, I become a dumb-ass, sometimes violent drunk who is in blackout most of the time. In case you’re wondering, or think it’s something else, let me give a quick synopsis of what it’s like to be in an alcohol-induced state of black-out. I seemed alright and in fact was alright when I had my first few drinks. Just a happy, friendly, flirtatious cutie with a buzz. All in all, a lot of fun to be around. Sometime after that 3rd, 5th or 8th drink, (you just never know when it’s gonna happen) I’m blacked out. Don’t seem to be though. Ask anyone who has been with me during those times. I could walk fine, talk without slurring, and even engage in intelligent debates. They wouldn’t believe that I was not going to remember ANYTHING but nano-second slices of what I was doing and/or saying during the blackout. By all appearances, I was fine. A bit tipsy, and getting a little loud, but just as cute as a bug in a rug!! Isn’t that sweet?? She’s intoxicated and it’s sooooo funny! She’s a joy to be around when she’s lit up like that!! Granted, nothing too bad ever happened during one of those blackouts (not that I would know from my memory) but I know because I would have been told by those who were there. As long as the blackout wasn’t allowed to continue for too long, not much harm was done. Ah, if only all my drinking experiences had been that way. What a wonderful life I’d be having if only I could have stopped taking the next drink and slipping further into the blackness. The more I drank, the further I slid and the further I slid the uglier I became. I caused a lot of emotional pain to loved ones during the course of my blackout jubilees. That’s probably why I have merely one person in my life right now that I consider to be my friend. All the others have either been driven away directly and purposefully by me or have decided they don’t want to put up with the crap anymore and have walked away. Whatever the reasons, I am once again completely and utterly alone in this world today. I’ve spent much time going to bars alone, blacking out from drinking, making an idiot out of myself in one way or another (how do I know, remember I mentioned the nano-second slices of memory from the blackout?) It’s enough information to beat myself to pulp emotionally for days afterward. I despise me when I’m like that and I know that most people’s opinion of me when they first get to know me (before I produce a blackout) is totally different than the one they have of me after the blackout. Today, I hesitate to walk into a neighborhood store for fear that someone there will recognize me as the drunken woman from the other night. This is my nightmare. I have been living it since the tender age of 14. Today, being 43 years old, I can see more clearly than ever before the horrible, destructive behavior patterns I have been repeating over and over again for nearly 30 years. That’s a lifetime to some people. Thank goodness, it’s not for me. I plan to live a total of 105 years. Experiencing every good, bad and ugly thing that crosses my path. As you may be able to glimpse from the story above, I’ve got quite a bit of the bad and ugly. Today, I’m changing tracks. It’s time to start the “good” experiences to balance out the scale of my life. So I submit to you and to the Universe: “I’m drawing all good things to me today. All good things come to me and do so effortlessly and easily. I am sober and loving it! I am learning to be happy everyday, in every situation, conversation and encounter. The Universe is good and being a part of it, makes me good, too! Like attracts like and I’m a magnet for happiness today. Thank you for letting me share this with you. It feels good to purge. The ugly stuff inside of me has to be released, and this is the safest way (so far).