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Understanding the different roles between men and women, and how they express themselves can prevent many break-ups.

Posted on May 12, 2012 by giggling

Divorce because of un-reconcilable differences. It seems like nearly every marital break up we hear about these days all claim to blame it on the above: differences that they say they couldn’t resolve. And it is happening so much now than at any other time in human history. Years ago most people stay married until they grew old together or until death did the m apart just as their marital vows said they should.

I know my parents did, they were married for 50 years until Dad died first. And there are still some older folks around that have been married for years and are growing old together. The divorce rate in the USA has been one in every two marriages according to the latest statistics. So what really change that younger couples today can’t seem to stay together and solve their problems? Or if they do are having so many problems?

The problem usually starts with not understanding the different roles of men and women within a marriage, how they speak, hear and react in conversations.

People are basically very similar in many ways but still very different in how we express ourselves through words, actions and our expectations from each other. And words can hurt, stab us to the bone, or heal. (read previous post on: “The Organ that sometimes plays an uncontrollable wrong tune“).

We are all the product of our upbringing, belief structure, culture and other views forming and shaping our thinking everyday. Today so many young people are growing up or have grown up in divided households or were raised without a father, or mother, or in some cases without any real parents, but by strangers.

Boys and girls learn how to talk and have conversations from their parent(s) or from their peers. So their world of words could be different from others even within their own racial group. For instance some Africans born and raised in Europe grew up speaking and thinking like white Europeans. And some Europeans immigrants to Africa their children also grew up speaking and thinking like Africans, it has nothing to do with their racial origins.

So men and women in relationships express themselves differently according to their backgrounds and cultu ral upbringing, (not race) and expect different re-actions tha n what t hey get and this leads to misunderstandings and arguments. The fundamental needs of men and women and the roles their play in marriage are the same all over.

But the reactions and outcome of a good union between a man and woman is using the right words in conversation and actions toward each other is what shows how well we understand each other and our place within the marriage. Having others understand why we talk and act as we do protects us from the pain of their puzzlement and criticism.

All of us want to be understood by the other for what we are saying, and what we meant

Women all over are the more emotional partner, more talkative than men. Women just love to talk about their problems and want to get a response right away. Most women will admit that one of the things they are looking for in a mate is someone to talk to. Both men and women need that emotional connection, not just to talk to someone but all of us want to be understood by the other for what we are saying, and what we meant.

Men on the other hand are more of the quite listeners, since their role calls for more problem solving and re-assurance. So a man may be listening while going over a solution in their minds at the same time. This lack of immediate response can be misunderstood by the woman speaking that maybe he didn’t hear her the first time. So she repeats the sentence or the question again. If he still doesn’t respond right away, she accuses him of not caring about her problems.

Now he gets annoyed and lashes out at her for nagging him. Most men hate nagging because it makes them feel like their wives are telling them what to do or treating them like a child.

They become very defensive of their headship. The wife on the other hand takes this angry outburst against her questions as a controlling or superior reaction on her husband part, and so a arguments starts over the simple fact that she didn’t understand that he was listening and thinking about her problem, and he in turn didn’t understand that she needed some re assurance right away and didn’t intend to nag him.

Sometimes the simple words “I am sorry” can stop an argument and restore communication again.

Most of the time arguments like this can be solved by just each saying to the other “I am sorry”, which most couples don’t do and view problems as being un-reconcilable. Here is a another example I remember reading years ago again about the differences between men and women and how they express themselves.

The wife was seriously injured in a car accident. Because she hated being in the hospital the wife asked to come home earlier. But once home she suffered pain because of having to move around. Her husband said, “Why didn’t you stay in the hospital where you would have been more comfortable?” This hurt her because to her it seemed to imply that he didn’t want her home.

She didn’t think of his suggestions that she should have stayed in the hospital as a response to her complaints about the pain she was suffering; she thought of it as an independent expression of his preference not to have her at home. You see how simple words and how they are expressed can hurt another partner and even start an argument. But why now more so than in the past are there so many break-ups?

Times changed, peoples thinking, attitudes viewpoints and lifestyles changed

There is no doubt that the times we are living in are much different than our parents and grandparents day. There is a lot more pressure from all sides on both men and women. Most women today unlike some of our parents and grandparents are Career Women or working outside the home.

Some hold positions of authority just like men or over men. (See previous post on “Where did all the Ladies and Gentlemen go?”). Some may make more money than some men, or lead other lifestyles that make them feel superior. All this affects the viewpoints and the way men and women express themselves when speaking to each other which cause arguments and hurt feelings.

Man’s headship and wifely subjection,Wifely Who? What? What you’re talking about?

I can hear that re-action from some independent modern day young career women. Please ladies and gentlemen, don’t stop reading until you read this through. It is not what you might think it means. I am a woman to, so I am not going to be promoting anything that is not beneficial for us, or anybody.

You will see how and why the abuse or misuse of these roles among husbands and wives is one of the main problems causing so much arguments and friction in marriages and why the divorce rate has increased over the years. This is a law or principle established by our Creator and some of you may already be practicing it to some extent without even realizing it.

A man is head of his wife and household in a marriage. That’s a fundamental God assigned role or principle that inspite of time changes has not changed. But is often ignored, abused or scoffed at, and one of the main causes for marital break-ups. Some women hate the idea that they should be in subjection to their husbands.

They don’t understand what it means and how to act or speak toward their husbands that shows that respect or subjection. And some men think it means being Superior or the domineering Boss over their wives, and may speak or act in accord with that thinking, speaking in a controlling superior way toward their wives which make their partners resentful and causes hurt feelings.

But headship and subjection are not what couples think it means. Headship means that the husband takes the lead and is the responsible Provider and authority over his wife and household. He is not her dictator or Boss, just her Loving Protective Head. A wife being subjected means supporting him and showing him respect and appreciation. She lets him take the lead after discussing anything having to do with their lives together and within their home, rather than going behind his back and doing things without first consulting him. She doesn’t act independent without any regard for his decisions or opinions.

This does not make her inferior to him, but his cooperate Partner and helper. Rather than two people now being independent, doing whatever they like without any regard for the other, they become interdependent Team Players. It is “We” and not “Me and You”.

Headship and subjection means complete cooperation between couples. It doesn’t mean Superior Controlling Boss or Dictator of the House and Inferior obedient servant. When each partner carry out their assigned roles and responsibilities in the right way it makes a woman feel save and unburden from the heavy responsibility of making decisions alone, and brings peace into both their lives.

Headship and Subjection means full cooperation between couples, real Teamwork!

In some marriages a woman may be more educated than her husband, and he might have to ask her for advice sometimes on things she is more knowledgeable on. That does not give her the right to belittle him, using speech and a tone of voice that shows disrespect and a mocking attitude because she may know some things he doesn’t. This is one of the ways she shows wifely subjection. It leads to peaceful relations.

He should listen to her when he believes she is giving him good advice, this doesn’t change his role in the marriage. He is just cooperating with his partner like it should be. He is still the Head and now she becomes a more valuable helping companion fully cooperating rather than competing, and there should not be any feelings of inferiority or superiority.

And this is the same even if she makes more money than him, her status or increased salary does not change the marital arrangement of headship and subjection. I think this is the real reason why so many Hollywood couples are breaking up. Some women once they reach a certain status or make more money than their partners think they don’t need to be in subjection to their mates anymore, (if they ever were).

They become very independent, and can travel and go whenever or where ever they want whether this pleases their mates or not. (You notice that every time an Actress wins a Oscar, shortly after that divorce follows). Most men or husbands feel their headship is threatened by powerful women, and dejected when his wife becomes more prominent than him and can start seeking companionship else where.

Two people cannot be sitting at the same steering wheel of a car and driving in different directions

Take for instance two people traveling in a car together. They both can’t be sitting at the steering wheel together and each trying to steer the car in different directions. It will lead to an accident and possible both or one getting killed. But even though one is holding the steering wheel and driving, the other can be sitting next to him and still helping by discussing the best and easier route to take and what they will do once they arrive at their destination.

This doesn’t make the other person any inferior than the driver, they are the helper and are cooperating to make the trip enjoyable. This should be the case with marriage partners. When a husband expresses his headship in the proper way and his wife shows that subjection and respect for him this brings peace, harmony and cooperation between couples, rather than arguments, disagreements and fights.

What happened to Love and Old fashion Love-making?

Love is disappearing from the vocabulary of many young couples, you don’t hear it being used that much anymore. Years ago married people when talking about their private lives used expressions like: “Our lovemaking”, “when we make love”, “We are working on improving our Love-life”. Instead today it is the raw explicit description of what they do: “They had sex”, “When we have sex”, “I got to read this book to help me with my Sex life.”

Even in ordinary speech the “F” word which is a more vulgar description of sex flows out of the mouth of people even young children, (words they hear spoken by their parent(s) like water and some people think that everything they say has to be re-enforced by this word. Sex is all people hear now, the whole sacredness of love-making within marriage is lost. Instead of a woman hearing those warm words: “I love you”, instead it might be “I want to have sex with you”.

So love which is the basis for a good relationship in marriage is fading, everything seems to be based now on just each partners own selfish sexual fulfillment or gratification. When that is gone or they get tired, they just break up or divorce and move on to find another “sexual partner”.

I don’t think many of the young people growing up today have ever heard those above expressions on lovemaking before. Most young men growing up in one parent household especially with no fathers as role models may not even know how to really love a woman or how to exercise the proper headship in a household.

Coming from such a background they will have to be taught or influenced by other male family members, teachers, or taught by their mothers. A young woman also will not understand what subjection to a husband is and how to talk, show and respect her husband. So can you now understand why divorce is increasing?

I am grateful to have seen this full cooperation between my parents when growing up. I always remember how my mother taught us to respect our Father by always consulting him before making any mayor decisions. We would ask Mam for her permission on something or somewhere we wanted to go, and she would say: “It is all right with me, but speak to your father and hear what he has to say also”

And after going to Dad he would say the same thing: “Did you talk to your mother already? If not go and tell her it is alright with me and see if she agrees”. If there is no agreement between them as to whether we should go somewhere they would get together with us and tell us why both of them don’t think it is a good idea, and so we felt satisfied because the decision was made by both parents.They were good examples of husband and wife headship and subjection. (Read previous posts later on: “Memoirs of a Wonderful Beloved Father” and “A mother like no other”)

How real love can help couples solve their misunderstandings

We know people get marry because of falling in love. This is romantic love, based on emotions or sexual attraction. But we see that just this kind of love alone does not keep couples together or make a marriage work. It has to be backed by a stronger love, or a real liking of the other person.

Romantic love may start to fade over time, sexual attraction may also diminish with age, so there has to be a much larger or deeper love that will keep romance and sexual attraction alive way into older years. The kind that kept our parents, grandparents and that is keeping some people together inspite of problems.

Due to imperfections there will always be some problems and misunderstandings among couples, but knowing and exercising proper love will help them talk things out and solve problems, remain loyal to their marital vows and stay together.

What is this Love? It is Principle Love, (Agape) the kind of Love that is the dominant quality of God, or His very nature is made up of LOVE (God is Love) and which he used to create everything in the Universe and on Earth, including all laws, principles, and that He has for all living things. This same love is what we are told to have for our fellowman. (Love your neighbor as yourself). Your marriage mate is your closest neighbor.

All humans have the capacity to love because of being created in God’s Image, and marriage and love-making or sexual attraction was all given to humans for their enjoyment and for reproduction of the human race. The command to marry between a man and woman and reproduce did not come from Human Governments or any religious Institution, but directly from God Almighty, the Creator himself, and He has never given any Government, Courts of Law or religion any authority to change this arrangement.

(Male and Female He created them, and gave them the command: Be fruitful (or multiply) become many and fill the earth…Genesis 1:27, 28) But due to imperfections and upbringing this True Love has to be learned and applied in our everyday lives to benefit from it.

Real love does not easily look for a way out, but endures all things

This love is kind, long suffering or patient, is not jealous, does not brag, does not keep account of injuries, (it is forgiving) does not behave indecently, does not rejoice over unrighteousness (interested in right conduct) rejoices with Truth (is honest), does not look for its own interest, does not get puffed up, does not become provoked. It bears all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. This love never fails. (Biblical Book of 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8)

(This scripture was read at the wedding of Prince William and the Princess of Wales last year, and it was the first time I really heard it being read at a wedding showing how emphasis on True Love will help a couple’s marriage last) There was a time when couples regularly read these words together and pray together. Some today still do. Those are the kind of marriages that has endured the test of time

This kind of love will move couples to talk in a kind manner toward each other, always seeking the others best interest. It enhances romantic love and sexual attraction, and can be applied even in private intimate matters such as their love making, and will not become easily angry and start arguments. This true love helps partners to understand the differences between men and women and why they speak and re act in certain ways different than their own.

Even if one mate is not satisfied with something the other is doing or wearing, love will move them to avoid making an issue over it, or if they mention it to do so in a non-condemnatory manner. For instance here is another example of how a husband overlook something his wife was wearing and love moved him to endure without hurting her feelings or putting her down.

A friend of mine a very modest Southern girl always wore long down to the ankle flare skirts. She has a beautiful face, but nobody has ever seen her legs since they were always covered by her long skirts. I knew both her and her husband before they got married, and moved to a different location. At a special event I saw them again, she as usual dressed in a ankle length skirt, and was glad to see them.

When she walked away to speak to somebody else, he asked me if I still sew my own clothes because he liked what I was wearing. I said yes, I love sewing and have no intentions of giving it up. Then he silently said “I wish my wife would wear some shorter knee length skirts like you for a change”. I was surprised because she was dressing in these long skirts before they got married, so I thought that was what he liked.

True Love never fails, it is people failing to cultivate it and put it into action that do

So I said why don’t you just tell her that you wish she would wear some more fitted knee high skirts for a change, so you can see her legs I guess that is what he wanted to see. He just shrugged his shoulders and said he didn’t want to make an issue over what he likes versus her own taste, or hurt her feelings.

He was really practicing the True Love described above, instead of seeking his own interest. He was letting her enjoy her own, and just putting up with a look he didn’t like himself but that she liked, and so far I know they are still married and have been married for more than 10 years now.

So whether there are misunderstandings in the ways men and women express themselves, or some failings in the exercise of proper headship or occasional mishaps in a wife not showing proper respect and subjection to her husband, this kind of love will overlook and forgive faults and work hard at preserving peace and the marriage.

Rather than concluding that there are un-reconcilable differences, and deciding to split, True love and understanding is the key to solving problems and keeping marriages together. Because this love never fails and endures all things.

Written, designed and illustrated by Glenda Brill (©

Read previous related posts:

It only cost One Sense!

Where did all the Ladies and Gentlemen go?

The Organ that sometimes plays an uncontrollable wrong tune

“A Mother like no Other”

Memoirs of a wonderful Beloved Father

Posted in Peoples and Families | Tagged A body cannot have two heads going in different directions, Children learn to speak with the same words they hear from their parents and peers, Couples can learn how to be forgiving toward each other, Example of a loveless disrespectful independent wife, God is the one whom give us the command to marry and reproduce not human governments, Love seeks the best interest of the other partner, Mans headship is a principle role given to him from God, Marriage mates should not argue in front of children, marriage mates should seek to cultivate true love, marriage partners need to understand their differences among them and show love when solving problems, Men and women need to understand the different ways they speak and express themselves, Modern day career women may not like to have to subject themselves to their husbands, Some business women may find it hard to subject themselves to their husbands and so they grow apart rather than as a cooperating teamplayers, The command to marry between a man and woman and reproduce came from God himself not human Governments or Courts of Laws, the sacredness of sex and lovemaking is lost in todays world of self gratification and selfish fulfillment, Times have changed so did viewpoints on headship and wifely subjection, To avoid hurt feelings husband and wives need to speak kind to each other, True love comes from God, True love is kind long-suffering patient, True Principle Love enhances Romantic Love and sexual attraction, wifely subjection makes a woman feel save when her husband is a good Head of the household, Young people don't use the word Love-making hardly anymore | 1 Comment

The Value, Benefits, and Fun of Water Baths and Aromatherapy – What’s in it for YOU!

Posted on April 19, 2012 by giggling

Stress-Busting, Refreshing, Relaxing, Invigorating, Pain Relieving, Massaging, Mind Calming, Cleansing and so much more! The very sight, sound, smell, and feel of water on the body can do so much to calm our spirit and nerves.

This is what I meant where I said at the end of my last article on “Successfully breaking free from all drug addiction”, I love, love, love. I was referring to my love of water baths and pleasant scents or aromas.

How these are two of the most natural Stress Busters and relaxation techniques known to humans all through history. With Spas and Health Clubs springing up all over in Big Cities tell us that our stress filled modern world is still aware of the need for these natural ways to find tranquility of mind and spirit. Also how they can be used to eliminate the need for any type of drugs or medication.

Whether it is a long flowing shower, soaking in a warm bubble bath, hot tub, pool, or back home on St. Maarten (Dutch Caribbean) in the wide big blue ocean waters where I spent most of my life growing up bathing, soaking, floating and playing, I know from personal experience how refreshing, massaging and soothing water is.

In our busy world some people often overlook and take for granted the many benefits of the gift of water in all its many forms and what fun it is to play in and be in water which helps us cope with stress and many emotional problems and bodily pains.

Nothing can be as refreshing and calming as the feel and sound of gushing water

Have any of you ever gotten soaking wet in a sudden downpour of rain? Or willfully choose to walk in the rain and got wet through and through? Or fallen asleep at the sound of rain drops on the roof of your home? (Except here in New York we don’t hear rain drops on the roof since most people live in apartment buildings). Nothing can be as refreshing and calming as that feel and sound of gushing water.

It’s like blessings from heaven that washes away all your concern for the day and put you into a restful mood and sleep. The same feeling of tranquility can be had from the view, feel, sound and smell of waterfalls, from sitting and listening to the soft gurgling waves rolling on the shores in the oceans or rivers, from being immersed in a jacuzzi, a pool, or from a long warm scented bubble bath.

Most people have become so busy with making a living that they overlook one of the most natural ways to relax and help them live better

Even in some of the islands the local inhabitants don’t spend as much time enjoying the sea waters like they did in former times. Like my family on St. Maarten whenever I go back on vacation I get up early every morning and go for my daily beach walk and sea soak and bath. My sisters admitted that they hardly ever go to the beach or bath in the sea anymore like when we were children.

And the great ocean is just a few steps away, within view from our front porch. The whole island is surrounded by beautiful beaches with crystal clear blue waters, and most of them are used by tourists instead of the inhabitants.

And this is the case with most of the inhabitants, and so they suffer from many of the same stresses and pains like people living in the big cities. They don’t have the time they keep saying. Only time for quick showers just to clean the skin in a hurry and get to work.

Everybody all over has become so pre-occupied with making a living with all its accompanying stress and problems while overlooking one of the most natural ways to relax and cope with these problems, the gift of water baths. They just take it for granted, while those in the Big Cities are trying to find relief in Spas and different health Centers and Clubs.

Our need for the calming and nurturing effect of water immersion starts before we were born

While in the mother’s womb a baby is immersed in water, without which it cannot live. The baby floats, tumbles, breathes, cleanses, sleeps and eats while being nurtured by this fluid in which it lives stress free and in peace. There is a complete sense of tranquility in such surroundings. Even after its birth it is necessary to give babies a daily bath to help in its growth, personality and character building.

This same need for the hydrating, cleansing and nurturing, calming effect of water was supposed to continue throughout our adult life. It would play an important part in keeping us free from many toxins which accumulate in the body, and is eliminated through the skin, keeping our skin hydrated, staying young, calm our mood, and bring a sense of well-being and peace to the mind.

That is why people living in big cities and under stress travel for miles to see beautiful waterfalls, or to isolated islands surrounded by the ocean just to bathe in clear blue ocean waters. And now with the increase of Spa Centers springing up all over, some people will spend any amount of money just to find some relief through water therapy.

Now this is accompanied by aroma-therapy which I will mention some of the benefits of these two combined together later in this post. There is hardly any other way one can find a better way to calm down, experience a feeling of tranquility than soaking in warm waters enhanced by pleasant scents or aromas.

What are some of the specific ways water therapy affects our general health?

We all know the value of drinking water, or of eating lots of fruits and vegetables basically for their water content. Water promotes good health from within, since it detoxify the body. Internal cleansing is necessary for the prevention of many diseases and aids in keeping us young and healthy. Since we pass those toxins through the skin, regular water baths washes them away and keeps the skin clean and moisturized.

Water baths not only cleanse the body of all the dead bacteria emitted through the skin, but actually aid in healing many types of diseases. People with spinal cord injuries, fractures, stiff muscles after exercise or excessive exertion, joint problems, and neurological diseases have been known to get healing through water therapy.

My mother used to always tell us how in her day this is one of the ways most people in the islands got relief from many muscles and joint problems by soaking in the sea waters. And it is so sad to see how the modern generation of islanders take this great aid in helping them feel better for granted as mentioned above.

The salt sea waters reduce pain and acts as an anti-inflammatory. When bathing in the ocean itself, it creates healing energy within us. Sea water is charged with negative ions and has the power to also balance our emotions.

Many scientists believe that the oceans hold the master key to eternal youth and good health. Just like the ground itself the oceans produce many types of sea vegetables and fish that are full of vitamins, minerals and the necessary omega fats needed for our health and life.

The sea is also loaded with salt, and salt is necessary for life and energy. (See the benefits of salt in previous post on: “When people were paid in lumps of salt“)

Hydrotherapy which water therapy is also known as, besides being fun is also used to bring relief from fatigue, restored vitality, improve respiration, and a sense of calm. It affects the central nervous system, brings relief from asthma and pulmonary diseases, improves respiration, circulation and lowers blood pressure.

Floating on Water, you have to do it to experience the tranquilizing feel

Some of you living in the Big Cities may not even have heard about Floating on Water before, or maybe you have or even experienced it. I did this as a young girl bathing in the wide ocean back home on St. Maarten, and even didn’t know then that it had any health benefits.

It came natural to me, it was just something that I learned to do and loved it so much that whenever I was in the sea water I spent several minutes just lying still on top of the water and just letting the soft waves under my body cradle it back and forth while keeping my entire body above water very still with my eyes closed. I believe I have even taken small naps while lying down so still on the ocean water.

It is lying down on the water itself without sinking to the bottom. And this was done without any floating devices, just my bare body stretched out on top of the water. Now I haven’t investigated yet how that it is possible, or I don’t know if scientists discovered what makes this possible. You would think that a human body is heavier than water, but when floating the water seems to be heavier like a bed that keeps the body from sinking.(There must be some not yet discovered scientific or natural reason for this because Jesus walked on water without sinking).

The healing therapy of floating on water is now practiced in most Spas, Physical Therapy Centers and Sports Clubs

But the feeling of floating on water is so calming and relaxing, there is hardly any other way to achieve this or that can be compared to it. It’s also a great way to meditate and get rid of any negative thoughts and emotions. I recently read that the practice of floating on water has been recently introduced into the world of Spa’s.

It can now be found in some Physical Therapy Centers, Sports Clubs, and in some private homes especially those with pools. They call it a newly discovered therapy, when this has been done by people used to bathing in the oceans for years. I did it for years starting very young and even didn’t know it was considered a health treatment.

Here is how they do it outside the Oceans. They place flotation tanks in private residences or Spa Centers. These are equipped with internal lighting, emergency alarms, sound systems, and regulated thermometers. There is often a foot or less of salt water acting as a soft cushion in the tank keeping the person buoyant and strain free. And some of the benefits they are saying it brings are:

The benefits of floating:

Complete physical and mental relaxation, rejuvenation, clarity of thought, quiets the mind, and integration of the left and right hemispheres of the brain. And the quickened process for healing injuries. But one of the biggest advantages as I can testify it brings is the complete quiet that’s achieved and the resulting sense of peace and calm that remains throughout the day or night after the experience. Some people refer to it as being cradled like rocking a baby back and forth, (that is how it really feels with the soft water under your body) and claim that it is ideal for freeing the spine.

Also called Hydro-therapy or balneo-therapy which is the treatment of using water for improving health and finding relief from the world’s number one health threat which is: Stress. Stress in turn causes all kinds of other health problems of which we are suffering today. We can use our own showers or baths to aid in water treatments.

But the best treatments can be found in bathing in the ocean itself, or other natural sources of waters, or through various Spa’s and some of the Centers mentioned above.

It has been reported to be successful for adults and children with a variety of disorders and injuries, including orthopedic issues, congenital birth defects such as spinal bifida, autism, brain and spinal cord injuries, and a range of neurological disorders.

Some Spa’s even use the natural seaweed from the oceans in their treatment with water therapy, by applying heated seaweed which is done using infrared lamps, and then letting patients wrap in the heated seaweed. This acts as an anti-inflammatory aid in reducing pain and all muscle discomfort. It also uplifts the senses and mineralizes the skin.

Enhancing water baths with aromatherapy for complete relaxation and stress relief

Aroma therapy is nothing more than using our sense of smell to help us relax, change our mood and relieve stress. A person can benefit from aroma therapy alone without water treatments, but I found that using them both together bring about more a feeling of well being. I think that is the way most spas use them, water along with aromas for relaxation and well being.

This is usually done by adding sweet smelling oils, bubble bath liquids or special bath salts to our bath water, or just lighting some scented candles in our bathroom. And these days you can find all kinds of very pleasant scents for both men and women to enhance your bathing experience.

There are some scents I found that turn your bath water blue and smell like the ocean. And you can even buy sea weed at Health Food stores, wrapped in cheese cloth and add to your bath water. You know these are my favorites since I am such a lover of the sea.

Special Aromas or scents to help relieve specific problems

There are special scents that help relieve specific problems depending on how you feel and want relief from. For that:

Tired Exhausted feeling: Scents of *Peppermint, Jasmine, *Cinnamon, Lemon, Sandalwood, nutmeg, *lavender, Rose and rosemary.

Insomnia/Restlessness: scents of marjoram, Lemon, lavender, Valerian, chamomile, Sandalwood

For Depression/Anxiety or Guilt feeling: Rose, Orange, Bergamot, Jasmine, Lavender, *Chamomile, Vanilla and sandalwood

For Relaxation: Lavender, Chamomile, patchouli, Geranium and Rose

To help with concentration problems: Lemon, orange, grapefruit, *lemongrass and bergamot

*Lemongrass, *Chamomile, and *Peppermint can also be found as herbal teas that has the same calming effect as their scents in oils and candle aromas.

Lavender is one of the most frequent used oils for sleep, and other mental disorders. (See previous post on: “Successfully breaking free from all drug addictions” where I mentioned spraying Lavender on your pillow before going to sleep, and drinking Lemongrass tea as aids in calming the mind and inducing sleep. When taken together or after a nice scented bath, will provide even better results.

Using Aroma therapy and water to create a relaxing and pleasant atmosphere in the home

Another way I have found to help me relax is to use the sight and sound of water and the scents of aroma from a diffuser or lighted candles. You can find these miniature waterfall table fountains or even wall mounted fountains, which I have one of, when filled with water produces the sound and feel of a real waterfall.

To create a pleasant atmosphere in the home, light some scented candles or an aroma oils diffuser of Ylang ylang, vanilla, neroli, rose, clary sage and sandalwood or any other scent that you love.

Put these together with a table or wall mounted waterfall fountain and the aroma from the candles along with the softly falling water from the fountain can bring about a peace and tranquil atmosphere within your home, relieving you of any mind disturbing thoughts or negative feelings. This is another way to use water and aroma therapy to relieve stress, and calm the mind.

You can create a Spa like Atmosphere and benefit from water and aroma therapy right in your own bathrooms

But the best way to find relief and the many health benefits to the mind and body as discussed above is through water immersion, helped by pleasant aromas. If you can’t get to the real ocean sea water, (for those living in the cities), a pool or go to a Spa or Health Club, you can find relief in your own bathtub or from taking long relaxing showers. (Quick Showers won’t do).

Spend some relaxed time at least a half hour at a time, best at night, immersed in a tub filled with fragrant bubble bath lotion, oils, or bath salts, surrounded by aroma candles will relieve the mind of all negative and disturbing thoughts and bring a sense of peace, and tranquility resulting in a restful sleep if this is done just before bedtime which is most recommended.

It is like washing all the cares of the day away. If everyone takes advantage or makes time to see how many ways there are to relieve pain and stress there will be less of a need for people to keep seeking relief from damaging addictive drugs, including prescription drugs, alcohol or cigarette smoking.

Our beautiful earth is equipped with everything necessary for our good health, well being and life. One of these is the often overlooked benefits of Water and Aroma therapy. Water is provided by our Creator through oceans, lakes, creeks, rivers, waterfalls, and rainfall, and aroma oils is produced from flowers and herbs. And many benefits from these can be done right in our own home.

Try them if you are not doing so already, and I am sure if you now need other aids to cope with stress, anxiety or insomnia, you probably will never need another anxiety or sleeping pill again, and will be much more contented with your life no matter what else is happening around you.

(I became a representative of the below company basically for their fine and inexpensive Aromatic Bubble Baths, Shower Gels, Body Washes and Oils you can find some very good quality and inexpensive ones here at: www.youravon.com/glendabeautycave Just search for Bubble Baths, Shower Gels, and Body Washes)

Written, Web Designed, and illustrated by: Glenda Brill ©

Posted in Healthy Tips, Peoples and Families | Tagged Aroma therapy is done through using essential scented oils poured in bath waters, aromatic Bath Salts or Sweet smelling showe geles will enhance your bathing experience, babies love baths it comforts them and make them calmer, Bathing in a hot tub pool or rivers are also good for being treated with water, Being immersed in the water along with the pleasant scents of aromatic oils is one of the best ways to relax and free the mind of all negative emotions and feelings, Body massager, Creating a Spa like atmosphere within your own bathrooms, Essential oils of bergamot orange chamomile lemongrass aids in relieving some stress and insomnia, floating and soaking in the wide crystal clear blue ocean of Great Bay beach on St. Maarten, Floating in water is a great way to meditate and bring peace to the mind and heals the body, floating on water is actually lying on top of the water without sinking or any floating device, Floating on water is the newest treatment being introduced in Spas and Sports Club, Hydrotherapy is also used for cleansing of the body, I love bathing playing, Lavender oil or spray is known to help with many sleep and emotional problems, Most spas physical therapy centers and health clubs now offer many water therapy treatments, Oceans rivers lakes creeks waterfalls rainfall are all natural water provided by our Creator for our health life and well-being, Our beautiful earth is equipped with everything to help us live healthy and improve our life, Our need for water immersion begins in the womb where a baby is surrounded by water, pain relieving, people travel to see beautiful waterfalls or to bathe in isolated islands just to benefit from water, Regular soothing water therapy through bubble baths can eliminate the need for drugs for insomnia or anxiety, Scented Bubble Baths, Scented Bubble baths and body washes are great aromatic bath helpers, The Best place to benefit from water therapy is by bathing in the sea or Ocean, The sea salt water is good for many muscle pains orthopedic issues spinal cord injuries and neurological disorders, The sound and sight of gushing waters itself is comforting, The sound and sight of real waterfall can be imitated by table or wall water fountains, Tranquility of mind and spirit is what results from water therapy and aromatherapy, Value of water therapy, Water and Aroma therapycalms the mind and brings about a tranquility like no other, Water baths are refreshing invigorating relaxing, Water therapy is a stress buster, Water therapy is also called hydrotherapy or balneo-therapy | 4 Comments

Successfully Breaking Free From All Drug Addictions

Posted on March 16, 2012 by giggling

In my last post (to better follow this post it will be good to read the previous one on: A pill for this and a pill for that, a smoke, a drink- and what’s the bill for all these, huh?) I discussed different kinds of addictions and the dangers associated with them: Addictions to prescription drugs, alcohol and nicotine, or cigarette smoking. Sometimes addictions can happen gradually or innocently, such as getting hooked on prescription drugs, or even smoking or drinking.

Some have gotten addicted to smoking or alcohol by associating with those whom do, and wanting to fit in, or even just trying once or twice started drinking and smoking like their friends, and later find it very hard to break the habit. Some people tolerance is very low and they can easily get hooked on drugs.

LOVE, JOY AND HOPE how these three will help anyone struggling to get free from drug addiction

So what is needed for those whom want to break free from addictions? First a person has to want to quit and needs a reason for quitting. So there are three things that is needed for someone to get help and become free. Love, Joy and Hope. Let’s start with LOVE. First: Love of self. We are told to love our neighbor as ourselves.

So love of self comes first, and this is not a selfish or narcissistic love but it means caring for self, seeing one’s worth and value or uniqueness as a person, and appreciating the life you have. A person who loves themselves wouldn’t abuse their life or do anything to harm self. Developing love for self will help someone on drugs to see how much damage they are doing to their own life and will want to stop.

Second: Love for other people. (Or love for neighbor). Developing love for others will also help someone addicted to any kind of drugs to see how much value they have as a person and the opportunity to contribute something good to others. To see how their own life does affect other people, especially their families, and to help others to also live and enjoy life.

A person whom smokes, or drinks around other people may not be aware of how this shows a lack of love for others, but is actually putting others life in danger of being harmed by their addictions. Look how many innocent lives have been lost by drunk drivers, and how many untold numbers are affected daily by second hand smoke. Also people under the influence of prescription drugs act the same way as those using any other kind of harmful drugs.

Drug addicts also need the Love from other people to help them quit, so how can we show them love?

So besides developing love for themselves and others, drug addicts also need love from others to help them quit and stay clean. So if we know someone on drugs, (any kind that was discussed in the previous post: A pill for this, and a pill for that, a drink, a smoke..) whether it is a family member, co-worker, friend or neighbor, and has the desire to quit, we can show them love by helping them find the counsel or any help they need.

Because some people may be so addicted and really want to quit but can’t seem to do so without some encouragement. But at the same time they are silently crying out for help. They may give the impression that they don’t care, but things they do or say shows that deep down they want to quit but need help.

First of all don’t belittle the person. Don’t treat the drug addict like they are a bad or wicked person, disgraceful, or no good for nothing. Don’t call them derogatory names, or keep telling them that they brought their condition on themselves.

They need Love, Hope, Joy and some hugs to help them to open up and speak, and tell them you are there to listen to them, that they can call you when they feel like talking. (Now you have to be honest and keep your word, this is what showing love means) (See previous post on: It only cost One Sense). You can help them find a professional rehab center or a support group to kick the habit if that is needed.

Also help the person to see that it may not be so easy to suddenly quit, and if they joined a support group to work closely with their Counselor, and to listen to others whom have kicked the habit and how they are coping. And it is also easy to relapse, this should not make them discouraged, but to stick to whatever program they are given.

Steps a recovering addict can take to bring Joy into their life

It would be best to stop associating with anyone that they used to hang out with for drinks, smoking or any other kind of drugs, and that got them hooked on drugs in the first place. Even though some cigarette smokers have quit cold turkey and succeeded, others may not have the strength to do so one time.

You may find yourself relapsing into the old habit or craving the drug again. Remove all traces of the drug from your home. If it is alcohol, or cigarettes get rid of it all, other over the counter drugs or drugs bought online, prescriptions not given by your doctor, throw them out.

Some prescription drugs can have adverse reactions if stopped taking th em s uddenly. A person addicted to prescription drugs will have to talk to their doctor or Nutritionist and work closely with him or her to gradually wean of off the drugs. If invited to a party find out how much alcohol will be served and choose juice or water instead if you decide to go.

If you can’t find this out before you can also develop a plan as to what you will do if you find yourself in a place surrounded by alcohol and drugs. Such as tell a family member or good friend that you will call or text and use a special code to let them know you need someone to pick you up if you went to the party with someone else whom is now drinking and taking drugs with everyone else.

Here again is where others whom are familiar with the addict can show love by not letting the person drink or smoke, if they notice that they are drinking or smoking again. If sitting at the bar, the bartender can literally refuse to give the person a drink, just say no to someone whom seems to be drinking too much or relapsing back into the old habit again.

Since most addicts got that way by trying to find a way out of problems, now that they are no longer depending on drugs to do so, they need to find other ways to develop joy and be happy. Getting to know and loving self a person can discover new things and interests that will bring them joy and happiness.

Even going back to school learning something you might have always wanted to do, or discover you like, such as one woman whom started learning jewelry making, and became so engrossed in her love for this, she couldn’t believe she almost destroyed her life with drugs.

Other satisfying skills like flower arranging, sewing, taking dance lessons, yoga, exercise, knitting or anything that will bring inner joy and peace to self and especially if doing so for others. Just being busy in doing good for others will bring a lot more satisfaction and contentment into a person’s life than resorting to drugs to feel high.

Building back good health by ridding the body of accumulated poisons.

Depending on how long a person was on drugs, smoke or drank they might have already damaged some internal body organs, so they need to try to build their health up by eating the right foods, lots of anti-oxidant foods, to wash away all that poison from the body. Build good health back by finding out what nutrition is needed by going to a professional Nutritionist.

(Folks, I really believe that most of our health, emotional, and psychological problems can be solved by eating the wholesome nutritional foods we were meant to eat. (See previous post on: Stepping in tune with Time and Gravity.) All these foods have all the vitamins and minerals to help with many of the mayor diseases, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, cancers and mental problems). A healthy body and healthy mind will not need any medications to get well, but can usually heal itself or be healed by good nutrition.

(The products to my left above are all natural nutritional supplements, cleansing and detoxifying herbs to help restore and maintain health. Click on image to go to website when finished reading this post)

Try some natural approaches to pain instead of drugs.

If you were hooked or addicted to prescription drugs or over the counter pain killers, when you feel any kind of pain again instead of rushing to get another bottle of pills, try some natural approaches to pain instead. Go to one of those special Nutritionist or Alternative Health Professionals I mentioned above and have a complete physical nutritional examination done.

By all means still keep your medical doctors, if you have a serious medical problem don’t try to medicate yourself, you will still need to see a medical professional doctor. But some of them will not tell you what nutrition your body needs. Most medical doctors are there to help you after you get sick, not to help prevent sickness in the first place. They won’t have a job if you do and the pharmaceutical companies would not make any money. They are all businessmen or women besides medical professionals.

Just changing your lifestyle can bring relief from a lot of pain whether it is physical, emotional or mental. Massages, acupuncture, reflexology, hot and cold pads applied to the spot can help most pain. Also physical theraphy, or special exercises help most joint and muscle pain, as well as eating lots of omega-3 rich foods like fish. What you want is not to get addicted to painkillers again.

I know back home in St. Maarten whenever any of us had a headache, my mother used to put ice in a towel and wrap it around our forehead, and tell use to lie down with the wrapped ice on our forehead. Within a half hour the headache would be gone! No pills, no medication.

If we had a cold or cough, she would mix natural honey with the juice of a lemon and a pinch of salt and give it to us several times a day to get rid of the cold and cough. It worked all the time. No dangerous cold or cough medicines that can become addictive (See previous post on: A pill for this and a pill for that, a smoke a drink..) There are tons of simple health remedies you probably have in your own kitchen and may not even know it.

A good CRY with tears streaming down your face is a good emotional pain reliever, better than addictive anxiety drugs

If suffering from occasional depression or anxiety, or emotional pain, you may not really need any anxiety pills or ante-depressant medication, unless it is a prolonged condition and you have seen a doctor or two. This is one of the most addictive prescribed medication most people are getting hooked on since stress causes anxiety and depression and so many people are under stress.

And this in turn add more pain in the body. Realizing what it is that is making you feel anxious, and switching your mind to something funny or enjoyable will help ease the anxiety without any pills or drugs.

Or just have a good CRY! That’s right, let it all out in tears. Some people keep things bottled up inside them which only make their pains worst, a good cry with tears streaming down your face will release a lot of those pains. And this advice is good for both men and women.

Crying is not a sign of weakness as some men think, it is really a great outlet or reliever of pain, and can have the same beneficial effect on the body as laughter. I experience this myself sometimes. I cry just as easily as I laugh, the two are so closely connected and have the same healing effect on our health. I always feel better after either of them. (This was confirmed by Larry Dossey, M.D. in his book “The Extra Ordinary Healing Power of Ordinary Things”)

Sometimes it is only natural to feel stressed or anxious, and it will pass away on its own without any drugs.

Sometimes it is only natural to feel stressed or depressed. This can be caused by the loss of a loved one, a broken relationship or something else upsetting. Most depression or anxiety, or sleeplessness is temporary and really don’t need the risk of getting hooked on drugs to relieve it, it will pass with time. I know after my mother died four years ago, I was depressed for a while, and couldn’t sleep very well. I know it was just grief which is natural.

But during that same time I had to go to my doctor for a yearly check up and I just mentioned that I was depressed and haven’t been sleeping. So I told him the reason why I was feeling sad was because of the death of my mother. Grief is normal and should run its course.

He still gave me a referral to see a psychiatrist to get some ante-depressant drugs if he thinks I need them or to see if I am not suffering from a mental disorder. I couldn’t believe it. I then understood why some people get addicted to unnecessary drugs because of thinking they have a problem when it is just temporary.

Ofcouse, I never went to the referred psychiatrist, you know what would have happen if I did? He would have prescribed some anti-depressant or anxiety drugs and I would have become some crazy woman thinking I got mental problems running back and forth to a doctor’s office to get more drugs.

It is good to know the source or reason for your depression, it may just be temporary, and will not require any drugs

All I was experiencing was common grief over the lost of my mother. And this doctor would have been making money off another allegedly crazy person for unnecessary anxiety drugs causing damage to my mind for a problem I didn’t have. I am fine now, I let grief ran its course coupled with my tears, and that depressed feeling eventually passed away without any anxiety drugs.

I later remembered what my own mother used to drink to help her relax. We had a garden back home (on St. Maarten) and Mom grew different vegetables and some tea herbs. One of those was lemon grass. She used to make tea from the lemon grass, and this would help her relax and relieve anxiety. I did research on the benefits of lemon grass tea, and Mom was right, lemon grass is a natural anxiety reliever, calm your nerves and will help you sleep.

Also teas made from chamomile and passion flowers also have a calming effect on the nerves and mind and will induce natural sleep. These can be found in most Health Food Stores and come in regular tea bags. I recently learned also that unsweetened cherry tart juice taken during the day and before bedtime is an excellent sleep aid. A good remedy for arthritis pain as well.

And spraying some lavender oil on your pillow also produce a relaxed feeling and peaceful sleep. More so these are non addictive drugs or medication and will benefit the body in a pure natural way.

So it is not always necessary to reach for that pill, drink or smoke for everything that ails us

So it is not always necessary in most cases to reach for that bottle of pills for every little thing that ails us. Most of the time drugs we take may not even be necessary, and can do more damage than good and be addictive. If you are really feeling sick, ofcourse you should go to a doctor. But some problems can be taken care of by simple natural remedies, or by just switching your mind over to more pleasant thoughts rather than concentrating on every little ache and pain. Some of them may be nothing to worry about.

Developing an “Attitude of Gratitude” meditation and prayer will improve your mood and helps with most worry and anxiety. (See previous post on Ways to stop worrying about worrying). Being grateful and giving thanks for what we have, and not being overly anxious about tomorrow can avoid a lot of stress and worry. Also finding things to make you laugh can help a great deal (See previous post on: Laughter can replace most prescription drugs)

The Healing Power of Hope to stay clean from all addictions.

Jesus said that the: “The Truth shall set you Free!” Everyone was born with “a hole in their soul”. That is what I call the disconnect from God, because of inherited imperfection due to our original parents Adam and Eve sin. (See previous post: Stepping in Tune with time and Gravity)

Because we were created in God’s Image, unless that hole is filled with spirituality or the right knowledge and relationship with God, there will always be that empty purposeless feeling inside all of us. He was talking about the truth about Life, the reason why we suffer and die, and the truth behind the many false teachings that only depresses people even more.

The truth about who the true God really is, why he permits suffering and how He will end it, and the purpose for the earth and humanity. Most people live without knowing the Truth about anything. They live in fear of what tomorrow will bring, they live just to die with no hope for a better world to come. So they try to stop up the hole in their spiritual heart, or to erase their pain through drugs, alcohol, smoking or anything that can make them feel good since they believe this is all there is to life, so why care?

A person can become free from drugs and still feel empty inside, and may still be struggling with relapsing back into that old lifestyle. But most people after learning the real truth about God and life gives them a hope and a reason to break free and stay clean. I am not talking about joining a religion. I am talking about getting to know the God from the Bible, the Creator and Life giver of all things. The Father of Jesus Christ, and the Father of the entire human race.

(Even those whom don’t believe in a God, He is still keeping them breathing everyday). He has a name which is: “Jehovah”. Every Bible Scholar knows this is the true God, the Creator and Life Giver, whom wants us to be healthy, happy and to keep living.

It has been said that God turned His back on humans, but it is just the opposite way around, man is the one whom turned their backs on Him, and that is the reason why there is so much suffering and pain.

But the God that most religions teach about letting people suffer through abusing drugs, sickness, terrorism or other means of killing them, and taking them away from their families and communities to heaven is not Jehovah, the Creator, the God of the Bible. This is some other cruel selfish Demon or Satan, the one whom the Bible calls “The Ruler of this world”. That is why there is so much trouble on earth, caused by this hateful other God, not the Creator Jehovah.

And because of such false teachings people are spiritually sick and suffering from all kinds of mental and emotional problems. We were created in His Image to be connected to the true God of Love (God is Love), and Joy, when that connection is not there, we cannot be happy, and will suffer from all kinds of problems.

Filling the hole in our soul, brings lasting freedom

This is what helps drug addicts to kick the habit and stay clean for good. The truth about the purpose of life and the hope for the future, coupled with love and joy in living. So what drug addicts need besides Love, and Joy as mentioned above, is also Hope, the most powerful of all to stay clean.

Thousands of former drug addicts and all kinds of people are learning about the wonderful hope of a coming New Paradise World, where God through Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, will rid this earth of it’s Ruler Satan and all those whom choose to be part of his world.

Then He will restore all people whom he approves of survival into that new world back to the original perfect life that we were supposed to have. (see previous post on: Staying grounded while moving forward). In that new world to come according to Revelation 21:3, 4 there will be no more tears of sadness, no more pain, death, mourning, no outcry no more negative conditions that could cause us to use drugs of any kind, or become addicts.

Also the book of Isaiah says at Isaiah 33:24: “No resident will say: I am sick”. It will happen right here on earth! (Isaiah chapter 53 foretold every single suffering about Jesus Christ more than a thousand or more years before he came to earth, and every small detail was fulfilled in him proving he was the foretold Messiah whom will deliver humans from this suffering condition we are now in. Jesus already died and went back to Heaven and it is just a matter of time which is getting shorter before this new world, under God’s Kingdom will come. So the above prophecies will also come true).

If you meet some of these former (And I have met quit a few myself) real hard drug users, whether it was alcohol addiction, prescription drugs or any of the other hard street drugs, you won’t believe they were once such and are now busy helping others to kick the habit. If you hear some of their stories, it’s like a miracle that they are still alive and look so well. They are living proof that God is real, and is interested in preserving life, that anyone with the desire to quit any drug addiction, and stay clean can do so with the help of all the things discussed in this post.

Ofcourse there will always be proud haughty people whom inspite of the deep hole in their souls (and this can be so plain to see in most people, the sadness and cold look in their eyes reveal their inner spirit, even though they may have all the money in the world, they are empty inside) they prefer to die in ignorance.

But it is good to know that we have a choice, to become drug free and the hope of remaining so for life and there is really a worthwhile purpose in living. The restoration of perfect life on a Paradise Earth is something to live and look forward to.

For related reading look for these previously written posts on:

A pill for this, and a pill for that, a smoke, a drink – and what’s the bill for all these, huh?

Stepping in tune with Time and Gravity

Staying grounded while moving forward

People are basically all just people

Belly Laughing can replace most prescription drugs

It only cost One Sense!

When sleep escapes, why it is so important to catch it quickly

Some ways to stop worrying about worrying

(And in my next post in a couple of weeks I will write about another taken for granted theraphy that can help with everyday stress, anxieties and relaxation that everyone has right in their home which I love, love, love)

Written and illustrated by Glenda Brill ©

Posted in Encouragement, Successful Achievements | Tagged A better world to come gives drug addicts a hope and a bright outlook, A person trying to kick any drug habit needs someone to talk to and to listen to them, A recovery alcoholic if invited to a party needs to leave if everyone is urging him to drink again, acupuncture, acupuncture and massages are good pain relievers, Both crying and laughter have almost the same healing effect on out health, broken relationships can bring about depression or stressed, chamomile and passion flower teas are all great anxiety relievers and aids to sleep, Changing lifestyles can bring relief from pain, crying can bring relief from pain, crying with tears streaming makes one feel better, doesn't need to take any pills fo it, Drug addicts need love, excercise, Hope helps drug addicts quit for good and stay clean, how to successful break free from all drug addictions, it is a natural outlet for emotional or other pains, It is good to go to a Professional Nutritionist for a examination as to what the body needs to build good health again, it is natural to grieve over the death of someone loved, joy and hope to break free from drug addictions, learning the truth about The God of the Bible gives them a hope to want to break free, lemon grass, Massages, Men whom cry are not weak, Nutritional detoxifying cleansing herbs to help maintain health., people need a real purpose in living, physical theraphy all are drug free ways to relieve pain and anxiety, reflexology is pressure applied to specific points of the feet or hands to heal other parts of the body, Some depression can just be temporary, Some pain can be relieved by natural remedies, Some prescription drugs can have adverse reactions if stopped taking them suddenly | 9 Comments

A pill for this, and a pill for that, a smoke, a drink – and what’s the bill for all these, huh?

Posted on February 28, 2012 by giggling

Anyone using or becoming addicted to even just one of the above, or combining all three is on the road to self destruction or suicide. It sounds extreme but thousands of individuals are abusing or addicted to drugs of some kind, even combining several together such as those whom smoke, or drink alcohol and take either over the counter or prescription drugs at the same time.

A very destructive lifestyle, which those practicing these habits may not even be aware of how serious and deadly their habits are. In most cases a person can innocently become hooked on prescription or over the counter drugs becaus e of the need to feel good or to get a good nights sleep. And this is the real motive behind all drug taking, our desire and need to feel good and sleep or get relief from pain of all kinds.

And pain is widespread, so there is hardly anyone anywhere now that is not taking a pill, or drug or some kind of prescription medication, prescribed by a doctor or bought over the counter for pain, anxiety, diet, stress, for sleep, or just to feel good. Physical, emotional and mental pain is increasing and experienced by the whole human race. And so are the pills or medications that promise to heal us or make us feel better.

There is a pill for practically everything that ails us, whether it is physical, emotional or mental pain

There seems to be a prescription for every little pain or problem we suffer from whether it is a headache, toothache, to little toe pain and everything else in between on or inside our body. And they are so easy to get these days, either through a doctor’ prescription, buying them online, or over the counter at any drugstore. There is also the illegal street drugs referred t o as recreational drugs to make people high or forget their problems.

And all around us people are smoking to the point where bans has t o be put on smoking for the protection of other non-smokers from inhaling dangerous disease causing smoke. And which party or bar can you go today where there is not an abundance of alcohol in all forms of drinks? A moderate amount of alcoholic beverages may add enjoyment to a party, especially wine or champagne.

It is only when alcoholic drinks seem to be flowing like water and people start mixing different kinds together, and getting drunk, then it poses a danger. The body cannot take to much alcohol, just like smoke it will act like poison and someone who has drunk too much can get seizures, go into a coma, or collapse dead.

Others whom tolerate it can become addicted or an alcoholic very easily. Even among college students there are alcohol binges where some students pass out from drinking too much.

The need to feel good or to sleep, and the cost associated with it, is extremely high

And all these substances are not cheap, they are very expensive. You know if you have to take any kind of prescription drug the price of these are extremely high. If a person’s insurance does not cover these then this is a big chunk of money out of your budget to cover the need to feel good. And what about tobacco users, or smokers? Today the price of cigarettes is about $11.25 a pack, maybe higher in some places.

For people whom smoke several packs a week, that could add up to over $200 or $300 a month, money that could be used to pay outstanding bills or save for emergency, rather than going up in smoke, and damaging their health and those around them. And alcohol and related beverages are also very expensive.

Death is also big business. Drug abuse and related illnesses are taking the lives of countless people prematurely, especially young people. I recently read a report that over 20000 Americans die each year from prescription drug related complications. And haven’t we all heard the news about the warning now associated with over the counter sleeping pills, and how many of them are causing death.

In all the complaining about the economy and so many businesses suffering financial lost, have you ever seen any funeral home, casket making, or pharmaceutical companies and tobacco producers complaining among them? Have any of them gone out of business lately? There is one funeral home down the street from where I live, and that place is never short of dead customers young and old alike. There are dead bodies going in and coming out of there every single day!

The price for a burial including the casket and related expenses run into several thousands of dollars. Yes, companies in the death and burial business, pharmaceutical and tobacco industry are doing pretty well. These no doubt make up the secret millionaires getting rich off of others addictions and demise. The abuse of all drugs can lead to premature death, it shows disrespect for the precious gift of life, and this is the ultimate high cost and price that cannot be matched by any other. Yeah, our pains and death are others big gains!

What is the difference between legally taking a drug for a medical problem as prescribed by a doctor, substance or drug abuse, and being a drug addict?

As imperfect humans sometimes we do get ill and require a doctors care. (See previous post on sickness and disease entitled: Stepping in tune with Time and Gravity) A doctor can prescribe a drug that he believes can help you. They know that all drugs can be dangerous and become addictive if not carefully monitored by the doctors.

These days they are also required or if asked to let the patient know the side effects of any drug given. I know I always ask because I don’t like taking any drug if I can avoid so. The side effects of all drugs are sometimes more dangerous to your health than for what they are being prescribed.

You can be given a drug for one medical problem and it can cause another one to develop. We even hear this in some of the TV ads for different medications for asthma and other medical problems. The list of side effects alone can scare someone o ut of even trying the new pill or medication. Because most of them end their list of side effects as possible causing death.

So any drug prescribed by a doctor has to be monitored closely by him, and the patient needs to follow all instructions and dosages carefully and stop the medication when advised by the doctor to do so. And if a person doesn’t feel confident in taking any new medication it is always good to get a second or third opinion before you start taking any new drug that you know nothing about.

When taking a prescription drug follow doctors’ orders and take dosages exactly as ordered to avoid becoming addicted to the medication.

Also if you do decide to take the medication, follow the exact dosage written on the bottle, and stop using when the doctor tells you to, and don’ t increase or decrease the dosage since the doctor knows exactly the correct dose to give you to avoid getting addicted or to help the ailment or problem.

It is also good to be completely honest with your doctor letting him know what you are allergic to, what medications or medical conditions you had in the past what other drugs you are presently taking or took before, if you drink alcohol, if you suffer from depression or mood swings, and anything that could interfere with taking this new medication.

It is when people fail to let their doctors know all the above and go beyond doctor’s orders and take a prescription anyway they choose is when addiction can result and can be dangerous to their health.

Why it is so easy to get addicted to prescription drugs, and how we can avoid it

Prescription drug addiction is becoming more wide spread than ever before. Because most of these are prescribed by our doctors whom we trust for ailments we have, and they are now easy to get online. People are suffering from all kinds of pains and aches, diseases and emotional problems, and just want to feel well.

(See previous post as to why we suffer from pain and sickness: “Stepping in tune with Time and Gravity”, and “People are basically all just people”) They feel safe when they get a prescribed medication from their doctor, or when it has been approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). Or just the easy over the counter availability of certain drugs in drugstores make people feel secure that its good because it is legally sold over the counter.

In some cases people follow the recommendations of other friends whom took a certain pill or drug and got relief. Then they go online and get the same drug. But this is a mistake we need t o avoid. We can’t take some other persons’ prescription if it wasn’t prescribed for us.

Prescription drugs are only safe for the individuals who actually have prescriptions for them. That’s because a doctor has examined these people and prescribed the right dose of medication for a specific medical condition. Not all people have the same medical history or tolerance to a certain drug. So how or what the doctor told them, or the dosage he prescribed may not be right for everybody else.

Most doctors tell the patient exactly how they should take the medicine, including things to avoid while taking the drug — such as drinking alcohol, smoking, or taking other medications. They also are aware of potentially dangerous side effects and can monitor patients closely for these. As mentioned above in the previous paragraph only when people fail to follow all doctors’ orders then they can find themselves addicted to dangerous drugs, which will destroy their health and life instead of bringing the expected relief.

Some over the counter medications can be just as dangerous and kill us just the same as recreational or illegal drugs.

Do you know that some illegal drug labs can use some of the same ingredients found in common cold medications bought over the counter in any drugstore to make dangerous street drugs like methamphetamine? And to think of it even young children use over the counter cold medicines. So any drug even common cold medicine can be addictive and make a person behave the same as if it was a strong illegal off the street drug.

For example, dextromethorphan (DXM) is found in some OTC cough medicines. When someone takes the number of teaspoons or tablets that are recommended, everything is fine. But high doses can cause problems with the senses (especially vision and hearing) and can lead to confusion, stomach pain, numbness, and even hallucinations.

Or if mixed with other drugs or alcohol can be fatal. I don’t think there has ever been a time in history when there is so much availability of medications or drugs of all kinds. But whether it is pills, or medications prescribed by a doctor, bought over the counter, or on the streets, alcohol, tobacco in all forms smoked as cigarettes, pipes, cigars, hookahs, smokeless tobacco or sniff through the nostrils they all fall under the category of Dangerous DRUGS.

What is Substance or Drug abuse, and Drug Addiction?

Substance or drug abuse is when a person occasional abuse an illegal or a legal substance such as tobacco, alcohol or any medication in the wrong way. Drug abuse is the occasional misuse of any drug or substance.

Some people, especially young people like to show off their ability to hold their drink or may use a drug one time, as they say to look cool, for fun or to get high. Some have experimented with different kinds of drugs once or twice but not becoming dependent on it. They were abusers but not addicts because they didn’t become dependent on the drugs.

But others whom have become dependent on any drug, meaning they crave or cannot go one day or function without taking the drug has become a drug addict. (Habitual abuse of any drug can lead to drug dependency or addiction). These can be painkillers, a prescribed medication, tobacco, alcohol, or a recreational drug like marijuana or cocaine.

Some strong drugs like heroin and crack are so addictive that it only takes one or two times before a person loses control and become hooked and cannot do without them daily. These are the dangerous drugs, that can bring a person under demonic control, whom cause drug addicts to hear their voices, see strange things and push addicts to steal, kill others, or kill themselves.

Coming under the control by super-human wicked spirits (enemies of God and man whose sole purpose is to destroy life) is one of the main reasons why it is so difficult to break free from drug addiction, and besides the health problems to the person, is what makes taking drugs so very very dangerous.

Drug Addicts can be anyone we know

Years ago when we heard that word “Drug Addict” we used to think it was only referring to recreational drugs addicts, or the dangerous homeless man on the street. But today the drug addict could be anyone we know or see such as famous Movie Stars, Singers, businessmen, office workers, Supervisors, Well-known Artists in high places (I have met those myself).

A nyone whether rich or poor, white, black, Asian, young or old, or of any ethnicity living and working among us and even right within our own families. While some people whom are addicted to prescription drugs or other illegal drugs can sometimes keep their addiction private others such as smokers are clearly seen.

We all work with people whom have to take a break during the day and go out to smoke their cigarettes. They are so addicted to nicotine they cannot go a few hours indoors without having to smoke. And some of these are young beautiful well educated men and women with good jobs, even head of corporations, and whether they like to admit it or not they are drug addicts, and need help like everyone else to break the habit.

(You know tobacco is nothing more than pure poison. The body has no need for it, and it accumulates within the necessary body organs as nothing but death dealing poison, and this happens not only to the smokers themselves, but anyone else inhaling their smoke).

Getting involved in drugs of any kind is not fun, does not bring anyone joy or happiness, and will not make your problems go away, they will only add more and shorten your life

Most people get involved with drugs in order to feel good as I mentioned above, or to erase their problems, to deal with depression, anxiety, emotional problems, or to escape from whatever is bothering them. Some drugs prescribed for medical reasons may help your problem or pain. But others taken just to feel high or erase their problems will only add more pain and depression to your life. And that is the reason drug addiction is so hard to break, whenever the pain or depression comes back, they have to try to erase it again in order to keep going.

Think how much damage someone whom smokes bring to their own health and the health of their families and others around them. (see previous post on how smoke even affects the unborn in the womb of a mother whom smokes : “A baby’s plea to a smoking mother: “Mommy, please don’t blow smoke in my face, blow me some bubbles instead”).

They destroy their lungs, liver, kidneys – can suffer from heart problems, seizures, comas, and other brain and emotional problems. All kinds of respiratory ailment such as asthma, bronchitis and emphysema – various kinds of cancers such as throat and mouth cancers result from smoking.

I personally knew a young man whom recently died from mouth cancer due to heavy smoking. Smokers mess up their skin, teeth, breath, hair, they never smell clean. It is so sad to see beautiful women get involved in smoking since this will eventually destroy their beauty.

Breast cancer, premature aging of the skin, yellowing of teeth and nails, and destruction of bones, giving women that premature old bent over look all result from nicotine addiction. Why spend so much time on putting on make-up, having your hair done, going to the gym and still at the same time slowly destroying it all through smoking?

Alcohol and other drugs have the same effect on addicts. Even though some people think getting occasional drunk or high is fun, and some brag about it the next day, being drunk or getting high is not fun, it makes people do and say stupid things they might not even know they are doing or saying and cause a lot of embarrassment to their families and friends.

I have seen nice people whom become addicted to alcohol and drugs reduced to mere skeletons and look like old people before their time. Alcohol or drugs can make an intelligent man or woman act stupid, lose their self esteem, lose their jobs, and end up poor and in mental institutions.

Besides there are the health problems that it brings on, too much alcohol destroys your liver, causes cancers and other heart and health problems, and will destroy you from the inside out. Any drug addiction of any kind will result in all kinds of health, emotional and mental problems and causes premature death!

No, drug addiction will not solve your problems, it only adds more and will put you on the road to poverty, self destruction and premature death!

If you or anyone you know are suffering from addiction to any of the above substances, you can break free if you want to. Come back in a couple of weeks and see my next post continuing on this subject.

You will see the three main things drug addicts need to help break the habit, and how there are inexpensive remedies for some ailments and anxieties that causes people to seek drugs in the first place. You will also learn of many others whom have stopped all kinds of addiction and stay clean and how they did so. This I will continue in my next post. See you then!

All photos used in this Post and on the Blog are from a Commercial Photo Bank, not anyone I personally know.

Written and illustrated by Glenda Brill (C)

Posted in Healthy Tips, Peoples and Families | Tagged A doctor needs to carefully monitor any prescription drug in order for it not to become addictive to the patient, A drug abuser may only experiment with drugs a few times, A drug addict depends on drugs to function each day, A patient should be honest witht their doctors so that he can prescribe the right medication for their particular health problems, A person needs to follow all doctors instruction when taking prescription drugs, dead bodies are held in funeral homes, Drug addicts are anyone we know, drugs can bring a drug addict under demonic control, Drugs should not be mixed together, Many beautiful women are addicted to nicotine which will destroy their beauty and leads to premature death, nails and internal organs, People get involved in drugs because of the need to feel good, prescription drug addiction is widespread, rich or poor, skin, smoking and alcohol abuse causes all kinds of cancers and other respiratory problems, smoking messes up your hair, teeth, There is a difference between a Drug abuser and A drug Addict, they can cause death, tobacco smoke is nothing but pure poison to the body, white or black, without becoming addicted | 8 Comments

Staying grounded while moving forward..

Posted on February 5, 2012 by giggling

This is a follow up to the previous post on “Stepping in tune with Time and Gravity”, since it turned out to be very long, I decided to divide it into two articles. You can better understand this one by reading the previous one. And again read this one all the way down to the end and watch the video as it will answer the previous questions on whether the Earth and all life will come to an end in 2012.

Making good use of limited time now, by keeping a good schedule

In our busy world and because of our shortened lifespan it seems like there is never enough time to get all the things done we have to do each day. Some of us spend so much time just running to get somewhere on time. This puts us under stress which only aids in shortening our life.

So the best way I find to get the most important things done is to make a written schedule of what needs to be done first and what can wait for another day. It also helps to be organized so we don’t waste a lot of time trying to get out from under clutter. (see previous post on: “Everything in its place, and no place for some things)”

If you are a manager of other employees it helps to delegate work to those whom you know can handle the extra work, emphasizing the importance of getting the work done by a certain time, and you don’t overburden yourself by doing it all yourself. Also people who enjoy their work, don’t keep thinking about retirement, don’t keep track of time like those whom do. This enjoyment of one’s work helps relieve stress and can add years and health to your life.

That is one of the secrets of those whom live long today, like many celebrities, they enjoy their work, and most of them never retire. Schedule time also for leisure, play, relaxation, social get to-gethers or events, spirituality, laughter and fun all help keep us healthy, young and in tune with time and gravity.

Keeping the effects of time and gravity on our bodies at bay

If we don’t keep in tune with passing time and the effects of gravity, they will begin its toll on us with the signs of gradual old age. We can see this by sagging of the skin, and the extra body flap all pointing downward, wrinkles, joint and bone problems which cause that bend over look. This sagging or signs of old age is gravity pulling us back toward the earth from where we came from, or telling us that we need to eat more of the foods from the earth. The thinner the skin the quicker it sags and wrinkles.

Today research is confirming that a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds can help keep old age with it’s accompanying diseases away. This is the diet from the Earth, the natural unrefined or unprocessed foods that was the original diet we were given to eat.

Natural fruits and vegetables keep our bodies free of built up toxins which causes diseases and inflammation, bringing on those bodily aches and pains.

It is this built up of toxins in the body which causes premature old age and eventually causes death. When we keep our bodies internally and externally clean our cells can renew themselves and this keeps us young. Back in the Caribbean and some other countries people refer to natural foods as ”Ground foods”, literally foods from the ground.

Eating plenty of ground foods, and fresh fish from the oceans which most of the people ate years ago kept them living longer and healthier than those whom ate refined foods and lots of animal fats. Also keeping away from high sugary drinks and foods, to much alcohol, smoking, harmful drugs and developing a pleasant personality full of love, kindness, patience, joy and other good qualities.

(The spiritual qualities that will keep us connected to God, necessary also for continued life). You may notice that most people whom are long livers are known for their pleasantness, their love for people and even animals, their sense of humor, positive outlook, faith, and joy they bring to other people.

On the other hand people that are filled with constant anger, maliciousness, hatred and other bad qualities and immoral lifestyles work against their own bodies since these are also toxic qualities that leads to disease and premature aging and death. (see previous post on anger: Raging Moving Volcanos, Explosive Hot Tempers – Dangerous Health Hazards Leading to Premature Death

Other ways to keep grounded while moving forward:

Another way to stay grounded is through exercise, or being active. One of the best ways is regular walking. Practice walking erect, not hunched over. If you have the tendency to bend over when walking, practice walking backward until you stand upright and walk forward while holding your head up and your body erect. It looks more youthful and keep you farther away from the pull of gravity, than someone who is hunched over giving gravity more pull on your body resulting in that old age look.

If you can, sometimes walk with bare feet on the ground or grass. Research by electro-physiologists and other medical experts suggest that when our feet touches the earth or ground, the earth’s electrical energy may help protect and stabilize our body’s own electrical system, recharging, replenishing and ultimately healing us.

This again confirms the historical biblical account of creation, that man was indeed made from the ground and the body is full of electrical energy controlling all our internal organs. Staying close to the earth by eating natural foods and by touch keeps our cells firing the right way and keep us healthy and young.

Not all of us can benefit from this contact with the literal earth, unless we can get to a park sometimes and take our shoes off and walk on the bare grass or dirt. But it has been proven that people that live simple lives working bare feet on farms, growing their own food, and fishing, live stress free lives are healthier and do not suffer from most of the diseases found in more modern environments.

I know when I was in St. Maarten (Dutch Caribbean) or whenever I go back home to see my family, every morning I went for long walks on the beach, while the sun was still rising before it got to hot. Walking barefoot on the cool soft sand, and then soaking in the clear blue sea water while burying my feet into the bottom of the ocean sand was so relaxing and energizing that it set the pace for the rest of the day.

At that time I even didn’t realize that I was practicing a healing process for my body, recharging and replenishing my own electrical internal system. I just knew how good and how better I felt after that early morning beach walk and sea soak.

Regular exercise like swimming is good for all areas of the human body. It is good for our bones, muscles, keeps our heart strong, produce the feel good hormone flowing through our brain. It rids the body of toxins, keeps our skin firm so gravity does not have a strong pull against it and help prevents premature sagging and wrinkling.

Just a couple of weeks ago I heard and saw on the news a 93 year old woman whom was chosen as a swimsuit model because she kept in shape through swimming. Her picture is hanging somewhere I believe they said in Rockefeller Plaza NY. But seeing her on TV was hard to believe she was 93 years old, her skin was still very tight and smooth for an older Caucasian woman. She was still standing erect, not bend over with no cane or walker and she was a daily swimmer.

We can protect our brains from becoming senile through brain exercises like regular reading, learning a new skill, or hobby, playing games using both hands, staying employed and by not retiring. People whom keep working way into their older years don’t usually suffer from many of the brain diseases that contribute to premature aging and death.

Years ago I took music and guitar lessons at New York School of Music as a hobby and my teacher was a older man 86 years old. But he was mentally alert and sharp as a young man. His fingers moved over those guitar strings like magic and he could read those musical notes without any glasses on. He used to sit next to me and personally instruct me on how to read and write sheet music and make that guitar sing by imitating his finger movements. After 4 years of lessons I was playing pretty well, but was more enthusiastic and encouraged by the zeal of my teacher Mr. Januski whom no doubt continued working right up to his death which by then he had to be way over ninety.

Another example is one of my neighbors who still drives to work everyday at the age of 84 years old to her Beauty Salon where she takes care of her customers hair, and she is as sharp as a younger person and smiles a lot. Betty White again is also a good example of someone whom at the age of 90 is still working and many others like her prove that regular activity for the brain keeps it young, healthier and living longer.

When time and gravity will start working in perfect harmony for us again

Inspite of all we do to keep in tune with time and gravity now, we are still imperfect and right now still living in a very corrupt and polluted world. We can do a lot to stay as healthy and young as it is possible for us to be right now, but freedom from all diseases, perfect health and long life will only come when God starts the restoration process in the new world, through His Kingdom Government ruled by the Prince of Peace Jesus Christ.

(see previous posts: Hey, whats up with all these Christmas lights and decorations anyway” and “Addiction to Bad News-how this creates more turmoil, unrest, indifference and tolerance in our world”). For all things to return as it was supposed to be in the beginning before Adam and Eve messed up.

So that is what the end of the world means, not the end of the Earth and all life, but the end of bad conditions on Earth, and the beginning of the long foretold restoration back to perfect life under a better Government ruled by Jesus Christ, King of Kings, and Prince of Peace. All oppressive political governments, terrorism, conflicting religious systems, this entire hateful wicked Satanic controlled polluted world, and evil morally corrupt loveless people will end. These will be destroyed to cleanse the earth so it can be restored back to the Perfect Peaceful home for those whom God approves to keep on living and given a chance to be restored back to that perfect life of health, and youth again. (See previous post on: Stepping in tune with Time and Gravity)

Even millions of those whom died will be resurrected and given a chance again for perfect life. (This should not be to hard to understand since humans were created from the dust, returned to the ground when they died, and God will bring them back from the dust again).

The earth will never be burned up as is predicted for 2012. The Bible says God did not create it for nothing, and humans are not going anywhere in a rapture. Also Jesus said that the meek shall inherit the earth, and he told us to pray for God’s Kingdom to come so that “His will be done on “Earth” as it is in Heaven”. This is our home. We were created from this beautiful planet, to eat and benefit from its fruitage and to live forever right here. (This is the entire hope of the Bible). (Read previous post on: Stepping in tune with Time and Gravity)

Whether this end of wickedness will come in 2012, nobody knows, only God, and nobody has any authority to predict a date or year for it to happen. But it should be getting close because of the ever increasing problems on earth now as was foretold by Jesus Christ as a sign to look out for.

Then at last there will be World Peace, and the wonderful opportunity to live forever and never worry about not having time to do all the things we want, and being young forever. Hope as many of us whom develop faith in this promise (Revelation 21:3, 4) will indeed see the fulfillment of it soon, learning all we can now about God’s Purpose for the earth and human life, and staying grounded while moving forward toward the time when Life, Time and Gravity will never end! Watch the below Video and then draw your own conclusions. (Turn your speakers on).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AE_BX1XUSC4

Written and researched by Glenda Brill(©)

Posted in Healthy Tips, Peoples and Families | Tagged A diet rich in fruit, being organized avoid clutter and wasting time, built up toxins in the body causes premature aging, Contact with the literal earth can help heal the body'sown electrical systems, corrupt loveless people will be destroyed, legumes and wholegrains can help retard the aging process, make good use of time by keeping a written schedule, Manager can delegate work to employees to lighten the work load and get things done on time, Oppressive Political governments will end, people whom enjoy their work and don't retire live longer and are happier, resurrection mean some dead people will come back from the ground, running to get somewhere on time, sagging skin is caused by gravity pulling us back to the earth, stress aids in shortening our lifespan, terrorism and all wickedness will end, The earth will never be burned up it is our home forever, vegetables, vegetables and fruits are called ground foods in some countries, Video on creation part 1, walking barefoot on the ground can help replenish our internal electrical systems, walking on the sand and soaking in the sea can be refreshing and healthy for the body, What does the end of the world really means?, When time and gravity will work in harmony for us again, Will the earth end in 2012? | 3 Comments

Stepping in tune with Time and Gravity..

Posted on January 24, 2012 by giggling

New Year, New You! That is a phrase we hear almost every beginning of a new year. Most often people make resolutions to improve their lives or do something different every time a new year begins. But time is moving so fast that by the time you start working on the new you, the first month is almost over and you just give up. But whether we put any effort into it or not every year we do become a New Us. Time and Gravity is silently working on us.

Time is pushing us forward and gravity pulling us down to the earth. Where are these two taking us? So much talk about the end of the earth and life coming in 2012, if that is true why is there so much emphasis on getting healthier, staying young and becoming disease free? Is time and gravity really taking us to a complete end of all life, or just the opposite, the beginning of better times and longer life on Earth?

I took a lot of time, more than a week working late at night, the only time I have to write, researching and writing this, (that’s the reason this post is so late into the month) so I hope you take some time to read it all to the very end, and then draw your own conclusions.

So what really is Time and Gravity? Our friends or enemies?

This mysterious thing called “Time” is constantly at work in our lives, so does gravity. So what is Time? I think nobody except God, knows the exact definition of it. The Dictionary describes time as many different things, some of them are: The measured or measurable period during which an action, process, or condition exists or continues; an historical period;

A nonspatial continuum that is measured in terms of events which succeed one another from past through present to future. And I think this is the best description so far, that time is the space in which we exist that is ever moving forward without any interruption from the past, to the present and marches on into the indefinite future.

Time never stops moving, even when someone dies, Time leaves them behind and keeps on moving, it has no end. We have to find ways to work, plan and live within this space measured in our day by days, made up of twenty-four hours, broken down into minutes and seconds. This accumulates into weeks, months and years. It is a constant struggle trying to manage and keep up with time and getting things done within our limited time.

As we grow older time seems to get shorter, and gravity reminds us of where we came from and where we’re going, back to the earth when we die. So what is gravity? Gravity on the other hand is the force exerted by the earth that draws us toward its center. Gravity is more like the electrical energy or electromagnetism force within the center of the earth that produces the fuel and everything needed for plants and trees to grow food.

Vegetables, fruits, seeds, legumes, grass, precious minerals, stones and so much more all come from the ground. Gravity because of its electrical force keeps us and everything else on earth grounded, so that we do not float around in the air.

Why the constant obsession with Age and Youth?

As time moves, so do we, we are growing older every tick of the clock. Realizing this these days there seems to be an obsession with age and youth, trying to find ways to extend life and stay youthful. Scientists have been searching for the fountain of youth for years. So much research is being done on helping people live longer, avoiding diseases and staying young with a constant influx of new information on new discoveries of some exotic fruits, vitamins or skin creams to aid in helping us do so.

There is so much anti-aging products on the market now, it is confusing which one to use, they all promise the same thing, a more youthful wrinkle free you. Nobody wants to grow old, we all have an inborn desire to stay young and keep living. Every place where an application has to be filled out you have to put down your birthdate. Why does everyone want to know how old you are? Why do most countries have a retirement cut off age for people to stop working, and do what? Sit around until they die? Who said they should stop working at a certain age if they don’t want to?

When we see older people like the actress Betty White whom just turned 90 years old, and whom looks real good don’t all of us admire them and remark: “Doesn’t she look good for her age? I can’t believe she is really that old”. But who is to say how anyone was supposed to look at any age?.

If someone is 80 years old and they look like 50, who is to say that isn’t the right way an 80 year old is supposed to look? What is the right way for an 80 year old to look, or someone 60, 40 or 90, or even 20? I can never understand where people get this age look from. I personally have stopped my age at 29 years old, I have been 29 years old for several years now and who is to say that I don’t look good for my age which everyone keeps telling me?

Understanding the desire and obsession by going back to our historical beginning when Time didn’t matter

Whether some people chose to believe so or not, the only way we can fully understand this whole obsession with aging, disease prevention, time and the pull of gravity or end of all life is accepting the Biblical account of the creation or the beginning of our history, of the first two human beings from which we all came from. (see previous post: “People are basically all just people”)

Now I know some of you may believe in the Ape or Monkey Theory, the Caveman story or the Darwin evolution theory. But none of these can fully explain the same thread running through all humans. The similarities among all of humanity, and the reason and purpose of life.

Nor do they answer the questions why we grow old and die. Not one of those man invented theories can even explain why we are here in the first place, why we have a conscience, where did right and wrong come from, where did life come from, why our cells die rather than keep renewing themselves like they were supposed to and where are we going.

There is also the belief that the earth and life will end, and good people will be taken up to heaven in a rapture. That was predicted to happen last year, now it is predicted for 2012. All this confusion and fear can be understood and cleared up by reading even just one book of the Bible (Genesis) the most accurate and reliable historical account of the beginning of the Earth and all life on it including humans. Continue reading and see if the Biblical historical account (found in Genesis) doesn’t make more sense than all the other stuff about our existence out there.

Where did the similarities among us came from?

God created the Earth and equipped it with everything necessary to sustain life.The final trophy of creation was a man in his image that would take care of this marvelous planet and turn it into a beautiful Paradise worldwide. Then Adam was created from the dust of the earth. God blew life into him and Adam started breathing and living.

Remember what was said above about the earth? It is filled with the electrical energy needed for the production of all food for life. So Adam body was full of electrical energy, and all his internal organs would operate by this means. God who is the very Source of Life and Energy, plugged him into himself by blowing life into him.

So his continued life depended on staying plugged into this Great Life Source and staying close to the earth from which all his food would come. He became the first man to represent his Creator on earth, intelligent, wise, morally upright, completely perfect, without any defect in body, mind or spirit. (no unintelligent Ape or Caveman by any means).

Created in the image of God, having the spiritual qualities like God himself, such as justice, kindness, love, joy, self-control, mildness, peace, moral uprightness, goodness and a conscience that would help him reflect that image perfectly. But he also had free choice or will, he could choose to do whatever he wanted, but would have to face the consequences of his actions.

He was given the task to take care of the earth and animals, the part he was created in was already a Garden, not a cave. (The Garden of Eden), it was full of every tree bearing fruit and vegetables necessary for food. He had an abundance of fresh food needed for continued good health to choose from.

Then later Eve was created also from the earth and by using one of Adam’s ribs. No doubt they were created as young healthy perfect people, and giving the command to multiple and fill the earth with other young perfect healthy people. There was no limit to time to do so, they could keep on living indefinitely. Nothing was said about growing old, getting sick or dying and taken to heaven later.

The Earth was their home, the Paradise like conditions like Eden would spread all over as they reproduce and fill it with other humans like themselves. No matter how long they live they would still remain young and healthy. Time was limitless or eternal, and wouldn’t manifest itself in becoming old looking people.

The only command besides the one to multiple was for them not to eat from a certain tree, for if they ate from that tree they would die! This was the first mention of death, and this was only going to happen if they didn’t obey the command not to eat of that tree. So their continued life was dependent on obedience to their Creator. If they didn’t eat from this tree out of obedience, they would keep on living, stay young and never die, and so would all their offspring.

When time and gravity started working against us

Well, they choose to disobey. Eve listened to Satan an angel who had become evil, and disguised himself as a serpent, ate from the tree and encouraged Adam to do the same. After eating of the tree, both became guilty of sin and death, and so did their then unborn offspring, whom would later be reproduced from these defected parents.

God told them that they would die “for dust you are and to dust you will return”, he told them. So that answer the question where do we go when we die? Back to the earth. (The grave no doubt from the word “gravity” is a hole dug into the ground in which a dead person is returned). But God will bring many of those whom died back from the earth when he begins the restoration to perfect life again.

So this was the beginning of the bad effect time and gravity would start having on the human family, instead of living forever and benefiting from time by having enough of it to do all the things they love without ever growing old or dying, time now became limited, a reminder that their life was shortened. It would be filled with much suffering, hard work, diseases, and other depravities that Satan and sin would later introduce. And that gravity will eventually pull them back into the earth from where they came from.

Proof that life was indeed intended to be for a very long time

Adam was so full of life and energy that even after sinning he lived to be 930 years old, (Genesis 5:5) while becoming father and grandfather to several sons and daughters. No doubt Eve lived about the same length of time as she was the mother of the many children they had all whom lived for several hundreds of years each. But they probably still remain fairly young looking, even with advanced years.

Genesis 5 list all of Adam and Eve other children besides Cain and Abel whom was killed by his brother Cain the first murder to take place due to sin. But only gave the name of the third son Seth whom died at the age 912 years. He in turn had his own firstborn son Enosh who lived to be 905 years.

And even when these sons started having their own children they were older than 100 years old and lived to be more than 800 and 900 years old. These were the ancestors of the present human family, and they all lived for over 800 and 900 years each because they were closer to perfection and full of energy sustained by their dependence on the earth for food. Both men and women were having children way into their older years but no doubt looked quite young. This is proof that humans was created to keep on living and could indeed do so if it wasn’t for inherited sin and imperfection.

Did time got shorter or was it our lifespan that dropped, and why?

Generations down as the human population kept growing the age limit for reproducing children started dropping. but even then it was still older than our day. For instance in the case of Abraham and Sarah, he was 100 years old and Sarah his wife was 90 when they were told that they would become parents for the first time. Sarah even silently laughed because by then the age limit for women to have children had already dropped, and 90 years old seemed impossible for her.

But they both produced a son, and from that son entire nations came into existence all the way down to our day. But because of inherited sin and imperfection from their parents and just as God said they all died within the day that he told Adam he would die. So there is the answer as to why we grow old and die.

As the human family multiplied and grew, all reproductions from parents that were imperfect, the further down they came from that perfect life, the weaker they became. It is like making copies from copies, the later copies will keep getting weaker and weaker. Also further away from perfection, their lifestyles and diet changed (more meat started to be eaten than before, and disobedience to morality increased) the effects of human sickness and suffering became more intolerant and the lifespan kept dropping, to 120 years according to God’s decree.

In our day we are the farthest away from perfection and more diseases have come into existence than in the past, causing premature aging and death. Also the average life expectancy in our generation is the lowest, it still remains between 70 to 90 years old. Therefore we can understand the increased desire to extend life, find new ways to prevent diseases and to postpone the aging process.

With our lifespan only lasting between 70 to 90 years old is a big drop from living forever. But the desire to keep on living has been built into our hearts as the Book of Ecclesiastes says that “time indefinite has been put into the hearts of humans”. Since Adam’s offspring (all humans down to our day) wasn’t to blame for their being born defective God started to make provisions to restore them back to the same perfect life and health that Adam and Eve robbed us of. The chance to live forever again on earth as it was supposed to be.

This was the whole reason for the promise of a Messiah or Deliverer, the reason for the birth and death of Jesus Christ, whom proved to be the foretold Messiah, and whom is also called the last Adam to restore what Adam and Eve lost. (see previous post on “Hey, whats up with all these Christmas lights and decorations anyway”)

As we get closer to that time when perfect life will be restored, the obsession with age and youth becomes even stronger than ever before. It is a true testimony of the truthfulness of how we got here in the first place, and the inborn desire for perfect health and youth will be fulfilled. So how do we make good use of time now without wasting any of it? And what is going to happen to the Earth, humans and all life on it?? You must come back to read the second half of this post to follow in early February: “Staying grounded while moving forward”

*All of the Biblical research on creation and the longevity of the first humans came from the book of Genesis chapter 1 to 6, The book of Psalms 37, the Gospel Accounts, and some from Revelation.

Written and researched by Glenda Brill (C)

Posted in Healthy Tips, Peoples and Families | Tagged A Hour glass was used in the past for measuring time, Adam and Eve were the first humans created by God and became the parents of all peoples today, back to the earth, Because they disobey God they became imperfect and passed that down to all their offspring, good health and youth is built into our hearts, Gravity is the electromagnetism that pulls everything toward the center of the earth, Humans were created from the earth, The desire for long life, Time and gravity, Time never ends even when someone dies time keeps moving, We die because of inherited sin and imperfection from our first parents, We measure time today by watches and clocks, Where do people go when they die? Back to the dust as God said, Where does humans go when they die | Comments Off

It is possible to be alone and not be lonely, or to be in a crowd and still feel very alone

Posted on December 31, 2011 by giggling

Around the Holiday Season, or toward the ending of another year more so than any other time a lot of people suffer from loneliness. Because this is the time when most families get together for good times. Being alone could have resulted from having lost loved ones during the year, death of a close marriage mate, child, or other close relative or friends. And others whom are single may still be alone because of not having met any suitable mate during the year.

Also these days a lot of people find themselves alone because of marital break-ups or divorce. So thinking about their situation and reflecting on those whom are having a good time with their families, while they are starting a new year by themselves can make someone feel sad and very lonely.

Loneliness does not result from just being alone

Loneliness is: a feeling of desolation, isolation, sadness of being disconnected from others, a feeling of bleakness, or solitary. The mistake some people make is thinking that being alone means they will be lonely. They think if they just have other people around, or just a companion then they will no longer suffer from loneliness. But do you know you can be surrounded by a crowd of people and still feel lonely, and feel content while being completely alone?

I learn from personal experience that bouts of loneliness has nothing to do with being alone, but it is the lack of emotional or spiritual connection you have with someone or others you are in company with. Not feeling lonely comes also from being busy, engaging in doing things you love, or doing good needs for others which can also include pets.

Many single women like myself often think that if we get married we will never be lonely or will be happier. I am learning everyday that is nothing but a myth. Even though I believe there are still a lot of happily married people, there is no guarantee that getting married will make anyone happier or less lonely, sometimes just the opposite results. I personally know friends of mine that are often depressed or are suffering from emotional problems even though they seem to be married to fine men.

I also know of a husband whom just walked out on his wife and two young sons because both of them were so unhappy. There are many married women that are lonely (and probably married men as well) while some single people are happy. There is even a website that is made up of lonely married women.

Some women stay with abusive men for fear of being alone.

Some women stay married to abusive men just because they are afraid of being alone, even though they are still very lonely. Just yesterday I was traveling on the train from Manhattan (New York City) and there was a fairly young Caucasian couple, probably in their late thirties or mid forties sitting next to me.

It was raining outside before people boarded the train, and he rest his wet umbrella on his lap, and she just calmly told him to hold it down on the floor instead so that it doesn’t get his pants wet.

My God, that man went into a rage against this women in a public transportation train full of people going home from rush hour. He told her to mind her f……. business, she is a bitch, and why she has to keep pushing him to do what she wants.

Every time she tried to reason with him that she was only showing concern for his pants not getting wet, he only continued to raise his voice in more cursing and name calling, telling her to shut the f……. up, until she just stopped and sat there, poor thing just staring with eyes full of loneliness into the air. (see previous post on danger of anger: Raging Moving Volcanos, Explosive Hot Tempers-Dangerous Health Hazards Leading to Premature Death)

My heart went out to that poor woman. I just wanted to whisper in her ear to get up, go home pack her belongings and leave this man. Okay, don’t accuse me of not minding my business, I was sitting right next to her, he was screaming so hard that not only myself could hear what he was saying but everyone else in that subway car was looking in their direction with shock on their faces. This is around the Holiday Times when people say they are happy.

I was afraid that he might hit her with his fist or something else. I felt sorry for the poor woman. If he talks to her like that in public I can imagine what goes on in their home alone. Finally she got up to leave after reaching their stop, while he had fallen asleep.

When she woke him to get off, again the man started screaming at her telling her she didn’t have to wake him he wasn’t asleep (and he was, I saw him sleeping myself) and why she just can’t mind her f…….. business. That would have been it for m e, I would have gotten on another train picked up my stuff and just find somewhere else to go. She has to be very lonely, but still she was willing to go home and live with a bum like that.

And there are so many women just like he, just in order to have a companion or a husband they put up with such abuse for fear they might be alone. They don’t understand that the words have different meanings: Being alone is not the same as being lonely, and one doesn’t always lead to the other.

Our modern world of technology has contributed to more loneliness than ever before.

Years ago people used to physically socialize more, go to church, talk to each other more face to face, and on the telephone. Times are much different now. Instead of face to face conversations, people are texting, emailing, tweeting and face-booking which does not convey much emotions or feelings. Loneliness result when people feel isolated, not connected, unloved or that they are nothing but an object.

The warmth and love that comes through another person’s voice with a telephone call, or even by means of a handwritten letter or card, is lost in a text message, email or tweet. People also express love and warmth through eye contact, sharing of ideas and thoughts, a handshake, a touch which is needed by all humans, even babies.

So even if someone is surrounded by people or family whom does not express warmth or love, or they feel no connection to they can be very lonely. On the other hand a person can be alone and talking on the phone with someone who is kind and loving and will feel that emotional and spiritual connection, and will not feel lonely. Or they can be engaging and busy in something that brings them content and fulfillment and doesn’t have time to think about being alone, and never feel lonely.

Watch what you allow your mind to dwell on

If you are alone, allowing your mind to dwell on negative thoughts will result in feelings of loneliness. For instance December 22 is my birthday, but it is also the date on which my Dad was buried after dying 5 days earlier. Three years later one of my younger brothers who was so close to my heart as both of us were Creative Artists, he specializing in Architecture and Interior Design, also died on the same date. (See previous post: Memoirs of Wonderful Beloved Father)

Every year if I allow myself to bring back memories of that day of seeing Dad laid out in that coffin and my brother death’s and how I cried so much, I start crying all over again. But if I switch my mind over to times when they were alive and the funny things they used to do and say then I can actually feel that love all over again and even crack up laughing on some of the funny things they did and said. Especially when talking on the phone with my sisters and we go down memory lane, it is more laughter than crying and it dispell all feelings of loneliness.

And this is one good way some single people or those that are alone can avoid feelings of loneliness. I read an experience of a young single (African American) woman and how she wards off the holiday blues. She said that the holidays are a mess of emotions for her.

Her father left her mother before she was born, so she never really had a father around. She was abused as a little girl growing up and spent many a Holiday alone in hospitals. To make matters worst her mother passed away on New Year’s Eve. But if she lets her mind dwell on all this and the picture of happy families sitting together and having a good time then she feels lonely. So each year she reflects on what will make her happy.

So one Holiday season she traveled to a South American Country for a vacation, made new friends, and ate the country’s main dish and had a ball in a different environment with new found friends and eating different foods. Her advice to other single lonely people is: You don’t have to travel abroad but you can create and make an experience your own, find a way to celebrate what really excites you. Or find whatever it is that soothes your soul.

Some moments of being alone can be good and healthy for you

If you are alone think on the positive things in your situation. Sometimes being alone can be a good thing. Creative people like myself get most of their ideas and do their best work while alone. Solitude gives you time to meditate on your life, read and get to know people in distant lands and countries.

Make good changes to better and improve yourself, go and travel when you like, and freedom to do a lot of different things that married people don’t have. Even married people need periods of solitude, they can’t be everywhere together, sometimes everybody needs private space. And they also need other friends besides each other.

Some young people get involved with the wrong people because they are so afraid of being alone. Or the pressure from society to have somebody, because if you don’t you must be gay or something else is wrong with you. They don’t even give themselves a chance to grow up and develop their personalities and character, and learn all they can about life before jumping into relationships or marriage, which often leads to break-ups later on and real loneliness.

Some ways to use the freedom of being alone, and avoid feeling lonely

Like the young woman mentioned above one way to avoid feelings of loneliness is to get involved in knowing people and making true friends. This is not just being in the midst of other people, but making connections with other people. That is one of my assets, I love people of all kinds, I don’t think people should just get to know people of their own so called race, or ethnicity. Prejudice people are often lonely and sad, and miss out on the richness of life.

We are the human race, make friends with all people, of all ages. Speak to older people as well as younger people. It is interesting to know how different people think, how they feel and what they do and what makes them happy. By really listening to others, they will reveal a lot about themselves and will keep you focus on the other person and not on self. (See previous post: It only cost one Sense)

If possible share in volunteer work to help other people or even animals. When you are busy in helping other people you don’t think about yourself and this eliminates feelings of loneliness.

If you are a single parent you can get closer to your children, doing fun and educational things with them, teaching them hobbies, or taking them on trips if you can afford it.

Some single people get more joy from serving at homeless shelters on Thanks Giving Day than actually sitting and eating themselves. Just to be able to share and make others happy will make you happy. If you are spiritually inclined go to a Bible based Congregation for spiritual instructions, that will indeed sooth your soul and make you happy. (This is one of the Beauties of Jesus Sermon when he said “Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need”).

Don’t keep waiting for the future to make you happy, get busy every day at dispelling loneliness

Live in the moment, don’t spend your life planning for the future, we don’t know every detail of what it will bring. Some single women or men think that they will be happy when they get married, they are waiting on the future to make them happy, when they find the “Right One” (But remember what I said above that many married people are lonely).

Or when they have children, and let good times and opportunities pass them by waiting for the future. Find ways each and every single day to keep busy, get involved in projects that you love and that will keep your mind on something else other than yourself. If Mr. or Ms. Right comes along they will be more attracted to someone who is happy than one who is sad. (see previous post on: What color, shape or size is really Beauty and Happy?)

So if you are alone on this New Year’s Eve and start feeling lonely because you allow your mind to go into a negative mood, just switch it over to good thoughts and get busy in doing something you love, call a close friend (don’t text) share the warmth of human voices over the phone or even listening to human voices on TV, can be helpful. Or plan on doing something else that soothes your soul.

For no matter what your situation is or was that resulted in you being alone, whether you are a man or woman, young or elderly, you don’t have to be lonely, you can still be happy, even happier than some that have company around them. Take this thought with you into the New Year and I am sure it will turn out to be a Happy New Year for you!

Written and illustrated by: Glenda Brill ©

Posted in Encouragement | Tagged a handwritten letter or card expresses love, A person can be in the company of others and still feel alone, Being alone and loneliness not always the same thing, Being in the midst of a crowd does not dispell loneliness, feeling of desolation, getting married does not mean that some will not be lonely anymore, Holiday Times some say they are happy, human voice on the telephone can convey warmthn and love, isolation, Keeping busy can dispell loneliness, loneliness is a feeling of bleakness, loneliness is also a sadness from being disconnected from others, many married women are lonely, My brother and myself were both creative artists, or solitary, or the death of a loved one, She traveled to a south american country and ate the main dish, Solitude gives you time to read and meditate and improve your life, some people are alone because of divorce, some women stay with abusive men just out of fear of being alone, taking focus of of self and doing good needs for others help us with loneliness, that leads to loneliness, When someone is alone and starts feeling sorry for themselves | 1 Comment

It’s the season to cran(k) up the berries, and have a Berry Berry Healthy and Happy Holidays and a Bright New Year!

Posted on December 17, 2011 by giggling

The cranberry season and the Holiday Season seem to always fall around the same time. The harvesting of fresh cranberries runs from October to December. It shouldn’t surprise us that the Holiday colors are Red and Green, the colors of the in season cranberry and accompanied by the well known bright red and green poinsettia plant, all add color and a festive atmosphere to a grand dinner party.

Please note my reference to the Holiday Season is general, since some people may view this time as a religious Season, and others just as a year end time where most people take time off of work to travel and get to together with family for dinner parties and good times. The original use of the word Holiday in English meant “Vacation” or time off of work. When the British said “I am going on Holiday”, they meant I will be on vacation, and this they did any time of the year.

Today most people take the Holiday Season usually from November to beginning of January as vacation time to have good times with family and friends, others to celebrate Christmas or other religious events. (See December 2010 previous post: Hey, what’s up with all these Christmas lights and decorations anyway!) So whether you are taking time off of work to be with family or to celebrate any other religious holiday, this post is about the many health benefits from the in season nutritious cranberry).

During this time in the latter part of November the Big American Thanksgiving Day also took place. This Holiday is known for families getting together to share in eating of which Stuffed Turkey accompanied by cranberry sauce has become the standard main dish. I think no thanksgiving meal would be complete without the traditional cranberry sauce along with stuffed turkey.

When did cranberry sauce became such a treat with stuffed turkey? It didn’t start with the original Pilgrims because there is no record that they even had turkey at their first thanksgiving meal. They ate meat and whatever fruits and vegetables that was in season at the time which included berries. (For a full description of what the original Pilgrims ate and how thanksgiving first began see previous post on: Where is that stuffed turkey going?).

It was the American Indians, no doubt after discovering the many health benefits of cranberries, that began the custom of eating cranberry sauce at the yearly Thanksgiving meal. This they made themselves by boiling ripe cranberries, mashing them until soft and adding cane sugar or maple syrup to it.

For one thing cranberry sauce is a good addition to any Big Feast where there is a lot of different varieties of food because it aids the stomach in digestion. So that could be one good reason it became a standard side dish during the Thanksgiving feast, at which time some people really overeat and need aid in digesting all that food.

That was only the start of the Holiday Season in the USA. Most other countries celebrate the holidays much the same way by having stuffed Turkey or Ham and lots of other goodies and drinks, and this starts in December and continues all the way to New Years day of the following year.

But besides aiding in the digestion of food, why is it a good idea to eat as much of these healthy berries either whole, as a sauce, drink or added to other foods, now that they are in season? What are some of the many benefits to our health by eating cranberries, alone or mixed with other wholegrains and vegetables?

I did some research on these small berries and was amazed to find out how beneficial they are to us, like most other fruits and vegetables. The following plaque outlines some of the many health benefits of cranberries, and why we should take advantage of them while in season and possible all year round.

The many health benefits of eating cranberries:

Some Healthy ways to eat and enjoy cranberries:

Start the day off right, make cranberries part of your breakfast meal, and brunch sandwiches:

Add cranberries to pancakes, hot oatmeal, wholegrain porridge, or cold cereals. Mix them also in with muffins, and breads. Or make cranberry jam or preserves, and spread over toasted wholegrain bread. Or use in different kinds of healthy sandwiches such as peanut butter and cranberry jam for the kids. Or stew some whole cranberries using natural cane sugar or honey, add some cinnamon to taste, stew until thick.

Place slices of ripe bananas on slightly toasted whole grain bread, topped with the stew cranberries. Or use cranberries in sandwiches made from left over sliced turkey, chicken, ham and cheese. Top with stew cranberries. Mmmm, these are just a few of some delicious healthy breakfast and brunch tips. Use your imagination and create some of your own.

Remember the same things can also be done with other berries such as blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and strawberries, or you can even mix them in all together with the cranberries for extra taste and nutrition.

Add cranberries to Stuffing and to other side dishes:

Plan on having another stuffed turkey, stuffed chicken or Ham for the coming Holidays? Instead of the regular bread stuffing mix why not make your own more healthy and colorful this year?

Use wholegrain macaroni, ziti or wholegrain bread and add raw cranberries to it (For my own healthy turkey stuffing see previous post I wrote last year on Thanksgiving: “Where is that stuffed turkey going? You can use that same recipe and add some fresh cranberries to it, or use your own and enhance it with cranberries besides the usual cranberry sauce.

Add cranberries to pies, tarts, puddings and fruit cakes:

Enhance the look and taste of pies, tarts, all kinds of puddings and cakes. For the recipe on my Sweet Potato with Pumpkin pudding, which is usually made in St. Maarten during the Holidays, I sometimes also add dried cranberries and other fruit and raisins to it which makes it richer tasting and healthier. (For recipe see post for January 2010: Would you like a little wine with that?) When making any other kind of pudding, Fruit cakes or pies, just use the same recipe ingredients and add cranberries for extra flavor and nutrition.

Add to Fruit salads, green salads and mixed nuts:

Since cranberries have a tart taste and not as sweet as most other fruits, they can be mixed with other sweet fruit in fruit salads, which will balance out their tartness with the sweet taste of the other fruits.

Pour some natural fruit juice over the salad for more added flavor. Or use cranberries to replace lemon or vinegar when dressing green salads. After tossing your green salads with olive oil, add a handful of raw cranberries for color and to enhance nutrition.

For a great in between meals snack, buy cans of mixed nuts or different kinds of raw nuts salted or unsalted (I love mine salted with natural sea salt) such as almonds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, cashews, peanuts (if not allergic to them), pecans, Brazil nuts, or any other nuts you can find, add some raw cranberries and raisins with them, and you will be giving your health and heart a very healthy treat.

Use cranberries in delicious healthy rich smoothies and drinks:

Cranberries can also be used to make delicious healthy smoothies and drinks. For smoothies it is best to use frozen fruit. Cranberries should be frozen fresh and will last for up to a full year or longer. This is a good way to keep them around all year since the harvesting season for fresh cranberries usually ends at the end of December. So now is the time to buy in bulk and freeze them in plastic bags.

Freeze enough that you will use one time in each plastic bag, so that when taken out of the freezer and thawed out they can be used immediately. For smoothies they should be used in blender before completely thawed out, and for other uses let them thaw completely.

For regular drinks, buy unsweetened cranberry juice, or blend fresh cranberries in a blender until liquid, mix with some cold water and natural sweetener.

For cocktails, add other fruit juices or wine, or a little rum or vodka, or use your imagination and make your own cranberry juice cocktails. Both cranberries and grapes are full of the antioxidant Resveratrol so combining them is a great health booster.

I am sure you can think of some other creative ways to use these delicious berries. And since they are not fresh in season all year round, it is best to freeze them now so that you will have them for use during the rest of the year. Or use some dried cranberries instead in some dishes.

What to do if some cranberry juice spills and stain your clothes or table cloth?

With all the new discoveries of the many health benefits of cranberries and the various suggestions above for using them, we should be thankful for this very nutritious fruit.

While they are in season now make them a part of your meal planning this season and all during the rest of the coming New Year. And you will be sure to have a Berry Berry Happy and Healthy Holiday Season and look forward to a Bright New Year!

Written and illustrated by: Glenda Brill ©

Posted in Healthy Tips, Peoples and Families | Tagged Add cranberries to breads, Cleaning solution Lestoil as a stain remover, cranberries can be added to stuffing for turkey and chicken, Cranberries can be frozen for p to one year or more, cranberries have many health benefits, For smoothies use frozen cranberries, household cleaner lestoil for removing stains from clothes, muffins and cakes, Remove cranberry juice or food stains with household cleaning solution, vegetables | Comments Off

Addiction to Bad News – how this creates more turmoil, unrest, indifference and tolerance in our world

Posted on November 18, 2011 by giggling

Today is no doubt the information age. We can access news twenty-four hours a day from anywhere in the world via TV, the Internet, Radio, Phone, Newspapers, and probably other ways I am not familiar with. But no matter how we get it doesn’t it seem like there is nothing but bad negative news everywhere?

The News Media can’t wait for something to happen before it is broadcast worldwide. The least little unrest happening somewhere and there is a host of news reporters ready to put it on the air, exaggerating the incident even more than it actually is. It becomes headline news in the newspapers, the internet and now all social media sites are also spreading negative news.

Bad News sells fast, it is like a drug that people seem to desire daily, even though it may disturb them emotionally and mentally.

This has resulted in our world now addicted to Bad News! It sells, and it is like a drug that people have to have everyday, either by reading their daily newspapers, checking t heir social sites, phones or all of the other new technology that brings us news today.

Some people can’t wait to read the dirt on other people, it is as if they get a high off of bad news about people they even don’t know. Whether these are politicians or celebrities, the tabloids will find something to write about and get these stories sold.

Negative events or news happening any where, is anxiously received by nearly everyone, and it becomes the general topic for conversation during the rest of the day. And what does this lead to? More bad news as others imitate what they hear or see happening in one place, adding to more turmoil and unrest in the world. Certain things that weren’t talked about years ago, are now openly discussed on TV or the internet.

For instance this new movement they call the “Occupy Wall Street Protesters” which they said in the beginning was meant to be a peaceful protest against economic greed started in New York City. Their original motive and discontent over the injustices with regard to greedy commercialism may have good intent in the beginning.

But it didn’t take long for the News Media to report on the group, resulting in more supporters being added to them, and has now become a mass of Protesters demonstrating in the streets.

Because the News constantly repeated and showed what was taking place by the Protesters, more supporters joined the group and it spread like wildfire all across the USA, Europe and even Asia. The result is violence and total chaos. I doubt whether most of the protesters here in the USA and worldwide even know exactly why they are protesting, and what they hope to accomplish.

Some people just become copycats of what they hear and see happening, spreading more bad news

It doesn’t seem like the protesters know what they really want to see happen. They are just like a bunch of copycats addicts drawn along by the air of protesting or rebellion, resulting in violence and confusion rather than any improvement in our economic situation.

As a matter of fact the movement is costing the City millions of dollars in money and is becoming a burden to other neighbors and businesses around the Park. They could use the time spent protesting in creating jobs for themselves. (See previous post: “How Some People Are Kicking The Economy To The Curb, Creating Work And Making Money“)

And everyday there is something on the news about their protest and the resulting violence giving them more exposure and probably getting more supporters worldwide. If the news had ceased broadcasting their existence maybe they might have stop their protesting, but as long as they get people hooked on their movement they will continue.

So really it is the media that is to blame for this addiction to bad news. It only takes the reporting of one incident and before long it is imitated by others as the news keeps repeating the same incident over and over, and showing pictures of what is happening.

Take other news that was reported on air several weeks ago. There was one woman that was attacked by a man in the Park, after that was aired on TV every week there was another report of other women being attacked by men and nobody could say whether it was the same man or not. Probably other men heard about the attack on TV and tried to do the same thing confusing the Police and scaring women from walking the street at night.

Then a week ago there was a report on the news about a local Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn being vandalized, some cars were burned and swastikas written on their property. These are all acts of hatred and violence that was practiced years ago. No doubt a hateful person decided to start this all over again and get it on the news. When I first saw the report I said to myself that this broadcasting is only giving other haters of the Jews the idea to do the same again.

And that is exactly what is happening. Just this afternoon again there are other incidents of hatred against the Jews being reported in other places in Brooklyn and one in Queens. Either the same person or some other copycats getting the idea from the first news report. Wouldn’t it have been better to not tell anything to the whole world on the TV news? Can’t some things be taken care of privately with the help of the police without reporting it and feeding the minds of other haters with ideas to do the same thing?

Bad News Addiction has also made some people become indifferent or tolerant of what they see going on

There is also the big sex scandal at Penn State about the abusing or sodomizing of young boys. Other sex abuse cases are also being revealed. After so many years only now all this is coming out, while some knew about the abuse and said nothing, including the young boys whom are now older.

Probably because they had become so indifferent or tolerant of what is bad they didn’t care to see the seriousness of what was happening and reported it.

And when the Coach was fired the students broke out in rioting more so over their coach being fired rather than over the wrong that was committed or out of sympathy for the children that were abused. I can understand why those students reacted that way.

Right and wrong, or evil and good is very confusing to most young people whom are sent so many distorting and contradictory views on sexuality. Immoral conduct is so prevalent and accepted by today’s society, especially homosexuality which is also “Sodomy.” that some young people don’t see anything wrong with it anymore, because this is what they are taught to believe.

(According to the Merriam Webster Collegiate dictionary “Sodomy” includes sex between people of the same sex, man with man, and woman with woman, but also all non-coital, especially anal and oral sex between those of the opposite sex, or man and woman).

Because if it is alright for a “Sodomite” or homosexual man to practice their lifestyle openly with a man, or a woman with a woman, and still be treated as normal and given jobs like everybody else, but a man that they claim committed sodomy with young boys is fired, it sets a hypocrital double standard as to what is right and what is wrong to most young people.

And this kind of sexual abuse of young boys has taken place among priest in the Catholic Churches before, and some of them were only transferred somewhere else rather than fired or put in prison.

Sin is Sin, wrong conduct is the same whether done by a man with a man or with a boy. In the eyes of God it is the same. It is the misuse of the sexual organs, whether done with the same sex or even with the opposite sex. This is what God condemns.

The cities of “Sodom and Gomorrah” were destroyed because of gross homosexuality or ”Sodomy”, and there was no distinction as to what their ages were, old or young, whether man with man, or with a boy, or woman with woman, the entire cities were wiped out, and the same will happen again. (according to the book of Revelation).

Interesting last Saturday night the late night show “Saturday Night Live”(SNL) gave an interesting skit about who is mainly behind all this debased news. One of the Actors dressed like the Devil, the “Prince of Darkness”, testified that he is the one in charge and he also owns the internet. It had me cracking up but whether they knew or believe this to be true it makes sense that there is a much more powerful Evil spirit person behind all the violence, sexual debased conduct, and hatred going on today.

As a matter of fact that is what the Bible Book of Revelation says that the “whole world is lying in the power of the Wicked One, Satan the Devil”. He is the Opposer and hater of God and the entire human race. And this whole reporting of bad news is his way of promoting wickedness and evil and getting people hooked and addicted to it, so he can keep them under his control, eventually leading to their distruction.

Anybody who says they don’t believe there is a powerful Evil Spirit called Satan or the Devil will also be denying the existence of God and Jesus Christ, because he himself was tempted by the Devil and testified on many occasions of his evil existence.

And they will never have peace of mind or a hope or understand why there is so much distress taking place. Eventually Jesus will put Satan and all his demons, out of existence when he starts to rule as Prince of Peace in His Kingdom over the earth. See previous posts: “People are basically all just people”, and “Hey, what’s up with all these Christmas lights and decorations anyway!”

Most of us desire a peaceful world, free from all this confusion and hatred, so if we are addicted to bad news, how can we free ourselves?

All of us as human beings have a natural desire to do and see good, because we are created in God’s image. So we have a conscience that lets us know what is right and what is wrong. And we know that this is not the way the world is supposed to be, so much unrest, hatred, rioting and confusion. We automatically know when something is not right, our god given conscience is disturbed when we read or hear bad news.

Some whom have let themselves be overtaken by evil may become indifferent or tolerant, but the majority of people would like to see improvement in human relationships and an end to all this injustice and turmoil in the world. Therefore some express sympathy and compassion for those being treated unjustly, and a loathing toward others whom are performing evil acts toward the innocent.

Some people are so disgusted and depressed by the constant flow of negative news they just don’t listen to the news anymore. Neither do they read most of the Tabloids out there with their lies, or derogatory information about different celebrities or World Leaders and whomever they feel like tearing down. And this is the best way to free ourselves from the addiction to bad news, to stop reading all the junk we see on the newsstands, or if we find ourselves becoming disturbed by some news on the air or read on the internet to just turn it off.

Breaking free from Bad News Addiction

Try to find other ways to find good things happening among people. It seems like there is nothing but bad happening, but that is not true, there are still a lot of good things being done by other people but they are never reported on in the news. So we have to seek them out, and develop a desire to learn more about the purpose of life and why we are here, and what the future holds. Get to know your Creator and what he has in store for our earth and our future.

Concentrate on what is good, learn to love and see good in all people, and all the good things around us, even the little things. (Read previous post on: “Little Things that can help us cope with mind disturbing Big Problems“ . See humor in everything and laugh often, if possible everyday. (See Post: Finding humor amidst hard times). Become the change we want to see in the world, a peaceful, loving, kind compassionate person. Listen to Good News instead.

Once we become involved in all the good things in life and live with hope for a better world, we will become free from addiction to bad news. It will no longer keep us living in fear, disturbing our mental and emotional health.

Even if we do listen to the news to hear or see what is going on, it will no longer consume our thoughts and conversations, and we will no longer be interested in all the crap happening around us knowing that it will eventually get better.

Written and illustrated by: Glenda Brill ©

Posted in Peoples and Families | Tagged According to the dictionary Sodomy includes all unnatural sexual behavior, Addiction to bad news, and women with other women, between men and men, Contraditionary views on sexuality is sent to young people, Getting to know the Creator and what he has in store for the future, Jesus Christ himself testified to the existence of Satan the Devil, Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary description of Sodomy, or with boys, Our information age is filled with a lot of negative news, our phones, politicians and celibrities in the tabloid news, Saturday Night Live had a skit on the Devil admitting he owns the internet and he is in charge, Seek to find Good News to read and good in people, So much hatred, Social Sites, Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of gross homosexual behavior, the Devil is referred to as the Prince of Darkness, The Devil is responsible for all the bads news reporting today, The Internet, The News Media is responsible for the spreading of negative news, The sex scandal taking place at Penn State, The student began rioting when the coach was fired, violence against the Jews, violence and unrest spread by bad news broadcasting, Wall Street Protesters causing complete chaos and violence, We all seem to be addicted to bad news coming to us through News Papers, with no hope, young children are growing up at a future that looks bleak to them | 11 Comments

When People Were Paid In Lumps Of Salt

Posted on October 24, 2011 by giggling

Have you ever wondered where the idea behind your salary came from? Today everyone who works for someone else receives a salary or pay check, money in the form of cash or a check accompanied with a statement of hours worked, and tax deductions.

The word salary begins with the word “sal”, which is the Spanish word for “Salt” and it came from the Latin word “Salarium”, which means salt. We are all familiar with the expressions “Making a living”, “Earning a livelihood”, “Putting bacon on the table”.

These are terms often use in connection with working for a salary or money, but in times past it literally means working for salt”. Without it no one could eat or live, just like today no one can live without food which contains salt or a Salary (income) symbolic of salt. With our difficult economy these days it is hard for many people to find work and earn a salary or money to live, while there are others whom have more than one job, working for several salaries, have so much and living in luxury.

It is not that there is not enough money or wealth in the world to go around it is just that is not justly distributed. Greed and the lack of love for neighbor or fellow humans are at the root of this inequality. For instance a person whom is unemployed finds it very difficult to get work because employers refuse to hire an unemployed person. They hire someone who already has a job instead.

Or young people coming out of school sometimes can’t find jobs because again Employers hire those that are experienced and already working. And Big Company Advertisers use Movie Stars, Singers, or famous Celebrities who already are rich to sell their products because this is how they will make more money instead of hiring a regular person who really needs a job to do the same thing that the already rich are doing! And people who are employees in some companies are paying more taxes than their Rich Employers. And there are other ways that the rich keep getting richer and the poor and the unemployed or have nots stay the same.

Big Business, Commercialism or Wall Street which represents the influential financial interest of the US economy (and now the entire world) are concerned with themselves and their own wealth and anyone they believe can make them even wealthier.

There is no concern for their fellowman, or the ordinary person trying to make a living, whom really needs money. That is the reason there is so much protest against economic injustice. (The new movement called Occupy Wall Street).

Greed is nothing new, it has been the driving force behind the world in the past all the way down to our day. And the problem of greed is not only among the Wealthy, but poor people can also be very greedy, wanting to be rich like the wealthy.

Wars and battles have been fought between nations to acquire the one thing that represented great wealth in their day which was Salt, today referred to as a Salary, wage or just plain money. So how valuable was salt? And what is the solution to economic injustice? Have to read the entire post all the way to the end to see the answer to these questions.

Salt was the main business trade in the world during the past centuries (before 1300 to 1800 or even later). Every country and continent that was trading was involved in the Salt Trade, which represented great wealth. Europe, China, South America, The Caribbean everyone was involved in trading this precious and most valuable commodity.

Salt played a great part in the politics after 1600. Every country in Europe and the then known world wanted Monopoly or exclusive control over salt, and fought over acquiring it. Salt was heavily taxed and the revenue from the Salt Trade funded Governments, kept banks in existence, paid for the various military, Protestants, Catholic, Polish and Roman armies involved in battling over this precious mineral.

Salt has played a prominent role in determining the power and location of the world’s great cities. Salt created and destroyed empires. Cities, States and Duchies along the salt roads exacted heavy duties and taxes for the salt passing through their territories.

Especially Venice and Rome whom owed some of its wealth and held supremacy over the Salt Trade used its profits to subsidize other trading activities. Venetian Traders delivering salt to the City were given bank credits, allowing them to buy other goods quickly. As one historian S.A. Adshead wrote: “Salt was the commodity among commodities …it greased the wheels of all the working parts and fueled its motor”.

It was used as currency, and Roman soldiers were paid in Salt, and no doubt many other government employees during those ages. Local sources of salt became important commercial centers, often wielding a good deal of political power.

In ancient times, salt (or the lack of it) could drastically affect the health and life of entire populations. Salt was necessary to live and to earn a living. There were no refrigeration systems or freezers like we have today. Animals, when slaughtered, cow milk, all food had to be eaten quickly otherwise it would rot and people wouldn’t have food to eat, or could starve to death. So salt was used to preserve food.

Especially for the large armies of soldiers, without salt they couldn’t make bacon and salt beef, and meat could not be cured, of which large armies subsisted on. They needed food and salt was what kept food fresh from week to week. Salt was often as important for food storage as it was as a direct nutrient.

Beef, and pork were salted and dried as joints, hams, and sausages. Butter was salted, even fish whether freshwater or from the sea was also salted and dried. Salt was also used in medicine, as a disinfectant for cleaning wounds, and for different digestive disorders.

If any of you have ever seen a beautiful piece of crystal, then you have an idea of how a piece of crystallized salt looks. Several years ago when I was visiting some of my family in Rotterdam, the Netherlands (Holland), I had a chance to visit the Zout Museum. Zout is the Dutch word for salt.

In taking a tour of the museum I was in awe at the breath taking beautiful display of salt objects or sculptures, carved in all forms and shapes, it was as if I was looking at the most expensive crystal on earth. I can imagine if someone was paid with a piece of this expensive salt crystal it no doubt had a great value attached to it, probably amounting to several thousands of dollars a piece depending on its size and weight.

It brought back memories also of the great salt pond that existed on the island of St. Maarten Dutch Caribbean, where I was born and grew up. The small town of Phillipsburg is situated between Great Bay, the ocean and the then still active great Salt pond.

A person could easily walk on Front Street and go through a small alley and be on the beach of Great Bay, or walk on Back Street and go down another small alley in the opposite direction and was on the shore of the great Salt Pond.

Along the entire shore of the pond were chunks of hardened white sculptured salt, like gleaming crystal in the sun. As a young girl I always tried to break pieces off to play with not then knowing the history or the value of this great commodity. Can you imagine I was holding in my hands thousands of dollars worth of salt by then that had lost its value as currency. History has it that the Dutch and French Traders whom came to the island actually came to possess this salt and take it back to Europe to trade.

An island loaded with Salt meant great wealth for the Dutch and French Traders. They wanted to own the island so they made an agreement to share it. According to history two government officials one French and one Dutch, decided to walk in opposite directions around the island and meet each other again on the spot where they started walking.

That spot would be the dividing line between the Dutch and French Parts. Fortunately the Dutch man covered the best part of the island with the great salt pond, and became the most prosperous part of St. Maarten Dutch Caribbean.

Today there is a Border between French and Dutch St. Maarten. Holland still owns the Dutch part and France the French part, both nationalities have gotten along very well together and you can easily drive from Dutch St. Maarten into French St. Martin being welcomed by the sign at the border letting you know which side you are crossing into.

The only difference is the governments and some customs, and you will probably hear a lot more French being spoken on French St. Martin than Dutch on Dutch St. Maarten. (I was born on French St. Martin, but grew up on the Dutch Side, being of dual nationality, my father was from the Dutch side and my mother from the French side of the island).

Today also the Great Salt Pond has been filled up and expanded to make the town of Philipsburg larger with new homes and businesses now in its place. A small potion of the salt pond still exist, but the beauty of the crystal salt on the shore of the pond that existed when I was a little girl I don’t think this smaller potion still produces any salt.

I often wondered when I was touring the Zout (Salt) Museum in Europe which one of those beautiful crystal salt sculptures actually came from salt the Dutch took from St. Maarten. I am sorry I didn’t take any pictures of these sculptures so I can show them here on the blog, or also that I didn’t save any of the real salt I used to break off and play with from the great Salt pond. Didn’t know then how much value and what a necessity salt was in the past. I wish now I had saved a piece as memory.

Real salt that had such great worth as a payment, has lost its value as currency or salary for a persons worth as it did in the past. Its value is now reduced to mere paper backed by the Federal Reserve Bank. The idea behind today’s salaries, or wages is the same which is an employers estimation of an employees worth, but the value is far less than original salt.

Most people don’t get the kind of salaries they are worth or receive no salary at all due to being unemployed, because of greed as stated in the beginning. But salt is still a life saving and valuable commodity today and is used everyday aiding in the preservation of life and of food.

Salt is essential to life and good health. It is used for seasoning food and also as it was in the past as a preservative for many foods. Bacon, ham, beef, salt or smoked fish, sausages and others are still very common today as it was in the past.

Without salt we cannot live since human blood itself is made up of 0.9% salt (sodium chloride). Salt maintains the electrolyte balance inside and outside of cells, keeping the right balance of fluids in the body.

It transmits nerve impulses and influences the contraction and relaxation of muscles, and regulates blood volume and blood pressure. But moderation is necessary when using salt like anything else.

No one should increase their salt intake, or go on a salt restricted diet without the advice or consent of a Physician, since either can be dangerous. Especially completely eliminating all salt from the body can be fatal. In older people it often leads to heart failure and heart attacks. There are also Salt mineral baths or bath salts to help with muscle pains and for relaxation.

Doctors recognize salt’s value and functions in the human body, necessary for good health and life. Many times saline solutions are used in hospital emergency or dietary therapy to treat or prevent health threats, such as diarrhea and heart failure.

Thousands of Jehovah’s Witnesses around the world when under-going all kinds of mayor surgery have been pioneers in using “Saline IV Solutions” instead of blood transfusions to build blood volume in obedience to God’s command to abstain from blood. They lived without any complications that usually take place from blood transfusions. Showing again that Salt is comparative to preserving and of great value to Life.

Salt can be used for so many different ailments and household problems such as sealing cracks, making ice cream freeze, removing rust, removing spots on clothes, treating sore throats, sprains, and so many other good uses. One book claims that there are 14,000 different uses for salt! Unbelievable isn’t it?

Those words were spoken by Jesus Christ who lived on earth during the Roman Empire when Salt was still a great commodity. Since we learn how valuable and precious salt (today’s salary) was we can understand what he meant when he said those words. He was familiar with its value and the greed behind its trading. And remember again that poor people can also be guilty of greed, so he was giving advice that apply to both the rich and the poor.

The Romans of his day were also unjustly oppressing the people. But instead of telling his disciples to get involve in this greedy salt trade, or to rebel against those that were profiting from it, he told them that they should be the salt of the earth, and to have salt in themselves.

Remember how valuable, preservative and precious salt was and still is? Salt is a cleanser, healer, preserver and sustainer of life. So he was telling them that they should be people like that, of high moral character, great value and worth, and they need to be teachers and examples and to help preserve the world around them from corruption, injustice, and moral decay. Really that it is not what a person has materially that gives him value and makes him a better person. But it was the spiritual salt within them that would preserve their lives forever.

If everyone develops this figurative or spiritual salt in themselves, it would wipe out greed, selfishness and all injustice. Love of God and neighbor, being concerned with the welfare of our fellowman should be the motivating force behind everything that we do. When we become better caring people, we create a better just and peaceful world.

On the contrary many rich traders or business owners have allowed greed to let them become loveless, selfish, dishonest, and practices different kinds of injustice just to hold on to wealth. Some rich people also suffer from feelings of worthlessness, and are spiritually dead, and resort to all kinds of greedy ways to exploit people.

Getting new laws against economic injustice will help to a certain degree. Protesting helps those in charge to see that people want justice, want to be treated fairly. But laws cannot change people’s heart, only love of God and neighbor can. So there will still be greedy people with their selfish dealings inspite of Political laws.

Having salt in themselves, or becoming Salt of the Earth represented by love for God and neighbor, is what matters and is the key to peace, happiness, and the end to all injustice, including unfair economic dealings.

If everyone develops this kind of salt in themselves, especially businesses whom can offer people employment, hiring those that really need a job rather than those who already have one, this will create an even distribution of wealth.

This is what love of neighbor includes, all the problems we now have will eventually go away, because everyone will be looking out for each other, recognizing that all humans are equal and in need of equal justice and the opportunity to live. Everyone has a right to all the resources and wealth of this earth. (See post: “How some people are kicking the economy to the curb, creating work and making money“).

So peace and equality on earth will come when everyone love their neighbor as themselves, (which is the same as loving God, since the two go together) Salt of the earth, highly valuable moral people having great worth, will preserve us forever on earth!

Written and Illustrated by: Glenda Brill ©

Posted in Dealing with Financial Hard Times, Peoples and Families | Tagged All humans are equal and deserve equal share in the earth's wealth, American express black card is back, and for many household uses, and for salting food, and people can easily drive from one part into the other without any problems, Big Business, Commercialism or Wall Street are concerned with keeping all wealth to themselves, Completely eliminating salt from your diet can be fatal, Consult a physician before going on any Salt addition or restrictive diet, Developing Salt in ourselves means loving God and neighbor becoming high moral people looking out for the good of our fellowman, Dutch St. Maarten and French St. Martin are divided only by a Border, economic equality will come when greed is replaced by love of neighbor, Entire nations fought over salt in the past, for sprains, greedy and selfish developing salt in ourselves will clean out these bad qualities, Having spiritual Salt in ourself is what will preserve us alive forever, Jehovah's Witnesses use Saline IV Solution in place of blood transfusions to add blood volume, muscle pains, Our world is corrupt, Protesters referred to the Occupied Wall Street Movement is speaking out against economic injustice, Saline IV Solution is much safer and reliable as a blood expander than blood transfusions which can create other complications, Salt can also be used in place of a blood transfusion, Salt is also used as medicine, Salt is mostly used for seasoning, Salt is used to cleanse wounds, Salt was connected to great wealth, Salt was used as payment in times past, The word salary came from the latin word Salarium which means Salt, the word salary comes from the word salarium which means salt | 3 Comments

Clutter, Confusion, Crankiness – Creepy Cousins Silently Invading Our Homes, Space, Controlling Our Minds And Eating Up Time.

Posted on September 9, 2010 by giggling

The Threecees family. They seem to be taking up residence everywhere. Confusion and Clutter are twins, and they always have Crankiness following them around. Yeah, I am sure they secretly moved in with you to. In our fast paced world with ever increasing new products, gadgets, and information overload, Clutter and Confusion are creeping into and taking over almost every space they can find a resting place. Then Crankiness shows up making the situation even worst.

And doesn’t it seem like time is moving faster these days? But a day still has twenty four hours, and a year twelve (12) months as it always was. So is time really moving faster or are we moving slower because of being so weighed down by clutter (so many things)? All this disorganization is taking up so much of our time that it is hard to keep up with it. This in turn makes us cranky and moody. It is like trying to run while carrying heavy loads on our shoulders.

So we need to get organized to throw Clutter and Confusion out of our lives, and save time. It is easier to get disorganize or to accumulate clutter than keeping things in its place and orderly. For that is what the word really means, to have a well arranged place, or time for everything and putting them in its place and sticking to it.

Clutter on the other hand means a place that is crowded or full of confusion, fill with scattered or disordered things that impede movement or reduce effectiveness. This can affect a person’s mood, temper and emotions. Being organized or disorganized or living surrounded by clutter affect us mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Let us see how it does so by examining each of these separately:

How clutter affects us:

I know with myself if I walk into a room with a lot of clutter, whether it is clothes thrown all around, to much furniture in the room, things on the floor, piles of paper or books on a desk or table, or even dirty dishes in a kitchen sink it upsets and confuses me so much where I feel like I am going insane. I get cranky and I also feel weighed down as if I am carrying a heavy load. I cannot stand clutter, because it does affect us mentally.

I read also that mentally ill people who usually live in cluttered or disorganized places, when removed from such and put into a calm, clean and organized arrangement their mental health improves. So unlike disorganization which is distracting, being organized and having everything in its place is attractive, it serves as good therapy for our minds. It rids us of confusion, we can think clearer, have more time, become more focused, and in control of what we are doing.

Were you ever ready to go out and forgotten where you put your keys or something you need at the moment? And spend practically the whole day frantically searching all over trying to find them? In the meantime your heart is beating faster, you’re under stress, you are yelling at everybody who gets in your way, you are getting a headache, you are confused and angry because you are going to be late, (time wasted) and in the meantime while you are running around trying to find those items, some things fell on the floor and you end up tripping and falling right over them. Oh Lord!

Now if those keys or other item were put in a special place everyday, so you know exactly where they are, it could have saved you all that frustration, stress, wasted time, and probably from hurting yourself physically by fallen over something.

Clutter does indeed affect our movement and is a real time waster. Thousands of people get hurt or die from clutter related accidents each year. Being organized is good medicine for us physically, it helps avoid unnecessary falls, stress, wasted time looking for something, and keeps us calm which is good for our heart and general health.

As mentioned above, clutter makes me depressed and angry. So it also affects us emotionally. I am sure other people feel the same way. We see this all the time in traffic jams which is also a sort of traffic clutter or confusion. People get angry and start shouting and yelling because time is being wasted. Most mentally disturbed people are also very angry all the time they shout and curse at everybody for no reason. Mentally ill or cranky people when taken out of a cluttered or disorganized environment, usually gets better, their mood and personality changes.

So if you know someone that is always angry most often than not they are living in a cluttered or disoriented place and it is affecting them emotionally. Or if you sometimes ever feel down or find yourself getting angry at everything, look around and see whether you are starting to accumulate clutter either in your office or home. Once you clear it up, you will calm down, and feel much better. Our emotions are affected by our organized or disorganized lifestyles.

Our spirit has to do with our inner self, that part of us created in God’s image that makes us who we are. It is the immaterial intelligent of a person, our character or disposition. Our feelings, qualities, mood, our breath are all spirit. Clutter or disorganization disturbs our spirit, and makes us re act in a negative way. We feel relief by just the opposite of disorganization or confusion.

Have you ever felt disturbed in your spirit and went out and just looked up at the sky on a clear day? Do we see any clutter in the sky? The mere beauty of an uncluttered universe and vast space calms our spirit down. Scientists who study the universe have found that there is such organization and serenity in space that it is hard to believe it could have happen by chance. Everything is well arranged and orderly, and brings peace of mind rather than disturbance. God sets the example in being organized, it is for our good.

We heard the saying less is more. A couple of years ago many Graphic Designers started using this idea of creating less items or clutter on a page, and adding more space. The results were beautiful. You can see this even today in some magazines, a lot of space, and just one small item on a page.

I believe the idea came from studying the universe, there is tremendous beauty in space, it itself is a form of design. Everything is organized, and no clutter or confusion to be found there. And when we bring this into our lives, our homes, or offices, it calms our spirit and affects our entire lives for the better.

We can control clutter and confusion in our lives. It takes constant effort not to let things get out of place. The fact that it has such a negative effect on us shows that it is not natural to be disorganized, it is all a result of the times we are living in, the accumulation of so many, sometimes unnecessary things, and the habits we form, sometimes starting from very young.

Even children can be taught how to be organized at home, and this will carry over into adult life. And once we develop the habit of being orderly it will be like a heavy burden being lifted from our shoulders. In my next post I will write about specific ways we can start to get into the habit of being organized and not letting clutter make us cranky.

Written and illustrated by: Glenda Brill ©

Posted in Encouragement | Tagged A orderly home brings peace of mind, Children also can be taught to be organized, Clutter affects us mentally, Clutter and confusion can make us angry, Clutter and Confusion is invading our homes and space, Clutter and confusion robs us of valuable time, Clutter and Confusions leads to Crankiness, Clutter is being disorganized, Designers use less items on a page reducing clutter, emotionally and spiritually, mentally ill people gets better when taken out of clutt, our character and disposition are all spirit, Our spirit is that inner part of our self, physically, products and information adds clutter, So many gadgets, The Universe is uncluttered and beautiful, There is no clutter in the sky, Traffic Jams are really a form of traffic Clutter, We waste a lot of time because of clutter and confusion | 71 Comments

Everything In Its Place, And No Place For Some Things.

Posted on September 28, 2010 by giggling

In my last post I mentioned how being disorganized leads to Clutter, Confusion and eventually Crankiness. And this affects us in many diverse ways. (See post: Clutter, Confusion, Crankiness-Creepy Cousins…) So then in order to rid ourselves of these bad traits we need to get organized. This is easier said than done, since in our fast paced busy world it is very easy to get disorganized, and accumulate clutter as people are always running to go somewhere, especially in the big cities. But if we make it a habit to put things in its place right away, then just as bad habits are hard to break so do good habits.

We have to constantly ask ourselves: Do I really need this? And where can I put it so it really looks like it belongs in this place? Or where can I put this so I can find it later? Because if you don’t need it and it doesn’t fit in any place, or you can’t find it later, then you know that is the start of clutter. So before it gets out of hand, get organized quickly. Let us start first with our office or place of work.

Get Organize in your place of work

If you are accumulating a lot of junk in your office or place of work why not start soon to get rid of it. First arrange a weekend or one day of each week to do so. Start first with your desk by taking everything off. Get two separate empty cartons or boxes, and label them: Things that need a place, and no place for some things.

After you have put everything in the right carton, then go back and start making folders for those things that need a place. Some may already have a folder, then put them back into that folder. For others make new folders and label according to urgency or importance.

For instance for some things that need to get done first, just label that folder ”Urgent” “Must read next”, “Interesting News Articles”, “Bills”etc. Put these folders back in the right carton for “Things that need a place”. Anything else that is no longer needed go in the carton “No place for some things”. These folders can be of different colors making it easier to remember. For instance unread magazines in the Yellow Folder, Bills in the Red Folder, Articles in the Green Folder, Letters in the Blue Folder, etc.

Keep a filing cabinet or storage Box for everything, according to alphabet. Then after you have made and labeled all your folders from the Carton that says “Things that need a place” take this over to the filing cabinet and file the folders in alphabetical order.

Most offices have an Administrative Assistant that does all this for you, but if you are a small office or a home office you may have to do this yourself.

Creating a calmer, less stressful work environment.

From the other carton or box that documents were put in for “No Place for some things”, shred these, or tear very well and put in the garbage. When you need to take something out of the filing cabinet, return when finished using right away rather than let them accumulate on your desk again. If no longer needed, shred as soon as possible don’t let anything lying around again causing clutter. Pens, Pencils, Paperclips, Tapes and other office necessities keep in separate small containers on your desk.

If we make this a habit of putting things in their place and returning soon after use, and getting rid of unnecessary things, we will avoid clutter and disorganization. We will create a calmer, less stressful work environment, and have more time to concentrate on each task as needed.

The same principle can be used for any other work environment. There should be a place for tools, equipment, sewing materials, fabrics, etc. No matter what kind of work we do everyday, we can avoid clutter and disorganization by creating a place for everything and no place for some things by throwing out anything that is useless and could lead to confusion and crankiness.

Get organized at home.

Our home is where it is the most difficult to keep organized all the time. Whether we live in a large house or just one room there never seem to be enough room to keep everything. And some people try to keep organized by throwing anything that they are not using or want to hold on to into a closet. Some others if they have one the back of their garage, their basement or some other place in their homes.

But it is still clutter, not visible right away, but what happens when you need to find something amidst all the junk you throw in that closet, the garage or basement? It still leads to confusion and becoming cranky because you can’t find what you are looking for from all the clutter that you throw in there.

Start first with making a regular place to hang your keys once inside your home. This makes it easier to find them than if you usually throw them down anywhere on a table and can’t remember where they are when in a hurry to leave. Place a small hook somewhere out of sight where you can hang them, or place in your own hidden spot, but it should always be the same place making it easier to find and not lose.

Next work on emptying everything from your Closets, the g arag e or basement if these are the places where you keep all your junk. You can do the same as suggested above with organizing things that you need to keep and others that should be thrown out. I usually make three bags: One for Clothes, Shoes and Handbags. One is for those that I will keep, the second bag is to give to Charity or to people I know that can use them.

And the third is to throw out if there are things that no longer fit, or can be used by anyone, then they should be thrown out, there is no place for somethings. In some areas throughout New York City there are large Containers placed outside Apartment Complexes to put old clothes and other items. These no doubt is recycle or giving to those in need. So rather than throw some things in the garbage, I put them in these containers for recycling.

If you have the place for it, you can even organize a garage sale, and sell some of your unwanted items

Or if you have the place for it, you can even organize a garage sale, and sell some of your unwanted items. Smaller items that you plan on keeping can be put in small boxes and neatly stack at the back of your garage, closet or basement floor.

Clothes should be carefully hanged on hangers and arranged so that it is easy to find. For instance all blouses should be hanged next to each other, dresses with each other, pants etc. I put all heavy Winter Coats in a separate Closet since they take up more room. So when looking for something you know exactly where to find it. Shoes I put in shoe pockets that are hanged on the inside of my closet doors. This makes them very visible and easy to select what I will wear when I need to.

For other items like towels, underwear, socks etc. Most closets have top area shelves for storing folded towels and other items of clothing that doesn’t need to be hang. If we have dressers with drawers, I keep a drawer for each small separate item. One for Underwear, another for Socks, or Panty-hoses (when I do wear them occasionally), that are wrapped together with the matching one.

For those of us that get a lot of mail each day especially magazines and catalogs, it is impossible to read them right away, so most of the time we just put them on our table or somewhere until we can find the time to go through each and read. But if we don’t get to them at least once a week, they will accumulate and cause clutter.

For mail order catalogs I love to go through each and tear the pages out of things I would love to order, and throw the catalog out. The same I do with Fashion Magazines tear the pages of fashions I love, and throw the rest out. Just keep what you want from those catalogs and magazines along with the order forms, keep these in a folder labeled: “Order Soon”. For fashions I use as reference I call “New Fashion Trends”. And keep these folders in your home office filing cabinet. Don’t leave any unnecessary items causing clutter on your kitchen or dining room tables, or floor wherever you put your stuff.

Some pieces of furniture can be given away or rearranged to make a room look less crowded.

The same can be said with furniture, if it is too much in a room and makes it uncomfortable to move around or looks disorderly, then get rid of some pieces. Or some times they can be re–arranged so that the room looks more spacious and not so crowded. Keeping other items such as clothes, dirty dishes or other stuff off of furniture also makes a room look more orderly and inviting. Remember everything in its place, if that is not the place for some things then take it away.

Do the same with our Bedrooms and Kitchens. Making your bed when not in it and keeping clothes and other items off, including the floor, makes the room look clean and neat. Don’t forget our kitchens where most of us spend a lot of time. Keep dirty dishes off the table, out of the sink or out of sight by washing right after eating and putting them in their place. Sweep the floors of any fallen debris, organizing kitchen cupboards, so it is easier to find what we need. Pots and Pans should be kept together, and so should our dishes and eating utensils.

Give children a good reason for doing something, and they will!

And if there are young children in the home they can be taught how to be organized. Teach them not to leave their toys hanging around on the floor when not using them. Create Toy Boxes, or Bins, or under the bed storage places for them to put everything back in its right place instead of being sloppy.

Give a child a good reason for doing something and they will. When I worked as a temporary Nanny years ago, I used to tell the kids to pick up their toys off of the floor after playing so that their Mommy, Daddy and even their Nanny will not trip and fall over them and get killed. That really got them busy each day after playing, they sure didn’t want to lose their Caretakers, the people that love them.

With all these suggestions I am not saying we should be Fanatical Neat Freaks, making it uncomfortable for anyone to live and work, but just be careful not to leave things get out of place and start accumulating Clutter and Confusion. I know it is hard to stay organized, since technology is growing so fast and it seems like every month there is something new being advertised we just got to get.

Also there are so many different kinds of clothing items, shoes, handbags, gadgets, products of every kind for every reasons, you name it, our century got more stuff than any others before us, and our time is being eating up by all these. And before long our lives are overtaken by so many things weighing us down, and keeping us back. From the previous post on clutter, where I discussed how being a victim of Clutter and Confusion invading our homes, can make you feel angry or cranky all the time, then try to get organized as soon as possible.

To be organized is so refreshing. It is like unburdening ourselves of extra weight and gives us more energy.

You will feel the difference when you are free of all Clutter and Confusion, It is good for us mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. (See previous post: Clutter, Confusion, Crankiness-Creepy Cousins..)

To walk into an orderly, well arranged or organized home or office, where everything is in its place, is so refreshing, you feel FREE. It is like unburdening ourselves of extra weight, gives us more energy and time to take care of whatever is necessary.

Being Organized have to become a regular habit, because it doesn’t take long before Clutter, Confusion, and Crankiness will start poking their heads around again. And the only way we can get rid of them for good is to put everything in its place, and get rid of some things that have no place.

Written and illustrated by: Glenda Brill ©

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What Look, Color, Shape or Size is really Beauty and Happy?

Posted on October 12, 2010 by giggling

You would think that those two “Beauty and Happy” would be close companions. But that is not always the case at all. Today there is so much emphasis on being beautiful and this would contribute to being happy. The Beauty supply industry is one of the biggest Businesses in the USA or the world. There are so many beauty products on the market today all promising to make women look more beautiful and younger than ever. (And even men).

Magazine Stands are packed with hundreds of self improvement magazines with advice of every kind for making women look more physically attractive and appealing. Everything from one’s diet, suggestions for the latest in haircare, skincare with dozens of new make-up ideas to try each month, nails, fashions, you name it you can find about anything now that has been invented or discovered to make women and even men more attractive and beautiful.

Young girls look up to the Models and Stars as roles to follow and imitate. They want to acquire their looks and be skinny like them, because then they would also be beautiful and happy. All the emphasis is on physical appeal, outward beauty, and some people think this would be closely associated with happiness which is not a physical quality at all.

Beauty differs from country to country

But what is considered beautiful? Most often we describe someone as beautiful who is aesthetic pleasing to the senses, who stir our emotions. Someone who is visually pleasant to look at with good facial features and bodily proportions, or attractive. But as the saying goes: “Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder” because what one person may see as beautiful, someone else doesn’t. And being beautiful differs from country to country.

In the USA beautiful women has always been depicted as Caucasian (fair skinned white women), skinny, mostly with blond hair, flat behinds and enlarged breast. Isn’t that what the beauty magazines and Hollywood has always portrayed? Black women were looked down on as being less attractive, the darker their skin, the curvier their bodies, the thicker their lips or the kinkier their hair, that was considered ugly.

So for years they had to try to look white in order to get accepted in among the “beautiful people”. Those with lighter skin and more Caucasian features had a better chance to be counted in among them.

But in some other countries like Africa, black women with full figure curvy bodies, and ebony skin are considered to be beautiful. So while in the USA some were trying to get lighter and thinner to look like their skinny white counterparts on the cover of the fashion magazines, in some other countries the plumper they were, the more natural they remain, the more attractive they became and were appreciated by the opposite sex.

Even in some parts of Europe black women or women of color are treated as beautiful. In Holland, France, Germany, England and some other countries there are a lot of African and Caribbean immigrants who inter mingle very freely with white Europeans. But in other parts such as Eastern Europe the population is mainly caucasian.

Years ago back in the early 1990′s when I was in Poland (Eastern Europe) for a special convention, while walking on the streets of Warsaw, one of the cities in Poland, drivers stopped their cars in mid traffic with people poking their heads out to look at me. I was cracking up because it was so funny to see this, and this probably made them more curious, possible wondering who is this? Cleopatra reborn? Some places they wanted to pose with me so others can take a picture of them with me.

I was treated like a celebrity because these people had never before seen a woman of color in real life especially the older people and even most of the younger children. And they admired this as beautiful, a view that is definitely different than America.

But today even in America views on what is beautiful is changing gradually. Not completely but a lot better than years ago. Some white women are now admiring and imitating some of Black Women’s assets that they looked down on years ago. Yes, the full lips, curvy full buttocks, and deep glowing tan skins.

Within the last years tanning salons have increased all over the States, and what about all the new bronzing make-ups to make white skin look darker, and the different kinds of tanning lotions on the market today? There are also many new lip plumping lipsticks, fillers and lip injections for women with thin lips than ever before.(see site for beauty supplies for all women: http://www.youravon.com/glendabeautycave) And who were the new inventions for padding the buttocks designed for? Not for women of color!

Looking through the latest Fashion Magazines there are so many white models now with full thick lips, and tanned skin, I have to ask myself sometimes is this a light skin black women or is she white? With those full lips and that deep glowing tanned skin? Interesting, those were the very things that identify Black women years ago and kept them in an inferior non beautiful category.

Beauty more than just physical appeal

Recently some Stars were asked what they consider beautiful and some said Confidence, others Honesty, others said being able to get along well with other people. That is interesting because nobody said physical attractiveness but were describing inward qualities. It shows that beauty is more than just outward looks, and is not always connected to being happy.

And this is why Gabourey Sidibe has been an example to those who question what beautiful and happiness really is. There was a lot of talk and comments about this young African American Woman who became a Star and Oscar Nominee after starring in the Movie Precious after she was featured on the cover of Elle Magazine.

On that cover she appeared much lighter than she usually looks in photos. Also her body was half covered up so as not to reveal her full figure. Based on what people normally called beautiful in the USA, this young woman would not be considered in that category. She is dark skinned, extremely overweight, out of shape not that very attractive according to the principles of physical appeal that is known as beautiful.

So some people felt that her skin was retouched by Elle Magazine to make her look lighter. (more like the beautiful people). While the other white Stars (lMegan Fox among them) were shot standing up with their full figures showing, Gabourey Sidibe body was cut off and half covered so as not to reveal her full figure.

But Elle Magazine denied doing any lightening of her skin or covering up. But it is obvious that they did use a lot of lighter make up and special lighting to get her shots that light, because that is the way the magazines covers have always been.

Except for Ebony, Essence, and Jet magazines (African American magazines) you don’t see to many very dark skinned women on the other magazine covers! And ofcourse it wouldn’t portray a nice image for their magazine to have an overweight full figure black woman on their 25^th Anniversary Issue. So the way her picture was taken and her body hidden was well done, it makes her look very appealing and people can concentrate on her face rather than her size.

But inspite of any controversy Gabourey has a confidence and happiness that is sometimes missing from her Caucasian fellow actors. She doesn’t seem to be overly concerned about her looks, skin color or weight, or what anyone may say about her. She has a nice personality, smiles a lot, appreciates her present life, get along well with others, and very confident about herself and future roles. Now that is what I called a Beautiful and Happy person!

The inner qualities that come from within, this is what really makes a person whom they are, not what they look like.

These are qualities that come from within, this is the real person, not what they look like. Even though I haven’t read that article in Elle magazine yet, I think this is why they were using her as an example for others like her whom are afraid to try anything because of being so conscious of their weight and looks.

I am sure she is aware that her health can be endangered because of being overweight, and maybe she is secretly trying to lose the excess pounds, but in the meantime she is happy and confident about her life, she is not ashamed or afraid to be stared at because of her size and looks.

While on the other hand there are thousands of beautiful (physically appealing) Caucasian (white) women with beautiful skins and figures that are unhappy.This is inspite of all the new make-ups, skin and body enhancements, the physical improvements on the market today. A person can be very attractive outwardly, and still be very selfish, unkind, full of evil, jealousy, hatred, sadness and be very unhappy. (This can also be said of handsome men).

These are ugly qualities, and eventually after getting to know a person like that their ugly qualities usually overshadow the outward looks and you see a non-attractive person rather than a beautiful person.

Isn’t this the case when a man meets a woman for the first time? In the beginning it was her physical beauty that attracted him, but as he gets to know her the inward person comes to light, and this is what people fall in love with, or rejects depending on what is revealed. The inner person, which makes up the whole person, this is what determines a person’s beauty and happiness, not only their external appearance.

True Inner Beauty unites people and contributes to their happiness

Even though we should be concerned about how we look and do our best to look good, but wouldn’t it be a waste of time to spend so much on just the outward appearance, but do nothing on improving our inner selves? Developing truly beautiful qualities makes us better people, more enjoyable to be around, gives us more peace and yes, makes us happier people. This applies to both men and women.

It is the inner person that attracts true friends, keeps marriages or relationships together. Ugly qualities separates people, no matter how beautiful they are externally, nobody wants to be around unhappy, loveless, selfish, sad or evil people. While true inner or spiritual beauty unites people and contributes to others happiness. And this has nothing to do with the outward appearance. A person can be outwardly unattractive, but inward they can be one of the most beautiful and happiest people in the world.

So Beauty and Happiness comes in every look, shape, color (race), and size. Yes Beauty can sometimes be only in the eyes of the beholder, but I would add that both Beauty and Happiness are in the hearts of the believers!

Written and illustrated by: Glenda Brill(C)

Posted in Successful Achievements | Tagged A beautiful woman that is evil, A confident woman who is honest is consider to be beaut, and sad is ugly on the inside, Beauty and Happy are not always related, Being beautiful and happy comes from within doesn\'t alw, but ugly qualities separate, Gabourey Sidibe is an example to show that a person can, Gabourey Sidibe is confident and happy inspite of her o, In most european countries black people are treated dif, In Poland drivers stopped their cars in mid traffic to, In some countries full figure curvy black women are con, It is the inner qualities that eventually makes us like, jealous, marriages and relationships together, Megan Fox on the cover of Elle magazine, True Beauty comes from within, True beauty keeps friends, True inner beauty unites people, ugly qualities separates people | 17 Comments

Apology for delay in posting and anouncing Blog name change

Posted on November 28, 2010 by giggling

Hello to all my readers: The blog network that hosted my Blog Blogdog.com has closed down, so I had to find another Hosting Company, and transferred my Blog over to. The new name is now: www.Giggling-Bloglight.com.

The change has caused some interruptions in my general Blog layout, and blog posts. All my pictures and illustrations have been left out and replaced by some ad for E.Cup.com. I have no idea how that happened, but now I have to completely upload every picture and illustration back into the proper posts.

This is taking a lot of time, and I apologize for the delay in posting any new info. I hope to update something new by the beginning of December, but with all the correcting of the transferred files I am not sure if I will.

I first have to properly set up this new Blog site, get back my post illustrations and photos so that visitors will not be confused when they see a strange ad replacing my photos while reading the current posts.

Sorry, but hope I will be up and running back to normal soon. Keep checking my new site name to see when and what’s new. Again please remember the name is no longer: giggling.blogdog.com, but now www.giggling-bloglight.com

Thanks for your patience,

Glenda Brill (giggling)

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged www.giggling.blogdog.com name has changed to giggling-bloglight.com | 5 Comments

Hey, what’s up with all these Christmas Lights and Decorations anyway?

Posted on December 18, 2010 by giggling

I recently heard a young father complaining to another about his two little children pointing and begging him to get every gift they see on the pages of the catalogs that come in the mail during this holiday season. But he was not only concerned that he couldn’t afford to get them hardly anything this season, but also getting a Christmas tree with all the decorations and lights is something he had no money for this year.

And what would be gifts without the Christmas tree to put them under? Because of the economy a lot of people are broke this season and are complaining about the high cost of Christmas trees and decorations this year. So many people have no money to buy Christmas gifts like they used to before.

That really started me thinking: What’s up with all these Christmas lights and decorations? What does this has to do with Jesus Christ? Where did all this come from? I am sure many sincere believers in Jesus Christ have also asked these questions.

Christmas lights and decorations alone have become a multi-billion dollar industry!

It seems like every year there are tons of new colorful lights, tinsels, shapes, all kinds of glittering stuff, balls, balloons, angels, stars, you name it you can now find Holiday decorations in every shape and color. Christmas lights and decorations alone have become a multi-billion dollar industry! I think the inventors and sales people of these decorations alone make enough money from one Christmas to last them all through the year to the next one.

And it is not just the Trees in homes that are now being decorated. Here in New York and probably in other cities and towns, every store window, even the Streets have rows and rows of stringed Christmas banners made up of different styles, shapes, lights and decorations hanging over them.

And don’t talk about some homes. In some places it seems like some neighbors act like they are in a competition with each other trying to outdo the other by seeing who can put on the most elaborate decorations and lights that will make them stand out from the rest.

Since I love history, I decided to do some research as to where did all this came from, and what does this have to do with Jesus Christ birth???

“Merry Christmas”, and the Exchanging of Gifts, where did the “Merry”, and the “Giving of Gifts” came from?

I think most people know by now that Christmas came from a Pagan Roman celebration, the Saturnalia, or the Winter Solstice. It was a festival to the sun god Mithras also known as Ra. The winter solstice, which occurs around December 22nd, is the day when there is the least amount of sunlight.

The solstice, therefore, was a time of great celebration, and evergreen trees and their branches played a big role in the festivals that took place. The pagans believed that the evergreen trees were evidence that the sun god was not dead; he was simply weakened for a time, but he would regain his strength eventually.

These festivities lasted through the ending of December toward the beginning of January, and celebrated fertility and immortality. This festival of this Sun God back then was celebrated mainly by people exchanging gifts, wishing each other a merry good time, and by loud merry-making parties and the decorating of homes. (So now we can understand the similarities today of exchanging gifts and where the greeting “Merry Christmas” came from).

And what about the Christmas tree?? What does that have to do with Jesus Birthday??

The Christmas tree was originally just an ordinary evergreen tree that later was adopted as part of the Christmas Celebration. Remember above how I mentioned that evergreen trees which symbolized immortality to the pagans were used in the celebration of the Sun God Mithras whom the pagans believed was immortal. And yes, again it all came from the same place as the celebration of Christmas itself.

The Christmas tree came from the Germanic regions. It first became a part of the Pagan festival called the “12 Rauhnachte” meaning 12 harsh nights. The tree was brought indoors on Dec 24, and removed on Jan 6. The German people noticed that all the other trees died in winter, with the exception of a few evergreens.

So the evergreen trees that stayed alive became a symbol of life and immortality to them, and the evergreen tree became a central part of this 12 harsh night’s festival. (Don’t people today also speak about the 12 nights or days of Christmas? Now we know where that came from!)

So when did these Evergreen Trees became a part of the modern day Christmas Celebration?

So how did these evergreen trees became a part of the so called “Christian Christmas Celebration”? After the death of Jesus’ true Christian Apostles there was a great apostasy, a breaking away from the true teachings of the Bible and Christian congregation, which Jesus Christ himself established before he died. This great apostasy resulted in the formation of the Roman Catholic Church.

This was the beginning of Christendom (Eventually Christendom came to include other Protestant churches that later broke away from the Roman Catholic Church, but they all resulted from the Great Apostasy, the breaking away from the True Christian Congregation as taught by Jesus Christ himself, and His Apostles).

In order to fill up this new Roman Catholic religion with people, they allowed many pagans into this new church, and they brought their customs along with them. All these pagan celebrations and customs were adopted by this new apostate religion and brought into the churches and took on the appearance of being “Christian Customs” (see my previous post on: What does Jesus have to do with a Easter Bunny and Colored Eggs).

Why do so many different religions all celebrate Christmas?

As the newly formed Roman Catholic Churches grew by their continued admittance of pagan members, they also increased in numbers by the practice of infant baptism. This again was not a practice of the true Christian Congregations, as there is no command to baptize babies given by Jesus Christ and was not a custom of True Christians. Because of this many young children grew up practicing these pagan customs since they were taught to believe they were Christian or God approved holidays.

And so the custom kept spreading from generation to generation. Even after there was a breaking away from the Catholic Church and the Protestant Churches were formed they also took these customs and celebrations with them, because they believed they were Christian celebrations and didn’t question their pagan origins. (Folks, I am not making this up, this is history, you can do your own research to prove to yourselves).

So this also answers the question most people ask: Where did all these different religions came from? There was only one True Faith, as practiced by the original Jews worshipping the True God. The Christian faith was an extension or outgrowth of this same Jewish faith as Jesus and his disciples were all original Jews worshipping the True God according to his requirements and laws.

He was the foretold Messiah that by his death replaced the Old Law Covenant with all its animal sacrifices, and established the New Covenant. All those taken into this new covenant became “Christians” which means “Anointed Ones”. (These were anointed with God’s Holy Spirit, the blood of animals as practiced under the Old Law Covenant with the Jewish High Priests officiating would no longer be necessary).

Jesus Christ now became that High Priest and with his own blood, far superior than that of animals, or by his death abolished all those rituals, and became the means, or Messiah to give humans a chance to be approved by God and live forever again as they were intended to do.

He did not start a new religion, he was the fulfillment of the Law of Moses. Christianity was an extension of the former faith, now just under a new arrangement, the New Covenant which focuses more on Love of God and love of neighbor, the whole culmination of the Old Law with all its commandments. This new arrangement made it also possible for other people besides the Jews to become God’s people.

So at first these “Anointed Ones” or “Christians” were made up of all Jews, then eventually other non Jews or gentiles became part of these Christian Congregations, including many Romans. This was God’s will as prophesied and promised to Abraham that the coming Deliverer would be one of his offspring or seed, and that all nations of the earth will be blessed by this Messiah. Jesus died for the whole world of dying humanity to give them a chance to live forever on earth again.

But after Jesus Apostles died, and the Apostasy or breaking away from this True Faith took place, all kinds of religions beginning with the Roman Catholic Church, started popping up and spreading around the world, mixing some true teachings with pagan teachings and customs, all the way down to our day. So the Christmas Celebration spread around the world, even in some non Christian countries.

So the Celebration of Christmas started with the Enemies of Jesus Christ himself.

This apostasy and the establishing of the Roman Catholic Church, should not surprise some people whom are knowledgeable with the Biblical account of Jesus life on earth and his execution. The Romans were enemies of the Jews, Jesus himself being one, and of which most of the then Christian congregations were made up of.

They hated them, and contrary to popular belief it wasn’t the Jews that killed Jesus. It was some opposing Jewish religious leaders and others of their supporters whom rejected him and were yelling for his impalement. But it was the Roman soldiers that actually killed or executed Jesus. They mocked, made fun of him, stabbed and hung him up on a stake to die, according to their manner of executing criminals.

So if Christmas was really Jesus birthday, they would be the least of all people to be promoting and celebrating his birth, when they hated him so much and killed him. This was just another way of mocking God and dishonoring Jesus, by the promotion of a pagan holiday and attaching the name of the “Christ”, or God’s Anointed One, Jesus to it.

Also the Roman Catholic Church forbade people then to read the Bible for themselves, so they couldn’t really find out what the truth was, they only believed what their priests said at their religious church services.

Somewhere around the 1300 or 1400 the tree was accepted by the Catholic Church as an addition to their celebration of the already adopted pagan holiday of Christmas. Since the Romans decorated their homes with greenery, so the Evergreen Tree or now so called “Christmas Tree” started to be decorated with roses cut out from colored paper, apples, wafers, gold-foil, sweets, fruit, and candles. It really became an Idol, the adulation of anything is Idolatry.

When did the Christmas Tree first got its electric lights?

Before the invention of electricity people use candles for lighting, and small candles were put on the Christmas Tree during Christmas time as decoration.

History has it that the first recorded Christmas tree with electric lights was in the home of Edward H. Johnson who was an associate to Thomas Edison, the inventor or discoverer of electricity and the light bulb. This was in New York City on December 22, 1882. (December 22 caught my attention as that is my birthdate).

But even before the custom came to the USA, the tradition of using lights on the Christmas tree was already being practiced in Germany and during Queen Victoria’s reign before it spread to Australia and the USA. Edward H. Johnson had his Christmas tree hand-wired with 80 red, white and blue electric incandescent light bulbs the size of walnuts, on December 22, 1882 at his home on Fifth Avenue in New York City. And he became know as the father of the Electric Christmas Tree Lights.

Later in 1895, U.S. President Grover Cleveland proudly displayed the first electrically lit Christmas tree in the White House. It was a very large tree, featuring more than a hundred multicolored lights. Eventually Christmas tree lights started to be produced in strings of multiples of eight sockets by the General Electric Co in New Jersey.

And the custom of using Christmas tree electric lights and decorations took off ever since. Before long local people and businesses were not only decorating their trees with lights, but also their mantles, doorways, windows, inside their homes, their rafters, roof liners, porch railings and entire home fronts. Also many city skyscrapers are decorated with long mostly-vertical strings of a common theme of lights, and are activated simultaneously.

And so a multi-billion dollar industry was born and spread across the world as the traditional custom of having a Christmas tree with all the trimmings and lights became the utmost necessity for every so called Christian household. And every year as mentioned at the beginning more and more unique designs and decorations are added all to get people to spend money to keep up with everybody else, and make the Retailers rich.

As a matter of fact Christmas has become the Biggest shopping and money making holiday in the history of humanity. It has been said that this time of year is when most Retailers make about 70% of their profits for the entire year. It is more commercialism now than religious!

What does all of this has to do with Jesus Christ or rather, What does Jesus Christ birth have to do with all of this??

In one word “Nothing”. We already learned where Christmas came from: It was the Roman Festival of Saturnalia, the Worship of the Sun God Mithras. Later when the Roman Catholic Church adopted this pagan festival, they converted it to mean the celebration of Christ birthday.

But anyone who reads the biblical account of Jesus birth, knows that there is no date mentioned. Also the circumstances surrounding his birth of shepherds being out in the fields at night, and also being wrapped in cloth and laid in a manger, shows it was not on the hard cold night of December the 25^th.

Another point is that no where is it ever mentioned in the Bible that Jesus family ever celebrated his birthday as a child growing up, or even all his years on earth there is no biblical or historical account of him ever celebrating his birthday. Neither his disciples nor apostles ever mentioned him or either of them celebrating his birthday during his life on earth.

All through the Bible from the Hebrew Scriptures to the Greek Writings, or as people call it from the Old Testament to the New Testament there is no mention of any of God’s people or the early Jews or Christians back then ever celebrating birthdays. It wasn’t a custom that they practiced.

No doubt this was based on the fact that they respected God as their Creator and Life Giver, and gave Him credit for their life, and not themselves. They worshiped the Creator, and not the creation. The only two birthday celebrations mentioned in the Bible are of non worshipers of the True God and something bad occurred on both of them. (Check this out yourself folks, whether you are a Jew or Christian, this is Biblical history, if you read the Bible, you will find this yourself, I am not making any of this up).

If Jesus Birthday is so important to remember, why didn’t he celebrated it himself, or give a command to do so?

So if Jesus Birthday was so important to be celebrated, don’t you think he would have commanded that it should be done yearly, or even set the example by celebrating it himself? And think about the stress that people are put under during the Holiday Season, this has become one of the most stressful times for people, especially in these hard economic times. People are worried about not having money to keep up with the expected Christmas Gift Giving, especially those with children like the father mentioned at the onset of this post.

Some people even suffer from depression and mental anxiety during the Christmas Season because of all the pressure associated with the expectations of shopping, gift giving, and decorating. And all this giving is not really based on true Christian Love, it is mostly hypocritical giving just because it is the custom.

So some people give gifts just because they are expected to do so without even wanting to, or even loving the people they are giving to. And parents deceive their children into believing their gifts come from some mystical figure called Santa Claus, rather than telling them it came from them out of love.

Now, didn’t Jesus himself said: “Come to me all you who are toiling and loaded down and I will give you refreshment for your souls?” Would he be approving or behind a Celebration that is causing just the opposite of what he said he would do?

Would Jesus be encouraging families that are already heavily in debt and going through severe financial hardships to spend all their money on a Celebration and then end up in even more distress and debt later on?

Would Jesus approve of a Celebration to a False Pagan God that has attached his name and birth to that he never authorized or had any connection to? And would he be promoting commercialism, greed, and all this decoration and adulation of the Christmas tree, which is idolatry, that God and himself strongly forbids?

And would Jesus approve of all the hypocritical giving and deceiving of children during Christmas time? He promoted truth and love among people that should be practiced all year round. And deception and hypocrisy is the opposite of love and truth.

Some people might just shrug their shoulders and say: Well, so what, it is just a tradition, what difference does it make?

It makes a difference to believers in the true God and Jesus Christ, because anything, or any tradition honoring False Gods which is Idolatry is the most offensive of sins to the Creator. Also people get so carried away with the Christmas spirit that they completely ignore the real reason for Jesus Birth, and may think they are doing the right thing.

There is nothing wrong with having a good time and giving each other gifts. It would be all right if it didn’t involved or started with false worship. In reality people are promoting a lie, are really still honoring the Pagan Sun God, and not Jesus Christ at all.

We have 365 days a year to celebrate any day, everyday or as many days if we choose. Wouldn’t it be nicer, and less stress-full if families can get together when they can afford to, any time of the year as often as they like, spontaneously give their children and friends gifts because they want to or appreciate them? Everyday is a Gift from God worth celebrating. This is the way the human race was created to live.

Also at the announcement of Jesus birth the angels said he would bring “….Peace on earth among men of goodwill”. That shows that the real reason for his birth and death is to bring relief and Peace to men of Goodwill. This includes all peoples from any race or religion whom have faith. (See previous post: People are basically all just People)

He is also referred to by several different names showing the reason for his coming to earth: the Messiah, Savior, Deliverer, King, Prince of Peace and the last Adam.

Adam, the father of the human race, plunged us into a life of sin, sickness, suffering, old age and death. Jesus, the last Adam will reverse all these conditions and restore obedient humans back to a life intended by God in the first place, of perfection and happiness, out of what Adam put us into. And this is whole reason for his birth and death! This coming restoration of God’s original purpose is what he preached about and told his disciples to continue to do the same.

So if we really want to be among those whom will benefit when Jesus is indeed ruling as Prince of Peace in a new world, then it does make a difference as to what we do now or not do. The choice is ours.

Carefully researched, written, and illustrated by Glenda Brill (©

Posted in Peoples and Families | Tagged A couple shopping for Christmas Gifts, A lot of people can afford a Christmas tree this year because of the economy, and Christmas is an adoption of this festival, Christmas decorations and lights, Christmas lights on the outside of Shopping Malls, First different ornaments and candles were used on the Christmas tree, homes and buildings, It was not a custom of the early Jews or Christians to celebrate birthdays, Jesus Christ is hardly mentioned anymore in Christmas, Jesus Christ never celebrated his own birthday, merry making christmas parties and exchanging of gifts, People who celebrate Christmas are really celebrating the same Roman Pagan Holiday, The adulation of the evergreen tree, the Christmas tree became an Idol, The Great Apostasy resulted in the Formation of the Catholic Church, The new Roman Catholic Church allowed Pagans in with their pagan celebrations and customs, The Roman Festival of Saturnalia was the worship of the Sun God Mithras, the Saturnalia or the Winter Solstice, These new religions also practiced enfant baptism, they give credit to God for their Life, which later became the Christmas tree first started in Germany, which was not done by true christians | 14 Comments

Would you like a little Wine with that?

Posted on January 1, 2011 by giggling

Well here we are again, another new year 2011 has just began. Hope it will be a Happy One for you! Didn’t it seem like just yesterday 2010 began and it flew by so fast? I am afraid to blink, for fear when I open my eyes I will be in 2012 already. Entering a new year also means entering another year of our own life. As time goes by, so are we. I am reminded of that every December as I was born in late December, so in reality I start every New Year, one year older than the previous year.

Growing old is not something we look forward to, it has its advantages and disadvantages. Our life can be richer and wiser, if we are still young, but for those who are older age brings on other health problems if not taken care off.

So our number one resolution every New Year should be to continue learning all we can on how to maintain and improve our health and life, by watching our diet, improving our inner selves, getting the necessary exercise and rest, without robbing ourselves of the joy that comes from eating, drinking, and exercising.

One of the greatest joys in life is the ability to eat, taste and enjoy food and drink!

One of the greatest joys of life is really the ability to eat, taste and enjoy food (See Healthy Recipes for busy people) and drink. Since food come s from the ground, we could probably just eat dirt when we are hu ng ry and drink water and still get the necessary nutrients and live. Can you imagine what life would be like if that was so? Horrible! Like most people I love to eat, and being french by birth (born on the French Caribbean Island of St. Martin)

I love the taste of a little wine now and then. Growing up my parents always had different wines around, and sometimes we just enjoyed drinking a little wine for no special occasion but just for the pure enjoyment. And my mother always offered a glass of wine to anyone visiting us. I love all kinds, but my favorite is Red Wine which is most widely used and seems to have the most health benefits.

Now I am talking about a little wine, in moderation, to much of anything is not good. Wine is used by most people as a drink to celebrate. Some of you no doubt celebrated the beginning of the New Year with a glass of wine.

But in some other cultures like the French according to their custom drinking a little wine is an everyday habit, they hardly ever start a meal without a small glass of wine. I believe that is so also in Italy, and because there seems to be less health problems among the french, many research has been done on the health benefits of drinking wine in moderation.

Did you know all the wonderful things wine can do for your health?

Here are some of the benefits that has been proven through different research:

Red Wine is rich in antioxidants
Cuts risk of Colon Cancer
Slows Brain Decline, keeps you smarter longer (unless you drink to much then you start to act stupid, so a little is all it takes for your health to benefit)
Cuts Risk of Cataracts, good for your eyes (unless you drink to much and become drunk, then you see double, now you don’t want that to happen, so again moderation is important)
Lower Risk of Strokes, Heart disease and risks of Heart Attacks
Reduces risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Promotes Longevity

A little wine can ease a tense situation, help you relax and improve your mood

And I must also add that it can calm or soothe your nerves when going through trying times. When my father died several years ago (See post: Memoirs of a Wonderful Beloved Father). I was so much in grief over his lost, I remember my upstairs neighbor after I told her what happened, brought down two small glasses of wine, and gave me one, and we sat on the stairs and sipped wine and talked for several hours.

And that helped calmed and soothed my rattled nerves and helped me to sleep later on. Yes, if you are troubled over anything, a little wine can help relax you, ease the tension, and may solve some disagreements between friends.

Red Wine is made from Grapes, and most of the health benefits come from the fruit content. Some scientists seem to think there is also some benefit in the alcohol in the wine, but if someone can’t tolerate the alcohol content in Wine, then you can still get many of the same health benefits from eating grapes or drinking real grape juice. Or try diluting the wine with some grape juice so you get less alcohol.

For too much alcohol is bad for the body, especially the liver, and causes cancer that is why drinking wine should be done in moderation to avoid getting to much alcohol. Research says women should drink one glass a day, while men no more than 2 glasses a day.

And children should be careful about drinking anything with alcohol content, but rather give them grape juice and they will get the same health benefits.

Sweet Potatoes, Pumpkin and Red Wine!

What do those have in common? The older we get the more fruits and vegetables we consume either as a food or in drink the better our health will be. There is the custom on the Caribbean Island of St. Maarten (and probably also on the other islands as well) to make different puddings and pies from vegetables and fruits and add wine or a small potion of alcohol to them.

One of my favorites is the Sweet Potato Pudding usually baked around the Holidays into the New Year as a dessert. But can be baked and eaten anytime of the year. The sweet potato I am talking about here is different from the orange colored jam mostly used in America.

These sweet potatoes have a deep purple reddish skin, and are white on the inside. But they are found at most vegetable stands here in New York, and other places. Even though sweet potatoes are the main ingredients other vegetables can be added such as pumpkin, white yams, bananas, and coconut.

I made mine this year from sweet potatoes and pumpkin alone. Since some of you might be thinking that Sweet potatoes because it has the word “sweet” in it is full of calories and is bad for you let me assure you that they are just the opposite, they are an excellent and nutritious food, just as good for you as drinking wine.

Sweet potatoes aid in weight loss, is rich in vitamins and minerals, and have many of the same health benefits as drinking wine.

There are many benefits to eating sweet potatoes. They help in weight loss by making us feel full faster, so we eat less avoiding the risk of obesity. They are rich in fiber, and lower the risk of constipation, diverticulosis, colon and rectal cancers. Being rich in beta-carotene sweet potatoes help the body fight free radicals and prevents cancer. Because of their low glycemic index, they can be consumed by those suffering from diabetes.

They are rich in potassium, aid in lowering blood pressure and in the purification of the blood. Full of iron and calcium, they control proper blood flow and improve bone density. And similar to drinking wine sweet potatoes have been found to help minimize the risk of heart disease, strokes, blood clots, stomach ulcers and inflamed conditions of the colon.

Eating pumpkin has some similar benefits to drinking wine!

Just like the sweet potato pumpkin also is loaded with many of the vitamins and minerals our body need daily. They are rich in carotenoids, and zinc which keep our immune system strong and healthy and improves bone density. Also the potassium and fiber content in pumpkin aids in lowering hypertension and is good for the health of our bowels by keeping us regular.

And the abundance of Beta-carotene which is a great antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, also keeps our eyes strong and can reduce the risk of cataract formation and macular degeneration which usually leads to blindness. And another similarity to drinking wine is it keeps our arterial walls free from the build up of cholesterol, thus preventing strokes. And because pumpkin is rich in alpha-carotene, it is also believed to slow the aging process.

Since you now know all the benefits of drinking wine, eating sweet potatoes and pumpkin, here is the Recipe for making your own sweet potato pudding with pumpkin which I mentioned above:

Sweet Potato Pudding

Get a few purple-reddish colored sweet potatoes
A few slices of rich yellow pumpkin (and you can add other fruits and vegetables like white jam, bananas, coconut)
A piece of whole ginger
Some black raisins (optional)
Natural dark Cane Juice Sugar, (or if you want to avoid any sugar you can use Agave Nectar or honey. I personally always use natural dark cane sugar)
Some Salt and Ground Black Pepper
Some Olive Oil
Ground Cinnamon
Vanilla Essense
A little Rum or Red Wine

First peel the Sweet Potatoes and pumpkin. Don’t Cook. Grate them raw and mix together in a bowl. Add the dark Cane sugar (or whatever other sweetener you choose to use) to some water and stir.

Pour this sweetened water into the Grated Sweet Potato and pumpkin mixture, enough for the whole mixture to be saturated throughout and covered. You should be able to stir it now with a spoon, it should be thick but liquid enough to move like when cooking any hot cereal on the stove.

To this liquid mixture of the grated Potato and pumpkin add the remaining ingredients: cut the ginger up in small pieces and add to the mixture. Add a tablespoon or more of the Olive Oil. Add salt to taste, black pepper, cinnamon, Vanilla Essense, raisins (if you want to) and a few bottle caps full of Rum, or a cup or more (depending on how large the mixture is) of Red Wine.

Stir everything thoroughly well together. Taste to see if it is sweet or salted enough for you. Add a little more of the above ingredients if you think something is lacking. Stir again. Grease a long baking dish with some olive oil and pour the mixture in.

Put in oven at around 425 and let bake for more than an hour, or until the liquid is dry up and the pudding is firm. (The liquid is what cooks the vegetables in the oven and makes the pudding soft). Test it by inserting a knife in it, and if the knife comes out smooth, then it should be done.

Mmmm. The smell alone from that baking pudding is enough to make you high and start singing Hallelujah! Remember it is loaded with all natural good nutrition for your health. When done let it cool, and then cut in square slices and serve. If you did it right, it should be delicious and so filling! It can be kept in the refrigerator for several weeks or even outdoors. The alcohol content is what preserves it and gives it that wonderful taste and flavor.

And to make it even more enhancing and delicious: Wouldn’t you like a little wine with that?

For me: Qui, Qui, un petit verre du vin s’il vous plait est bon pour moi (Yes, Yes, a small glass of wine if you please is good for me!).

Here’s to your Health and Prosperity in 2011! Bonne Appetit! Now I’ll drink to that!

Cick here to: Learn how to make your own inexpensive wines at home

(See post also: Fit or Fat-Diet or Die-Obese or Decease. Why are these words so related?)

Written and illustrated by: Glenda Brill ©

Posted in Healthy Tips | Tagged A little wine can ease tension and help us relax, and promotes longevity, Healthy Recipes for busy people, heart attacks, It is customary for some cultures like the french to have wine at every meal, Pumpkin is also a great vegetable for our health, Red Wine and also Pumpkin can help the risk of developing cataracts in the eyes, Red Wine is an antioxidant and is good also for our brains, Red wine is good for our health, Red Wine lowers the risk of strokes, Sweet potatoe pudding is made mostly during the holidays into New Years on St. Maarten, Sweet potatoes has many of the same health benefits as drinking wine, We should drink wine in moderation because to much alcohol can cause other health problems | 21 Comments

It only costs One Sense!

Posted on January 12, 2011 by giggling

All of us as humans are endowed with five senses: the sense of hearing (or listening), sight, touch, smell and taste. But I believe that hearing because it is so closely connected to listening is one of the most important senses of all the others. Hearing and listening is not the same, it is only the first step in listening.

Those of us who can hear are bombarded with all kinds of noises and sounds during the day or night, the sound of traffic, people speaking or laughing, the radio or TV if it is on, birds chirping, or dogs barking, water dripping, you name it, if our hearing is sharp, our ears pick up all kinds of sounds during our waking hours. But most of it we don’t really listen to, our sense of hearing just picks these sounds up, it goes through one ear and comes out the other.

Listening is one of the most important forms of communication.

Years ago it was believed that communication involves mostly speaking, but in recent times listening was discovered to play a mayor part in communication, even more so than speaking.

It has been said that is the reason we have two ears and only one mouth. Real listening involves not just the ears or the brain to understand what is being said or revealed, but I believe we listen more so with our hearts. That is the seat of real understanding, compassion and empathy. This is how even the deaf can listens without hearing a sound, by using the sense of sight only they listen with their hearts. (see Post: Courageously putting your heart into it, your body will follow..) If we can just shut up, open our hearts and listen more, we can learn so much more about people and their problems and needs.

**Really listening to people involves being able to understand not just what is being said, but also what is not being said.**

Sometimes people communicate in different ways, they may be saying one thing, but their facial expressions, tone of voice or body language is revealing something else. This is where good listening comes in. The ability to pay close attention to what is not being said, and understanding the other person’s feelings or fears.

I know my mother was very good at this. Sometimes when I was having problems, mostly financial problems and I called my mother at home back in St. Maarten. (Dutch Caribbean), as soon as I started to speak Mam would asked: “What’s wrong? I can tell by your tone of voice that you are depressed or something is bothering you” She was always right! (She was the mother of eight of us, so she was well trained in listening). Even so far away in another country, she could listen to my voice without seeing my face, and knew that something was wrong!

And this is the kind of listening that parents need to have in dealing with their children. Even teachers at school need to pay close attention to a child’s behavior in order to understand why the child is acting the way they do. Young children have different ways of communicating. They need love, which includes discipline and attention, so they will try all kinds of ways to get that if they are not given enough. In our busy world most parents are so busy that they spend very little time with their children.

Especially in single parent households, the parent has to work and most often the children are left alone or with strangers to care for them. I have seen this first hand when I worked as a Nanny and Tutor for small children years ago. Parents would be gone all day long and I had to take care of those children in place of their real parents. Fortunately I was a loving Nanny since I love children and gave them the love and care they needed.

But what if the parent(s) can’t afford a Nanny or Caregiver and the child or children are old enough say preteens, and is left home alone while the parent(s) work? These children still need attention and love and most often become rebellious or delinquent if left unsupervised by an adult or parent. They may get involved with other rebellious children and start behaving badly, skipping school and talking back to their parent(s.)

A child becoming rebellious could be his way of asking for a listening ear or to get attention.

I know personally of a family that this just recently happened to. A young father raising his preteen boy alone after his wife died. She was my friend, and she died at the tender age of 36 from cancer. They had a little boy who was only 3 years old when she left her husband for another man.

The little boy was toggled between two men, his natural father and his mother’s new boyfriend. That is when his rebellion started, he started screaming and yelling at his mother and this new man, telling him plainly that he was not his father and hated him.

But all they did was just scolded him, accusing him of being bad, and really never disciplined, or listened to the child or showed him any love or understanding of his feelings. When I visited her I used to hug the child, because I knew him from the day he was born, sweet baby boy, and I understood why he was so angry and upset. He would put his little arms around my neck and cherished the love he was getting.

When she got so sick because of cancer, the boy was returned to his natural father. Then she died and the child was now 8^th years old. His father spent all day working and this young boy was left home alone. His rebellion got worst, completely out of hand. His father could not control him, it resulted in yelling matches between them, with the boy yelling back at his father and the father trying his best to control him. So much had taken place in such a young boy’s life.

First being separated from his natural father at age 3, trying to get used to his mother’s new man in his young life, then his mother dying, being shifted back to his father, who might as well be not there since he was always working. So much drama, within such a young boy’s life, it is understandable that the child was just screaming for love and understanding of his pain, anger and frustration. That was the way he thought he could get the attention he needed, but nobody was listening, he was just being accused of being a bad boy.

Eventually he started running the streets with older teenage boys than himself, he is now 15 years old. When his father thought he was in school he was on the streets with these other older boys. A young boy associating with older boys on the loose is bound to get into trouble. And that is exactly what happened! They committed some kind of crime and now he is in a house of detention for delinquent teenagers!

I have been so sad since hearing this, because I really wanted to ask his father if he would let that boy stay with me for a while. Not sure if he would consent, since that was his only son. But the child never acted badly around me, we always hug each other and he was fine. And since I was his mother’s friend I am su re she wouldn’t mind.

Now it is too late. I really believe that all this could have been avoided if his parents or other family members, had just taken the time and listened to that child from very young, disciplined him with real love and understanding, or just put their arms around him daily and showed him they really cared and loved him. A listening ear, an opened heart and a warm loving hug can calm even a dog down, so much more so a child!

Some young lives could have been saved if people just listened to them

We also hear often about many young people and the elderly committing suicide. I am sure before a young person, or a senior reaches that point to take their own life, they must have tried to communicate in some way, but never got the attention they needed either from parents, teachers or family members.

Seniors too need to feel loved by their now grown children. As said above children, or young people communicate in different ways, some may become rebellious, others become withdrawn, or very quite or keep to themselves.

Parents and teachers who are really listening should be able to see the difference in the child’s behavior and just take time to listen and show them love and understanding. Let them pour their hearts out, and listen closely with your own heart, trying to understand their feelings, fears and whatever might be bothering them. Show love and give commendation rather than judging them.

Listening without any words being spoken

Yes, you can listen to people without them even uttering one word. Facial expressions, body language, a frown, a smile, eye expressions, attitudes, hand gestures, so many ways people send out silent messages, or cries for help that our listening hearts can pick up if we are really paying attention to the other person. This is also the way the hearts of deaf people listens to others.

This is so important in human relationships. Because if we are not really listening to the other person, which includes observation or perception, we are bound to judge them wrongly or say something that could hurt their feelings or push them even father away. This can and most often happens in ma rital relationships. The breakdown of communication which involves listening causes many marriages to fail.

Some people would rather keep things bottled up inside themselves, instead of talking it out, and the other partner not really understanding or listening to what is not being said, jumps to wrong conclusions which leads to arguments, or separation. If one person just takes the time to really listen and understand the other maybe so many happy marriages would not have ended.

Good listening has no age barrier

People are people, (see post: People are basically are just people) we all need basically the same things, we want to be understood, be shown consideration, kindness and human compassion. Some grown children don’t think they need to listen to their parents anymore, but that is not true.

No matter how old we get our parents are still our superiors, and we should show them respect even if we don’t always agree with them.

I used to see how my two brothers even after they had grown up and were married and had become fathers themselves used to listen to Dad with such deep respect, and not a word back in response even if he was not always correct in relating something. We had been trained by him as young children to be respectful of older people so we grew up that way. (See post: Memoirs of a Wonderful Beloved father).

I just recently was approached by an older woman, while I was working as a Product Demonstrator Model. She stopped at my booth and like everybody else I offered her a sample of the product I was demonstrating and smilingly told her how good it was for her. She took it and kept lingering at the table, while watching me. I was looking at her and smiling like I usually do, thinking that she wanted another sample since she kept standing and looking at me, and didn’t walk away.

Then she suddenly opened up and started pouring her heart out about her personal problems. I realized this poor old lady just needed someone to talk to so I paid attention to her and listened. It was all about her daughter treating her so badly and disrespectful. She had lost her house in a fire and was now temporarily living with her eldest daughter until she could find a place of her own again.

But she said her daughter shows her plainly that she doesn’t want her there. She criticizes everything she does, treats her like a stranger or slave, tells her what dishes, pots and pans she can use, even watches her going and coming out of the bathroom. She could only sit in one chair at the table. She said she couldn’t understand how her own daughter could be so mean! She wishes she could die soon, so she could get out of that house because she is so hurt by this treatment from her own child. It was so sad to hear her say this.

This poor elderly woman (now she wasn’t that old or feeble, maybe in her late sixties or early seventies) just kept pouring her heart out to me and I was really listening to her because I could see and tell that she was really hurting by her daughter’s attitude. She just needed someone to talk to and that would understand her pain.

She said she couldn’t understand how her own daughter could treat her so wickedly! And I agreed with her I couldn’t understand either how a daughter could treat her own mother that way. I could never treat my mother that way. I cherished my mother to death!

Now why would an older woman just poured her heart out to a complete stranger like myself that was much younger than her? It must be because I was attentive and listening to her while she talked. And nodding my head when I agreed. At the end she seemed so relieved to have someone to talk to, and I encouraged her to try to get a place of her own as soon as possible so she could have some peace again. I just hope I stopped her from committing suicide or doing something to hurt herself further.

Really, Really Reeaally listening when others speak!

I know it may not always be easy for some people to really listen to others. Some are naturally impatient, always in a rush or hurry, don’t have time or just not interested in what others have to say or how they feel. But people like that are stunting their own growth, because we learn so much about life and everything by listening. From the day we are born to the day we die, listening plays an important part in everyday living and growing.

Effective listening involves our whole attention or concentration on the one speaking, eye contact, body language such as a nod of the head showing you understand, opening our heart to theirs, putting ourselves in someone else shoes so to speak. It does not involve letting your eyes wander as the person speaks, looking at your watch, folding the arms, signing as if I heard enough.

And it doesn’t matter who we are or what we do for a living everybody whether we are students, teachers, doctors, patients, parents, husband, wives, children, politicians, lawyers and clients, employers and employees, young or old, or whomever else, good communication is necessary for life.

And the best way to do so is by attentive listening. Practice it, it could save our own lives, and those we love, and after all it doesn’t cost that much but some time, and only One Sense!

Written and illustrated by: Glenda Brill ©

(If you live in New York, email me on my About Me Page for info about a new Emotional Support and Networking Group)

Posted in Peoples and Families | Tagged A child becoming rebellious could be a sign that he needs someone to listen to him, elderly parents need their grown children to listen to them, Even deaf people listens with their hearts by the sense of sight, good communication involves more listening than talking, hearing and listening is not the same, listen to his attitude, listening is one of the most important forms of communication, Parents should take time to listen to their children, seniors also need a lot of love and people to listen to them, teachers should pay attention to a student who has become withdrawn, we can listen without any words being spoken, we hear with our ears, we listen with our hearts | 7 Comments

Avoiding and Dealing with Disappointments

Posted on February 2, 2011 by giggling

Disappointments, I would like to meet someone who has never had one or has never disappointed someone else themselves. If such a person exists, then you must be perfect and not apart of the human race. I know I had my share of them, learned from them and therefore I can write and help others on how to avoid or deal with them.

But what exactly does the word means? According to the Merriam Webster English Dictionary it simple says: to fail to meet the expectation or hope, defeated expectations or hope, or to frustrate. So in other words we expect or hope for something, and when the expected or hoped for thing doesn’t happen, we are disappointed, or frustrated! So then that shows that sometimes it is really our own fault that we are disappointed and some can be avoided by not expecting too much. Other times we have to admit some things we have no control over and should always leave room for disappointment.

Yes, like the weather. This winter so far has been a very stormy and snowy one here in New York and probably in other parts of the country and world as well. Everybody is complaining about the snow (and now the icy weather). There are piles of snow like hills all over the streets some still left over from last December.

Some cars were completely buried under the snow, and still more snow is being forecast for later this week. I was listening to the news and they were saying that some people were becoming depressed by all these snow storms.

Many people had to cancel plans for things they wanted to do or places they had planned on going. And last week some people could not go to work because of the snow storms. So many people are suffering from mayor disappointments over something they have no control over.

Instead of becoming depressed over something like this, why not reason ahead of time and accept the fact that it is winter, we should expect snow, we can’t do anything about how much we get, and what else can we do if it should turn out to be a snow-in day. Also see the beauty of the season, enjoy it because it is only temporary rather than being disappointed and depressed.

You know for years I wanted to see snow in real life because I grew up in the hot Caribbean (St. Maarten Dutch-French island) climate where it is summer all year around. Some people think that is great, but that constant heat gets to you after a while.

I always admired postcards with snow, and I couldn’t wait to experience winter and see and feel real snow until I came to New York. And I got my share of snow and winter the first year I came here, and loved it! I look forward to winter and seeing the beauty of the snow on the trees and top of the houses just like the postcards, but now this was real.

And that was the first thing I did after the last snow storm last week, when I got up in the morning and looked through the windows, I saw such breathtaking beauty, it was like a winter wonderland, everything was so white and beautiful, the trees looked like they were sprouting white leaves.

Even though I had planned on going out that day, I didn’t mind canceling because this was a beauty that I know was temporary and only came one season of the year. I could do many things at home and every now and then I would go to my window and admire this amazing white wonderland.

One winter ago I literally went out and took a bunch of pictures of this beautiful scenery. How could people complain about something like this? At least not all did. I remember the first snow storm we had the day after Christmas last December, it was indeed much bigger than expected and the whole city was practically crippled.

But I had to go out that day not really knowing ho w bad the snow was since I hadn’t heard the forecast. It wasn’t until I was out on the sidewalk and saw that the streets were covered in snow, no buses or cars could drive, but I saw one guy coming down the street skiing right in the middle of the road as if he was on the ski slopes.

I had never seen that before. There was so much snow on the street that he could literally ski his way through it to get to where he was going. You see some of the craziest things in New York City.

A snowed-in day can be a good opportunity to some some things we love indoors or outdoors, or even make some extra cash. Now that guy whom was skiing sure was taking advantage of the snow and using it to do what he loves. I am sure he wasn’t disappointed.

So if some of you are disappointed in the weather, why not see the beauty of the season, use the time you have to stay in to catch up on other things you need to do, or if you like snow like myself and that guy that was skiing, go out take some pictures, make a snowman or just enjoy it because it is only temporary and it is one of the things we have no control over.

You might be able to afford a vacation away to a warmer climate this time of year if you can. (My nieces sent me pictures of them wearing short pants down in St. Maarten, trying to rub it in as to the hot weather they’re enjoying versus the winter I am in).

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Or if you’re a young man and able to, do like some other young guys, they saw an opportunity to make some extra money by shoveling snow from other peoples driveways, home fronts and sidewalks. With two months so far of constant snow they will make several hundred dollars depending on how much they charge and how often they work at it.

But what about other things that disappoint us from time to time? How do we deal with them? Such as some people that may deceive or hurt us, it could be a salesperson, or business person from another ethnic group or race, and they disappointed us. What should we do?

Disappointed in some people, don’t blame the whole group because of the actions of one or a just a few. That is a tendency we have. Sometimes if we had a bad experience with somebody from another ethnic, national, or cultural group or race.

(I hate saying race since I believe there is only one race, the human race) (See Post: People are basically all just people) we end up accusing the entire group of people just because one person from that race disappointed us. We stereotype an entire group of people based on the actions of one person.

Haven’t you heard people make remarks about some people or we have done so our self, like: those people they are such and such …..And those ….huh, I have had my experience with them they are a bunch of liars… That particular ethnicity, oh please I don’t want anything to do with them again ever in my life….

And those …. The way she treated me they are a bunch of racists and prejudice pigs. And people become hateful, suspicious or even afraid of some people just because of one bad experience or disappointment they had with one person from one particular race or nationality.

But in reality whatever the disappointment was with this particular person from that group or race could have happen with your own race or even with your own family. It just happened to be with this person, that doesn’t mean everybody in that racial group is the same. Everybody is different and you will find good and evil people in every cultural, racial or national group.

We might later meet some people from that same race that we stereotyped or from other ethnic groups or nationality who treat us even better than some from our own nationality or race. Yeah, I have experienced that myself, so don’t be quick to condemn everybody because of the actions of jus t one or a few.

Or it was a disappointment with a former marriage mate that didn’t work out, people become afraid of the entire institution of marriage and say they will never do so again. But the next person is not the same as the former mate, that disappointment could lead to finally finding the right one.

And remember it could be us that really expected too much and caused our own disappointment, the blame may not be hundred percent the other person at all.

Today there are so many business opportunities promising great wealth if you join. With our shaky economy a lot of people are using various business opportunities promising great wealth with very little work in a short period of time. I know man y people have been disappointed in some of them.

But if you listen to some of them carefully or even read some of the promises of achieved wealth you can attain in such a short time, you can tell a lot of it is just inflated to get you to join. Most of the time this is the way the Organizers make money by selling the opportunity.

Some of these opportunities do work but only if we work hard ourselves. Nothing will produce great results without any work on our part. That is where most people get disappointed. They expect to make money without doing anything at all.

So before joining any of these get all the facts, speak to those who are already in the business, ask for some real proof that they had indeed make any money, and how long it took. Use some common sense, every business needs customers or buyers and that takes advertising, marketing and time to get enough customers to buy a product in order to see any profit.

Nobody can predict whom will see your advertising right away and how many people will respond and buy what you are offering. In reality you should not expect this to happen in a short time otherwise you will be disappointed. Remember, disappointment means defeated expectations or hope. Don’t expect or hope to quickly for the impossible and you will not be defeated, or disappointed!

The first thing I do when buying anything is find out if it has a warranty, for how long and if it is returnable. And always get a receipt. And no matter what it is before using the product read all the instructions. And that is where a lot of people fail and then end up being disappointed.

Their disappointment is misdirected, toward the store where they bought the product, and not the manufacturer of the product. In reality the store has nothing to do as to whether the product will work or not.

So being disappointed with them is not right, let them know what the problem is, and if it is returnable return it, but before blaming the store read and follow the instructions.

You have to read all the instructions before using anything, and don’t forget to read the fine print, there might be special precautions that you need to know.

And most of the time it was just one step that they did not do was the cause of the initial disappointment. After reading the instructions and following each step the product works just fine, and there was no need to complain to the store or return anything.

So here again we see how some disappointments can be avoided, by following simple steps. Don’t expect things will work like magic without doing something, and we will not be disappointed!

Some disappointment can be a good thing and may even save our lives. In a previous post I told about how I was working in the World Trade Center in New York City and had to suddenly take time off to travel home to St. Maarten for my father’s funeral. When I got back the company had replaced me with somebody else even though they knew why I had to take just a week off.

I was so disappointed and tried so hard to get my job back, or just find another job in the World Trade Center again, but no matter how hard I tried, I never did! Nine months later, the whole Trade Center was destroyed, the very building where I worked was where the second plane flew into. (Read entire details in post: Memoirs of a Wonderful Beloved Father).

Or some of you might have seen that movie which came out several years ago. It was based on a true story of an African American young woman, well educated, whom ofcourse was looking for the perfect like minded educated Black man for a marriage mate, which was very hard to find. One of her co-workers arranged a blind date for her, and when she met her date at a restaurant for the first time she couldn’t believe her eyes, he was an average looking white man with blue eyes and blond hair!

The look on her face, was no way, he was not her type! Not the well-educated black man she was expecting. She was so disappointed, and ended the date, with the hope never to see this man again, and gave her co worker a piece of her mind. Well, she ran into him by surprise several months later, and found out he was a landscaper, and was suggested by someone else that she hired him since she needed one. She made it clear it was just business, her preference was black men, she wanted nothing more.

To make a long story short, she ended up falling in love with this man, even though she did later meet her tall handsome black lawyer, she felt nothing for him, her heart was with the average looking white blue eyed blond hair landscaper. Love changed everything, they were madly in love, suitable for each other and got married! The happy end to a big disappointment initially based on plain prejudice against a race of people.

Yes, some disappointments can be answered prayers. Just like my experience above, and the story of the black woman, sometimes we don’t know how prayers are answered. What may seem like a failure or disappointment might be just what we needed. Here is another experience I heard about, that proves that is true.

A man got stranded out at sea, his little boat sank, and he ended up on a little island way out in the middle of the ocean. There are many of these little pieces of land out in the oceans, where nobody really lives, but some people may go to for camping or solitude.

Well, since his boat sank he had no way to get back to his real home, and ofcourse he didn’t had any of the modern conveniences like we have today such as a cell phone.

So he started praying to God to provide some help for somebody to find him and take him back to real land. He used his fishing rod to catch fish and cooked on rocks on the island since he had matches and oil with him. So for a couple of days that is how he survived along with eating fruits which provide the liquid his body needed to live.

He slept in a little straw hut on the island, and every time a plane flew over the island, he yelled and waved his hands hoping the pilot or somebody would see him crying out for help. He did the same thing with ships he saw passing on sea, he would yell and wave for help but they all kept passing him by.

He kept praying to God for help, and no answer! Somehow by accident his little straw hut caught fire while he was cooking and burned down flat. Now he really got disappointed and mad with God since the last thing he had to keep a roof over his head at night he allowed to burn down.

Suddenly he saw a large ship heading toward the island. He kept yelling and waving like a frantic man hoping they will see him this time and rescue him. The ship finally came close enough to the island and docked.

The man thanked them and asked them if they had seen him waving and heard his yelling. The staff said no, they saw the smoke of the burning hut and came to see what the problem was, they never saw him.

So the burned down little hut was God’s answer to his cry for help. Had that little hut not gone up in smoke he would never have been discovered, and would have died on that little island, since nobody knew or could see him from the planes that flew overhead, or the ships passing out on sea.

It is good not to have extremely high hopes or expectations for anything. There is always the possibility of something unforseen occurring. Well, I am sure you also have had some good results from past disappointments, or others may have made you bitter. Don’t let them do so, there is always something to learn from every experience in life, good or bad. And if we always remember what the word really means: defeated expectations or hope.

So if we are reasonable, remembering that nobody no matter what race or nationality they belong to is perfect. We will not expect too much or raise our hopes too high with regard to anything, therefore reducing the amount of disappointments we get in life. Some can indeed be avoided, some we have no control over, and if we have others occasionally they might be just what is needed at the time.

Written and Illustrated by: Glenda Brill (©)

Posted in Encouragement | Tagged after his boat sank, Beauty of winter snow on trees, Before using a new product read all instructions and we will not be disappointed, being disappointed in a business opportunity, being frustrated because of a disappointment, defeated expectations happens when we have high hopes in some people or things, disappointed in a marriage mate, disappointments can be answered prayers by God, Disappointments everybody has them, disappointments means defeated expectations or hope, Don't expect to much or raise hopes too high, enjoying the snow, he got stranded on an island, His straw hut burned down, How to avoid being disappointed, it is temporary, makes everything looks like a winter wonderland, Man skiing in the middle of the street afterlast blizzard in New York, People become hateful of an entire race because of being disappoitmented in one person within that group, Planes flew over the island but didn't see the lost man, take pictures, The ship saw the smoke on the island and went to see what the problem was, The snow is beautiful, We have no control over the weather, went up in smoke, Winter scene in New York city streets | 4 Comments

When Sleep escapes, why it is so important to catch it quickly

Posted on February 23, 2011 by giggling

Aha, Sleep, who needs it? Everybody! All living things really. But most of us are not getting enough of the recommended 7 to 8 hours sleep a night to sustain good health.

Some people have a hard time just falling asleep, others may fall asleep but then wake up after a few hours and can’t go back to sleep. It is like sleep escapes through the window into the darkness outside and you can’t catch it again. Sleeplessness has become a national and international problem.

It is not just older folks that now suffer from insomnia, but people of all ages, races and nationalities are becoming victims of sleeplessness. And the market for sleep inducing medications is ever increasing always promising a better aid or pill to promote sleep.

But becoming dependent on sleeping aids is addictive and the kind of sleep they induce is really artificial sleep not the natural kind that really promotes good health.

Also many sleeping pills carry other dangerous side effects, and inspite of their ever increasing market insomnia still remains a problem for millions.

We live today in a very stressful world. So Stress is the real culprit behind sleep troubles, it elevates the stress hormone Cortisol in the body, and makes it impossible to relax even when exhausted, unless you know how to control it. Also Stress, Insomnia and harmful Cortisol wipe out the good bacteria in the gut, then the bad bacteria and yeast grow, causing all sorts of health problems.

People are w orried and anxious about so many things, (see Post Some ways to stop worrying about worrying) relationships, family, the economy, money, high prices in food and necessary goods, jobs, you name it, that the mind can’t seem to rest and sleep when it should.

Not only the poor are worried, but rich people even more so. They are stressed over losing what they have, or how to hold on to it. But why is it so important to get enough sleep? Because:

Sleep is the foundation for Good Health, and a Happy Life

Lack of sleep robs us of energy, of health of LIFE. No sleep no energy, without energy there is no life. Sleep is closely connected to good health, and Life. I am not a Nutritionist or Doctor but I have relatives in the Netherlands that are in the field of nutrition and medicine. One of my cousins Rachel who lives in Holland is a Professional in Alternative Medicines and Nutrition is the one that got me into eating healthy.

When I was in Holland several years ago Rachel had me eating all kinds of whole grains and vegetables I even hadn’t heard of before, and this was long before some of them became popular in the USA. She also is a believer in getting enough sleep for health. It seems like Europe is always on the cutting edge of new nutritional discoveries.

So I always keep up to date with all the new findings on health and nutrition both from Europe and the USA which is closely catching up.

Some of the discoveries that I will mention here concerning the connection between Sleep and Health, I got from a journal on the subject of sleeplessness and most of these findings were discovered by a French Scientist in Europe.

The Importance of Sleep and how it affects Our General Health:

*Blood Pressure: – In a study of women and men between the ages of 32 and 59, scientists found that those who suffer from sleep deprivation had twice the risk of developing hypertension than those with healthy sleep.

*Weight Loss and Metabolism: Sleeplessness lowers levels of the hormone that causes us to feel full, while increasing levels of ghrelin, the hormone that makes us feel hungry. Test were done on Women who got sufficient sleep versus those that didn’t. Those with adequate sleep didn’t gain any weight, and even lost several pounds while others with sleep problems gain extra weight even though they were exercising.

*Sleep actually burn calories and helps us lose excess weight: - And the theory that eating before going to sleep will increase weight gain hasn’t proven to be true for some people. Not for me, I eat all the time before going to bed, and sleep well most of the time and haven’t gain any extra weight at all. A good night’s sleep will burn off those calories. On the other hand a lot of people with sleep problems are obese.

*Sleep affects our memory and mental performance: – People who don’t get sufficient sleep experience a significant percentage in cognitive decline. Healthy sleep improves our memory and is good for our mental health.

*Low Libido: – Poor sleep is responsible for waning libido in women ages 45 to 55. No sleep, no sex drive.

*Sleep Necessary for Healthy Arteries and Cutting risk of heart troubles: – A number of studies suggest that people who sleep less are at greater risk of heart disease and death. A study of men and women aged 35 to 47 concludes that one hour more of sleep per night is associated with 33% decrease in calcification of the arteries which lowers your risk of heart disease and cardiac death.

*Sleep necessary for fighting tumor growth: – Listen up girls, a study was done on 24000 Japanese women and found that lack of sleep greatly increases the risk of Breast Cancer. Those who had 6 hours or less each night had a 62% higher risk. Tumors grow two to three times faster in those with severe sleep dysfunction.

This really helps us understand why there is an increase in breast cancer among so many young women, they are not getting enough sleep, late nights partying coupled with to much alcohol could very well be the problem.

*For Normalizing Blood Sugar: – Researchers have found that insufficient sleep may lead to type 2 diabetes because of the poor processing of glucose.

*Sleep can help increase our life Span: – One study said that People who sleep less than four hours per night are three times more likely to die within the next six years. Tests were done on rats that were continually deprived of sleep, they died within two to five weeks, due to their severely weakened immune system. And sleep also rejuvenates our skin, helping to retard the look of aging.

*Sleep helps revive cellular immunity: – After one night of sleep deprivation, NK cell activity, the cancer killers, declined dramatically (30%) suppressing immune system function. After resuming to healthy sleep NK cell activity returned to normal levels. So sleep can protect us against cancer.

Wow, that is a whole lot of health problems that a lack of sleep can cause. And we wonder why people are getting sicker and sicker inspite of modern medicine and technology. People simple need to get more sleep, but first they need to rid themselves of the culprit that is causing them to stay awake which is STRESS.

How do we conquer the specific problems that are stressing us out?

Everyone might have a different answer as to why they are worried, which is the same as stress. (See previous post on: Some ways to stop worrying about worrying). My father, who was a very God-fearing man, (one of Jehovah’s Witnesses) always used to tell me: Don’t worry, just do what you can today!

He was a great example of someone that didn’t worry, or allow stress to control his life. A peaceful man, I had never heard him even raise his voice in angry shouting or yelling. His lifestyle and faith affected his sleep and health.

He lived way into his eighties, with no pain (no arthritis or joint pains) anywhere in his body. Dad slept like a baby all through his life, and also died peacefully in his sleep. (Read post: Memoirs of a Wonderful, Beloved Father)

So I have learned over the years to apply some of the principles he taught me in dealing with stress whether it is caused by the economy or by other people’s hurtful dealings. Let us see how you can deal with some things that can cause people to worry and experience sleeplessness:

The Economy, Financial problems – A big one on everybody’s mind. As mentioned above both poor and rich people are worried about this. Read the above suggested Post on Some ways to stop worrying about worrying and you will see why worrying about tomorrow is useless, just live in the present, no use going to bed being stressed about the next day or the future since you don’t know anything about tomorrow or whether you will live to see it. It is proper to prepare for the future, but losing sleep over what could happen in the future doesn’t guarantee that you will be alive to see it. Life can change overnight, in a instant, suddenly!

Relationship problems: – This could be problems with people on the job our Boss, your family, a former mate, a friend, other people. Maybe you are hurt over something someone said or done to you. Slander, gossip, or some other form of personal injustice.

It doesn’t do you any good to stay awake stressing over other people’s hurtful ways. Or even scheming on how to get back at them. I always apply the biblical principals I learned from my father: Let God take care of them.

He says: “Vengeance is mine, I will repay!” People really don’t get away with any wrong, it may seem that way for a while, but eventually they pay for their evil ways. The Creator’s Laws and the Universe are structured in a way that we get back exactly what we give out. The saying every dog has his day, is true. So no need to worry, they will be taken care of when they least expect it. I have seen it happen many ti mes.

Marital problems: – Again there is another biblical principal that help those who apply it: “Do not let the sun se t with you in a provoked state.” In other words married couples should never go to bed without first resolving any problems or c onflicts they may have had during the day.

Intimacy starts with sharing of the mind. If you can’t share your mind and deep inner feelings with your mate how can you share your body and expect everything to be resolved? (see post: It only cost One Sense)

There was an older couple in their nineties who just celebrated their 70^th wedding anniversary last week, and this is one of the reasons he gave for their long married life, they never go to bed without resolving any problems of the day.

Because if they don’t most likely they will lose sleep worrying over the problem, maybe one partner might fall asleep, but sometimes the other one will be awake worrying.

A Troubled Conscience: – Or it could be some people are troubled by their own conscience over wrongs they are committing or have committed. This can cause lost of sleep for sure. Again here is another biblical principle that can help which says: “As far as it depends upon YOU, be peaceable with all men”.

So the best thing to do is to apologize, talk things out with whomever you wronged, and try from there on to be at peace with everyone, this should ease a trouble conscience and restore sleep again.

Health Problems: – Many people have trouble sleeping because of health problems, especially older people. But the very remedy they need to help with their health is sleep, so the circle of sleeplessness aggravates the problem even more, resulting in more difficulty sleeping.

Sometimes trouble sleeping could be caused by various prescription drugs they might be using for their health. They could ask their doctor for something else that will not cause them to loose sleep. Also improving their diet by eating rich nutritional meals of fruits, vegetables and whole grains coupled with exercise will aid in relieving many health problems and eventually bring on sleep which will be a great boost for their health.

Emotional problems: – Depression is another form of Stress and can also cause people to loose sleep. Everybody suffers now and then from some form of emotional distress. If it is not a medical problem they can find relief by discovering what makes them relax.

Finding a hobby or work that you enjoy, good nutrition and exercise, finding comfort in spiritual things, and looking for humor or reasons to laugh during the day can relax a person and bring on sleep when necessary.(See post: Belly Laughing could replace most prescription drugs). (Also post on : Finding Humor amidst hard times)

Well I am sure you can think of other reasons some people can’t sleep, besides those listed here, but no matter what we should do out utmost to catch some sleep as soon as possible since it will eventually affect our entire health and could even cause death.

Some ways to catch sleep quickly

So since we know how vital sleep is to our health and identify some of the reasons that are keeping people awake, we want to catch sleep as quickly as possible. Take as an example a sleeping baby. What makes the baby sleep so peaceful?

They have no worries or any built up stress, hatreds or anger against any one to interfere with their sleep patterns. We can achieve the same if we acknowledge what is keeping us awake, find ways to relieve our life of stress and some ways to bring on sleep.

Does counting sheep really help? I tried that several times myself and it didn’t work for me. I find myself starting to count over and over from the start because I kept skipping a number. It was keeping me awake trying to remember which number I skipped rather than putting me to sleep. Maybe it works for some people, but not all.

Besides the suggestions above, for myself what helps me to sleep soundly is good nutritional meals during the day, spirituality, exercise, finding humor every day in my life, enjoying my work, eating calcium and tryptophan rich foods like salmon, sardines, turkey, bananas and drinking caffeine free teas such as chamomile tea.

Also eating a cup of plain lowfat yogurt or a glass of skim milk just before going to bed really puts me to sleep. And I end my day with deep meditative prayer of thanks to my Creator for another day, and for a peaceful rest with the hope to wake up alive to see the next day.

So if you are having trouble sleeping and are able to identify what is stressing you out, and can apply some of the suggestions to rid yourself of the stress or find something that helps you relax, there is no reason why you shouldn’t be able to catch sleep and sleep like a baby again. You can. Good night, sleep tight!

Written and illustrated by: Glenda Brill (©)

Posted in Healthy Tips | Tagged A glass of skim milk and non-fat plain yogurt helps induce sleep, bad bacteria in the gut will cause all kinds of health problems, Being peaceable with people help with stress, Blood pressure is affected by sleep disorders or a lack of sleep, breast cancer can result from insomnia, calcium and tryptophan rich foods induce natural sleep, Cortisol is a hormone caused by stress in the body, Depression can cause sleeplessness, Good sleep of at least 7 or 8 years a night can prolong our life, humor can help ease stressfull situtations, insomnia causes weight gain, Insomnia is becoming a national and international problem, Lack of sleep can cause heart disease, lifestyle and faith affects our health and ability to sleep, marital intimacy starts with sharing of the mind, Medications for sleep can become addictive and harmful to our health, Poor and rich people alike are worried over financial hard times, Sleep can help us loose weight, Sleep disorders can lead to type 2 diabetes, Sleep necessary for good health, sleeping pills causes artificial sleep not healthy sleep, Sleeplessness affects our entire health, sleeplessness can cause cancer, Stress in the culprit behind sleeplessness, Stress Insomnia and harmful Cortisol wipe out the good bacteria in the gut, We can sleep like a baby again if we learn how to control stress in our body | 5 Comments

Modern Technology Reversing the Roles: Senior Parents Obey Your Children And Grandchildren

Posted on March 24, 2011 by giggling

Don’t we love our modern world of ever advancing technology? The speed with which we get things done is amazing, just a touch, click, flick, press and the ability to send messages across the world in just 140 characters!

Modern technology has even brought our world closer through Television and the Internet or the Web. Just a flick on the remote control or a click of the computer mouse we can see exactly what’s happening in other countries as disasters and events take place.

I remembered years ago when I first started College one Professor in one of my Liberal Arts classes in discussing our changing world used to jokingly say that when the world comes to an end, people are going to go home and watch it on TV before it strikes our area. He could be right about that, for in our day we are sitting in our own living rooms and seeing all the fighting taking place in other countries and the results of natural disasters right on TV.

And it is interesting to note that many of these new technologies were created in some of these very countries being devastated by natural calamities, (Japan and China). So many things were created to make life more convenient and even extend life, and suddenly an earthquake or tsunami, fire or other non technical natural element can wipe everything out in a few seconds, it makes us wonder what’s the point of the ever increasing technological gadgets?

Technology has made our life easier but also easier to see our own imperfections and smallness in the Universe.

Well, one thing is plain to see is Man’s imperfections or our own smallness in the Universe, and that there is still so much to learn about our natural world. The severe weather patterns could be the backfiring of all the modern technological inventions that has messed up our atmosphere and oceans.

We have been warned for years now about the consequences that can result from our messed-up ozone layers. The entire Universe works in harmony with each other, if the atmosphere or ozone layers and oceans are messed up or polluted through technological inventions, then this will affect and cause imbalances in everything else on the earth and under the sea.

These imbalances can cause the earth to shift and bring about severe weather patterns and other natural disasters. The Universe and everything on Earth and under the Sea was designed to sustain LIFE, not destroy it.

It seems like the Universe is angry with humans constant throwing filth into the air and oceans, filling the earth with garbage and removing its needed life giving vegetation, interfering with its natural make-up and the backlash is devastating! But in reality human-beings themselves are unintentionally bringing about their own destruction.

Our constant changing age of technology, how is it affecting our seniors, parents, grandparents?

Well, this is our age, it has almost become impossible now to live without a computer, with all its new software, programs, and other necessary computer aids. Also the Web, and so many different kinds of cell-phones (do we really need that many?) with 100’s of new apps being added daily. (See Post Clutter, Confusion, Crankiness….) GPS’s and millions of other new inventions I am still learning about. Most young people today learn to use these new gadgets very quickly, but what about our aging parents and grandparents?

Most of them still remember a time when the world was less stressed and more peaceful, and people worked hard with their own hands. They hardly ever heard of such mayor disasters taking place anywhere on earth as we do today.

Before TV and the Internet families ate meals together, and had conversations, and went on different outings together without a GPS to guide them, or cell phones to keep in touch. Or they read together, with Parents or Grandparents taking the lead in everything.

Children played physical active games like rope skipping, ball playing, hide and seek, kite flying, marble throwing, etc. Today most of them spend their time in front of a TV or playing games on the Internet, leading to obesity and other health problems.

There were more close knitted families than our day, and far less problems. Children were taught to be obedient to their Parents, now it is becoming the opposite way around, the new age of technology is making the children the teachers of their parents instead.

Technology effect on Families

Today it is completely different in most countries not just in the USA. Families are divided even in the same home, children might be in their room looking at TV, or on the Internet, or texting on their Cell-phones. I read a report that some families even don’t spend much time eating or talking face to face with each other anymore, any conversations they have is by cell-phone, email or texting! (See Previous Post: Cell-phonemania)

I know when I left home (St. Maarten Dutch Caribbean) and came to New York I used to write my Mother long hand written letters since it cost so much in long distance calling. And she wrote me back her 5 pages or more handwritten letters telling me everything that was happening at home.

After I got a computer I found it easier to type those letters, and when I got internet access it became email. I opened a free email account for my mother and sent her instructions via my sisters for her to open the emails and read them. (Now that my mother is dead, I am glad I still kept some of those handwritten letters and treat them like treasures, they meant a lot more to me now than an email that can be easily erase with a click of the computer mouse!)

But they couldn’t get my mother to sit in front of a computer and learn to download any emails or anything. My sisters had to print the emails off and let her read them in her hand.

She just wasn’t interested in this new stuff she called it. Even one of my sister’s little daughter when she was about 4 years old was trying to teach my mother how to download a picture on the internet.

She kept pointing the mouse and clicking here and there while giving my mother instructions: “So you see Granny, you point here, and right click this, and then this..” and my mother said she just stood there shaking her head in amazement as she told my little niece:” Sweetheart, I know when your mother downloaded You, and you are here teaching me how to download something from a computer?”

My mother was present when my sister gave birth to her first baby daughter who was now teaching her grandmother how to use a computer! Unbelievable! That is what our technology age has become, the grandchildren and children are teaching their seniors how to use new technology. And they have to be obedient because some of these new young teachers don’t have too much patience with their senior students!

All the teachers of modern technology to seniors are young people, including their own children or grandchildren

And that is the case all over not just in the USA. There are many seniors now going back to Classes to learn all the different computer programs or just how to use the internet, and their teachers are the youth of our day, these are the computer age children.

Some parents or grandparents are being taught directly by their children or grandchildren since these are the ones buying the gadgets and giving these to them to keep in touch with them.

I must admit that there have been many improvements in senior care that is very beneficial for older adults those 60 and over. Such as Electric Wheelchairs, massaging chairs, electronic insulin injections, blood sugar level detectors, variable volume hearing aids, and many other helpful aids. Also it is good for seniors who are now living alone to learn how to use the internet, emails, and cell-phones.

There are cell-phones that are even designed for those of very advanced age such as with big numbers, volume control, and special instructions. If this is the only way they can keep in touch with distant children or grandchildren or even with the rest of the world, then it is necessary to learn all they can about these modern inventions.

Also the fact that there is always something new to learn, is good for aging brains, it helps keep the brain active and younger longer to keep learning even in old age. While some older adults are anxious to learn how to use all these new technologies, others are still reluctant to learn.

What if Older Parents or Seniors are reluctant to learn from Younger Ones?

Cell-phones they will accept but some of them don’t care to learn how to use a computer and the Web. I know quite a few older ones in my apartment building that don’t know anything about computers or the web. Two of them are 80 and 82 years old and I guess their grandchildren don’t have the patience to teach them how to use it or they are not interested at that age. The TV and a cell-phone are sufficient for them.

And to get on all the new Social Media sites like Twitter, Facebook, Digg, etc. is another task some are reluctant to learn. I heard one girl telling her friends that she finally got her 83 old grandmother to join Facebook. And I also just recently showed one of my older neighbors, 65 years old how to use email and join Facebook and upload a picture since she asked me how to do it.

And she uploaded a picture of herself when she was 30 years old. She was attractive and young and that is the way she wanted to look on Facebook to fit in with everyone else. And she was delighted to see some of her other family members on facebook that she even didn’t know were there.

How quickly we forget!

Two Elderly ladies I know still have the old fashioned rotary phones. Can you believe it? I know I had the embarrassing experience of trying to use one of those rotary phones and completely forgot how to make a phone call from one of them. I kept sticking my finger in the holes for each number of the person I was calling and pressing and nothing happened.

I tried several times and not getting any results, then I finally gave up and told her that her phone was not working. She said yes it was, and I kept saying no I have been pressing the numbers and it doesn’t work. ”You don’t have to press the numbers, you have to put your fi n g er through the holes on the number and dial all the way round, one number at a time! What a lot of work! With these days of touchtone phones, I had completely forgotten how to use a rotary dial phone!

And just like myself above forgetting how to use a simple old fashioned rotary phone, we forget how our parents, grandparents and other seniors worked hard years ago without all these technological advancements, and why some of them feel frustrated having to be taught all these by there children.

I know my father used to work in his own business when I was a child using a simple old manual typewriter, he did his own bookkeeping using a pencil and his own head by adding up numbers and figures without a calculator or adding machine. He had no computer or bookkeeping software systems, no cell phones, or any of the modern stuff we have today. Still he made enough money to build his own house and took care of his eight children. (See Post: Memoirs of a Wonderful Beloved Father)

Here is a small excerpt I got from an email my sister sent me about a senior older retired businessman who also ran his own business without any of our modern tech stuff. This is what he said:

A Testimony from a Senior Retired Businessman:

“When I bought my Blackberry, I thought about the 30-year business I ran with 1800 employees, all without a cell phone that plays music, takes videos, pictures and communicates with Facebook and Twitter.

I signed up under duress for Twitter and Facebook, so my seven kids, their spouses, 13 grandkids and 2 great grand kids could communicate with me in the modern way. I figured I could handle something as simple as Twitter with only 140 characters of space.

That was before one of my grandkids hooked me up for Tweeter, Tweetree, Twhirl, Twitterfon, Tweetie and Twittererific Tweetdeck, Twitpix and something that sends every message to my cell phone and every other program within the texting world.

My phone was beeping every three minutes with the details of everything except the bowel movements of the entire next generation. I am not ready to live like this. I keep my cell phone in the garage in my golf bag.” I was recently asked if I tweet. I answered, No, but I do toot a lot.”

And what about those elderly parents and grandparents that are used to going to church or religious services and didn’t need a cell-phone back then? Now they have to be obedient to their children or grandchildren who make them keep a cell-phone on them at all times and this can cause some embarrassing moments for these older folks. Like this experience I witnessed myself at a Congregational Religious Service.

One Sunday in the middle of the Speakers Beautiful Biblical talk a loud ringing of a cell-phone playing the latest Pop music went off. Everybody could tell where it was coming from, all eyes turned on the poor sweet little old lady sitting in the middle row.

She was staring in complete bewilderment wondering where this music was coming from and why all eyes were on her! The phone didn’t stop, because she no doubt didn’t remember she had a phone in her bag.

Finally a teenage boy got up, went up to her and whispered something in her ear. He told her it was her phone ringing and she started looking frantically in her handbag, found her phone and looked like she turned it off, put it back, and everybody tried to resume listening to the Speaker.

A few minutes later the phone started ringing again, this time everybody looked annoyed, but the same teenage boy got up and took the phone from the lady and showed her how to turn it off completely. She probably didn’t do it right the first time.

The poor old Soul was not accustomed to going to church with a phone. Phones were left at home not carried in your bag. So there are so many new things for seniors to remember and get used to and most children or grandchildren completely forget what it was like in their parent’s day and don’t fully explain them how to use all these new gadgets and avoid unnecessary embarrassing moments.

What about those seniors that still drive, and at the grocery store, with the choice now of Plastic or Paper bags? The same senior older man mentioned above says that he was given a GPS by his kids but he couldn’t stand the voice of this Gypsy lady, he called her, she kept signing and re-directing him, and he just calls his wife now if he ever gets lost. He couldn’t stand this new GPS Gadget. And at the Grocery Store here is what he says:

“The world is just getting too complex for me. They even mess me up every time I go to the grocery store. You would think they could settle on something themselves but this sudden “Paper or Plastic?” every time I check out just knocks me for a loop. I bought some of those cloth reusable bags to avoid looking confused, but I never remember to take them in with me.

Now I toss it back to them. When they ask me, “Paper or Plastic?” I just say, “Doesn’t matter to me. I am bi-sacksual.” Then it’s their turn to stare at me with a blank look”.

Young People please don’t think of your seniors as dumb

Well, just like him many seniors are confused by the constant flow of new technology they are being given or taught how to use by their children or grandchildren, and feel the world is getting to complex for them.

But please younger people don’t ever think that your seniors or parents are dumb or they don’t know anything, because they have to ask so many questions about modern technology and you may have to teach them these things.

Look around at all the big bridges, subway and train stations and many older buildings and things that were build before our times, and all of these were done without computers, cell phones or any of the modern technologies.

Carpenters used hand saws, and screwdrivers, and hammers, nothing was electric or computerized, and still look at the strength and beauty of handcrafted architecture in some of the previous built homes, most of these are still standing strong while many modern stuff crumble and fall very quickly.

So develop patience, show your seniors respect and honor and if you are in a position to teach an older person, especially your parents or grandparents something new in the field of technology then count it a privilege to be used in this way.

Who knows if our world continues at the pace it is going, (or if there is no Divine Intervention before humans completely destroy themselves and the Earth) we are going to be in the same position where those now much younger than us, will be teaching us something new. And we might also not be as receptive as some seniors are today. We never know!

Written and Illustrated by: Glenda Brill ©

Posted in Peoples and Families | Tagged Cell-phones and computers the result of modern technology, Children and Grandchildren teaching their parents the computer, Computer Classes for Seniors, Downloading a picture from the computer, Families used to ate together and hold conversations, handwritten letters to my mother, oceans and atmosphere are polluted from modern technology, our earth, Our Universe could be angry and we are feeling the backlash, seniors and modern technology, Severe weather patterns are the result of debris from modern technology, YOung girl teaching her grandfather how to use the computer, Young people teaching older ones today | 6 Comments

Raging Moving Volcanos, Explosive Hot Tempers – Dangerous Health Hazards Leading To Premature Death

Posted on April 18, 2011 by giggling

That is the way some people are, like internally fuming raging volcanos moving among us ready to erupt at the slightest irritation. Doesn’t it seem like today nearly everywhere you go people are so angry, and it doesn’t take much to get an explosion of angry screaming and yelling accompanied by curse words.

Some people will start an argument or blow your head off for hardly anything. Just a few days ago while in the Supermarket everybody was startled by the loud heated argument between a man and woman.

It seemed like the woman’s shopping cart was pushed out of the way by the man and this caused her to angrily lashed out at him and he in turn back to her and this back and forth yelling and screaming calling each other names went on for 20 minutes or more with no one letting up.

Every Manager in the store tried to calm them down and couldn’t, until finally the Police had to be called in and was able to get them out of the store and took them away. I couldn’t believe a grown man would be arguing in public with a woman over such stupidity.

And not to long ago news reported how a heated argument took place again between a man and woman two strangers over a parking lot space resulting in his hitting her so hard that she ended up in a coma, and he was arrested. And just yesterday another young woman drove her Van with 4 children into the river drowning herself and three children, one child got out and swam ashore.

According to reports she was in a heated argument with her husband before she took off with her children probably in an angry state herself or just couldn’t take anymore of his angry outburst. Yes, explosive tempers are dangerous to our own health and life and that of others.

We are living in a very health conscious society, especially here in the US, there is so much info on healthy living, diet, exercise, nutrition, but at the same time this is also a time of some of the angriest people around. Explosive tempers accompanied by vulgar curse words are the norm of the day. I read a report several years ago that one angry outburst does more damage to our heart than smoking ten packs of cigarettes!

So if some people pride themselves on not smoking or claim they are very healthy or in great shape because they eat nutritional foods, but at the same time they are internally full of hatred and raging anger, and have the habit of blowing their top over everything, then they need to realize how dangerous these are to their health and life, it is really toxic more so than eating junk food and smoking.

How so? Because junk food and smoking will damage your health over a period of time, but one explosive angry outburst can trigger an instant heart attack, stroke, or cause a blood clot anywhere in the body that can travel to the brain and result in sudden death!

This can happen anytime especially if someone is a habitual explosive angry person. Every time they do so they make their heart weaker, leading to heart disease and if they don’t control it, it can be fatal with one explosive outburst.

Medical reports testified to the surprising increase of death from heart attacks and strokes occurring among so many seemingly healthy young people, especially young men under the age of 50 who have no known history of smoking or of other health problems usually associated with older adults. No doubt hostility, angry outburst and stress all play a part in such premature deaths.

Also uncontrolled anger causes people to do things that they would not normally do, they become like someone temporary insane, and can kill someone in the heat of anger. So explosive angry people are a danger to themselves and also to others.

Can you imagine how many millions of people lives were cut short by anger either by their own or by that of someone else? The first murder in human history was committed in a fit of anger, Cain killed his brother Abel because he was angry and he was for warned that his anger would cause death.

Ofcourse there are reasons to get angry at times, everybody does, especially when we see or experience injustice, maltreatment, disappointments, or sometimes some people can really push our buttons, irritate us to the extreme that we really feel like lashing out in anger.

Under these circumstances it is only right to feel angry, but it is how often we feel this way and how we re-act or let it affect us is what is dangerous to our health and life.

Since we see the bad effects prolonged hostility, explosive anger or built up resentment can have on the body how do we control it before it kills us, or we kill somebody else?

There are two Biblical proverbs that say: “The insight of a man slows down his anger” and, “A Calm heart is life to the Body….”.

*First by having insight, or empathy, instead of flying off the handle because someone says or do something to make us upset, insight or the ability to see through a persons situation, realizing the other person could be under a lot of stress, going through a hard time, or something else could be happening in their life, think before we let ourselves explode can slow anger down or alleviate it all together.

*A Calm Heart comes through taking care of our spirit, that inner part of us created in God’s Image that really makes us who we are, and which is supposed to produce good qualities in us such as: love, joy, peace, self-control, kindness, goodness and mildness. Also realizing how much damage anger has on our own health and life will help us to keep calm.

*Developing humility. Proud people are the ones that get so upset over anything because they feel they are so much better than others and anything that ruffles their ego’s, can cause an explosive outburst of anger. Humility will keep us calm, realizing we are just all people. Nobody knows it all. (see Post: People are basically all just people)

*Seeing humor in the situation, not everything has to be taken so seriously. Laughter can calm a person down, and since it is also contagious will change a hostile environment. This can be done especially among family members, husband and wives.

Instead of angry outbursts and hurt feelings, if people just learn to see humor in every situation there would be less angry people on earth. (See previous post: Belly Laughing could replace most prescription drugs…) and “Finding Humor amidst Hard times”.

*Surprise People! Nothing will shut an angry person up quicker than remaining quiet, not retaliating and even laughter or smiling while they are busy ranting and raving. Some people make such fools of themselves by exploding over trivialities and when the victim of their anger does not retaliate or start laughing they are shocked, surprised and shut up right away because they realize how crazy or stupid they look.

I did this once to a woman whom was so angry over the previous person she had just served at a check out counter. The person before me must have said or done something and there was a loud heated argument before that person left the window.

When it was my turn she was in a fighting mood and ready to bite my head off with an ugly scowl on her face and great anger in her voice.

I could have responded in like manner, but I just smiled and told her she would look so much prettier if she took that scowl off of her face. She looked surprised and calmed down, and her tone changed. (Every woman wants to look pretty). When we respond in a similar tone to an angry person we are adding fuel to their already fuming fire and only makes a situation worst.

Another good bit of advice most people have heard of is what was said by the Great Teacher years ago, Jesus Christ. “Turn the other cheek” He was giving advice on when being provoked or when someone insults us looking for a confrontation or fight, just turn around and walk away! (Giving them the other cheek).

Don’t get in your car and drive away, or if the argument starts while driving, just park the car and WALK INSTEAD. Because if someone gets behind the wheel of a car while in a heated angry mood, remember the brains thinking ability is now impaired, they are bound to crash into something, do something stupid, or cause an accident.

WALKING will calm you down, it helps you to think, converts that bad energy into a better one that nourishes the mind, heart and blood. (If that poor young woman that drove into the river had of just taken her children out for a walk, and then later went to someone that she could talk to, rather than getting into her Van, she and her children might still be alive).

This protects us and the other person especially if we are also hot headed, by walking away, the other person will eventually have to shut up because there is no one to add fuel to their blazing fire. This shows great strength of character to walk away and not retaliate, it is the other person that continues to fight and curse that is weak.

One husband said that every time his wife gets angry and starts an argument, he just goes for a walk, stay away long enough so both of them will be calmed down by the time he returns back home.

If we are the hot tempered one, then the above advice works just the same for us as for getting away from another angry person. Also engaging in regular exercises such as dancing, running, kick-boxing, yoga and other breathing exercises can help control extreme anger and calm a person down.

So it is possible to control extreme angry outburst, just like everything else it takes work and practice.

But by following some of the advice above and realizing how dangerous explosive anger is to our own health and life and that of others, will be the motivating force to keep it under control.

For the inherent desire of every person no matter who they are is: we all want to live long, be healthy, happy and have peace. To achieve these Controlling Anger is of prime importance!

For additional self improvement help get these books or DVD’s:

Everything Laughter Yoga: Learn to laugh for no reason! Click Here!

Lighten up your Life, and have fun. Get out of that Angry mood fast! Join the #1 Dance School on the Internet. Learn all the latest steps in Salsa, Bachata, Mambo, Merengue, Cha-Cha-Cha, Tango and more. Great weight loss work out also. I love it, dance everyday!
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Brilliant Yoga: The Complete Guide to Upgrading Your Body and Life! Click Here!

Posted in Healthy Tips | Tagged Angry people are dangerous because they do stupid things and can kill someone, Angry people are like volcanos ready to erupt at the slightest irritation, Bachata, Ballroom dance class on internet, Cha-Cha-Cha, developing a calm heart will cool us down when faced with a angry person, doing silly things like clowning around and dancing can bring joy into an angry persons life, exercises like dancing, explosive anger is bad for the heart and other bodily organs, explosive angry outburst can cause bloodclots that bring on a stroke, extreme anger or hostility can shorten a persons life, humor and laughter can help a angry person to calm down, latest dances in Salsa, man and woman getting into a heated argument, Merengue, outbursts of anger does more damage to the heart than smoking several packs of cigarettes, police was called to stop fight, Qigong for health and Vitality, surprise angry people by not retaliating in the same angry tone, Tango, The brains ability to think clearly is impaired by extreme anger, Turn the other cheek when being provoked means just calmly walking away, Walking away from a fight shows strength of character, yoga and other breathing exercises are good for anger management, Yoga for health improvement | 5 Comments

When Heads Turn, Let It Be For The Right Reason

Posted on May 18, 2011 by giggling

What is the first thing we notice about people when we see them? It is no doubt what they are wearing! And have you ever been standing some where maybe in line at a store or waiting for the bus or train and somebody walked by and all heads turned with raised eyebrows and a surprised look on their faces.

And you could almost hear everybody inaudible muttering the same question: “What the h…is she wearing?” In New York you see some weird things all the time.

Since there are more varieties of styles in clothes for women than men, we see more extremes in dressing among women than men, even though some young men also wear some head turning clothes that causes the same question marks to appear on people’s faces. And we all look at what other people wear. When it comes to clothes both men and women look at the same sex to check out what they are wearing.

Please note that I am talking here about the Western Style of dressing. I know in some parts of the world such as Asia, India, Africa, and other middle Eastern Countries people have their own style of native dress some of which are very elegant or others may be nothing more than fabric wrapped around the body, and may not be categorized for special occasions as the western style of dress.

And what might be an acceptable style of dress in another country, may not be such in the western world. So anyone from one of those countries reading this please remember that this information is for those whom live and dress in the Western style and have so many choices of clothes to choose from unlike your country where you may not have such.

But why do people always seem to be affected by the way other people dresses? We can say it is nobody’s business what I wear, but whether we think so or not, how we carry ourselves associates us with particular types of people if we are dressing like them. It also shows a lack of respect, can be offensive or pleasing to others, and can cause them to think either favorable or badly about us. It can even ruin a person’s reputation. Why?

Clothes are more than just body covering, Clothes silently speak about us

Our attire sends messages out to those observing us, it says a lot about how we think about ourselves and other people. For instance some professionals are identified by the clothes or uniforms they wear such as Doctors, Nurses, Nuns, Police-Officers, Pilots, Air-hostesses, Soldiers etc. When we see them we know who they are and what they do, and we respect them based on their identifying garments.

The same can be true for those of us that don’t need to wear a uniform, what we wear can still bring certain images to people’s mind that might be different than what we really are.

For instance if a nice girl with a good upbringing and a nice personality walks around dressed like a prostitute, but she is hoping to attract a nice gentlemen as a future marriage mate, her clothes are speaking differently about her than what she really is, and this will affect how she is treated by people in general especially by the opposite sex.

The kind of man she is trying to attract might be turned off by her dress and she will be attracting just the opp osite of what she is looking for.

And what happens if such a person is looking for work and goes on a job interview? (Some Great Guides for people looking for work: Guerrilla Resume – Ultimate Guide to Job Interview Answers, Click Here! Killer Interview Secrets, Click Here! Wow – You’re Hired! Click Here!)

One of the first things job Interviewers notice when an applicant walks into their office is their attire.They can scan a person from their hairstyle to the shoes they’re wearing in one sweep of their eyes, and make their decision to hire or not to hire based on how the applicant is dressed! So what we wear can get us the right job!

With so many fashions and styles of clothes to choose from, how can a person always know what to wear?

Clothes like everything else have their place:

Yes, there are so many different kinds of clothes, styles, and colors these days especially for women that it can be confusing picking the right clothes. If we understand and see how Designers and Clothes Manufacturers think it will be easier to do so.

They design clothes for different occasions, seasons, body types, sizes, shapes and ages.

So we have clothes that fall under the category of “Formal Wear for night or day”, for night they are usually dressy and can be long or short, or even a nice pair of slacks with a dressy top and accessories. For men it is usually a nice dark Suit with front buttoned down Shirt and Tie.

Day formal or Office Business Wear should be professional or business-like dress, for men it is usually again a nice dark suit with necktie, women business wear has changed over the years where in some places women don’t have to wear a suit all the time but still need to wear clothes that are appropriate for the job, not to low cut or revealing, too tight or too short, and no open-toe sandals.

Then there is Casual Wear, Sports Wear, Beach Wear, Lounge Wear, Sleep Wear, and now with the increase in Exercise Classes and Gyms we have Work-Out Gear or Clothes.

Also in none tropical countries like here in the USA and Europe we have seasonal clothing: Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall which includes a lot of sweaters, Coats and boots. In the Caribbean where I grew up I never had to worry about Seasonal Clothes, since it is hot all year round.

But I love the changes in Seasons and look forward to wearing different clothes and colors in each Season. Since I make all my own clothes (since I was seventeen years old) I avoid the hassle of shopping and trying to find the right clothes and styles, and can make sure I am wearing what’s right for me. (see previous post: We can save money by doing some things ourselves).

And this is where some women get confused and mix up all these different Categories of Clothes and wear them to places where they were not designed to be worn.

Just this week I saw some new Beach Wear Dresses for Summer which is to be worn over bathing suits or bikini’s at the beach, that are so beautiful they can also fall under the category of Casual Wear Clothes.

They can be worn out to other places like a restaurant for lunch or shopping. And for years the simple Sweat Pants and running shoes or bulky sneakers which fall under the Category of Exercise Gear or Sports Wear, are still worn by some women to different events and even out shopping. Or some people may wear Casual Wear Clothes to a formal event or to a job interview which is out of place.

So when shopping ask the Sales-Associate where to find the style of clothes you are looking for:

Most large Department Stores or Boutiques have the different category of styles of clothes in different sections of the store or on different floors.

When not sure what to look for you can tell the Sales Associate you are looking for a style to wear to a particular occasion and whether it is formal, Casual, Business, Sports or whatever and ask where you can find those styles of clothes you need to choose from. Also think about your age, body weight and height and whether a certain style even if you like it is appropriate for you.

When not sure what to wear, or when in doubt, Dress-Up!

And if not sure what to wear to a particular event always go on the safe side, wear something semi-formal, maybe a nice dress with a small jacket than can be taken off once you get there and realize you might be too dressed up. It is better to be dressed up if not sure than to be under-dressed and cause head turning and whispers when you walk into a room.

Nothing can cause heads to turn faster than a mature adult dressed like a teenager with mini skirt, or a size 22 woman or man dressed in clothes way to tight or half their size. Dressing in clothes designed for younger people will not make you look younger if the design or cut is inappropriate for an older person.

The same can be said for teenagers or even preteens dressing too sexy or out of line for their ages. Whether older or young a person dressed in nice styles suitable for their body type, age and weight will look great. And this is one thing we have to always remember that:

We make Clothes look good on us, it is what we do for the clothes we wear not what the clothes do for us.

Clothes are just inanimate pieces of fabric sewn together according to a particular design. They are display ed on a lifeless mannequin for us to see. Only when a live pe r so n tries the outfit on, then we can tell how well it looks on each one. So even though a dress might be popular or of the latest fashion, it will look different on every single woman that tries it on.

Because it is not the dress that makes you look good in it, it is YOU that make the dress look good on YOU.

Our personality, Skin tone, Hair Color, Height, Weight, whether we are tall or short, slim Body Shape (Big busted, or small, big butted or flat) slender or on the heavy side, posture, the whole person makes a particular outfit looks great.

A thousand different women of every different skin tone and hair color height and weight can all wear the same exact outfit, and it will look different on everyone single one of them!

Always check yourself from all sides and angles in a Full Length Mirror!

So when shopping for clothes, always look for a dressing room with a full length mirror, and also have one at home. If shopping online or through a mail-order catalog you can also choose the right clothes by the type you like and knowing how you look in such. And after you received them in the mail always look at yourself in that full length mirror with the garment on from all angles, front, back and sides, and try on with the type of shoes you wear, if it is high heels then use high heels.

See how your own personality, and all the other qualities mentioned above does for the dress. As you turn and look at different angles in the mirror pay attention to every body part and see how they look with this outfit on.

How is it fitting in the back? Ladies the way a dress look from behind is just as important as the front, that is usually the part that the turning heads linger on, so pay attention to how well that dress fit in the back. And if you’re a big butted woman and it protrudes too much, then try something that’s more camouflaging and not too tight.

Only if satisfied then buy it! Or if ordered online, you can always exchange it. If you can’t make it look good on YOU then no matter how stylist or how in fashion it is, don’t wear it! When wearing a dress or outfit you want people to remember how nice YOU look in that dress, not what a great dress that was!

And women also need to choose the right accessories such as handbags, jewelry and shoes that will compliment the entire outfit. That is much easier to do once you know where you will be wearing the dress and for what occasion. Then match the handbag, shoes and accessories to compliment a color or colors in the outfit or dress and that is appropriate for the occasion. For formal wear that usually requires a nice clutch and high heels.

Most Men have good taste to, and choose clothes and accessories that compliment them, careful not to send the wrong messages out

Some men do a better job at dressing than women. A lot of Clothes Designers are men designing for women, so they usually know what they like to see a woman in.

Clothes for themselve s are much easier to select, since there is less choices. But today, there is still a lot more now for them to choose from than years ago.

Many times I get invitations to different Business Seminars and it says: “Casual Business Wear Only”. These were terms that people didn’t use before, it was either one or the other. Anything having to do with Business, meant that Men wore a Suit and Tie. Casual they could wear Jeans, Tee Shirts and Sneakers.

But “Casual Business Wear” means now that a man can wear a nice buttoned down shirt with no tie or with jacket or not, tucked inside dress pants with a belt, and shoes. No jeans or sneakers. (The same goes for women Business Casual, nice slacks with blouse, or dress, but no Tee Shirts, sneakers or jeans!). Some men get away with a plain tee shirt with a Jacket over it, but still no jeans or sneakers.

Accessories for men consist of different ties to be worn for various occasions. For business the Briefcase and a Wrist Watch is still standard. For Business Casual Wear some men also carry a across the shoulder strap bag. But for formal wear men still look great and well dressed in simple Dark suits, colorful striped or plain shirts and ties of different prints, textures and colors.

Among some young black men some still wear these off the butt hanging pants, which is out of place for any occasion and send the wrong messages to people since this style originated in prison. And some show up with Sun Shades at night events. I could never understand why people wear dark shades at night, I call them “Moon Shades”, since the moon shines at night, not the sun.

People get the impression that a person that is hiding their eyes is hiding something, or could be associated with a gang or some questionable people. So these guys that show up at evening affairs with their “moon shades” need to see how they are sending wrong messages to people, even if they’re not what they’re appear to be.

So we all want to dress in a way that don’t shock or offend people, or send out the wrong messages to them. If invited to a special event and we stand out to much because of inappropriate dress, or work in a large office with other employees then it is proper to be considerate of those around us. We want people to remember us, not so much for what we wear, but for how well we look in what we wear.

So when we walk by or into a room, we want heads to turn for the right reason with a pleasing look on their faces and the expression: ”Wow, doesn’t she (or he) look stunning in that outfit?”

Yes, let them remember how Fabulous YOU look in your choice of clothes!

Posted in Fashions for Whom?? | Tagged Beach Wear sometimes fall under the category of Casual Wear, business, Business casual for men means no tie, Business Casual Wear, Businessmen look great in dark suits, but nice pants and buttoned down shirt, Casual, Clothes are divided into categories such as Formal, Clothes send out silent messages about us to people, Fashions for men and women, Great Resume Writings, Guides to Job hunting, Jeans and Tee shirts fall under the category of Casual Wear, Job Interview techniques, Jobs seekers should always wear dark suits, Men can change their looks by changing their shirts and ties, Proper use Shirts and Ties of different colors, Secrets to good interviews, Sewing your own clothes saves money, Sports, textures and prints can make a man look different and stunning even with the same dark Suit for formal events, We show respect for other people by what we wear, women of different skin tone and hair color look different in the same dress | 8 Comments

Where Did All The Ladies And Gentlemen Go?

Posted on June 10, 2011 by giggling

After having lunch in a restaurant in New York City a few days ago, before I left I asked the girl where the Ladies Room was, and she pointed to the back.

Being very observant by nature, the first thing I noticed was that the signs on the restrooms doors were changed. It just reads now “Men” and “Women”, instead of the previous “Ladies” and “Gentlemen”.

This is about the third or fourth time I noticed that the signs on restrooms for men and women no longer read like they used to before ”Ladies” and “Gentlemen”, but simple “Restrooms” or “Men” and “Women”. So I started wondering: Why did they change it? What happened to the Ladies and Gentlemen, where did they all go? Could it be because of the general moral climate and attitude of men and women have changed over the years?

I remembered working with a young woman years ago who had recently graduated from a very reputable University in upstate New York, and we were all working as temps in a Large Law Firm. She believed that since she had the same education as some men in the firm that she was equal to them.

And she resented a man opening a door for her or helping her lift a box or doing anything for her. She didn’t want to be treated as a lady anymore because she believed that modern women can do the same things men do, earn their own salaries and take care of themselves.

Could the Women Movement years ago be partly responsible for the general decline in morality among women and men?

I was still fairly new to living in New York or the USA and still learning a lot. Well inspite of also having a good education I personally respect men and their positions in Society and love being treated as a lady. I know that most women still make less than men in general and some tasks are more suitable for men and not women. This whole idea of women trying to be equal to men started years ago with the Women Movement.

That was before many of us younger women were born or some of us were still little girls. But I read a lot about it and how it changed the way women and men think down to our day. I noticed even while riding the Subways in New York how most men never get up and give a woman their seat, or hold a door open for them. I thought this was very rude, but then later realize that they did this because that is the way some women today want to be treated, like their equal and not as ladies.

The womens movement years ago gave women a lot of freedoms they wanted. They could go to school and be whatever they wanted to be, could vote and even hold offices and positions of authority once only available to men.

As more and more women became professionals in various fields, they saturated the work places in Corporate America and probably in other countries as well, and took on positions of high responsibility, some equal to men or even higher than some men.

Yes, it is true women have come a long way indeed. (See previous post: Women walking Tall, Stepping Real High-Status Symbol or Beauty?) The other side of this progress is that women started acting like men not just in respects to jobs but also in respect to their attitude, dating and sexual affairs.

The other side of this Progress is that some women started acting like men with respect to dating and sexual affairs.

With so many women now in the work places it became easier for them to develop friendships with men and have affairs. Most of these men were already married, but women made it easy for them to have affairs since they were so readable available and now their equals or some even holding positions over men. Some women became the Pursuers of men rather than the other way around. So men also stopped being “Gentlemen”, and became the Bad Boys.

During the time of President Clinton Affair with his intern, you remember the reason he gave for his sexual conduct? He said very plainly he did it “Because he could”. He had power, and the other woman made it easy for him to have an affair, because she was so readily available.

Also I remember Author Steve Harvey mentioning the same thing on the Oprah Winfrey Show some time ago, in speaking about the relationships between men and women, he also said that most men get into extra-marital affairs because they could do it very easily, Women made it easy for them to do so!

And today with the increase in technology and Social Media Sites it is even easier. Women are now everywhere, in every industry, some businesses even have more female employees than men. Every magazine stand is filled with half naked women on most magazine covers, they play starring roles in movies, videos, and the entertainment industry with hardly any clothes on, as well in pornographic sites all over the web. Sex is thrown in a man’s face 24 hours a day.

It is no longer as it was formerly when women were not equal to men, were harder to see and get, and promiscuous women were looked down upon. Those former ladies dressed modestly, revealed less body parts and waited for men to ask for their hand in marriage.

The downside of this easy availability is that some women have sunken deep into Moral Filth bringing men down with them

More and more often now we hear of men in high positions, political Leaders being brought down through sexual misconduct, developing in public scandal and becoming a laughing stock to the whole world. The Media is quick to throw them under the Bus, but there is always two people or more involved in any sex scandal.

Women know that Sex is a weakness of most men if not all, and we just don’t always know to what extent these guys were tempted or encouraged to commit wrongful acts. Let me give you a couple of real life examples of how some women tempt men into sexual misconduct.

The husband of a married couple, friends of mine, was working in a corporate office in Manhattan New York. His Boss or Supervisor was a white American woman, he was a very handsome black man under her supervision.

His Office was a small section of the larger office with a door that could be shut when someone enters. His Supervisor or Boss was always flirting with him trying to get his attention but he respectfully declined her advances, because he was a God fearing married man and didn’t want to betray his wife.

He said one day this supervisor or his Boss came into his section of the office, closed the door behind her, and sat across from his desk. She then spread her legs wide open exposing her private parts very clearly to him since she had no underwear on at all.

He was shocked and couldn’t believe she would go to this extent to get him to have an affair with her. Can you believe an educated white woman in a high position would be such a slut? She did it because she could, she had authority now, she was the Boss, made more money than he did, and who would find out? Even if he did complain she was in charge who would believe him? He later resigned from that job and moved to a different location, starting his own business.

I also worked for several weeks years ago as a temp in a large office with professional white men. I used to cover the phones sometimes filling in for the receptionist, this was before everyone had cell-phones. I remember some girls were always calling and asking to speak to some of these guys, and all of them were married men!

These were not business calls, or they were not their wives calling, these were bold young white women pursuing these guys even though they knew they were married. These were America’s former ladies whom had now become equal to men and could pursue whomever they chose with no care as to whether they were married or not.

And how can a woman be so brazenly bold and call and ask another women to speak to her husband?

Also a couple of weeks ago I was sitting working on my computer and suddenly got a call, when I answered there was a giggly young woman on the phone and she asked: “Is your husband home?” I was caught by surprise, completely off guard and without thinking I automatically said: “I have no husband”, and she quickly hung up.

After I recovered from the sudden surprise I realized that another woman had just called me and asked for my husband not knowing that I was single. How did she get my number? And how can a woman be so bold and call and ask another women to speak to her husband?

I redialed the number and called her right back wanting to ask her some questions, but she never picked up the phone and had no voice-mail on. She no doubt realized what she did and was afraid to answer me or let the call go to voice-mail.

She was fooling around with some other woman’s husband and had mixed up the digits and dialed my number by mistake. Or maybe he did and it happened to be mine that she dialed. Whatever the case this was very disrespectful for another woman to do. But the same thing also happened to another friend of mine. She was married though, and one day she also got a call from a woman asking for her husband by his name.

When she asked her whom she was the girl said: “I am his fiancée”. She responded: “How could you be his fiancée when I am his wife for the last ten years!” This other woman was shocked and so was the wife. This man had been lying to this woman not letting her know he was married and never giving a hint to his wife about his affair. Well, unfortunately that marriage ended in divorce.

Could it be that because the ladies disappeared so did the gentlemen? Isn’t it true that for every action there is a similar re-action?

I am sure there are dozens of these cases of marital infidelity resulting in so much hurt and pain especially for the wives. Many girls say they sleep around because they are trying to find love and it is hard to find a husband these days.

Years ago it was never hard for white women to find a husband, yet many of my white girl friends I worked with complained constantly about not being able to find Mr. Right. They say there are no more gentlemen left over. That is becoming true for all single women, as most men think that most of us are all alike, so loose women make it also hard for all women to find good husbands. Could it be that because the ladies disappeared so did the gentlemen? Isn’t it true that for every action there is a similar re-action?

And some of these women are becoming desperate and promiscuous not caring whom they sleep with, married or single. This kind of conduct is making it harder for them to find anyone because as long as they are giving it up so easily men will take it and move on to somebody new. My mother used to tell me and my sisters (her six daughters) when I was growing up that if a woman sleeps around with Peter, Tom, Harry, Dick and Larry, there is no reason why Paul would want to marry her if all the others didn’t.

That is the mistake that many women whom have stopped being ladies are doing, getting in bed to fast or engaging in sexual behavior with men they hardly know hoping to find love. And being stupid in getting involved with married men, which leads to nothing but pain, public disgrace, sorrow, and unhappiness for all involved.

Have some modern women and men forgotten what it was like to have Class or Human decency?

The women whom America looked up to years ago as “Ladies” white women are the very ones whom are bringing down their former “Gentlemen” white men of high class and in High Positions. Yes, everybody blame these Men because with their authority they should not have been engaging in this type of indecent vulgar behavior.

But even if a man takes a misstep, it takes a woman or women for him to continue in his bad course. Remember what was said above by Clinton and the other Author: Women made it easy for them to do so! If women refused to engage in any dialogue or encouraged them they could never have done what they did.

Look at how suddenly so many women come forth with their stories as soon as these men are caught. In the Tiger Woods case about fourteen white women, in the other Political figures suddenly six, seven or more still coming forth with their stories of involvement with these men of high offices.

It is wrong in itself to publicly humiliate a governmental official like this. Couldn’t these women just privately corrected them for their behavior and put a stop to it instead of letting the Media get the news and make such a laughing stock of their own leaders before the whole world?

And I wouldn’t be surprised if more of these Political Leaders are caught in sex scandals with women. These are all women whom fully well knew who these men are and what they were doing. Have they forgotten what it was like to have class and human decency?

Women who do this have to remember they are also intruding on the rights of their own fellow female sisters the wives, since they and the children, if they have any are the ones whom get hurt the most. And in the case of men whom hold High Offices of Authority in the Community then they also shame the entire nation by their conduct.

The moral climate is so messed up that young children today have no role models to follow and they in turn grow up not really knowing what is right or wrong

Yes it is true many young children today have no role models to follow and they in turn grow up not really knowing what is right or wrong. Parents need to really teach their sons and daughters how to be a gentleman and a lady, it is a hard task since many parents themselves may not know anymore what it is like to be such.

Husbands and Wives really need to communicate more, getting to know what really is on the mine of the other. (Read the A-z to a Healthy Relationship Click Here!) Some men get involved in wrongful conduct because of being depressed and turn to sex for comfort. Letting your own wife know what is on your mine rather than turning to someone else outside can safe your marriage. (See previous post: “It only cost One Sense”)

Also praying together for help and strength from the Creator, another thing that most modern people have gotten away from and is the main reason for all their problems, getting Superior Godly Wisdom will help them in coping with weaknesses, problems, and the demonic influence pushing humans toward self destruction.

My father whom was a God fearing Jehovah’s Witness, used to say that he was glad he was born before this generation, and he used to pray for his children and for all people, especially all men, because of the heavy responsibilities they are entrusted with and the many temptations they face everyday. And he died even before it got this bad! (See previous post: Memoirs of a Wonderful Beloved Father)

Whether people choose to believe this or not, we are all created in God’s Image. We couldn’t know what is right or wrong or recognize laws of justice if this was not true. We all have the capacity to do good, and that is the reason we feel so sorry when we do bad. Our conscience, that inner compass, or inner voice is testimony to this fact. It is what God uses to guide us, it has to be trained with right knowledge, and he often talk softly to us when we start going the wrong way.

Some people have deaden their conscience so they can’t hear His voice anymore, they don’t listen and get into trouble. Married people made a promise before God to stick together, they need to constantly pray for help in keeping that promise and listen to that inner voice, otherwise the imperfect flesh will wander and do wrong.

And my fellow female sisters, whether you are white, black, Asian or of any other ethnicity, please remember you have a lot of power to better the world’s problems. Contributing toward sexual misconduct is doing nothing good but causing the dis-integration of the family, which can lead to the complete fall of Society as a whole, leaving so many children without fathers and sometimes without mothers.

(Read Child Custody Strategies for Men and Women Click Here!,) It causes distrust and disrespect among people for their leaders, and brings shame and disgrace on an entire nation.

If women and men just stop being so promiscuous and start being ladies and gentlemen again, I am sure the whole moral climate and the world would change for the better.

All those of you women whom say you can’t find a good man today so you need to sleep around, or get involved in lewd sexual conduct, even with married men, just try being ladies again and see what happens. You may be surprised how many gentlemen will suddenly start showing up again!

(Great book with fabulous advice for both men and women worth reading: The Woman Men Adore – and Never Want to Leave Click Here!)

*Please note that all photos used in this Post and throughout the Blog are Royalty Free Stock Photos from a Photo Stock Company used for illustration purposes only.

Posted in Peoples and Families | Tagged A lot of men are tempted into sexual immorality, After the Women Movement women got many freedoms and became equal to men, Child custody strategies for men and women, government official caught in sex scandal, Healthy relationship based on good communications between mates, Her husband was a god fearing man and didn't want to betray his wife, It became easier for men to start extra-marital affairs because of the availability of women, Marital infidelity causes hurt to wives and children, Married couples need to pray for strenght to save their marriage, Our conscience is a compass from God to guide us, Our conscience is like a inner voice to guide us, parents need to teach their children how to be a lady and gentlemen, Promiscuous woman were looked down on, Sexual mis conduct has caused many men in high Positions to fall, single women find it hard to find a good husband, Some men when depressed turn to sex for comfort, The former ladies and Gentlemen were classy decent, The moral climate is messed up so children have no role models to follow, When men make missteps, Women became the Boss and had authority over other men, women can refuse to encourage them into wrong conduct, Women have a lot of power to better the world, Women hold some some positions in Jobs even higher than some men, Women saturated the workplaces in all industries, Women who pursue married men are intruding on the rights of their fellow female sisters | 4 Comments

Are Those Little Fragile Easily Crushed Humpty-Dumpty Eggs Really All That Powerful, And Can Do So Much Good?

Posted on June 30, 2011 by giggling

When I was a child there was a nursery rhyme about the egg shaped character called Humpty-Dumpty who fell from a wall, broke into bits of pieces and all the Kings men and horses couldn’t put Humpty-Dumpty together again!

It was a little sad nursery song for kids, but it taught us a lesson on how valuable eating breakfast was which consisted mainly of eggs, mostly scrambled, boiled or fried.

It also illustrated the fragile nature of eggs, they can be so easily broken or cracked and what a great lost it was to lose them or waste them. The importance of this was shown in the song that the King called in all his men on horses to try to rescue the fallen Humpty-Dumpty but couldn’t do so.

So I always appreciated the lesson in showing us how very necessary eggs was to our diet. If the King was trying so hard to save the fallen egg, then it must have been very precious indeed.

So even way back in history eggs was a staple part of human diet, they were included as part of the food group necessary for life, and people no doubt knew something about their nutritious component, perhaps not so much as they do today.

Eggs are Powerhouses of Energy,Excellent Quality Protein and Low in fat.

Eggs fall in the same group of protein rich foods such as meat, poultry, fish, dry beans and nuts. And contrary to what people once believed a couple of years ago, they are now reversing that theory that eggs are bad for a person’s cholesterol. On the contrary they are very low in fat and will not raise a person’s cholesterol.

Eggs are so full of vitamins, minerals and nutrition that they can be put on the same level as taking a vitamin-mineral supplement a day, if eaten daily. It doesn’t surprise me that most vitamins and mineral supplements have the same oval shapes as eggs. Were the scientist trying to tell us “Hey, you can get the same nutrient by eating an egg?”

Here are some of the good stuff found in eggs:

Eggs are great fighters against blood clots, strokes, heart disease, heart attacks, breast cancer and all other cancers. (This was discovered in a study done by Harvard School of Public Health). Eggs are also very versatile, they can be cooked in so many different ways, one way is by simple boiling them. Boil eggs can help with weight loss due to their low fat, low calorie content and is very filling when eaten in between normal meals. But I also discovered something else about eggs a couple of days ago while boiling them, which inspired me to write this post on eggs.

Who said you can’t burn boiling eggs?

Maybe you have never heard anyone mentioned it or even thought about it yourself. It is just a simple thing most of us do. I usually boil several eggs at once, then store them in the Refrigerator whole or make deviled eggs and then eat them as snacks or as small meals in between larger meals, to help with weight loss, since they fill you up and make you eat less when it is time for dinner.

A couple of days ago I put about 4 eggs on the stove to boil, while I took my shower. About half way through my shower I suddenly heard a muffled sound like a gun shot. Living in New York you always think about the worst happening. My knees started shaking, and my heart beating fast from fright.

I got out of the shower put on my robe and tip toed out of the bathroom. I peeped around my bedroom door to see if someone had climbed up the window and gotten in, then I started tip-toeing across the room from the bathroom to the foyer hoping to get to the nearest phone, all the while gazing around to see where the gunman was hiding.

Then I heard another shot sound, stopping me in my tracks this time it clearly came from the kitchen. I was standing so close to the kitchen door, I was afraid to move. I started to pray “Oh Lord help me, a criminal is hiding in my kitchen, if I start to call 911 from the foyer he will hear me and kill me”. Then I suddenly remembered the eggs I had boiling on the stove. How will I get them, they must be overcooked or…I tried discreetly peeping around the kitchen door, and there I saw what really happened!

The shots I heard and thought were gun shots were the boiling eggs that had burned and exploded!

I was stunned at first at the sight because I never even thought that boiling eggs could be burned and react like this. The water in the pot had dried out and two of the eggs had literally exploded, pitching the yolks way up into the air and then falling down on the stove and nearby kitchen counter.

The whole stove top was a mess with pieces of burn egg shells and hard burned egg yolks all over. The other two were cracked and burned and I got there in time before they also exploded.

After recovering from the shock, I had to clean up all that mess, and tried to save a little from the other two that didn’t exploded. I was glad though that I didn’t get to the phone and called 911, that would have been an embarrassing sight for the police to come and find out that the gunshots were exploded eggs. But who knows it could have taught them something new like it taught me about eggs.

Later after doing some research on all the ingredients that make up an egg it really make sense that they could explode and make such a sound when over heated. They are full of energy and sulphur which is found in all explosives. By this we see that eggs are power houses of life giving energy, and why they have been the main breakfast food for generations, since they provide the fuel our body needs to start the day. And it shouldn’t surprise us either that they are loaded with so much life giving energy and nutrition since every human being and most other living things started as an Egg, even fishes in the sea.

Some very wonderful ways to prepare and eat eggs:

Eggs are not only good to be eaten at breakfast only! But can be prepared as brunch, lunch and dinner. And think about the other breakfast foods such as pancakes, muffins, crepes, breads all of which are made with the addition of eggs.

Eggs can also be serve d at parties and other gala events either as deviled eggs, added to sandwiches, in salads, in baked goods and during the holiday seasons as Eggnog.

There are also hundreds of different uses for eggs as addi ti o ns to other foods such as a basis for crispy oven fried chicken, fish, sea foods, meatloaves, meat balls, quiches, omelets, and doze ns of other delicious ways to serve and benefit from the great nutrition eggs provide.

Always remember though that eggs should be kept cool in the refrigerator, and cook thoroughly, as they can develop salmonella bacteria which can cause intestinal distress if not cooked well.

Even young girls can learn and experience their first cooking project by allowing them to beat the eggs while Mom prepare the batter or other foods.

Eggs can also be used as Beauty Products for Hair and Skin!

This was another thing my mother used to do when I was a child, she washed our hair in Egg shampoo because she believed that the rich protein and sulphur content was good for the hair making it grow long, lustrous and dandruff free.

She was so right because that is exactly what was recently discovered that Choline which comes from the Sulphur in eggs is an excellent hair nutrient, and can now be found in all Hair Supplement products.

All those high sounding words you see on Hair Shampoos and Conditioners such as Pantene and Panthenol all come from the B-Vitamins which are found in eggs.

Hair is also made from protein, and the high quality protein necessary for healthy hair is found in eggs. How Mom knew all this I have no idea but it worked. Egg Shampoo has been a favorite of mine up to this day. And I have never suffered from dandruff or itchy scalp. This can be used by both men and women, and everyone from any ethnicity with all types of hair, and color. Eggs are a universal food good for all peoples.

You can make your own shampoo by just adding an egg to a cup or half cup of your regular shampoo and lathering into your hair especially stimulating the scalp and hair follicles. Or add to your Hair Conditioner, wrap with a warm towel or plastic cap, and leave on for 30 minutes or more, then rinse out with warm then cool water! If any is left over, store in the Fridge until next use.

Make your own facial Beauty Mask from an egg. Beat an egg, then add a few drops of lemon juice and olive oil smear on face until dry, then rinse with warm water and then cold. Or use your imagination and mix other healthy grain or fruit with the egg.

Sometimes I use oatmeal flour mixed with the egg and olive oil and make a nice paste and works great also as a facial mask. These are all simple Beauty Treatments that are very expensive in Salons and will do the same thing if done at home. (See previous post: You can save money by doing some things yourself)

Hot Summer Days calls for Light Quick Cooking

With the hot summer now here, nobody like spending a lot of time in the kitchen during the hot weather. Making dinner from eggs is a fast nutritious way to cook and still get the necessary nutrient our body needs.

They have the same nutritious value as the major food group made up of meat, poultry, fish or steak, but still far less expensive than these, and take less time to cook and easier on y our budget.

Combine them with s a lads, green vegetables and wholegrain breads, or use leftover pieces of chicken, meat, fish, combined with smothered onions (see recipe for smothered onions under a previous post: “The Insignificant Onion: Antibacterial and Virus Fighting Body Guard“) and you got a great meal loaded with good nutrition, anti-oxidants and energy.

But remember if you must boil eggs, keep your eyes on them for it is possible to burn boiling eggs and they will explode! Yes, those little fragile easily crushed Humpty-Dumpty Eggs are a lot more powerful than we think, but they also do a lot of good for the body.

Posted in Healthy Tips | Tagged A egg day is like taking a vitamin supplement pill daily, A shrimp omelet is a beaten egg with a shrimp filling, boil eggs can aid in weight loss because of their low-fat content and is also very filling, Eat deviled eggs as snacks, Eggs are compared to Humpty-Dumpty from the Old fashioned chilcren's nursery rhyme, Eggs are powerhouses of Good Nutrution and energy, Eggs can be eaten not only at breakfast but also for bunch, Eggs can be prepared in thousands of different ways, Eggs can explode when left on stove to boil and the water dries out, Eggs explode because they contain sulphur which an explosive component, Eggs fall in the same food group as meat, eggs should be kept in the refridgerator as they can become laden with salmonella bacteria, fish, lunch and dinner, nuts and beans, poultry, Using eggs as beauty products for skin and hair, who fell down and was broken into small pieces | 2 Comments

Long Distance Vacation Driving-Some Tips To Enjoy The Journey, Get To Your Destination, And Return Home Safe And Alive.

Posted on July 14, 2011 by giggling

During the summer months, many people go on some type of vacation, since the kids are out of school and this time of year is a good time for families to make that nice out of town or out of State trip. It is also a time when many college students like to travel home if they are going to college in another area.

During the summer months more accidents happen than at other times of the year. It has been reported that more people are killed by traffic accidents than by all the wars that has taken place.

And a lot of these are young people whom may not be taking the necessary precautions before making the trip or while driving.

When you’re young it’s all about having fun and taking risk without thinking to much about life and death. Even older adults take chances on the road which can result in loss of life, or some may not pay attention to the different laws and speed limits in their States.

Most accidents can be avoided. Just yesterday I saw two young men driving in a small convertible car with the top down, and two long wooden spades which look like water skiing equipment sticking way to far out the back seat of the car. Any sudden jolt of the car could send those spades right into a vehicle following them, causing an accident resulting in damage and possible lost of the drivers life.

So most of the time it is just a matter of thinking and making sure everything is in place before making the trip. The foremost concern for all drivers to think about is “Saving Lives”- their own, the lives of those whom may be traveling with them, the lives of the Officers whom are protecting them on the road, and the lives of other drivers traveling beside, behind and in front of them on the road. One important way to do this is to prepare for the trip and make sure your vehicle is in top condition.

Before making the trip, give your vehicle a complete Mechanical (Medical) Check-up:

You want the journey to be as enjoyable as the destination. So the more comfortable and safer you make it for those traveling with you the more it will be enjoyed by all.

Don’t advertise to Thieves or Burglars that you are going away

You may be surprised who may be paying attention to your home, or apartment and can’t wait for you to take everybody and go away. Oh how happy that burglar or thief will be when he notices you’re gone. So make it seems like somebody is home:

You want to be sure all windows and doors are locked and very secure. If you don’t have any security such as an alarm, outside lighting or window gates, check with your local Precinct Crime Prevention to see what is best for you.

If you do have outside lights, turn them on, nothing is more telling than a home left in complete darkness for several days. Keep your window shades slightly open, not wide open for somebody can look in and see that nobody is home.

Leave a few radios on in the house. I noticed people living in New York City’s Apartments do this a lot, you can hear radios playing but nobody comes to the door when the bell is rang, so you never know for sure if they are sleeping or out of town.

I always think everybody should be on good terms with their neighbors, at least one good one. I speak to all my neighbors since this is the way I was brought up to live in the Caribbean. Maybe in some smaller towns this might be the same. But here in the city some neighbors don’t even know who is living next door, since peoples schedules are so varied.

One of my neighbors travels quite often and she lets me know when she will be out of town and I take care of all the things I am suggestions below.

You can also let your neighbor know you will be gone and to take care of all flyers, newspapers or magazines dropped off at your door. A good neighbor can also pick up your mail and save for you until you return. Also if you have your own garbage cans ask a neighbor to use yours along with their own and to put it out at night before collection just like you would do if you were home.

Keep the mood in the car upbeat, lively and worry free!

Taking care of the above will give you a lot more peace of mind while traveling or away. If it is a long trip arrange for more than one driver to take turns and take good care to get sufficient sleep the night before the trip. If on medications, don’t take any drugs before making the trip as some medications can make a person drowsy and act similar to a drunken person.

This can cause an accident or to be pulled over by an officer. Have a large cooler with ice cold bottled water to drink, or other non- alcoholic drinks and snacks for the trip on the floor in the back so they can be easy to get to when needed.

Make sure you have copies of your Drivers license Id’s, and all necessary documents in the front compartment of the car so they can be easily accessed if need to. This is also a good place to keep your cell phone, keep it out of site so you’re not tempted to use it while driving but still easy to get if the need arise. By all means no text messaging or speaking on cell-phones while driving, in some places this is against the law now. (See previous post: Cellphonemania)

Keep the mood and atmosphere in the car energetic and lively. Play upbeat music, this will keep everybody awake and happy. If children are in the back seat be sure they are secure in their seats or car seats if young enough to be seated in such.

When the original Driver gets tired, then the second arranged driver can take over and give him or her a break. This could be husband and wife, or two friends or room-mates.

This should be discussed even before making the trip. If an argument breaks out, try to change the subject to something funny.

If that doesn’t help and the driver feels himself or herself getting angry and raising his or her voice, before it leads to road rage which can distort thinking and vision and cause an accident, please look for the nearest rest station, and get out of the car and walk a little, this will calm the person down, and also the other person by the time driving resumes. (see previous post on: Raging Moving Volcanos, Dangerous Health Hazards, leading to premature death)

On the road pay attention to all vehicles around you and all traffic signs

You may have taken all precautions before leaving your home and while driving, but not everyone else on the road may be doing so. Some other drivers could get distracted and may not even see you. So these days you have to pay attention to every vehicle around you and see where you are in relation to each one. Also look further ahead than the vehicle just in front of you.

Pass other cars only in passing zones and do so with safety and courtesy. Use turn signals and rear-view and side mirrors constantly to see from all angles. Approach all intersections with caution even if you have the green light, or right away. Check for cars pulling into the intersection, and pay attention to vehicles that may legally make a right turn when the traffic light is red.

Let other drivers know what you intend to do by using your turn signals, not only when making a turn but also when changing lanes. Watch out for those large trucks on the road. Don’t get in their blind spot.

The drivers of these large trucks cannot see you if you cannot see him in the side rear-view mirror. Use rear view mirrors often, you need to see what is happening behind you especially before you turn or change lanes.

If it gets dark before you get to your destination, slow down at night, if it begins to rain do the same, it is better to drive slower during rainy weather or on wet roads because your brakes and tires are less effective under these conditions.

What to do in spite of everything you have done you still have an accident

No matter how hard you try to prevent one sometimes accidents do happen. Most of them are minor with no mayor damage or death involved. Sometimes accidents may not be your fault but the other driver. As mentioned above not everyone on the road has taken or is taken the same careful precautions as you.

So what should you do if someone suddenly bump into you or you didn’t know that the driver in front of you was going to suddenly stop, and you hit him in the rear?

Please don’t keep driving and leave the scene as if nothing happened. Remain calm and shut off the engine. Get out of the car, and clear all persons from the area especially if you smell gasoline or if the car is on fire. This is the time to grab your cell-phone, take pictures of the accident and call the Fire Department if the car is on fire, or call the Police and Ambulance if anyone is injured, or if the vehicle is disabled.

Always request a copy of a accident report, and if from New York report the accident to the Department of Motor Vehicles

Get the names of the persons in the other car and potential witnesses’ names and addresses as soon as possible. If an officer is called and an accident report is written ask when and where you can obtain a copy.

Your car insurance company will request one. And if from New York according to the New York Vehicle and Transportation Law (Article 22, 605), always remember to contact the Department of Motor Vehicles and report the accident, even if a police report has been filed. Failure to do is considered to be a misdemeanor and can result in dire consequences such as revocation of your license.

If from a different State or live in another country follow the required laws in your State or Country.

Fortunately the above may not applied to you on this trip, this is only good to know just in case there is an accident, especially young people may not always be aware of what to do or familiar with any new laws in their state.

You have finally arrived at your destination safe and sound, and have a great vacation. On the return trip, just follow the same steps on the road, and you should return home safe, relaxed and refreshed, because not only did you enjoyed the vacation you also enjoyed the journey, the long distance drive should be a part of the enjoyment of the vacation itself.

Posted in Peoples and Families | Tagged behind and in front of them, Don't text and drink and drive at the same time, Drivers should pay attention to everybody around, If have an accident stop and get out of car and take pictures with cell-phone, If pulled over by Officer be respectful and remain calm, keep drivers license and cell=phone in front car compartment, Long distance vacation driving, road rage can lead to accidents because thinking ability and vision becomes distorted, Rport Accident to Department of Motor Vehicles, Take precautions to protect your life by giving your vehicle a complete mechanical Check-Up, The New Ambrose Searles Move Over Act, The New Ambrose Searles Move Over Act is supposed to protect the Officers on the Road, use turn signals when making a turn, Watch out for large trucks on the highway in your review mirrors, young people get into accident because they take risk | 3 Comments

On the Road of Life there are many Jacks and Jackie’s deserving of their Jacket

Posted on July 29, 2011 by giggling

When I was growing up in St. Maarten (Dutch-French Caribbean) I often heard the saying “Every Jack deserves his Jacket, or Give Jack his Jacket.” I don’t know if they use that expression here since I haven’t heard it in a while, but it simple meant to give a man (or woman) credit, honor or show appreciation if he deserves it.

I added Jackie to the saying above since women should be included also and be given credit or honor for the good they do for others. I guess his jacket came from the olden days when a person recognized as deserving of honor was given a cape or a special garment in appreciation of his service.

“Not taking people for granted”

In our modern world and in some cultures people are often taken for granted, or judged by what they look like, their race or ethnicity, the kind of work they do, popularity or celebrity status. Even a person’s capabilities seem to be judged by his race or culture. When in reality there are millions of ordinary men and women working hard on our behalf the human race (people are basically all just people) everyday whom are never given a thought or a word of thanks for their contribution to all of us.

Think about all the millions of doctors specializing in various health fields, nurses, hospital technicians, paramedics, firefighters, police-officers, teachers, and so many other professional “Servants” whom are working day and night to keep us alive and the world functioning as it is.

And we can’t overlook those who are doing the less glamorous jobs, such as farmers, carpenters, butchers, factory workers, and the dirty workers: the Garbage Collectors, Street Sweepers, Construction workers, plumbers, Sewage Cleaners and so many other humble men and women working on behalf of the human race everyday. (people are basically all just people)

How many times do all these Jacks and Jackie’s get their jacket, a thank you or a word of appreciation for their hard work? Sometimes never, they are just taken for granted, and often look down upon for the kind of jobs they do. We need all these kinds of people to keep us alive, healthy and well fed.

“Showing appreciation for all those working behind the scenes”

You noticed at the end of every movie we see a long list of credits to all the workers whom have contributed to that movie, the Writers, Producers, Directors, Editors, Hairdressers, Carpenters, Make-Up Artists, Stage Hands, Stage Managers, Set Designers, Graphic-Designers, Cameramen, and so many thousands of people all worked to make that movie a success.

Still as soon as the movie finishes people get up and start leaving never even taken the time to glance at the moving screen of names or to read the credits, to give thanks for all those workers behind the scene whom have made that movie enjoyable for them to watch. They give a whole lot of credit and glory to the Actors and they become their Idols, but the workers whom really did most of the hard work nobody even took the time to read their names and say “Thanks for a Wonderful Show or Movie”.

Do you ever think about all the other people behind the scenes that are making it possible for us to see when it is dark, or to watch TV? I like the slogan one Electric Company used in a TV ad years ago: “We will keep the lights on for you”. It drove home the point that there are real people working to keep our lights and air conditioners working.

Especially during the last heat wave in New York City just a week ago, there was a black-out in some areas and I saw some of those Con Ed (The Electric Company serving most of New York) men digging up the sidewalk in that hot sweltering heat to find and fix some pipes that had caused the black-out in the neighborhood. They worked hard, those guys were wet from heat induced perspiration but they worked until they got that problem fixed and people could get their lights and air conditioners back again.

I went out on the sidewalk and I personally thank them for their hard work, while some people complained about the heat inside their homes, but hardly even give thought to the hard working men in that 103 degrees hot sun working so hard to keep them cool again. Did anyone else tell them “Thank You?” I hope so.

“During the last heat wave did you think about all those whom had to work outdoors, working on our behalf?”

There are so many jobs that require working outdoors whether it is hot or freezing cold. All these people need our show of appreciation. Take for instance our Postal Delivery men and women. In my neighborhood most of them are young women. In New York City they actually walk from house to house or apartment building to the next.

I saw my Postal delivery girl in that heat last week going from house to house, and I commended her jokingly telling her she can take that job and shove it, it is one that I don’t envy.

I can just imagine how much they have to endure everyday, in the hot burning sun is something I don’t think I can do. These Jackie’s sure deserve their jackets of appreciation for bringing our mail directly to us whether it is hot, icy cold, raining or snowing.

And what about our Fire-fighters? I think New York City have some of the best and fastest Fire fighters in the Country. Well, I shouldn’t say so since I haven’t live in other cities, but from my experience they get to the spot even before you can hang up the phone.

One night my Carbon Monoxide Alarm starting beeping during the night. Not knowing what to do since it had never beeped before and it shouldn’t unless there is carbon monoxide in the air, I quickly called 911, and before I could practically hang up the phone there were about 5 or 6 firefighters standing at my door.

Before they even stepped in they told me their detector had not found any gas in the air, but to still make me feel at ease, they examined every room, and the alarm itself, and the problem was that I had not changed the batteries for more than six months, so now I make sure to keep my alarm batteries up to date.

And just a few weeks ago there was a fire in my building, one floor below me that caused such an uproar in the building. Those Fire-Fighters were there in less than no time, about 4 trucks full of them, you would think the whole block was on fire, so many of them showed up. They worked all afternoon in putting that fir e out.

These loyal men, somebody’s Father, Husband, Uncle, Son, Nephew or Friend risk their lives everyday to save others, and how many people really think about thanking them? After that fire in my building the floors were full of water and my apartment smelled of smoke for days after, but I personally thank them for saving our lives as they were getting ready to leave the building. These Jacks sure deserved their jackets.

“Show appreciation by not knocking someone down that is trying to stand up!”

At the library earlier this week, there was a young black man probably in his late twenties, sitting in a motorized wheelchair and moving himself around. I was staring at him and wondering what happened to him that caused him to end up in a wheelchair so young. I thought he had gotten shot and ended up being paralyzed. He asked me to put some books in his bag that was hanging in the back of his wheelchair since he couldn’t reach the bag.

As I was putting the books in his bag, I asked him the question on my mind, what happened to him? He said he had three heart attacks, and the last heart attack he was dead for 7 minutes before the doctors revived him. “Heart attacks so young” I exclaimed. He said his heart was ruptured by a small sewing needle that was on his bed without his knowing it, and when he rolled over it pierced his flesh right into his heart and caused a hernia which resulted in the attacks.

I was shocked, I would never have thought that a needle that small could cause such damage, and it made me even more cautious when sewing to not drop needles anywhere on my bed since I love to sit in bed and do needle work.

This young man had such a miraculous story to tell, he said next week he will be at the library again and will tell me more of his story. But in the meantime he is working on writing a book of short stories, but has met a lot of obstacles and not sure if he will succeed in getting it published.

I told him I fully understand the obstacles and struggles he will encounter in trying to convince people out there that he is capable of writing. I know how much he will be discriminated against as a black man, a disabled one at that since the general perception in the USA is that black people don’t read much less capable of writing a book.

That may be true of some black people in the USA, their attitude and views on education and certain professional skills is different that black people in other countries such as Europe, Africa and the Caribbean, and has contributed to stereo-typing all as the same and in being victims of discrimination. (about stereo-typing people see post on: Avoiding and Dealing with Disappointments)

I knew that was the way I was treated in New York after finishing Design school and looking for a job in the Design and Advertising Field. I had been on some interviews and some people even didn’t take the time to look at my Portfolio of work once they see that I was a colored girl. (over the phone with my last name and accent they thought maybe I was White European, it didn’t matter that I was part European of mixed race, in America they only see two colors, black and white).(see post: What Color, Shape or Size is really Beauty and Happy?)

But then when I walked into their studios or offices I wasn’t qualify anymore because I look different than they expected, even though I had graduated with all A’s and B’s from one of New York’s Best Art Schools. My Portfolio of work would have proven to them that I could do the job. That is what is called outright prejudice! Pre-judging someone without taken the time to know if they are capable or not.

So many times I was knocked down even before I had a chance to stand up. My father told me to use my creative talent in working for myself or producing my own products, which I started with my Greeting Cards Design and Writing. Other things I would love to do I don’t have the money to develop yet.

“Some people will never give Jack or Jackie their jacket, no matter how much they deserve it.”

But then again even with showing the greeting cards to store owners, I came across the same surprise look and questioning: “Did you really do all these yourself?” “Did you really write the inside messages and choose the categories of cards for different occasions yourself?” I got them in some greeting card stores, while the majority found some excuse to not let me put them in. One store Owner only wanted blank cards since he didn’t trust my ability to write the inside messages.

Since I loved writing I decided to write an online magazine or what we now call Blogs for all people, no matter what nationality, race (I only believe in one race, the human race) (see previous post: People are basically are just people) or cultural group, and started this Blog two years ago.

I get a lot of appreciative comments from most readers, but there are still some comments from others asking me the same questions as to my ability to design and write, questions such as: “Did you really choose and designed the theme yourself?” Are you really the writer of all these different posts?” Or some would say: “Nice Blog, is it yours to?”

Yes, to all those questions. Besides being a Graphic Designer, I am also a Web Designer and I designed this website myself. I don’t permit any guest writers, so I am the only one writing here. That is my own picture in the heading which I took with a self-timer camera. And the background picture is a scene from St. Maarten where I came from and I also took that myself.

And another question I am getting quite often now is: “Can I put part of this info on my Blog if I put a reference to your Site?” Yes, as long as it is only a part of a post, and not being written as your own, and there is a link to my site as the original writer. Otherwise anyone doing so can say they are the original writers and I stole their info. I find that question quite interesting since some people that probably thought I couldn’t write would want a potion of my articles on their own sites!

These are my own original work and it is copyrighted, so no one is allowed to copy the material and treat it as their own, take the credit for themselves, and later say that I steal it from them.

“Don’t let other people keep you down, it only takes one person to pick you up”

I know there are a lot of capable talented people out there whom are letting others cause them to stop trying anything. Don’t let them stop you if you’re one of those whom feel it is no use trying. (See post: Courageously putting your heart into it your body will follow) If you’re a Jack or Jackie of any culture or ethnicity and you think you deserve your jacket, by all means keep doing what you love and want to do.

Somebody will notice and extend a helping hand. All it takes most of the time is just one person. Many people like Oprah Winfrey and others got where they are today through one person giving them a job, or a opportunity to succeed. One person gave them their jacket and they in turn have been a positive force in the life of millions around the world.

So I look forward to speaking to that paralyzed young black man in his motorized wheelchair in the library next week, and if I can help him find a publisher whom might give him a chance at publishing his book, then I certainly will. Who knows how many people he might be able to motivate with his story?

And for all the Jacks and Jackie’s out there, the hardworking men and women of the human race, no matter how great or small your job is, if you’re doing something to serve or benefit your fellowman, thank you very much for you contribution toward Society, and keep wearing your Jacket well, you deserve it!

Written and designed by Glenda Brill (C)

Posted in Encouragement | Tagged A young man sitting in a motorised wheelchair had three heart attacks, Con Ed men working hard in the hot sun to fix pipes during a black-out, control it with anit-frizz shampoo, Controlling frizzy hair with this latest hair product, Don't let hot humid weather get your hair all frizzy, farm workers work hard so we have food to eat, Free Vitamin Recommendation from Dr. Weill, garbbage collectors keep the environment clean and us healthy, Get the vitamins that your body needs, His heart was pierced by a small sewing needle and cause a hernia, It takes one man or woman to extend a helping hand to someone who is trying to succees, Jack and Jackie getting their jacket, Oprah Winfrey became a positive force for people around the world because one man gave her a job or opportunity years ago, Oprah Winfrey was helped by one man to be where she is today, People will knocked you down through pre-judice, picking somebody up that is lying down, Police-Officers and Fire-Fighters deserve our thanks for the work they do, Postal Workers have to endure the hot sun and icy cold weather to deliver our mail, Protect your hair from the frizzies with this latest haircare, Protecting your skin with the latest sunscreens lotions, Some people will never give you credit for your work no matter how much you deserve it, Sunschreen latest breakthrough, Surgeons and doctors save lives everyday, Working in the hot sun for our benefit | 1 Comment

How Some People Are Kicking The Economy To The Curb, Creating Work And Making Money

Posted on August 31, 2011 by giggling

During one of the extremely steamy hot summer days we had here in New York City a couple of weeks ago, (*I started writing this around the beginning of August but then my computer broke down and I had to write small potions of this post and saved it on my flash drive from the Public Library. Since they don’t allow to much time to write a long story all at once, it took this long to finally put it on the Blog and I apologize for publishing it only now).

I was walking down a residential street to the next avenue to my favorite Fruit and Vegetables Shop. I noticed two little Jewish girls (this area where I was walking and going to shop is made up of all Jews, mostly European immigrants) sitting in front of the sidewalk on the inside area of their walkway.

There was a stoop from their walkway going down to the sidewalk, and they were sitting on the stoop, and in front of them they had a complete counter set up with jars, cups etc. At first I thought they were playing, but then as I was passing one of the little girls called out to me: “Would you like a cup of ice cold lemonade on this hot day?”

Surprised I responded: “Are you girls really in business?” “Oh yes, responded the youngest one (these children could be no older than 8 and 10 years old) you can have a large cup for 50 cents and a small one for 25 cents.” We also have small snack bags of popcorn for 25 cents. A real little sales lady!

“Are you making any money selling lemonade and popcorn so cheap?” I exclaimed. “We are making a lot, a lot of money”, responded the youngest one grinning from ear to ear. The innocence of children is so funny, I just had to smile. They were so cute and sincere, even if they made just $5 a day when paid in coins to a child that was a lot of money!

Even young children can be taught the value of work by serving people and earning a living

Nobody could resist buying lemonade from these sweet little children, with such sincerity, such low prices, and on a hot steaming summer day. One large cup of lemonade for just 50 cents was not even enough to quench my thirst. And if you eat the popcorn in between it made you drink more lemonade. It took 3 large cups for me to get enough of this delicious cold drink. So from one person they made $1.75 for 3 large cups of lemonade and a small bag of popcorn.

Wow these children were smart! Now I understood how they could make some really good money. By pricing their products so low, and offering two contradictory products at the same time, (the popcorn made you drink more lemonade), and if just 20 people (they probably sold more since they were so close to the big shopping avenue where I was going) bought 3 cups or more of lemonade and 2 bags of popcorn for $2.00 each that is $40,-.

If they did this a couple of hours each day at high noon just as they were selling that day they made up to $200 or more in a week. That little girl was right when she said they were making a lot of money, since some people working for medium wage may not even make that much in a week.

Have to give credit to their parents for teaching them so young that earning an honest living comes from work by serving the needs of people. The same my father taught me and my siblings when we were young, by letting us help him work in his store as children. (See previous post: Memoirs of a Wonderful Beloved Father).

Seeing a need and filling it!

And this is the key to creating work and making money. What would sell real fast on a steaming hot summer day like a real ice cold drink? I remember when Donald Trump started his reality show the “Apprentice” several years ago, this was one of the very first assignments he gave his applicants. They were organized into teams and were to sell lemonade around Central Park in the midst of New York City during the hot summer days. Which ever team sold and made the most money, were the winners.

These applicants were all college educated young men and women, and it seemed like such a simple thing for them to be given to do by one of the richest businessmen in New York City, sell lemonade on the street to anyone passing by their lemonade stands.

I am sure a lot of them had to swallow their pride (See previous post: Swallowing Pride While digesting the brain), but they did it and sold and made a lot of money. The lesson learned was making money comes from seeing what is needed, creating work while filling that need by serving your fellowman, and if you can sell such a simple thing, you can sell anything else!

What are some of the needs people have?

So if some of us are unemployed and can’t find a job, instead of folding our hands, standing in the unemployment or welfare line waiting for that check, or just waiting for the President to create jobs (It is impossible for the President to create a job for everyone that is looking for work. First he is only a man, he cannot make some people work at a job they don’t want, and he cannot fill the desire of every person whom demands it).

We are responsible for creating our own livelihood, each one of us know what we love and want to do, we can look around and see what is needed and create work. Every human being needs basically the same things: A Home, Food, Drink, Clothes, Shoes, Soap, detergent, toilet paper, hair care & products, skincare products, handbags, and you can probably think of some others. (Previous post: People are basically all just people)

Learning from the immigrants to the USA

If you walk through the Streets and Avenues of Brooklyn, and Manhattan, and probably the rest of New York City, but I am not to familiar with the other boroughs, you would hardly believe that anyone is unemployed or that there is a recession. All you see is a hub of people working and providing services and products of every conceivable kind to their fellowman.

Brooklyn especially has been called the melting pot of the world, people from nearly every Caribbean island in existence can be found here. (I haven’t met anyone yet from the Dutch-French Caribbean like myself) I sometimes wonder if there is anyone left in Trinidad, Jamaica, Barbados, Grenada, Dominican Republic and so many of those islands.

Then there are people from Mexico, every part of South America, every nation of Africa, also Europeans, Arabs, Egyptians, Koreans, Indians, Chinese, Jews, you name the country you can find them here. I am usually shocked when I meet a real American born from American parents and didn’t come from somewhere else.

But one thing is very obvious they are working at their own created jobs. Knowing that all women are concerned about their hair especially black women, these women saw that need, got the necessary training and are filling it and making good money! On nearly every block you can find Hair Dressers and Stylists, also Barber Shops owned by Caribbean and African women and men, and they are always packed with customers having their hair done.

Nail Salons, Fruit and Vegetables Stands by the Koreans, the Arabs and Indians own their own 99 cents and discount stores, selling real nice stuff for 99 cents or a little more. The Mexicans do all the heavy stacking at the various Korean Fruit Stands, Supermarkets and some own their own Fish Markets.

In the Jewish area made up of many immigrants from Russia, Poland and the Ukraine again busy in their own businesses providing fine European clothes, bags and other products and services to the community.

Also many Stores carry products especially for Babies’, Children Clothes, Shoes, Toys and products for mothers with young children. All these Jewish Families have babies and young children, so again we see why these small businesses succeed, they saw a need and filled it, creating work and jobs.

Just recently a group of young Caribbean girls opened up a Spa Center, where they also sell other stuff for women such as fabulous jewelry, skincare products and shoes. Their window showcase is so beautifully decorated that every time I pass by their center it is hard not to go in. And that is exactly what has been happening, they are always crowded with women shopping and having something done.

Turning Crushing Stones Into Building Blocks

Losing your job can be a real blow, like stones crushing your spirit and hopes. But you can use those stones and turn them into building blocks to do what you really love and want to do. A couple of young West Indian women had jobs in corporate New York, but lost them, and started their own Bakery Shop providing fresh baked bread to their fellow man.

They have done so well that they have a storefront with employees helping them sell. Others started their own restaurants providing something different from their island for their neighbors. I have seen a lot of new restaurants and unique bakery goods (called “Bake Shops” by West Indian immigrants) storefronts opened up just within the last year alone.

One other young black woman I know worked in Corporate New York City as a Product Developer for a national company in their marketing division. She lost her job, and since she loved baking her own natural chocolate cookies she baked a batch of them in her own kitchen, asked the Supermarket in the neighborhood to let her demo them to customers for them to try and see how they will sell.

The response was great, now she has her own line of natural chocolate cookies, she recently also got her own commercial kitchen with more ovens, her cookies are professionally packaged and labeled and already on the shelves of one of the Big Supermarkets in Brooklyn. A well known Whole foods store in Manhattan (New York City) also carries her cookies. She recently told me that she is expanding into more stores, and looking to hire other people to help her.

And with the holidays coming up she is preparing for a lot of orders coming in. Her cookies are delicious, she adds different stuff like pretzels, and nuts to them, and packaged them in different sizes. These are indeed great examples on how to turn a crushing stone into a building block for your own business. She loves what she is doing and will probably never go back to a corporate job again!

If she gets her chocolate cookies into Supermarkets and other whole food stores across the USA, then she certainly don’t need a job working for any company again but her own. Isn’t this how all the now Big million dollar Businesses like McDonalds, Aunt Jemima Pancake Mixes, and all those other food products we take off the shelves in stores got their start?

All started with just one man or woman with an idea and the desire to work and serve the needs of their fellowman!

So the next time you buy some real delicious natural chocolate cookies in your Local Supermarket you might be eating the product produced by a local young black woman from Brooklyn New York originally started in her own kitchen. These are just some people that I personally know but there might be so many others that are already doing this we may not even know who is behind some of the products we get in stores.

Others are providing services for children and seniors, such as being a Nanny, or Senior Caretaker, Companion to the Elderly, Baby Nurse for working professionals whom need such services, Tutoring, so many ways these immigrants are creating work and making money.

One lady from the island of Trinidad worked for several years as a Senior Care Companion, and she made enough money and bought herself a beautiful house. She has achieved the American Dream by providing a simple job that is needed by Seniors. They came to the USA to work, and they will work at whatever is needed to be employed and make a living. Then there are the:

Sidewalk Vendors, literally kicking the economy to the curb!

Selling on the Streets or sidewalks is very common in most other countries, so most of these immigrants just bring their customs or work ethics with them. Those that cannot afford a storefront, just use the sidewalks. I believe a vendor needs a special license to sell this way, but a whole lot of them are making money selling on the sidewalk, literally kicking the economy to the curb.

It is a real experience and joy to walk along the avenues and browse the different tables and stands of sidewalk vendors. These again are mostly immigrants, selling everything you can think on, from Coconuts, to sugarcane, yes they will actually chop open a coconut and let you drink the juice and take the shell with the inside meat home.

You can also get real sugarcane, cut according to the size piece you want. Walk down to a different table and try the different mango chutneys. These sidewalk vendors are made up of all kinds of ages from preteens to the elderly all working and serving the needs of their fellowman.

Again I came across two young Jamaican boys, no older than 12 and 14 years old, with their own Ice Cone Table. They set up shop right outside their parents Health food Store also Jamaicans, and they were selling Ice Cones, which is shaved or crushed ice in a cup. The customer then chooses what kind of flavor they want pour over this shaved ice.

They had large containers of different fruit flavors consisting of strawberry, coconut, vanilla, chocolate, raspberry, etc. So anyone can buy a cup of shaved ice and have any one of the above flavors pour over it for only $1 a cup. Similar to the little Jewish girls mentioned at the beginning this again was an excellent way to make money during the hot summer days! And they were, because their table was always surrounded by people buying their Ice Cones!

But it is not only food and drink, you can find the real raw Shea Butter which is one of the best skin and hair moisturizers in the world directly from Africa.

There are young women selling their own handmade very beautiful unique earrings, creative handbags, slippers, men selling the latest DVD’s, CD’s, Books, new and used, socks, neckties, Tee shirts, perfumed oils, candles, soaps, fruits and vegetables.

It is amazing what these sidewalk vendors sell, and they can sell their stuff real cheap since there is no overhead expense like owning a store and paying rent.

Therefore like the little girls mentioned at the beginning they get more sales because people buy more when they find a good bargain. One lady I met didn’t yet have a license to set up a table on the sidewalk, but she was walking along the sidewalks, selling beautiful ladies’ handbags from her shopping cart.

A regular rolling shopping cart filled with ladies’ handbags, which she bought at a discount (for wholesale stuff, see website: www.payjusthalf.com, at check-out in the Discount Box add LC28796) and were selling them at marked up prices, but still much lower than a store.

When I later saw her again, I was surprised she had sold every one of those handbags just rolling her cart up and down the sidewalk. She said she made $500 in a few hours from those one shopping cart sales of handbags! Some people even don’t make $500 in a week. Can you imagine how much she makes per week selling different stuff this way?

Creating your own job, or work might be the only way to go these days.

So whom are the ones standing in the unemployment lines according to the news reports we keep hearing? Whom are the ones waiting for the President to give them a job? From the examples above, can we really say there is no work in the USA?

If immigrants can find ways to create jobs, and make money and even buy their own homes in the USA, why are Americans blaming the President and complaining about the economy and the recession?

Remember he also encouraged people to start their own small businesses because this will be the fastest way to build back our economy. The immigrants are listening and doing so in whatever way they can.

Each one of us has to do our own part to fix our economy. Creating your own job, or work might be the only way to go these days. Can’t sit back and hope for someone else to give you a job. Wherever you live, in every state or small town, look around and see what is needed, a product, a service, we all have talents and skills that can be used to serve other people.

You have something I need, I buy it from you, I provide a service you need you buy it from me. (For wholesale stuff at half price check out this website: www.payjusthalf.com at check-out in the Discount Box Add LC28796)

Keep money flowing from one to the other so no one will be without, there will be no more poor getting poorer and no more only the rich getting richer

This is what I also noticed among the sidewalk vendors, they help each other, one offers something the other needs, so they buy it, the other whom is buying also have a product his seller needs, so he sells that, and so we keep money flowing from one to the other, helping each other and paying our taxes which will help the economy.

And if pride is a problem in providing some services or products then tell me which is more humiliating, to stand in a unemployment or welfare line, or to stand on the sidewalk, if that is what you have to do to get started and sell great products or services? I think the first is much more demeaning than the second choice! (See again previous post: Swallowing pride, while digesting the brain).

When you see a need for a product or service, fill that need, creating your own work and making your own money. If two little Jewish girls, and those two young Jamaican boys could do so, being just children, then anyone else especially an adult can do the same. Yes, folks it is possible to kick the economy to the curb, learn from the many examples mentioned above.

**pictures used on this Blog are from a Stock Photography Company, unless otherwise taken by myself or my own illustrations.

Posted in Dealing with Financial Hard Times | Tagged All kinds of immigrants from the Caribbean and other countires live in Brooklyn New York, Also many Jews, Americans waiting for the President to give them a job, and Mexicans live in Brooklyn New York, and the poor will not get any poorer, Arabs, Barber shops owned by Caribbean Women and Men, by seeing a need and filling it, children playing on sidewalk, Chocolate cookies produced by a young black woman, Egyptians, Keep money flowing so the rich will not get any richer, Kicking the economy to the curb, Making money from providing a service your fellowman needs, One woman started her own chocolate cookie line, pricing products low to sell more, Selling popcorn real cheap, Sidewalk Vendors sell all kinds of products from food to personal care products from tables on the sidewalk, Some young women started their own bakery shop, standing in the unemployment lines, Two little Jewish Girls selling lemonade, We can create our own jobs, Woman selling beautiful jewelry and handbags on the sidewalk, young children can be taught how to work and serve people | Comments Off

Remembering not to forget the little things of today

Posted on September 20, 2011 by giggling

I love going to the public Library just around the corner, sometimes just to relax and read, do research, or use their computers when my own was broken. But this branch of the library that I sometimes go to is mostly crowded with young children. There is a special section with computers for them to use, and after school it seems like all the young children in the neighborhood just flock to the library so they can play games and browse whatever they want on the computers.

During summer break these children spend all day at the library just sitting in front of a computer playing games or browsing the internet. And now that school began they come directly from there to the library and will spend all afternoon until closing time until 8 pm on some nights doing the same thing.

All this without any supervision from the librarian or parents. “Do their parents or parent if from a single family home even know where they are and what they are doing?” I often asked myself. No doubt their parents have to work to provide for their families, which they will say they need food, clothes, a place to sleep and to save for their education tomorrow.

So they spend all their time providing these needs for their children and worrying about their future, but what about today? Do they even spend enough time with them to even get to know them now as they are growing?

How can they get to know their children if all their time is spent at work all day, the children are at school, and after school they are alone somewhere, or at the library looking at things on the internet they probably shouldn’t? Shouldn’t these children be reading something educational or brain stimulating instead?

And why aren’t their parents concerned as to what kind of games they are playing online or what sites they are browsing? And because of hardly any activity some of these kids are overweight. What happened to the time when children used to run, jump, and play ball or other types of games that involve moving around? Are computers now their new babysitters?

It is such a privilege to have children, to see their first smile, their first steps, the first time they start running and talking, the first time they put their little soft hands around your neck, and even their first facial expressions when they dislike a certain food.

Even though I don’t have any children I know all this because I worked as a Nanny for a few years and took care of different ages children, from babies up until age ten. I was also the oldest of 8 children and helped my mother with my younger siblings. All these are little things that can bring so much joy to parents.

And they are worth cherishing because they are temporary. Children grow up so fast and a parent can miss out on so much joy by not being around or spending time with them.

The children also miss out on developing the kind of love, good qualities, and manners that parents are supposed to teach them.

Then when something happened to them after they are grown up then their parents start remembering some of the little things the child used to do when little and how much they missed out on. Then it is too late to let them know how much you appreciate them, or what they did.

This experience comes from a true story I read several years ago about how a father felt because he never took time to give his only little daughter the attention she needed. He was always to busy with financial matters preparing for her future, while ignoring her needs at the time. After a terrible car accident that took his little girls life, all he could remembered was not the many important things he worked hard for, the house, the car, or the many plans he made over the years.

But it was the simple things he barely noticed or took for granted. The way his little girls’ hand touched his, her little pleading eyes when she wanted something, the hopeful inflection in her voice. It was one evening in particular before that accident that kept coming back to his mind.

He was a businessman and had brought home from his office a draft of the annual stockholders’ report. It was important to his families’ future. While he was sitting reading this report his little girl came into the room with a new Fairy tale book. Holding the book up she said: “Look Daddy, will you read me a story in it?” Without taking his eyes off of the Stockholders’ Report he was reading he answered: “No dear, not just now”.

But Mary just stood there still holding the book up while her Daddy continued reading his report. Then she said: “But Mummy said you probably would Daddy?” He looked up “I’m sorry”, he answered, “Maybe Mummy will read it to you. I am busy dear”.

“No” Mary said politely, “Mummy is much busier upstairs. Won’t you at least read me just one short story?” “Some other time” responded her father again.

*(see bottom of this post on how you can order personalized educational books for your child or children. These are keepsake Books that make the child the STAR of the stories they read, and make reading more enjoyable and educational for them. They also make great gifts that grandparents, Aunts, Uncles or other family members can give to the children in their families).

Mary kept standing for a while, silent as she opened the book to a lovely picture. It was a long time before she said anything while her father continued reading his report about the shifts in markets, and plans for meeting these economic problems. “But Daddy”, she pleaded “the stories look so exciting can you just read me one short story please?.” Again her father responded while not taking his eyes off of his Stockholder’s Report: “Some other time, run along”.

With those words Mary put the book down at her father’s feet, dejected that he couldn’t take just a few minutes to read her one short story from her favorite book. “Sure”, he said, “Sure I will do so later”. But later never came. And this was what this father was remembering those words of his little girl when her tiny fingers touched his hand and she put the book down at his feet and said: “Just read it to yourself, only read it loud enough so I can hear”.

And before he left to go to his daughter’s funeral, he forgot for a while his anger for the drunken driver whom struck his little girl and killed her, and whom was now in jail.

He picked up the book, turning to a beautiful picture he started reading out loud, imagining that Mary could hear him. But ofcourse she couldn’t, she was dead.

At the time she meant for him to read the story loud enough so she could hear him upstairs in her room. But he was too busy to even do so then. Now, when she was dead he did, but too late! Reading the Stockholders’ Report was more important than reading his little girl a story, because that is the way he could see how the economy was going and provide better for his family’s future.

But the most important person that was sup posed to be in that future was dead. Isn’t that sad? Parents beco me so busy providing for their families future, sometimes while ignoring them while they are here now!

Like those children at the library everyday, so much time is being lost without any parental interaction, so many little precious moments passes for both parents and children alike. They need you now, nobody knows for sure exactly what the future will bring, the little things today is what matters.

In my next post I will write more on how everybody can find peace of mind in the little things around us each day.

Written and Illustrated by: Glenda Brill (C)

*I do personalized Educational Books for young children. These are great keepsake books that make the child the STAR of the stories they love. Each book can be completely personalized with the child or children’s names, parents, friends, pets, school names etc.

Click on the link below to see the different titles of the books that can be personalized. Fill in the required information and send to me via email attachment to my email at: adnelgb@yahoo.com, or if paying by check or Money-Order to the address on the order-form.

Create-A-Book Description and order form

Posted in Peoples and Families | Tagged birds are carefree and worry-free examples of their Creator's care, Businessman reading the stockholders' report, Cherish your children now, Children are growing and changing everyday, children need physical activity instead of just sitting in front of a computer, children should jump, Children spend all day at the library playing games on the computer, children spend to much time in front of the computer, crickets, crickets make sounds at night to put you to sleep, dogs and cats can teach us something about a stressful life, Little creatures like birds, Parents should read to their children when young, parents who spend time with their children are happier and less stressed, Personalized books make the child of the stories they read, Personalized Educational books for children make reading enjoyable and fun, play, reading short stories to children, Remember the little things of today, run, shifts in markets affects the economy, terrible car accident caused by drunken driver, they are changing everyday | Comments Off

Little Things That Can Help Us Cope With Mind Disturbing Big Problems

Posted on September 30, 2011 by giggling

But there are so many little things we have everyday around us that can do so much to bring us peace of mind. Things in nature like animals, birds, plants etc. Have you ever wondered why all these little creatures are here? They were created for our enjoyment and benefit.

They give us the opportunity to care, to focus our minds on something else, and give of ourselves which bring our life purpose and is the key to happiness.

Living in New York I didn’t expect to find so many birds in the city. Right in the midst of Manhattan there are pigeons freely flying around and sitting on roof tops looking at what’s going on.

Walking on the sidewalks under the trees in my neighborhood there are other types of birds, I don’t know their names but you can hear them chirping outside my window in the morning, and see so many of these birds flying and hopping around on the ground looking for food. Thousands of them, people put out bread and other goodies for them to eat.

These are out little winged neighbors that some people take for granted, that can be a source of deviation from the everyday stresses of life.

So every now and then when I have left over rice, bread, muffins, or other grains, I go out and put these eatables under the trees for the birds to eat.

Then stand at a distance and see how many of them swoop down to try out their new dish. They will eat anything people eat, I see some of them eating even chicken that the neighbors put out for them.

Also the squirrels come and try to get their share. There are also tons of squirrels in the City. You see them with their bushy tails climbing with lightning speed up the trunks of trees, playfully sneaking around to see who will be the first one to get the food that the neighbors leave under the trees for them and the birds.

Some of them come so close by sitting outside on my window sill, curiously looking inside as if to ask me how I am doing.

They have no concerns or problems in the world, they lead a worry free life with no fear of life’s problems, or of the future, and seem to have a built in trust in their Creator.

I learned to appreciate what Jesus said when he said not to worry about the necessities of life or the future.

He pointed to the birds, how carefree and well clothed they were, telling us that if God takes care of the birds, and knows every single one of them that falls to the ground, then he cares and will do even more so for people, because people are more precious than birds. (See previous post: Some ways to stop worrying about worrying)

Also many people now own dogs and cats as pets. Pets can be a source of comfort for those going through different kinds of stress, such as the lost of a loved one, the very lonely, or the elderly. They fill the inherent need to care for something, which brings a measure of happiness. (See previous post: Keeping Up with the Bitches).

It seems like nearly everybody in my neighborhood have dogs. You see young women as well as men walking their dogs everyday, another little thing that can bring some peace of mind from everyday stress, and another reason to think on something other than our own problems.

One of my neighbors has become so much happier since he got a little dog. He hardly goes out anymore alone, unless he is walking his dog. He is so much calmer and contented, nothing seem to bother him as much and so is his little dog, the happiest dog I ever met.

Other things that can calm us down is the taking care of plants or if you have the room for it, a garden. (see previous post on : House plants behaving like people) That is one thing I also find to be personally very comforting.

I have an indoor garden on all my window sills, and it is so fulfilling to take care of these plants every week or just by looking at their beauty. It is also relaxing to see them sprout new leaves or flowers. And if you live in the country, on a farm, or the suburbs then you can enjoy the soothing sounds of nature or animals if there are such around.

Another great mind calming past time is going to the Zoo if you can and just spending time looking at the animals, especially the Monkeys. These will keep you cracking up with laughter with their silly tactics and even their facial expressions.

Another good stress buster is fishing if you can get to a place where you can do so. At the same time it produces a lot of excitement when you catch your first fish and the joy of eating it later.

I remember when I last visited my small country of St. Maarten in the Caribbean, I heard crickets singing while I was going to sleep. I was so excited because I had never heard crickets at night in New York, maybe there are some in the city just the other noises drown them out.

But in the still of night back home the clear singing of the crickets like lullaby’s soothed me right into restful sleep. And then at the dawn of the next morning I was awakened by the welcome crowing of the roosters wishing me a Good Morning and another Happy New Day.

And every night and every morning I looked forward to hearing the crickets and the crowing of the roosters while on vacation. When I told my sisters how happy it felt to hear the crickets and roosters again, they asked: “What crickets and roosters?”

They had become so accustomed to these little things everyday that they took them for granted,and were more concentrated on their everyday routine of making a living instead.

And that is the problem with most people no matter where we live. There are so many little things around us everyday that can help relieve us from the mind boggling concerns in life, but we take them for granted. We all heard the expressions make time to smell the roses.

We become so concerned about our problems or making a living, we even don’t see, hear or smell these little things anymore, which is so vital for our well-being and happiness.

But they are ever present silently testifying to their problem free life, their contentment, freedom from stress, and inspiring us to be the same. (See post on Flowers, silent whisperer of love and work productivity)

But the most important little things are the ge stures from other people, their love, smiles, kisses, concern, head nods, helpfulness, hugs, handshakes, support, applause, encouragement, their thank yous’, the little things people do for each other, or say to each other are the most important things in life and these are what we should remember everyday.

When someone died, what are the first things that you remember about them? Was it how rich they were, how good looking or isn’t it mostly how they were as human beings, their love and concern for other people, their giving spirit etc.

(Ofcourse there are some people that are evil and leave bad memories behind, but these stand as examples of people we don’t want to be like).

So whether we have children or not, remember it is the little things that can help us cope with mind disturbing Big Problems. Whether they are animals, plants, flowers, birds, pets, sounds of nature, and most of all the little things we get or give to other people!