Good Health

I want to start by letting you all know that I will not have access to the internet so I will not be writing for the next week.

It’s not food if it arrived through the window of your car.” ~ Michael Pollan


Modern times have changed what is considered food.  Americans eat so much garbage that is not remotely close to food and has no nutritional value.  It is not wonder we have so much disease and obesity in America.  The poor food choices coupled with the lack of exercise are certainly the biggest contributors.  If we do not make changes, this situation is only going to become worse.  There are more overweight children today than ever in history.  Everybody wants to blame it on the computer and laziness.   This is true, however, the poor food choices are an equal contributor.
The fact of the matter is that if you generally make healthy, nutritious choices and exercise then you can indulge in other not so great things on occasion and in moderation.  Most people have this backwards.  They indulge in healthy eating and exercise occasionally.  We have started to rely on modern medicine  to help make us live longer instead of being proactive and doing our part as individuals to live and maintain a healthy lifestyle.


Please, let's make a decision to get healthier so we might provent illness in our lives.


BE YOUR BEST SELF!!!!!!!

Exercise

“Those who think they have not time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness.”  ~ Edward Stanley


I have to continue to stress the importance of exercise.  We all make excuses for not exercising, yet we make time for things that, in my opinion, are less important.  I think because our bodies function so perfectly when we are young, we think we can continue to do the same things as we grow older.  I like to compare it to having a used car versus a new car.  The new car only needs oil changes, however, the old car needs much more maintenance.  Nothing breaks down on a new car, but an old car, anything may happen.  Same goes with your body.  If you do not use the muscles in your body, eventually they will begin to atrophy.  Everyone should be doing things to exercise your heart as well as all the other muscles in the body.  The more lean body muscle you possess, the more efficiently your body will run.  It is like having a well oiled machine versus one that is not maintained properly.
Please do not discount the importance of exercise.  The truth is that you will certainly have to find time for illness later if you do not make time for exercise today.  It is the single most important thing you can do for yourself.

Have a great day.......BE YOUR BEST SELF!!!!!!!

Hippocrates

“If we could give every individual the right amount of nourishment and exercise, not too little and not too much, we would have found the safest way to health.”  ~ Hippocrates


This sounds so simple.  Do you realize that Hippocrates was born in BC.....before Christ?  How is it that he had the forethought to make these realizations, but the people of modern civilization can't seem to grasp it. Here are some examples of what we deal with in modern times:

• Lack of exercise
• Lack of making the right food choices......too many processed foods

Everybody wants  a "quick" fix with a diet. People certainly get  a "quick" fix, because before you know it they are back to being overweight.   The diet industry certainly must be a multi-billion dollar business.  Almost everybody I know, including myself, has been on some sort of "diet" at one time or another.  The fact remains....DIETS  DO NOT WORK.    The only tried and proven method for optimal health is (like Hippocrates states)......the right amount of nourishment and exercise.
Let's make a decision to make better food choices and start an exercise regimen TODAY!!!!
Have a great day and BE YOUR BEST SELF!!!!!                   

Loss

"Think of him still as the same, I say, He is not dead, he is just - away."

~ James Whitcomb Riley

 

Those words may be difficult to swallow even though in theory it certainly will help you process the loss of a loved one.  When someone is taken from us too soon, how do you cope?  The coping becomes even more difficult when there are children who are suffering the loss as well.  

Nobody has the answers as to why some of us live a long life and others are taken way before their time.  It is one of the mysteries of life that will never be answered.  Although there can be accidents that are unexplainable, we do have a certain amount of control over our health.  Let's make a concerted effort to educate ourselves and start exercising and eating right.  If you can't do it for yourself, then do it for your loved ones.

My heart is heavy today as I mourn the loss of a high school classmate.....RIP Neata Nicholas.  You will be missed by many.

Give thanks today.......BE YOUR BEST SELF.

Tomorrow is not a guarantee.

Life Experience

Years teach us more than books.
Berthold Auerbach


I have always believed this statement.  I am a huge advocate of education.  As a young person, the fastest way to become educated is through a formal education.  After that point, you turn to life for the rest.  I have always respected and appreciated the things my elders share with me.  There is a certain amount of wisdom and knowledge one obtains from being here on earth.  Just waking up everyday and living life is an education in and of itself.  I suppose that is why they say that the older you get, the smarter your parents become.  The fact is actually that as you get older, you get smarter.  It has nothing to do with your parents, but I do love the saying.  Actually, not sure if you get smarter, but certainly you become wiser and have more knowledge about things in life.   Nobody can take your life experience away from you...that is a beautiful thing. Go out today and experience life to its fullest and gain some more insight....be sure to share it and pass it along others.  That's the best part.
BE YOUR BEST SELF!!!!!!!

Middle Age

Middle age is the time in life when, after pulling in your stomach, you look as if you ought to pull in your stomach.  I am hopeful that all of you over the age of 40 can relate to this statement.   I honestly believe that the day you turn 40 someone flips the "old" switch.  What happened to round behinds and flat stomachs?   Guess they left with the 30's.  My mother always says that all the ladies she attends the YMCA with have big bellies and flat butts LOLOL.  I certainly believe that is probably true.  For all of you who have not yet had the privilege of becoming a member of the "over 40" club, please do not think that this will not happen to you.  I realize that when you are young and beautiful that you can't imagine things ever changing.  I hate to be the bearer of bad news but one day you too will have muffin top.  I'm certain you are all familiar with that terminology.  If not you can google it for the definition.

For those of you who are middle aged, enjoy the wisdom that comes with your belly For those of you who are not, enjoy your lack of midsection while it still doesn't exist.
Have a great day and BE YOUR BEST SELF!!!!!!

Smoking

   To cease smoking is the easiest thing.... I ought to know I've done it hundreds of times.  How many of you can relate to that statement?  Not sure which is more difficult....quitting smoking or quitting drugs.  The biggest difference I suppose is that drugs are more detrimental to your well-being than cigarettes.  Although cigarettes are bad for your health, they are not detrimental to your well-being.  I just ran into someone this morning who had quit smoking in October and was puffing again.  He says stress made him light up.  His dog jumped out of the window.  Not sure how stressful that is, but he obviously thought it was.  We can all make excuses to light up again after quitting.  Apparently, when you start up again, you were not really ready to quit in the first place.
    Quitting smoking is an extremely difficult task to complete.  To all of you thinking about it...give it try.  The rewards are great.  My motivation for not lighting up again is I remember how difficult the first few weeks of quitting were and I do NOT want to go through that again.
   Good luck to all who have quit to remain smoke free and to all who are willing to try again.
  Have a great day.  BE YOUR BEST SELF!!!!!

Out of the Closet

     As a parent, how does one react to your child telling you he/she is gay?  This is a very delicate subject for some.  I, however, have been around gay people for most of my adult life.  Some of my best friends are gay.  I say my adult life, because when I was a child nobody came out of the closet.  Most of my peers who are gay did not come out typically until they were in their 20's or older.
   It breaks my heart to hear stories of parents who disown their children for being gay.  Do you really believe your child has choice on the subject?  You know what you find attractive from a very young age.  If you are athletic and love sports and you have a child who is a geek....do you disown them?  There was a time when anything outside the "norm" was probably an embarrassment to the parents and they did not know how to deal with it.  The generations from the 60's and prior had to tendency to want to sweep things under the rug instead of dealing with them.  I don't blame them, this is just what was taught to them by their parents.

   It is time for us to let go of our fears and accept all humans.  We must treat each other with kindness and respect.  Isn't it our differences that make us all special and unique?  How boring it would be if we were all the same.
   Have a great day and BE YOUR BEST SELF!!!!!

Children's Birthdays

   Why do so many people have over-the-top birthday parties for young children?  A 2 year old has no idea what is going on and who is in attendance.  Americans spend hundreds of dollars and invite everyone they know to a birthday party of a toddler.  Does this make sense to you?  The children have no friends at that age, so who should be on the guest list?  Is it your friends? Only your friends who have children? Just family?  Do we need to spend hundreds of dollars to celebrate the birthday of a 2 year old?
    I understand people make a fuss over the first birthday.  This makes sense to me in some respects.  However, I do not ever see the need to be over the top for a young child's birthday celebration.  I feel it is either just for show or to get lots of gifts for your children.  The children are not going to remember, so it certainly has nothing to do with them.   Are we just buying into the materialistic, consumer society mentality?  What's wrong with a simple party with cake and ice cream and a few games for the children to play?  To accompany that with pizza or burger and hot dogs seems fine to me. Does it make the celebration any better to spend hundreds of dollars and do something over the top with everyone and their mother invited?
  Just some food for thought.  I would love to hear any input on this subject.  Maybe it is me that is off base.

Have a great day!!!
BE YOUR BEST SELF!!!!!

Sorry

I have had a very busy weekend.  Sorry I have not written since Thursday.  I will definitely be posting later today.