Food For Thought: Did You Know?

"Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun's rays do not burn until brought to a focus." Alexander Graham Bell
 

Food For Thought: Did You Know? eobihfrank photos ©

 

DID YOU KNOW...?1. Your shoes are the first things people subconsciously notice about you. Wear nice and decent shoes. 2. If you sit for more than 11 hours a day, there's a 50% chance that it will make you severely sick in two years. 3. There are at least six people in the world who look exactly like you. There's a 9% chance that you'll meet one of them in your lifetime. 4. Sleeping without a pillow reduces back pain and keeps your spine stronger. 5. A person's height is determined by their father, and their weight is determined by their mother.

 I was reading some posts on a friend's Facebook page when I came across this list of nineteen (19) Did-You-Know facts? I was so taken by them that I had to share them with you. We can live consciously and in awe of the magnificence of the universe we inhabit or we can remain blinded by worry.  We can work to maintain our health or worry ourselves to death. Worry won't change a thing. Information can and will.


"The key to success is to focus our conscious mind on things we desire not things we fear." Brian Tracy

Food For Thought: Did You Know? Honey Bees help keep us alive? eobihfrank photos ©

 

6. If a part of your body "falls asleep", you can almost always "wake it up" by shaking your head. 7. There are three things the human brain cannot resist noticing: food, attractive people and danger. 8. Right-handed people tend to chew food on their right side. 9. Putting dry tea bags in gym bags or smelly shoes will absorb the unpleasant odour. 10. According to Albert Einstein, if honey bees were to disappear from the earth, humans would be dead within four years.

I was quite impressed by the fact that honey bees add more to our livelihood than we ever consider. The pollination work they do, helps seeds and plants flourish and grow, and they feed us in so many ways. When was the last time you gave those bees much thought?


"Life is too short to spend in negativity. So I have made a conscious effort to not be where I don't want to be." Hugh Dillon

Food For Thought: Did You Know? eobihfrank photos ©

 

11. There are so many kinds of apples that if you ate a new one everyday it would take over 20 years to try them all. 12. You can survive for weeks without eating, but you will only live 11 days without sleeping. 13. People who laugh a lot are healthier than those who don't. 14. Laziness and inactivity kill just as many people as smoking. 15. A human brain has the capacity to store five times as much information as Wikipedia.

I love apples and have always been a member of the "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" club. I had no idea that we had enough varieties to keep us munching for the next 20 years. Who knew? This confirms what I've always known, and still believe, that we live in an abundant world with enough to go around... We just need to learn to share more.

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Healthy Living: 5 Key Tips On Staying Healthy

"I believe that the greatest gift you can give your family and the world is a healthy you." Joyce Meyer

 We often hear people talk about being healthy and then they list exercise and losing weight as their goals. While doing both can contribute to our feelings of well being, we need more than physical activity and goals to maintain our overall health. I believe that if we focus on a holistic approach to healthy living, we will be in better health and, ultimately, in better shape. If your goal this year is to build a healthy lifestyle, my question to you is: Are you taking care of the whole person? Are you taking social influences and other factors into consideration? If No, then you need to reconsider your efforts and make healthy decisions that cater to the whole person. If Yes, then congratulations, you are ahead of the game!

There are five key elements we must keep in mind on our journey to healthy living: In any healthy living plan, we must care for our Physical, Nutritional, Mental, Emotional and Spiritual Health.

 Physical Health: Exercise is the first thing that comes to mind, and there are many ways to maintain our bodies and get in shape. Whether you choose to run, walk, do yoga, martial arts, swim or lift weights, it's important to learn how to maintain our bodies in the proper way. Any form of physical activity can lead to injury, if we don't learn the proper form or way to do it. Avail yourself of an expert trainer, even if for a short time, so you can learn the right way to do any type of activity you choose. Walking is a no-brainer, but having the proper footwear is imperative, ditto wearing comfortable clothing. We are never too old to learn and it's never too late to improve our form.

Nutritional Health: The worst thing we can do for our bodies is to feed it junk while we are increasing our physical activity. If you commit to lose weight or increase your activity levels, it's key to keep your nutritional well-being in mind. It would be defeatist to line up the best gear and workout clothes, pay for an expensive gym membership, and then feed your body a diet of junk, high cholesterol, artery clogging foods. If we eat fruits, vegetables, grains and lean proteins with some fat, and add plenty of water to our daily diet, we will be on the road to staying truly healthy. I'm a big advocate for organic foods and fresh foods, but you can eat well by eating a balanced meal from the major food groups. The goal should be to eat in moderation.


 "A healthy attitude is contagious but don't wait to catch it from others. Be a carrier."Tom Stoppard 

 Mental Health: Our mental health is as important as our physical health. If we are surrounded by negativity or have addictions that interfere with our well-being, it is important to take care of them on the road to total health. While our endorphins increase when we work out, if there are issues in our lives that need mental health attention, we must seek help from the appropriate professional to assist in addressing those issues. Anorexia and Bulimia are eating disorders that require mental health attention. If someone you know is excessive about restricting food intake, encourage the person to seek help. Some people fall into a dangerous eating pattern, while claiming they are getting in shape. Anything we do in excess must be addressed with the help of a professional. Maintain your mental health.

 Emotional Health: Our emotional well-being is tied into our mental well-being and, if we are emotionally spent, we need to take time out to resolve any issues that are pulling us down. If we don't take care of our emotional health, it can create more problems for us. Some of us eat too much or too little when we feel hurt or break up with a loved one. Some us become hoarders or excessive, emotional spenders when things fall apart in our lives. So, it's very important to check in with our emotional state, seek the help of a therapist or other professional,  and sort out our problems. Ignoring the promptings to do something could lead to other emotional problems. Staying healthy also means staying emotionally healthy.

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Friends: Valuing Our Connections...

"A true friend is the greatest of all blessings, and the one that we take the least care of all to acquire." Francois de La Rochefoucauld

After a three week hiatus; being in absentia from blogging, internet access, life as we know it, social media and more, it is great to be back in New York and my connections here. My time away has been a blessing with cherished memories that will stay with me for life. I found that the human spirit is both flexible and resilient; we adapt to new environments and experiences and make necessary adjustments when we must. With that often comes the support and blessings of our friends and family and that is why this week's offering from  Kathy of Mamakat’s  is perfect.

As you might know, I joined her Writer's Workshop in late summer and periodically feature a prompt here. Kathy generously devotes part of her busy schedule, as a mom of three, to send weekly prompts to members of the writer's group. We choose one from a short list, write on it and then add it to a page link where everyone gathers to click and give comments/support to at least 3 other bloggers. I love the idea because it helps keep me focused on sharing blog posts in a community, forming new friendships and being part of a group of writers with a common goal.




This week’s prompt: Write about a time when you stuck up for a friend.

Throughout our lifetime, we form all manner of friendships; some intimate, some close and lifelong, some distant, some familial, others short term or even fractured. Each connection holds a memory bank of events, images, conversations and reminiscences that sometimes have  a profound impact on our lives. Our friendships are to be valued and never taken lightly ... but we sometimes do. Are there friends you know who are always available and helpful? Do we stop to honor them with a special treat, card or more than a thank you? Do we as the saying goes, always rise to the occasion to "watch their back" or defend them?

We are all somewhat guilty of assuming that our most treasured friends know we cherish them. Yes, we all love our friends and would help them when necessary but we shouldn't always wait for an occasion to reciprocate we can honor them now. My story below took me back to a moment when I had to stand up for a great friend who was being insulted by, you got it, another ...  friend!

On another note, before you read my story, I'd love to share that I am the featured blogger on Stacie of Survey Junkie's blog. Stacie started her Getting To Know You posts last August and she features a different blogger every week. You can even add your name/details to a form and she contacts you when she has scheduled you. Definitely an act of friendship and kindness rolled in one. Thank you for your generosity and friendship Stacie!

Knocking on Gratitude’s Door: Ten Reasons to be Grateful…

"I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.  ~G.K. Chesterton 

Gratitude is the memory of the heart.  ~Jean Baptiste Massieu

With all the news reports swirling around about the economy and atrocities happening around the world, it is a wonder most of us get out of bed in the morning. We do because we believe things will get better and we believe that the life we have, even with its limitations, is blessed. A spirit of gratitude can go a long way in helping us sift through the morass and find our footing again.

It is not easy to stay smiling and positive when people experience tremendous burdens or a shift in life circumstances however, if we can stop and consider that we can use a dark period to bring light to others, it will help take some of the edge off.

I remember reading about the Great Depression era in American History and marveling at the resilience and bravery of the folks who struggled and survived that period. New types of businesses were started and people found ingenious ways to stretch a dollar. I know that this knowledge keeps me focused on the good during these challenging times. What keeps you focused?

We are in the throes of a similar global economic state however, there are still opportunities for abundance and success; we must pay attention to where there are needs in our communities and meet them. The techno age has made it infinitely easier to communicate with people around the world and this has opened the door to virtual communities that thrive. We are beneficiaries of this age and can be contributors if we choose.

Regardless of our circumstances, we can all knock on gratitude’s door and find reasons to be grateful. Below are ten reasons to help us stay focused on the good while we work to resolve the difficult? What Gifts are you grateful for? Do share.