Cancer cured ...

Researcher’s Love for Wife Leads to MS Breakthrough

Dr. Zamboni’s studies began when his beloved wife developed MS in 1995 at the age of 37.

He undertook a massive in-depth review of the literature, and modern imaging techniques such as ultrasound and MRI. His findings led him to believe that Multiple Sclerosis is not an autoimmune issue, but a vascular disease, a radical departure from current thinking.

He performed experimental surgery on his wife using a simple catheter / angioplasty / balloon operation, getting blood flowing normally again. Many of her MS symptoms disappeared.

She had the surgery three years ago and has not had an attack since.

In Italy where the doctor works, 65 patients have since had the MS surgery, and in the two years since the operation, 73 percent of subjects are symptom-free.

An Italian doctor has been getting dramatic results with a new type of treatment for Multiple Sclerosis, or MS, which affects up to 2.5 million people worldwide. In an initial study, Dr. Paolo Zamboni took 65 patients with relapsing-remitting MS, performed a simple operation to unblock restricted bloodflow out of the brain - and two years after the surgery, 73% of the patients had no symptoms. Dr. Zamboni's thinking could turn the current understanding of MS on its head, and offer many sufferers a complete cure.

Multiple sclerosis, or MS, has long been regarded as a life sentence of debilitating nerve degeneration. More common in females, the disease affects an estimated 2.5 million people around the world, causing physical and mental disabilities that can gradually destroy a patient's quality of life.

It's generally accepted that there's no cure for MS, only treatments that mitigate the symptoms - but a new way of looking at the disease has opened the door to a simple treatment that is causing radical improvements in a small sample of sufferers.

Italian Dr. Paolo Zamboni has put forward the idea that many types of MS are actually caused by a blockage of the pathways that remove excess iron from the brain - and by simply clearing out a couple of major veins to reopen the blood flow, the root cause of the disease can be eliminated.

Dr. Zamboni's revelations came as part of a very personal mission - to cure his wife as she began a downward spiral after diagnosis. Reading everything he could on the subject, Dr. Zamboni found a number of century-old sources citing excess iron as a possible cause of MS. It happened to dovetail with some research he had been doing previously on how a buildup of iron can damage blood vessels in the legs - could it be that a buildup of iron was somehow damaging blood vessels in the brain?

He immediately took to the ultrasound machine to see if the idea had any merit - and made a staggering discovery. More than 90% of people with MS have some sort of malformation or blockage in the veins that drain blood from the brain. Including, as it turned out, his wife.

He formed a hypothesis on how this could lead to MS: iron builds up in the brain, blocking and damaging these crucial blood vessels. As the vessels rupture, they allow both the iron itself, and immune cells from the bloodstream, to cross the blood-brain barrier into the cerebro-spinal fluid. Once the immune cells have direct access to the immune system, they begin to attack the myelin sheathing of the cerebral nerves - Multiple Sclerosis develops.

He named the problem Chronic Cerebro-Spinal Venous Insufficiency, or CCSVI.

Zamboni immediately scheduled his wife for a simple operation to unblock the veins - a catheter was threaded up through blood vessels in the groin area, all the way up to the effected area, and then a small balloon was inflated to clear out the blockage. It's a standard and relatively risk-free operation - and the results were immediate. In the three years since the surgery, Dr. Zamboni's wife has not had an attack.

Widening out his study, Dr. Zamboni then tried the same operation on a group of 65 MS-sufferers, identifying blood drainage blockages in the brain and unblocking them - and more than 73% of the patients are completely free of the symptoms of MS, two years after the operation.

In some cases, a balloon is not enough to fully open the vein channel, which collapses either as soon as the balloon is removed, or sometime later. In these cases, a metal stent can easily be used, which remains in place holding the vein open permanently.

Dr. Zamboni's lucky find is yet to be accepted by the medical community, which is traditionally slow to accept revolutionary ideas. Still, most agree that while further study needs to be undertaken before this is looked upon as a cure for MS, the results thus far have been very positive.

Naturally, support groups for MS sufferers are buzzing with the news that a simple operation could free patients from what they have always been told would be a lifelong affliction, and further studies are being undertaken by researchers around the world hoping to confirm the link between CCSVI and MS, and open the door for the treatment to become available for sufferers worldwide.

It's certainly a very exciting find for MS sufferers, as it represents a possible complete cure, as opposed to an ongoing treatment of symptoms.

Your Holiday

Found this article on Positve News.

It’s like two worlds exist during the holidays: the one portrayed by the media and the “other” one. The one portrayed by the media is picture perfect: every family is happy, healthy and singing carols and sipping eggnog by their perfectly decorated Christmas tree.

The “other” holiday is one more common to many of us. It’s the unspoken holiday - the one you’re not supposed to have, according to the barrage of commercials and adverts. If you’re family is far from perfect or you’re worried about your finances or you’ve endured some hardship this year or you’ve experienced loss or you simply don’t like the holidays - then you understand.

It’s hard to enjoy the holidays when the pressure is on. No one wants to be forced to enjoy themselves. No one likes to compare themselves to holiday perfection! But is there a way to eke out a holiday that is yours - one that includes the good, the bad and the ugly?

Here are a few pointers:
1. Ask yourself what you’d really like to do for the holidays - minus the influence of others. And include that in your day. If you have a day plan that is packed with your family, maybe you’d like to go for a quiet walk in the morning before the madness ensues. Maybe you’d like to write in your journal and review your year. Whatever it is, take whatever time you can grab and make some time about you! 

2. If you’re alone, celebrate it. This is a tough one but guess what? There are many people out there who don’t have family over the holidays. It almost seems like some social crime but it doesn’t have to be. Being alone allows you to celebrate the holiday the way you see fit. The important part? Celebrate it in one way or the other. Make yourself a special meal, buy yourself a gift, wrap it and open it, watch a special movie. It’s not a crime to be alone on the holidays. (Considering what some people go through with their families, consider it an honor!)

3. Remember the old adages about the holidays. It’s NOT all about mass gift-giving and commercial-generated fantasy. It’s about reflecting, giving and getting in touch with your spiritual side during the heart of winter. It’s about being grateful for WHAT YOU HAVE, not bemoaning what you don’t.

4. Quiet holidays are fine. If you’re holiday seems simple and quiet, that’s alright. Perhaps you are afforded the opportunity to connect with the holidays that many others can’t seem to find. Maximize that time. Make the most of the quietude.

The Old man and Christmas

Thank you Vincent for this Soul warming story!



The old man sat in his gas station on a cold Christmas Eve. He hadn’t been anywhere in years since his wife had passed away. He had no decorations, no tree, no lights. It was just another day to him. He didn’t hate Christmas, just couldn’t find a reason to celebrate. There were no children in his life. His wife had gone.
He was sitting there looking at the snow that had been falling for the last hour and wondering what it was all about when the door opened and a homeless man stepped through. Instead of throwing the man out, George, Old George as he was known by his customers, told the man to come and sit by the space heater and warm up.
“Thank you, but I don’t mean to intrude,” said the stranger. “I see you’re busy. I’ll just go”
“Not without something hot in your belly,” George turned and opened a wide mouth Thermos and handed it to the stranger. “It ain’t much, but it’s hot and tasty. Stew. Made it myself. When you’re done there’s coffee and it’s fresh.”
Just at that moment he heard the “ding” of the driveway bell. “Excuse me, be right back,” George said.
There in the driveway was an old 53 Chevy. Steam was rolling out of the front. The driver was panicked. “Mister, can you help me!” said the driver with a deep Spanish accent. “My wife is with child and my car is broken.”
George opened the hood. It was bad. The block looked cracked from the cold; the car was dead. “You ain’t going in this thing,” George said as he turned away.
“But mister. Please help….”The door of the office closed behind George as he went in. George went to the office wall and got the keys to his old truck, and went back outside. He walked around the building and opened the garage, started the truck and drove it around to where the couple was waiting.
“Here, you can borrow my truck,” he said. “She ain’t the best thing you ever looked at, but she runs real good.” George helped put the woman in the truck and watched as it sped off into the night. George t urned and walked back inside the office.
“Glad I loaned em the truck. Their tires were shot too. That ‘ol truck has brand new tires……..” George thought he was talking to the stranger, but the man had gone. The thermos was on the desk, empty with a used coffee cup beside it.
“Well, at least he got something in his belly,” George thought. George went back outside to see if the old Chevy would start. It cranked slowly, but it started. He pulled it into the garage where the truck had been. He thought he would tinker with it for something to do. Christmas Eve meant no customers. He discovered the block hadn’t cracked, it was just the bottom hose on the radiator.
“Well, I can fix this,” he said to himself. So he put a new one on. “Those tires ain’t gonna get ‘em through the winter either.” He took the snow treads off of his wife’s old Lincoln. They were like new and he wasn’t going to drive the car.
As he was working he heard a shot being fired. He ran outside and beside a police car an officer lay on the cold ground. Bleeding from the left shoulder, the officer moaned, “Help me.”
George helped the officer inside as he remembered the training he had received in the Army as a medic. He knew the wound needed attention.
“Pressure to stop the bleeding,” he thought. The laundry company had been there that morning and had left clean shop towels. He used those and duct tape to bind the wound. “Hey, they say duct tape can fix anythin’,” he said, trying to make the policeman feel at ease. “Something for pain,” George thought. All he had was the pills he used for his back. “These ought to work.” He put some water in a cup and gave the policeman the pills. “You hang in there. I’m going to get you an ambulance.” George said, but the phone was dead.
“Maybe I can get one of your buddie s on that there talk box out in your police car.” He went out only to find that a bullet had gone into the dashboard destroying the two way radio. He went back in to find the policeman sitting up.
“Thanks,” said the officer. “You could have left me there. The guy that shot me is still in the area.”
George sat down beside him. “I would never leave an injured man in the Army and I ain’t gonna leave you.” George pulled back the bandage to check for bleeding. “Looks worse than what it is. Bullet passed right through ‘ya. Good thing it missed the important stuff though. I think with time your gonna be right as rain.”
George got up and poured a cup of coffee. “How do you take it?” he asked.
“None for me,” said the officer.
“Oh, yer gonna drink this. Best in the city.” Then George added: “Too bad I ain’t got no donuts.”
The officer laughed and w inced at the same time.
The front door of the office flew open. In burst a young man with a gun. “Give me all your cash! Do it now!” the young man yelled. His hand was shaking and George could tell that he had never done anything like this before.
“That’s the guy that shot me!” exclaimed the officer.
“Son, why are you doing this?” asked George. “You need to put the cannon away. Somebody else might get hurt.”
The young man was confused. “Shut up old man, or I’ll shoot you, too. Now give me the cash!”
The cop was reaching for his gun. “Put that thing away,” George said to the cop. “We got one too many in here now.”
He turned his attention to the young man. “Son, it’s Christmas Eve. If you need the money, well then, here. It ain’t much but it’s all I got. Now put that pee shooter away.”
George pulled $150 out of his po cket and handed it to the young man, reaching for the barrel of the gun at the same time.
The young man released his grip on the gun, fell to his knees and began to cry. “I’m not very good at this am I? All I wanted was to buy something for my wife and son,” he went on. “I’ve lost my job. My rent is due. My car got repossessed last week…”
George handed the gun to the cop. “Son, we all get in a bit of squeeze now and then. The road gets hard sometimes, but we make it through the best we can.”
He got the young man to his feet, and sat him down on a chair across from the cop. “Sometimes we do stupid things.” George handed the young man a cup of coffee. “Being stupid is one of the things that makes us human. Comin’ in here with a gun ain’t the answer. Now sit there and get warm and we’ll sort this thing out.”
The young man had stopped crying. He looked over to the cop. “Sorry I shot you . It just went off. I’m sorry officer.”
“Shut up and drink your coffee.” the cop said.
George could hear the sounds of sirens outside. A police car and an ambulance skidded to a halt. Two cops came through the door, guns drawn.
“Chuck! You ok?” one of the cops asked the wounded officer.
“Not bad for a guy who took a bullet. How did you find me?”
“GPS locator in the car. Best thing since sliced bread. Who did this?” the other cop asked as he approached the young man.
Chuck answered him, “I don’t know. The guy ran off into the dark. Just dropped his gun and ran.”
George and the young man both looked puzzled at each other. “That guy works here,” the wounded cop continued.
“Yep,” George said. “Just hired him this morning. Boy lost his job.”
The paramedics came in and loaded Chuck onto the stretcher. The y oung man leaned over the wounded cop and whispered, “Why?”
Chuck just said, “Merry Christmas, boy. And you too, George, and thanks for everything.”
“Well, looks like you got one doozy of a break there. That ought to solve some of your problems.” George went into the back room and came out with a box. He pulled out a ring box. “Here you go. Something for the little woman. I don’t think Martha would mind. She said it would come in handy some day.”
The young man looked inside to see the biggest diamond ring he ever saw.
“I can’t take this,” said the young man. “It means something to
you.”
“And now it means something to you,” replied George. “I got my memories. That’s all I need.”
George reached into the box again. A toy airplane, a racing car and a little metal truck appeared next. They were toys that the oil company had left for him to sell. “Here’s something for that little man of yours.”
The young man began to cry again as he handed back the $150 that the old man had handed him earlier. “And what are you supposed to buy Christmas dinner with? You keep that, too. Count it as part of your first week’s pay.” George said. “Now git home to your family.”
The young man turned with tears streaming down his face. “I’ll be here in the morning for work, if that job offer is still good.”
“Nope. I’m closed Christmas day,” George said. “See ya the day after.”
George turned around to find that the stranger had returned. “Where’d you come from? I thought you left?”
“I have been here. I have always been here,” said the stranger. “You say you don’t celebrate Christmas. Why?”
“Well, after my wife passed away I just couldn’t see what all the bother was. Puttin’ up a tree and all seemed a waste of a good pine tree. Bakin’ cookies like I used to with Martha just wasn’t the same by myself and besides I was getting a little chubby.”
The stranger put his hand on George’s shoulder. “But you do celebrate the holiday, George. You gave me food and drink and warmed me when I was cold and hungry. The woman with child will bear a son and he will become a great doctor.
The policeman you helped will go on to save 19 people from being killed by terrorists. The young man who tried to rob you will become a rich man and share his wealth with many people.
That is the spirit of the season and you keep it as good as any man.”
George was taken aback by all this stranger had said. “And how do you know all this?” asked the old man.
“Trust me, George. I have the inside track on this sort of thing. And when your days are done you will be with Martha again.” The stranger moved toward the door. “If you will excuse me, George, I have to go now. I have to go home where there is a big celebration planned.”
George watched as the man’s old leather jacket and his torn pants turned into a white robe. A golden light began to fill the room. “You see, George,——- it’s My birthday …… Merry Christmas!

For you today

I Have So Many Wishes

That I've Stored Up In My Heart

Today I Sit Here Thinking

I 'm Not Sure Where To Start....



I Wish To Send You Smiles

So That All Throughout Your Day

You'll Think Of Only Happy Things

And Life Will Go Your Way...



Next I Wish To Send You Hugs

The Warm And Snuggly Kind

You'll Feel Them With You Constantly

More Sincere Hugs You Couldn't Find..



Of Course I Wish You Lots Of Love

Forever And Especially For You

A Heart Filled With Love So Sweet

Never -- Ending And Oh So True...



Sunshine Laughter And All Happy Things

I Wish For You Today

And All Blessings Be With You

Forever And In So Many Ways.

Yule

Snowflakes, the coolest shapes on the planet

Today I want to share an article by Laura Powell.


If the recent snowfalls have left you dreaming of a white Christmas, your wish might be granted - because forecasters say we're in for more over the next week. 


And although a crisp and pristine blanket of the stuff is a wonderful sight to wake up to, snow is even more beautiful in close-up. 


As these photographs show, each snowflake is a miniature masterpiece of nature: six-sided, perfectly symmetrical - and unique.

 

It is created in an instant out of water vapour, and vanishes just as suddenly, its pattern never to be repeated. 


These amazing images were taken, using a special microscope, by physics Professor Kenneth Libbrecht, who has spent the past 11 years on a personal quest to record the beautiful world of snowflakes.

Prof Libbrecht, of the California Institute of Technology, says that the most 'basic' snowflake pattern is the hexagonal prism - a six-sided block with little detail. 

Stunning: As these images show, no two snowflakes are the same

The flakes, which look like six ferns joined in the centre, are called, more poetically, Fernlike Stellar Dendrites.

They are the largest snow crystals (about 5mm) and make the best powdery snow. The simpler Stellar Dendrites (up to 4mm) look like branches and Christmas-tree decorations are often based on this shape.

But the best thing about snowflakes? They all crunch pleasingly underfoot on a crisp winter morning.

 

Crystal clear: Each snowflake is a miniature masterpiece of nature

To your Health with Champagne

When raising a glass of Champagne and toasting ‘Cheers’, the sentiment is generally a way of praising one’s health and well being in a figurative way.

Now, from an article found on Wine Spectator Online, a study is highlighted where according to research done at the University of Reading in England and the Università degli studi di Cagliari, located in Monserrato, Italy, drinking Champagne responsibly may benefit one’s health because previous research has shown the sparkling wine contains high amounts of natural, plant based polyphenols.

Champagne may help protect the brain against injuries incurred during a stroke and other ailments, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

So now when we raise a glass of bubbly and shout ‘Cheers’, we can really mean it!  First it was red wine, now Champagne is being touted as a healthy drink. More good news for us oenophiles!

Polyphenols are known antioxidants, which are believed to help prevent cell death due to oxidative stress. Though polyphenols are found in greater abundance in red wines, mainly due to longer exposure to the grape seeds and skins during the winemaking process, past studies have found Champagne to contain high amounts of other types of phenolic compounds, such as tyrosol and caffeic acid. Previous research has shown that moderate amounts of red wine consumption has been shown to slow down premature aging and improve circulation.

In order to test if the polyphenols found in Champagne are similarly beneficial to those in red wines, the scientists prepared extracts from blanc de blancs Champagnes (made with Chardonnay only) and blanc de noir Champagnes (made exclusively from Pinot Noir and/or Pinot Meunier). After confirming that the extracts contained measurable levels of the aforementioned polyphenols, the scientist prepared several samples of cortical neuron cells from mice. The control group was left alone and the others were pretreated with the champagne extract, then scientists simulated a stroke on the cells to see what the reactions would be.

The scientists monitored the way the brain cells reacted to the presence of the peroxynitrite, which is a reactive compound found in the brain during inflammatory conditions, and found that “pretreatment with Champagne wine extracts resulted in significant protection against neurotoxicity.” The blanc de noir extract offered the greater protection because of the red-wine component”, the authors wrote, though they pointed out that the amounts of polyphenols in Champagne vary greatly from “variety, vintage and a wide range of environmental factors.”

The scientists believe the Champagne extracts protected neuron cells in several ways, noting that in the sample with the highest concentration of sparkling wine, brain-cell function was completely restored over time. The researchers added that caffeic acid and tyrosol may help to regulate the cells’ response to injury with their anti-inflammatory properties. The compounds also act as cellular-level mops, essentially cleaning up and removing harmful chemicals from the body.

The scientists also wrote that there is evidence that dietary polyphenols can cross the “blood-brain barrier,” which would suggest that the above molecular behavior has the potential to act in the same way, within the human central nervous system, if consumed.

It’s too early to tell whether drinking Champagne will have beneficial effects on the long term effects of brain aging, as it remains to be seen whether the human brain will simulate the same responses as the brains of mice when exposed to similar circumstances, but scientists are hoping to be able to shed more light on the potential beneficial effects of Champagne on human health in the future.



I just came across a great book called ‘The Healing Power of Champagne’ written by two French doctors and recently translated into English. It studies the claims made for drinking Champagne to cure various ailments over 200 years and the report on recent research in England & Italy merely confirms what our predecessors knew before i.e. that moderate drinking of Champagne can be very beneficial.
You can order the book through the link.

Me4Me

Twe wolves

Old Granpa Cherokee was pensive...

Little Wild Wind and Dance with the Leaves were quarelling again.
In fact, they had been at each other's throat practically all day.....!

This bothered old Granpa Cherokee. All the children of the tribe felt disturbed... It was not as if there never were quarrels. Most of the little ones would get into scraps. A few scraped knees, or bumped elbows, a few pony-tails harshly tugged and the matter was usually resolved. But these two seemed of a different element, especially when confronting each other....

Granpa Cherokee sighed. He poked a few dry leaves further into the fire and looked around at the gathering dusk. The children of the tribe were already settling down around him. They loved listening to his gentle, bantering stories.... gazing into the fire, pondering over millenia of universal wisdom, that their little brains could barely wrap around, and watching the logs slowly burn, spatter and sparkle... as the mothers got their food ready.

The littlest one of them all tugged softly at his leather strings.
"Granpa... what has happened to them...?"

Wild Wind and Dance with the Leaves were playing on everybody's minds.
Granpa nodded gently, twinkling into the concern pooling in the child's night-dark eyes.
"Same as happens to me...", he murmured.

Looking up, he glanced over the children's heads at the two sulking boys.
"There are two wolves inside of me.....", he spoke out louder, letting his gaze surround all the children waiting for their daily stories. Wild Wind sat turbulent, fuming silently as he glared at Dance with the Leaves. The other boy was quieter, but as grimly determined.
The other children drew closer to the old man, watching the dancing light cast by the fire on his craggy, smiling face.

"There are two wolves inside of me...." continued Granpa Cherokee. "Always fighting, always at each other's throat... biting into the neck... grabbing at legs.... Sometimes, their furs are drenched in blood... At other times, their growls reverberate through the valleys... The world spins around day and night, the birds fly throught he cold and the warm winds... and still they fight, this one on top, worrying the other's ears, or that one pinning this down, snarling and gnashing its teeth..."
The children gazed, transfixed, at the warring wolves in Granpa's warm, hoarse voice.
"They fight... and fight... and fight...," he sighed.

"One thrives on love, on compassion... on free, open speech with a caress in his heart.. On enthusiasm, and helping hands, and laughter and friendship. On knowing that each day is a new beginning of life.

The other eats hate, revenge and fear.... he drinks into dark corners of envy in his mind. He chomps on enmity and jealous rage... on fearing each day is the end of his might....
And they war on, with their fierce strength and desire to win.... Sometimes, this one on top and the other struggling in the dirt, and sometimes that one worrying this down to bones....
They fight... all day, all night, and all day again--"

"What after, Granpa?" piped up Twinkle Eyes, impatient as ever. "Who wins, finally, Granpa Cherokee?"

Granpa turned and poked at a log. Sparks flew off, crackling in the silence. The high, treble voice of the impatient question went round and round the listening minds of the children gathered.

"The one I feed, little one," rumbled the old Cherokee voice. ".... the one I feed..."

WHICH ONE DO YOU FEED?

The Light Searcher

Today I want to share a rather long article with you I read at my friend Leo Stroobant's blog.  Although it is long I really do think it is worth reading.  Enjoy.

A while ago, I read a wonderful article by a man called Jason John, that I wish to share with you today. It's about 26 Spiritual Principals, here we go....

1.All Are Related:

There is a Native American saying, which translates roughly to "All are Related". Everything in the universe is part of The Great Spirit, from a rock, to a plant, to a fish, to a human. The spirit flows between and within us all, and is the building block of everything. Since we are all part of the same whole, we should treat the rest of the whole as if it is part of us, i.e. with compassion and love. We are all part of the Great Spirit, just like all the different leaves on a tree are still part of the tree.

2.The Energy Flow: The universe is composed of energy. This energy flows between everything, us and within us all. When we have internal blocks, the energy fails to flow correctly, causing illness, lethargy and other symptoms. This energy can be directed consciously, we can see it, and feel it. How we feel affects our energy levels; negativity drains energy, positivity creates energy.

3.We Are Beings of Both Spirit and Flesh:

We are spirits, but at the same time, we are creatures of the flesh. We inhabit both worlds simultaneously, even though we are often unaware of it. We should not shun the flesh for spirit or vice versa. Both are equally important. We have to walk with one foot in each of these worlds, and pay them both attention. Neglecting either world causes distress in the other.

4.No One Entity is Superior to Another:

No one being or creature is any better or greater than another. We are all the same. We are all on different paths and have different levels of understanding, but that does not make any one of us better than another. Humans are not masters of nature, nor the animals and plants. They are our companions, and co-inhabitants of this planet. We are not superior to them, nor do we own them. We should treat them all with respect.

5.Belief Creates:

How we perceive the universe is shaped by our beliefs. If we believe we are in a hurry, then everyone else appears to be going slow. Through belief and positive thought, we can create virtually anything. We should believe in our abilities and ourselves, and we will succeed. We can combine the power of belief with that of visualisation to bring anything into reality.

6.Intuition:

Inside of us, a voice speaks and guides us. It is our intuition. We can choose to ignore it or to listen to it. Once we are in tune with our intuition and start to listen to it, we will be guided and will find that we can achieve more than we thought possible. We will begin to realise that the Great Spirit works through us - often in mysterious ways, but always to our benefit - in the long term.

7.The Higher Purpose:

Everything that happens is for a reason and for the greater good. We have to learn to look at events in our lives from more than just the normal human perspective. We must see them from the perspective of the Great Spirit and to look at what good will come from these events. This is the old maxim of "is the glass half full or half empty". We can look at events badly, half empty, and our reaction will be worse. However, should we look at events better, i.e. half full, then we are more positive, which means our energy is higher, and our reaction will be better.

8.There are No Ordinary Moments: 

The past only exists in our memory. The future only exists as our expectation. The only time that really exists is NOW. It is a precious moment and we should treat every single moment as special and live it to the full. By being in the present, we have presence. To live in the now the conscious mind should be quiet and you must focus totally on what you are doing, not what you are going to be doing next week, or what you are going to have for lunch.

9.There are No Limits:

The only limits we have are those we place upon ourselves, or others place upon us. To this end, we should avoid being put in a pigeonhole and labelled by others. If someone views a dog as being vicious, then it is more likely to be vicious. We should hold no expectations of others, and let them be themselves, just as we should be ourselves.

10.Action not Reaction:

If we are tickled, our reaction is to laugh. We should be at a state where we do not react in a situation, but act. Reaction is unconscious, whereas Action is conscious. We should not let past influences affect our actions, e.g. if we were once bitten by a dog, when we next meet a dog, we should not let the past bite affect how we act towards it. There are times to act, as well as times to be still. By living in the present and having control of the conscious mind, we can better direct our action.

11.Positivity Rules:

Negative thoughts attract negative events and drain our energy. Positive thoughts attract positive events and increase our energy. To this end, we should look at our thoughts and the events which happen to us in a positive light, realising negative thoughts for what they are and releasing them.

12.Posture, Pose & Breathing: 

Energy flows through the body, as it flows through all things. If the posture and pose are bad, the energy can not flow cleanly and causes blockages, which manifest as pain or illness. We breathe in energy from the world around us. Therefore, our breaths should be deep and full, coming from the bottom of the belly, and not the chest. This enables us to maximise our energy. Deep breathing helps relax us. When we are stressed, angry or afraid our breathing changes and becomes shallow and faster. By consciously controlling our breathing and keeping it deep and even, we can release the stress, anger or fear, enabling us to act consciously in the situation.

13.Everything in Balance:

The universe exists in a state of balance, as should we. We can do anything we wish, but should always do it to moderation, never to excess. Should we do things to excess, then they can become addictive, which drains energy and may become negative. Being balanced allows us to act better in situations. If we are sat on the fence, so to speak, we can jump off either way should we desire to.

14.Intent is Action:

You can intend to do anything, and your intent is important. However, unless the intent is followed with action, then the intent is nothing. As an example. I may intend to get fit, but spend all my time sat in front of the TV eating pizza and drinking cola. I have my intention, but my actions do not confirm or create the intention. Therefore, if you intend something, do it, don't just talk about it. Action turns knowledge into wisdom.

15.Freedom of Choice:

We all have free will, and can choose to do anything we wish. There is no situation where we do not have choice. It may appear that we do not, but there are always options, if we have the courage and strength to take them. We just have to have the courage of conviction to make the decisions.

16.Change Happens: 

Change is continuous and is always happening around us. We can not actually perceive change, but can see the end result of it. Change is not a bad thing nor is it to be feared. Through change we can grow and go forwards.

17.Taking Responsibility: 

Our actions cause a reaction - it is a law of nature. We have to be aware of our actions and take responsibility for them and for the consequences of them. It is no good doing something and then saying you did not mean to do it. Had you not meant to do it, you would not have done it. By taking responsibility for our actions, so we can take back our power and freedom to choose. We have to accept that no one will live for us, and that sometimes our actions will cause others, or ourselves, a measure of discomfort. Remember though, that discomfort is one way of helping us grow and to show us where changes need to be made.

18.One Step at a Time: 

To get to any goal, break it down into a number of small steps. If you have many small successes, then this will lead to a big success. If you aim for a big success straight off, you may fail. Remember that a journey towards any destination starts with a single step, and then a second and a third, and as many as required until you reach that destination. Remember to reward and praise yourself for your successes, however small they are. By acknowledging them, you increase your power and will to succeed, strengthening your belief in yourself.

19.Judgement: 

We have no right to judge another for their words, thoughts or deeds. They have the freedom of choice to do as they please and act as they wish, just as we do. We are in no position to judge anyone, as we are imperfect ourselves. It is easily done, for example, you see a big man with tattoo's, a skinhead and wearing leather, and the automatic assumption is that he is trouble. He may be a florist for all we know. This colours our judgement of people and changes how we act towards them. By having no preconceptions of other people, we can interact better with them, and perhaps make a new friend.

20.Integrity: 

Integrity is all about how we act when no one is looking. We must live to our own standards and should not judge others by them. This is about living in line with our highest vision despite urges to the contrary.

21.Air Your Doubts: 

By airing your doubts, fears, and worries, by looking at them and seeing them for what they are, so you can conquer them and rid yourself of them forever. By refusing to confront them, so they gain power over you, and become even more deeply rooted. After you realise what they are - release them.

22.Failure: 

It is very rare for us to fail. We only ever choose to stop trying. That is us exercising our free will. We can stop trying any time we wish, but those that succeed never stop until they get to their goal. Success often does not come easy, and does require work and effort from us. You will find that most 'overnight successes' have been working hard for that success for many years. Failure is not something to be feared or worried about, because we can never fail! Everything we do, no matter whether we view it as a success or failure is a valuable lesson for us to learn. By looking at a perceived failure as a valuable lesson, it no longer feels as bad. The only true failure is not learning the lessons our mistakes teach us.

23.The Ongoing Journey: 

Our journey of exploration through life never, ever stops. The destination is not the reward or the goal. The journey to the destination is the goal itself.

24.Don't Mind: 

If we take an objective view of our mind, then we can see that lots of thoughts drift through it, many of which we are unaware of. A sad, angry or fearful thought may drift up from the sub-conscious and change how we feel for no apparent reason. We must take control of the mind through tools such as meditation, and become aware of these thoughts and realise them for what they are. Then, we can let them go and stay relaxed and centred. By consciously focussing on our breathing, and keeping it deep and even, we can help to release these negative thoughts.

25.Emotions: 

Emotions come and go. They flow through us all the time, often without us even realising. Many of us do not express our emotions because we feel we have to "Be manly" or "Be responsible" or "Be cool". When we feel the negative emotions, we can feel our bodies tense. If we do not express these emotions when we feel them, the tension is stored within our bodies. Having emotions is not to be feared and should be celebrated. When you feel an emotion - express it! If you are happy - smile and laugh, if you are sad cry. Expressing your emotions releases the tension they give, and helps you live more fully in the here and now. Once you have expressed an emotion, it is gone and will not return with the same force for that situation. If we refuse to express them and store the emotions up, then, like damming a fast river, eventually the water level will rise too high if we do not provide it with an outlet.

26.Play: 

As children, we play exuberantly. We have fun, enjoy ourselves and have lots of energy. Then something happens, we grow up, and we no longer play believing that adults have to be adult and they don't play. Playing is one of our greatest sources of pleasure. It takes many forms, from sport to games to laughing and joking with friends. Playing increases our energy and makes us more positive. It makes those around us more positive and generally lifts the spirits of all involved. There are times to be serious, yes, but there are times to play too, and that is what we must not forget.

You are wonderful

The following story captured our heart. It happened several years ago in the Paris opera house. A famous singer had been contracted to sing, and ticket sales were booming. In fact, the night of the concert found the house packed and every ticket sold.


The feeling of anticipation and excitement was in the air as the house manager took the stage and said, Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your enthusiastic support. I am afraid that due to illness, the man whom you've all come to hear will not be performing tonight. However, we have found a suitable substitute we hope will provide you with comparable entertainment. The crowd groaned in disappointment and failed to hear the announcer mention the stand-in's name. The environment turned from excitement to frustration.


The stand-in performer gave the performance everything he had. When he had finished, there was nothing but an uncomfortable silence. No one applauded. Suddenly, from the balcony, a little boy stood up and shouted, Daddy, I think you are wonderful! The crowd broke into thunderous applause.


We all need people in our Lives who are willing to stand up once in a while and say, I think you are wonderful.


And at times others are expecting this from you. Are you telling them how wonderful they are?

See

The Cracked pot

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck.

One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water.

At the end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water.

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments.

But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream, "I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house."

The old woman smiled, "Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path and every day while we walk back, you water them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house. Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding."

Ten Keys to Opening Doors to Self Inspiration.

1. The first key to inspiration is enjoyment. It would take a spiritual master to get inspired about doing the dishes. So find something that really excites you. It can be anything that you really enjoy.

2. The second key is love. When you are actively pouring love into what you are doing, this will guarantee that you are opening yourself to experiencing more inspiration.

3. The third key is to trust yourself. Listen to that little voice inside yourself and know that this comes from heart. This is called intuition.

4. The fourth key is to follow what your intuition tells you. The more you listen to it, the stronger your intuition will become. If you don't pay attention, that little voice gets fainter and fainter until you can no longer hear it.

5. The fifth key is to keep telling yourself "I can". These are some of the most powerful words that you can ever use. When you say this to yourself often enough, you build abridge between yourself and your inspiration.

6. The sixth key is not to listen to anyone that says "no you can't". They might think that they may not be able to, and try to project this negative belief onto you, but remember to keep telling yourself that, "I can! "

7. The seventh key is to believe in yourself. When you are backed by a strong belief in yourself and your dreams, nothing is impossible.

8. The eighth key is to avoid negativity. Ask yourself, do you really need to read the newspaper or watch the news on TV everyday ? Nothing kills inspiration quicker than being surrounded by bad news.

9. The ninth key is acceptance. Accept that on some days you feel much more inspired than on others. This is normal, nobody can be completely inspired every minute of the day.

10. The tenth key is possibly the most important of all. Take action every day, no matter how small a step it seems. Action is the fuel to the fires of inspiration. Make it a daily practice to keep your fire burning. The taking of actions, no matter how small, will fill you with inspiration for taking the next step.

May your life be filled with love, happiness and inspiration.

The Donkey

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.


He invited all his neighbours to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.


A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.


As the farmer's neighbours continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up.

Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

Now what do YOU think is the Moral?

The Box

Imagine you're in London's Heathrow Airport. While you're waiting for your flight, you notice a kiosk selling shortbread cookies. You buy a box, put them in your traveling bag and then you patiently search for an available seat so you can sit down and enjoy your cookies.Finally you find a seat next to a gentleman. You reach down into your traveling bag and pull out your box of shortbread cookies.

As you do so, you notice that the gentleman starts watching you intensely. He stares as you open the box and his eyes follow your hand as you pick up the cookie and bring it to your mouth. Just then he reaches over and takes one of your cookies from the box, and eats it! You're more than a little surprised at this. Actually, you're at a loss for words. Not only does he take one cookie, but he alternates with you. For every one cookie you take, he takes one.

Now, what's your immediate impression of this guy? Crazy? Greedy? He's got some nerve?! Can you imagine the words you might use to describe this man to your associates back at the office? Meanwhile, you both continue eating the cookies until there's just one left. To your surprise, the man reaches over and takes it. But then he does something unexpected. He breaks it in half, and gives half to you. After he's finished with his half he gets up, and without a word, he leaves.

You think to yourself, "Did this really happen?" You're left sitting there dumbfounded and still hungry. So you go back to the kiosk and buy another box of cookies. You then return to your seat and begin opening your new box of cookies when you glance down into your traveling bag. Sitting there in your bag is your original box of ookies -- still unopened.

Only then do you realize that when you reached down earlier, you had reached into the other man's bag, and grabbed his box of cookies by mistake. Now what do you think of the man? Generous? Tolerant? You've just experienced a profound paradigm shift. You're seeing things from a new point of view.

Is it time to change your point of view?

Now, think of this story as it relates to your life .

Seeing things from a new point of view can be very enlightening.
Think outside the box. Don't settle for the status quo. Be open to suggestions.
Things may not be what they seem.

Big Girl Panties

Just got this in my mailbox.
The Motto for 2009/2010!

Someone will always be prettier.
Someone will always be smarter.
Some of their houses will be bigger.
Some will drive a better car.
Their children will do better in school
And their husband will fix more things around the house.
So let it go, and love you and your circumstances
Love who you are!!
Look in the mirror in the morning and smile and say,
'I am too Blessed to be Stressed and to be Disappointed!'
'Winners make things happen~~ Losers let things happen.'

The Ideal Man

Without wanting to sound like a female chauvinist, I just have to post this.  It really made me laugh and moreover, made me say: that's right, time and time again.

So ladies, tell me, which is your favorite top 5.
What does YOUR men need to be??

This is Kavita's list ...

It's not difficult to make some women happy.

A man only needs to be:

1. a friend
2. a companion
3. a lover
4. a brother
5. a father
6. a master
7. a chef
8. an electrician
9. a carpenter
10.. a plumber
11. a mechanic
12. a decorator
13. a stylist
14. a sexologist
15. a gynecologist
16. a psychologist
17.. a pest exterminator
18. a psychiatrist
19. a healer
20. a good listener
21. an organizer
22. a good father
23. very clean
24. sympathetic
25. athletic
26. warm
27. attentive
28. gallant
29. intelligent
30. funny
31. creative
32. tender
33.. strong
34. understanding
35. tolerant
36. prudent
37. ambitious
38. capable
39. courageous
40. determined
41. true
42. dependable
43. passionate
44. compassionate

WITHOUT FORGETTING TO:


45. give her compliments regularly
46. love shopping
47. be honest
48. be very rich
49. not stress her out
50... not look at other girls

AND AT THE SAME TIME, YOU MUST ALSO:
51. give her lots of attention, but expect little yourself
52. give her lots of time, especially time for herself
53. give her lots of space, never worrying about where she goes

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT:

54. Never to forget:
* birthdays
* anniversaries
* arrangements she makes


HOW TO MAKE SOME MEN HAPPY

1. Show up naked
2. Bring alcohol

In my job I meet a lot of very sensitive people.  Most of them sound very surprised when I can sum up what Life feels like to them and can predict their reaction to certain situations.

Well ... I suppose it takes one to know one :-)

It takes some time for people to admit that they are Highly Sensive and even more time to see it a a very valuable aspect of ones Self, a precious bonus, a great asset.





One of the books I enjoyed readingon the subject was The Highly Sensitive Person:
How To Thrive When The World Overwhelms You by Elaine Aron.  Eilaine has a doctoral degree in clinical psychology and is a HSP herself.

According to Dr. Aron's definition, the Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) has a sensitive nervous system, is aware of subtleties in his/her surroundings, and is more easily overwhelmed when in a highly stimulating environment.
Additionally, she says, the success of The Highly Sensitive Person is cause for celebration: "We've done it ourselves. And not surprisingly, since we are 15 to 20 percent of the population - that's fifty million in the United States. Highly sensitive people are real, we exist, and we've proven it. That alone is something to celebrate."


Another cause for Aron and her fellow HSPs to celebrate is the acceptance into mainstream psychology of the HSP personality trait.
After numerous in-depth interviews, as well as surveys of over one thousand people, Dr. Aron's findings have been published in Counseling Today, Counseling and Human Development, and the prestigious Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

In defining the Highly Sensitive Person, Dr. Aron provides examples of characteristic behaviors, and these are reflected in the questions she typically asks patients or interview subjects:

• Are you easily overwhelmed by such things as bright lights, strong smells, coarse fabrics, or sirens nearby?
• Do you get rattled when you have a lot to do in a short amount of time?
• Do you make a point of avoiding violent movies and TV shows?
• Do you need to withdraw during busy days, into bed or a darkened room or some other place where you can have privacy and relief from the situation?
• Do you make it a high priority to arrange your life to avoid upsetting or overwhelming situations?
• Do you notice or enjoy delicate or fine scents, tastes, sounds, or works of art?
• Do you have a rich and complex inner life?
• When you were a child, did your parents or teachers see you as sensitive or shy?

Dr. Aron explains that in the past HSPs have been called "shy," "timid," "inhibited," or "introverted," but these labels completely miss the nature of the trait.

Thirty percent of HSPs are actually extraverts. HSPs only appear inhibited because they are so aware of all the possibilities in a situation. They pause before acting, reflecting on their past experiences. If these were mostly bad experiences, then yes, they will be truly shy. But in a culture that prefers confident, "bold" extraverts, it is harmful as well as mistaken to stigmatize all HSPs as shy when many are not.

InThe Highly Sensitive Person, Dr. Aron reframes these stereotyping words and their common application to the HSP in a more positive light and helps HSPs use and view these aspects of their personality as strengths rather than weaknesses.

Sensitivity is anything but a flaw. Many HSPs are often unusually creative and productive workers, attentive and thoughtful partners, and intellectually gifted individuals.
According to Dr. Aron, HSPs could contribute much more to society if they received the right kind of attention - and her national bestseller proves that this 15 to 20 percent of the population is eager to get off on the right foot in asserting their unique personality trait.


You can order the book through this link


And there's a workbook too

Are you an Optimist or a Pessimist?

I have been giving some thought lately to optimism and pessimism. I must admit that in my practise I meet a lot of both.  Basically, optimism and pessimism are attitudes — attitudes that shape and formulate our entire existence. I mean, have you ever met a happy pessimist?
Of course not.

In short, our optimism or pessimism is this:
The way we interpret the past
The way we experience and view the present
The way we imagine the future

Have you given much thought about how your attitude, whether you are an optimist or a pessimist, affects you business, organization or school? Have you thought about how it affects you personally? And what about the team you are a part of?

What is optimism? It is the belief that things in our past were good for us, even if that means they were hard and taught us lessons. It is also the belief that things will be better in the future.

Here are some contrasts between optimism and pessimism and how they affect us:
Optimism breathes life into you each day.
Pessimism drains you.
Optimism helps you to take needed risks.
Pessimism plays it safe and never accomplishes much.
Optimism improves those around you.
Pessimism drags them down.
Optimism inspires people to great heights.
Pessimism deflates people to new lows.

There is only one way that optimism and pessimism are the same, and that is that they are both self-fulfilling. If you are an optimist, you will generally find that good things happen to you. And if you are a pessimist, you will find yourself in the not-so-good situations more often than not.

So can a person just become an optimist? Yes! We can choose to look at the world any way we want to.

We can choose to look at the world and think the worst, or we can tell ourselves the good things about each situation. As you find yourself looking at your enterprise, begin to view it through the eyes of an optimist, and you will reap the rewards listed above, and so will the people around you.

There are tremendous benefits to being an optimist, as stated above. But there are some pessimists out there who will say, “But that isn’t realistic.” I say, “Who cares?” If things go awry, at least I have spent my time beforehand enjoying life and not worrying about it. And, being an optimist, I would view the “negative” situation as an opportunity to grow and learn. So I can even look forward to my failures because they will be steppingstones and learning tools to be applied to my future success.

Have you ever met a successful pessimist? Become an optimist, and see your world change before your eyes!

Giant Snowflake

 
 


Just wanted to share this beauty

Mantra to stay Young

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay them.

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.' And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.

4. Enjoy the simple things that Life offers.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. Tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next city; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.

10.Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

And if you don't send this to at least 8 people - who cares? But do share this with someone. We all need to live life to its fullest each day!!

9 Ways to PMS Relief

Go with the flow? For many of us, that's a lot easier said than done. Roughly 80 percent of women report dealing with at least mild premenstrual symptoms. But killer cramps, belly bloat, and mood swings straight out of a Lifetime movie don't have to rule your cycle. Whether PMS is a mild nuisance or a monthly torment, here's how to get your life back.

If you're...slightly out of sorts

Pass On Salt-Laden Foods
Your body stores sodium so that if the released egg gets fertilized, the baby will have all the fluids and electrolytes it needs. To avoid puffing up, nix sodium-packed processed foods a few days before you normally start to hold water.

Hit the Mat
A steady yoga practice can cause a significant drop in both psychological and physical symptoms of PMS, a study in the Journal of the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology found. Exercise, relaxation, and stress management all appear to help PMS symptoms, and yoga offers a little of each.

Snack Wisely
The same hormones that cause premenstrual cramping can also cause your intestinal walls to contract, resulting in diarrhea. Reach for foods rich in soluble fiber, such as cooked vegetables, bananas, and oatmeal, to add bulk to your stool. Fiber also helps keep you full, which can help blunt pre-period food cravings.


If you're...moderately miserable

Combine Calcium and Vitamin D
A Columbia University study found that getting 600 milligrams of calcium twice a day cut participants' premenstrual fatigue, cravings, and bummed-out moods by almost half. You can pop two 500-milligram supplements along with a supplement containing 800 to 1,000 IU of vitamin D.

Get Wet
If avoiding sodium-drenched foods isn't enough to wring you dry during the week before your period, try a 20-minute swim to ease the bloating instead. The pressure of the water causes extra fluid to move back into the blood-stream, which helps cut down on swelling. No pool? Soaking in the tub for the same amount of time can have a similar effect.

Add a Little Spice
A pinch of saffron may help tame the monthly beast by increasing serotonin levels. In a recent study published in BJOG, a journal from the British Royal College of Ob-Gyns, women who took 15 milligrams of saffron extract in the morning and evening saw a significant dip in irritability, fatigue, and depression. Saffron appears to work by boosting levels of the feel-good chemical serotonin, which can plummet before menstruation.

Thanks to Woman's Health

Is this haunting picture proof that chimps really DO grieve?

By Michael Hanlon


United in what appears to be deep and profound grief, a phalanx of more than a dozen chimpanzees stood in silence watching from behind the wire of their enclosure as the body of one of their own was wheeled past. 
This extraordinary scene took place recently at the Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Center in Cameroon, West Africa. 
When a chimp called Dorothy, who was in her late 40s, died of heart failure, her fellow apes seemed to be stricken by sorrow.

As they wrapped their arms around each other in a gesture of solidarity, Dorothy's female keeper gently settled her into the wheelbarrow which carried her to her final resting place - not before giving this much-loved inhabitant of the centre a final affectionate stroke on the forehead.

Locals from the village serve as 'care-givers' to the chimps - something hugely needed by the animals who are all orphans as their mothers were killed for the illegal bushmeat trade. 
Hunters captured them as young babies, often still clinging to their mother's bodies, to sell as pets.

Until recently, describing scenes like this in terms of human emotions such as 'grief' would have been dismissed by scientists as naive anthropomorphising.



But a growing body of evidence suggests that 'higher' emotions - such as grieving for a loved one after death, and even a deep understanding of what death is - may not just be the preserve of our species. 
Chimpanzees - as you can see in the November issue of National Geographic magazine, on sale now - and the closely related Bonobos maintain hugely complex social networks, largely held together by sex and grooming. 
They have often been observed apparently grieving for lost family and tribe members by entering a period of quiet mourning after a death, showing subdued emotions and behaviour. 
And such complex emotions are not the preserve of primates or even mammals. Just this month, for instance, Dr Marc Bekoff, an ethologist at the University of Colorado, reported evidence that magpies not only appear to grieve for their dead but carry out something akin to a funeral ritual. 
In one instance, a group of four magpies took it in turns to approach the corpse of their dead comrade.

Two of the birds then flew off to return with a piece of grass, which they laid down by the corpse. The birds then stood vigil. 
In fact, there is a large body of anecdotal evidence that corvids - the group of super-bright birds that include crows, magpies and rooks - engage in many sophisticated social rituals. 
But the most famous nonhuman death rituals are those of elephants, who will often spend days guarding a dead body, gently prodding the remains with their trunks and giving the impression of being lost in grief. 
Elephants are highly social, long-lived and intelligent animals, whose excellent memory is no myth.

It is perhaps unsurprising that the loss of a member of the clan produces an emotional reaction.

The evolution of human death rituals is lost in the mists of time. There is some evidence that now-extinct hominid species such as the Neanderthals appreciated the significance of mortality, burying their dead and even scattering the graves with flowers. 
Seeing a group of chimpanzees, our closest relatives, apparently paying a sad and heart-rending tribute to their much-loved lost sister gives us, perhaps, a window on how this deepest and most fundamental emotion evolved in our own ancestors.

Recession

This Story is about a man who once upon a time was selling Hotdogs by the roadside. He was illiterate, so he never read newspapers. He was hard of hearing, so he never listened to the radio. His eyes were weak, so he never watched television. But enthusiastically, he sold lots of hotdogs. He was smart enough to offer some attractive schemes to increase his sales. His sales and profit went up. He ordered more a more raw material and buns and use to sale more. He recruited few more supporting staff to serve more customers. He started offering home deliveries. Eventually he got himself a bigger and better stove.

As his business was growing, the son, who had recently graduated from College, joined his father.

Then something strange happened.

The son asked, "Dad, aren't you aware of the great recession that is coming our way?" The father replied, "No, but tell me about it." The son said, "The international situation is terrible. The domestic situation is even worse. We should be prepared for the coming bad times."

The man thought that since his son had been to college, read the papers, listened to the radio and watched TV. He ought to know and his advice should not be taken lightly. So the next day onwards, the father cut down the his raw material order and buns, took down the colorful signboard, removed all the special schemes he was offering to the customers and was no longer as enthusiastic.

He reduced his staff strength by giving layoffs. Very soon, fewer and fewer people bothered to stop at his hotdog stand. And his sales started coming down rapidly, same with the profit.

The father said to his son, "Son, you were right". "We are in the middle of a recession and crisis. I am glad you warned me ahead of time."

Moral of The Story: Its all in your MIND! And we actually FUEL this recession much more than we think.

Midway ~ Message from the Gyre

I am sorry if I am offending or shocking by posting these photographs.  But it shook me so bad, I just HAD to post.

These photographs of albatross chicks were made just a few weeks ago on Midway Atoll, a tiny stretch of sand and coral near the middle of the North Pacific. The nesting babies are fed bellies-full of plastic by their parents, who soar out over the vast polluted ocean collecting what looks to them like food to bring back to their young. On this diet of human trash, every year tens of thousands of albatross chicks die on Midway from starvation, toxicity, and choking.

To document this phenomenon as faithfully as possible, not a single piece of plastic in any of these photographs was moved, placed, manipulated, arranged, or altered in any way. These images depict the actual stomach contents of baby birds in one of the world's most remote marine sanctuaries, more than 2000 miles from the nearest continent.

THis is what they should look like:

Essence of Water

I am sorry things have been 'on the quiet side' for some time.  Not that I have been lazing about.  Rather on the contrary.  I have been rather rushed off my feet.

For months we have been preparing for the visit of dr Masaru Emoto to Belgium.

He arrived last Thursday and the next day was one of the speakers at a scientific colloquium called:"Essence of Water"  organised by us in co-operation with the University of Ghent.

Apart from dr Emoto there were really interesting lectures by Patrick Backx, Rotary International, Cees Kamp en Elmar Fuchs from Center of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology - Wetsus, Nederland and Structural properties of water, by prof. K. Korotkov, University St-Petersburg, Russia.

I must say I was really touched by prof Korotkov and his approach to 'complementary Health'.  He has taken Kirlian Photography to quite an different level!



"When we observe the play of light around human body, drop of water or crystal, we understand that everything in the world has interrelationship and any object - biological or inorganic - has its own inner energy. Understanding the fact that our life is not only material body and material existence but, first of all, it is energy, and therefore - Spirit, makes us have new attitude towards our everyday reality. When on real time we observe change of human biological field under influence of therapy, meditation, prayer, love, it makes us see the world round us with different eyes." Dr. Konstantin Korotkov

Take a 'Real' Vacation

Aaaaahhh vacation. The moment we dream about all year. Yet, how many times has your vacation been a disappointment? Or you find that the temporary lift it gave you vanished faster than the time it took to unpack?




What's wrong - do we expect too much?

Actually we expect too little. Rather than consciously planning to have fulfilling, nourishing vacations, we often think that pure, mindless escape from our everyday routine is what will make us happy.

So we plan our vacations to be loaded with rest and relaxation activities laced with overindulgence of our bodies and pocketbooks or - at the other extreme - frenetic activity schedules and packed travel itineraries that leave no time for quality experiences and a feeling of exhaustion upon returning home.



The reasons we do this are many. Sometimes it's as simple as having bought into western society's commonly-held vacation concepts preaching that a quick-fix zone-out or a high-powered dash through a country or even a continent will pump us up for coping with life's battles for the next round. Sometimes the vacation choices we make reflect more deeply our personal situation and state of mind.

Too often we go through our vacations in a fog, not realizing that we've substituted a sense of activity for real purpose; we expect to feel refreshed, when exactly the opposite is true. Often the obstacle is what I call "soft addictions" that keep us from discovering and feeding our deeper, more spiritual hungers to live, to feel and experience our lives, to grow and develop, to connect, to express ourselves, to make a difference, to be part of something bigger.

What are some soft addictions that can overtake our decisions and our lives, even our vacations? They are often associated with the way we approach gambling, eating and drinking, shopping or collecting trivia, as well as exercising, celebrity following, and fantasizing through reading materials, surfing the Internet, and channel switching during hours of television viewing.



Recreation is basic to the purpose of a vacation. Recreation means "to restore to life, refreshment by recreating oneself". To recreate is to refresh ourselves, to heal, to recharge our batteries and reorient ourselves to a more nourishing, successful life. You don't re-create or refresh yourself with soft addictions. Instead, you become less of yourself.

We don't realize how many things we can do to recharge our batteries, help us resolve our feelings, help us get in touch with our vision and goals, and provide much needed perspective. A conscious vacation brings more life, love and meaning to our lives. It is like a little life sabbatical that leaves us ready to re-enter our lives with fresh perspective and new energy.

As you plan your vacation, therefore, focus less on where you're going and more on the larger purpose. It's fine to go to the beach and read a page-turner. Just be sure that you take some time to watch the waves roll in and read a book that makes you stop and think every time you turn that page.
Get to know yourself better rather than distract yourself. Really connect with your loved ones. Interview your spouse like you did when you were dating. Expose your children (and yourself!) to new and different activities. Enjoy their discoveries and see them fresh, outside of normal routines.



When we plan vacations to meet our deeper hungers, real magic happens. We feed our soul - and that lasts a lot longer than the temporary numbness we get from indulging our soft addictions. This year, really take a vacation. Discover what life feels like when you satisfy those hungers and break destructive habits. Now, that's something to write home about!

Article by Judith Wright

For a Soul Feeding Holiday of a Lifetime please visit my website

**