PULLING OUR CHAINS

The Granddaughter Clock

In my possession is a beautiful hand-crafted replica of an early 20th century granddaughter clock. The elderly gentleman who made it would visit flea markets or antique shops looking for old hand tools which his son would sharpen and recondition to perform as they once had.

This gentleman was a true craftsman. In his eighties when he made this clock, he worked with care and love in a little shop at the back of his yard. I met him when I had a booth at one of the markets he used to frequent. He bought a couple of my father's old tools and would stand to chat for a few minutes about his clocks.

One day he asked me if I would like one of his granddaughter clocks--no charge! Naturally I said an enthusiastic 'yes'. A few months went by and I forgot about that conversation. Then came the phone call. My clock was finished and ready to be picked up. He told me to bring something to wrap it in for protection on the way home.

I had never heard of a granddaughter clock and had no idea of what it was. In my mind I was visualizing a clock similar in size to a mantel clock. Great was my surprise to discover that this clock just barely fit in the back seat of my car!

 The wood feels like satin. This clock has a quartz movement so does not have to be wound like an original clock, but is nonetheless a wonderful piece of workmanship and has given me a great deal of pleasure.


The Grandmother Clock

Months later this gentleman again called me. He needed a square clock face for his 1700s grandmother clock replica. Could I do the artwork? Of course I agreed. When I called to tell him it was ready, he asked if I had room for one of these clocks. My answer? "I'll make room!"

Would you believe this man actually wanted to pay me for the artwork? Two beautiful clocks he gave me! How could I accept payment for a couple hours of 'work'? I cannot imagine how many hours he spent creating his pieces of art, cutting, carving, fitting, sanding, staining, applying the final coat of varethane, all without the use of power tools. I refused payment, but he was determined, and so purchased something from me that I am certain he had no use for. 

This clock is over six feet tall. I was certain I would have to ask someone with a van to go with me to pick it up, but this gentleman had made the clock in three sections which, when put together, look like one continuous piece of furniture. But this clock is different not only in size and appearance. This clock has a pendulum and a bell rings on the hour and half-hour. Evidently chimes had not come into use in clocks in the 1700s. The delicate sound is beautiful.

The weights are old window weights. He fashioned the pendulum from some piece of metal. The movement he purchased from a company in Germany. No detail was left out. No pains were spared as he created his masterpiece. 

Pulling the Chains

In order to wind this clock, you must pull the chains on which the weights hang. This must be done every two days to keep the clock going. The problem is that I forget to pull the chains and the clock stops. After a couple of days, sometimes longer, I realize I have not heard the bell ring for a while, and I once again pull the chains.

Do you ever need someone to pull your chains? Are you like me, sometimes a little sluggish, not very productive? I need someone to pull my chains, to get me working again. I believe we all need that sometimes. If you don't have an encourager in your life to do this, I urge you to find someone who will be faithful to do this in a loving and gentle way. At times we need a push, at times we need a hand to help us up to a higher level. But sometimes all we need is a friend to pull our chains. We start steadily ticking again, the bells will ring out and we are back on track running the race for healthy living.

This man was truly an example to all of us. He kept his chains pulled and spent his 'spare' time creating beauty for others to enjoy. I don't know if he is still alive, but I will never forget his generosity and his love of craft. Every time I check the time, I see him in his workshop, trailed by his Welsh corgi.

So, let's keep our chains pulled, our clocks ticking and our bells ringing out as we allow something of beauty to be created in our lives that will bring pleasure into the lives of others.

HOBBIES FOR HEALTHY LIVING

What do you love to do in your spare time? Does it promote healthy living?

Since I started blogging, a once-upon-a-time hobby has been resurrected. Photography. I have always loved the click of the shutter. My 35mm camera took beautiful pictures, but I set this hobby aside some time ago because I didn't go anywhere special to use the camera to advantage. Now, with my digital camera, I'm really having fun again. I'm amazed at some of the pictures I have taken lately, at how clear and brilliant they are. In some of the florals you can even see the hairs on the leaves. Today I caught a beautiful black and blue butterfly in my lens - the one in the above photo. I will have to do a search to find out what it is called. I'm no professional, but a shot like this brings me great pleasure.

There is another advantage to this hobby of mine. I have been walking, breathing in fresh air and soaking up the summer sunshine at Waterworks Park in St. Thomas Ontario, at Port Burwell, at Port Stanley. Peace flows over me as I look at the fine details of nature. Flowers, profuse in number and variety, have filled my lens with a beauty that overwhelms me. With the soft breezes blowing in my face, the beauty of God's creation in my eyes, and my camera in my hand, there is an illusion of being in a magical place. This is a place to relax, to unwind, to heal. It's part of healthy living. For a short while, I experience life in the slow lane.

I leave with you a question: How does your hobby benefit your healthy living?

TIP FOR HEALTHY LIVING

Steam and serve

Simply buying foods with the highest percentage of nutrition does not guarantee you will benefit from them. To ensure you receive the greatest benefit from fresh vegetables, eat them raw or steam them for a short time. It will, of course, be different for different vegetables and it will also depend on quantity. The more you place in the steamer, the longer you will have to cook it. I find that when I cook several vegetables at once, enough for one or two, it usually takes twenty to thirty minutes. But be careful which ones you cook together. Carrots, for instance, take longer than broccoli, so you may find it better to add the broccoli ten or fifteen minutes after later. This way less vitamins will be destroyed than in overcooking or boiling in water. Also make sure to eat fresh fruit and vegetables within a minimal time of purchase.

BECOME WHAT YOU ARE

Today's quote holds a revealing truth. What we get in life matters little. Do you desire money? Big homes? Expensive cars? High-paying jobs? Fame? Power? I'll let you in on a little secret: all these things will disappear. They have no eternal value. When we die, we can take none of it with us.

What does Tony Robbins say? It's who we become and what we contribute that has everlasting value. That is what gives meaning to our lives here on earth and what determines our life hereafter.

Becoming is a continual process. We do not just suddenly 'become' something except for the time we ask Jesus into our lives and we become sons and daughters of the living God, members of His family. From then on we go through a lifetime process of becoming more like Jesus. At least, I hope that is your goal and the thing you strive after.

The Lord is looking, not for the strong, the wise, the mighty, though He will accept them when they come humbly to Him, but He seeks those willing to surrender their lives completely to Him. Then and only then can we truly become like Jesus. Then and only then can we truly walk in our destiny.

So, how do we become what we need to become that we already are? I know, that sounds like a riddle. But this is no trick question. The Bible mentions many things that we are to become: holy, pure, loving, cheerful givers, the list goes on. But it also tells us that we already are some of these things. How can this be? We are more than conquerors according to Romans 8:37. Yet how many times do we fail to conquer the demons in our lives? We continue to live under the control of the 'old man', our old nature. According to Ephesians 2:6 God has raised us up and made us sit together with Christ Jesus in heavenly places. Do you see yourselves seated there? Do you act as if you are living in the throne room of God? Probably not if you are like most of us. I could add many other scriptures, but these will suffice to explain what I mean when I say we must become what we already are.

The Lord has predestined us to certain kingdom principles, but we still must go through the process of application to our lives, of refinement in His crucible, before they are noticeable in our lives. We must learn; we must yield. We must allow the Lord to work out and to work in so we can be the people He intends for us to be. What do I mean by work out? I mean the old nature must come out, must go, before the Lord can work in us the very nature of Jesus. But of course this has to happen gradually.

Can you imagine how you would feel if one day the Lord said to you, "Let's sit down together. I've got something important to tell you. In fact, there are a lot of things I need to show you. All the things that are wrong in your life. Right from the day you were born until this very second. Everything, mind you. I don't plan on leaving one iota out. You need to know this so you can get rid of it and take on the nature of Jesus. Now, where shall I start..." Would you not be devastated before He had talked for even five minutes? You would simply give up long before He finished because you would feel entirely devoid of any hope of improvement, of victory. But this is not the way our loving Jesus deals with us. He tells us a little at a time then gives us the equipment to deal with each thing He reveals to us. He gives us power to overcome. He has given the victory, but we need to walk in that victory. He has given us a place in the throne room, but we must be trained in order to be able to live at that level. Every prince and princess goes through years of training, of molding and shaping so they can function appropriately. They are born royalty, not made so, but they are not left to their own devices but brought up strictly to follow protocol so that when they become king or queen they know how to be a king or queen.

One way to become is to give, to contribute to others. Give what? Give of ourselves, first and foremost to the Lord, then to others. Give love. Give time. Give Jesus to the world by living according to His desires, His mandate for our lives. We as Christians have a wealth of knowledge, wisdom and truth to impart to the world. We have the love of God in our hearts to spread abroad wherever we go. Prayer is one of the most powerful gifts we can bestow on anyone. So when we begin to be givers rather than takers we begin to become like Jesus.

Take heart. Jesus loves you and will not leave you to your own devices. He is all-powerful, and perfectly willing to share His power with us. He knows all, and is willing to share His knowledge with us. All we need do is yield, surrender our lives daily into His capable hands. This is a place of protection. A place of refuge. A place of learning. A place of becoming. Let's give Him "our bodies, a living sacrifice" (Romans 12:1) and offer Him everything that is part of our lives, then allow Him to make us in the image of Jesus. This is the way to true healthy living. This is the way to destiny. This is the way to heaven.

JUST SAY "GOOD RIDDANCE!" FOR HEALTHY LIVING

Has pain from the past
Become a great grievance?
Just give it to God,
And then say, "Good riddance!"

Is your grieving and sorrow
Too heavy to bear?
Give it over to Jesus,
And then leave it there.

Are your duties so many
They've become an encumbrance?
Turn it over to Him
And then say, "Good riddance!"

Do you struggle with life?
Do you question and fret?
Remember the Saviour
Will never forget.

Does life in the present
Seem beyond endurance?
Give it over to Him
And then say, "Good riddance!"

Stop carrying your load;
Unburden your soul.
Let the Lord Jesus Christ
Take over the whole.

Lay it all at His feet
And walk in obedience.
Let Jesus take charge
And just say, "Good riddance!"

This, I grant, is not the best poetry in the world, but I wanted to make a point in a poetic way. We so often carry our burdens, allow sorrow to weigh us down, try to "get on with life" without dealing with pain from the past and struggles in the present. It doesn't work. They always come back to "haunt" us, to sidetrack us and sometimes derail us. The best way to deal with these things is to take them to the Lord in prayer, tell Him all about how you feel, let go of the whole and leave it there. Then shout out, "Good riddance!"

We don't need to carry these things in our own strength. Jesus has promised to be our Burden-Bearer, our Guide, our Provider, our Comfort, our Hiding Place, our Deliverer, our Strong Tower, a Father to the fatherless and a Husband to the widow. He wants us to surrender everything to Him so that He can have full control of our lives and be free to lead us into our destiny.

When we have learned to leave it all with Him, there is good reason to shout out, "Good riddance!" It brings freedom, joy, a lightness of spirit that helps us go through all the trials that life brings. The Lord will not give us more than we can handle, but we have the choice of whether to take on burdens of our own or to take His yoke which is easy, His burden which is light. This is the way to healthy living physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually and relationally. Just dump it all on Jesus and rid yourself of an unnecessary weight.

Yes, I'm giving you a push here. Come on, you can do it! It's time! Let me hear you shout it out! "Good riddance!"

WHAT DOESN'T GO IN CAN'T COME OUT

The ability to love and the need to be loved is inherent in every human being from birth. Like the baby bird waiting in the nest with its mouth wide open for the next morsel of food from its mother, so from the time we are babies our souls are wide open, waiting for that love to be poured in.

But what happens to that little bird if the mother doesn't return to the nest? Quite obviously it will die in the safety of its home in the tree. The safe place cannot help keep it alive. So with humans. If love is not poured in on a constant basis, the soul withers. Something dies within. It happens in that place called home where safety and protection is expected. When love is wanting, life is wanting. Where love is not experienced, love cannot be given. As an empty glass is not a supply for a thirsty person, an empty soul cannot give out what it does not have within.

Where children are dearly loved by parents, an inner confidence takes root, a sense of completeness, a feeling of worth develops. When we are loved, we are able to love in return. What comes in can also go out. To love others brings great joy. To be loved is to be blessed beyond measure.

Is there hope for the unloved? Absolutely. Just look again at the scripture for the day. There is not one person on whom the Lord does not pour His love. Whether we realize it or not, even if we are completely alone in this world, we are loved. But we have to open our hearts to this love if we want to benefit from it, if we desire to 'feel' loved. We must open our whole being to the Lord Jesus Christ and allow Him to have the ownership of our lives. As His love pours into us, we can, in turn, pour out that same love to others.

Let love, the agape love of God, flow like a river into your spirit and out again. You will find fulfillment and satisfaction in healthy living by allowing His love to wash over you, fill you and to envelop all with whom you come in contact.

PERSEVERANCE FOR HEALTHY LIVING

Perseverance--the quality that causes a person to push forward despite setbacks, roadblocks, hindrances. Tenacity of spirit. Determined effort. Patience. Those with this quality are winners. It may take a long time, but in the end, they succeed in their pursuit.

Without this quality many people fail because they quit before they reach the goal. Often the goal is within reach when they give up saying that it can't be done, it's impossible, it takes too much work, I've given this more than enough time. One more hour, one more day, one more week of perseverance may be all it would take to reach their desired end. Too soon, they quit.

Healthy living takes perseverance. Many people today are sick because, over the years, they have not taken good care of their bodies. Toxins have built up, a general weakening has crept in to cause many conditions attributed to the aging process. But do we really have to live this way?

Often when a person realizes their body is not functioning as it once did they begin to seek out solutions, something to alleviate pain, to fix specific problems, to find some way to help them feel better rather than unwell, tired all the time, listless. Some people run to the doctor week after week and would rather take a lot of pills. Others, after a little research, find a vitamin, a whole food supplement that seems to address the issues they struggle with.

I'm not saying you shouldn't take pills. On the other hand, my choice is, if at all possible, to take the natural route. After all, our bodies were created to assimilate food, not synthetic drugs. Our bodies need whole-food nutrition to function, to be healthy. Without nutrient-rich food, adequate pure water, clean air, exercise and rest our bodies will suffer. We also need to abstain from things that can harm our bodies, e.g. cigarettes, alcohol, excess fried foods, overuse of refined sugar, etc. It is simple enough to understand. Care for our bodies well and we are rewarded with health. Abuse our bodies, the result is sickness.

So, what happens when you settle on a good nutritional program, follow it for a few weeks but see no positive response? I have spoken with many people in this situation. Most say, "I took those supplements for a couple of weeks, but I quit because they didn't do any good."

Enter perseverance. No program, no vitamin, no whole-food supplement works overnight. In some instances people do begin to feel a little better almost immediately. But that is not the norm. Perhaps they are so depleted in some nutrient that even a little extra in their diet brings results. But to prove the efficacy of a healthy living program we need to persevere for at least three to six months to know if it is really working. How can anyone expect a condition that has taken perhaps forty, fifty years to develop to be eradicated with a few weeks-worth of even the best of products?

It's not easy. It takes time to form a new habit. It may take extreme exertion to follow through with your healthy living plan. You may feel like giving up before you reach your goal. But I would encourage you to keep at it, don't quit, because the end result is usually worth more than the effort it took to get there. Find someone who will faithfully hold you accountable. Feeling good, feeling happy, feeling healthy is precious; it's value cannot be estimated in time or in dollars.

So take heart, focus on the goal, keep your eyes on the reward, not on the obstacles, and let's walk this journey together to achieve healthy living for ourselves and our families.

WHAT DOES GRATITUDE HAVE TO DO WITH HEALTHY LIVING?

Did you know that gratitude is now being studied as a science by psychologists? They call it positive psychology. Its purpose is to counteract, on an academic and practical level, the effects of the past decades of practising negative psychology that attempts to fix problems--therapies such as stress and anger management, etc.

Professor Robert Emmons has been studying this subject for a living for more than ten years. He is based at University of California Davis. He is also editor-in-chief of the Journal of Positive Psychology. Prof. Emmons says that gratitude increases happiness levels up to 25%! This, in turn, enhances our health and well-being. He suggest keeping a Gratitude Journal, writing in it four times a week for at least three weeks. Another suggestion is to write a Gratude Letter to someone who has had a positive influence in your life.

Studies are showing that when we develop the habit of being thankful our heart rhythms and our brain activation patterns are affected. Our lives can be significantly improved with increased energy, a boost in our enthusiasm for life and will also benefit us socially. Imagine, just learn to be grateful for being alive, grateful for food, clothing, a roof over our head, grateful for family, friends, the sunshine... There is no end of things for which we can give thanks.

In a former post I mentioned how many more muscles it takes to frown than to smile. Expressing gratitude takes a whole lot less energy than expressing anger, frustration, resentment. Harboring bitterness uses up not only energy, health and well-being, but life itself. Our life span can actually be shortened by years when we live with these destructive emotions.

It has been well-documented over the years that anger, resentment and bitterness lead to diseases such as cancer, heart attacks, digestive disorders, arthritis, etc. What a price to pay for living with unforgiveness! How much simpler to learn to forgive, to be grateful for what we have rather than be bitter over what we don't have or what we used to have or what we wish we had.

Think of one thing you're grateful for right now. Even better, tell someone else. If you can't find anyone to tell, please leave a comment below and tell me what you are especially thankful for today. You might just make their day or mine happier in so doing. Develop an Attitude of Gratitude, not just in words, but in words that come from a sincere heart. It will cleanse your soul and spirit. It will bring release from stress. And you will find healthy living as a reward.

I am grateful that I have the privilege of writing this blog and sharing my gratitude with my readers. Have a happy, healthy and grateful day.

THE MINDSET OF HEALTHY LIVING or We Can Always Get a Divorce

Yesterday I wrote an article and posted it on BetterNetworker titled We Can Always Get a Divorce. Curious? It addresses what I believe to be the reason why statistics show that 95% or more of the people who join a MLM (MultiLevel Marketing) company fail.

Perhaps you have never been involved in MLM; perhaps you never will. But this topic really addresses the failures we experience in every area of life. Some people would fail at the simplest task; others can master some of the most difficult equations in life. That's just the way it is. Or is it?

Failure, as I said in my article, is usually only a mindset. Change the mindset and the failure magically becomes success. Only it really isn't magic. It takes old-fashioned hard work. Not physical work as in digging ditches, but concentrated mental effort, constant wrestling with our thoughts, to accomplish this. It's not easy. In fact, it's very difficult to change our mindset. After all, it is 'set'. Sometimes set in cement. We've lived with it for a very long time.

A mind set on failure, or simply just not set on success, is not conducive to healthy living. Negative thoughts breed negative results. Where doubts assail, we usually fail. We need to learn to overcome doubts. Self-doubt is actually rooted in doubts of God. So the first step is to learn to trust the Lord.

God has some very definite things to say to and about us. Read His word, dig into the scriptures as for hidden treasure. When you find what He thinks of you, use these things for personal affirmation. Tell yourself over and over, God loves me; He cares about me; He says I'm more than a conqueror; His word says I have the victory in Him; He is always with me; He will never leave me; with Him I'll never want, I'll never fail. And there's much more. Keep digging for those gold nuggets and use them to build up your faith. Believe the Lord means what He says, then begin to act as if you really do believe it. Then success will be yours.

If you would like to read my original article, click on this link: http://bit.ly/pOcuM

HOW IMPORTANT IS WATER FOR HEALTHY LIVING?

Most people today know that about two-thirds of our body weight consists of water. Strange, when you think of a sponge two-thirds full of water you consider it water-logged. But did you know that most people are only 20-70% hydrated? That's right, most of us are mildly to severely dehydrated. And it is a chronic state, not just a short-term condition that will go away just because you drink a few more mouthfuls or even a bottle or two of water.

Dehydration leads to fatigue, headaches, and more seriously, disease. People are slowly dying for lack of water. "But," you may say, "I drink at least eight glasses a day, just like they tell you!" That, my friend, may not be the answer.

So, what is the answer to my question, "How important is water to healthy living?" It is critical. Ever wonder why your thinking gets a little fuzzy in the middle of the day? Perhaps your body is crying out for water. After all, the brain is 95% water! Really, you'd think you would be able to hear it sloshing around in your head, wouldn't you? But, seriously, this may sound funny but it is no joke. Constipated? Check your water intake. Joints a little 'rusty'? Could be lack of water. Running out of steam by mid-afternoon? Try water. When you feel a headache coming on, especially if you are subject to migraines, try drinking a glass or two of purified water. According to one source you might just find the headache is alleviated or avoided altogether. Because the brain is made up of such a large percentage of water, the lack of it often leads to migraines. Your body is screaming for water.

Water helps to control body temperature through our perspiration. It helps to eliminate toxins from the body, thus decreasing the incidence of disease. Water is released when we breathe. We are not like the camel that can store great quantities of water to last on a long desert trek. We must replenish our supply daily.

But be sure to drink clean, purified water. All water, to borrow a phrase, is not created equal. Most of our municipal water is contaminated with toxic chemicals that harm our bodies over time. Chlorine, for example, which is used in most municipal water treatment plants to kill bacteria, is highly toxic to our bodies. Fluoride is a toxic industrial waste product often added to the water supply on the pretense that it helps form stronger teeth and bones. This is a fallacy, the great deception of the public in order to avoid the expense of toxic waste disposal. So, instead of polluting the environment, they pollute our bodies. In fact, tooth decay is much more widespread than it was before fluoride was introduced into drinking water. One article I read states that 60-90% of children and "the vast majority of adults" in industrialized countries are affected by tooth decay. In fact, it calls it a "health hazzard". Yet in the next sentence the author says that fluoride prevents cavities! Now can anyone tell me how you reconcile these two statements?

Our thyroid gland, which needs iodine to function properly, cannot distinguish the difference between chlorine, fluoride and iodine. In my humble opinion, this is the reason for such a high incidence of thyroid problems today. Our thyroid glands have become a repository for multiple toxins that they can neither use nor dispose of. Thyroid hormones are essential in skeletal development. Low thyroid levels result in impaired formation of bones whereas high levels causes accelerated growth and decreased bone mass. In other words, if our thyroid is not functioning properly, our bones are not healthy. And I could go on about energy levels, other body functions, but there is not enough room in a blog. Just Google 'dangers of fluoride' if you want to know more.

Yes, water, pure water, is critical to healthy living. But, as I have already said, simply drinking more water may not be the answer. Drink too much and you will deplete your blood electrolytes (i.e. sodium, potassium, calcium, etc.) which can lead to serious health concerns. Another problem is that water forms clusters because of the treatment it undergoes. These clusters are too large to enter the aquaporin in the cell walls. This leads to an accumulation of water outside the cell rather than inside the cell where it is needed. We need water treated so that these clusters are broken down and it becomes available at the cellular level if we want to experience true healthy living. Cellerator from Regenxx is probably the best water additive for complete hydration available. If you want to know more, feel free to e-mail me and I will get back to you.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge, in The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner wrote: Water, water everywhere and ne'er a drop to drink. We could cry the same thing today. Let's rewrite that for our own lives: Pure, clean water in my glass, and every drop I'll drink! Let's toast to healthy living with pure hydrated water. Drink up, everyone!

HEALTHY LIVING INCLUDES LIVING PLANTS

For me, the expression of healthy living doesn't develop fully without living plants in my apartment. Even though I don't always look after them as well as I should, I love to have growing things around me, green things, flowering plants that bring cheer into a room. I've heard many people say, "I don't have a green thumb. I kill every plant I ever get." Well, I've had a few experiences like that, but I have also had some real success stories as well.

Years ago I bought a hibiscus with only tiny unopened buds. To my surprise, when it did flower, it had double blossoms. Beautiful! I have never seen one like it since. I remember counting 29 buds on it at one time. Then I moved it and it stopped blooming. I moved it back and it did bloom again but never as profusely. Periodically I would re-pot it into a bigger container until it got almost too heavy for me to lift. I cut it back when it finally reached the ceiling! Later it spread out so far laterally that I cut it right back, not knowing if it would ever live through such a drastic pruning. Besides the fact that I really don't know much about pruning--where to cut, when to cut, etc. But it survived for many years.

Many times I cut branches off that plant, put them in water and rooted them. I don't know how many new plants I gave away. But there came a day when old age finally got the better of that hibiscus. I had to throw it away. I'm sorry I never took a picture of it while it was in bloom. The one in the picture above is one from a hibiscus I bought last year and, unfortunately, died a few months later.

But that wasn't the end of that plant. I had given one of my "children" to a friend. Her plant had grown large so she took a cutting, rooted it and gave it to me. I now have a great-grandchild of my original hibiscus and it is growing like a weed though it has not yet flowered.

Today I finally re-potted the plants I purchased in the spring. The thought occurred to me that sometimes we need to re-pot parts of our lives. In other words, we need to give them new space, a larger place to grow, some fertilizer and, of course, enough water to benefit them without water-logging them and killing them. As we need to feed our bodies, we need to feed our intellect and our spirits. In my case, I need to inject new life in my business on a regular basis to keep it healthy.

So, if you are a plant lover, be sure to have lots of them in your home. They bring joy and satisfaction and, yes, sometimes sadness when they die and you have to toss them. But they are definitely worth the effort. Praise God for healthy plants that contribute to healthy living!

SMILE YOUR WAY TO HEALTHY LIVING

Do you ever take time to watch people? Look at their faces? Often I notice people wearing frowns as if they were etched in their foreheads at birth. The corners of their mouths curve in an exaggerated upside-down smile, their gait is sluggish, shoulders are stooped and their eyes hold no declaration of pleasure. I wonder what they are thinking of, what are the burdens so heavy as to carve such an expression of heaviness on their countenances.

Once in awhile one of these people will glance my way. What to do? I smile! Perhaps even say, "Good morning!", or just a simple, "Hi! How are you today?" Usually my smile breeds more smiles, their faces light up and they go on their way with a little lighter step. But there are some who refuse to even look to the right or left; their focus is straight ahead as if they wish to remain in their own darkened world of thought. They want no help. They want no look of encouragement. They want no cheering smiles.

"Just leave me alone," they voice wordlessly.

And I do. Leave them alone, that is. If my smile cannot kindle a returning smile in another, I'll just keep giving it away until someone responds and accepts it. Hopefully in turn those who receive it will pass it on. For a smile is not something to keep for yourself. A smile is for giving. And also forgiving!

They say that it takes more muscles to frown than to smile. To be exact, 43 to frown, 17 to smile. That's interesting. It means that it is far easier to smile than it is to frown. Then why so many frowns? Perhaps it's merely habit. Perhaps there are burdens too heavy to bear. Perhaps they feel that no one cares anyway, so why bother to smile? Whatever the reason, I am determined to keep on giving away smiles whether or not I am rewarded with a reciprocal smile.

If only they realized all the extra effort they are expending to frown! If only they understood that a merry heart doeth good like a medicine (Proverbs 17:22 KJV). Oh, if they would only accept the fact that Jesus died on the cross to take away those frowns! Then they would be filled with such joy that those upside-down smiles would turn right-side up and light would shine from their eyes.

Let's start an energy-saving program, put away those frowns and display a smiling, happy face and bring a little cheer to those around us. We will be happier for it, it will please the Lord, and others will feel the benefit. You will know healthy living as you take a dose of the medicine of joy. Smile, smile, smile! As they say, "You'll be glad you did."

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ATTITUDE AND HEALTHY LIVING

You may be wondering what yesterday's post has to do with healthy living. Well, since you asked...The word is "Attitude". There was a time when something like that would have upset me greatly. I would have muttered all kinds of negative things: Why did this have to happen to me? Now what am I going to do? Nothing ever goes right for me!

Sound familiar? I hope not, but I'm sure many people have been in that place at some point in their lives. However yesterday I simply got into the car again and aimed it back to St. Thomas. I told my friend that now she was getting a double ride. Aside from the fact that she was at first really upset about the whole dilemma, then blamed herself for not telling me to leave my purse in the car with her, I think she finally settled her mind and enjoyed the rest of the journey and the fact that she didn't have to go home so early.

Attitude: stance, mindset, outlook,mood, approach (from Gage Canadian Thesaurus). According to the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (online), attitude is 'A state of mind or a feeling; disposition'. It's "A frame of mind affecting one's thoughts or behavior" according to an online thesaurus. The online Mnemonic Dictionary says attitude is "a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways". I think you get the picture. As you can see, the cat has an 'attitude'!

Healthy living is accomplished in part by nurturing healthy attitudes. Negative thoughts and words have a negative effect on our bodies, our minds, our emotions, our spirits. And on those around us. Yes, our attitudes can have a powerful effect, not only on those in close relationship with us but also in casual interchanges with people we may not even know. Like someone in line ahead of us at the store. Or the teller at the bank.

A positive, joyful and hopeful outlook is contagious. Have you ever felt a little depressed (I'm not talking clinical depression here) then someone with a cheerful attitude comes along, says a few uplifting words and your whole perspective changes in those few moments. Suddenly you can laugh again in spite of your troubles. The sun begins to shine anew into your spirit.

We have a choice in life: to live life with a positive approach or to create a negative atmosphere wherever we go. I much prefer to be happy, to laugh, to be able to lift others up and bring joy into their lives. There are enough negative things and situations and people in this world that it doesn't need another in me.

What is your attitude?

MUSIC AND HEALTHY LIVING

Can you imagine a world devoid of music? No silver tones of piccolo, no resounding of bass drum, no harmony of bow on violin strings taut with melody, no crashing of cymbals, no mellow crooning of saxophone, strumming of guitar strings or resonant echos from nimble fingers on piano keys, no tinkling chimes, no reverberating notes from pipe organ, no voice of singers pouring out lilting lyrics from the song in their hearts.

I believe that music is an essential part of healthy living, a form of therapy to help troubled minds, used in stress management and listened to simply for pure enjoyment and relaxation. Music can alleviate emotional suffering, bring comfort to grieving hearts. Music can lull babies to sleep. It has the power to change the direction of our thoughts, to bring joy in times of depression, to soothe aching hearts, to calm the troubled waters in our lives, even refresh memories of times long past. The angels sing around God's throne in divine melody that echoes throughout eternity. Music is a divine elixir to needy souls, causing us to ascend out of the mundane into heavenly realms.

"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."
---Berthold Auerbach (1812-1882)---

But what is music to you may not be music to me; what is music to me may not be music to another generation. Personally I am blessed most by listening to instrumental classical music, the music of Chopin, Mozart, Handel. I am lost in Fuer Elise (music pictured above) by Beethoven as I play it on the piano, and a violin rendition of Meditation from Thais by Jules Massanet causes my spirit to soar.

I recall being asked years ago by my pastor to accompany him on the piano during his violin solo of Meditation. We had no practice together until we actually performed it in church, but it was a wonderful experience akin to worship. If you would like to hear this music on YouTube, click on this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhKkjIC2SWk&NR=1 If classical music is not your forte, I would ask you to 'hear' this with your spirit rather than your mind. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Then there is a so-called music that is no music at all, composed of harsh noise, commotion, disturbance, confusion, distraction, evil words and can lead to evil thoughts and deeds of violence. This is the devil's 'music'. He is the great impostor, the perpetrator of everything ungldly, and has deceived many into believing that what he has to offer is good. It's our choice what we listen to. My choice is music composed by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit whether classical, gospel, old-time hymns or whatever brings peace, joy, encouragement, worship.

He, the Creator God, has created His children to imitate Him--to create. Music is part of this creative ability bestowed on humanity. And music will follow us into the courts of heaven itself. We will sing praises to the God of our salvation throughout eternity. What a blessed heritage we have!

Music! I thank God for it!

HEALTHY LIVING AND THE MIND

Photo at left is of my mother last December at age 97. She passed away on March 19, 2009.

Photo at right is my friend Winnie who will be 99 on October 8, 2009.

Why do we get old? I don't mean in years, but the inner person, the all-encompassing thing that is the 'real me'. Some people seem old at fifty, spending their time in front of the television watching soaps and sit-coms, filling themselves with chips and pop. And then there are those, like my friend Winnie, who, on October 8 will celebrate her ninety-ninth birthday. Up until the beginning of this year she was still doing volunteer work in the General Store at a chronic care hospital--serving coffee and running the cash register! My mother, who lived with me for the past nearly five years, was able to look after herself almost until she died. She ran her own home alone before she broke her hip and moved here. Winnie has a friend who several years ago became a centenarian and has only recently given up entertaining.

Have you ever wondered what makes the difference?

I realize our genetic make-up plays a major role in how many years we live. Disease can age the body long before its time. Excessive amounts of unhealthy stress can over-burden our systems and short-circuit our life-span as well.

Healthy living contributes to longevity. (By the way, what do you call it when longevity isn't the outcome--shortevity?) To a large extent, the food we eat dictates the outcome of our lives. Eat at fast food restaurants several days a week and it will very likely lead to an early grave. And exercise--that's important, too. But there seems to be something more to it than that.

I believe our state of mind plays a giant role in how fast we age and how many years we live.

People who feel they are not needed lose interest in life far more quickly than those who have others relying on them, be it family, an employer, friends, it doesn't really matter who or the reason why. As long as human beings feel useful, they find purpose in living. Take away that usefulness and you take away their reason for life. Those who keep their minds active are more apt to keep their bodies active.

Winnie began volunteering at Parkwood Hospital in 1975, the month after she officially retired. She visited the residents, took them shopping, accompanied them to the Western Fair every fall. She helped at the strawberry socials, the monthly birthday parties. She has always been involved in church. Now, if she can't find someone to take her out every day she's not a happy camper. Though she has slowed down physically and has become somewhat unsteady on her feet, she still keeps going--and still won't take her cane or walker when she goes out!

So, my advice to anyone who wishes to have a long, productive and satisfying life is to feed your mind with positive, challenging things. Don't be afraid to try something new even if you think you are too old. At 64, much of the technology of the age appears daunting to my technologically-challenged mind. But here I am, after setting up this blog site with no outside help (except the Lord), blogging away as if I have been doing it for years. Best of all, I feel invigorated by the process. I'm excited about what I'm doing, and challenged to continue. Things suddenly look different. My creativity is flowing free once again after a dormant period over the past few months. I've learned my lesson: we're never too old to learn.

Keep feeding your body healthy nutrition, exercise in whatever way suits your schedule and physical condition best, get enough hours sleep each night and keep mentally active. I won't guarantee you will live to 100, but your years will be more productive and you will be much happier if you follow these simple rules to healthy living.

More Beauty for Healthy Living

Here are a few photos I took earlier this year at Fanshawe Pioneer Village in London Ontario.

This village is a great place to spend a summer afternoon in the sunshine. Founded by the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority in 1956, it was officially opened in 1959.

Spanning 2.2 acres on Fanshawe Lake, a lake created by Fanshawe Dam, Pioneer Village is a delightful place to visit. As you can see by the one picture, it is a great place for sailing. There is also a roped-off area for swimming.

Our church has also held water baptismal services in the lake.

As you stroll through the grounds past soldiers clad in bright red uniforms and ladies dressed in period costumes, you are transported back in time to an era long past.

Relax, wander through the homes, enjoy the beauty and peaceful outdoors.


Buildings are being added yearly. There are several churches, the old London Free Press office, beautiful old homes complete with furniture of the era.

After you have seen all the buildings you can stop by for ice cream and home-made pie in the little shop. There is also a general store where you can wander at your leisure and purchase items of interest to you.

Without beauty in our lives we are not truly living healthy, so I do hope you have enjoyed my pictures and that this little bit of beauty will help you to experience more Healthy Living.

If you reside in the London area I would encourage you to set aside a day before summer is over and visit Fanshawe Pioneer Village. There are also special seasonal events, so if summer isn't convenient, try Thanksgiving or Christmas. You won't regret it. If you live too far away, consider camping in the Fanshawe Park campground. Check out their web site for more information. http://www.fanshawepioneervillage.ca

Healthy Living to you all.

Healthy Living with Minerals

Minerals. Without them we die. It's as simple as that. Our bodies do not have the ability to manufacture minerals, so if we don't ingest them in the food we eat and don't take mineral supplements, the outcome is grave (no pun intended).

Over the past 100 years, mineral content in North American soil has been depleted by an average of 85%. All the chemical fertilizers in the world will not fix this problem. If the minerals are not in the soil, they are not in our foods that grow in that same soil. Over and above that are all the chemicals sprayed on the crops as they grow in order to prevent insects from destroying them. There are literally thousands of pesticides in use today. These turn the soil, to say nothing about our food and our bodies, into a toxic nightmare. Does it sound like a vicious circle? It is, and it is not improving.

But, you might ask, what about organically-grown food? Often it is difficult to discover what is truly organic. Technically speaking, all plant life is organic. Certified organic will usually guarantee that the foods are pesticide-free and no artificial fertilizers have been used to grow these plants. But what about the rain that falls on those fields? Is it not still the acid rain that falls on all fields? We will never be able to go back to farming truly healthy fruits and vegetables as was done centuries ago. But, yes, I do buy some organics in the hopes that there has been little or no chemical usage. And I do buy supplements made from organically-grown products.

According to a ScienceDaily report, August 9, 2008, there is very little evidence of organically-grown foods having more nutrition than conventially-grown crops. If you would like to read the report, go to http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080807082954.htm and read the whole article.

Back to the mineral dilemma. The only way we can be assured of receiving enough minerals is to take nutritional supplements. But not just any nutritional supplements. Purchasing the least expensive brand off the drugstore shelf will usually result in nothing more than a waste of money. Many of these brands do not contain what they tell you on the bottle. Most are full of additives, fillers, etc., that will not benefit your body at all. Some, if you put them in a glass of water, will not even begin to dissolve after 24 hours! What does that tell you? You had better give your money to the charity of your choice. Quality is everything. A good quality of calcium, for example, should begin to dissolve within 5 minutes after being placed in a glass of water. Where calcium is concerned, it also depends on the source. Calcium carbonate, for instance, does not break down in your body. Calcium citrate is one of the best forms.

So, which minerals should I take? Never buy, say, a bottle of calcium, another of zinc, another of potassium, etc. You can do your body more damage than good. Taking too much of some minerals can make you toxic, thus sick. Balance is the key. Choose a high-quality brand, preferably pharmaceutical grade, mineral complex, one with all the minerals included in the ratio your body needs. Calcium needs magnesium and Vitamin D3 in order to work to its full potential. You need a 2:1 ratio of potassium to sodium. And the list goes on.

Trace minerals are another part of this picture. These are minerals that you need for healthy living, but only in minute amounts. There are dozens of these essential to healthy bodies and minds. If possible, use a liquid supplement as it is absorbed much more quickly into your blood stream than tablets or capsules.

If you would like more information on minerals and our bodies, check out http://www.answers.com/topic/chelated-minerals and read the article.

So, until next time, let's drink (our minerals, that is) to healthy living.

Just a Quick Post

We had a storm this afternoon and the power kept going off, so I had to shut down the computer and didn't get as much done as I wanted. As I wait for my dinner to cook I thought I would just add a quick post here. I don't have time to write the post on minerals today because I have to get back to where I am dog sitting to let Chelsea out and feed her. That's Chelsea in the photo. Cute, eh?

You will notice the calorie counter. I hope you will make use of it. Although I don't usually count calories, it is probably a good thing to do. Calories, of course, aren't everything. Nutrition is the important thing, but even a good thing can become a negative if we eat too much of it and don't get enough exercise to burn those calories.

Well, I just heard the timer go off on my steamer (yes, I steam my veggies), so until next time, Healthy Living to all of you.

Let's Talk About Food

Healthy food means healthy living, at least in the physical realm. It also means healthy thinking. When we don't get proper nutrition, our bodies become weak and we cannot even think clearly. So if you want to have a clear mind, you must eat properly. But what is the proper food?

To start with, you need the whole range of essential vitamins, minerals, trace minerals, amino acids, essential fatty acids, even healthy bacteria. This subject is far too large to deal with in a blog, but there are many online sources if you want to delve more deeply into the subject. But for our purposes here, I intend to keep it as simple as possible.

Vitamins. A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, D, E, etc. We've all heard about these. We get them in the food we eat. That is, if our food is nutritionally balanced and cooked properly. Just overcook your food if you want to destroy many of the vitamins it contains. Or eat nothing but junk food: fast-food restaurant burgers, fries, etc. Potato chips, nachos, ice cream, chocolate bars, processed and packaged foods. The list goes on. These foods not only contain few vitamins, they also contain many harmful things like cholesterol, trans fats, saturated fats, additives with long, unpronounceable names to improve taste and longevity. Yes, packaged food is made for long shelf-life, but eating regularly on this kind of diet will shorten our life span.

In some instances, our bodies have the ability to create vitamins, for example Vitamin A. When we eat food containing beta carotene, our bodies will manufacture Vitamin A. But, for the most part, vitamins must come from what we eat. A healthy balance will consist of a wide range of fresh vegetables - dark green leafy, red, orange, yellow, white, root vegetables, legumes - and a variety of fresh fruits - orange, yellow, green, red, dark purple and blue. If you eat these uncooked you get the greatest potential of vitamins available. Cooking, especially at high temperatures or for a prolonged time, destroys many vitamins including Vitamin C. Raw is definitely best, but if you must cook your veggies, steam them or quickly stir-fry them in healthy oil such as grapeseed oil.

Even when we eat what seems to be a healthy diet of fresh fruit and vegetables, often they do not contain an adequate supply of vitamins to sustain our bodies let alone get them healthy when they are sick. The land on which our food is grown is highly deficient in nutrients and many artificial fertilizers are used to force the crops to grow bigger and faster. To say nothing about the harmful chemicals sprayed on the crops to stop insect infestation. This has led to a huge depletion of nutrients in our food.

We need to add nutritional supplements to our diet if we want optimum health. But not just any supplements will do. They must be high-quality, pharmaceutical grade from a food source, not synthetic. And not just an extract of individual vitamins from the food. We were created to eat whole food, not bits and pieces of foods dissected in a lab for convenience in ingesting them. Before you buy any supplement, check the source. It's important if you don't want to waste your money. Check the label. Does it say 'whole food'? Is it organic? Where does it come from? Are there artificial additives that are, at best, unnecessary, and at the worst harmful? Do your homework before you buy.

Next time we'll talk about minerals and how important they are in a diet conducive to healthy living. Until then, eat lots of fresh fruits and veggies and remember to take your supplements. Here's to healthy living for all.

What Does Healthy Living Mean, Anyway?

• Healthy: possessing good health; conducive to good health*.
Synonyms: active; flourishing; strong; vigorous; wholesome; fit; robust; well.
• Living: possessing life; a manner or means of maintaining life, livelihood*.
Synonyms: existence; income; support; work; occupation; life.
*The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language

Is healthy living your goal? No doubt about it, I need my life, my income, my work to be flourishing and strong. I desire a wholesome life, an active life that is fit and healthy. Jesus said that He came to give us a more abundant life (see John 10:10). Now that's healthy living!

Healthy living influences all areas of our existence: mental, emotional, physical, relational, spiritual, occupational, financial. It affects intellect, personality and character. We were created to grow, and to grow we must strive to remain healthy. Without nutritious food, pure water, clean air, adequate exercise and rest we sicken. Without regular spiritual food our spirits languish. Without intellectual stimulation we become mentally dull. When growth stops, life stops. Granted, we do not continue to grow in physical stature throughout our lives, but we should be growing, maturing constantly, in all other areas in order to achieve our destiny--the thing for which we were created.

How do we attain this abundant life, this healthy living? For Christians, the Bible holds the key.

• Food - the Lord is the supplier of bread for natural (see Matthew 14:21)and the Bread of Life for spiritual food (see John 6:48).
• Water - the Holy Spirit gives rivers of living water - only the purest (see John 7:38).
• Air - the Holy Spirit is breathed on us (see John 20:22) - pure air indeed.
• Exercise - of the body– benefits a little, but exercising our spirits unto godliness brings great gain (see 1 Timothy 4:7, 8).
• Rest - physical (see Proverbs 3:24) and spiritual (see Matthew 11:29) comes from the Lord.
• Intellect - like the Bereans, we need to search the scriptures regularly to keep our minds healthy and alert (see Acts 17:11).
• Emotions - we need to fill our minds with healthy, positive things (see Philippians 4:8) in order to have healthy emotions.
• Relationships - live at peace with everyone as far as we have the ability (see 2 Corinthians 13:11)and our relationships will remain intact and healthy.
• Occupational/business - work with enthusiasm as unto the Lord Himself (see Colossians 3:23; Proverbs 10:4) to be prosperous.
• Financial - God gives us power to make wealth (see Deuteronomy 8:18) but we need to seek Him for wisdom and know-how to use that power creatively for a productive and positive purpose to meet our material needs (see also Philippians 4:19).
• Character - we are being transformed into the likeness of Jesus (see 2 Corinthians 3:18).

So, in a nutshell, the answer to my question is...Jesus! I challenge you, if you have not already done so, to join me in a continuing quest for Healthy Living. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Be a winner!