"God is with you and He is for you."

As the clock turns to the New Year, I pray that you know you are not alone. God is with you and He is for you. He has good things in store for you. He can heal your heart, give you second chances, and calm your storms. He can change any situation, break any stronghold, and bless you in amazing ways...but it all begins as you draw near to Him. Surrender your heart to Him, Invite Him close, rely on HIs strength, and thank Him for His protection, provision, and His plan for your life.

God wants to remind you

God wants to remind you that just because the activity of the calendar doesn't point to Jesus, it doesn't' mean His is not near. He still deserves your attention. He still deserves your love. He still deserves your devotion...He is not just the baby in a manger, He is the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, and He has provided a way (the only way) that you can get to the Father.

"Recession is also a time of great opportunity."

Time and time again success has its roots in failure, because failure knocks you down from top of the hill so you can then climb a mountain. Yes it's unsettling, yes it's scary. But this can be your greatest opportunity in life, - if you choose it. The recession has cleared the space of clutter, - think what have you always wanted to do but brushed aside from the top of your hill? Now is the time...

"God is there in the midst of the chaos."

When everything in life turns upside down, remember that you are in the hands of the Creator. Look to God, and you'll always know which way is up.

"The world is as good as you see it is."

If you focus on the bad, you will see a 'bad' world. If you focus on the good, you will see goodness. Choose your focus carefully.

Stay Focused‬

Sometimes we get our eyes on people instead of on God, always comparing and complaining. That does nothing for them and it does nothing for you. However, if you "fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecto of your faith" you will have courage and strength and those who are watching you will see a committed/submitted person and that will be used by God to draw them closer.

"In order to move forward you must open yourself to new experiences."

There is no failing, only results. Be courageous and push yourself to new heights. Besides, what is going to happen if you make a bad decision? - You will learn from it. The more results you make, the faster you will reach your destination.

"Illness is often a sign that there are needs you are not taking care of."

Sometimes your body gets sick so that you are forced to slow down and become aware of the messages of your heart and the desires of your spirit. Only when you step outside from the daily treadmill, can you attune to these more subtle inner callings. Don’t wait to get sick before listening to these important inner messages.

"It's good to express your feelings."

Don't hold your feelings in, suppressed they will just poison your well being. Have the courage to express them, in intelligent ways of course.

"Fear won't get you where you want to go."

It's not easy to head off into uncharted waters, but every journey starts with a first step. Fear will keep you from taking that first step, from untying the boat from the dock. Fear will also keep you from making new discoveries. Don't let fear keep you tied up, set sail and see what God has planned for you.

"All those little things that annoy you, are God's way of watching out for you."

You never know when an untied shoelace saves you from an onrushing car. On September 11th, one man was saved because he had to get donuts for his team; another because he developed a blister on his foot from wearing new shoes.

Baby Boy-by "LOS CIEGOS DEL BARRIO"

"God can fix anything."

Have you ever witnessed a skilled craftsman going into an old broken down home and restoring it into something fabulous? God is the master of restoration, taking the broken and damaged and making them beautiful. Are there some things in your life that could use a little work?

"There are no accidents."

What you think of as accidents are simply your conversations with God that you haven't yet been able to understand. But take heart, all happens in God's will and every conversation has deep meaning for you.

DontGiveUp

God wants you to know that Jesus is interceding for you right now. He is praying for your courage and convictions to remain strong and your hope to not fade. He is praying that the worries of this life would lose their grip and that your understanding of His love for you would increase. Right now, you might feel discouraged and alone, but you are not...God is at work, Jesus is praying, and He will come through.

JesusCares

It is never too late to turn back to God. You may think that He has given up on you, but it is not true. He is actively waiting to see your heart turn back to Him. He will forgive your sins. He will embrace you again. Don't wait another day.

"Shared joy is a double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow."

There is no need for you to go it alone. There are people who love you, and who are ready to give you much needed support. There are even more, - way more than you can possibly imagine, people who CAN love you if you give them a chance. Make 'share joy, half the sorrow' your motto for today.

"You are asked for very little, - just the totality of your being."

God demands the totality of your being. That you invest all of yourself into celebrating the glory and the preciousness of being alive right now, no holding back and saving for later.

"Tonight you can turn your worries to God, and have a good night's sleep."

You've been worrying too much about the future lately. So tonight, go ahead, put your faith in God, and just have a peaceful evening and a restful sleep.

God has already started giving many of us new ideas,

God has already started giving many of us new ideas, visions&the right connections to take us to a level we never thought possible. And know this, no one can keep if from you. For the Scriptures say- "For the LORD God is a sun&shield: the LORD will give grace&glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." (Psalm84:11(KJV) For some of us, even our enemies will began to bless us and they want even know what happen. For the Scriptures also say= "When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him." (Proverbs16:7(KJV)

"To worship God you must go beyond words to speak with your heart."

You can mouth the words of a prayer all day long and just waste your time, unless you also speak with your heart. And to speak with your heart means to embody first. If you pray for love, be loving. If you pray for wealth, be generous. If you pray for health, practice health yourself. What is your favorite prayer? How can you begin to embody it?

"Every little thing is a miracle."

Miracles do not come with bright lights and fancy stages. Those belong in a magic show. If you want a miracle, you can see it everywhere - in dew drops, in waves, and of course in yourself.

"Sharing only increases your share."

When you give to the less fortunate, you empower them to add value to the world - a world that you share with them. When their lives get better, yours will also naturally be uplifted.

"Nothing is more beneficial than a made-up mind."

When you decide to follow #God's calling, power has arrived. The world needs you & the purpose for which you were born. God gave you your purpose. Your life's fulfillment is in your purpose. Following in the footsteps of #Jesus #Christ should be more than just talk. It ought to be a lifestyle! Something out of the routine & ordinary is coming your way; new levels of favor God has in store for you. BELIEVE It!

"You need to stop comparing yourself to other people."

Some people are great singers, some are really smart and others are great athletes. But none of them are, or ever could be you. You are one of a kind. So stop comparing yourself to other people. You can't be them any more than they can be you.

"Sleep and rest are all part of the divine order."

Don't make your waking life and responsibilities so important that you neglect the very real benefits of sleep, rest, and dreaming. The night is your time of restoration. It is essential. God made both day and night for a reason.

"You are perfect as you are."

God doesn't create faulty life. No. Everything created by God is perfect, and so are you. So stop driving yourself mad with endless ways to improve, and just accept the glory of your being as is.

My God is good!

My God is good: His love is unending&His mercies are new. He never grows tired or weary and His grace is sufficient. He opens doors no one can shut&He makes a way where there seems to be no way. Some may try to do it on their own, but I have learned that He can do it better than me, in perfect timing, &with perfect perspective, so why wouldn't i walk with Him, follow Him, let Him lead? What a joy it is to walk with Him.

"When the world tries to tear you down"

When the world tries to tear you down, Jesus is trying to build you up. When people point out your failures and weaknesses, He points to your potential and promises His strength when you are weak. Others attack, He protects....He is on your side and He counters all the negative that happens around you...be still and listen, He is with you and He is for you.

"If God is for you"

If God is for you, who can be against you? Who can overpower you? Can fear? Can angry people? Can financial woes? Can shame? No...in all these things God is bigger and better. God is more faithful and His love is stronger. No matter what you are going through, lift up your eyes to see the One who is with you, in you, and for you.

One of a kind

You are one of a kind...you were fearfully and wonderfully made. Don't let the challenges of life convince you that you are awkward when in reality you are beautiful and unique. Don't blend in...you were created to stand out for Jesus.

"You are wonderfully made."

Look at the world around you, the infinite detail and creativity. Unimaginable beauty surrounds us every day. You are part of that creation, materializing from the same artist that created sunsets and rainbows. Don't ever allow yourself to think you are anything less than wonderful.

HeIsGood

God wants you to know that Jesus is interceding for you right now. Life hasn't always been easy and hope has not always been easy to see, but He has always been with you and His promises to you are still true. He will bring peace in difficult circumstances. He will make a way where there seems to be no way. He will bring good out of even the worst circumstances. He is with you, for you, in you and hasn't given up on you.

"You will be rewarded for your kindness."

When you are kind to someone, you set in motion a chain of events that makes each life it touches a little bit better. One by one, that act of kindness is paid forward ... till one day it comes back to you multiplied.

"Every time you pretend to love, you impoverish yourself more and more."

Love has great potential to enrich your life. But if you are just playing a role, pretending to love, it's only going to poison you. Because you are teaching yourself that it's just a game, and slowly but surely you will lose the capacity to open in love.

The Storm by Nicola Elias

5 Signs You Were Raised By Helicopter Parents

1. You have to call Mom or Dad before making a decision. Cut the cord. Father (and Mother) know best, right? When you were younger, sure -- they prevented you from sticking forks in sockets, helped you fill out college applications and even had a word or two of advice about your new job. But if intense guidance carries over into adulthood, it could stifle a young adult’s decision-making skills, while giving parents more authority and expertise than is truly warranted. "[Clients] have so much trouble making decisions, so they call their mom, who has very good intentions,” said Mogel. However, this parent probably knows no more about this particular moment in history and how to make good judgements than the adult child who’s asking for advice, she said. "This is your big moment to make mistakes and learn from them rather than staying tethered, feeling dependent, resentful and crabby," Mogel advised. “Put down the phone, experience some discomfort and reflect on what you might like to try or to do." 2. You count your parents as some of your best friends. Make new ones. Of course, this is easier said and done, but consider this: According to a 2013 Clark University poll, two-thirds of moms and more than half of fathers say they have some form of contact with their adult child almost every day. In some ways, this is just cultural; NPR notes that the generation gap is getting smaller and smaller, as parents and children are more likely to agree about issues nowadays then, say, experimental Baby Boomers and their conservative parents in the 1960s. But this extraordinary closeness may be shutting young adults off to new relationships with people their own age -- friendships that could over time be a source of lifelong happiness and support. "Some of these young adults don’t have close friendships because all they have are their online friends and they are so close to their parents,” said Mogel. "This is the dark side of the wonderful closeness and friendship that a lot of parents and young adults have that nobody from my generation had." "Cultivate friendships and relationships outside of those who are easily accessed, comfy and familiar,” she advised. For some, that might mean reaching out to old pals we’ve lost touch with. For others, it might mean completely starting from scratch. Join clubs, community sports teams or meet up with Internet friends IRL to get going. 3. You resent your parents for their gifts and support. Ask yourself some tough questions. No discussion about millennials is complete without acknowledging the down economy they entered right as they graduated from high school and college. Even though the economy is now technically “improving,” wages are stagnant and people can’t find full-time work in careers for which they trained. Add this to the pressure of paying back astronomical student loans, and it’s no wonder millennials are, more than previous generations, staying at home longer and relying on some level of financial support from their parents well into adulthood. But for some, that support comes with too many strings attached. Ask yourself, advised Mogel, if the support you’re getting is worth your parents’ constant questioning of your life choices. "Do the money, goods and services my parents provide me... buy polite goodwill instead of genuine respect and affection?” asked Mogel rhetorically. And does this support come with “an unspoken but hidebound agenda of acceptable cities, neighborhoods, streets and buildings in which I should live; people I should hang with; style of workout or fitness program that I’m likely to stick with; most flattering style of dress for my body type; type of work I should pursue? Is this a fair exchange?" Alternately, are you relying on your parents for things you really should be able to handle yourself? If so, says Mogel, start doing what you can, now, and stop using “harmful parenting experiences” as an excuse to not grow, experiment or take risks. "Young adults may choose, consciously or unconsciously, to make themselves a living example of the harms of overparenting,” said Mogel. "They remain dependent on their parents -- for money, advice, networking, the washing machine -- yet resent them at the same time, in an adolescent way." 4. You feel incredibly anxious all the time. Seek therapy and consider exploring mindfulness theory. Mindfulness is a style of meditation that emphasizes being present and accepting ourselves just as we are. Practicing mindfulness pays respect to the anxieties and worries of the day, but robs them of their power to control our actions and thoughts. "Helicopter parenting means that your parents have communicated to you that without them hovering above you, you’re going to be in a lot of danger,” said Mogel. "So treat the anxiety as a thought, respectfully and neutrally, instead of as a truth on which you need to act." 5. You’re a perfectionist who is obsessed with credentials. Make a liberated, liberating decision. In a tough economy, it makes sense that people want to keep arming themselves with degrees and certifications. But this “credentialing,” which likely started when you were very young, could blind you to choices and activities that will bring you happiness and delight. It could also lead you to apply for law school even though you have no desire to be a lawyer, Mogel quipped. Adult children of helicopter parents think that every choice they make has to "satisfy the internal transcript pimp that the kids and parents and the school administrators have in their heads,” said Mogel. But what if you made a different choice? "Choose to do things that you find compelling or alluring or a tickle, or dare we say, fun,” said Mogel. “Try it, even though it doesn’t fit into the super-narrow path that you and your family have put your heads together to define as the only road to success.” Maybe this means following your heart and choosing that lower-paying career. Maybe this means spending a weekend learning a new craft or skill that isn’t related to work. In sum, Mogel's advice to tethered young adults is this: “Put down the phone or gently curl your texting finger into your palm. Invite your confusion or distress to have a seat beside you. Ask yourself if you’re confusing vulnerability with fragility, discomfort with danger, and consider a wider range of options than those within your parents’ zone of comfort or familiarity.”

Feeling Hopeless in Life? Meditate on these five Bible verses

1. Proverbs 3:5-6 (GNTD) Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know. Remember the Lord in everything you do, and he will show you the right way. 2. Philippians 4:6-7 (GNTD) Don't worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart. And God's peace, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus. 3. Psalm 32:8 (GNTD) The Lord says, “I will teach you the way you should go; I will instruct you and advise you. 4. Joshua 1:9 (GNTD) Remember that I have commanded you to be determined and confident! Do not be afraid or discouraged, for I, the Lord your God, am with you wherever you go.” 5. Psalm 37:23-24 (GNTD) The Lord guides us in the way we should go and protects those who please him. If they fall, they will not stay down, because the Lord will help them up.

7 Things You Didn't Know About Your Nose

1. The nose-lung connection. Both the nose and mouth can serve as the pathway of air entering and exiting the lungs. In normal breathing, the nose is the primary pathway. Even with aggressive exercise where mouth breathing becomes dominant, some air continues to pass through the nose. Despite the fact that the mouth is a bigger tube, people feel remarkably uncomfortable if their noses are plugged or congested. This nasal breathing role is critical in newborns, who "have to" breathe through their noses almost all the time. This is a unique feature related to the configuration of their throats that allow them to breathe and suckle at the same time without choking. This cannot happen in older children or adults who have to stop breathing to swallow. The nose plays another important role in breathing. There is a reflex neural mechanism that connects the nose to the lungs, called the nasal-pulmonary reflex. As the nose closes up, the lungs become more closed (bronchial construction), and as the nose opens up, the lungs open up (bronchial dilation). Although it is difficult to know how big a factor this is, it may be important when there is difficulty breathing or when there is a high volume of breathing with exercise. This may be why some elite athletes use nasal strips to open their noses during exercise. 2. Turbinates. The nose processes the air we breathe to prepare it for our lungs and throat, which do not tolerate dry air well. As the inhaled air passes through the nose, it is moisturized and humidified thanks to a complex multiple layer structure called turbinates. Now you know why your throat feels dry when you've been breathing a long time through the mouth: The inhaled air didn't get humidified in the nose. 3. Cilia. The air we breathe has all kinds of stuff in it – from oxygen and nitrogen to dust, pollution, allergens, smoke, bacteria, viruses, small bugs and countless other things. The nose helps clean that air. On the surface of the nasal tissues, particularly the turbinates, are cells with small little hair-like appendages called cilia that trap much of the bad stuff. Once captured, it sits in the mucous and is gradually pushed into the throat, where it's swallowed. Our stomachs tolerate bad stuff much better than our lungs. 4. Nasal thermostat. Just like our throat and lungs do not like dirty air, they do not like air that is too cold or too hot. The passing of the air through the nose allows the air to become more like body temperature, which is much better tolerated by the tissues. Warming cool air is more common than cooling warm air, as humans spend much more of their time in environments below body temperature (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit) than above it. One clear manifestation of the warming and humidifying effect is the runny nose we get in cold weather, which is related to condensation of the moisture in the nose when exposed to cold air. 5. The taste-smell connection. High in the nose are a large number of nerve cells that detect odors. In order for us to smell, the air we breathe needs to be pulled high in the nose so that it can come in contact with these nerves. When we have a cold or allergies, it's hard for the air to get to these receptors. and therefore people notice decreased smell. Smell plays a key role in taste. We have four primary tastes: bitter, sour, sweet and salty. All of the refinements in taste are in fact related to smell, so people feel that food is tasteless when their smell is decreased. The sense of smell is not only for pleasure; it is necessary for safety. We need our smell to detect smoke, spoiled food and some toxic gases. People who have lost their sense of smell need to have alarms for these gases and they have to be careful with what they eat. Lastly, smell may be important in identification. Many people can identify those close to them by their smell, whether that's through their characteristic lotion or perfume or their characteristic body odor. 6. Boom box. What we hear when people speak and sing is in large part related to the resonating structures of the throat and nose. The voice is produced in the larynx but that sound is really a buzzing sound. The richness of the sound is determined by how the sound is processed above the larynx, which occurs in the nose and throat. It's the same principle that separates a grand piano from a child's toy piano. The "nasal" voice we hear in someone with a cold and allergies is due to the loss of this nasal resonation since the air cannot pass through the nose. It's very hard to talk about the nose without mentioning the sinuses, which have a number of important and positive roles. The sinuses are air-filled structures in the head that make the head lighter and probably played an important role in allowing us to become upright. They also serve as air cushion shock absorbers that help protect the brain and eyes. Sinuses are part of the voice resonance aforementioned. Sinuses also help control the amount of nitric oxide in the body and in the lungs. Although the potential value of nitric oxide would take an entire article to describe, it appears that it plays positive roles in breathing and potentially in immune function. 7. Nasal attraction. It's amazing how many of our body functions are directed toward sexual activity and reproduction. The nose plays a critical role in our perceptions of sex through the olfactory system. The sense of smell is a key component of how we identify people when we are close to them. The characteristic smell of a person's perfume or cologne or the scent of their shampoo or soap may be important to sexual arousal. The smell of human perspiration has a direct effect on sexual receptors in the brain. Loss of smell correlates with decreased sexual drive. Another interesting and widely debated area is the impact of pheromones, which are very important to reproduction in animals, as well as on human sexuality and stimulation. Particularly fascinating is a small accessory organ in the nose – the vomeronasal organ – that is related to the olfactory system. Some refer to it as the sixth sense. VNO is located at the base of the nasal septum or in the roof of the mouth and is present in almost all animals, including amphibians. Unlike in many animals like rodents and dogs where the VNO is important, the human VNO is largely vestigial (not functional or acting as an old remnant like the appendix), but some researchers feel that it still plays a role in pheromone and other chemical communication. Most of us ignore our nose unless it gives us trouble, but clearly it's one of the most versatile and elegant organs in the human body.

If you’re struggling to find sunny skies today, turn to God’s Word—and meditate on these five Psalms

1. Psalm 34:4-7 (GNTD) I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me; he freed me from all my fears. The oppressed look to him and are glad; they will never be disappointed. The helpless call to him, and he answers; he saves them from all their troubles. His angel guards those who honor the Lord and rescues them from danger. 2. Psalm 34:17-18 (GNTD) The righteous call to the Lord, and he listens; he rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who are discouraged; he saves those who have lost all hope. 3. Psalm 43:4-5 (GNTD) Then I will go to your altar, O God; you are the source of my happiness. I will play my harp and sing praise to you, O God, my God. Why am I so sad? Why am I so troubled? I will put my hope in God, and once again I will praise him, my savior and my God. 4. Psalm 91:14-15 (GNTD) God says, “I will save those who love me and will protect those who acknowledge me as Lord. When they call to me, I will answer them; when they are in trouble, I will be with them. I will rescue them and honor them. 5. Psalm 94:18-19 (GNTD) I said, “I am falling”; but your constant love, O Lord, held me up. Whenever I am anxious and worried, you comfort me and make me glad.

22 Habits That Will Make Your Life A Little More Peaceful Each Day

1. Throw out, sell or donate everything you don't need. Use this guide to minimalism to help you decide what you're keeping in excess. If there's anything that will immediately release your anxiety and put you at ease, it's making the choice only to keep the physical things that either serve a purpose or hold a positive meaning for you. 2. Organize everything you do. And I mean everything. Your paperwork should be filed and your bills should be organized as soon as they come in the door. Your clothes should be kept in an easily accessible fashion, and your day-to-day necessities should always be placed somewhere you can easily find them. It will take so much of the guesswork and fumbling out of searching for that one random thing you only use once every two weeks (but desperately need, when you do). 3. Don't consume what you don't need. This is the other half, the more difficult half, of releasing everything you don't use: you can't buy more crap to replace it. Only buy the food you're going to eat, and be very mindful and selective of what clothing and other products you buy. Will you actually use them? Do you even really want them, or do you want to just feel better in the moment? Trust me: A bolstered bank balance and the confidence of having a little more self-control will feel much better (and so will keeping a simple space you can actually maintain). 4. Put your self before your work life, as often as you can. Sure, there are some exceptions -- like when you have to take care of your responsibilities and forego a few more minutes of sleep for an important email -- and that's fine, as long as you're in the mindset that you are not your work. You are more than just what you do and earn. 5. Do something that makes you meditative. If sitting cross-legged and breathing isn't your jam, find something that is. Do whatever it is that makes you really grounded and present and in the moment. If that's going for a long drive with the windows down and music blaring, do that. If it's dancing, do it in your room each day. If it's painting, schedule time to do that, too. 6. Learn to turn daily chores into therapeutic practices... for example, bathing. You have to do it regardless, and the combination of hot water, the physical act of "cleansing" and how relaxing a hot shower or long bath is at the end of a long day makes it an ideal daily practice to reduce your nerves. Light a candle and listen to music and use salts to cleanse yourself. Be meditative about your rituals, and focus on the act of releasing and clearing. 7. Start to build a commonplace book. It's a collection of quotes, ideas and passages that particularly inspire you or make you think, compiled and organized and filed neatly, so you can access whatever information you feel you need. Keep sections for "inspiration" or "healing" or "relationships" or "work," and keep track of all the little things you come across that inspire you. 8. Incohesively journal. And don't worry about storybooking your life... similar to the commonplace book, just jot down the ideas and epiphanies and observations you have in your day-to-day life. Look back and reflect on the things that most compel you to express them, and they'll give you an idea of what it is you need to change/do more or less of in your life. 9. Burn candles at night. The flame itself is mesmerizing and calming; it will make your space smell better, and will overall give you a beautiful ambiance. 10. Replace your daily coffee/tea intake with hot water with lemon and honey. It's relaxing and yields incredible health benefits. It's cheaper and more natural than your usual latté alternative. There's nothing not to love. 11. Only pay in cash. It's difficult until it becomes a habit, and then you won't be able to imagine how you ever did anything else. It keeps you conscious of what you're spending (makes you realize how much the little things add up), keeps you on your budget and completely removes the "will this purchase dip into my bill money" fear (which should never be an issue). 12. Recite mantras. Even if it seems a little too new-agey for you at first, I promise, it's so extraordinarily powerful that you'll actually start to consider what it is you repeat to yourself once you see how impactful this practice becomes. Whatever you feel you're lacking, or you want more of, say you "are" that thing. For example: "I am safe." "I am in financial abundance." "I am always taken care of." "I am successful." You lay the foundation to enact a self-fulfilling prophecy. "I am" is the most powerful "prayer" you can say. 13. Stop interacting with people who aren't positive influences in your life, and don't apologize for doing so. If they want to call you rude or unkind, so be it. You are under no obligation to make other people comfortable at the expense of your own sanity. 14. Cook your own dinner. There's something very grounding about combining ingredients and working with foods and making your own meals. It makes you feel connected, responsible and empowered, in the simplest, most human way. 15. Observe what you unconsciously consume. Food, music, reading, TV. These things affect how you feel throughout your days. Don't underestimate the power of the things you don't even realize you're letting into your life. 16. Ask yourself what kind of life you'd like to live, and base your other goals off of that idea. If what you think you want, for example, is to "start a business," ask yourself if doing the dirty work of it, day in and day out, is your passion -- or if you're just in it to say you did it and seem successful. This, more than anything else, is how to determine the path best suited to you. 17. Make much more realistic goals than you normally do. You won't actually be accomplishing any more or less than usual, but you will remove the guilt from believing you should have done more. 18. Find your ultimate joy in the simplicity of everyday life. Show yourself that you don't need extravagance to have a truly incredible internal experience. You don't need expensive foods to have a great meal. You don't need anything other than what you currently have to start living the life you want. Why? Because the life you want is ultimately rooted in a feeling -- a feeling that you can induce simply by shifting your perception. 19. Pay attention to what you seek. You will find it, no matter what. If what you subconsciously want is to see all the things that are wrong with your life, so as to force yourself to change it, that's exactly what you'll get. If what you seek is knowing all the ways you're as unworthy as you fear you are, that's what you'll get, too. (So of course, you can make the opposite true.) 20. Develop a personal philosophy, and let it guide you through your daily life and decisions. If you don't have any personal belief about why we're here, what you're ultimately doing, what your purpose is, etc., you're going to live a highly unfulfilled life, riddled with worry, anxiety and unrest. You don't have to adopt the beliefs of a certain religion or a particular group of people, but you do have to subscribe to what feels absolutely right to you. Not because somebody else told you so... but because it's aligned with who you inherently are, and how you inherently think. 21. Stop trying to police yourself. Contrary to your instinct, much of the effort you exert to "hold yourself together" is useless. The more you integrate every aspect of who you are, the less you will unknowingly exert energy toward suppressing feelings, therefore compounding your stress and putting yourself on the road to implosion at any given moment. It's more dangerous to suppress and ignore the "negative" aspects of who we are than it is to accept them. (In psychology, this is sometimes referred to as the "shadow selves" or Gestalt therapy.) 22. Stop believing that the way you perceive things is the way they actually are. Leave yourself room to be surprised. Remember that when you're in a place of fear, you're not seeing things clearly, or the way they really are. Remember that you can't predict what will make you happy, but you can choose to seek gratitude, and peace, in the present moment.

"ElBaulDeLurod-Audio-Addition"

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/michoqkb8qlbn68/AADN2YaPL8CtfOXxm9lflAnsa?dl=0

8 Things Your Mouth Reveals About Your Health

1. What your dentist is seeing: Or in this case, smelling. You've got funky breath. What it could mean: The most likely causes of less-than-minty-fresh breath are poor oral hygiene or gum disease, but halitosis can also signal a sinus infection, especially if your dentist still notices the odor when you exhale through your nose, says Mark Wolff, DDS, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Cardiology and Comprehensive Care at New York University College of Dentistry. It can also be caused by acid reflux -- a study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine found a strong association between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms and bad breath -- or sleep apnea, says Ruchi Sahota, DDS, a spokesperson for the American Dental Association, because people with sleep apnea are more likely to breath through their mouths at night, which can lead to dry mouth (another cause of bad breath). Next steps: If your dentist decides that the problem isn't subpar brushing or gum disease, they'll likely refer you to your primary care physician to find the underlying cause. 2. What your dentist is seeing: Your gums bleed during the flossing, just like they do at home. What it could mean: When you get back on the flossing bandwagon after falling off and notice some bleeding for the first few days, that's normal, Sahota says. What's not normal is gums continuing to bleed every time you floss. "It could be an indicator that you're pre-diabetic, diabetic and don't know it or, if you've already been diagnosed with diabetes, your blood sugar isn't under control," she says. Though it's not exactly clear why diabetes and gum disease are linked (or whether there's a causal effect to the relationship), the American Academy of Periodontology says that diabetics may be more likely to develop the disease because the condition makes them more susceptible to infection. Next steps: If you know you have diabetes and your gums keep bleeding, talk to your primary care doc about how to manage the condition better. And if your dentist is the first one to suspect diabetes, he or she will recommend you get a blood sugar test. 3. What your dentist is seeing: White patches on your tongue or inner cheek. What it could mean: You may have a less-than-stellar immune system. Oral thrush (an overgrowth of the candida fungus, or yeast, in the mouth) can lead to creamy white patches on your tongue or inner cheeks, and it can signal an immune system that's not up to snuff. (We all have some candida in our mouths, but it's kept in check in healthy immune systems). People are much more likely to develop thrush if they're undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatment for cancer or have serious immunosuppression, such as HIV, but a dip in immunity due to a cold, a course of antibiotics or using corticosteroids for conditions like asthma can make someone more vulnerable too. Next steps: An antifungal medication can help clear away the patches. 4. What your dentist is seeing: Worn-down teeth. What it could mean: You're more stressed than you realize. Stress can manifest as teeth grinding, wearing down teeth. "In really bad cases, people will flatten them out," says Wolff. Your personality type may predispose you to grinding, too. A 2010 study in the Journal of Research in Personality found that people who rated higher on the neuroticism scale were also more likely to report that they grinded their teeth. Research in the International Journal of Oral Science in 2014 reported that sustained jaw clenching (another characteristic of bruxism, or teeth grinding) can lead to severe damage of the tissue in the joint that connects your jaw to the rest of your skull. Next steps: Your dentist can fit you for a bite-protecting device like an acrylic mouth guard to wear at night to minimize the damage. 5. What your dentist is seeing: Squeaky-clean teeth but inflamed gums. What it could mean: It's rare (Wolff has only picked up on it once during his 34 years in practice), but it's possible for certain types of acute myeloid leukemia to spread to the gums and cause bleeding, swelling and inflammation. "What would tip us off is if the gums are bright red and bleed upon touch, but the teeth themselves are immaculately clean with very little plaque," Wolff says. That combined with weakness and weight loss merits a trip to your primary care physician for evaluation. Next steps: If you meet these criteria, schedule an appointment with your PCP to get it checked out. 6. What your dentist is seeing: Your dental X-rays look a little off. What it could mean: The bones of the jaw aren't immune to the effects of osteoporosis, and on an X-ray, they may take on the appearance of ground glass, says Wolff. Osteoporosis also puts you at increased risk of tooth loss. Women with the condition had an average of 3.3 fewer teeth than women without it, noted a study in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology. Next steps: Ask your doctor about getting a bone-density test. If it shows you have or are at risk for osteoporosis, you can discuss medications and other ways to slow the progression. 7. What your dentist is seeing: Your mouth is really, really dry. What it could mean: Medications like antihistamines can dry out your mouth, but an extremely dry mouth (as in, you couldn't swallow a cracker without water) is a hallmark symptom of Sjögren's syndrome, an autoimmune condition in which moisture-producing glands in the body come under fire from white blood cells. It's most commonly diagnosed in people over 40, and 9 out of 10 Sjögren's patients are women. "It gets parched in there," says Wolff, who'll ask patients with dry mouth whether they're taking any medications that list dry mouth as a side effect and whether they're also experiencing dry eyes (another Sjögren's symptom). The lack of saliva can also lead to tooth decay. Next steps: If he suspects Sjögren's, Wolff refers patients straight to a rheumatologist for testing. 8. What your dentist is seeing: Lesions at the very back of your mouth. What it could mean: You could have oral cancer, which isn't exactly common, but it's also not rare. The American Cancer Society estimates that 45,780 new cases of oral cavity or pharynx cancer will be diagnosed in 2015, just over half the number of expected skin cancer cases. Cancers at the base of the tongue and tonsils (called oropharyngeal cancers) are most commonly caused by the human papillomavirus infection (HPV). Although the lesions can pop up anywhere in the mouth, they're most likely to develop under the tongue around the base and near your esophagus, says Judith Haber, PhD, principal investigator of the Teaching Oral-Systemic Health (TOSH) program at NYU College of Nursing. Oral cavity and oropharyngeal tumors are twice as likely to develop in men as in women, and the American Cancer Society reports a recent uptick in cases of oropharyngeal cancers linked to HPV. Next steps: If your dentist notices these lesions, they may ask you about your sexual activity to assess whether you could have contracted HPV, as oral sex is one of the main reasons people get oral HPV, says Haber. They may then refer you to your doctor or an oncologist for testing.

5 Wondrous Ways Running Improves Your Health

1. Better Knees Think running wears out your knees? Think again. One recent study found that it may actually help prevent knee osteoarthritis, a condition that affects roughly 9.2 million adults; another discovered that road warriors were up to 18 percent less likely than walkers to develop the condition, in part because running may increase the thickness of knee cartilage. 2. Less Stress When it comes to the mood-boosting effects of running, science suggests you can get more than just an endorphin high. According to a lab study in The Journal of Neuroscience, running may reduce anxiety by triggering neurons that mute your response to stress. 3. Lower Breast Cancer Risk A 2013 study of more than 70,000 women revealed that those who walked at least seven hours per week were 14 percent less likely to develop breast cancer than their more sedentary counterparts. The most active women, who worked out vigorously (running or swimming) for at least six hours a week, slashed their risk by 25 percent. 4. Sharper Mind Good news: You don't have to slog away for a long time to reap impressive benefits. One small study found that people who engaged in light activity -- like walking on a treadmill for an hour -- three times a week saw gains in memory after just three months, suggesting that short-term fitness may slow age-related cognitive decline. 5. Longer Life In a 2014 study of more than 55,000 people, those who ran daily -- even for just five to ten minutes -- lived, on average, three years longer than those who didn't run. Worth noting: Runners who logged longer workouts didn't significantly decrease their risk of death from heart disease more than those who ran less. Who doesn't have five minutes? Get going!

7 Very Important Reasons To Take A Nap Right Now

1. It'll increase your patience happy napping Feeling frustrated? According to researchers at the University of Michigan, who published a study recently in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, you should probably take a nap. Participants were asked to complete a particularly frustrating task -- drawing geometric designs on a computer screen. Those who took an hour-long nap before the exercise were able to draw for 90 seconds, compared to a control group who watched a nature documentary instead of napping. They gave up after 48 seconds. 2. You'll be more alert napping Whether you're on a long drive or trying to get through a difficult task at work, napping is a great way to increase alertness if you're feeling foggy. A NASA study found that after napping for forty minutes pilots were more alert, and a smaller study found that after just ten minutes participants felt more alert. 3. Just thinking about taking a nap can lower your blood pressure stretching While an actual nap is certainly beneficial, so is the time before you take one. One British study found that participants' blood pressure dropped before they even fell asleep -- just anticipating the nap they were about to take was enough. 4. It helps you remember more people sleeping A study conducted by researchers in Germany found that taking an hourlong nap can dramatically improve our ability to remember information. For the study, participants were asked to remember specific words and pairs. Then, half the participants watched a DVD while the other half napped. When asked about their memory of the words, the nap group performed five times as well as the DVD group. 5. It can improve creativity drawing If you haven't been feeling too imaginative lately, it's probably time to hit the hay. A study conducted by psychiatrist Sara Mednick out of the University of California, San Diego, found that people who take REM naps -- the deep sleep state where you're dreaming -- were more creative when it came to problem solving than non-REM nappers. 6. Regular naps may prevent heart disease sleeping One study of 23,000 Greek adults found that people who took midday naps -- a.k.a. "siestas" -- were over thirty percent less likely to die of heart disease, according to The Washington Post. "Napping may help deal with the stress of daily living," Michael Twery of the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute said, according to the Washington Post. "Another possibility is that it is part of the normal biological rhythm of daily living. The biological clock that drives sleep and wakefulness has two cycles each day, and one of them dips usually in the early afternoon. It's possible that not engaging in napping for some people might disrupt these processes." 7. Taking a ten minute rest is beneficial, too napping Don't think you can actually fall asleep? It may not matter all that much. A 2007 study, which took a look at the effects of napping versus resting, found that simply lying down for ten minutes improved mood regardless of whether or not the person fell asleep.

7 Ways To Hand Wash Your Dishes FAST

1. Switch to a soap with the right ingredients. Look for antibacterial soaps with lactic acid, which provides antibacterial benefits and gets the job done fast. Soaps with lauramine oxide, like Mrs. Meyer's and Method, have grease-cutting power, says Kerr. 2. Use a sanitizing rinse. Dipping dishes in a sanitizing rinse will mimic part of the process they go through in a dishwasher, and it'll provide peace of mind that your dishes are clean, even if you don't scrub them for hours. After washing, dip your plates in one gallon of water with one teaspoon to one tablespoon of bleach. Reynolds says you can also use this solution to clean your dish sponge and your sink in a jiffy. dip dishes in water 3. Be patient. Let dishes soak. It's tempting to start scrubbing caked-on food right away, but do yourself a favor and let pans soak in a sink of warm, sudsy water first. "Those couple minutes of soaking time are going to go a long way in making things a lot easier to clean," says Kerr. It'll loosen food particles and save your hands from sponge-induced fatigue. For pots with burn marks on the bottom, soak in salt and cold water overnight, then boil the water to remove grime. 4. And while you're waiting, go get a serious sponge. Kerr swears by the Dobie Pad sponge. "It's covered in a plastic netting that allows you to scrub like a Brillo but it doesn't cause any scratching," she says. Lysol's scrub sponges are also a strong, scrub-worthy alternative to the average dish sponge, for a comparable price. 5. Use cold water to un-stick dairy and starches. Rinsing ice cream or butter off a plate with hot water can cause it to gum up, Martha Stewart explains on her blog. Take her advice, and get these foods off with a cold rinse before continuing to wash the dish in warm water. 6. And make baking soda your grease-dissolving best friend. Coat a sticky, greasy pan with one tablespoon of baking soda, and cover the bottom with water. Heat it up a bit, then scrub the gunk off in mere seconds. 7. Don't stack dirty dishes in your sink. It's a small tweak, to be sure, but have your guests or roommates leave their dishes on the counter next to the sink, not inside it. Remember: You need to leave your sink open so that you can actually wash those dishes. Unstacking and re-stacking is going to make washing your dishes take longer, and ain't nobody got time for that.

20 Meditation Tips For Beginners

1. Begin With Quick 5-Minute Sessions It's easy for beginners to get overwhelmed when trying to sustain a 20-minute-meditation. That can feel brutal in the beginning. Start out nice and easy. Begin with 5-minute sessions, and when you're ready for more, move it up to 10 minutes. 2. Stretch or Do Yoga First By stretching or doing yoga before you start meditating, you'll prepare your body to sit in one position for a long time. Yoga and meditation go hand in hand. Even just rolling your neck and stretching your back beforehand can help you stay comfortable for longer. 3. Try Out a Guided Meditation For a fun experience and to have someone guide you through your meditation, try out a guided meditation. You can find free guided meditations available on YouTube and other platforms. You might find it easier when you follow someone else's instructions. 4. Set Your Timer When you set a timer for your meditation, you don't have to keep checking the clock. This removes a big distraction from your practice. Moreover, you won't be sitting in meditation all day because you've forgotten to see how much time has elapsed. Set your timer so you can relax and enjoy your experience. 5. Remove Distractions Turn off your cell phone, put it on vibrate, or leave it in the other room. You want to be in a space without distractions. I find that the best place to meditate is in my room with the door closed. 6. Don't Try Too Hard Meditation at its best is soothing, relaxing, and effortless. It's merely observation; observing your breathing with your conscious awareness. So there is no real effort involved, just being consciously aware. So don't work too hard at it. 7. Create a Daily Practice or Ritual By meditating every day at the same time or within the same daily routine, you develop a habit that becomes easier to practice every day. If you don't build meditation into your daily routine, you'll find yourself forgetting to do it. 8. Get Relaxed Beforehand You want to wear comfortable, loose clothing and be in a relaxing environment. Make sure your room is comfortable. Before you start, take a few deliberate deep breaths and stretch any part of your body that feels tense or achy. 9. Try Out Different Types of Meditation There are dozens of techniques to meditate, such as Zen meditation, chanting meditations, mantras, and so on. Try out different types to see which one feels right for you. 10. Read "The Power of Now" This epic book by Eckhart Tolle sheds new light on what it really means to be present. And meditation is simply the practice of being present. To me personally, "The Power of Now" is like the bible of true meditation and mindfulness. 11. Let Go of Expectations Don't expect enlightenment. Meditation is about noticing and observing your own sensations, thoughts, and feelings. By just allowing your experience of meditation to unfold in any way that it does, you'll get the best experience. 12. Stay Nonjudgmental By simply noticing things as they are -- without judging them -- you are being mindful. When you notice your mind labelling, commenting, and making opinions about things, you're judging. And that's okay when you judge too. Just notice that, and let it go. 13. Have Fun with Your Practice Allow yourself to really enjoy your meditation session. View your repetitive or silly thoughts with humor. Laugh at your "monkey mind" as it keeps churning. Have fun with it! 14. Your Mind Will Quiet Itself Don't try to force your mind to stop thinking; that'll create distress. It will stop thinking all on its own when you practice your technique, whether it's observing your breathing or repeating a mantra. 15. Your Mind Will Wander It's okay when your mind wanders, that's just what minds do! Just notice that your mind has wandered, and gently -- with compassion -- return your attention to your technique (observing your breathing). Don't beat yourself up, it's normal. 16. Find a Comfortable Posture There are no rules that you have to sit in the lotus position. As long as I'm not feeling sleepy, I prefer to lay down. Find a position that works well for you, whether it's sitting on a chair, cushion, or bench. 17. Your Eyes Can Be Open Or Closed Do what feels right for you. If you keep your eyes open, you might see visual distractions. If you close your eyes, it may feel forced and unnatural while you're awake. So do what works for you. 18. Get Up Slowly After you finish your practice, take your time getting up. Don't rush off to the rest of your day, as you want to stay mindful and bring your meditative state into the rest of your day's activities. 19. Meditate With Others Whether it's with friends, family members, your partner, a coach, or an organization, by meditating in a group it'll help you stay committed to the practice. Moreover, you can share your experiences afterwards. You might be surprised to hear how different their experience was. 20. Observe the Feeling Within Your Body Notice how you feel internally, within your body. What sensations are there in your legs? Do you feel your toes and calves? Notice your diaphragm moving as you breath. This will keep you connected to your body.

11 Things You Didn't Know About Ernest Hemingway

1. Hemingway apparently once lived, got drunk and slept with a bear. ernest hemingway Former New Yorker staff writer Lillian Ross had a long profile of Hemingway published in 1950. During a section of the story where she's at a bar with Hemingway, talking about bears at the Bronx zoo, Ross includes an aside about how the writer gets along well with animals, writing, "In Montana, once, he lived with a bear, and the bear slept with him, got drunk with him, and was a close friend." As this fact simultaneously seems insane and doesn't readily appear elsewhere, it's unclear whether Ross' aside was an exclusive for her interview or if the story is more of a legend. 2. F. Scott Fitzgerald once had Hemingway look at his penis to judge if it was adequate. hemingway fitzgerald In Hemingway's A Moveable Feast -- a collection of stories about his time in Paris as an expat during the 1920s -- there's a long interaction with the Great Gatsby author, F. Scott Fitzgerald. In this exchange, according to Hemingway, Fitzgerald confesses that his wife, Zelda, said that his penis is too small or exactly, "She said it was a matter of measurements." Hemingway tells Fitzgerald to follow him to the men's room and then says, "'You're perfectly fine,' I said. 'You are OK. There's nothing wrong with you." He continued reassuring Fitzgerald, "You look at yourself from above and you look foreshortened. Go over to the Louvre and look at the people in the statues and then go home and look at yourself in the mirror in profile.'" 3. Hemingway once said that he can't think of any better way to spend money than on champagne. ernest hemingway Image: Getty In the New Yorker profile from 1950, Hemingway gets frustrated at the group he's having lunch with for thinking they can leave the table before all of the champagne is finished. "'The half bottle of champagne is the enemy of man,'" Hemingway said. We all sat down again," writes Ross in the New Yorker. Hemingway is then quoted while pouring more champagne as saying, “If I have any money, I can’t think of any better way of spending money than on champagne." 4. The KGB secretly recruited Hemingway to be their spy, and he accepted. ernest hemingway According to a 2009 story in The Guardian, Hemingway went by the code name "Argo," while somewhat working for the KGB. The article talks about the publication of Yale University Press' Spies: The Rise and Fall of the KGB in America, which claims that Hemingway was listed as a KGB operative in America during Stalin-era Moscow. According to the documents obtained by the book, Hemingway was recruited in 1941 and was fully willing to help, but never actually provided any useful information. It's unclear if that's because Hemingway was doing this all as a lark, or if he just wasn't that good of a spy. "The name's Hemingway, Ernest Hemingway," is a lot of syllables. 5. While in his later years, the FBI conducted surveillance on Hemingway. ernest hemingway Hemingway biographer and personal friend of the author for 14 years, A.E. Hotchner, wrote a New York Times opinion piece in 2011, claiming that Hemingway spent his last days incredibly paranoid that the FBI was following him and that this paranoia ended up being justified. “It’s the worst hell. The goddamnedest hell. They’ve bugged everything. That’s why we’re using Duke’s car. Mine’s bugged. Everything’s bugged. Can’t use the phone. Mail intercepted,” Hotchner quotes Hemingway as telling him shortly after the author's 60th birthday. Hotchner remembered thinking Hemingway was losing it as the author went on and on about how his phones were being tapped and his mail intercepted. Hotchner was then shocked when the FBI released its Hemingway file due to a Freedom of Information petition, where they admitted Hemingway was put on the surveillance list in the 1940s by J. Edgar Hoover. "Over the following years, agents filed reports on him and tapped his phones," Hotchner wrote. According to Hotchner, he's had to find a way to reconcile his memories of Hemingway losing it in his final years -- which partially led to extensive electroshock therapy -- with the author actually being right. 6. Hemingway felt it "would be very dangerous" for someone to not attend multiple fights a year. ernest hemingway In that same New Yorker profile from 1950, Ross writes about what happened when she suggested what Hemingway thought was a lackluster fight: Hemingway gave me a long, reproachful look. "Daughter, you’ve got to learn that a bad fight is worse than no fight," he said. We would all go to a fight when he got back from Europe, he said, because it was absolutely necessary to go to several good fights a year. "If you quit going for too long a time, then you never go near them," he said. "That would be very dangerous." He was interrupted by a brief fit of coughing. "Finally," he concluded, "you end up in one room and won’t move." 7. James Joyce would get in bar fights and then have Hemingway beat the person up. joyce hemingway Kenneth Schuyler Lynn has a quote in his book, Hemingway, from the novelist about Hemingway and James Joyce's hangouts together. "We would go out for a drink," Hemingway told a reporter for Time magazine in the midfifties, "and Joyce would fall into a fight. He couldn't even see the man so he'd say: 'Deal with him, Hemingway! Deal with him!'" 8. According to Hemingway, his eyelids were particularly thin, causing him to always wake at daybreak. ernest hemingway This also comes from the New Yorker profile, where Ross wrote, "He always wakes at daybreak, he explained, because his eyelids are especially thin and his eyes especially sensitive to light." Hemingway is then quoted as saying, "I have seen all the sunrises there have been in my life, and that’s half a hundred years." Hemingway continues, "I wake up in the morning and my mind starts making sentences, and I have to get rid of them fast -- talk them or write them down." 9. His daily word count was tracked on a slab of cardboard on his wall. ernest hemingway American journalist George Plimpton interviewed Hemingway in a Madrid café during May, 1954. In his piece, Plimton writes: He keeps track of his daily progress -- "so as not to kid myself" -- on a large chart made out of the side of a cardboard packing case and set up against the wall under the nose of a mounted gazelle head. The numbers on the chart showing the daily output of words differ from 450, 575, 462, 1250, back to 512, the higher figures on days Hemingway puts in extra work so he won’t feel guilty spending the following day fishing on the Gulf Stream. 10. The ending of A Farewell to Arms was rewritten 39 times. ernest hemingway Also in the Madrid café in 1954, Plimpton got a quote from Hemingway about rewriting the ending to one of his most famous works. Plimpton asked how much rewriting Hemingway does, to which the novelist responded, "It depends. I rewrote the ending to A Farewell to Arms, the last page of it, 39 times before I was satisfied." The interviewer wondered, "Was there some technical problem there? What was it that had stumped you?" Hemingway responded, "Getting the words right." 11. This is how Hemingway said he wanted to spend his older days ... ernest hemingway From the New Yorker profile, here is an extended description by Hemingway of how he would have ideally spent his older days: "What I want to be when I am old is a wise old man who won’t bore," he said, then paused while the waiter set a plate of asparagus and an artichoke before him and poured the Tavel. Hemingway tasted the wine and gave the waiter a nod. "I’d like to see all the new fighters, horses, ballets, bike riders, dames, bullfighters, painters, airplanes, sons of bitches, café characters, big international whores, restaurants, years of wine, newsreels, and never have to write a line about any of it," he said. "I’d like to write lots of letters to my friends and get back letters. Would like to be able to make love good until I was eighty-five, the way Clemenceau could. And what I would like to be is not Bernie Baruch. I wouldn’t sit on park benches, although I might go around the park once in a while to feed the pigeons, and also I wouldn’t have any long beard, so there could be an old man didn’t look like Shaw." He stopped and ran the back of his hand along his beard, and looked around the room reflectively. "Have never met Mr. Shaw," he said. "Never been to Niagara Falls, either. Anyway, I would take up harness racing. You aren’t up near the top at that until you’re over seventy-five. Then I could get me a good young ball club, maybe, like Mr. Mack. Only I wouldn’t signal with a program—so as to break the pattern. Haven’t figured out yet what I would signal with. And when that’s over, I’ll make the prettiest corpse since Pretty Boy Floyd. Only suckers worry about saving their souls. Who the hell should care about saving his soul when it is a man’s duty to lose it intelligently, the way you would sell a position you were defending, if you could not hold it, as expensively as possible, trying to make it the most expensive position that was ever sold. It isn’t hard to die." He opened his mouth and laughed, at first soundlessly and then loudly. "No more worries," he said. With his fingers, he picked up a long spear of asparagus and looked at it without enthusiasm. "It takes a pretty good man to make any sense when he’s dying," he said.

11 Things People With A Fear Of Flying Are Sick Of Hearing

1. “The chances of an accident are one in a million!” rose ellen dix animated GIF If we had a dollar for every time... 2. "Just take deep breaths." No, because then we might throw up. And if we throw up, you will NOT be happy. Trust us. 3. “Why don't you take a sleeping pill?" Because then we wouldn't be awake when the plane lands. NO WAY ARE WE DOING THAT. 4. “You don’t need a sleeping pill. Just have a glass of wine!” emma watson animated GIF Did you say only ONE glass of wine? 5. “Flying is safer than driving a car.” Oh, is a car SUSPENDED 35,000 FEET IN THE AIR?! Didn’t think so. 6. “Turbulence is normal!” seinfeld animated GIF Tell us about the last time you bumped around in a tiny, winged box on a cloud. 7. “Don’t worry, the most dangerous part is the takeoff.” …and the landing. And the flying. And the shooting through the air at unthinkable speeds. You're right, it’s no big deal. 8. “Just talk with me. I’ll distract you!” testing Thanks, but we’d rather just sit here and try to survive. 9. “What’s the part that you’re afraid of?” reaction animated GIF Everything. 10. “Take a sip of water." …do deep sips of vodka count? 11. “It’s gonna be okay.” We understand, but we do NOT feel okay right now.

15 Eating Habits That Make You Live Longer

1. Get 95 percent of your food from plants mediterranean diet brain Produce, whole grains and beans dominate meals all year long in each of the Blue Zones. People eat an impressive variety of vegetables when they are in season, and then pickle or dry the surplus. The best of the best longevity foods are leafy greens. In Ikaria, more than 75 varieties grow like weeds. Studies found that middle-aged people who consumed the equivalent of a cup of cooked greens daily were half as likely to die in the next four years as those who ate no greens. 2. Consume meat no more than twice a week Families in most of the Blue Zones enjoy meat sparingly, as a side or a way to flavor other dishes. Aim to limit your intake to 2 ounces or less of cooked meat (an amount smaller than a deck of cards) five times a month. And favor chicken, lamb or pork from family farms. The meat in the Blue Zones comes from animals that graze or forage freely, which likely leads to higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids. 3. Eat up to 3 ounces of fish daily sardine The Adventist Health Study 2, which has been following 96,000 Americans since 2002, discovered that people who ate a plant-based diet and included a small portion of fish up to once a day were the ones who lived the longest. In the Blue Zones overseas, fish is a common part of everyday meals. For the most part, the best fish choices are middle-of-the-food-chain species such as sardines, anchovies and cod, which aren't exposed to high levels of mercury or other chemicals. 4. Cut back on dairy The human digestive system isn't optimized for cow's milk, which happens to be high in fat and sugar. People in the Blue Zones get their calcium from plants. (A cup of cooked kale, for instance, gives you as much calcium as a cup of milk.) However, goat's- and sheep's-milk products like yogurt and cheese are common in the traditional diets of Ikaria and Sardinia. We don't know if it's the milk that makes folks healthier or the fact that they climb the same hilly terrain as their goats. 5. Enjoy up to three eggs per week eggs In the Blue Zones, people tend to eat just one egg at a time: For example, Nicoyans fry an egg to fold into a corn tortilla and Okinawans boil an egg in soup. Try filling out a one-egg breakfast with fruit or other plant-based foods such as whole-grain porridge or bread. When baking, use a quarter cup of applesauce, a quarter cup of mashed potatoes or a small banana to sub in for one egg. 6. Add a half cup of cooked beans every day Black beans in Nicoya, soybeans in Okinawa, lentils, garbanzo and white beans in the Mediterranean: Beans are the cornerstone of Blue Zones diets. On average, beans are made up of 21-percent protein, 77-percent complex carbohydrates and only a little fat. They're also an excellent source of fiber and are packed with more nutrients per gram than any other food on earth. The Blue Zones dietary average -- at least a half cup per day -- provides most of the vitamins and minerals that you need. 7. Switch to sourdough or whole-wheat sourdough In three of the five Blue Zones, bread is a staple. But it's an altogether different food from the loaves most of us buy. Breads in Ikaria and Sardinia, for example, are made from a variety of 100-percent whole grains, including wheat, rye and barley -- each of which offers a wide spectrum of nutrients and high levels of fiber. Other traditional Blue Zones breads are made with bacteria that "digest" the starches and glutens while helping the bread rise. This process creates an acid that lends the sour flavor to sourdough. The result is bread that actually lowers the glycemic load of meals. (It also has less gluten than "gluten-free" breads.) To find true sourdough, visit a bakery and ask about their starter. If they can't give you an answer, they're probably not making their sourdough in the traditional way. 8. Slash your sugar consumption Blue Zones dwellers consume about a fifth as much added sugar as we do. Centenarians typically put honey in their tea and enjoy dessert only at celebrations. The lesson to us: Try not to add more than 4 teaspoons of sugar a day to your drinks and foods. Have cookies, candy and bakery items only a few times a week. And avoid processed foods with sweeteners -- especially when sugar is listed among the first five ingredients. 9. Snack on two handfuls of nuts per day brazil nuts This appears to be the average amount that Blue Zones centenarians are eating. A recent 30-year Harvard study found that nut eaters have a 20 percent lower mortality rate than those who don't eat nuts. Other studies show that diets with nuts reduce LDL, or "bad," cholesterol levels by up to 20 percent. 10. Stick with foods that are recognizable for what they are Throughout the world's Blue Zones, people eat foods in their entirety: They don't throw away the egg yolk or juice the pulp out of their fruits. They also don't take supplements. They get everything they need from whole foods that are often grown locally. The takeaway? Avoid products with long lists of ingredients and shop at your farmers market when you can. Scientists are only beginning to understand how the elements in whole plants work together synergistically to bring forth ultimate health. 11. Up your water intake drinking water Adventists recommend having seven glasses daily, pointing to studies that show that being hydrated lessens the chance of a blood clot. Plus, if you're drinking water, you're not drinking a sugar-laden or artificially sweetened beverage. 12. When you drink alcohol, make it red wine People in most Blue Zones have one to three glasses per day. Wine has been found to help the system absorb plant-based antioxidants. But it may also be that a little alcohol at the end of the day reduces stress, which is good for overall health. 13. Drink this kind of tea Okinawans nurse green tea all day long, and green tea has been shown to lower the risk of heart disease and several cancers. Ikarians drink brews of rosemary, wild sage and dandelion -- all herbs with anti-inflammatory properties. 14. Get your caffeine fix from coffee coffee cup People who live on the Nicoya Peninsula and the islands of Sardinia and Ikaria all down copious amounts of coffee. Research findings associate coffee drinking with lower rates of dementia and Parkinson's disease. 15. Perfect protein pairings Worried about getting enough protein on a plant-based diet? The trick is to partner legumes, grains, nuts and veggies that supply all nine of the essential amino acids your body can't make on its own. Try these match-ups in the ratios described below. 1 1/3 parts chopped red peppers to 3 parts cooked cauliflower 1 part cooked chickpeas to 3 parts cooked mustard greens 1 part lima beans to 2 parts cooked carrots 1 1/2 parts cooked broccoli rabe to 1 1/3 parts cooked wild rice 1/2 part firm tofu to 1 1/4 parts cooked soba noodles

13 Things Anyone Who Loves A Highly Sensitive Person Should Know

1. We're going to cry. When we're happy, when we're sad and when we're angry. That's because highly sensitive people just naturally feel more deeply and react accordingly. 2. Not all of us are introverts. Introversion does not equal sensitivity. In fact, according to Aron's research, approximately 30 percent of highly sensitive people are extroverts. 3. Decisions make us nervous. Highly sensitive individuals are notoriously bad at making choices -- even if it's just picking out where to go to dinner. This is mostly because we agonize over the possibility of making the wrong one. (What if the food is bad?!) 4. We notice that subtle change in your tone. If you normally end each text message with an exclamation point and lately you've been using a period, you better believe we'll pick up on it. Highly sensitive people are generally more intuitive when it comes to the tiny nuances of our environment and we're more affected by shifts in other people's moods. 5. We're always willing to hear you vent. Don't be afraid to reach out to use us when you need a shoulder to lean on. Our overly-empathetic nature allows us to be excellent listeners when you need it, because when you feel pain so do we -- and we want to do whatever we can to make you feel comfortable. Highly sensitive people make excellent teachers, therapists and managers for this reason. 6. Repetitive and loud noises are the worst. Loud chewing, a barreling train, boisterous co-workers: You name it, we're sensitive to it. That's because chaotic or overstimulating environments have more of an influence on HSPs, according to Aron. 7. Our workplace habits are a bit atypical. Working from home or in a quiet space is a dream for highly sensitive people -- especially because it allows us to focus if we become too overwhelmed. However, don't let our solo work ethic fool you. "Sensitive people can use their observations to their advantage ... They're going to rise to the top," Aron previously told HuffPost. "They know how to bring ideas up without being ridiculed or scorned." HSPs also make excellent team players due to our analytical nature and thoughtfulness for others' ideas (just don't force us to make the final decision on a project). 8. Don't ask us to see that new slasher movie. That same high empathy we experience for others combined with overstimulation makes gory, violent films truly terrible for highly sensitive people. 9. Criticism is incredibly distressing. As a result, we tend to avoid anything that may cause those feelings of shame. This may mean we engage in people-pleasing or self-deprecating behavior more than most of our peers. In other words, we're far from perfect. 10. We're constantly being told we take things too personally. A joke at our expense sometimes just isn't a joke to us. We know it's a little silly to be upset, but what else are we supposed to do with all of our feelings? 11. We have a low pain tolerance. Pass the ice, please. It doesn't matter if it's a broken arm or just a stubbed toe, any injury really hurts. This is because highly sensitive people are more affected by pain than others, according to Aron's research. 12. We crave deep relationships. According to Aron, highly sensitive people tend to get more bored in marriages than non-HSP couples, mostly due to the lack of meaningful interaction that naturally occurs as time goes on. However, this doesn't necessarily mean we're dissatisfied with the relationship -- we just need to find a way to have more stimulating conversations. 13. We can't just stop being highly sensitive. A 2014 study published in the journal Brain and Behavior found that highly sensitive people experienced more activity in regions of the brain associated with empathy and awareness when exposed to pictures of emotional individuals than the average person. In other words, we're neurologically wired to behave the way that we do. With that in mind, know that the best way to love us is to support us. Try not to shame us for our sensitivity. Tell us it's okay to feel the way we do. And in return, we'll try not to tear up over your kind words (no promises, though).

"Peace will come when you let the presence of God settle into your heart."

If there is to be peace in the world, there must be peace in the nations. If there is to be peace in the nations, there must be peace in the cities. If there is to be peace in the cities, there must be peace between neighbors. If there is to be peace between neighbors, there must be peace in the home. If there is to be peace in the home, there must be peace in the heart.

La Fuerza del Amor

El amor nos da el valor de: Luchar por nuestros sueños. Dar la vida por los que llevamos en el corazón. Modificar nuestra propia existencia. Cambiar nuestra manera de vivir. Rebasar el límite de nuestras potencialidades. El amor nos da la fuerza: Para respetar a los seres que amamos. Para sonreír a pesar de las adversidades. Para pedir humildemente perdón. Para comprender. Para perdonar. El amor nos da el poder: Para manifestar nuestras emociones. Para alcanzar lo que parecía imposible. Para convertir nuestros sueños en realidades. Para morir y de vivir por un ideal. El amor es la fuerza que Dios deposita en nuestro corazón para atrevernos a ser auténticos... Sólo con el amor de Dios en mi corazón podré: Amar a mi prójimo como a mí mismo. Luchar adecuadamente por mis hijos. Cuidar de mis padres. Ayudar a que mi cónyuge sea feliz. Perdonar realmente a mi enemigo. Vivir en paz con los hombres, conmigo mismo y con Dios. [Tiempo con Dios es Vida Viva]

The enemy cannot stand the sound of joy!

Satan is always trying to bring stress into people's lives. He knows that stressed out people isolate themselves. When we think about how God has brought us through so many trials, joy is activated in our spirit! The key is to bring joy into the lives of others-even if you are having difficulties in your own life. We attract God's favor when we try to bless others and bring joy into their lives. Laughter will clean out bad air. A smile will attract other people! People want to be around joy! Don't take your gift of joy likely. Share your joy and make it your business to bring joy into the world.

It’s So Precious and Cherished!

If we don't spend time with God, the oil in our lamp will go out. Many of our problems would go away if we would just spend30min. with God each day. One of the best gifts we can give ourselves is time alone with God. You don't have to feel God to know He is with you. You just have to know! Spending time with God will keep oil in your lamp. Then we will be able to see what God wants us to see. Our God knows how to open doors that we didn't even know were there. But He also knows how to close doors that might have been a deception waiting to confine and block us from His Grace. God teaches and instructs us by His Word. But when we fellowship with Him, He communicates to us in so many ways. He has given us a "Life Style" designed by Him. It’s so precious and cherished!

"Seamos como el lápiz"

Todos los días nos levantamos buscando ser mejores, tratando de corregir nuestras imperfecciones, de reparar el daño que hicimos y procurando no volver a cometer los errores del día anterior y sin duda alguna es una tarea difícil. Hay una historia que a través de algo tan común y sencillo como un lápiz nos enseña cinco cualidades que debemos tener. Cuentan que un niñito miraba a su abuelo escribir una carta. En un momento dado le preguntó: - ¿Abuelo, estás escribiendo una historia que nos pasó a los dos? ¿Es, por casualidad, una historia sobre mí? El abuelo dejó de escribir, sonrió y respondió: - Estoy escribiendo sobre ti, es cierto. Sin embargo, más importante que las palabras, es el lápiz que estoy usando. Me gustaría que tú fueses como él cuando crezcas. - ¿Qué tiene de especial? Preguntó el nieto mientras observaba el lápiz intrigado, sin encontrar nada en particular. El abuelo le respondió: - Todo depende del modo en que mires las cosas. Hay en él cinco cualidades que, si consigues mantenerlas, harán siempre de ti una persona en paz con el mundo. Primera cualidad: Puedes hacer grandes cosas, pero no olvides nunca que existe una mano que guía tus pasos. Esta mano la llamamos Dios, y Él siempre te conducirá en dirección a su voluntad. Segunda cualidad: De vez en cuando necesitas dejar lo que estás escribiendo y usar el sacapuntas. Eso hace que el lápiz sufra un poco, pero al final, estará más afilado. Por lo tanto, debes ser capaz de soportar algunos dolores, porque te harán mejor persona. Tercera cualidad: El lápiz siempre permite que usemos una goma para borrar aquello que está mal. Entiende que corregir algo que hemos hecho no es necesariamente algo malo, sino algo importante para mantenernos en el camino de la justicia. Cuarta cualidad: Lo que realmente importa en el lápiz no es la madera ni su forma exterior, sino el grafito que hay dentro. Por lo tanto, cuida siempre de lo que sucede en tu interior. Quinta cualidad: Siempre deja una marca. De la misma manera, has de saber que todo lo que hagas en la vida, dejará trazos. Por eso intenta ser consciente de cada acción. Recuerda siempre que Dios es quien dirige tu vida. A veces pasamos por momentos difíciles porque necesitamos tener una punta más afilada para dejar mejores trazos. Intenta corregir lo que hiciste mal y no mires las apariencias, a Dios le interesa tu corazón y eso es lo que realmente importa. Finalmente siempre dejaremos una marca, por eso debemos pensar bien y actuar correctamente. Seamos ejemplo donde quiera que vayamos y que la gente pueda ver a Cristo reflejado en nuestras vidas. ”Y sé tú mismo un ejemplo para ellos al hacer todo tipo de buenas acciones. Que todo lo que hagas refleje la integridad y la seriedad de tu enseñanza. Enseña la verdad, para que no puedan criticar tu enseñanza. Entonces los que se nos oponen quedarán avergonzados y no tendrán nada malo que decir de nosotros”.

9 tips on how to stay fit through your quit

1. Make Sticking to Your Quit Your Number One Priority Don’t let fears of weight gain or other hurdles block your road to success. 2. Exercise Strap on those walking shoes, grab those boxing gloves, or roll out that yoga mat. Exercise helps reduce tension and stress and can make you feel more relaxed and alert. Consult your doctor to create a workout plan that works best with your fitness level. 3. Keep Track of How You Feel It is important to note how you feel as you travel through your quit journey—physically and emotionally. If you're not feeling like your best self, make a plan to turn things around via diet or exercise, and consult a healthcare professional. 4. Note What You’re Eating Just as you’re learning to keep track of why and when you smoke, it’s also important to do the same with food. What triggers your food cravings? Are you using food as a replacement for smoking? It’s good to keep these urges in check as you go through your quit. 5. Eat Mindfully Controlling your weight does not necessarily mean dieting—all that is required is mindful eating. Keep a healthy weight by making smart food choices. 6. Pack In the Nutrients Part of eating well and making good food choices is packing in nutrients. Nutrient rich foods include vegetables, fruits and whole grains, like collard greens, blueberries and lentils. 7. Watch Those Sweets and Alcohol Sugar has a sneaky way of sticking on those pounds. Be careful of your sugar intake and keep in mind that though alcohol comes in a very different package than sweets, it is often packed with extra calories and sugar as well. 8. Snack Smart Keep healthy snacks on hand for when the hunger pangs hit. Carrot sticks, nuts, dried fruit or fresh fruit are great options. Toss ‘em in your bag for a convenient snack on the go. 9. Drink Lots of Water Hydration is super important to keeping off weight. Drinking water helps keep you feeling full, so make sure to have a water bottle nearby throughout your quit journey.

Stay The Course!

Many saints faith are being tested today in many ways. Remember, Satan wants you to turn back to your old ways just when your faith is being tested. Think you don't have enough faith? That's what the Satan want you to believe. You got more than enough. You got Jesus! End of story! The Devil can't do anything to you when you are planted in the Word of God. For the Scriptures says “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4:4(KJV) Stay the course and trust God.

Standfast in your faith in Christ Jesus.

Satan will bring storms of trials in your life and try to "set you back." But God will "set you up" in front of your enemies&there is nothing they can do about it! For the Scriptures says – “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:.” (Psalm23:5(KJV) & “For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.” (Mark12:36(KJV) Also know this-God will either calm the storm, or he'll let the storm rage while he calms you. - “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” Romans8:31(KJV) Standfast in your faith in Christ Jesus. The best is yet to come!

5 Reasons Our Generation Just Isn't Cut Out For Marriage

1. Sex becomes almost non-existent. I don't know about you, but I am an extremely sexual person. Not only do I believe it's an important aspect of a relationship, I believe it's the most important. Beyond being pleasurable, sex connects two individuals. There's a reason why it's referred to as "making love." I'm baffled by couples who neglect having sex, especially younger ones. We all desire physical connection, so how does cutting that off lead you to believe your marriage will be successful? Instead, we have sex once every couple weeks, or when it's time to get pregnant. It becomes this chore. You no longer look at your partner wanting to rip their clothes off, but rather instead, dread the thought. That's not crazy to you? 2. Finances cripple us. Years ago, it didn't cost upward of $200,000 for an education. It also didn't cost $300,000-plus for a home. Today, you need to find a job to pay for student loans, a mortgage, utilities, living expenses and a baby. Problem is, it's extremely difficult to find a job that can provide an income that will help you live comfortably while paying all of these bills -- especially not in your mid-20s. This strain causes separation between us. It halts us from being able to live life. We're too busy paying bills to enjoy our youth. Forget going to dinner, you have to pay the mortgage. You'll have to skip out on an anniversary gift this year because those student loans are due at the end of the month. Vacations? Not happening. We're trying to live the way our grandparents and parents did in a world that has put more debt on our plate than ever before. It's possible, but it puts us in an awful position. Part of life is being able to live. Not having the finances to do so takes away yet another important aspect of our relationships. It keeps us inside, forced to see the life everyone else is living. 3. We're more connected than ever before, but completely disconnected at the same time. Let's face it, the last time you "spoke" to the person you love, you didn't even hear their voice. You could be at work, the gym, maybe with the kids at soccer. You may even be in the same room. You told your wife you made dinner reservations... through a text message. Your husband had flowers delivered to your job... through an app on his phone. You both searched for furnishings for your new home... on Pinterest. There's no physical connection attached to anything anymore. We've removed human emotion from our relationships, and we've replaced it with colorful bubbles. Somehow, we've learned to get offended by text on a screen, accusing others of being "angry" or "sad" when, in fact, we have no idea what they are feeling. We argue about this -- at length. You want to know why your grandmother and grandfather just celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary? Because they weren't scrolling through Instagram worrying about what John ate for dinner. They weren't on Facebook criticizing others. They weren't on vacation sending Snapchats to their friends. No. They were too preoccupied loving and respecting one another. They were talking to each other at dinner, walking with each other holding hands instead of their phones. They weren't distracted by everything around them. They had dreams and chased them together. 4. Our desire for attention outweighs our desire to be loved. Social media has given everyone an opportunity to be famous. Attention you couldn't dream of getting unless you were celebrity is now a selfie away. Post a picture, and thousands of strangers will like it. Wear less clothing, and guess what? More likes. It's more than that though. What about the life you live? I see pictures of people decked out in designer clothes, posted up in some club with fancy drinks -- people I know that are dead broke. But they portray themselves as successful because, well, they can. And they get this gratification from people who like and comment on their statuses or pictures. If you want to love someone, stop seeking attention from everyone because you'll never be satisfied with the attention from one person. Same holds true for love. Love is supposed to be sacred. You can't love someone when you're preoccupied with worrying about what others think of you. Whether it be posting pictures on social media, buying homes to compete with others or going on lavish vacations -- none of it matters. 5. Social media just invited a few thousand people into bed with you. We've thrown privacy out the window these days. Nothing is sacred anymore, in fact, it's splattered all over the Web for the world to see. Everywhere we go, everything we do -- made public. Instead of enjoying the moment, we get lost in cyberspace, trying to figure out the best status update, or the perfect filter. There's absolutely nothing wrong with sharing moments of your life. I do it myself. But where do we draw the line? When does it become too much? We've invited strangers into our homes and brought them on dates with us. We've shown them our wardrobe, drove with them in our cars, and we even showed them our bathing suits. Might as well pack them a suitcase, too.

The closer we get to God

Remember when we were children, and the Christmas season began to approach us-we would begin to get excited! The closer we got to Christmas-the more we would dream and see visions of possibilities to come. It had a distinct effect on our behavior. This is the way it is when we draw near to God! The closer we get to God-there is a distinct affect that takes place within our spirit. We begin to find hope and joy-where we once thought there were no hope. When we come to God in prayer-switch over into praise! Thank God in advance-and thank Him often! When our spirit finds joy in the Lord, the enemy cannot affect our faith. Don't worry about the difficulties in your life. Our God thrives in difficult times. For the scripture says "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews11:6)

12 Foods To Eat When You're Totally Stressed Out

When work deadlines begin piling up and your social calendar is booked, the last thing you want to hear is to steer clear of the vending machine. Who has time for healthy eating? But when it comes to combating stress levels, what you eat may actually help relieve your tension. Indeed, some foods may help stabilize blood sugar or, better yet, your emotional response. Here, 12 foods to reach for when you've just about had enough. Green leafy vegetables. leafy vegetables It's tempting to reach for a cheeseburger when stressed, but go green at lunch instead. "Green leafy vegetables like spinach contain folate, which produces dopamine, a pleasure-inducing brain chemical, helping you keep calm," says Heather Mangieri, RDN, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. A 2012 study in the Journal of Affective Disorders of 2,800 middle-aged and elderly people and found those who consumed the most folate had a lower risk of depression symptoms than those who took in the least. And, a 2013 study from the University of Otago found that college students tended to feel calmer, happier and more energetic on days they ate more fruits and veggies. It can be hard to tell which came first -- upbeat thoughts or healthy eating -- but the researchers found that healthy eating seemed to predict a positive mood the next day. Turkey breast. You've probably heard that the tryptophan in turkey is to blame for that food coma on Thanksgiving. The amino acid, found in protein-containing foods, helps produce serotonin, "the chemical that regulates hunger and feelings of happiness and well-being," Mangieri says. On its own, tryptophan may have a calming effect. In a 2006 study published in the Journal of Psychiatry Neuroscience, men and women who were argumentative (based on personality tests) took either tryptophan supplements or a placebo for 15 days. Those who took tryptophan were perceived as more agreeable by their study partners at the end of the two weeks compared with when they didn't take it. (The study was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.) Other foods high in tryptophan include nuts, seeds, tofu, fish, lentils, oats, beans and eggs. Oatmeal. If you're already a carb lover, it's likely that nothing can come between you and a doughnut when stress hits. First rule of thumb: Don't completely deny the craving. According to MIT research, carbohydrates can help the brain make serotonin, the same substance regulated by antidepressants. But instead of reaching for that sugary bear claw, go for complex carbs. "Stress can cause your blood sugar to rise, Mangieri says, "so a complex carb like oatmeal won't contribute to your already potential spike in blood glucose." Yogurt. yogurt As bizarre as it may sound, the bacteria in your gut might be contributing to stress. Research has shown that the brain signals to the gut, which is why stress can inflame gastrointestinal symptoms; communication may flow the other way too, from gut to brain. A 2013 UCLA study among 36 healthy women revealed that consuming probiotics in yogurt reduced brain activity in areas that handle emotion, including stress compared to people who consumed yogurt without probiotics or no yogurt at all. This study was small so more research is needed to confirm the results—but considering yogurt is full of calcium and protein in addition to probiotics, you really can't go wrong by adding more of it to your diet. Salmon. When you're stressed, it can ratchet up anxiety hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. "The omega-3 fatty acids in salmon have anti-inflammatory properties that may help counteract the negative effects of stress hormones," says Lisa Cimperman, RD, of the University Hospitals Case Medical Center and a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. In a study funded by the National Institutes of Health, Oregon State University medical students who took omega-3 supplements had a 20% reduction in anxiety compared to the group given placebo pills. One 3-ounce serving of cooked wild salmon can have more than 2,000 milligrams of omega-3s, double the daily intake recommended by the American Heart Association for people with heart disease. Blueberries. "When you're stressed, there's a battle being fought inside you," Mangieri says. "The antioxidants and phytonutrients found in berries fight in your defense, helping improve your body's response to stress and fight stress-related free radicals." Research has also shown that blueberry eaters experience a boost in natural killer cells, "a type of white blood cell that plays a vital role in immunity, critical for countering stress," says Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD, Health's contributing nutrition editor. Pistachios. pistachios When you have an ongoing loop of negative thoughts playing in your mind, doing something repetitive with your hands may help silence your inner monologue. Think knitting or kneading bread—or even shelling nuts like pistachios or peanuts. The rhythmic moves will help you relax. Plus, the added step of cracking open a shell slows down your eating, making pistachios a diet-friendly snack. What's more, pistachios have heart-health benefits. "Eating pistachios may reduce acute stress by lowering blood pressure and heart rate," Mangieri says. "The nuts contain key phytonutrients that may provide antioxidant support for cardiovascular health." Dark chocolate. Calling all chocoholics: a regular healthy indulgence (just a bite, not a whole bar!) of dark chocolate might have the power to regulate your stress levels. "Research has shown that it can reduce your stress hormones, including cortisol," Sass says. "Also, the antioxidants in cocoa trigger the walls of your blood vessels to relax, lowering blood pressure and improving circulation. And finally, dark chocolate contains unique natural substances that create a sense of euphoria similar to the feeling of being in love!" Go for varieties that contain at least 70% cocoa. Milk. Fortified milk is an excellent source of vitamin D, a nutrient that might boost happiness. A 50-year-long study by London's UCL Institute of Child Health found an association between reduced levels of vitamin D and an increased risk of panic and depression among 5,966 men and women. People who had sufficient vitamin D levels had a reduced risk of panic disorders compared to subjects with the lowest levels of vitamin D. Other foods high in vitamin D include salmon, egg yolks and fortified cereal. Seeds. pumpkin seeds Flaxseed, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds are all great sources of magnesium (as are leafy greens, yogurt, nuts and fish). Loading up on the mineral may help regulate emotions. "Magnesium has been shown to help alleviate depression, fatigue and irritability," Sass says. "Bonus: When you're feeling especially irritable during that time of the month, the mineral also helps to fight PMS symptoms, including cramps and water retention." Avocado. You can't just reach for slice after slice of avocado toast during crunch time if you don't want to gain weight, but this superfruit might help shut down stress-eating by filling your belly and making you feel more satisfied. In a 2014 study by Loma Linda University (which, full disclosure, was sponsored by the Hass Avocado Board), researchers had participants add half an avocado to their lunches, which reduced their desire to eat more by 40% for the three hours following the midday meal. That full feeling will make you less inclined to reach for unhealthy snacks when stress kicks in. Cashews. One ounce of the buttery nut packs 11% of the daily recommended value of zinc, an essential mineral that may help reduce anxiety. When researchers gave zinc supplements to people who were diagnosed with both anxiety symptoms (irritability, lack of ability to concentrate) and deficient zinc levels over a course of eight weeks, the patients saw a 31% decrease in anxiety, according to Nutrition and Metabolic Insights. This is likely because zinc affects the levels of a nerve chemical that influences mood. If you're already getting enough zinc, then it may not help your mood to chow down on cashews (or other zinc-rich foods like oysters, beef, chicken and yogurt). But, cashews are also rich in omega-3s and protein, so they're a smart snack no matter what. 12 Superfoods For Stress Relief originally appeared on Health.com.

Stay in Agreement with God!

There are people in near and distant places who will be a blessing to you-and they are completely unaware of it. Through God's divine connection, blessings are on the way to you. Even if your situation doesn't change-in Christ Jesus-we know that we will change. He is indeed preparing us for His journey. God has equipped each of us to do great things! Stay in agreement with God to guide your life even when you don't know which way it is going. Without faith, nothing is possible! With faith in Christ-Nothing is Impossible!

We Finally Got It Right!

If we can't be trusted in tough times-how can God trust us in good times? Notice I didn’t say-If “WE” can’t be trusted. The enemy try to make some saints think and believe they missed their chance preparing for God’s purpose for them-in their past. God don't care about our past. He loves us in spite of our past. Only God can change people! No amount of money, education, social standing, or scientific achievement can prepare us for God’s intentions and objectives in our lives. The enemy will always try to entice you to doubt yourself in God’s plans. If you allow yourself to be led by the Spirit of God, you will end up just where you are supposed to be. Thank God for Christ Jesus! When we accepted Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior-we finally got it right!

9 Things You Can't Remember Anymore Thanks To Technology

1. Phone Numbers The most obvious one. You used to be able to cite all your closest friends' and family's phone number by heart. Now you have to look up your own significant other's number in your phone when asked to write down an emergency contact. Hey, what's the number for the pizza place we order from every Friday? Oh, that's right, we order on Seamless. trying to remember She's even more confused because she's still using a flip phone. 2. Birthdays Facebook has taken all the guesswork out of remembering when people are born. Does a generic "Happy birthday" message on someone's wall really mean anything when a push notification made you do it? Or how about when Facebook tells you it's like five people's birthdays and you just wish them all a happy birthday at once. You even use copy/paste because you're too lazy to write "Happy Birthday" over and over again. Where's the genuine sentiment in that? 3. Long Division Remember when your middle school math teacher said you need to learn this stuff because you're not going to carry a calculator around with you at all times? Well, try remembering how to divide numbers on paper and you'll be thankful that literally every cell phone comes with a calculator app. Figuring out the tip? There's an app for that. Dividing bills between roommates? There's an app for that. Until the day comes when someone threatens to kill you unless you tell them the area of an isosceles right triangle, you're probably going to be okay. frustrated math "Don't break out the iPhone in front of the class. Don't break out the iPhone in front of the class..." 4. How To Write A Check Thanks to Paypal, Apple Pay and apps like Venmo, paper checks are becoming part of the analog past. Do you have to write "and zero cents" on the amount line? What's the memo space for again? And you're telling me I have to physically go to the bank? Luckily it's cool if you forget to sign the back of one when trying to cash it because now you can just take a picture of it on your phone and then rip it up. 5. How To Write In Cursive You might be able to sign your name all right, but try writing a lowercase, cursive "K" or "Z" and you'll think it looks all wrong. Kids today don't even have to learn cursive in some schools, which is a bit sad. We all had to suffer through it so why shouldn't they? But in all likelihood, texting classes will be the next big thing and we'll soon evolve to have long, muscular thumbs as our primary communication digit. 6. Literally Just Writing In General This one is a little embarrassing. Have you noticed what your handwriting looks like lately? If you've been spending most of your time using a computer or phone, it's horrible. That beautiful penmanship of your teens has been replaced with barely legible chicken scratch and your hand hurts from writing after one or two pages. Good grief. 7. Giving Directions If someone invites you to meet them at a bar or restaurant and the first question you have is, "How do I get there?" you probably won't like your friend's response. Okay, a simple "What train is it near?" is acceptable, but you know you're just going to have to Google it to get the exact directions. The same goes for giving directions to strangers who stop you on the street. Chances are, if they're asking, they either don't have their phone on them, it's dead, or they're using Apple's impossible maps application. confused lost "I told you we should have just paid AT&T for the international plan." 8. How To Wait For Someone In Public Instead of someone saying, "Meet me by the fountain at 3:00," and you not hearing from them until you meet them there, you now receive up-to-the-minute updates from the person you're going to meet and will know their exact location. You can barely remember what it's like to have to stand around silently, looking at nothing in particular and letting your thoughts wander because you're too busy listening to a podcast, playing Candy Crush and tracking your friend's whereabouts. Did that cute stranger just say hi to you? Who cares, you just got a new Tinder match. 9. How To Spell Tricky Words Without Looking Them Up Spellcheck, predictive text and its quirky sibling "speech to text" make it pretty much impossible to remember how to spell words like "Receipt," "Pneumonia," and, ironically, "Misspell" (that second "s" just always looks weird). "I before E" goes out the window when you have squiggly red lines to tell you what's wrong. Combine this with #5 and the future isn't looking too hot for the actually written word. Thanks, technology!