Issue 58
1) Welcome Letter by Dream Walker
2) High Blood Pressure by Pat Valle
3) Celebrating Now by Angela Jackson
4) Living Life With Conviction by Rosemarie Rossetti, Ph.D.
5) The Power Of Music
6) You Are In Control! by Robert Taylor
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Welcome Letter
By Dream Walker
Yá'át'ééh! With less than a week left until Christmas, I would imagine that a lot of you are feeing very rushed, and stressed out. Try to take a deep breath and relax. Take a bubble bath, or stop and listen to your favorite CD. Things will go a lot smoother later if you take a little "me" time right now.
Personally, I am trying to work on expectations right now. When I set my expectations of an event too high, then I am surely in for a let down. It is always better to let an event unfold without putting too much anticipation into it, and that is hard for me. I suffer from the "everything has to be perfect" disorder that so many adult survivors of childhood trauma have. The major symptom of that disorder is the belief that we control everything, it is all on us. If we could just be better people, or do better jobs, or be more organized, or act nicer, try harder… and on and on, then everything would be fine. Bull.
We can't control how others are going to act and/or react to anything. All we can do is the best we can do at any given time and place. Sometimes, our best falls short of other's expectations of us. Oh well… Our best is our best. That is all we can do.
And sometimes, we have unrealistic expectations of others as well. Usually, others are doing the best that they can at the time. We should never expect someone to change who they are, just because it is the holidays. A negative person is going to be negative, even if you buy them the most fantastic present that anyone ever gave anyone, or even if you make the most fantastic meal that anyone ever prepared. Expecting people to act differently at this time of year is just going to lead to hurt feelings. We are who we are, holidays or not.
So, I am working on not expecting, anticipating or judging. I am going to let it unfold as it will this year, and I hope that you can do this as well. We'll all be a lot happier at the end of the day.
Have a wonderful week.
Email me: navajomouse@hotmail.com
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High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
by Pat Valle
There are an estimated fifty million Americans who suffer with high blood pressure and over half of them are over the age of fifty. This disorder is referred to as the "silent killer" because there are often no symptoms until the problem is diagnosed. Headaches, flushed face, dizziness and water-retention are usually symptoms associated with high blood pressure but only a doctor can diagnose the situation because many of us have experienced one or more of these problems during our lives.
High Blood Pressure is one of the most common cardiovascular diseases in the United States. If the pressure is elevated, the heart has to work harder to pump enough blood to the tissues of the body. Normal blood pressure should be around 120/80 although it can vary from 110/70 to 140/90. If it stays higher than this for a period of time, the chances of a stroke or heart attack are very high. The most common causes are clogged arteries, lack of exercise or obesity, calcium deficiency, high sodium intake, kidney malfunction, hormonal imbalance and long term stress.
Drugs that are usually prescribed are calcium channel blockers, beta blockers and diuretics. Many of these drugs have very unpleasant side effects and can deplete the body of minerals such as potassium and magnesium. Making changes in the diet can have a positive effect on the blood pressure. Eliminate or reduce red meats, salt, sugar, coffee and fats and increase your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and potassium-rich foods such as bananas, potatoes, avocados, garlic, onions and flax seed oil. These foods have blood pressure lowering activity. If you smoke cigarettes, stop. Drinking more than two glasses of alcohol a day should be stopped although a little wine with dinner or in the evening can help with stress and hypertension.
Herbs like hawthorn, are used for dilation of coronary blood vessels and circulation and restores the heart muscle. Hops is another herb used for anxiety, nervousness, stress and cardiovascular disorders. One of my favorite herbs is valerian root. It improves circulation, helps to lower blood pressure, relieves stress and insomnia and acts as a sedative.
If you have high blood pressure, make sure you monitor it every so often. There are a number of BP monitors that can be purchased at your local drug store such as mechanical gauges that many physicians use or a digital device which when inflated can give an accurate reading. Other electronic devices include a wrist or finger monitor but seem to be less accurate than the others mentioned above.
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Celebrating Now
by Angela Jackson
Did you ever wonder why the present never ages? Have you heard the saying: "Yesterday's history, tomorrow's a mystery, today's a gift, that's why we call it the present?" When asked, most of us acknowledge that yes, it's important to live in the present, to be here now. But are we? We may admit that each moment is precious yet for many of us it's only when time seems to stop, when we are in the midst of a tragedy or faced with our own immortality that we honor the knowledge and seize the second. In the words of William Henry Davis, we "take the time to stop and stare". The rest of the time we live as if there were endless amounts of time waiting for us, as if each mili second was like a penny, small change, insignificant. And so we say the careless words, we put off the phone call, we defer the family gathering and avoid telling the person how much we love them, as if..........
I had one of those wake up calls this summer when my mammogram came back with suspicious spots. Then there was the long fearful wait for surgery, and the realization that I'd been spending too much time doing tasks I didn't enjoy and relegating what I liked best until last, kind of an "eat your vegies first" approach to time-management. My family time came when I was tired and any socializing seemed an ordeal. Waiting for the operation gave me valuable life-searching time, and when it was done and I got the happy results, I began prioritizing. Now I start out doing what I love right off the bat and get to administrivia last. I take "me" breaks throughout out the day - to stretch, to contact loved ones, to appreciate what is.
I think each one of us needs to tune into now, treasuring moments, savoring experiences, because we don't know how many more we'll have! And so I urge you, pay attention to the gifts in front you, to the people who bless your life and to the situations that bring you growth or understanding.
Think about it this way. To appreciate the value of one month, think about the mother of a little child who has a terminal illness To recognize the importance of one day, picture a daily laborer who has many mouths to feed. To value one hour, imagine lovers who are counting seconds until they meet. To become conscious of the importance of one minute watch the person who has just missed his train. Be grateful for all the exquisite moments in your life, for all the people and possibilities that are here right now!
© 2000 Angela Jackson All rights reserved.
If you find this article useful, you will enjoy, appreciate and learn from Angela's books and tapes. We offer this article on a non-exclusive basis. You may reprint or post this material as long as the copyright, Angela Jackson's name and contact information is included. To schedule Angela Jackson, or for more information about books, tapes, or Joyful Jottings, please contact:
Angela Jackson Seminars
2693 Lakeshore Blvd West, Suite 11
Toronto, Ontario M8V 1G6
Tel: 416 259-3365 Fax: 416 255-4635 or send email to: anjudejackson@aol.com
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Living Life With Conviction
by Rosemarie Rossetti, Ph.D.
Reprinted with Permission: Women's News Journal, October 2000
Life is like a roller coaster. There are hills to climb and hills to coast. Your image of your life is critically important to your success. We are in control of many of the circumstances around us, but there are other circumstances beyond our control.
We all go through setbacks, changes, disappointments, crisis and tragedies. We need to be able to triumph over tragedy. As I have struggled after a major life changing injury, I have learned that if I want things to change, I have to make the changes.
Adjusting to life after a crisis seems insurmountable. To meet with success, there is no substitute for hard work, dedication, commitment, a determined spirit and a firm belief that you can accomplish your goals. There are no shortcuts to meaningful accomplishments.
You can transform your life from a state of total frustration and hopelessness to an impassioned state of determination. Realize that tough times never last, tough people do.
Oftentimes we disable ourselves with self-limiting beliefs. We don't realize our true potential.
We have within us an inexhaustible reserve of potential that we have never even come close to realizing. Within us is a reserve of energy, courage, intelligence, ability and creativity that we have barely explored.
Living with conviction involves a vision of your future; seeing hope rather than hopelessness. It is important that we not focus on self pity. Self pity leads to self neglect.
When you find yourself thinking negative, self defeating thoughts, change the thoughts. Like changing a station on a radio, turn the dial from thoughts of depression, to thoughts of hope and success.
Examine the meaning for your life and focus on your main goal. For me, my main goal is: getting my life back. I want to regain function and resume my career and all the activities that I so much enjoyed before I was injured. I need to remind myself each day to work at my goals. Forward progress moves me closer to my goals each day.
As I monitor my goals and accomplishments, I keep track of my progress. I set new personal best records. As I repeat the activity I try to smash my previous record, overcome limitations and break through my own barriers.
Oftentimes we get caught in the everyday patterns of our lives. We sometimes take the easy route and sooner or later realize that we are not making progress. Our goals are temporarily forgotten or ignored.
Living with conviction means living with passion. Knowing that every day is precious. We need to productively utilize the hours and moments, that can otherwise tick away.
Copyright © 2000, Rosemarie Rossetti, Ph.D.
Rossetti Enterprises Inc.
All rights reserved worldwide.
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Give A Little Bit
Supertramp
Give a little bit
Give a little bit of your love to me
I'll give a little bit
I'll give a little of my love to you
There's so much that we need to share
So send a smile and show you care
I'll give a little bit
I'll give a little bit of my life for you
So give a little bit
Give a little bit of your time to me
See the man with the lonely eyes
Oh take his hand
You'll be surprised
Give a little bit
Give a little bit of your love to me
I'll give a little bit of my life for you
Now's the time that we need to share
So find yourself, we're on our way back home
Going home
Don't you need to feel at home?
Oh yeah, we gotta sing
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You Are In Control!
by Robert Taylor
You may well question the statement made in the title of
this article. There are many who feel they have little or
no control over their lives. That things happen to them
which are totally beyond their control.
We all have control of our lives. No one else controls our
thoughts or our attitudes, and those are what make our lives
what they are. While it is true others may control some of
our outer circumstances such as our salary, our vacation
time, and the hours we work, they do not control our
thoughts and attitudes.
You are and will become what your thoughts and attitudes
make of you. Others may influence your thoughts for better
or worse, however you control them. We are too quick to
accept what others say as being true without checking it for
ourselves. What is true for others my not be true for us.
We need to take the advice and statements of others with
caution, accepting only that which will advance us toward
what we wish to be and achieve. This is not to say you
should keep a closed mind. Always maintain an open mind
because you never know when you will find something in
another's statements or actions which will be of great
benefit to you.
Granted, it is difficult to maintain a positive, uplifting
state of mind when all seems to be going against you.
Believe it or not, the pain of being depressed and worried
requires more of you than the effort it requires to be
positive and happy about your life and its conditions.
We seen to have gotten into the habit of accepting things as
they come without making a determined effort to change our
way of perceiving them. For some reason we believe it
easier to accept things as they are than to make changes in
our thinking and attitudes.
This is due in part to the things we have learned from
others and from our experiences. We are always being told
to go with the flow and not to rock the boat. For our own
peace of mind and benefit there are times we must take
charge of ourselves and do only those things best for us,
regardless of being against the flow or rocking the boat.
The direction of your thoughts to the good things in your
life sometimes takes a lot of concentrated effort. It also
takes much effort and creates a lot of stress when
constantly thinking of the things in your life which are
disagreeable to you. So why not use your thoughts to your
advantage?
Why not try controlling your thoughts and attitudes to
experience the change it will make in your life?
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