Bullies

Back in the day, we had to walk in and among the livestock to determine their general health. Livestock will leave you alone especially during their feeding time, however, there was a two-thousand-pound Charolais bull that was temperamental and unpredictable. He would snort and stomp on the ground, picking up dust, and would poise himself to charge at you, all I needed was matador attire to give you the entire picture.

One of this week's episode, a New York licensed psychologist discussed a growing problem with bullies that will do all they can to intimidate, humiliate, taunt, and habitually deprecate their target or victim, yes, other children by means of the internet.

There has always been bullies since the inception of the human family, however, cyberbullies is a category all onto itself in terms of how much emotional damage this causes to children during their formative’s years.

During my school years, there was once an incident of three boys that surrounded me to threaten and pounce on me, but this was thwarted when they saw my older brother coming around the block and they scurried away like no bodies business. However, when children are cyber attacked, it only takes one child that could be a ninety-pound weakling or even a girl, because many times it is anonymous.

The psychologist sent me a list of forty-two methods of examples of cyberbullying and here are a few which are not limited to just children.

1: Images Bash Boards: Defamatory content a cyberbully posts in chat rooms, online forums, and message boards.

2: A cyberbully creates a blog and then makes their target the central character and topic of defamatory posts.

3: Cyberbullying by Proxy: Using deception, encouragement, or manipulation; a cyberbully persuades other online users to harass their target.

4: Cyberstalking: When a cyberbully uses intimidation and persistent taunting that frightens their target

5:  posts melodramatic content to alarm or defame their target.

6: Cyber Threats: When a cyberbully falsely implies their target is in danger from unknown or nefarious assailants, which causes the target distress.

7: Denigration: When a cyberbully sends or publishes cruel rumors, gossip, and false assertions about a target; trying to damage their reputation or friendships.

8: Digital Piracy Inclusion: When a cyberbully persuades their target to engage in illegal digital piracy and then reports them to the authorities, their parents, or educators.

9: Exclusion: When a cyberbully informs their target that they are not invited to a social activity that other peers will be attending.

10: Happy Slapping: While the target is physically attacked and simultaneously recorded; the images and video are posted online by the cyberbully. By Dr. Michael Nuccitelli NYC Psychologist.

As the information age grows, the issue of cyber-attacks will assuredly get worse, he says.

He believes that this social problem with children should be an educational mandate in the curriculum in public and private schools from K-12. I tend to agree with him; however, this education should start within the nuclear family.

The principles that should be implemented in the home like not allowing any electronic devices in the bedroom is fundamental to keeping our children safe. In fact, he indicated that there should be times during our day when the entire family is together to put all devices in a basket, thus, engendering better communication and bonding. It reminded me of an episode we did a few months ago regarding the Amish community where they employ these principles during dinner and other times of the day not allowing any electronic distractions.

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. Whoever coin this phrase was foolish and completely detached from social reality to say the least. The human condition as we see it today, verbal abuse. Epithets, slurs, and character defamation will continue to injure as much as physical violence. Language is a powerful tool that can be likened to carrying a hammer of which on one end you have the part to tear down or the other side to build, it is our choice how we use it.

Statistics indicate 45% of children experience cyberbullying before they turn eighteen. Here are some initiative-taking steps.

1: Stay calm and collected: Take a deep breath and push yourself away from your electronic device, and if it would help take a walk. Remember that bullies have their own personal issues and are trying to get a rise out of you to make themselves feel better about their own problems

2: Never reply: Many times, staying quiet or tacit speaks louder than words, never engage, otherwise, you are giving the cyberbully what he or she wants, a response. It is often the case; the cyber-attack will stop when there is no interaction.

3: Make a log: Never delete the online activity you are receiving but make a record of the attacks by taking a screen shot, hence, you would have evidence to share with your parents, school counselors and law authorities.

Did you know that at one time the word (bully) had a positive connotation?

It is interesting to me; bullies have not always been thought as an intimidating and threatening playground bully. In the English lexicon in the 16th century, bully was analogous to the word (lover).

Let us do what we can to get back to that!

Your Heart

While we were living on the farm, we needed a booster pump to provide the necessary water pressure for the home, otherwise, you would find yourself in the shower screaming at the world. The human heart is very much like that booster pump in which it provides the right blood pressure for your circulatory system, otherwise, we would experience a serious health issue, and that too would be something to scream about.

The heart is an amazing organ, it is as big as your fist, it beats about a hundred thousand times per day, and it does not miss a beat.

In this week's episode, a cardiologist discussed the dos and the do nots of keeping our heart healthy which requires our full attention, in other words, it is a part time job to do so.

In this country alone, over 600,000 people die from heart disease per year, 1 in every 5 deaths. In terms of cost, over $200 billion each year. This would include the expense of health care services, pharmaceuticals, and the loss of that person's productivity due to death.

Since the knowledge of medicine is fluid or ongoing in what we learn, outdated notions that we may have can increase our risk of a heart attack, therefore, it behooves us to be abreast of the facts and myths pertaining to heart health.

Some believe if we have heart disease, we must take it easy, is that true? This is where common sense comes into play, having a sedentary lifestyle for most can cause blood clots in the legs and an overall physical atrophy according to Harvard Medical School. However, moderate physical exercise strengthens the heart, improves the circulatory system from head to toe. And whatever you do, make sure it is under the direction of your primary doctor.,

I have known individuals that would say to me, " I take a cholesterol-lowering drug, so I can eat anything I want." Does this belief hole water?

I find it interesting that cholesterol is naturally produced from our liver, thus, cholesterol is being deposited in our arteries. However, sometimes it is too much, hence, we need cholesterol-lowering medication to mitigate the condition. Secondly, we get some or a lot of cholesterol of which it depends on our eating habits. If you take medication and continue to ingest foods with elevated levels of cholesterol plus saturated fat, you will be defeating the purpose. In fact, your cholesterol level will not decrease, but it may increase.

Many have accepted the notion that when you get older, high blood pressure is okay. What do you think?

Allow me to put it this way. At the outset I mentioned that we used a booster pump for the purpose of providing sufficient water Pressure. What would happen if the pressure became too elevated? No doubt, one of two things would occur, the plumbing would burst, like an aneurysm, causing a catastrophe, or the pump, our heart, would give out, like a heart attack or stroke.

True, with age blood pressure tends to become elevated, it is normal, but it does not mean it contributes to a healthy heart. With age our artery walls become stiffened making your natural pump work harder, creating a vicious cycle. Can you imagine the blood pounding against the artery walls causing damage? An overworked heart muscle lessens the effectiveness and is resorted to working harder to meet the demand of your body's need for blood, hence, the risk of a heart attack or a stroke.

Additionally, many are under the impression that diabetes will not cause heart disease if you take diabetes medication. What is your opinion on this matter?

As we know, diabetes medication helps to reduce blood sugar levels. Of course, controlling blood sugar levels is important, however, sugar medication only affect the smaller blood vessels such as kidney disease, prevents the loss of vision, and anywhere small vessels are to be found.

But controlling our sugar has exceptionally low effect on the larger blood vessels that experience inflammation which is rudimentary to heart disease and stroke. Therefore, these larger vessels are better benefited by lowering cholesterol and blood pressure by means of medication, pursuant to research at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Having said this, it is advisable by the medical profession to not only take diabetes medication but also in conjunction with cholesterol-lowering medication, addressing the entire circulatory plumbing.

Please stop and desist filling your lungs with smoke and control your weight. These precautionary measures will reduce the risk of heart disease and not to mention stroke.

What you can do in addition, according to my guest this week, have your blood pressure checked on a regular basis by investing in a blood pressure monitor. The cardiologist recommended, if it is above 140/90 millimeters of mercury, make sure to get advisement from your doctor as to what can be done to reduce your pressure level.

Having said the foregoing regarding your literal heart, how is your figurative hart?

The figurative heart is defined as your personal emotions, it encompasses your affections, your desires, your intelligence, your entire inner self, is it healthy?

The health of your figurative heart is diagnosed by how grateful you are for the trivial and important things in life, and how much you give of yourself to others, as simple as that, yet there is always room for improvement. Hmm, I wonder what the medication for this is.

Pain Relief

Did you know I invariably get a headache two to three days before there is a rain fall? The barometric pressure affects me every time, so, if you are contemplating washing your vehicle, call me first.

Of course, my headache does not compare with many folks having to endure chronic pain. In this week's episode, a medical doctor in the state of Georgia, spoke of his modality of treatment, one being acupuncture, to curtail chronic pain.

He advocates that if you have sustained an Injury, whether at your place of employment, or from a fall due to any scenario, it can easily be treated and you will experience recovery, if addressed immediately.

In reading about acupuncture, this method of treatment has gain popularity during the past four decades. This is a therapeutic modality of Asian origin, becoming a complementary integrative technique to mitigate chronic pain. Whoever said that east would never meet the west? And I was astonished to learn that more than ten million acupuncture treatments are performed annually in the United States alone. The popularity of acupuncture, no doubt, is due to its efficacy and evidence from scientific research.

The branch of medicine called oncology treatment of which concerns itself with tumors, including the study of their development, diagnosis, treatment, and mitigation has strongly suggested that acupuncture can strengthen the immune system during treatments of chemotherapy and can reduce the side effects of the inclination to vomit. Incidentally, these were studies on both humans and your extended family member, your pet. From a cellular level, other research has determined the role it plays in stimulating the enhancement of blood cell count and will intensify lymphocytes which are natural cancer killing cells according to Harvard Medical School.

If you are anything like myself, I do not relish the idea of taking any pills except for nutraceuticals, unless it was the only option, so since I am not a physician, here is my disclaimer.

Before trying any pain relief modality, I would suggest for you to consult your primary doctor, some alternative therapies may not be synergistic, in other words, will not mix well, therefore, it may not be safe or appropriate for your health condition, even if it is not the pharmaceutical kind.

Since we are unique, even down to our molecular level, keep in mind that there are no perfect solutions or remedy for pain relief, they just do not work the same way for everyone.

Sometimes it is a trial and error under the direction of your doctor, so  you may have to try a number of different approaches and even it may be a  combination of them before finding an acceptable point of pain comfort, however, always take an active part in what is best for your pain relief, be in control never leave it up to the doctor entirely.

I am sure that we can agree that to eat is essential, but what we ingest is just as important, and it is foundational to our well-being.

There is an acronym (kiss), my rendition of the acronym is (keep it simple sweety). My point is, we must be initiative-taking, because our food may worsen our inflammatory condition or mitigate our chronic pain, it is our choice of what we eat. We must understand what the inflammatory condition that we experience is doing, and that is, it is causing your cells to (trap) bacteria and other harmful invasive agents, so why not be fully aware of what you put in your mouth?

So, it helps to be conscious of selecting food items that are not highly processed but foods that are close to their natural state.

It is well known that foods like white bread and white rice lack the much-needed fiber in your gastrointestinal track to keep things moving along. If you are going to eat bread, always opt for the whole grain bread that comes with other nutrients, thus, keeping the problematic inflammation at bay.

Sugar, is also infamous for causing inflammation in the body, evidenced by scientific research, it has documented that lots of sugar and too many carbohydrates is the culprit to inflammation, the precursor, or the origin to pain.

The recommendation of the American Heart Association suggest that men should not ingest no more than 37 grams of sugar per day and the limit for women is 25 grams. Obviously, sugar is found in cake, cookies, and other pastry food items, however, little attention is given how much sugar is found in breakfast cereals, yogurt, salad dressing and tomato sauce such as catchup, make it a habit to read the labels, you may be astonished.

Another cause of inflammation is fatty red meat, always choose to go lean in protein to avoid the fat in such processed meats like bacon, sausage, and your favorite baseball food, hot dogs. Having said this, it reminds me of a close friend that every time she eats pork, she contracts a painful case of gout, so listen and pay attention to your body.

good options are pot beans, chicken without the skin, variety of fish, and tofu if it is your forte to acquire the necessary protein.

Enough said for now, it is time for me to push myself away from my desk and pull myself to the kitchen table for lunch, so now, if you would excuse me.

Hoarding Behavior

Is there a difference between a hoarder and someone that is a collector? For the longest time, I thought they were interchangeable, I was wrong according to this week's episode. Years ago, I had a close friend that every weekend would scour garage sales, yard sales, and flea markets for something he thought he eventually would need, regardless of already having the similar item at home and this created quite a storage problem as you can well imagine.

The stark difference of a hoarder and a collector is that a hoarder accumulates an excessive of items that crowds himself out of his own home with total disorganization usually with no value to the stuff whatsoever, where a collector accumulates them in an organized fashion, even categorized, and

the latter definition is where my close friend fell into, he was not a hoarder but a collector. Was he a border line hoarder? Not sure, your guess is good as mine, I am not a psychologist.

My guest shared her experience of living with a hoarder for 35 years, her husband, while raising children. Her husband was a brilliant professor, incidentally, I say was because he eventually took his own life, sad to say.

Hoarding disorder is a determination of not discarding the accumulation of any kind of possessions with the notion of needing to save these items. Someone with hoarding disorder experiences anguish at the thought of discarding of any items, therefore, it piles up making living conditions intolerable for all family members.

Unfortunately, hoarding often creates cramped living conditions that it often makes it impossible to enjoy the living area of your home. Over a period of time, all you have is a maze of narrow pathways through stacks of newspapers, and garbage on kitchen   Countertops, on stoves, and all other surface areas are virtually all covered with stuff. What happens if there is no more room in the house? The clutter spreads to the outdoors, the garage, both front and backyard, in the vehicle and storage sheds.

We are talking about accumulating an extreme of unnecessary stuff, however, there is also a situation of hoarding animals such as cats, dogs, inside or outside the house, and this creates a horrible health environment for the hoarder, these animals and not to mention the complaining neighbors.

Individuals with an obvious hoarding disorder usually cannot see it as an issue, making therapy exceedingly difficult since we cannot change anyone, the must be willing to change themselves. But research has shown that therapy will help those with a hoarding disorder to understand how their way of thinking can be adjusted and learn to live a safe and healthy way of life.

However, this mental condition must be address early on for successful recovery, otherwise, if this behavior is not address before senior years the behavior becomes entrenched, hence, it becomes even more challenging.

My guest indicated that if we suspect a loved one to have symptoms of this disorder, consult a mental health professional as soon as possible. When my guest was going through her ordeal, communities did not have agencies that assisted with hoarding problems. Today, there are local or county government resources in your area, please take advantage of these resources.

What are the causes of hoarding behavior? It is not clear, but research is ongoing, to determine whether if it is   Genetics, brain functioning, or it could be anxiety caused by trauma early on in life.

In fact, I know my mom grew up during the Great Depression, an economic collapse, of which caused the debacle of many bank institutions, that in her later years would not deposit money into any bank, and this created a security problem in the home, she always had a huge stash. Growing up during this era affect her confidence in banks? I suspect so, the complexity of the human mind continues to be a mystery.

The first documented hoarding behavior were the Collyer brothers in the 1930s at 2078 Fifth Avenue. in New York.

These two gentleman, Homer Lusk Collyer and Langley Wakeman Collyer were born in 1881 and 1885, respectively. Their childhood appeared normal, and eventually, Homer became an attorney andLangley bought and sold pianos while adult roommates in the 1930s.

However, in 1947, there were complaint of a horrendous stench emanating from their apartment, that police were called in to investigate. Newspapers reported that the police could not make entry because of the tremendous piles of garbage that they had to remove with an equivalent of weight of a blue whale. It was rough going; the Collyer brothers had installed booby traps throughout the house and the officers had to carefully make their way through tunnels and passages. After three weeks of clearing refuse, cleaning and searching for the two brothers, they found the source of the stench, they were dead, due to a tunnel cave-in.

What is the allegorical lesson?

We are humans and we are all inextricably connected by way of understanding that we have all experienced trauma to a degree, in which case, we have a moral obligation to aid and assist one another, especially, since we live in the information age making it much easier to find resources unlike the 1930s.

Take a Hike

Take a hike! This is an idiom expressing rudely for someone to go away or leave. If you ask me if anyone has told me to take a hike, I will have to plea the fifth amendment. However, I want to discuss the expression in the context of taking a hike and its wonderful physical and mental health benefits.

In this week's episode, my guest, an avid hiker, and professor relates his personal odyssey of hiking the John Muir Trail, starting from Yosemite to Mount Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous 48 states. He speaks of traversing this famous trail of 211 miles in 28 days, including his wild animal encounters, which inspired him to author the bestselling book, The Trail.

There is something incredibly special to hiking in nature, to be an integral part of the living world of outdoors, and my guest even admitted that there was a definite spiritual component to his adventure.

The engagement of your eyes when scanning your surroundings seem to fit perfectly in all its beautiful and natural symmetry, the array of fragrances that you smell denoting of life and its biological diversity, everything has its own distinct smell. Have you ever gone up to a tree and use your olfactory sense? It smells alive and earthy! Then, you include the melodious sounds of many of bird species, this will also give you pause. The warmth of the sun on your face, the sound of the rushing soft howling and whistling of the wind making the tops of trees dance, as if they are waving at you, the soft breeze caressing your skin, and the soft ground under your boots as you hear the snap and crackle of dry twigs. These natural experiences are not only enjoyable but emotionally soothing, thus, it contributes to mental health.

This type of exertion will build a strong muscular and bone structure in you, no question about it. A few months ago, we aired an episode that encourage strong bone density, especially, if you are dealing with osteoporosis which is an extreme condition. hiking will build bone density, because Hiking is a weight-bearing exercise, which demands for your bones and muscles to work harder against gravity. I remember that this episode related that his mother had osteoporosis and through his research, he was able to reverse his mother's bone condition by means of therapy. However, my view has always been and will always be to take steps to prevent this bone condition, or any other potential physical health issue, and you do not have to be a kangaroo to accomplish bone health. This exercise translates into having better balance, will improve your heart health which incidentally, we will have a cardiologist on the show in a few weeks to speak of your heart health which you will find that it is a part time job. Additionally, it will lessen the problem of certain respiratory issues. To go hiking, as you would expect, your legs need to be strengthened. And I know that to go hiking cold turkey as it were, it may be difficult, so why not train by walking a little more, climbing stairways instead of taking the elevator, just begin somewhere to build up your strength. The four major muscle components you want to build up are the glutes, quads, hamstrings, and calves of which you can do squats, leg raises and lunges as well.

Being in nature will also elevate your attitude and character and this quality time in the great outdoors mitigates stress, placates anxiety, and you are more apt to experience less depression, according to researchers at Stanford University. In fact, I have heard of doctors prescribing this type of activity to improve the overall health of a person, referred as functional medicine.

Some of you may be wondering about whether how much I have been in the great outdoors, and I can say yes, many times. I have been on Mount Whitney, the Sequoias, Los Padres National Park and on the Tehachapi summit. Allow me to incentivize you a bit, when you climb the Tehachapi summit of about 9,000 feet above sea level, you will find a plastic bag with a notebook inside to sign your name verifying you were there.

My recommendation is not to go alone as my guest emphatically indicated, for precautionary measures or if you decide to go on your own, make sure you inform others and your estimated time of return. However, if you invite a close   friend, or a family member, you will have much more fun on your excursion. Hiking with a companion, will also strengthen the bond of friendship. There is a sense of camaraderie   Because both of you are experiencing the same challenges of climbing and the not so difficult trails that allows you to share your thoughts with one another, concerns, and to reflect.

Look up trails you can enjoy right away that are not challenging and of which do not require a permit, otherwise, you may have a long wait for permission from the forestry department. Do your homework as what to wear and what to bring along with you such as bear spray, yes, that is right, you may encounter a black bear which are harmless, if left alone, according to his empirical experience, my guest said. And keep your backpack light of no more than 12 pounds if it is only a one-day trail hike. So, if anyone tells you to take a hike, take them up on it!

How To Enjoy Food

Have you heard of the Pareto principle? The Pareto principle also is understood as the 80/20 rule of which is an occurrence that asserts that approximately 80% of outcomes come from 20% of causes. In other words, a slight percentage of causes have a larger effect. This principle is essential to understand because it can assist you to recognize priorities. Incidentally, it was the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto who formulated the principle in the 19th century. However, I never thought of using this principle in correlation with our personal diet.

In this week's episode, a food connoisseur revealed that she enjoys eating 20 percent of foods that may not go well in a person's diet, but 80 percent of her diet is concentrated in healthy foods. Nonetheless, she only eats when she is hungry and always commensurate to her hunger. Her assertion is that most people eat when they think they must, regardless of being hungry, and often the case is not so healthy food. Diets and counting points for the purpose of losing weight do not work, it is not sustainable, she said. Therefore, she began her blog, namely, "Gourmet Done Skinny."

The 20 percent reminds her of the 80 percent of healthy foods, and she has been able to maintain her weight, quite an interesting concept that struck me after recording the episode.

So, the point is, do not deprive yourself in the 20 percent not so healthy diet with moderation and this will remind you to keep yourself on the 80 percent right track of staying nutritionally healthy. Whether my guest realizes she is implementing the Pareto rule in her diet or not, she did not say but it works for her, and it could work for you as well.

Here is one example of the concept.

A few years ago, while having lunch with friends, I ordered a chicken salad and requested for the dressing to be put on the side. Most would drench the salad with dressing, however, what I proceeded to do made me look like I was from a different planet when they saw me just slightly dipping my fork in the dressing instead of drenching my salad with saturated fat, calories, and sugar. I suppose I was using the Pareto rule without knowing it, but it did not deprive me of the salad dressing altogether, yes, the 20 percent reminding me of 80 percent, in this case, my fresh chicken salad.

Speaking of eating out, it takes some planning and foresight, and for those that know me, no pun intended. If you are like me, I tend to skip lunch to minimize the calory intake for the evening dinner, however, the thing to do is to have a little bit of fiber , at least  five grams and five grams of protein, like almonds which are low in carbs and high in protein and fiber, just a handful unless your hand is big as a catcher’s mitt,  or chop-up veggies about an hour before your dinner reservation, this is your 20 percent cause. You will not be starving; therefore, you are more apt to share your dinner plate with your spouse which is another strategy.

Who does not enjoy a delicious hamburger occasionally, why not order with a lettuce wrap instead of the two buns? I found that most restaurants will mix and match your order if they really want a long-lasting happy customer. My personal view is to be in control how you dress your dinner plate, much like you have literal control of dressing yourself with clothes, unless you are keeping a secret. LOL!

How many times have you changed your order after hearing your dinner company order their meal? So, the trick here is, to order first with your plan in place to avoid being persuaded to order something that is not in your health plan. And who knows, your company may begin to think in terms of ordering more healthier meals.

If you want an alcoholic beverage, wait until you receive your meal and make sure to have a glass of water to sip. This strategy will not only save you cocktail calories, but it will potentially lower inhibitions, which often means less willpower around food.

How about putting down your fork between bites? I tried this at home which prompted my wife to ask, "what's wrong with my cooking?" So, make sure to inform your company what you are doing to cut down on overeating even though you are hungry enough to eat both arms, from starving to being stuffed is not healthy but harmful. It takes 20 minutes for the brain to register that you have had enough, so, enjoy your dinner company, and slowly savor your culinary delight in the meantime.

Speaking of my wife, I asked for her to share a recipe with us for this post since I spend more time at the table than in the kitchen. And here it is in bold:

MEDITERRANEAN CHICKEN BAKE

1 LB. POTATOES CUT ¾ ANY POTATOES WILL DO

½ CP GREEN OLIVES

2TSP. THYME

3 TBS. OLIVE OIL

KOSHER SALT AND PEPPER

1 LEMON HALVED

1TSP. PAPRIKA

4 SMALL CHICKEN LEGS AND OR THIGHS

BABY KALE OR CARROTS AND GREEN ONIONS

OVEN 425 F USE LG SHEET PAN TOSS VEGETABLES AND SEASONING WITH OLIVE OIL, SQUEEZE AND ARRANGE LEMONS

ROAST CHICKEN UNTIL GOLDEN BROWN.

(470 CALORIES)

And let us not forget my chili peppers

"Wow! I am starting to salivate!"

Staying Young at Any Age

Is it possible to live out your years independently and qualitatively in your own home? In this week's

segment of the show, an expert on longevity, attorney and nationally recognized author says yes.

He tells of his dad who was a World War II veteran who maintained a positive disposition, healthy diet and walked at least three mile daily, and who passed away in his home at the age of 102.

So, what is the secret that is not a secret?

A healthy mental disposition of gratitude: My guest revealed the pack him and his dad made years ago of reflecting of at least three things they were grateful for before ever clambering out of bed. And sometime during that same day and every day, they would make not only themselves laugh but someone else as well.

What is your view of whether your glass half-empty or half-full? How you respond to this age-old question about positive thinking may be very telling about your outlook in your lot in life, your attitude in how you see yourself, and whether you have a healthy outlook or negative outlook, and it may even have a repercussion on your well-being. Are you grateful that it is at least half full?

I am reminded of the story of an optimistic and a pessimistic youngster. The pessimistic boy was given a shovel and brought into a room full of manure and was instructed to shovel it clean. Being very pessimistic, he protested and refused to do it, it was just too much work. However, when the optimistic youngster was brought into the same room with his shovel, he was elated, he exclaimed, "with all this manure, there's got to be a pony somewhere."

I must say that positive thinking does not mean closing your eyes to the realities of life's that are not so pleasant. Having a positive outlook merely means that you approach unpleasant situations more productively. The positive youngster thought of the best is going to occur, not the worst. He fell in love with the process of shoveling and knew the result would work itself out.

Having a positive outlook often starts with meditation or self-talk. When you tacitly Self-talk, it is an endless river of thoughts. these meditative thoughts can be positive or negative, of course, your self-talk derive from logic and reason, but there is an element of misconceptions that we develop because of not being completely informed or a deep seeded negative experience. Therefore, our expectations due to preconceived ideas of what may happen, or not, is not based on reality. The pessimistic youngster failed to ask himself the question, why is there so much manure in this room? Where in turn, the positive youngster leaned on logic and reason, and extrapolated that manure came from a pony. It is a matter of looking up-stream or in other words, what caused this manure.

Whatever we want to accomplish in life, again, "fall in love with the process and the end result will materialize itself before you know it."

To hammer the point home, there was a stone worker that hammered the stone 101 times before he broke it, thus, he was able to proceed to carve the sone into something beautiful for others and himself to enjoy. Some would say that it was the last 101 strike of the stone the broke it, but they are wrong. It was the 100-preceding pounding of the stone that accomplished the break, no question about it, he was in love with the process. Can you see how this can reduce the stressors in life?

Give thought of those in your life, are they friends you can depend on giving you helpful advisement? Otherwise, pessimistic people tend to augment your stress level and make you to start questioning yourself and ability to manage stress in salubrious or healthy ways.

Here is one rule in positive self-talk. Start by not saying anything to yourself that you would not say to another person, hmm, sounds like the golden rule. Be kind, gentle and encouraging with yourself. If a pessimistic thought crops up, analyze it logically and reasonably and respond with validation of what is good in you.

Incidentally, having a positive outlook is an essential factor in staying young at an old age, because it is a tremendous motivator and conducive to exercising and having a healthy diet.

Implement a healthy lifestyle: Plan to exercise for at least 30 minutes on every other day during the week. I have known of some that exercise incrementally by breaking it up into 10-minutes. My guest indicated that if you would work yourself up to walking 3 miles every day, you are more than likely to avoid a nursing home. Additionally, do your best to keep your home safe such as throw rugs that you may trip on, and the biggest culprit is the bathroom. He tells of the experience of his mom who fell in the tub and broke her hip. This was the beginning of her diminishing health, he fumbled the ball by not keeping his mom safe, he said.

Start by practicing a healthy diet, the amount of food intake, and give your mind the fuel and your body it deserves and get enough sleep which varies from one person to another, mine is seven hours.

To capsulize my assertion, longevity and quality of life starts by being grateful for the positive things in your life! And your chronological age does not have to be your biological age!

Natural Medicine

As far as I can remember, my mother was a staunch believer of using natural remedies to keep the family healthy. However, she never discounted the importance of traditional medicine when necessary.

In this week’s episode my guest a well-known international nutritionist, has been on the Doctor Oz show several times and has stood before congress to advocate the education of nutraceuticals. And I enjoyed what she had to say on my show about how she overcame epilepsy by means of natural medicine had me reminiscing of mom.

Once someone got sick with the flu, she would immediately boil water with a mix of cinnamon canella tea. Of course, as a kid, I had no idea of the healing properties of canella tea, except, it made the home smell inviting and tasted delicious and it felt that you were really being catered by mom.

Like myself at one time, most folks think of cinnamon as a tasty hot drink, but I wonder how many are aware of its tremendous health benefits. Research has shown that cinnamon canella tea does not only fights against diabetes, but it also lends itself to weight loss and mitigates the risk of heart disease.

I am confident of its natural healing properties because it is rich in manganese mineral and contains antioxidants like phenol.

For the longest time I thought cinnamon canella tea was limited to Mexico and South America, but it is also extremely popular in Turkey with a consumption like South America.

If you are prediabetic or a diabetic, this is the drink you want.

Cinnamon happens to be the most potent and natural ingredients in diabetes treatment protocol because it has several ways of reducing sugar levels. Interestingly, it has insulin resistant improvement effects such as blocking some digestive enzymes that prohibits carbohydrate breakdown, therefore, lessening the amount of simple sugar that enters the circulatory system.

Additionally, research have shown that Cinnamon has anti-cancer effects. It contains a substance called Cinnamaldehyde which can suppress colon cancer. In fact, it mitigates the growth of cancer cell. In other words, it is toxic to cancer cells. I encourage you to consider cinnamon, scientifically, it has proven to be amazingly effective.

What I do sometimes is, brew my coffee with cinnamon sticks and it tends to take the edge off my coffee, and Starbucks cannot hold a candle to it.

cinnamon regulates blood sugar, it improves metabolism, suppresses feelings of hunger. Therefore, has a positive effect on losing weight. Even if you are not struggling with diabetes or weight loss, you should consider implementing a cup of cinnamon tea in your diet.

Did you know that it also reduces cholesterol levels?

Yes! That is right, cinnamon helps to lowers LDL fraction, which is detrimental while increasing HDL cholesterol, HDL has the propensity to get rid of LDL fraction to the liver, thus, mitigating heart disease.

And there is much more that can be said of cinnamon canella tea for health benefits but allow me to tell you how I lowered my cholesterol levels using another natural medicine.

A couple of years ago my primary doctor told me my cholesterol, the LDL, was slightly over 200 mg/dL and recommended a prescription. I immediately indicated I did not like the idea of taking pharmaceuticals without trying an alternative approach first, he frowned at the idea. He proceeded to tell me he was going to prescribe the medication and if I did not want to take it, it would be up to me. I thought it was a strange response, however, after some research, I learned doctors are mandated to prescribe medication because of the exposure to liability which it is understandable.

The lesson here is, always be in control of your personal health care by being informed and not being so easily bullied into taking synthetic drugs. So did my alternative approach work? An emphatic yes!

I proceeded to watch my diet and took Niacin which is a B-3 vitamin that turns food into energy. It regulates your nervous system, digestive system and keeps your skin healthy. I will say most people get sufficient niacin from what we ingest, but you want to eat the rights foods such as sweet potatoes, green vegetables, avocados, an assortment of nuts, whole grains, Fish, beef, and poultry are reliable sources of niacin. However, if there is a question of whether you are taking enough niacin from your food, take a supplement. The daily recommended amount for adult males is 16 milligrams (mg) and for adult women that are not expecting a child, a daily regimen of 14 mg is appropriate according to nutritional studies.

Fortunately, Niacin is water-soluble, meaning that the body will not store it but will eliminate what it does not need.

Some complaint that niacin tends to make them flush and feel itchy, but this can be reduced by taking an aspirin beforehand. Personally, from my perspective, it is tolerable when you consider the many health benefits it provides.

These were just two alternative health care considerations, cinnamon canella tea, and niacin, but it is up to you to decide your own approach. But use good judgment based on being well informed. I recall someone telling me that their doctor put them on a prescription for lowering their cholesterol level just because it was just one digit above acceptable levels. I am still scratching my head on that one.

Your Job Interview

A while back, a friend of mine received acupuncture treatments, and inadvertently there was a needle left on his backside. He was telling me that he could not understand why he was uncomfortable sitting until he learned why. After I stopped laughing, I said to him, "I've heard of sitting on needles, but that’s getting carried away a bit!"

Figuratively speaking, there are many situations that it does feels that you are sitting on needles. And a job interview is no exception.

In this week's episode, a Certified Resume Writer with a master’s degree in Business gave us some terrific tips on how you can stand out among the throngs of that are seeking a job position.

As I reflected being self-employed all my adult life, I concluded that the principles we talked about were also applicable. Every client I had over the years can be likened to an employer looking for someone with the right credentials to get the job done, therefore, you are selling yourself every time.

Over 40 million people have lost their jobs during the pandemic, so there are more people than ever applying for the same positions, she said. So, you can well imagine, there is a great deal of competition for the same job and this demands for you to be adaptable.

If it is any conciliation, a job interview is not unilateral but a two-way interview. Along the way, there were potential clients I preferred not to work with for several reasons, and you can take the same approach by researching the company. After investigating the company's goals, business disposition, and even talking with their employees in how they feel about the company you may determine, it is not a good fit for you.

We talked about how to manage the interview in terms of rehearsing, being on time, grooming and being prepared to answer frequent questions employers typically will ask.

Such as the following questions:

1: Tell me about yourself?

Who does not like to talk about themselves? so, the tendency is to ramble on, but you want to be succinct and to the point. It has been recommended using a past, present, and future formula. Talk about your most relevant accomplishments that paved the way to where you are today, and how these skills will lend itself in benefiting the company if hired.

2: Walk me through your resume?

this question is remarkably like the first, however, this is a fantastic opportunity to mention any skills, such as being bilingual, including sign language. Tell your career story by means of an anecdote and believe me, a story is much more impressionable and long lasting to the listener, and if you can relate your experience to why it motivated you to apply for the job and where you want to go, it will be even more impressionable. Can you see how the past, present, and future tense is being applied here?

3: How did you come to hear of the job position?

The caveat here is, never give a generic answer. If it was through a friend that works there, go ahead, and mention their name. What employer does not want to hear of happy employees that reflect on them? Or it was through an advertisement, mention you were excited about it, and of course, be truthful.

Additionally, mention the uniqueness of the company and be specific in how it is different from other companies, and you hope to have the opportunity to be a part of its future. However, if you cannot put your finger on why you want the job position, this may be a red flag telling you it may not be a good fit, always trust your intuitive judgement.

4: Why should we hire you?

This is a common question not to mention intimidating. This reminds me of an example of years ago where a job candidate was asked this question. On the resume, this is all she put, "I will work like (heck) for your company!" Incidentally, I revised the statement slightly, however, but she got the job. Of course, I am not advocating this approach whatsoever.

However, as you can see, the question is conducive to telling the employer that not only you can do the work but deliver impressive results. That you are collaborative, you appreciate the company's direction, and that you would be a better fit than most other job candidates.

But what if there is a gap in my job history because of unemployment? How do I best manage that?

If I were personally looking to hire someone, I would question the candidate what he or she been doing during their unemployment period.

What I have highly recommended to those I especially know when they found themselves not gainfully employed is, to volunteer in community service. I am certain all of us can think of a community service we can participate in. Employers want to see that you are industrious, and you have kept busy helping others of which is very telling of your character in lieu of staying home sitting on your hands or playing video games all day long.

This will go well on your resume describing your work ethic, your industriousness, and it will be more than likely transferable to your potential job position. I wish you well in your job endeavors!

Homelessness

Have you ever been sitting in your vehicle, and someone comes around and knocks on your window asking for a handout? This has happened to me several times and it is a prevalent occurrence. And how do you manage it?

My guest

this week, a real estate broker in Long Island New York and a recognized author spoke to this unfortunate problem of over 500,000 homeless people including children that cities are facing across this country. However, ever wondered where this is most pervasive? Here is your answer, the four of the 10 cities with the highest homeless ratio in North America are found in San Jose, San Francisco, San Diego, and Los Angeles California. No doubt, it must be the weather and the opportunity because of tourism and other factors.

Incidentally, the worse in the world for homelessness are the Philippines with approximately 4.5 million of which 3 million of them are found in the city of Manila. And what is so disheartening, it has been reported that around 250,000 children are found on the streets on a nightly basis. Children are so vulnerable and take the brunt of adult making decisions or the lack thereof.

According to my guest, it is due to personal challenges such as mental health, joblessness, drug abuse, and many time domestic violence for women. And there is much controversy in how to mitigate this issue.

My guest was telling me that homelessness has become even generational, where she has seen children grow up in shelters into adulthood. This is not a place to grow up she said. She compared shelters to being prison, where you must buzz in and buzz out, and violence is a common occurrence. It does explain why many prefer to sleep on the streets.

As society struggles and grapples with homelessness, what can you do personally?

Not to demonize anyone, however, first and for most, you must intuitively stay cautiously safe when approached by a homeless person, she said.

Never pull out your wallet to give them money, unless you want to support their substance abuse, if any, and this would be a tremendous disservice, not to mention exposing you to danger. She proceeded to tell me that she often carries a gift certificate for a meal, water bottle or simply a granola bar, this would be an immediate help to the homeless person.

Regardless of who approaches you on the street for a handout, listen to your intuition. But Some may exclaim, "but he was so charming and clean cut!" My only personal response to that is, so was Ted Bundy!

While being a homeless person is not a crime in of itself, however, there is conduct that is illegal and should be reported. This includes intoxication, trespassing, fighting, relentless panhandling with a threatening overtone, obstructing sidewalks, camping out in a vehicle parked on a public street, and yes, urinating/defecating in public.

But again, the foregoing reflects mental health and many time induced by a variety of substance abuse. Having said that, it is often that homelessness is brought upon by unemployment.

Did you know that there were about 1.6 million homeless during the so-called Great Recession in 2008? There was widespread unemployment and obviously many were not able to maintain their home.

I call it so-called     recession, because is it not true that, when your neighbor loses his job, it is a Recession, however, when (you) lose your job, it is a Depression?

Currently, in this year of 2022, there was a negative Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for two consecutive quarters of this year, and this constitutes an official recession regardless of what you hear in the media. So how do you maintain your home if you are facing an impending job loss?

Hopefully, the following tips will be helpful.

First, never ever wait for your job to fizzle out but be initiative-taking in repositioning yourself into a new job or create a side hustle to bring in income to precure the necessities of your family. Keep in mind to prioritize as to what is more important, the roof over your head and your vehicle that gets you to your job and back. of course, you can break it down from there into more details, such as groceries and utilities.

If you get behind on your mortgage, immediately call your lender and ask for the mitigation department, they will collaborate with you based on your current income, and it is not like qualifying for a new mortgage whatsoever called a loan modification. If any questions on this approach, let me know and I will guide you through the process without any obligation.

Another approach is filing for chapter 7 bankruptcy to stop an impending foreclosure, of course, this will not save your home but will buy you time to strategize. And there is chapter 13, this will allow you to spread your mortgage payments that are in arrears over a three- or five-year period providing your income is sufficient.

Push comes to shove, sell your home, and use the proceeds to get into more affordable housing. Again, reach out to me if you have any questions, and we can discuss your options, for we cannot afford to lay low in the tall grass.

Home Sweet Home

When it rains steadily, the sounds of the down pour on the roof and windows have a definite emotional sweet soothing affect and I am reminded of the origin of the language (home or house). Both terms have a Germanic origin that found their way into modern English that implies shelter of which stems from the verb “to hide.” And you do feel a sense of safety and security when you are hidden from the outdoor elements. Additionally, the use of the word “hides” as we know it means animal skin, thus an animal is at home in their own skin.

In this week's episode, a Harvard graduate with a degree in international finance gave us actionable steps in how you can acquire your first home. We talked about purchasing your first home for the price of a car. Is this possible? I am here to tell you that it is. In the 80s and 90s I invested heavily in property, all of which were below $40,000.00, but it takes due diligence to do so. In fact, you will run out of finances before you ever run out of properties to acquire.

Today, A vehicle will cost you $100,000 or more, depending on the make and model, and a home can be acquired below that price. Of course, we are not talking about beach front property, nonetheless, a home.

It is often that these homes have a great deal of deferred maintenance, however, as they say, if you have a good hat and good boots, in other words, a good roof and a sound foundation, you are in decent shape. The rest of the home can be brought up to par with a little of elbow grease, and you would be amazed how much a gallon of paint can do to change the interior and the facade of the home.

So, the question is, where can you find such properties?

My guest discussed several methods, beginning with the MLS and focusing on properties that have not sold, and there is always a reason. Auctions are another means to find these properties; however, it is often the case you are not permitted to inspect these properties before purchasing. I suppose you can get a drone to fly over several times to inspect the roof and the exterior, but they are riskier since you really do not know the extent of interior damage.

Then, there the REOs or Real Estate Owned by banks, and they are always ready to negotiate since they are in the business of finance and not real estate, and they are chomping at the bit to get these properties off their books.

Let me share with you what I know and what I have done no holds barred. Incidentally, strictly for educational purposes.

I would call local thrift finance companies to inquire if they had any foreclosed properties, and I was always astonished how readily they were open to negotiate. In fact, years later I still had a local CEO of a finance establishment thanking me for having relieved him from these properties.

Have you ever been driving around, and you spot a home that is unkempt or vacant?

This was another strategy we implemented, and again, it takes due diligence to find the owner and the specifics of the property itself and it can be done without even leaving your home. Everything is at your fingertips by means of the internet. Now, that you have the address, look it up on the county assessor’s website and it will give you from when the home was built, who owns it and their address and all the specifics of the property. Proceed to contact a title company, and they will provide you a printout of property values in the same neighborhood.

Drop the owner a note that you are interested in purchasing the home. Or work out a lease with an option to buy, allowing you time to renovate the home with the least amount of expenditure. Now, that I am thinking about it, there were many times I did not pay rent while in the process of bringing the home up to standard. From my point of view, make it is a win-win agreement for the seller as well. Make sure to allow yourself for murphy’s law, always have an exit strategy, in other words, have your financing in place to satisfy the seller or an interested buyer before the lease options expires, always be thinking ahead.

Here is one crucial caveat, make sure an attorney drafts the lease option to buy and the instrument should be recorded in the hall of records. This will prevent the owner from selling the property from under you after he is seeing the improvements you are making. Greed is a funny thing!

The next question is, were do I get the money?

There are more investors out there than you can shake a stick at! I had one investor that had put over six digits aside to support my investment activity and he was happy to do it.

If any questions, reach out to me and I will advise without obligation. Some may conclude that this is risky, however, I can argue that doing nothing in something that is worthwhile is much riskier.

Cyber Predators

While fishing in salt water and as the boat would putt-putt along, we would troll for fish with different baits to determine the preference of the fish. This is likened to what cyber predators do to hook or ensnare unsuspected victims in cyber space.

FBI statistics have shown that in any given day, there are at least 500,000 online predators on the prowl to gain advantage of you or more vulnerably, your children.

My guest this week, a clinical psychologist in New York City has created the concept of iPredator and has devoted his spare time to inform and educate the public to this growing cyber metastasizing cancer.

He offers individuals free educational and advisement services regarding internet predation, and online criminal psychology. His website covers and offers visitors an unbelievable amount of knowledge, education in how to protect ourselves from cyber-attacks and advisory services on internet security, hazards of the internet, and the nefarious Cybercriminal Psychology. Incidentally, he shared his personal story of cyber-attack, and his experience was horrendous!

"We have all have been touched in one or another by a predator", he said. And I personally tend to agree.

How many times have you have received an email from a faraway place like Nigeria? Several years ago, I called the local FBI office and inquired about this, and they informed me that they have a full filing cabinet of these complaints.

We are living in an unprecedented information age, and it is getting worse, he said. As he was speaking to me, I could not help but wonder how vulnerable many were during the last two-and-half years of being sequestered at home because of the pandemic. I asked about that, and he indicated that we have not seen the entire repercussions of it yet in terms of mental health of which paves the way to vulnerability, and this is the fodder or the bait for the cyber predator, as it were.

What is so disconcerting to me, are the children that have not developed the wherewithal to protect themselves from bullying, extortion, in other words, "I’ll tell your parents if you don't do what I tell you, “And character defamation by their peers. My guest is advocating that there be compulsory education regarding the internet from kindergarten through twelve grades. Personally, it is a great idea, however, the principal responsibility must belong to the parents.

Ever wondered, how easy is it for someone to gain sensitive information from you? Here is one example.

Think of this for a moment. How often are you asked to identify yourself by your last four digits of your social security card? Then, they proceed to say, "sorry but I have another that matches your four digits. Please provide me the previous two digits." Do you know you just gave them your entire nine social security number? How is that? you may ask.

All they must do is find out where you are originally from because the federal government assigns you the first three digits based on where you come from.

There so many things we need to be aware of when using our electronic devices. Did you know that Google collects everything on you when you do a search of any kind? And this collection of information can be used against you by way of advertisement. Did you know that you could be spied upon or listened to by your smart tv not to mention by Alexa? Make sure that feature is turned off. In fact, I am seriously considering inviting a professional guest to discuss this field of internet privacy information for our protection.

What has happened to the social environment in which we live in? It is the signs of the times!

I remember, when I was a boy, my mama could not keep me inside the house. She would say, "it's time to get inside the house, getting late!" Now, moms are saying, "it's time to get outside the house, it's getting late!" I am reminded what Albert Einstein, said, "imagination is more important than knowledge." The imagination of children in having fun is diminishing, and I am totally convinced the excessive use of the electronic device is the culprit.

Food Addiction

Addiction is defined as engaging in a particular behavior that is compulsory even though you acknowledge it is detrimental. There are many forms of addictions, such as alcohol, smoking, endless variety of drugs and food addiction is just as biologically ingrained.

In this week's episode, my guest, a Harvard graduate, and recognized author shared her personal memoir of food addiction. She made it clear of what is really happening when someone suffers with habitual overeating. The human brain becomes chemically dependent on highly appetizing so-called foods such as processed sugar, saturated fat, flour, and salt; therefore, we develop a physical longing for these foods.

What is so insidious, food corporations engineer these synthetic foods where they omit any real nutrient and add chemicals that induce brain hormones. Particularly, dopamine, the) happy) hormone of which gives us a clue of a deeper seeded issue we must address, if we want to overcome this destructive behavior.

We must ask ourselves, why is there a drug epidemic and why is it growing exponentially?

Drugs comes in many forms and the net result is the same, it affords you the opportunity to escape from reality, it comforts, and gives someone a false sense of joy much like a tub of ice cream will. Let me ask you, how do you feel after you overindulged in ice cream?

It is a matter of a paradigm shift of food, even demonizing it. Would you have eaten that tub of ice cream if it were melted?

My guest suggested that we find real joy in life and to be grateful for it. Is it possible? Absolutely!

Several years ago, we hosted a luau party of around fifty people, we excluded any kind of alcohol, and after the gathering ended, one of my guests came to me and said, "this is the first time I had fun without having to drink alcohol."

He enjoyed himself, and we can similarly enjoy life without any kind of a chemical inducement.

My guest on the show kept asking a rhetorical question, what brings you joy and gratitude in life? What brings you joy and gratitude in life?

She extrapolated that the lack of joy and gratefulness is the cause of misery, depression and lend itself to pacifying oneself with food addiction not to mention every harmful vice. We just do not experience enough happiness and appreciation in life; thus, we tend to fill that void with food which is just as addictive as cocaine.

I asked her, is it possible to break food addiction? She emphatically answered, yes!

She explained that we must be more mindful of our environment, the context in which we exist and not to allow it to control us but for us to oversee our personal world in which we live. We must be mindful of savoring life like we would savor the bright appearance of an orange which is telling you "I'm ready to be eaten", the fragrance, and the burst of sweetness that lies within, and it is naturally wrapped for you when you get ready to enjoy it.

I could not agree more of what she mentioned about taking incremental bites of what brings you real joy and crowding out the damaging pseudo happiness that synthetic foods are guilty of.

Speaking of harmful, when my grandson was about six-years old, while sitting in the back seat and looking out the window as we drove by a fast-food place, he says "let's stop and order some diabetes." As to where he got this sarcasm, do not look to me for the answer. The point is, even kids realize the result of a horrible diet.

I am confident that we all have a degree of joy and appreciation for things in life, why not build more on that and I guarantee you, you will experience a dissipation of any injurious entrenched behavior. The time has come to get off the proverbial hamster wheel!

Natural Foods

What would you do in the following scenario? If you had a pile of garbage with a bunch of flies hovering above it, what would be the solution? Some would take out the bug spray which would work temporarily, however, you will find later more flies showing up for the funeral.

The best resolution would be to remove the source of the problem altogether. This was the illustration

my guest this week presented,

a certified plant-based nutritionist from Cornell University. He emphasizes the fact that if the body is healthy and balanced, the germs that we swim in our daily activity, will be delt with your natural immunity if it is fortified by what we ingest.

My guest spoke of the 19th-century Biologist Louis Pasteur who was famous for creating vaccine treatments for rabies and anthrax and is renowned for the germ-killing protocol of (pasteurization.) However, A colleague of Pasteur, Antoine Bechamp is noted for The Terrain Theory of Disease, which went against Pasteur’s theory. Bechamp’s view, and premise, was that germs are the culprit of most diseases, and we can protect ourselves by confining these harmful microbes and naturally decimate them.

Here we are, a century and half years later, this is still accepted and is fundamental to the science of modern medicine.

However, in the early 20th century, Rockefeller, the richest man at the time, introduced the integration of petrol chemicals as a preservative into pharmaceuticals, and the more comprehensive approach such as homeopathy and nutraceuticals fell to the wayside.

He did make it a point, however, that there is a place for doctors and pharmaceuticals when there is no alternative. But how much better to prevent a health issue verses after the fact.

Therefore, he advocates more of a plant-based diet to give the body the nutrients to heal itself combined with healthy lifestyle choices, such as exercise, sufficient sleep, and surrounding yourself with close friends will make a tremendous difference.

Let us look at a more natural diet, beginning with the tomato.

Like the heart it is not only red, but there is much mor going on in its relationship with your actual heart. The comparable structure of a tomato is amazing, it has four chambers inside that resembles your heart. It contains rich source of lycopene, antioxidant that mitigates heart disease. Additionally, prevents damage from free radicals that may cause cancer, it addresses high blood pressure and hypertension, thus, a strong heart. Hmm, could there be an indirect message from someone infinitely wise?

My recommendations, eat more tomatoes in any form, even as salsa, just easy on the chips. But do not forget the onions, why?

I know, cutting onions do make you cry, but hopefully the following will cheer you up.

Did you know onions look like the cells in your body and are beneficial at the cellular level? Onions can help get rid of garbage material from a cellular level, and of course, as much as you do not enjoy shedding tears, it   helps flush the epithelial layers, the thin tissue in the outer layer of your eye. And do not worry, you can neutralize onion breath with a tablespoon of lemon juice in a cup of water.

There is much to be said about having a natural diet as an integral part of maintaining health.

The benefits of the sweet Potato that resembles the Pancreas, Ginger root that looks like our stomach, our main digestive organ.

Allow me to leave you with the following question. What organ does grapes resemble in your body, and how about the avocado that is directly beneficial? It can be argued that it is providential!

Mastering Chronic Pain

Do you remember how difficult it was and the patience needed to unravel your shoelace when you were a child? The same principle applies in unraveling the mystery of chronic pain. Chronic pain is defined as pain the persists for more than three months, explained my guest this week, a clinical psychologist.

Similarly, to master the gnawing persistence of pain can be difficult and it takes patience to master it. Of course, if it is acute pain, more of a traditional approach may have to be taken. However, you can undo the twists and turns of chronic pain to obtained relief to the point it is tolerable and enabling you to have a more fulfilling life. it can be done.

Where do you start?

It starts with understanding that there is a difference between managing and mastering chronic pain. The word management carries the idea of surviving or coping with a challenge, in other words, you have acquiesced, you have settled and accepted your present circumstance. However, mastering a challenge implies you have superiority, you have full control, you are being in charge, and not the converse. This was my takeaway in this week's episode.

I have always said that the biggest obstacle we have is the one between our ears, and addressing chronic pain is no exception.

So, where do you begin to have mastery over ongoing pain?

You start by addressing all three elements, its physical, emotional, and psychological aspects, he said.

Think about it, this long-term pain can affect you from obtaining needed physical rest, can create hypertension, heart disease, obesity, and a whole host of other physical issues. You can experience emotional stress, uncontrollable anxiety and it can thrust you into a dark state of mind, clinical depression.

You must unravel your current entrenched way of how you perceive pain. He called it neuroplasticity. This is where you employ diverse ways of thought, thus, you will rewire your perception of handling pain.

Did you know that the more you give attention to pain, it gets worse?

You want to remain active. The fear of pain can induce you to stop you from what you enjoy. It is imperative not to let your condition have mastery over you. Understand your limitations, and do not push yourself more than you can accomplish.

How about exercise?

Low-impact exercise such as stretching once you clamber out of bed, walking and swimming are exceptionally minimal impact exercises as well. Staying connected with family members or calling a close friend or pal for lunch or coffee. Research has shown that social interaction and support lends itself to becoming more resilient, therefore, mitigates depression and placates the nervous system.

Yes, we must learn to think differently about our chronic pain, and the answer is found in your mind.

I am reminded of a young man who was bedridden because of his withering away illness. While visiting with him, he saw through the window a child riding his bicycle down the street, and the audible joy and profound pleasure that came from his voice in seeing this, was very heartening to me. He was not thinking of himself at all but found vicarious joy in seeing others enjoying themselves.

Are you getting to see the point?

Let me leave you with this thought and mantra that has served me well over the years, and that is, "things are never as bad as they appear.",

Importance of Literacy

The debate proceeds to continue between the keyboard and writing cursive. Did you know most state do not require schoolers to learn to write cursive?

 The only question I would ask, what if there is an absence of any kind of device, what do you do then?

I suppose you can write in print, however, to me it is so impersonal and dispassionate compared to the expressive style of writing cursive.

 Speaking of the style of expressing yourself in writing, this week we discussed the world renown 19th-century American poet and short fiction writer, Edgar Allan Poe, with the curator, Chris Hemptner, of the museum dedicated to Poe in Richman Virginia.

  When we hear the name of Edgar Allan Poe, we immediately conjure up thoughts of an individual that was sinister and macabre. Admittedly, I had the same impression until I learned more about this man's life that was riddled with tragedy.

He was born in 1809, and at the age of two he lost his mother in death and never knew his father and upon which he was taken in by foster parent with the last name (Allan). He was never adopted mainly because his foster dad did not care for him whatsoever.

He did get married, but here again, he experience tragedy when he lost his young wife to tuberculosis.

Can you begin to see how his life was affected?

  He died in 1849, broken hearted and financially bankrupt, a noticeably short life, an interim of only 40 years. Yet, his literature has endured the test of time, here we are 173 years later discussing the impact of the genres he introduced, such as the introduction of the detective story, Sherlock Holmes, this style of writing created an engagement with his readers, never seen before, of mystery, fascination, and of drama. Obviously, these genres   are still well received today. His influence can be observed in the works of many contemporary authors, not to mention, in the world of television and in movie theaters.

The question that comes up is, why have his works of literature endured for so long?

  My personal answer to this question is, when he would write it was an emotional catharsis, based on the loss of a loved ones in death, despair, the feeling of suspense and terror that he personally experienced during his short life.

Having said that, it invokes those same feeling in readers today, and humanly relatable in that it is a cathartic experience.

 The written word is much powerful than the spoken word, for the spoken word dissipates into the wind, however, the written word is everlasting.

I will leave you with the following thought. If you find it almost impossible to express yourself verbally to someone regardless of the issue, because of the negative reaction you may incur, why not put it into print or cursive and mail the letter to that individual. Can you imagine how positively cathartic that will be for you emotionally?

What if, that person is no longer with us, what do you do then?

My recommendation is to proceed to hand write that same letter expressing your deep feelings on the matter, and then, discard, flush it, or give it to the proverbial dog that ate your homework when you were a child. You will feel a sense of closure with the feeling of being able to move forward with your life. I wish you well.

The Human-Animal Connection

Do you remember your first pet? I was a preschooler while living on a farm, a beautiful white German shepherd that was about eye level to me, to give you an idea how big he was or how little I was.

Where he came from, I am not sure, however, I remember he was a handsome dog, and how he carried himself with a stately and dignified manner. His befitting name was Champion.

There were three of us boys and I remember the sense of feeling safe because he would follow us everywhere we would go, even when we would cross the country road to play in among the corn fields.

The human-animal connection it is irrefutable, they get a sense you are vulnerable; thus, you are drawn together because there is no mutual threat.

It is no wonder there is such a thing as animal therapy as this week’s episode clearly showed when you integrate a dog, cat, or a 1200-pound horse with someone grappling with a mental or physical challenge.

 I asked my guest about how can horse assisted therapy help. It is amazing how the interconnection works, he said. The horse can immediately sense and will turn and lower its head to the person, as if to say, "don't be afraid."

   He proceeded to tell me that different breeds have different gaits, so the whole idea is to match up the person's challenge to the specific breed. Hence, it strengthens the body’s core to improve balance not to mention beefing up their legs to improve mobility.

This alternative therapy is complimentary to traditional physical therapy, he said.

 But then, there are other disorders that are not so obvious. Since we are the sum of every moment we have experienced, many times we are left emotionally fractured. There is the trauma of PTSD, which is not limited to veterans, but a whole host of mental disorders that developed after experiencing or witnessing something horrific.

Often the case children receive the brunt of what adults create. My guest related the experience of a mere boy witnessing his father take his mother's life and looked for him to do the same, but to see his father take his own life, it is unimaginable.

   Horse assistive therapy is conducive to providing comfort, and evidence shows it reduces levels of emotional pain. This type of therapy develops a reconnection to social interaction or beneficial behavioral skills to lead a more meaningful life.

It tends to increase motivation in participating in activities such as exercise or societal interaction.

 The process of animal therapy itself is safe and typically involves the horse flanked by four or five individuals including the certified physical therapist.

How long is the session? I asked.

He informed me that it is predicated on the patient's challenge, but typically it is about fifteen minutes that makes a lifetime of difference.

The human-animal bond is very thought provoking in many respects when we think in terms of human-human relationships.

The ability and capacity of an animal to be able and willing to connect with someone that is in dire need of help, it should evoke in all of us the desire to look for and assist one another as a humanitarian.

Right and Wrong

From the time of standing in line to get on the slide, we have an inherent sense of what is right and wrong, and it is brought to light when someone crowds in, there is an immediate explosion of protest.

It is no wonder the rule of law is essential for maintaining order in any society.

My guest this week is an attorney who believes in the concept of advocating (legal wellness). He finds it interesting that there is a plethora of books and articles promoting health wellness, financial wellness, but hard pressed to find how we can maintain (legal wellness.)

Therefore, he developed a website for those that cannot find or afford an attorney, and he offers (free) guidance on everyday legal situations, and I would encourage you to visit and subscribe to his newsletter that comes with 90 second videos.

 Our discussion this week centered around premises liability, meaning, when someone slips and hurts themselves on your property.

What are your legal rights as a plaintive or defendant?

He teaches class-action litigation at the University of Michigan Law School, has taught complex litigation at Columbia Law School, written a column on civil justice for Law360, and is a top requested speaker for topics related to legal wellness.

He has been involved in highly publicized legal cases such as the sex abuse scandal surrounding USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar, who was employed at Michigan State University.

Since we live in a very litigious world, we are only one step away from getting sued, and everyone has a target on their back, he said. And this is where being healthy from a legal standpoint is of utmost importance.

The rule of law has a long history, from the ten commandments in 1513 B.C.E. to this country's Constitution that was founded on Judaism in 1787 integrating the judicial, legislative and the executive branch noted in Isaiah 33:22.

 It has been established that the first law school, however, existed in 450 BC. Known today as modern-day Beirut, Lebanon, was the place for this law school. The curriculum involved Roman law. and all emperors supported the schools, making the written law and rhetoric into an art.

In today's world, to become an attorney, you need 7 years of study after graduating high school. These includes 4 years of undergraduate study and 3 years of law school and a truck load of patience.

Here is a fun fact. Did you know the “bar” as we know it refers to the exam, but it also refers to the physical barrier in a courtroom that separates the spectators from the lawyers including the judge?

The takeaway of this post is to acknowledge that there is a rule of law in every aspect in the world of nature, and we as a human family are no exception. When we speak in terms of right and wrong, it can be also defined as conscionable and unconscionable, therefore, it behooves us to hone our core values to do right by others. It is an inherent obligation whether we realize it or not.

The Human Touch

The sense of touch is an amazing thing! It is one of the five human senses and anything that appeals to any of these senses, we are immediately drawn to it. Who does not enjoy a beautiful scene of nature? Who does not enjoy their favorite genre of music? Who does not enjoy the smell and the taste of their favorite dish? Incidentally, trying to listen if I hear any noises of pots or pans as I am writing this post.

 From the time of infancy, we are born with the innate desire to touch for the purpose of soothing our emotions. From teddy bears to anything that is comforting to the nervous system. Remember the American cartoon strip Peanuts where Linus caries a security blanket for comfort everywhere he went?

And of course, this sensation carries over to us as adults. From hugging our pet to being drawn what we wear such silk, cashmere, and the lustrous fiber of alpaca.

I really enjoyed my visit with my guest this week who owns and manages a ranch of 500 flock of alpacas in Colorado and was gracious enough to tell us how the alpaca come to be in North America.

Jane Levene explained what constitutes a highly quality alpaca garment. The litmus test is to stroke the article of garment with your hand and if it does not have any resistance whatsoever, in other words, your hand slides smoothly over the article, you have found a quality fiber to be proud of and worth acquiring.

 The alpaca is livestock, however, hardly like cattle since they are entirely different in disposition and the care is much easier to manage.

The alpaca comes from the Andes Mountains which the average elevation is around 12,000 feet of which it straddles Peru, Costa Rica and among other countries in South America. The principal use of the animal is for its beautiful coat, originally, strictly for those of high prominence.

  They have interesting and funny characteristics such as when being transported they sit down as if saying, "sit down girls, let us enjoy the ride."

On her 120-acre ranch, she is also a super host to those staying at her B&B. I was touched when she invited us to visit, and I just may take her up on her word.

So, we must ask ourselves, how important is touch?

Did you know that psychologist refer to something as (touch starved?)? It is a real thing.

Over the two and half years, many have been starving for the human touch. From birth to the day we die, we have the propensity for the need of physical contact. Psychologist also call the syndrome as skin hunger or touch deprivation, and this occurs when an individual experiences little or no touch from other living things. Probably explains a high record of pet adoptions during the COVID isolation.

Does this only relate to sensual touch? Of course not!

We want to induce oxytocin, also known as the (love hormone.) At the earliest opportunity, give someone a warm handshake, a pat on the back, a hug, at minimum, reach out and touch someone with a loving phone call.

Autism

Thinking in retrospect, while sitting in my classroom of at least thirty students during my youth, I wonder about how many had the disorder known as autism.

I can think of two schoolmates at the time that may have had the disorder, because of their slight awkward behavior. And I can now suspect they were encumbered with the disorder due to what we know now. They just did not fit with the rest of the classroom; therefore, I remember they were ostracized by other students from playground activity.

Today, I cannot help but think what came of those two boys it is very disheartening.

    My guest this week, spoke of his experience while in school, where his teacher would speak to him in a condescending manner, not to mention his schoolmates because of his lack of not being able to show his schoolwork, yet, he had the correct answer, but showed his schoolwork differently. Kids, and yes, teachers can be very cruel and can scar others emotionally for life, otherwise, my guest would not have shared his painful experience, yest with a sense of humor.

 He was diagnosed with autism at the age of forty-five years of age, and now he is fifty-six years and still struggles and toils with his disorder. However, I would be safe to say that we all have emotional or physical challenges in one way or another. Nonetheless, he has spun his experience into something positive by becoming an advocate, writer, speaker, and consultant on behalf of the autistic community.

As a commonality to the autistic community, my guest bounced around from job to job, then finally decided to try his hand as an entrepreneur. He began a 20-year career as a successful freelance writer, having been published in more than 30 national and local magazines, a dozen daily newspapers and countless of websites.

Of course, there is a spectrum of autism, and many are highly intelligent and productive. The disorder is unique to the individual and it demands that we as a community be willing to integrate them into the work force and every aspect of society.

It has been speculated, that Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, and the American artist Andi Warhol were autistic.

 Would the world have been different if they were ostracized from the social mainstream?

  Would the world be different without Microsoft as we know it today? Yes, Bill Gates has been said that he is autistic. And did you know Eli Musk the wealthiest man in the world admitted his mental disorder? From my perspective, the word (disorder) is many times a misnomer, just because they think differently. The point is, the world contains about seven billion of us, and we are all unique down to our DNA, and we all can contribute to an obvious extent.

Please take to heart my following encouragement, and that is, if you suspect someone with autism, or with any other personal challenge, the tendency is to (stare), which is a five-letter word. Let us substitute it with another five-letter word, (smile.) Make the much-needed human connection, both of you will be better for it.