Ancient Foods Yet Not

The father of medicine, Hippocrates, was reported to say that ( make your food your medicine) of which those are my exact sentiments. And along the way, there have been many other phrases attributed to food and health such as (you are what you eat) and so forth.

However, in a recent episode, my guest from Europe had a high intolerance to gluten found in wheat and other food products  that caused her to have severe health issues, and you must wonder what has changed in the production of grains during the last 50 years of cross-pollinating grain.

In recent years, people affected by celiac disorders attributed to wheat allergy or gluten or wheat sensitivity have risen exponentially causing illness after eating gluten leaving many feelings bloated, tired or much worse. Could it be possible that modern wheat varieties contain mor of the stuff that causes an immune reaction than in the past? New research is assisting to answer this question, so the verdict is still out. My personal view, however, is that the production of grains has changed when you consider these immune disorders skyrocketed sharply after grains were tampered with in the lab. And since corn was first introduced with genetic modification in 1994, genetically modified crops such as wheat, soybean, and tomatoes have become the norm, but it has left me scratching my head as to its effect on you and me. Of course, I am not a chemist by any stretch, but it is highly suspicious when we compare it to ancient foods. In ancient biblical times, grains were a significant part of a person's daily diet beginning from Genesis through the book of Revelation. Incidentally, Psalm 81:16 says in part "But he will feed you with the finest wheat" which should remind us that the Mediterranean diet has been known to be the optimal culinary cuisine for good health. Therefore, in this article I would like to expand on the benefits of this regional staple food.

When we consider wheat berries are jam packed with iron, magnesium, phosphorous, copper, manganese, and selenium, we cannot ignore its nutritional value. During the Covid, zinc was recommended strongly to boost your immune system. The much needed and essential oil of vitamin E also protects against, particularly, with breast and stomach cancers. There has been lots written where vitamins  B help prevent depression and mitigate anxiety. It is no wonder in ancient biblical time bread was referred as the bread of life, however, today unfortunately, we must cautiously break bread together.

Additionally, the barley grain has the reputation of being an anti-inflammatory, protects and strengthens the barrier in our digestive lining as a defense against invaders and leaky gut syndrome.

Barley also can mitigate heart disease  by its antioxidant and contains lignan oil, which is known to prevent blood clots, build great hair, radiant skin, and not to mention helps the body extract itself of kidney stones.

Barley is a grain that gets mostly ignored by food lovers, yet it is one of the desired parts of Modern Mediterranean cuisine. It can be applied in soups and in fresh salads. Have you ever heard of barley grits?

Another case in point, growing up my dad was a viticulturist, in other words, he grew wine grapes, however, what I find so ironic, he never sat down to enjoy a glass of wine like I occasionally do. My paternal side of my family come from northern Italy, the Mediterranean region, which explains the interest in grapes.

Talking about  gladdening your little heart!

The grape juice and skin of one variety, the muscadine, which was one of the varieties my dad grew, has demonstrated to prevent plaque on the arteries and prevents DNA harm, which translates into helping people appear youthful longer. Let us admit it, who does not want to look younger?

Grapes are a common fruit in our diets today and here are some fun ways to enjoy this delicious Mediterranean fruit. They make for a fast snack on the run, can be dipped in yogurt, or as raisins with a hand full of an assortment of nuts of which I enjoy every morning for my breakfast with a cup of coffee. I know, it is a little weird, but it puts me on top of the world! And I am certain you can produce some more innovative ways to apply grapes in your diet.

Figs are another excellent fruit for our health  to lessen the possibility of  diabetes. From a Nutritional standpoint, figs do an excellent job of nourishing our cellular system. The fiber in figs balances blood sugars and promotes the sensation of being satiated, thus, you will eat less. This mouthwatering fruit is high in calcium that strengthens childhood bones and sustains bone density in us adults. They also contain elevated levels of potassium, which helps manage blood pressure, and iron, which as we know  prevents anemia. They even have a high content of  B6, an important vitamin that prevents cognitive loss and regulates stress levels.

Let us move on to a fruit that encroaches over into my backyard which we enjoy, and it is the pomegranate. In Ancient Israel, the pomegranate was looked upon as the most beautiful fruit due to its   color and shape, a royalty fruit, and were carved into the front of the pillars outside Salomon's temple doors. They were often associated with the vine and the fig tree because of its nutritional value, and contemporarily speaking, it is a popular fruit even today in Israel.

The pomegranate contains nutritional properties that promote healthy youthful skin and sun protection. It is also an anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogen,   good for the heart, good for our vision which is too late for me and prevents the buildup of plaque on teeth. I know of a good friend who lately made pomegranate wine, you can make juice, enjoy the seeds in salads and enjoy them in so many other creative ways.

Another highly regarded fruit in the Mediterranean region and still is, is the   olive fruit. Olives, like the other fruits, olives are incredibly nutritious, rich in phytonutrients which constantly attack all inflammation in the body. Olives guard against the production of inflammation and induces fast recovery and removes inflammation, lowers cholesterol, protects cellular structure, increases glutathione, the master antioxidant of our body, and this fruit is considered the queen of antioxidants.

The final fruit I want to touch on is the date,  of which I delightfully remembered we have some in the cupboard.

In  biblical times dates were used to make honey and today they are a great substitute for processed sugars and can be used in most recipes. In fact, nutritional studies connect the elevated levels of fiber content in dates to reducing the rate of certain cancers, like pancreatic and stomach cancers. Because of their nutritional value in vitamins and minerals, they are a super food for strengthening muscle, eliminating digestive disorders, it balances the nervous system, it lowers LDL Cholesterol, in which case, it will have   a positive effect on your heart.

The date fruit overflows with nutrients, such as  potassium, vitamins C, most of the B vitamins that prevent depression, it promotes happiness, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, necessary oils, and beta carotene. In fact, the Bedouin people, desert dwellers, survive for months strictly on date and wash it down with camel’s milk. Yummy!

We have been talking about the value of adopting more of a Mediterranean diet for our health and there is much more we can add to this special cuisine. How about meat?

In this country, beef, pork and the processed thereof is part of the American diet, but what is preferred in the middle eastern region?

We have read that in ancient times  quail meat was part of their diet, however, turkey meat, in nutritional comparison to quail, Quail meat, out does turkey in copper, iron, vitamin B1, phosphorus, vitamin C, and vitamin A. But to be fair with turkey meat, turkey has more in Vitamin B12, Selenium, and Vitamin B3, so you have a choice.

Have you had lamb for dinner lately? Could  Lamb be Healthier Than Beef? Did you know lamb has 30% more selenium than beef, which is essential for our immune system and cognitive health? Many will agree that the shoulder is preferred because  This part of the lamb works the hardest, therefore, the meat from this part of the animal has the most favorable marbling.

And like everything else, we have choices in the culinary world, but let us think beyond our taste receptors, but more importantly, however, let us think more of the benefits to our health.

Learning to Focus

The likelihood of two snow crystals or snowflake that will be precisely the same in molecular structure is minute. In fact, to prove it, would present quite a daunting task since there are a trillion trillion) snow crystals that fall from the sky every year! Similarly, the human brain is diametrically different in molecular structure among almost nine billion people that exist today, we must conclude, no two brains are the same.

In a recent episode, my guest strongly advocates that we have everything we need to create the optimal life we want. He believes that many of us  are not aware of the most state-of-the-art GPS system that is built within us. He refers to it as a change in basic assumptions, enabling us to manage stress and anything that puts us  at the mercy of our personal circumstances. From my perspective, it is possible to find solutions or if there are none for the moment, there is a definite hope that enables us to cope.

According to my research, the brain is like any other part of our anatomy, it needs to be strengthened otherwise we will experience atrophy, and in this article I will be sharing some information on the  brain to improve our cognitive ability.

We can begin by strengthening our focus, our attention, it is the jumping point to improving our thinking, it is pivotal in making a difference in what really matters to us. And it is interesting to me that many people  tend to wait until the new year rolls around as a new year’s resolution to implement a personal change, however, my view is to start today, and waiting is just another inexcusable reason. The crux of the matter is, if we do not know our priorities, the media such as Netflix, the internet, or alcohol and daily negative news of the world being figuratively on fire  will gladly decide for us, so act over distractions.

Does it drive you loony when you cannot remember where you left your glasses or keys? More than likely, you were not paying attention when you set them down, it can be frustrating, but it does not have to be.

As we negotiate this world, it demands for us  to pay attention to what matters for our own personal safety, our health, our interests, and what brings us joy. We want to be aware of the crack in the sidewalk to avoid tripping, the intricate details of a beautiful oil painting, the  captivating  twist and turns  in a movie that makes it come together at the end, and of course,  the pleasure of seeing the  smile on the face of a friend.

But did you know that dismissing what does not matter is equally important as noticing what does?

To use the human brain resourcefully by focusing on things of importance, the brain must also subdue its attention to all irrelevant noise and details around us for the sake of relevancy, and this can be challenging if our attention is divided.

Think of it, the ability to pay attention to necessary details, while suppressing what does not matter is determinant  to our success in whatever we do. For example, when scanning the grocery shelf for my favorite chili sauce, you give up, and you finally need to ask for assistance and the item was just under your nose all this time. Or how about trying to find me amid hundreds of faces at a crowded gathering is hinged  in part, on your ability to laser focus in on vital details and disregarding details that do not quickly match. Does it resonate with you?

I have found that reading can and will enhance your ability to focus well. I pay attention to punctuation, such as commas, the periods, they are there for a purpose, to slow you down and help you to ruminate on the meaning of the written word and its application, especially to me personally.

I have known that some will read something of interest for 30 minutes with a timer to go off intermittently every five minutes, then stop, upon which   they will ask themselves if their mind had wandered during the reading. And if their mind wandered into never ever land, they refocus on the material. By disciplining our mind to detect if our mind went on a tangent, you would strengthen your awareness process and the ability to hold your thoughts and focus on a particular task such as reading comprehensively.

Today, there is lots of talk about mindfulness, however, from where I am coming from it is not a monastic approach, but it is the cornerstone to focusing attention on the here and now or  present moment, and exercising mindfulness has demonstrated to rewire the brain, called neuroplasticity, and you will experience  that your focus is strengthened in accomplishing daily tasks.

Also, some will sit still for a few minutes each day, will close their eyes, will focus on their breathing through their nose as well as the many sounds in the environment and the sensations that envelop them of which my guest referred to as box breathing.

As to breathing, make sure to make a conscious effort to use your diaphragm which is the muscle for breathing efficiently, versus breathing vertically or up into your lungs. Your diaphragm is a dome-shaped muscle located below your lungs where you find  Your abdominal construct which helps move the diaphragm and provides more power to exhale and empty your lungs, many refer to this as belly breathing.

You may be asking, what will this do for me?

It helps you relax when under stress, it improves muscular function while exercising and prevents injury. It increases how much oxygen is pumped into your circulatory system and it may make you dizzy at first, but it is because of the extra intake of oxygen. Belly breathing facilitates the body to get rid of gas waste from your pulmonary system, it Reduces blood pressure, and it

reduces the heart rate.

Have you ever noticed that infants are belly breathers? and because of the world we live in, we have gotten away from this natural breathing process due to daily anxiety which puts us into a vertical inhale which defines a stressful panic breathing mode, and not in a natural horizontal  breathing, thus, not reaping the benefits thereof. The bottom line, our brain is not receiving enough oxygen to ameliorate our focus. So, what do you do? Practice!!!

Lie down on your back, on the floor, on your bed, or any flat surface, with both knees bent and your feet flat on the surface. Put a book on your lower stomach and breathe with the intention of making the book go up and down without breathing into your lungs. In the evening before retiring, this exercise makes for a lovely way to relax and will induce the much-needed sleep to enable us to function with complete focus the next day.

When we improve our sleep, it  reduces stress hormones such as cortisol that can be deleterious to the brain, and we eliminate proteins that some neurologists refer to as brain poop which are cognitively harmful.

While authoring this article, I remembered how the Navy Seals are trained to perform box breathing in which they will inhale through the nose, hold their breath for let say six second, slowly exhale through the nose to the count of six seconds, and then count six before inhaling again thus they are able to perform under extreme pressure with focus.

Of course, we can take Other healthy actionable steps to better our focus like eating a Mediterranean-style diet, which nutritionist  have shown this type of diet is conducive to supporting brain health. Studies have shown that it will treat underlying health conditions, and due to this diet, did you know that Ikaria, an island in Greece, and Sardinia, an island in Italy, are known for people living the longest? Also do not forget to consult your primary physician about changing medications that may be affecting your ability to focus.

Of course, getting older is something we have no control over, but a healthier lifestyle  is something we can choose, and it may improve our cognitive abilities.

Improving our focus will GIVES YOU MORE potential OPPORTUNITIES and will help you to find a path you did not even know existed. We become so bogged down and blind with problems in life that we forget to focus on the many adventurous possibilities out there.

So please do not forget, personal change is possible  by not focusing and fighting the old but constructing your new GPS system, your brain!

A Mother's Role

It has been said that the Greeks had a word that would define every name, place, and things such as the true meaning of love. In fact, the quality of love was described in four distinct aspects that there was no question of the context being employed. For example, first, the special love between mother and child is the word (Storge) in Greek, however, interestingly there is no word for the love between father and child. The closest definition would be the second term, (Agape), meaning principal love which is the most referred term in the inspired writings of the scriptures which is very telling in how we should care for one another as a human family. Then, there is the third, (Philia), meaning brotherly love of which has the meaning of being the best of friends, which are exceedingly rare if we do not avail ourselves. Incidentally, the fourth, (Eros), refers to romantic love. We can only conclude unequivocally that mothers play an integral part in the well-being of the family.

A little more about Greek, history shows that Roman medicine, documented in the writings of such physicians as Galen, a Roman Greek medical doctor, surgeon, and philosopher, born in AD 129 in Pergamon, laid the foundation for contemporary medical terminology would be based and derived from Greek words, however, the Greek being filtered through the Latin language. With that said, we must ask ourselves, can you get any more intimate when considering the condition of our health? Similarly, can we get any more intimate when considering the bonding of mother and her child?

In a recent episode, a former FBI Intelligence Analyst turned 100 percent mom and entrepreneur because of her little boy's poor health and had to leave and forgo her career with the aspiration of one day becoming the Director of the FBI Agency, she said. Being an Intelligence Analyst, she set off into the priority and adventure of investigating how to naturally ameliorate the health of her son, and to make her story short, after extensive research in health alternatives, she created Erin's Elderberries LLC. And, if you are going to do any credible research, she indicated to make certain there is a .gov at the end of the website, and I thought it was spoken like a true FBI Analyst.

Why did my guest decide to utilize the elderberry as a medicinal alternative?

I must say, there is plenty of mythology, folk lore, legend linked with Elderberry, however, you cannot ignore the plethora of health value derived thereof. With your permission, let us explore history a bit, antiquity and ethnobotany, The scientific study of the relationships between people and plants, Elderberry has proven its efficacy throughout centuries. This diminutive tree has a long history and relationship with humans. Many indigenous or Native American such as the Creek, Cherokee, Mikasuki and Seminole Native Americans have reported extensive empirical experience on uses for various parts of the Elderberry tree.

Archeologist have also discovered Seeds  in ancient dwellings in Switzerland that hint to Elderberry being agriculturally cultivated as early on as 2000 B.C.E.

In fact, the physician often referred to as the father of medicine, Hippocrates who live during the period of 460- 370 BC noted and attested to Elderberry’s medicinal properties.

As humans would have it, humans have attributed more than what is normal and reasonable, for instance, the elderberry branches of the tree have been hung in home and buildings for protection, the small shoots or twig   were used on graves to assist the transition from life to death. In addition, wood was also ritually used as musical instruments like flutes, and its pithy interior wood was used as fire holders among many other things of superstition.

Putting these frivolous myths of uses aside, what is loud and clear to me, the elderberry tree has had a significant and powerful impact for its health benefits.

The native American use of the elderberry was extensive throughout the ages. A case in point, Elderflower was soaked in water as a drink for remedies for fever, and bark was also infused or soaked for sores, not to mention eczema, as a soft, topical moist mass, usually wrapped and warmed in a cloth. The  bark tree was also used as tea as an emetic or to induce vomiting to get rid of accidental poisoning,, it was a diuretic, a laxative, as a probiotic, as a tonic for neuritis and rheumatism.

Also, as an insecticide when using the dried leaves were spread around home areas which made a lot of sense since they were exposed to the elements as Indigenous people.

Europe also has had a long history in the usage of elderberries where they would wash their face with the dew from the elderflowers as a cosmetic treatment. Additionally, with the flower, they would also make  tea prior to retiring to induce a cleansing perspiration in the event of contracting a cold or flu-like symptoms, and other health issues like inflammation, it serves as an Antiseptic and even for neurosis or mental disorders.

I do not know about you, but I spend more time at the table than in the kitchen. Therefore, how about enjoying elderberries in the following ways by making them into a syrup or cordial which my guest manufactures and distributes across the country. Or making delicious fruity beverages like Elderberry wine and cocktails.

You can also leave the berries to soak their flavor into what some would call spirits like Elderberry gin which I hear is particularly tasty. How about sitting down to enjoy a fantastic salad with a bit of Elderberry vinegar instead of your common salad dressing? If you have a sweet tooth, how about making Elderberry jam and I understand it is simple to make. And if you serendipitously  stumble into some unripen elderberries, go ahead and pick a bunch, and  create Elderberry capers by packing them in salt. The only caveat I have for you, when cooking with amazing elderberries, always make certain to  discard the stems or the shoots as they are slightly toxic, that is, if you are sensitive to these things. But again, drinking too much water can also make you ill.

Before I digress too much, let me get back to a mother's role in the family.

It is indisputable that mothers like my guest play a critical role in the nuclear family, which is a powerful force for social development and unification of society. The mother-child intimate relationship is indispensable for the healthy nourishing of children. Mothers play multiple roles in a child’s development,  for mothers are not only protectors, but are also caregivers, inhouse doctors, housekeepers, chefs, teachers, psychologists, financial planners, and often not by choice, they are also many times the breadwinner for their family.

Through research and by personal observation, children flourish and thrive when they have a solid foundation of security and when they are also enjoying positive relationships with people, and especially with their parents. Studies have shown that early on in their childhood is a time where an infant is learning immeasurably from their indoor and outdoor environment. This is the child’s doorway of learning experientially and will impact their developmental years. Therefore, at this point in a child's life, a mother’s intimate relationship with her child is acute and cannot be overly emphasized.

This is a point where the neurological networks in a child’s brain are in the process of being formed during these formatives first five years of their lives.

At this stage, a child's emotional growth is like osmosis, they are receptive to human interaction. How a mother, and of course a father, interacts with a child and engages them psychologically, socially, and emotionally during these years of interactive activity will dictate the rest of their child's future life.

As we know by experience or observation, children go through periods of transition, and the role of a mother’s  help in adjusting their child from preschool to kindergarten, not to mention through their often-tumultuous  high school years. And hopefully, mothers and dads have helped their child to establish the confidence and the ability to work themselves through this world of so many injustices and

inequities.

When speaking of living in an unjust and an unfair world, interestingly and with fascination, is it not true when we find ourselves in trouble, hurt, or in peril the first word we desperately utter is "MOM?" Should I say any more?

Effective Mentoring

The origin of (Mentor) Comes directly from Greek mythology traditionally attributed to the ancient Greek poet Homer where he wrote of Athena who serves as a mentor and inspiration for Telemachus in this epic poem. Without getting into the writing details of Homer, the principles of mentoring and inspiring others are by no means a mythological concept.

In a recent episode, a retired Royal Canadian Mounty shared the importance of effective mentoring someone in need of personal attention in terms of coping with past horrific trauma of which my guest also experienced.

Mentorship is a relationship between two individuals where the individual with more life experience can share his wisdom with a person with mutual commonality and their field of discipline may be the same, however, it is not always necessary. The value  of mentorship provides many reciprocal benefits for both parties, the mentor, and the mentee, hence, developing a relationship that cannot be beneficially measured.

A mentor is a trusted advisor and supporter to another that wants to grow developmentally, it can be a long- or short-term relationship. Incidentally, there is a definite difference between Mentorship and coaching services in that mentoring is a gratuitous resource. Trusted advisors take on this responsibility based on a sincere desire to assist other individuals to cope with a troubled history or grow as a professional and establish a personal business network plan.

One well known organization that I have taken advantage over the years is SCORE which was established in 1964 and from what I understand they have assisted more than 11 million entrepreneurs begin, advance, or successfully exit a business. They currently hold 10,000 strong free expert advisors providing resources and academics in all the contiguous 48 states plus Alaska and Hawaii, a PARTNER OF THE Small Business Administration (SBA), it is a wonderful source of help.

Some may ask, why should anyone consider becoming a mentor?

Being a mentor creates many opportunities to construct interpersonal skillsets like communication, initiative-taking listening, developing emotional intelligence and partnerships. If you want to reinforce your knowledge and skills it helps to share your repertoire of empirical wisdom. For example, you may help a mentee how to learn the art of negotiation through role-playing, honing this skill by practicing thus both are benefiting. Invariably a mentee will share something with you as well, and often it is a give-and-take relationship.

I am reminded while going to school, I recall an incredibly special teacher of which I have not forgotten her because of what she would say and do for you personally, she was genuinely interested in your development and left quite an impact on me. When I found myself in the hospital during that school year, she took personal time out of her busy life to come to sit at my bedside and bear gifts. How can you forget someone like that? She was a true-blue mentor!

I recall while in her class she spoke of how to make knowledge indelibly permanent in our mind. First, she would speak to the importance of studying to acquire as much knowledge as possible, secondly, she would speak to writing or making an annotation of the points you would learn, and third, she would speak to the essentials of sharing what you learned with others; Thus, knowledge is made indelibly permanent. And these principles of learning, the application, have been my way of remembering the knowledge that is most effective in life. What a legacy to leave behind and to be remembered by!

Interestingly, these three principles are documented in the Holy Scriptures, and I wonder whether she adopted these fundamental truths from there. I would not be surprised if she did!

However, in my observation, those that have experienced trauma of some kind is pervasive today, in fact, one psychologist informed me that everyone has experienced trauma to some degree and some more than others.

Recently, I have been visiting a Vietnam Veteran who went through some heart wrenching experiences as a medic that he will unfortunately never forget. I remember the first time I met him, when he proceeded to tell me about his personal story when he went to war as an incredibly young man at the age of eighteen. He asked me "have you ever seen the movie Hacksaw Ridge?" This was a movie that Mel Gibson produced about the incredible true story of Private First-Class Desmond Thomas who wanted to do his part in World War II as a medic. He was ridiculed in every sense of the word  for being a pacifist, not wanting to carry a weapon except medical supplies. My veteran friend proceeded to tell me that "if you have seen that movie, it aptly describes me." And this was an opportunity to avail myself as a listener/mentor of which I did. I will have to admit that I do not consider myself a consummate mentor, however, there is one thing I do well, and that is I am a careful listener. They say the reason we have two ears, and one mouth is so that we will listen twice as much than we speak, therefore, listening is the first key to mentoring.

There have been situations where an individual would be talking to me about their struggles and at the end of the visit would thank me for speaking with them, but I never said much at all. How do you explain that?

When you listen well, you show to your mentee that you are concerned, that you understand, and those feelings come through. As a result, they get a sense of acceptance and there is an essential element of trust that is developed, so it is a matter of using appropriate nonverbal communication.

An occasional “Hmmm” and “Interesting” or

Sometimes reflecting by repeating certain phrases to demonstrate you have understood the significance and their emotionality  behind what is being said. And of course, facial communication such as eye contact, nodding, frowning when appropriate and slightly leaning toward them confirms your genuine interest in them. We all have a personal story to tell, however, resist the temptation to switch the conversation to your own experiences, resist the temptation to offer immediate solutions, for this only diminishes the significance of their story.

Being a careful listener lends itself to building the foundation of trust, and once we are trusted, you never want to violate that confidence by breaking what was said in private. Always respect their boundaries, always follow through with your promises, for mentoring takes time, trust building is pivotal to the foundation of trustworthiness.

Do you remember the last time you received expressions of commendation?

That said, look for opportunities to encourage your mentee, which builds self-confidence and enables them to progress with their coping skills, just make certain that your encouragement is sincere and not overdone. And guess what? You yourself will be encouraged by their expressions of gratitude!

I read somewhere that iron sharpens iron. The process of sharpening is the caressing of the metal, it is a gentle process which depicts how we should encourage others. Along the way I have met individuals, when encouraging others, they are as subtle as a train wreck, of course they mean well but this translates to pounding the iron to sharpen it instead of gently caressing it.

But gently point out what they have going for themselves such as their positive traits like their obvious perseverance, their integrity, warm heartedly make it a point to compliment your mentee on their accomplishments and their continued  progress. Be personable by privately Commending them, and who does not enjoy hearing the sweetness of their name mentioned favorably to others?

in the research of human development, some experts suggest that for every corrective advisement, there should be   four or five commendations, but my personal view is to use your intuition in what you say to fit your mentee, tailor your expressions, since we are all different. We must remember that when we speak with someone, you are not only speaking to the present person but also his or her entire tumultuous background, their history, their entire experience in life.

Having said the foregoing, and before signing off, my admonition to everyone is to stop trying to be interesting to others, but instead, start to become interested in others!

What is a Calculated Risk?

The 405 interstate north-south  freeway in Southern California has the distinction of being both the busiest and most congested freeway in the entire country because of the everyday heavily traveled freight haulers and commuters alike. In conjunction with our topic today, I wonder how (risky) it would be for me to amble across the 405 without incident?

When you think of risk-taking, what do you conjure up? Most of us right away think of something super precarious, like sky diving without instruction, driving down your neighborhood street thinking it is the autobahn, in other words, any reckless behavior that may end tragically. And yes, for good measure, let us include sauntering across the 405 interstate freeway.

In a recent episode, a professional Himalayan guide spoke of trekking the spectacular region of Nepal, and some people take the uncertain odyssey to the summit of Mt. Everest. Would you say this is a risky endeavor?

The truth be told,, risk-taking behavior is extremely subjective. Some professional skydiving instructors or professional stock car drivers repeatedly, from our point of view,  take these types of perilous activity regularly. But they are not reckless from the standpoint of having mastered the necessary skillset,  it is called calculated risks which tends to mitigate a potential negative outcome. However, allow me to be perfectly clear that I am by no means advocating risky behavior of any sort. But in this article I am emphasizing the perspective of enjoying life by taking risks that are not detrimental to others and to our own persona. Unfortunately, many of us are indecisive and struggle with finding our personal direction, making life changing decisions is out of the question, even when knowing it would be of benefit to oneself and family,, therefore, we tend to remain stuck in a rut in our comfort zone robbing ourselves developmentally.

Have you ever decided to do something and everything within you is screaming not to do it? That is precisely what I am referring to as a risk-taking decision, a calculated risk, it is much more than just taking a leap of faith. The word (calculated) carries the implied meaning of math, it all adds up, it makes sense, it is worth the effort of taking the risk and there is an implied (reward). Before I continue with my rambling, to circle around to the question whether climbing up to the summit of Mt. Everest is a risk or not, my guest said that out of 10 one life is lost in the process, and it is usually the Sherpa guide in efforts to protecting the inexperienced climber. This is horrible math, it does not add up, only in terms of egotism does  it make sense to me, it is a matter of pride on the part of the want-to-be mountaineer.

In my research as to who has been up to the summit of Mt. Everest the most is known as Kami Rita a Nepalese Sherpa. He is Not just  any mountaineer but holds the world-record for summiting Everest    24 successful times. The record shows that he always tries to make certain all his clients succeed to the top, but he says that you must draw a line somewhere,  once he realizes that a client will not do well, he immediately aborts the mission. In my personal view, this is still not a calculated risk in terms of so many variables that can and will go wrong when you consider that there are over 100 bodies that have not been recovered.

To find our deliberate direction, we must consider and examine our core values, assuming our principles are societally acceptable, and there is where we align our risks with our core beliefs, it becomes lucid, so get comfortable with the uncomfortable if we are to be rewarded. Cor values can be likened to a compass, it is the needle that points to your true north, it is the north star that ancient mariners depended on throughout the ages minimizing their risk in the open seas.

We must ask ourselves, with our core values in mind, what will give me a meaningful life,  what would fill me with passion and purpose, and then, take the calculated risk to realize it. Without taking calculated risks, regrettably, we would never have known what could have been. In fact, over the years, I have observed that risk takers are more satisfied in life than non-risktakers.

Of course, our core values vary from one person to another, there is no one size fits all, but if we give of ourselves to others, it is the ultimate reward as a risktaker.

Core values and your beliefs are the foundation of your home, without a base it falls apart. It is conducive to providing the groundwork for your actional calculated risks, your deliberate decisions, and how we continue in this granted life of ours.

From a secular side of things, you want to purchase your first home sometime this year but are afraid it may come with ongoing costly maintenance. and the economy being what it is, there is an apprehension of losing your job, not to mention the real estate industry taking a nosedive and losing property value.

Or you want to start a business and there is ambivalence about whether this is the right time. What if I invest all my time and energy into this business and begin falling short in other key areas of my life?

This is where we need to Think about the impact of each potential calculated risk. From personal experience, what has served me well is to have a plan B or C if necessary as a contingency, minimizing the loss or avoiding a loss altogether. This demands research on your part, a risk analysis determining the reward versus the risk. How do you do that?

Using the example of the 405 interstate freeway, strictly as an illustration, weighing the risk of casually walking across without incident and If I were offered one dollar or a million dollars to take the risk, would I do it? Obviously, the million-dollar reward is something to consider! How would my research and risk analysis come into play in this scenario?

Let me answer this question by asking you how many times have you been in those well-known infamous stands still traffic jams because of road construction or a roadblock for some reason? I am certain that the 405 interstate requires occasional maintenance, so I would research when the next scheduled maintenance that is going to occur, and proceed to plan to amble across without incident, of course, barring any potholes along the way that I might disappear in to. Can you see how careful planning and the implementation of strategy can reduce risk? If history has taught me anything, an opportunity can be found in the most unlikely places with nominal risk.

At this point, I am approaching 200 episodes on my show, and my takeaway from my professional guests on the spectrum of self-help topics, is that there are so many people out there that are not true with themselves, therefore, are struggling  even though they are successful by all appearance. Why is this the case?

The only extrapolation that I can offer, is that these poor folks out there are not living in alignment with their core values and beliefs, something is amiss, and they cannot find the answer, therefore, there is an exponential increase of transformational coaches of which has become an industry all onto itself addressing this issue.

If we do not understand our innate core values, internal conflict will continue, not being in tune with our inherent values makes us susceptible to violating them without realizing it. And this can lend itself to feelings of wrongdoing and guilt without even knowing why.

We will continue to go through the motions in life accomplishing our so-called goals feeling empty and unfulfilled.

My suggestion is to take the risk and try to emulate a person who you admire, someone that inspires you, someone that intrinsically fits you, and it will make a world of difference in your perspective in life.

If you take this innocuous risky step, especially in giving of yourself to others as a mentor in all respects, research has revealed that we are more able to tolerate chronic pain, it develops more self-discipline and concentration when working, social connections will be strengthened, and every engagement you involve yourself will have a high calculated degree of success.

I would say the reward is worth the risk!

Man to Man

Have you ever heard of the idiom "man up?" It carries the connotation that a man needs to demonstrate a little more bravado, a little more boldness or intimidate by way of assertive behavior or masculinity. And since it has been said that this is a man's world, can we have a man to man talk?

In a recent episode, my guest, a former U.S. Army Ranger, delved into the meaning of masculinity, however, not in terms of busting down doors of which he did in the middle east during his military years.

Think of it, he was an elite by military definition, yet, once he retired, once he was removed from his element, he struggled with what the world expected from him as a man. He quickly came to appreciate that there is much more than being an Army Ranger.

When we observe societies around the world, men are looked upon as protectors of the family and the community. Throughout the ages men have had the (responsibility) to ensure that their homes and communities are safe and secure from threats within and dangers from the outside world, Even expected to accept arms if necessary.

While this might sound old-fashioned, this concept will continue to prevail in today's world and will continue indefinitely until the human condition radically changes. For example, we must admit, like my guest,  the majority enrolled in the armies in all cultures  are mostly men. Typically, the masculine gender is also expected, historically, to participate in resolving disagreements where physical strength at times is necessary.

In this blog, however, I am not minimizing the role of women, in fact, have there ever been a man without a mother? The fact is, there are clear responsibilities that are divided along gender lines; However,   I am strictly discussing the responsibility of what makes a man.

What I must express with focus, is that man's responsibility and their intrinsic values must be defined and displayed by the role of a real man. It is not intended to be condescending or to excoriate anyone, but to bring an observation to the forefront that may be a game changer for someone.

One case in point, it has been reported that there is an Epidemic or should I say pandemic Of Fatherless Boys, and the percentage of them are living at home without their biological father, and tragically has almost doubled since 1960.

Not having the day-to-day involvement by a father, the direction, the ongoing positive example of their father within the home, and not to mention the financial support that a father provides in the household, these young men are more likely to lack self-control, display behaviors of resentment, struggle academically, are more apt to fail as adults, and it becomes generational. Where are the fathers of these boys? Are these men afraid to fail, therefore, they avoid their responsibility? And this is what my guest emphasized, and that is, there are many men that are still living as boys themselves, they have not learned to be the caliber of man they need to be for the sake of their family.

Did you know men have higher levels of suicidal ideation than women?

Studies have discovered  One key factor of which is the lack of communication. Compared to women, women are more opened and willing to share their troubles and men tend to clam up or bottle up their feelings.

But this is not surprising, for generations, many cultures have encouraged men to be the strong silent type, the John Wayne syndrome, never admitting the turmoil they suffer. Unfortunately, men while growing up were taught that boys do not cry, and the way some parents communicate with their children, encouraging boys to express themselves is so different in how mothers communicate with their daughters, and the end result  is the baggage of self-doubt and fear carried into adulthood.

Psychological studies have shown that fear and uncertainty can be very debilitating. The fear of failure can be so overwhelming, some men will avoid it at all costs.

We often admire successful men in all aspects of their life, but rarely do we hear how they got there, it was not smooth sailing they will tell you; Failure is experienced by all people on the road to achieving their goals. What counts is not how many times we fall, but how many times we get up and move forward.

Could we be so afraid of failing that we cannot move forward? Are we afraid of what people will say and the shame that may come with it? We are not measured by our failures, failures do not define us, we are measured only by the attainment of our successes, and once we realize that you will find that success breeds success.

Every human needs to know that they can measure up to the task, we want to have a sense of usefulness, and to feel necessary. But if we feel inadequate,  what does that say about us? Considering the economy, we may lose our jobs and struggle to provide for the basics needs of the family. But rest assured, no matter who it is, all of us have been endowed with talents, find yours, and use them for solidifying the family unit. Do not shy away, do not be afraid to learn something new to implement, take a calculated risk and you will not regret it. Otherwise,  we will be perceived as being weak even though we know better than that, but the stigma of weakness may be worse than the actual truth.

I must say that the perception  of weakness keeps men from showing their true feelings, the facade of stoicism prevents the ability of men to show their honest emotions which is  necessary for developmental growth.

We all have an innate need for our lives to have significance at the end of the day. If you are grappling with feelings of insignificance, I would suggest the following. First, consider what you do best and then proceed to use it to aid and assist others. There is no person that does not need a bit of understanding and compassion, and if you share these qualities with just one person, I promise you, you will never be insignificant.

Many do not want to take a risk and look inane and Foolish. Of course, I am not advocating throwing caution into the wind, but there is such a thing as educated and intuitive risk. The law of averages is on your side if you want it, because the more you avail yourself of risk, the more you run the risk of being successful. That is how it works!

It is time to uncover and pull out  the roots of what you were repeatedly told while growing up that instilled in you the obstacle of fear. Do you recall? "You will never amount to anything!" "Can't you be more like your brother?" "You are so stupid, why bother?" I would venture to say that the worst that we will be experiencing in life has already occurred, and now it is time to move on to bigger things.

The fact that you Are still here, gives you an accreditation  of resilience and shows you are capable of coping with future challenges with manageable apprehension. Incidentally, fear was granted to us for a reason, it has a purpose and we do not want to ignore it completely. Fear serves as a protection, therefore, critically analyze your apprehensions whether it is warranted, and if it is not, dismiss it as a  residual from the past.

Take actional steps to move forward as the caliber of man that you want to be, a man that rises to the occasion when others need you. The adage that says "inch by inch is a sinch, but by the yard, it very hard" is applicable in everything we do.

What I would strongly encourage you to do is to cozy up to your fears, invite whatever fears we may have for a cup of coffee, or tea, befriend them, speak frankly with your fears, and you will eventually defang your fears, trepidation will dissipate, and you will neutralize anything that has been disconcerting to you for the longest time.

Irrespective of whatever we have experienced, stand up, look around, we are still here, and as far as I can tell, the earth is still turning on its axes.

The True Meaning of Legacy

What is legacy? Is it leaving something for people? Or is it leaving something in people? How would you answer?

In a recent episode, we featured Castillo De San Marcos, a historical monument that was built in the late 1500s under Spanish command in St. Augustine, Florida. It is the oldest masonry fortress, older than Plymouth Rock, older than  North America itself. However, rhetorically, would you know who built this historical testament of endurance?

Many of us think of a legacy in terms of material  possessions like the bequeath of a sprawling mansion, a large savings account, a vacations home in a coveted climate in the Caribbean , the list can go on ad infinitum. But when I think of Castillo De San Marcos, if it were not the ongoing maintenance of this castle, it would not have endured all these centuries. And to get back to the question as to who built this fortification, the names are of record, however, their names have fallen into obscurity.

My argument in this blog is that to leave something (in people) would have the most  impact, the longest impression, it can be a much powerful legacy than anything tangible we may leave behind, you will be remembered. People come and go, but memories that make a lasting difference in our own life are stronger than time and are not diminished by the exposure of external threats.

When a person is born, there are two or three presents to welcome this infant into this world. But have you noticed? Upon a person's demise, there are two or three hundred or more to express their respectful condolences, to reminisce on the impact left behind while consoling  the surviving members of the decease. A legacy is a mutual experience that is shared and from where I sit, from my perch, this is the true meaning of legacy.

A legacy is not a mere project, and it does not occur overnight. However, if we reach deep inside and find our true purpose, we can create our legacy with dedication, consistent work and with meaningful contribution, we all can build an indelible mark that will forever be remembered and celebrated. However, some may contend that their physical vitality is not what it used to be, but my rebuttal to that view is that our spiritual vitality can unequivocally be nourished and made anew.

First, how would you define your own personal  legacy?

For starters, the key is to comprehend why we are leaving a legacy behind and what it personally means to us.

At this moment, I remember what Pablo Picasso was known to have said. He said that the true meaning of life is to find your (gift), and the purpose of life is to give it away.

That said, what is your priority? What are your core values and core beliefs? Right now, how would we want our life to impact others? What would make you delighted, and proud? What would your contribution be to improve the world around you?

The answer to these rhetorical important questions will get you on the right track to develop a meaningful perspective that goes beyond anything tangible such as financial wealth, and materialism that is subject to deterioration by  the natural elements. Our words and what we do  will become the masonry blocks of your legacy. Share these words and deeds to benefit others, write down your legacy with clarity, and live them every day of your life.

Understanding what is of paramount to us, understanding what compels us, and how you want others to remember you creates tremendous mental clarity in how we should carry ourselves in life. After the song is over, and after the music stops determines the ripple effect, we had on those dear to us.

It is not complicated, begin by identifying your strength, find your courage, isolate it by putting your finger on what  drives you. We all have role titles, the gender we are, the title given to you by your employer, and at the same time, we are a son or daughter, a daddy or mama, husband, wife, granddad, or grandma and some you can think of on your own. but do not just focus on your titles but give thought to your core strengths instead. Your strength is your fortification, the walls of your own castle, and when you build on your strengths, all these other titles are fortified and not mere titular or in name only.

Speaking of strength, did you know that the walls of Castillo De San Marcos were made From Seashells? Who would have thought that a fortress made of seashells would last for hundreds of years? Who would have thought that a fortress made from seashells would survive under cannon fire for so many years? The Spanish call its Coquina, meaning seashells, these shells became solidified over thousands of years, layer over layer much like limestone making it impervious from cannon bombardment, and your inner strength can be just as solid regardless of whatever this world throws at you.

Are we still stuck in a rut? Consult your family members and your genuine friends for a bit of insight, use them as a sounding board. Ask yourself, which strengths am I known for? Often, the proverbial, too close to the forest to see the trees may apply in our case, where others can see our assets much better and can be forthright in providing advisement. It is a matter of synchronizing our heart with our head, however, sad to say, some withhold their love and allow their love to become the pain they carry. Our legacy should be predicated on love and not begrudgingly given, it should not be a burden or a chore.

On my show, I have interviewed several guests that have written and published their personal memoir or legacy, denoting their courage, their resilience, and their personal triumphs. With that in mind, I wonder if we can write our memoir in just one simple sentence. It would seem to me, it would provide optimal focus, weeding out the extraneous, the unnecessary, and fine tuning on what is not negotiable  to accomplish our legacy in life. And once we have clarified our life's mission, it can only be energizing! Meditate on a few words that can and will  define the foot impression or imprint you want to leave behind as a remembrance.

Indisputably, the most invaluable commodity that we all share is time. Unfortunately, we do not have all the time in the world to create something of extraordinary importance, 10-20 years goes by suddenly without notice. Therefore, live and breathe your legacy every day, and use your time sagaciously.

Did you know how you live each day is mor important than your accomplishments? It is no coincidence that the word gratitude rhymes with attitude, thus, your attitudes in all we say and do will create our unforgettable history. If you wake up each day before clambering out of bed with gratitude, with enthusiasm, you will attain fulfillment in life and leave a wonderful inheritance. What will be remembered is how you made others feel, surpassing whatever you said or did. So, make certain to live each granted day in a manner that is effective, with kindness, with compassion, and immense pleasure. Then your legacy will be contagious, it will inspire, it will motivate others and you will be loved for it.

In fact, love is a profound human emotion unmatched by any other emotional experience, never ignore it. It can provide us strength to endure difficult moments, it can comfort us when we feel somber, and in moments of mourning. And guess what? Love can be given freely, it does not cost us, so be generous in sharing it.

When we show endearment and responsibility to family, friends and to whoever we interact with, we help to generate solid Coquina in all relationships. When we demonstrate sincere affection and enthusiasm in all aspects of life, it only follows that we will promote positivity and productivity, and again, you will be loved for it. What a beautiful legacy that is!

Our name will not fall to the wayside, will not be obscured by the passage of time but we will be remembered by the unwavering gift of ourselves to others.

Your Internal Radar

Do you ever ignore your home smoke detector when it goes off? True, sometimes it is a false alarm, however, the tendency is to never ignore it. With that said, every one of us has an internal RADAR alarm that should never be ignored, it is called intuition, even though sometimes it proves to be incorrect.

In a recent episode, an expert in personal safety emphasized the fact that Intuition Is Your Top Safety Skill to stay safe in this exceedingly dangerous world.

Therefore, in this blog I will be sharing what we discussed and how to use this inherent quality, intuition, to keep yourself and family safe from potential offenders.

What is intuition? If you allow me to relate the nuances of intuition to when you first decided to purchase your first home. I would say you acted intuitively based on how you felt about the spaciousness to accommodate the family, visualizing yourself living there, the location, the approximation to schools, the distance to work and other considerations providing you the affirmation to buy your home, everything felt right. If I were to incapsulate intuition, it means being totally in the present without any extraneous distraction, thus, enabling you to make split instinctive decisions, if necessary, based on accumulated observation and experience. My guest often referred to it as (situational awareness) in relation to maintaining ourselves safe from predators.

I tell the story when I was at the age of 10 while being a side kick to my dad during the time, he was growing wine grapes of which there were always employees round about, and like in many places of employment, there was always one or two that intuitively appear unsavory.

Like many people that are predisposed to helping someone in need, I was no exception even as a boy, when someone asked for help, I gladly helped. One day, however, this one unsavory looking employee asked me to help look for something he misplaced somewhere in among the vineyards, and naturally I set off to help. Long as I can remember, I had the propensity of gawking at strangers, always analyzing people that did not fit in the mainstream, and this fellow fit the bill perfectly, so I kept my distance as he continually beckoned me to follow him. After a few minutes, my gut feeling or intuition was screaming at me, nagging at me to extricate myself from the situation entirely, the pieces of the puzzle did not fit, everything was telling me to leave him alone, so I did. At the time, I did not know, but in retrospect as an adult, I have no doubt he was a pedophile.

The reason for relating this story is to emphasize the importance of safety training our children to listen to their gut feelings in any given situation. Forget the niceties to (complete strangers), the safety of our children takes priority.

We all have the innate ability to make quick, intuitive decisions, and it is based on self-trust, however, unfortunately, in today's social environment, it demands that we be politically correct and be nice regardless of what we should do instinctively, disregarding suspicions, hunches or to trust our gut feeling, therefore, the lack thereof, it diminishes our personal safety.

We cannot afford to be Pollyannish with the assumption that everyone shares our core values and beliefs. Just because we do not want to hurt others, does not mean others do not want to hurt us. It would set us up to be too incredulous and gullible for a clean cut, innocent looking smooth talker, a Ted Bundy type, not judging on outward appearance, not second guessing ourselves by warnings from our intuition notwithstanding. We must learn to listen to our intuition and respect our feelings of doubts! Be street smart and live by the adage "When in doubt, leave it out!" Do not be naïvely trusting of dubious strangers but be skeptical, always with a pinch of reservation. I am sorry, but that is the world we live in, it is quite different from Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood and his sweater.

My guest says that criminals practice the principles of psychology to determine soft targets such as how lack of confidence is shown by how we carry ourselves as we amble along the sidewalk, the criminal is always weeding out their next victim. The same process is also seen in nature. Like lions, concealed predators lying in wait searching for those oblivious to their surroundings, those wandering off too far from the herd, and those too complacent to sense danger. So, do we have a spring of confidence in our step, or do we have a shuffle lacking strength and confidence as we amble along engrossed in our electronic device? Do we have the habit of going out after dark, alone ignoring the buddy system just because we want a donut for breakfast the next morning? "Give me a break!"

My expert guest also indicated that they are always looking to see whether a potential victim makes eye contact or not, suggesting apprehension and the lack of willingness to resist an attack. So, she said to always make eye contact, not in a threatening manner, but to let them know you have acknowledged them, you are fully aware of their presence, and this translates into making you a hard target, not a soft one.

Until recently, gut feelings were looked upon as an obstruction to making rational decisions, but now it is the contrary. Science in human behavior has shown that human emotion can and will work to resolve a challenge, and often subconsciously. These processes are always ongoing, in flying an aircraft, Sherpas, when guiding those up to Mt. Everest, with parents, in all of us humans whether we realize it or not.

As the human brain garners an aggregate of clues subconsciously, it triggers an alarm before we fully understand why. Granted, gut feelings or our intuition about threats or answers for challenges are not always correct, but intuition often has saved more lives than not. That said, do not just try, this is an implied excuse, but never ever disregard our wonderful intrinsic nervous system for personal safety, it is the highest form of intelligence.

Fear in my view is a gift that can serve us well in questionable situations. I do not know about you, but one of my personality traits, whether good or bad, is cynicism, I cannot readily trust just anyone, in fact, sometimes I cannot even trust myself in certain things much less a stranger. This proclivity of my cynical nature, I must admit, has served me well in business and in my private life.

Cynicism is a powerful assessment tool that we can utilize in any kind of scenario. Make it a habit to compel yourself to not only assume the best, but also assume the worst as well.

Here is an example: you discern a stranger walking slow and speeding up to match your stride, and then he makes a beeline for you. Then, he proceeds to ask you for the time. So, which is it? Is it because he does not have a watch or an iPhone? Or are his intentions to distract you and run off with your purse? Always assume the latter and raise your hand gesturing for him to stop from getting closer!

My guest said that her business is booming and will continue to do so exponentially. We can only conclude that the unrest of society is worsening, because of the cost of living that affects the entire gamut of necessities for life. This explains the (smash and grab) we see on TV, the violence by mass shooting, the fomenting of anxiety by the media, and the political and commercial corruption that permeates the entire infrastructure.

The purpose of this blog is not to fearmonger, but to inform and to encourage you to put up safeguards for your personal protection and the safety of your family in all areas of life.

Therefore, learn from every species in nature, and that is, there is protection in numbers, stick close to your family, stick close to your genuine friends, and stick close to your core beliefs.

Food Can Be a Slippery Slope

Since a Ferrari is a performance-oriented vehicle, it must have ongoing maintenance, higher octane fuel for speed, and is known as a symbol of elegance and success. And I am sure we all agree that the human body, like the Ferrari, must also have ongoing maintenance and high food nutrition to create energy for daily optimal performance.

In a recent episode, my guest who is recognized as the world’s class authority on Processed Food, is raising international awareness of the overwhelming scientific evidence to processed food dependency, the many unhealthy causes, the progressive seriousness of this addiction, yes, food can be a slippery slope.

In this blog I will be sharing what was revealed on the show and what I discovered in my own research which is not a secret but an enormous preponderance of evidence of when processed foods had its inception, why it took place, today's societal health repercussions and what we can personally do about it.

Do you know what drives every economy? Dollars and more dollar bills which is by in large called nefarious greed, unquestionably, there is an obvious profit-seeking agenda. Of course, I am not condescending the    motivation and the ability for anyone to provide for their loved ones of which many do it honorably without harmful repercussions to our fellowman.

To make financial gain, the manufacturing cost must be lower than the expense for the consumer, this is called economics 101. However, in fairness, I must say that there are exceptions where the food industry is concerned with the overall health of the public.

My guest indicated that the issue with the food industry had its beginning in the 1980s, which other guests I have had on the show with medical background have also corroborated this fact.

During this time, many Big Tobacco corporations began to invest in major food companies since the tobacco industry saw the writing on the wall brought on by relentless public scrutiny of smoking, thus, the precipitous decline in cigarettes sales became evident. Currently, Philip Morris International owns Kraft, and purchased Nabisco in the early 2000s, not to mention   RJ Reynolds is also heavily invested in the food industry. And, when you include the computer age into the equation in the 1980s which converted many into a sedentary lifestyle, this also explains the serious health issue of today's society.

The objective of these tobacco companies, as we know, is to sell an addictive product, and the same business model has been adopted in the food industry for excessive consumption, which translates into huge profits.

What did the implications of the food industry takeover have on society?

To begin with, they had many years of experience in the development and promulgating the use of tobacco in how fast nicotine was delivered to the human brain, and they proceeded to harness this neuroscience into their food products as an addiction as well.

These big food conglomerates have, like tobacco during its peak of popularity, have a tremendous marketing and research squad that are fully dedicated to optimizing the preferred taste receptor, the most appealing color, the right smell, texture, packaging, and making sure it is at eye level where you shop for groceries. In fact, did you know that most of store profits come from where the food industry wants their product situated on the shelf?

These so-called food products are produced intentionally to be extremely addictive. Can you just eat one pringle? I would venture to say, no! They are engineered to be highly hyperpalatable, and admittedly, I cannot just eat one. Therefore, I stay away from them entirely.

These foods are meant to have a long shelf life which Longevity is not in itself a harmful thing. Do you remember your grandma's delicious peach preserves in those cute mason jars that lasted forever?

Additionally, it is a matter of record that the ancient Egyptians were experts in preserving their meats with sodium or salt, and similarly, many other cultures have utilized icy mountaintops as de facto refrigeration. In fact, since refrigeration came into the kitchen, it has enabled us to be less wasteful with food.

Keep in mind that some processed food, however, does not always mean tons of additives. For example, Canned tuna is tuna in water, and chopped vegetables in a bag are still just veggies.

However, what should we understand about ultra-processed foods? Long shelf-life does not always translate to quality or to our well-being.

I mentioned Pringles earlier, who does not love Pringles as an adult let alone as a kid? Once you pop, the pleasure never stops!

Pringles has an impressive fifteen-month shelf life. But wait a minute, pringles also contain extremely harmful chemicals such as acrylamide which has caused cancer, in studies where animals were exposed to this chemical, acrylamide, in extremely high doses. Can you just eat one pringle? Obviously, this is a carcinogen that becomes present when starchy foods, such as potatoes, are cooked at super elevated levels of temperature. We must learn to think beyond our taste receptors and think of what these ultra-processed foods are doing to our health.

Not surprisingly, an economic Researcher has discovered US consumers prefer expedience over quality in food. In contrast, in Asia for example, the process of fish products is usually only cleaning and refrigerating, whereas in this country, we add chemicals and preservatives for longevity. And did you know in Europe, your everyday Pop-tart for breakfast has failed miserably? Someone is getting it right!

To continue to make the argument, one Oreo cookie has fifty-three calories, and a cup of grated carrots contains forty-five calories, one cookie vs. one cup of carrots. Allow me to ask you, why is it so easy to devour an entire pack of Oreos in one sitting? There is no question, these so-called food products are made to be intentionally addicting, yes indeed, once you get hooked it can easily be compared to nicotine addiction, we cease to be a Ferrari and become a jalopy, respectfully.

What is so diabolical from my perspective, is that these tabaco companies are targeting our children. For example, Philip Morris had developed at least thirty-six child-tested flavors for Kool-Aid products with integrated colors and captivating cartoon characters. This tobacco giant also purchased Capri Sun and Tang using the same child targeting integrated marketing techniques to garner sales at the expense of the well-being of children.

Many ultra-processed foods leave out important fiber in the process. The refinement of wheat into bleached white bread or white pasta is conducive to absorbing more glucose way too fast for our body to absorb.

Therefore, elevated glucose creates lethargy, creates an insatiable appetite, your hunger is never satisfied, your ongoing struggle to lose weight continues, or worse, Type 2 Diabetes becomes consequential.

Furthermore, as a result, the effect of this fast absorption, robs our gut microbiome of what is necessary for a healthy gastrointestinal track, hence, leading to what we know to be a leaky gut which opens the roadway to more toxins and harmful bacteria, and in time can lead to increased inflammation which is the precursor to many diseases.

Think of it for a moment, we are guinea pigs eating foods that is safe, and yet filled with ingredients that have not been thoroughly investigated, and the FDA, historically, has not been a stickler to what enters the food supply. That said, I trust you can devise counter measures to food addiction and become an advocate of your own muscle car, you!

The Real World of Credit

It has been stated that the best time to plant a tree was years ago, the second-best time is today! And in terms of improving our credit standing, it is imperative to take actional steps today, if we are to accomplish our financial goals as a consumer.

In a recent episode, a credit expert authored a book encouraging teens to start familiarizing themselves to how credit scores can impact their future since the educational system has fallen short in this regard.

In this blog with your permission, I will speak about improving our credit history, succinctly, forthrightly, and without any gingerbread. Therefore, I encourage parents to help their teens to prepare them for the real world of credit, however, many parents find it a taboo to discuss this subject with their own, often because their own credit standing, in many cases, is tenuous at best.

To begin with, FICO® Scores are used by the most worthwhile lenders and I would venture to say around 90% of them. I know that there several credit monitoring companies out there, and even free of charge, however, their motive is only to solicit you with credit card offerings but are not offering you the actual FICO score information you need to confidently apply for credit from preferred lenders. Unfortunately, home buyers will enter a contract for a home based on scores indicated by these monitoring companies, to find out much to their chagrin, their scores are diametrically different from actual FICO scores, thus the transaction falls apart.

At this point, you may be asking what is the Average FICO Credit Score?

There is a spectrum of the scoring formula, ranging from 300 to 850, and for you to know, over the years in the real estate industry, I have never seen anyone have an 850 FICO score. Is it possible? Probably not, it may only be serving as an incentive.

A 680-credit score or better is considered a good average credit score, however, any score above 740 is considered excellent. Every expert in the industry, credit bureaus, and mortgage officers have a different point of view, or dictated by lending policy, as to where the threshold between good credit and not so good credit is defined. It boils down to what you are applying for, a mortgage loan, an auto loan and so forth, it may be considered negative by one lending agency, but acceptable by another.

These favored lenders are looking for, at a minimum, 6 months of credit history to obtain a FICO® Score to better evaluate your creditworthiness, so please do not waste your time in these so-called (free credit monitoring agencies) which do cost you in time and disappointment.

How do I obtain my Fico scores you may be asking yourself?

The initial step would be to request your annual credit report from the three major credit bureaus, Equifax®, Experian® and TransUnion® which are not governmental agencies but are proprietary. If there are errors or omissions on your credit report, they could impact your credit score negatively. However, everyone has the right to dispute errors or incomplete information in their report, and they will provide you with instructions on how to do so.

For your information, FICO is the acronym for the Fair Isaac Corporation founded by Bill Fair who was a data analyst, and Earl Isaac an electrical engineer, in 1956. Yes, this is an

arbitrary score monitoring formula of which most lenders today utilize FICO scores when making lending decisions of whether to offer mortgage loans or credit cards, establishing interest rate and terms. And banks may also utilize this FICO scoring algorithm when approving checking account application, savings accounts and establishing the terms of these accounts.

It is superfluous to say you must Pay your bills on time, this is understood, but sometimes we inadvertently miss a scheduled payment, this is called being human.

Of course, paying all your liabilities in a timely fashion will boost your scores, your payment history is the driving force for improving your credit outcome. And bad or fallacious information in your history like late credit card payments will alter your credit score negatively for years to come. However, I will say that older negative information such as collections, and missed payments will count less than more up-to-date information. For example, if you have a collection from a few years ago, do not pay it off without first consulting your credit advisor, for it will hurt your scores because of the fact you made it into a recent activity when satisfied. Unless you consider it a moral obligation to pay it off regardless, and I will leave that for you to decide, I am not your conscience, just informing you how the cow eats the cabbage.

Some may be wondering about why not hire a credit repair company, it is an option to consider. But from my perspective, why spend hard earned money on something you can do yourself by contacting the above-mentioned credit bureaus directly? Most of us can read and write, that is all it takes; And I suppose most of us went up to the fourth grade.

You could also consider setting up automatic payments or reminder alerts to assist you to maintain consistency in paying your bills. Incidentally, when you only pay the minimum payments on credit balances, like credit card, it will keep your accounts current, but if you only pay the minimum, yes it will be current, but you will pay more in interest in the long run, and it does not improve your scores significantly.

Some credit advisors advocate becoming an authorized user on a credit card, will this help you to improve your credit scores? Yes and no!

If you have a family member or someone you trust with an excellent credit score, they can add you as a piggyback or an authorized user to their account. However, as we know, life is a variable event, the primary card holder finances may go south for several reasons, and this will also topple your credit standing.

Why not go at it on your own by considering a secured credit card that is readily offered by most banking institutions. Deposit a $500-$1000 into a secured credit card account, and this may be the answer to strengthening your credit worthiness. You can use the card to make purchases, like a traditional credit card while your bank reports to the three credit bureaus as you use the card responsibly.

I must emphasize emphatically to keep some of your credit line available.

The credit you use is called (credit utilization), This is important to understand, since maintaining your credit utilization below 30%, or better yet, satisfy the balance monthly, hence, demonstrating you are managing your credit with discipline, not going hog wild and spending up to the maximum credit limit.

Unfortunately, in today's social environment, it demands immediate gratification, and rebuilding credit worthiness is no exception.

Rebuilding your credit will require you to be patient, it will take some time. And rest assured, it will not take years as when you planted your first tree, just how long? It is all up to you to how diligent and disciplined you are, and these principles are what must be instilled in your sapling, your teen, for their future financial success.

The great news is most credit items will not impact your score for eternity. And the end results, the negative factors will be mitigated over time. Showing fortitude and establishing good credit habits will be the best solution overall!

The Power of Music

When you hear a familiar piece of music, how does it affect you? Does it transfer you into the realm of unforgettable memories? Does it soothe your nervous system and puts you into a pensive state of mind? Speaking for myself, it does the foregoing and much more.

In a recent episode, an Author, Entrepreneur and Musician talked about his mother who was encumbered with dementia; however, the power of music had a calming effect and would bring her to the time in history when she first experienced that music. These moments were incredibly special to her, she was transported back in time, and it confirmed to my guest that she was not entirely cognitively lost, he said.

Of course, this is only one case in point, however, a growing body of research suggest Listening to or making your own music affects the brain in many ways that may assist to encourage good health and manage chronic pain. We must ask ourselves as to what is going on neurologically.

Apparently, playing an instrument or listening to music induces a whole host of neurological activity in our thinking processes, affects emotionality, affects movement, and a plethora of sensations. Therefore, these effects in the brain may have physiological and psychological effects on our well-being.

I am sure we can relate when music causes a surge of brain chemicals that can evoke emotional responses of memories of sadness or happiness. In my research I found Music can even affect the framework of the brain. Certain Neurologists have found the brain to be larger in musicians in comparison to nonmusicians, particularly discernable in people who began their musical training during youth.

I can only tell you of my anecdotal experience of growing up in the 1960s when the Beatles were one of the most acclaimed and influential bands of all time and remain a pop culture phenomenon. If you were to ask me when a song hit the charts, I can tell you what year it was. I can only deduce that music is powerful in how it affects us, there is a lasting memory.

Ongoing evidence suggests that music-based interventions may help those with health conditions, or those with dementia. However, much of the research on music-based interventions is still in its infancy, I cannot help but scratch my head, something positive is happening in the brain brought on by music.

The only harmful effect of music that I can think of, however, is listening to music at extremely high volumes of decibels may cause noise-induced and irreparable hearing loss. However, there is no question, music is cardiological healthy. Research has revealed that the circulatory system flows more easily when a favorite piece of music is played. It can also lessen the heart rate, relaxes blood pressure, reduces the stress hormone, cortisol, and increases endorphin levels in the blood stream. It also elevates our frame of mind, affecting our mood. The genre of Music you enjoy can be uplifting by producing the feel-good hormone, dopamine. And when you are feeling good naturally, because of this increased dopamine levels helps alleviate feelings of depression and anxiety. It has been shown that music is undertaken directly by the amygdala, which is the section of the brain where mood and emotions occur.

I know you do not have any levels of stress whatsoever, right? Yes, I am being facetious, jesting aside, it does reduce the stressors of life. Research has demonstrated that listening to your genre of music can mitigate stressors by stimulating biochemical stress reducers thus relieving symptoms of depression. When you are feeling stuck in the doldrums, and much like exercise can affect you, music will uplift your perspective in how you view and feel about everything, hence, you are able to resolve challenges or cope.

Obviously, it stimulates old memories once thought to be forgotten, as my guest happily found out about his mother.

At this point in neuroscience there is no answer for Alzheimer’s disease or dementia however, music therapy has been shown, clinically, to diminish some symptoms. Music therapy can placate an agitated person, ameliorate the person's mood and is conducive to opening communication in people like my guest realized with his mom.

Another aspect of benefits, music helps to manage chronic pain. By allowing music to reduce stress levels and letting the brain provide a powerful competing stimulus of endorphins to combat the pain signals that the brain recognizes, music therapy can help in the process of pain management. Incontrovertibly, music can significantly reduce the perceived strength of pain as noted in geriatric care, in intensive care units, and minimizes the progression of a disease and relieves undesirable symptoms for as long as possible, rather than attempting to cure the incurable.

Did you know music helps people eat less? Playing soft music and dimming the lights during dinner will help slow down our eating habits, which means less intake of food, reduces our concern about weight gain, and makes for a lovely evening.

Do you use music to increase workout stamina? Listening to a musical beat workout track does boost physical endurance and augments energy during a vigorous exercise workout.

It is no wonder that the history of music is as old as humanity itself. Archaeology has discovered wood wind instruments such as flutes carved out of bone and ivory dating back thousands of years. However, when you refer to specific songs, they are more recent. For example, the earliest piece of musical notation was found on an old Sumerian clay tablet dating back four thousand years. What is so interesting to me, this clay tablet includes directions and tunings for a hymn paying homage to the ruler Lipit-Ishtar.

But the oldest surviving document of a song, according to historians, dates from around the 14th century B.C. on behalf of the goddess Nikkal which was composed in cuneiform by the ancient Hurrians. These clay tablets contain a musical tune were archeologically found in the 1950s specifically in the ruins of Ugarit in Syria. Interestingly, they contain a complete set of musical annotations, including specific instructions to play the song on a type of nine-string instrument called a lyre, which were popular in the ancient Mediterranean region.

Speaking of the Mediterranean region, be anticipating an upcoming episode featuring a Professional Classical Singer who studied in Rome with the best in the art of opera. She will be providing tips about how we can free the power of our voice and at the end of the show we will be playing her entire rendition, accompanied by string instruments, and with the most beautiful part of the music, the human voice.

Let us continue to make a conscious effort for the appreciation of how much music is an integral part of our daily lives. Think of how much this is true when we consider how many platforms music is found. Have you ever watched a movie or a TV commercial without music? How about while eating out in a restaurant, while shopping, while your call is put on hold, while in the OR, at the dentist’s office as he or she pulls a tooth? It sets the mood for every occasion!

Unquestionably, music has been valued and appreciated as part of culture throughout the ages. Are those your same sentiments?

Burning Curiosity

When we think in terms of curiosity, immediately we may think of the idiom "curiosity killed the cat", which implies that being curious can lead to a precarious or dangerous situation. From my perspective, However, curiosity is a wonderful thing that is conducive to wanting to know, adding enrichment to our repertoire of knowledge.

In a recent episode, two professors discussed the book they authored, making a valid assertion that curiosity is the power of making connections, therefore, it is something we practice in lieu of a personality trait, but deals with the quality of investigation prompted by making connections based on our ongoing growth of experiences.

The quality of curiosity makes for exploring and looking for the answers in connection with our personal interests, always pondering on questions that cover our personal spectrum of interest which varies from one person to another. Hence, if it were not for this quality, we would not have had the Einstein’s of the world.

Like every part of our anatomy, the mind is also a muscle and continues to become strengthen when used regularly to learn new things brought on by curiosity, otherwise, it too will experience atrophy.

I am sure you have felt those certain moments where your mind lit up when observing a new idea by looking for answers or serendipitously stumbled into it, it was an epiphany, a eureka moment, again based on connections that expanded your subject of interest. It was the last piece of the puzzle you were looking for, revealing the entire picture of reality. Think for a moment how many great ideas may have been lost due to the lack of curiosity that may have enriched a person's life.

Curiosity lends itself to an adventurous life, there is excitement, there is anticipation, completely removing ourselves from a boring and drab routine way of living.

Maintaining an open mind is essential if we are going to encourage the quality of curiosity. Be open and willing to learn or unlearn and be willing to adapt for verifiable concepts of knowledge. Many people’s beliefs are erroneous, and if a curious inquiry shows otherwise, are we prepared to change our dogmatic belief?

Another familiar idiom is "do not judge a book by its cover." Here again, how much precious knowledge has fallen to the wayside because of the lack of being inquisitive, not digging deeper, and by accepting things only on face value, neglecting to curiously investigate? For example, when we observe the landscape of this world, mired in chaos, and spiraling out of control, we cannot afford to be complacent and just stand by as a spectator at a ball game. Please, relentlessly Ask questions. Why is that the case? How come? When will things get better? Be inquisitive, dig beneath the surface and you may find the answers to the bigger questions that may connect the rest of the dots that were gnawing at us for the longest time.

And speaking of which, if you have read some of my past blogs, you may have made the (connection) that I am a Christian by way of intimation in my writings. So, allow me to ask briefly, have you ever wondered or curious why the Bible is the most distributed book in history? Or would you be curious to know, paradoxically, why the Bible is the most shop lifted book in history?

I must say, never label something substantive as boring for you may be closing the door of advantageous opportunity. You will find curious individuals are not likely to designate something as dull, but instead, they invariably look at it as a door to answering imponderables thus expanding their horizon of understanding, and if they cannot make that entry immediately, will leave the door open to revisit.

Did you know children and adults alike, when speaking of curiosity, has been intricately linked to psychological, emotional, social, and physical well-being?

Curiosity drives us to explore, seeking something fresh and new, keeping us alert   and enhancing our understanding of our lot in life in connection with the rapidly changing social environment. And once we can logically answer curious questions, our brain releases dopamine, and other feel-good chemicals. As a result, we are happier, we feel better grounded, which boosts self-confidence. Studies have shown curiosity to be related with elevated levels of optimism, a mitigation of anxiety, contentment, and satisfaction with life, experiencing greater mental health.

Curiosity can motivate a person to accomplish higher levels of interests where he or she would not have otherwise.

Research has shown that curiosity leads to more pleasure and enjoyment in higher academic achievement, enabling more engagement with learning, easier to get involved, and not to mention it reflects itself at our place of employment as well.

The quality of curiosity can expand our ability to understand and share the feelings of others, we call it empathy.

When we step out of our comfort zone and interact with people outside our social circle, it enables us to understand those with different lives, backgrounds, and their views and not just our own. So, why not next time you interact with a stranger, someone dissimilar to you, try to engage them, respectfully of course, on a personal plane. And show them that you are genuinely interested in what they have to say.

Additionally, curiosity can help solidify the bonds of relationships. How do you do that? You ask respectful questions without prying, and you can well imagine how real curiosity contributes to the human warmth connection. The implications are tremendous, paving the way to establishing the authenticity of closeness with others.

To circle around to the fact that showing interest or curiosity is great for our well-being. Allow me to ask you, do you have a doctor that shows sincere interest in you as a patient when occasionally visiting? Did you know when doctors are concerned or demonstrate interest in your health and your perspectives, both of you will experience less uncertainty and frustration? And it only follows, this will help us make better decisions which increases the efficacy of our modality or treatment.

In the previous blog, we discussed the inner voice, our internal monologue that is not uttered. In that internal chatter, I wonder how many questions of curiosity we are asking ourselves but failing to ask people when introduced? Why not get into the habit of making those inquiries even with the risk of being viewed upon as inane or stupid? It is all in the vernacular we use in expressing ourselves. I often use the phrase in doing business with others, "what should I know or do to make your job easier?" Especially, if that person has dropped the ball in getting their responsibility accomplished.

We intuitively know when something does not ring correctly, so what do you do? Ask questions when appropriate!

Utilize your curiosity and your critical thinking skillsets to assess why certain protocols exist in business, socially and otherwise. Always be willing to work with others to establish whether the old way of doing things is still valid and the best way.

I will leave you with this thought, if you find yourself saying "hmm", you are practicing curiosity.

Your Inner Voice

It has been understood that we think      around 400 words a minute, called inner voice or internal chatter, and sometime in the process a word or two will slip and become audible. Does that resonate with you? I wonder, how many of those words are positive or negative self-talk.

Positive self-talk is without question a powerful method for increasing self-confidence and suppressing negativity, which only creates unwanted anxiety and stress.

In a recent episode, a former National Super Heavyweight Boxer spoke of his story of growing up doing poorly academically, socially, and so many times bullied by his schoolmates until he had reached a point of either giving up or fighting back.

He decided to join a gym, however, it was several miles away and it took him about three hours one way which afforded him the time to self-talk, and this was the beginning of turning around in making a personal difference.

Of course, I am not advocating the sport of boxing to be effective in our own lot in life, but we can use it as a metaphor to describe the fight we engage in our everyday challenges.

Self-talk is imperative because it has an enormous impact on our emotions and what we decide to do. It can provide motivation, it can be supportive, it can compel us, or it can be otherwise, it can sabotage our self-confidence.

How would you define negative self-talk?

Negative self-talk is that little inner voice no one can hear but yourself. Unfortunately, many experience inner voice as an unrelenting negative, like an inner critic that never shuts up, it never stops, and always pessimistic.

It diminishes our confidence and hinders us from reaching our potential successes. It feels like our failures are predictable.

It can sound like “I can't do this,” “I will never be able to do this, nothing works for me.” Just by writing these expressions down, it is like fingernails on the blackboard to me.

We must understand that negative self-talk can be repetitive and rarely mirrors reality. It can lead us to be overly contemplative, which can turn into a rut, and remember a rut is only a few feet from a grave.

So, how can self-talk affect our mental health in a favorable way?

The research behind positive self-talk may suggest that it contributes to developing mental skillsets that opens the way to solve challenges, notice I do not say problems, because challenges carry the idea that they can be overcome. Optimism is different from negativity, and healthy thinking is more apt to help you to cope with hardships thus reducing the horrible effects of stress and anxiety. And people who engage in the practice of positive thinking experience longevity, reduces the rate of depression, reduces levels of emotional pain, boots our immunity, lends itself to better psychological and physiological health, and greater contentment in life.

So, the question, how do we begin to practice positive self-talk?

Always use vocabulary that you would say when talking to a friend, a family member, uttering words that are up building, in other words, never say to yourself what you would not say to another person.

Encircle yourself with likeminded people. Studies have concluded that associating with negative people can seriously harm our mental and physical well-being, making us more of what we do not want to be. Therefore, circle the wagons with positive, genuine people you can trust to give you helpful advice and true commentary about yourself, resulting in personal growth.

I must say that it is no coincidence that the word attitude rhymes with gratitude, they are intricately linked, so, be grateful. In fact, my guest spoke of getting up every morning and immediately would write down ten things he was grateful for a week without repeating the same thing. And you can imagine after a week he really had to think of what he was grateful for.

A wonderful way to find positivity in our existence and encourage positive self-talk is to acknowledge the wonderful things in our lives for which we can be grateful.

Simply performing gestures of kindness by assisting others will promote feelings of self-affirmation, self-empowerment, and optimism about our lot in life.

Sincerely complimenting others on their appearance, simply buying someone a cup of coffee, holding the entrance door open for someone, or greeting someone with a smile are all fabulous ways you can help others, and your own perspective as well.

Like everything worthwhile, it can take time to be aware of our harmful thoughts, be patient with yourself, remember this internal monologue has been an integral part of you for the longest time and some attest to the fact it may take to three months to rewire our thinking.

Here are some additional tips to improve our optimistic outlook.

It is a matter of practicing good and healthy thinking about us. It is like seeing the proverbial half glass as being half full, instead of half empty.

Be aware and recognize your personal strengths as part of who you are, and freely accept commendations and compliments for your achievements. Do you know someone that you highly admire for their personality, their spirit and how they carry themselves? Why not try to adopt some of those good qualities for yourself if they fit your persona? A helpful way to ameliorate our positive inner voice is to live the part, dress the part, and believe you can rise to the occasion. In fact, the inspired holy writings encourage a new personality based on the quintessential example that is found there.

My guest told the story of when he moved to a different state, where no one knew him, he pretended to be like a school mate he highly admired for his academic and his social recognition, and it worked like nobody's business, it was a pivotal point in his life.

He went on to be the National super heavyweight champ in 2008, traveling all over the world acquiring the highest recognition in his sport. Currently, he is a motivational speaker, addressing high school students, college students, and corporations across this country advocating of what the human spirit can do. Metaphorically, we too, can achieve whatever we teach our inner voice to believe, and imagine all the possibilities.

Over the years I have met interesting people that are amazing. I often tell the story of one fellow who is an author of a series of self-help books that does very much like my guest, travels this country as a motivational speaker. This interesting fellow enjoys bearing gifts, which happens to be his nature, and gave me a signed autograph of his latest book, and he asked me, "hey Ben, do you know my blood type?" Curiously, I said "no." He proceeded to tell me his blood type is "B Positive," I thought it was cute. But that is the kind of fellow he is!

To recap, let us find ways to change our inner voice thus our perspective, let us find Strategic ways to practice gratitude daily, which is an intrinsic part of attitude which will help us in remaining resilient during these unsure times.

Incidentally, before I let you go, the last gift this fellow I occasionally visit gave me a flexible wristband with an engraved annotation that says "SNAP OUT OF IT."

Is Fasting for You?

The practice of fasting has a long history, in the 5th century the “father of medicine”, Hippocrates was known to make recommendations for food abstinence for those displaying health conditions.

What is daily Fasting? To capsulize the concept, daily or intermittent Fasting is a practice we all engage without realizing it and is interrupted by your morning break-fast or first calories or caffeine.

In a recent episode, a medical journalist was inspired to author the "The Oldest Cure in The World” because of his own health issues and in his research made some amazing discoveries of which I hope to share with you in this blog.

An exceedingly popular concept would be the 16/8 cycle in which you fast daily for 16 hours, including your slumbering hours, and limit your eating cycle to a window of 8 hours beginning with breakfast, and it can be done safely. How do I know? I personally practice this cycle of fasting and as a result, I am benefiting. However, everyone owns their own chemistry, therefore, consult your health care provider that is familiar with fasting for direction, especially, if you take medication.

The tremendous benefits are noteworthy, such as burning fat, dropping unwanted pounds, reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, reducing the culprit of many diseases brought upon by stress and inflammation in the body, improving heart and brain health, some believe to help prevent the dreaded cancer, and potentially increases longevity. I can attest, empirically, putting my ugliness aside which is another topic, fasting is a wonderful way to stimulate our mind and physical condition.

With that said, it would be superfluous to ask who would benefit from fasting.

Everyone who desires better health can benefit from the oldest cure in the world, the practice of fasting. Comprehensive research suggests that a fast will put in motion metabolic repairs that will make you healthier which equals in you living longer, unless you have a rare disorder that may cause harm to you by going several hours without food, again, consult your doctor before undertaking this potentially healthy endeavor.

Scientific research has discovered that people who extend their fast in a longer window are healthier, evidently because an extended fast provides the body more time for cellular repairs.

Have you noticed that after a good night’s sleep you feel great? Obviously, your biological makeup has performed a great deal of repairing, reconstructing, and cleaning up that is hindered from doing during our day because it is working hard in processing the nutrients from what we eat, as it should, to supply our brain with energy, supplying our muscles what it needs for mobility, and doing a whole host of other things in our state of consciousness. Hence, because of this distraction of eating, the body defers many of its deepest repairs until we retire for the night when we are no longer ingesting food or stirring around.

Think of it, our brain must get rid of waste products which some neurologists refer to as poop, and it does accumulate, because   of everyday chemical reactions brought upon by daily stressors. And if it is not given the time to repair, we may develop horrible neurological disorders like dementia. It is astounding of the untold performance of repairs that it does night after night to fight off carcinogens, heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, and a plethora of other harmful things. Logically, when you allow your body more time overnight for mending, the more we will realize better health.

We touched on the sixteen hours fast, but how long should it be for the maximum benefit?

To put it succinctly, most scientists agree that twelve hours at the minimum and up to around eighteen hours maximum. It was recently discovered that the body does not get to work on most of its profound repairs until six hours after ingesting our last calory. The understanding is the body hesitates because there is a metabolic expense in shifting gears from processing food nutrients to switching over to making repairs. Interestingly, our body does not want to make that expensive metabolic switch if we are just going to eat more, so it waits to make sure you are done eating. How amazing is that? It estimated that six hours after our last calory intake, our body is sufficiently confident that we are done eating to begin its gradual reconstruction. However, as time goes on from abstaining from eating, the rate of repairing increases exponentially with confidence that you will not disrupt it by eating again. Incidentally, 12 hours after our last calory intakes, the rate of repair goes into high gear with each additional hour of fasting.

Short of sharing my social security number, allow me to tell you my fasting cycle I practice. The last hour I will eat is at 1:00pm giving me until the next morning at 5:00am which is sixteen hours of natural body repair. That said, sometimes I prolong the fasting to 6:00am upon which I will have a cup of coffee. During that 7- or 8-hour window that follows, I enjoy healthy eating and stop at 1:00pm, just for your information in case you want to buy me lunch, and then I start the cycle all over again. However, there are exceptions like when you are invited for dinner later that day, simply, I push the window for eating further back the next day. And I must say, it does matter what you eat during those 8-hour window for optimal health affect. Please do not be like an acquaintance who indicated he takes cholesterol medication; therefore, he can get away with eating anything he wants, it does not work that way.

Have you ever been excited and gotten that “butterflies in your stomach” sensation? Or have you ever heard anyone say, "I have a gut feeling?" Our gut is intrinsically connected to our brain and the two are always communicating with each other to affect your physical and mental health for the better or otherwise, depending on your type of diet.

This emphasizes the importance The overnight mending. Every night our gut must repair large sections of its vulnerable-thin lining that were seriously affected as food passed through the lining during our wakening hours. If the gut lining is not repaired, we can acquire leaky gut syndrome, allowing bacteria and viruses to get into the abdominal cavity thus causing all sorts of serious issues.

The consensus by fasting scientists and fasting doctors recommends that every adult should eat in a 12 or down to a six-hour window. And, as to children who are not nursing can safely eat in a twelve-hour window, in fact, at one time children all over the world did throughout the ages before Thomas Edison illuminated the world and extended our bad eating habits for more than twelve hours. However, the verdict is still out whether it is also safe, and healthier for nursing children and pregnant women to eat in less than a 12-hour window. but, with that said, scientists believe that everyone used to, at one time, have their meals in a 12-hour window, pregnant and nursing moms should be fine so long as they receive the necessary nutrients within the interim.

Before my window of healthy eating expires while writing this blog, let me say that food translates into energy. So, why would we need that energy before we retire for the night? Common sense dictates we can do without it, thus allowing your body to begin rejuvenating the miracle of life, you.

Free TV Streaming

Did you Know Roku means six in the Japanese language, representing the fact that Roku is the sixth company Anthony Wood started in 2002? And because of this company and similar providers, TV cable is going by way of the dinosaur in a big hurry.

In a recent episode, my guest discussed the best streaming TV devices we can take advantage of when eliminating cable TV. And in this blog, I hope to share some tips he revealed and much more for the sake of free family entertainment.

For the longest time I resented the fact that TV cable had a monopoly on the industry giving you the ultimatum of entertainment packages, take it or leave it. I decided the latter when there are so many options that you can choose and not be committed contractually to a cable package.,

Whether you have had the same old Roku for years or just purchased a new model, there is much more for you to know about these entertaining streaming devices than the obvious observation.

I will have to admit, I am a neophyte regarding TV streaming, however, I am incentivized by saving on the expense of entertainment thus learning the methodology.

It is not complicated, even for me. We can learn to use the smart TV Roku OS (Operating System (to save our favorite shows to one universal master list. Using the Roku OS to look for movies and shows your little heart desires to watch, and on the feature page of each, handpick and save it to the List. And to find your master list you can do this by going to the Roku home screen and proceed to select whatever you saved to enjoy.

What if you are in the middle of a great movie and someone is at your front door ringing the doorbell? Should I answer it? I will leave it up to you. But here is an option, resume watching your movie or show where you left off, and you cannot forget which streaming service it was on. Simply, again, go to the Roku Home Screen, select What to Watch, proceed to scroll to Continue Watching, and it will be right there. There is no need to turn off all the lights and shut the curtains in case of unexpected company.

Instead of tediously searching all the Roku channel individually to locate what you want, look across them with Roku Search. Punch in your search term by way of the Roku remote, Roku mobile app, or via voice search which my wife loves, and you will get results of over thousands of channels. You can search by movie or show title, actor, or your favorite director, and you will get a complete list. Similarly, use Roku Search to make comparisons of prices and services available for streaming subscriptions.

If your dog runs off with the Roku remote, without your knowledge it is easily found. Here are some solutions.

If your remote has a speaker grille, start by opening the Roku app, tap the microphone, and speak into it, "Hey, Roku, find my remote." The remote will begin to beep. But if you have a Roku Ultra, press the button on the right side of the device, and the remote will begin to make a beeping sound. What if you have the Voice Remote Pro? Here again you can say, "Hey, Roku, find my remote," and it will start making the same noise. And, to stop the beeping noise, before you stomp on it, just press any button on the remote and your blood pressure will ease.

Incidentally, if you have an iPhone or iPad, the Roku devices support Airplay and HomeKit, so that you can share videos, photos, and your favorite music from your personal device to the TV and supported speakers. This can be placed in the Roku list by navigating to Settings Apple Airplay & HomeKit. A QR code will come up and proceed to Scan it with your iPhone or iPad's camera and just follow the instructions on your Apple device to complete the setup. HomeKit, in the meantime, you can control your Roku using the virtual assistant, Siri, and the Apple Home app "Hey Siri, play classical or jazz on the front room TV." How cool is that!?

Obviously, Siri and Roku communicate with Siri acting as the interpreter. Simply, open the app on your iPhone, tap the icon at the top right corner, and choose Siri Shortcuts. This gives You the option to control the Roku remote, to play or pause the device, and to turn the device on and off. Tap on each option to keep the suggested commands or produce a command of your own.

Did you know you can turn on volume Leveling? If you are like me, I am often lulled into slumber only to be jolted awake by a loud commercial.

On most Roku devices you can turn on sound Leveling, so that you will not be jolted into a coronary when a commercial or a channel change results in a spike in volume. You also have the option to choose to have soft sounds increased and loud sounds decreased with Night mode.

I want you to know that the video streaming world is much more than Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Netflix.

The following are affordable and the best for Free streaming Movies and shows:

Tubi, Tubi was launched in 2014 and has 64 million monthly viewers and it is $0.00.

Peacock TV: Peacock, named after the NBC Logo, is an over-the-top video streaming provider which launched in 2020 and it is completely $0.00.

Pluto TV: When it was launched it posed a real threat to traditional cable TV as a definite cable option, and $0.00 to you.

Crackle: Some will argue that it is the best for Free Movies! And it is $0.00 to you if you do not mind commercials, which is the way they keep their lights on.

NewsON: is free to use, and with accessibility to over 118 local channels, and may cover more than 75% of the country.

Freevee: This platform was established in 2019, however, its popularity amongst viewers is growing exponentially. You will find as one of the default apps on devices by Amazon, Making it easy for many to access.

Xumo Play: This platform has an exceptional selection of no cost movies and free TV shows, but the consensus is that live TV is where it establishes its benchmark, check it out.

Sling Freestream: You will need to create an account to utilize the free platform, but you know the drill, you need to punch in your email address and a password. And for you parents, this app offers a parental control feature which is not always the case with free apps.

The Roku Channel: Of course, let us not forget this free platform! If you possess a Roku device, you will automatically have access to this platform. However, even if you do not have a Roku device, you can still access the channel in other ways. It can be accessed by the Roku app for smartphones and tablets, or alternatively via internet browser.

And this is just the beginning of free TV streaming. Just google the phrase, "Free TV Streaming" and there you are.

As a reminder, to get the optimal use of your Roku, make sure you have installed the latest software version. Typically, the device automatically does this on its own, but if you have recently added an additional channel, or it was disconnected for a while, you may have missed an update. In which case, you can do a manual update by visiting the settings.

There is plenty to view on TV streaming, and the only caveat, I must say "do not become a couch potato."-

Chronological Age V. Biological Age

When we are asked how old we are, it gives reference to how long we have been existing from birth, it is straightforward, cut, and dry. However, when you are asked how you feel from a physical standpoint, it is referring to your biological condition or constitution, which can be positive or negative from a health standpoint. So, my question to you, what is your preference of physical measure?

In a recent episode, a 91-year-old active athlete told me he does not feel his chronological age. Why? And in this blog, we will examine the dichotomy between chronology and biology, which I find fascinating.

My guest, at the age of 61, began his training as a track and field sprinter and after so many awards authored the book, A Sprint to The Gold: How I Won the National Senior Olympics Without a Coach or Trainer.

And now at the age of 91, he is still competing across the country and winning one award after another. I was compelled to ask him the basis of his motivation, and the crux of his success is, he derives immense enjoyment in competing as a sprinter. The operative word here is (enjoyment).

I am certain we have met individuals whose age astonished you because they appeared much older or younger than their chronological age, looks can be so deceiving from their consecutive measure. Why is there a significant difference?

There is incontrovertible research that much of how we age is influenced by our DNA, therefore, beyond our control. But research also shows aging can be impacted by external factors, including daily diet, daily physical activity, stress factors, unhealthy vices, sleeping habits, our surrounding environment where we work and reside. Biological age or how we look, and feel is impacted by these things and more, and experts say the condition of our DNA (genetic material) mirrors all these factors.

I am beginning to wonder, because of lifestyle, since biological age is affected negatively by those adverse factors, such as opening ourselves to developing diabetes or other diseases, or how soon we will expire, someday biological age may become the most important number on your medical chart.

To echo what my guest said to me, "I don't feel 91." Obviously, then, we have a degree of control over our biological aging and can even get "younger" by making positive healthy lifestyle changes.

If we want to lower our biological age, we have several options. And there are the same options we have heard forever about how to promote good health, and it is true, what we eat is what we are.

Of course, you should always consult your healthcare provider before making significant changes in your diet. They can assist you to determine what is best based on your entire medical history, and current medication.

Studies of diet and biological age have shown that   the optimal diet is low in calories, plant-based,

high in fish of which the Mediterranean diet encompasses, it does not mean you have to wear the Mediterranean Tarboush hat, but this type of diet contains many anti-inflammatory properties thus mitigating the culprit of many diseases. Often, we speak of what to eat, however, it is also good to remind ourselves to stay away from highly processed foods of which I have a special guest that will reveal little known facts of the food industry since the 1980s, stay tuned.

Scientific research on biological aging has discovered a relationship between higher activity levels and lower biological age. Do you remember the operative word? Enjoyment! Without numerating physical activity, we can participate in, let us just say, find something you enjoy, you are adroit enough to determine what may fit your manner of living.

However, set yourself up for success by going shopping! Yes, that is right! Dressing yourself with clothes just for your physical activity, whatever it may be, will prepare your mindset to motivate you, and wearing something that makes you feel great will establish a cheerful outlook, dress the part for performance, dress to kill.

Focus on how often you are active, and not about getting a standing ovation on performance. On those drab days when you may not want to do much are the days that you should push yourself, you will not have any regrets. Again, studies have shown that physical activity will enhance your mood. So go around the block for a walk and reap the benefits of movement.

Let us be honest and ask ourselves, "what are my sleeping habits?

Undeniably, poor sleep quality has a bad repercussion on our health and longevity, and it also contributes to something we do not want, increased biological age. Grownups should get a minimum of seven hours of sleep every night, however, many of us do not. Possibly because of our lifestyle or a sleep disorder. The nature of our Sleep quality is consequential when it comes to our biological well-being of which at the end of the day it can diminish or lengthen longevity.

Allow me to fill you in on something I have recently implemented to receive the necessary sleep. I am astounded how well it works, at least for me.

This is a military sleep method that was utilized during World War II by soldiers to fall asleep within (two minutes) for the sake of clarity of mind and performance. Can you imagine trying to sleep under such circumstances?

Here is how it works: Begin by consciously relaxing your entire face, your foreheads, your eyelids, your jaw, and tongue, just do not let your tongue hang out. Ease your shoulders and proceed with your hands, drop them to either side of your body and breathe deeply to unwind. Afterwards, progressively relax your legs, beginning with your thighs and then your calves, ankles, and feet. Clear your mind for a few seconds by visualizing a calm scene, like watching the perpetual rolling waves on the beach or swinging in a hammock. Make sure to be in a dark room and When thoughts come up, do not hold on to them, just let them come and go.

Apparently, this exercise induces the hormone known as melatonin, a natural compound produced by the brain that is secreted into the circulatory system which regulates our circadian rhythm, a 24-hour rhythm, much like when chickens begin to roost, or if you want to call yourself a rooster, it is all the same.

The benefits of slumber cannot be overly emphasized! It promotes cellular growth and reduces stress hormones, affects the immune system, how much we eat or not, respiration, hypertension or blood pressure and our cardiovascular health. Should I say more?

Anecdotally, the sleep exercise employed by soldiers who find themselves in the worse situation that deprives sleep   works for me, it is amazing, I urge you to try it.

The bottom line, why should we value human life? And why should we do what we can to preserve it? The sanctity and the sacredness of life comes with the idea that human lives are inherently valuable, more valuable than any living organism or any material element there is on this earth.

Our Natural Abode

As you walk down the sidewalk, ever seen a little delicate white bloom of a beautiful and stubbornly determined flower surrounded and wedged in by concrete? You cannot help but to be fascinated by its delicate beauty, its resilience and its vulnerability as people amble, saunter and trudge over and around it without any concern by most yet appreciated by a few. I have seen grown men be awed by its wonderment and compelled to get on their knee to examine it closer and even take a picture. I am not a professional environmentalist by any measure, but we must admit that our natural abode or home is dynamic, stirring and moving as we consider that each one of us is an integral part of nature. So, we must ask ourselves, what can I personally do to enhance and encourage the beauty in my natural living space?

With that said, in a recent episode, my guest elaborated on how we can contribute to the betterment of our entrusted environment by practical tips and tricks as an immediate plan of action.

Of course, our natural world is huge and immense but the best place to start making a difference is right in our home where we exist. My guest spoke of the three Rs, reduce, reuse, and recycle to minimize household waste and like that little flower, best to get on with it, even if we feel as if our life is wedged in by the concrete of life's unforgiving hard challenges. Again, to use the same illustration,      Even if we feel our existence is small, even if we go unrecognized by most, and as we know this diminutive white blossom will not last forever and at this point it also applies to us as well, however, I am certain some of us at this moment feel contributive which is commendable, and I am also certain some appreciate who you are. So, I say, “in the meantime we can bring beauty to our surroundings, and I am confident some will continue to admire your efforts."

The first thing folks se when driving up is our lawns and gardens, so what can we do to support its healthy growth and reduce water utility and not to mention save our pocketbook?

Many have learned to implement the practice of composting at home. Compost is a blend of ingredients used as plant food and to enrich soil structure that encourages physical organisms, minerals and other biological properties thus beautifying your home.

To make a healthy pile of compost, it boils down to just three ingredients: green material like kitchen scraps and grass clippings. Also, brown material such as coffee grounds, natural sawdust, twigs, and sticks, and of course, moisture. When you practice the making of compost, the soil increases water retention, mitigates erosion, and retains organic materials out of public landfills.

Incidentally, if you have a wood burning stove or a fireplace, keep your ashes to add to your compost providing nutrients to your garden. However, always remember to wait until the ashes cool off which reminds me of an incident of a trailer dumpster becoming a bonfire when ashes were discarded too prematurely, it lit the night, and I was almost compelled to dance celebratorily around the fire. These folks would have fared much better to have kept the ashes for their gardens, but even a blind man has    20-20 hindsight.

During the sizzling summer season, you can elevate the cutting height of your lawnmower to keep grass roots shaded and cooler thus reducing unwanted weed growth, hot spots, or browning spots,

And by leaving grass clippings on your lawn in lieu of discarding the clippings will return and provide nutrients to the soil instead of overwhelming landfills. and your conscious effort in reducing life giving water will reflect itself in your natural surroundings and your utility bill.

There are so many ways we can reuse or repurpose household items and here are a few according to my special guest.

Repurpose glass jars, soda, and juice bottles, they do not belong in the landfill.

There are so many Creative ways to reuse these items such as gift jars filled with your imagination. How about making a flower vase wrapped with a ribbon? Just do not pluck your neighbor's flowers of which I would do as a boy to give mom a gift, I was quite a romantic. There are always savory liquids left over in the kitchen that we can freeze. And I have heard jars can be utilized to ferment our food like making sauerkraut for a tasty hotdog lunch.

Touching further on leftovers, we can freeze meat bones to make broth for other meals like soups, gravy, and sauces. Instead of tossing your potato peelings into compost, why not roast them? With a little salt and pepper, this would make a delicious crispy snack, and the same with apple peelings, you can convert them into apple chips sprinkled with a bit of cinnamon sugar. I am beginning to salivate!

Lastly, there are so many ways to recycle items and here are some ideas by my guest and by my own research.

There has been an outcry about non-biodegradable plastic bags for the longest time. So, how about these following ideas?

Use plastic bags as shelves and garbage liners. You can cut them to size and line bottom shelves and kitchen cupboards to make it easy to keep these areas clean from flower residue, sugar, etc. In our home, we take advantage of plastic bags to line waste baskets around the home, especially in our bathrooms. You can simply wash these plastics bags, dry, and cut them to fit whatever you want. I have also heard that you can take it a little further and turn it into creative fun projects such as sewing them onto a piece of fabric and attach Velcro to them to convert them into adorable and fun lunch wraps, your imagination is limitless.

If you have kids, why not use leftover soda or beer bottle caps as a project to create cute wind chime by  hot gluing them together  to strands of string and connect it to a mason jar cap or to a coffee container, just make sure your little one knows to wait for it to be empty, trust me on that one.

For most of us, we have curb side pickup for grass clipping, branches, and such, but what about other items that should be recycled?

Most municipalities have an official website for garbage and recycling services that we can call and inquire about best practices on recycling. The agency is operated by the Public Works Department Solid Waste Division of which you can google for your locality.

To get bac to the delicate blossom growing where you would least expect, did you know they have been found in ancient Egyptian graves of thousands of years ago, and in China have been created in silk for just as long? What is the message being conveyed?

It is sufficient to say that we are compelled to make an innate connection with our entrusted natural home.

The Root of Greed

When we think of New York, we think of the Big Apple, when we think of Chicago, we think of the windy city, however, when we think of Los Vegas, we think of Sin City because of its well-known unfettered avarice nature. And is it not true humans have the propensity to dub a country, a city, and of course, a person by their reputation or their legacy?

But on the other side of the coin of greed, there is altruism or the concern for the welfare of others, unless they are hiding behind philanthropy for the purpose of recognition, fame or to receive accolades which falls into the definition of greed, this disparaging human behavior is so insidious to say the least.

In one of this week's episodes, and author shared the history, the psychology and the methodology scammers or fraudsters deploy to satisfy their insatiable appetite of greed for personal gain, and it has been ongoing since time immemorial.

Greed is defined as an intensive selfish desire for something such as wealth, power and even for food, and considering today’s social environment, it only is worsening, it is in a state of crisis. But what is the root of greed?

Psychological research has found that avaricious behavior often becomes apparent from early negative events such as abandonment by parents, lack of childhood structure, or neglect. These forlorn emotions manifest themselves in later years, feelings of stress, anxiety, and vulnerability, combined with low self-respect, drives the individual to be preoccupied with intense selfish desires of which is a replacement for the love, compassion, and the sense of security that they desperately needed.

When striving for wealth, power or anything that brings comfort, it is often a distraction from these accumulated negative feelings, and many times at the expense of others who serve simply as an instrument for their personal gain.

However, there are exceptions of the forgoing, when we consider the holy writings, the bible, in the first book of Genesis, it speaks of the first scammer and charlatan ever documented, a fallen angel, and because of the avaricious desire to be recognize and venerated deceived or scammed the first man and woman.  It is so unfortunate, but how do we protect ourselves from scammers or those fraudsters that followed?

It is a matter of knowing how to protect ourselves from being caught, therefore, I say, "let the dog chase its own tail," he will never catch it!

As technology progresses, so will the battle of defending ourselves from these unscrupulous people. It seems every time I log into my bank account, there is another layer of security, and the battle goes on ad infinitum.

Have you ever received an email from Nigeria requesting to submit their funds into your savings account? One of the most common cliche is "if it sounds too good to be true", you know the rest. I once called the local FBI office about such emails several years ago, and they only admitted they had a cabinet full of these complaints. Have you ever received a call from the IRS informing you owe back taxes and if it is not paid immediately, you will be prosecuted?

For collecting back tax payments, the IRS would never call you, but they will notify you by mail and have you satisfy taxes owed  by check, money order via snail mail or by credit card on their secured online site.

The best practices recommended are always to contact the subject government agency or business directly if you receive an unexpected phone call, via texts, email, or other means of communication.

Why do they continue to email and call? They work on the law of averages, meaning for example, one of so many will be too credulous or gullible and will fall victim to their chicanery, and thus benefit financially.

So, what are some signs That it is a Scam?

Scammers will profess to be from a reputable organization we are familiar with, such as government agencies, like the Social Security Administration, the IRS, or Medicare, or conjure up a name that sounds officially legitimate. They prefer to present themselves with businesses you are familiar with, always appealing to your trust, like your utility company, Microsoft, or even from a well-known nonprofit organization asking for donations. Have you noticed that they use a local phone number and when you call back, the number is bogus?

These scammers are always on a fishing expedition, telling you there is a PROBLEM or a potential PRIZE.

Humanity within us all calls for giving others the benefit of the doubt, but when it comes to cold calls you may be a better person than I am. What is the principle that will help to sort out the barrage of cold callers?

In 1987, Ronald Reagan famously coined the phrase "trust but verify" when signing the INF treaty with Mikhail Gorbachev is the principle we need to exercise for our own protection.

When you receive an email or text message from a company you do business with and it looks legitimate, it is still best to constrain yourself from clicking on any links. Instead, contact the company using the customary website you know is trustworthy for verification. Or call them directly and never call the number they provide or the one that shows on your caller ID.

Never ever give your personal financial information no matter how much they insist. Most organizations will not call, email you, or text to ask for your confidential information, like your Social Security number, your banking info, let alone credit card information.

Sometimes we get a little rattled by a cold call and we begin to wonder if it is real or not. Gather your wits about you and talk to someone you trust, like your spouse, friend, your neighbor, or a confidant prior to deciding or doing anything else.

However, if we were caught off guard and the dog caught its tail, report what happened to you to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). And if you were defrauded or witnessed a fraud, make it known to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Depending on the nature of the fraud, this is what to do:

Immediately contact your financial institution and put a hold on your credit card. Again, depending on the type of transaction, it may be possible to receive reimbursement for your money losses. Of course, do not forget to Report the incident to the law authorities and at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and file a formal complaint at IdentityTheft.gov providing you had relinquished personal information. And, for mail fraud, make it known to the United States Postal Inspection Service.

This is the world we liv in, and I remember that old movie of years ago that advocated keeping your friends close, but your enemies closer, meaning we cannot afford to be naive to this world's machination of trying to take advantage of you and me.

The Trappings of Debt

The story goes this way, a mature fish while swimming encountered two young fish and asked, "how's the water?" The two young fish quickly replied, "what the heck is water!?" Is it not true, many of us get used to our day in and day out of life that we just do not question our personal world? And in today's context of our discussion is the choppy waters of our indebtedness. If you are someone that does not appreciate plain talk, this blog is not for you in terms of considering the trappings of debt.

In this week's episode, a financial expert who authored the book entitled Going Broke Is No Joke! 52 Money Tips Everybody Should Know, where she shares the realities of personal finance, especially, for the sake of those in underserved communities.

Do you know that debt reveals a lot about ourselves? Yes, it is all based on our cultural environment which demands immediate gratification, and it affects our psychology as a consumer.

So, what is needed? We need personal discipline, which is not what many may perceive, but the word discipline comes from a Latin root word meaning to teach or train of which is my honest desired intent in this blog.

I can proceed to provide tips and tricks to improve our finances, but often the case it is not the lack of knowledge but the lack of following through with our plan of action. We must ask ourselves, why can I not stick to my plan? We may have good intentions and consider ourselves rational people, logical, and intelligent enough to know what needs to be done, but we fall short of following through. I strongly believe it can be summed up in terms of (emotional unpleasantness, it does not feel good), therefore, we tend to procrastinate and always have excuses to prolong what must be done and avoid the discomfort.

How many times do we avoid exercising because of the discomfort? How many times do we avoid finishing a project at home because our heart is not in it? How many times did we avoid the opportunity to ask for a much-deserved raise? It is simply not pleasant!

That said, the ability to control our debt should be an integral part of the human emotion and if this fundamental fact is missing, the component of enjoyment is elusive or entirely absent, we will not move forward in eliminating debt, it is too emotionally painful. The human sensation, the figurative heart, is a powerful element that needs to be controlled and disciplined. It is the pachyderm in the room that needs to be taught and trained, so, you and the elephant in the room are one, you the teacher and trainer, and the elephant, the overpowering human emotions.

I had mentioned that it is the culture in which we live that affects our psychology, many of us are so centered on what we want immediately, we use credit to obtain it no matter the expense. Why? Because the item we want to purchase makes us feel good! And we will kick the can of debt down the road farther and farther, deeper, and deeper until the day of financial reckoning. And it does not bother many to be in that situation because like those young two fish, we have become acclimated to being underwater in debt and we have not come to terms with it, we avoid the emotional pain that comes with fixing it.

This was exactly what my guest discussed in regard using credit cards much to your financial disadvantage and discredit, no pun intended.

For example, say you have a credit card with a minimum payment of $25 and with a balance, but you have disposable income of $100   to pay down the remaining balance, however, you do not. Why? Bluntly put in case you want to purchase something else that will provide you with an emotional surge of endorphins, it is an addiction. Think of it, your decision has created more on accrued interest over a longer period. Instead of paying the balance down or in full, you would pay exponentially more in interest over time until the drowning man is grasping for straws.

Did you know in 2009 The Credit Card Act mandated card issuers to reflect the truism of credit card debt to consumers? To prevent us from washing overboard, each monthly statement, by law, requires disclosing the length of time to satisfy the credit card debt if they only make the minimum payments compared to what is necessary to eliminate the debt in 36 months. I wonder how many of us have reviewed our statement and understand the repercussions of protracted credit card debt.

So, the question is, how do we discipline, teach, and train this formidable elephant in the room, the human emotion?

We begin by finding ways to integrate the feel-good sensation with our personal finances! Some may conclude that we need more willpower, but you already possess that quality, otherwise, you would be in a state of unconsciousness or in a vegetative condition or worse, dead.

Some would say that you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink. I would argue that you can! If you deprive the horse of water long enough, it will drink. And when it comes to our personal debt, enough is enough, we are depriving ourselves of the emotional comfort that is desperately needed in today's world, and we begin by taking small, determined steps.

When a baby is given birth, does it come into this world sprinting? Of course not! The child begins by moving, turning over, crawling, standing, one or two steps and before you know it, you cannot catch up with this excited and elated infant.

Similarly, take small reasonable steps in improving your financial world by attacking one debt at a time and congratulate yourself as you move forward progressively. and imagine what this will do for emotional health, it will be a real healthy celebration. Make your financial commitment in a consorted manner, with your spouse, your confidant, or if you must, hyperbolically, scream your commitment from the tops of roofs. This kind of commitment is powerful, you cannot easily shy away from your decision, you must follow through and you will realize the integration of emotion and intelligence. Following Through is hinged on tricking yourself by the forgoing and it is not a matter of working harder but smarter.

To wrap it up, I can share what has helped me along the way and it is the willingness to visualize, providing you a mental picture for motivation, especially in the world of debt And it goes like this:

Every time I pay my monthly liabilities, I visualize a portly man, yes, a fat man sitting behind a huge executive desk with a fat cigar in his mouth and he has his opened hand stretched out to me with a smirk demanding my hard earned money, and I may not be too far from the truth, and you have no idea how much I resent this mental picture, but it keeps my boat afloat.

Understanding Disability

Can you think of something you would love to do but cannot? Some would have loved to have played professional football and become as famous as Tom Brady. Some would have loved to have been the leading artist of all time in record sales and leaving a legacy that persists to our day, as Elvis Pressley accomplished. But these two people mentioned could have not been able to accomplish what Stephen Hawking a prestigious British Theoretical Physicist so-called disabled was able to do even while encumbered by a neuro -motor disorder since his 20s and he is no exception.

You can see where I am headed in this blog, simply put, we all live in a spectrum that is based on abilities, natural gifts, and different propensities that only we can expand upon when motivated.

In this week's episode, an author and father spoke of his daughter who was born with Down Syndrome, but who has learned to be integrated into society and leading a productive life, and possibly accomplishing what we could never have done.

We must admit, to be disable is defined as not able, and all of us fit this definition to some degree or another. We may know some who have experienced an egregious physical offense that incapacitated them horribly, however, you find many of these folks are yet (able) to lead productive and succeed in life and contribute to many fields of interest.

I urge you to Think about it, there are far more things that most so-called disabled people can do than not able to do, making them remarkably normal just like you and me and the rest of society.

There are many reasons that some people are reluctant to interact with the physically challenged because they may feel sorry and have the assumption that the disabled are resentful about their physical condition. This is a fallacy in many cases. Many of these folks with disabilities will tell you that their lives are enriched by their personal challenges, and some will even admit, if given the opportunity to change their lives, would not.

What is the most important fact to remember when interacting with people with disabilities is that they are just like you in many ways. And just like all folks, they differ in personality and are quite different in how they view their own disability.

As humans we tend to assign others in restrictive categories or pigeonhole based on their most obvious personality or abilities, but realistically, the disabled do not see themselves in such a narrowed   definition.

Perception is a funny thing because they do not define themselves that way, their inability to do something should not determine how they are viewed by others, no more than someone having the inability to sing or dance and have society pass judgement or be defined by that.

Taking Stephen Hawkings as an example, if you did not know of him as a physicist and his contribution to science, you would only see the obvious, his wheelchair and his lack of physical mobility. However, our first perception of him would fade away once we realize his profound incisive thought as a scientist, his sense of humor, as a husband and everything else that defined his life as a man.

As a community we must learn to look beyond the obvious and make the human connection that can only enrich our own existence.

We also have the tendency to revere disabled folks, to see them as intrepid people and inspirational. We are amazed how they overcome their personal challenges and become a productive citizen, how they are able to compete athletically, and succeed in the business world thus we label them as special. And we wonder and ponder how they are able to do what they do, and perhaps try to learn from their methods, their positive mindset and hope to emulate them for our own success.

The point is, those that are so-called disabled that I have met along the way do not consider themselves as different or special in any way. They do not possess any magical powers but had to learn to tap into their resilience and their positive attitude just like everyone else have to when meeting their own personal challenges. If we want to make the best of it, do we really have a choice? Yes, they are normal like the rest of us.

I call it improvisation! We all have the innate ability to improvise and adjust when it is called upon us to do so in times of whatever hardship we may experience for the sake of survivorship. There is no question, the human spirit is an immensely powerful source.

The attributes that are inherent or cultivated that we evoke in ourselves enables the disabled and you to endure challenges are not unique or heroic to them or anyone else. The ability to overcome any trial that anyone may experience is not beyond our comprehension. in fact, I would venture to say that when the going gets rough, most of us would not crawl underneath our bed in a trembling fetal position, acquiesce and surrender our God given human spirit that resides within all of us. But in the contrary, we would react with the same determination and courage of which is the real lessons we want to learn from those so-called disabled.

So, next time you are introduced to a so-called disabled individual, put effort in getting to know the real person and not the so obvious. Disregard their disability, but search for their abilities, their interests, their likes, and dislikes, and learn how they define themselves.

Never treat them as if they are challenged in any manner. Instead, treat them as an average Joe or Jane. Do you know why? Because they are far more average than we may realize. and you may discover how much you both have in common regarding family, hobbies and aspirations for the future.

I recall an individual in a wheelchair going up on an incline and he looked like he was struggling, however, when he was asked if he needed help, he declined and revealed that it was his own way of building upper body strength, and the allegory of the story is, never assume anything.

If we have questions on how to address a person with a disability, just ask the person directly. What is the big deal? Some do not mind being referred to as handicap, or some may frown about it, unless they are an avid golfer of which is entirely acceptable.

The following says it all. I am reminded of a 2001 American drama film starring Sean Penn "I Am Sam." The principal character, Sam, was an adult with a developmental disability. His attorney not thinking says to Sam: "I need that list of names from you people who can testify that you are a good father despite your handicap." Exasperated, the attorney proceeded to apologize and asked what she should call him. He replied, "call me Sam."