Kahlil Gibran on Talking..

And then a scholar said, "Speak of Talking."

And he answered, saying:

You talk when you cease to be at peace with your thoughts;

And when you can no longer dwell in the solitude of your heart you live in your lips, and sound is a diversion and a pastime.

And in much of your talking, thinking is half murdered.

For thought is a bird of space, that in a cage of words many indeed unfold its wings but cannot fly.

There are those among you who seek the talkative through fear of being alone.

The silence of aloneness reveals to their eyes their naked selves and they would escape.

And there are those who talk, and without knowledge or forethought reveal a truth which they themselves do not understand.

And there are those who have the truth within them, but they tell it not in words.

In the bosom of such as these the spirit dwells in rhythmic silence.

When you meet your friend on the roadside or in the market place, let the spirit in you move your lips and direct your tongue.

Let the voice within your voice speak to the ear of his ear;

For his soul will keep the truth of your heart as the taste of the wine is remembered

When the color is forgotten and the vessel is no more. 

I have   been deeply touched and inspired by the writings of the great Lebanese-American poet and author Kahlil Gibran. He wrote so powerfully and sublimely about subjects of eternal values, things that speak to our true humanity.

I would love to share some of them with you over the next few months. Enjoy!

“You work that you may keep pace with the earth and the soul of the earth.

For to be idle is to become a stranger unto the seasons, and to step out of life's procession, that marches in majesty and proud submission towards the infinite.

When you work you are a flute through whose heart the whispering of the hours turns to music.

Which of you would be a reed, dumb and silent, when all else sings together in unison?

Always you have been told that work is a curse and labour a misfortune.

But I say to you that when you work you fulfil a part of earth's furthest dream, assigned to you when that dream was born,

And in keeping yourself with labour you are in truth loving life,

And to love life through labour is to be intimate with life's inmost secret.

But if you in your pain call birth an affliction and the support of the flesh a curse written upon your brow, then I answer that naught but the sweat of your brow shall wash away that which is written.

You have been told also life is darkness, and in your weariness you echo what was said by the weary.

And I say that life is indeed darkness save when there is urge,

And all urge is blind save when there is knowledge,

And all knowledge is vain save when there is work,

And all work is empty save when there is love;

And when you work with love you bind yourself to yourself, and to one another, and to God.

And what is it to work with love?

It is to weave the cloth with threads drawn from your heart, even as if your beloved were to wear that cloth.

It is to build a house with affection, even as if your beloved were to dwell in that house.

It is to sow seeds with tenderness and reap the harvest with joy, even as if your beloved were to eat the fruit.

It is to charge all things you fashion with a breath of your own spirit,

And to know that all the blessed dead are standing about you and watching.

Often have I heard you say, as if speaking in sleep, "he who works in marble, and finds the shape of his own soul in the stone, is a nobler than he who ploughs the soil.

And he who seizes the rainbow to lay it on a cloth in the likeness of man, is more than he who makes the sandals for our feet."

But I say, not in sleep but in the over-wakefulness of noontide, that the wind speaks not more sweetly to the giant oaks than to the least of all the blades of grass;

And he alone is great who turns the voice of the wind into a song made sweeter by his own loving.

Work is love made visible.

And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy.

For if you bake bread with indifference, you bake a bitter bread that feeds but half man's hunger.

And if you grudge the crushing of the grapes, your grudge distils a poison in the wine.

And if you sing though as angels, and love not the singing, you muffle man's ears to the voices of the day and the voices of the night”. 

 

Great God, who has told us
"Vengeance is mine,"
save us from ourselves,
save us from the vengeance in our hearts
and the acid in our souls.

Save us from our desire to hurt as we have been hurt,
to punish as we have been punished,
to terrorize as we have been terrorized.

Give us the strength it takes
to listen rather than to judge,
to trust rather than to fear,
to try again and again
to make peace even when peace eludes us.

We ask, O God, for the grace
to be our best selves.
We ask for the vision
to be builders of the human community
rather than its destroyers.
We ask for the humility as a people
to understand the fears and hopes of other peoples.

We ask for the love it takes
to bequeath to the children of the world to come
more than the failures of our own making.
We ask for the heart it takes
to care for all the peoples
of Afghanistan and Iraq, of Palestine and Israel
as well as for ourselves.

Give us the depth of soul, O God,
to constrain our might,
to resist the temptations of power
to refuse to attack the attackable,
to understand
that vengeance begets violence,
and to bring peace--not war--wherever we go.

For You, O God, have been merciful to us.
For You, O God, have been patient with us.
For You, O God, have been gracious to us.

And so may we be merciful
and patient
and gracious
and trusting
with these others whom you also love.

This we ask through Jesus,
the one without vengeance in his heart.
This we ask forever and ever. Amen

prayer for world peace - sr. joan chittister - benedictine sisters of erie

A GUIDE FOR LIVING IN 2012

 

Health:

1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow ON trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured IN factories.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games
7. Read more books than you did in 2011. 
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
9. Sleep at least 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minute walk daily.  And while you walk, smile.
 
Personality:

11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts on things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't overdo.  Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously.  No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake.
17. Envy is a waste of time. 
18. Forget issues of the past.  Don't remind your partner of his/her mistakes in the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.  Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn.  Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument.  Agree to disagree...
 
Society:

25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time with people over the age of 70, and under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick.  Your friends will.  Stay in touch.
 
Life:

32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful, or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and show up.
37. The best is yet to come...
38. When you wake up alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Innermost is always happy. So, be happy.  

ENJOY YOUR CAREER LONGER WITH THESE TIPS FOR A LONGER HEALTHIER LIFE

BY ADEDAPO ADERELE, B.PHARM, ND

It has been said that the only sure thing in life is change. Well, we might add death. Much as we would prefer not to dwell on it, the truth is we are all sure to shake hands with the grim reaper one day. For many people living on the fast lane of high wire corporate world, that day may come sooner than they would imagine- unless they begin to take evasive action now!

Here are some scientific strategies that can be employed to add years of good living to your future, and help you to enjoy your success longer.

1.       DRINK AT LEAST TWO LITRES OF WATER DAILY- Loma Linda University scientist found that people who drank this amount of water everyday were54% less likely to suffer a fatal heart attack than those who drank less.

2.       WHEN SICK, CALL YOUR DOCTOR, THEN YOUR BOSS- A U.K study found that over a three year period, people who went to work despite feeling sick had double the heart attack risk of those who stayed in bed or called their doctor.

3.       DON’T IGNORE THE FIRE IN YOUR CHEST- Untreated heartburn can lead to a heart attack, so says a study published in the International Journal of Cardiology. As acid levels in the esophagus rise, the incidence of blocked blood flow to the heart also rises by 20%

4.       COCOA IS NOT JUST FOR THE KIDS- Consuming just four grams of cocoa per day can cut your risk of dying from heart disease by 50%. So go ahead and struggle with your kids for your own daily cup of hot cocoa or that bar of dark chocolate, its nothing to be ashamed about!

5.       TAKE A DAILY MULTIVITAMIN- Lets face it, its usually difficult to find enough time to eat a balanced diet. Rather we settle for the popular fast food which is lacking in the life giving essential nutrients that our bodies need. So, pop a pill everyday to stay healthy.

6.       EAT FRUITS APLENTY-If you consume more than five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, you have a 26% lower risk of a stroke than people who ate fewer than three servings, according to a recent U.K study.

7.       HAVE YOUR BLOOD SUGAR LEVEL TESTED – High blood sugar leads to diabetes which dramatically increases your chances of developing cardiovascular disease and kidney problems. A warning sign is fasting blood sugar that’s higher than 100mg per deciliter. Talk to your healthcare provider about how to control your blood sugar.

8.       KEEP A LID ON IT AND CHILL OUT – Men who frequently express anger outwardly are more than twice as likely to suffer a stroke as those who control their tempers. Whenever you feel about to explode, take a deep breath, and take a break.

9.       HELP WITH CHORES – A recent study found that doing 150 calories worth of chores a day can lower high blood pressure by 13 points. The reduction lasts for only about 8 hours, but make it a daily habit and you can lower your BP in the long term. Added bonus: helping out more with the housework may improve your sex life too!

10.   LIVE YOUR LIFE IN A SMOKE FREE ZONE – Second hand smoke, apart from boosting your lung cancer risk, also raises your chances of having diabetes by 40%- nearly the same as smoking does.

11.   WHEN DRIVING, GO HANDS FREE – Apart from being against the law, holding your cell phone to your ear when driving is downright stupid and dangerous. Not only are you likely to kill yourself, you are a hazard to others as well!

12.   THINK POSITIVE – Scientists from Purdue found that constant worrying shortens your lifespan by 16 years.

13.   MAKE LOVE, NOT WAR – Several researchers have found a link between physical and emotional intimacy and longevity. Married couples live longer than unmarried or divorced people. A satisfactory sex life reduces the risk of prostate enlargement in men and reduces the severity or incidence of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and menopausal symptoms in women. So when next either of you rolls over and reaches for the other, don’t say no. its really good for your health!

Feeling Really Stressed At Work?
Try a Belly Laugh
Adedapo Aderele, B.Pharm. N.D

It’s official. Laughter is indeed the best medicine. Scientists in the U S have found a plethora of benefits that can be derived from laughing heartily several times a day.

The biggest pay off seems to be a release of tension followed by a relaxation of the skeletal muscles. Laughter has a beneficial effect on all the body systems such as the respiratory system, the cardiovascular system, central nervous system, endocrine system and the immune system. Laughter releases endorphins, the body’s natural pain killers, thus producing a general feeling of euphoria or well being. Little wonder that in ancient Greece, hospitals were built next to amphitheaters to help ‘cure’ the patients.

Stress constricts blood vessels, increases heart rate and blood pressure, and increases the sugar levels in the blood. Studies have shown that laughter reduces levels of the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline, and in effect reverses the constriction of blood vessels.

Laughter also provides a good cardiovascular workout. It forces us to inhale and exhale more forcefully, thus cleansing the lungs of stale air and making room for fresh clean life giving oxygen to permeate our body cells. 

Mark Twain said ‘The human race has only one really effective weapon, and that’s laughter. The moment it arises, all our hardnesses yield, all our irritations and resentments slip away, and a sunny spirit takes their place’

So the next time you feel stress creeping up on you, take a break and roar with laughter!

Take Care of Your Heart

TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEART

By Adedapo Aderele, B.Pharm N.D

Heart disease is the number one killer in the world. The incidence is even higher among corporate executives. It is all too easy to get consumed by the daily grind of your job. Leaving home before dawn in the hope of beating the traffic. The teeth gnashing that ensues when you still fing yourself stuck in the traffic. Bracing yourself as you step into the office to face the myriad pressures of the day ahead. Finally arriving back home late at night, too exhausted to even spend quality time with your family.

 Little wonder then that most people have already developed silent but extremely dangerous structural changes in their cardiovascular system. Even if it does not kill you, a damaged heart can seriously compromise your ability to pursue your career. The good news however, is that you can prevent, and in some cases, even reverse damage to your heart, no matter how old you are. The following are helpful tips to enable you maintain a healthy heart.

Stop Smoking – If you smoke, you increase your risk of heart attack by 250% compared to a non smoker. When you stop smoking, your heart rate and blood pressure will most likely drop to normal levels. If you are a non smoker ensure that you avoid inhaling second hand smoke.

Reduce Your Blood Cholesterol – You can do this by paying close attention to what you eat. Avoid saturated fat which stimulates the body to produce its own harmful cholesterol. Cut back on dairy products and red meat. Increase your consumption of fruits vegetables and beans.

Exercise – this helps your cardiovascular system by strengthening the heart muscle, improving blood circulation, reducing stress and fighting the formation of clots. The best kind of exercise for the heart is aerobic, the kind that uses large muscle groups for prolonged periods of time. These include brisk walking, jogging, running, cycling, dancing and lovemaking (yes, lovemaking).

Lower Your Blood Pressure – High blood pressure strains the heart muscle and damages the arterial walls. You can lower your blood pressure by reducing your sodium intake. Aim for less than 1500mg daily. Do not add salt to food after it is served. Avoid baking soda, mono sodium glutamate, salted snacks like cashew nuts, potato chips, plantain chips etc. also, increase your potassium intake by eating fresh fruits (not packaged fruit juices), vegetables, bananas, dates, beans. Get more fiber from oat bran, whole wheat products and legumes.

Eat plenty of oily fish for Omega-3 fatty acids which help lower cholesterol levels and inflammation of the artery walls. Take plenty of antioxidants like vitamins C and E and Beta Carotene.

Learn to cope with stress. Ensure that you put every aspect of your life in proper perspective.

Important

Advanced stages of heart disease need to be taken seriously. Signs that you should never ignore include

Persistent headaches, Dizziness , Unexplained profuse sweating , Blurred vision, Weakness or numbness on one side of the body, Crushing or ‘tight’ pain in the chest that may spread to the neck, jaw or left arm, Nausea and vomiting, Confusion, restlessness or anxiety., Any of these symptoms will warrant the immediate attention of a medical professional. The quicker you can get to a hospital the better your chances of survival and recovery.