by Lawrence Ferlinghetti-1955

The world is a beautiful place
to be born into
if you don’t mind happiness
not always being
so very much fun
if you don’t mind a touch of hell
now and then
just when everything is fine
because even in heaven
they don’t sing
all the time

The world is a beautiful place
to be born into
if you don’t mind some people
dying
all the time
or maybe only starving
some of the time
which isn’t half bad
if it isn’t you

Oh the world is a beautiful place
to be born into
if you don’t much mind
a few dead minds
in the higher places
or a bomb or two
now and then
in your upturned faces
or such other improprieties
as our Name Brand society
is prey to
with its men of distinction
and its men of extinction
and its priests
and other patrolmen
and its various segregations
and congressional investigations
and other constipations
that our fool flesh
is heir to

Yes the world is the best place of
all
for a lot of such things as
making the fun scene
and making the love scene
and making the sad scene
and singing low songs and having
inspirations
and walking around
looking at everything
and smelling flowers
and goosing statues
and even thinking
and kissing people
and
making babies and wearing pants
and waving hats and
dancing
and going swimming in rivers
on picnics
in the middle of the summer
and just generally
‘living it up’
Yes
but then right in the middle of it
comes the smiling
mortician

“Kabbalah seeks to define the nature of the universe and the human being, the nature and purpose of existence, and various other questions. It also presents methods to aid understanding of these concepts.” –Wikipedia

Later, while living in New York as an “adult,” I came across a flyer for a Kabbalah information session/orientation/ open house and decided to attend. While there, a lot was said but, there were certain ideas stated that I agreed with.

According to Kabbalah, the critical need to confront the problem of negative influences cannot be underestimated. Kabbalah teaches us that we can remove intrusive negative influences by using tools such as the Red String!

There is a very religious side to Kabbalah (it is a religion) but there is a very practical everyday side as well. What I appreciate about the teachings of Kabbalah is the idea of separating yourself from your ego, and materialism. Something that is said a lot in the teachings of Kabbalah is roughly, “If you are not moving towards the light, then you are going towards the darkness.” Kabbalah is meant to be used, not just learned, it urges you to  constantly acknowledge your actions, and to make an effort to improve yourself daily.

Although I am not Jewish, and not ‘really into’ Kabbalah, I agree with some of there core principles and I think/believe I am able to benefit from some of their teachings.

Via the internet,I am presented with Kabbalistic wisdom daily, through an e-mail mailing list. I recommend everyone to sign up to receive it. It’s short and gives you something to think about or integrate into your day.

Everyone knows that exercise has many health benefits such as increasing your fitness level and helping you lose weight.  But, a benefit of exercise that is often overlooked, is how exercise can improve your mood and give you a feeling of well being.

This occurs during exercise when endorphins are released in the body, they are capable of producing these feelings of euphoria and well being. The feelings produced can be so powerful that they can mask pain.

All it takes to experience these benefits from endorphins are moderate amounts of exercise. If you are new to exercise, you may experience a particularly strong effect as endorphins are released in the body.

They have found that those who volunteer have:

• lower mortality rates
• greater functional ability
• lower rates of depression later in life than those who do not volunteer
• less incidence of heart disease

These studies find that older volunteers are more likely to receive significant health benefits from volunteering than younger volunteers.

“Volunteering makes the heart grow stronger… More than 61 million Americans volunteer to improve conditions for people in need and to unselfishly give of themselves. While the motivation is altruistic, it is gratifying to learn that their efforts are returning considerable health benefits.”

- David Eisner, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service

Vitamin D or “The Happiness Vitamin,” is a natural vitamin that we get from the sun.

Your kidney's are dependent on sufficent amounts of vitamin D- the sun, milk, eggs, fatty fish, and nutritional supplements can provide you with your daily dose of this vitamin.

How your body makes vitamin D. The sun’s energy turns a chemical in your skin into vitamin D3, which is carried to your liver and then your kidneys to transform it to active vitamin D.

When you go outside in the sun you absorb Vitamin D from the sunlight and it in turn makes you happy. This is why on cloudy or rainy days some people  feel down. This lack of vitamin D is also why some people only get depressed during winter…

There are actually few foods that contain vitamin D, naturally. However, foods like milk, cereal, bread and orange juice are fortified with vitamin D allowing some benefits. Normal, sunlight exposure provides most people with their entire vitamin D requirement.

Vitamin D is important in many ways it:

• helps maintain bone density
• healthy bone growth
• helps maintain the normal functioning of the nervous system
• It is crucially important in aiding the body’s absorption of calcium

For more information read : The Importance of Vitamin D: Examine How the Sunshine Vitamin is Key to Good Health

“Its not what you “are” that holds you back; it’s what you think you are not.”

- The Psychology of Winning by Dennis Waitley

I received this book as a gift from a co-worker one Christmas. I read it over the Holiday’s and really enjoyed it. It’s a quick read, with a lot of good concepts and ideas throughout.

The Psychology of Winning covers the 10 qualities of winners, you’ll probably want to read it a couple times… which allows you to review the concepts and apply them in your day to day life… Like I’ve stated before, the most important message in the book is that what matters is not what happens to you in life, but how you react to what happens to you.  You can’t control the cards that you are dealt, but you can control your attitude and your willingness to make the best of it.

Reading this book, will get you excited about life and your place in the world, because it helps you to realize that you have the power to make it great. Don’t let things happen to you MAKE THEM HAPPEN.

Click here to purchase this book, read reviews of it.

-From Marshall Rosenberg’s book:  Nonviolent Communication

To learn more visit the Center for Nonviolent Communication

“I expect to pass through life but once. If, therefore, there be any kindness I can show, Or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, Let me do it now, as I shall not pass this way again.”
-William Penn

A random act of kindness is a selfless act performed by a someone that either  assists or cheers up another individual for no reason… other than to make the other person smile, or be happier. Either spontaneous or planned in advance, random acts of kindness are encouraged by various communities.

The Random acts of kindness foundation was established in 1995 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation is a resource for people committed to spreading kindness. They provide a wide variety of materials and resources on their website that can assist you in creating an act of kindness and/or learn about the foundation and it’s mission. While reading through the website and looking up information on-line I was surprised to learn about how wide-spread this movement/idea/foundation is.

Some examples of acts of kindness are:

• Say thank you
• Get OFF the phone at check-out counter, and say “Hello” (this is an easy one and something that people should do naturally)
  
• Smile
• Give someone a compliment

A random acts of kindness bumper sticker, reminds people on the road to BE NICE!

You can  find more information regarding how to practice random acts of kindness here.

Practiced regularly meditation will promote a sense of calm and control, you’ll feel more relaxed and happy. Your ability to concentrate will be greater, and you won’t be as stressed. You’ll feel more peaceful and relaxed about everything. One of the greatest benefits of meditation is learning to go with the flow.

There are many forms of meditation but the easiest form is “Breathing Meditation.” In this meditation you simply pay attention to your breath and try to ignore all external distractions.

The benefits of meditation are endless click here to see a list of 100 benefits of meditation.

It’s Good For YOU!

One of the most significant health benefits associated with organic food is the fact that these products are free from any chemicals.

A number of recent research studies have also considered the benefits of eating organic food. Some of these research endeavors focused on the effects organic foods might have to lower the incidence of certain diseases, including some types of cancer.

Organically grown fruits and vegetables have higher levels of antioxidants than traditionally cultivated produce. As a result these items reduce the risk of certain types of cancers.

If you are interested in making certain that the food you  consume promotes good health, then your should  turn to organic food products.  By eating organic food, you will obtain optimal levels of wellness,  and take important steps towards preventing serious diseases such as cancer.

Organic facts

• The average non organic fruit contains more than 20 pesticides
• Organic food is much more rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber and retains the levels of nutrients for much longer
• Your body will be more resistant to disease as it will have higher levels of the essential nutrients it needs to fight off infection
• You will have more energy through consuming lower levels of toxins and chemicals that slow your body down
• Organic food producers must meet stringent standards

Here are a list of place where you can buy organic food:

Whole Foods Market

Local Farmers Market

Local Food Coop