Au Revoir 2008

Few more hours to go and 2008 will leave us. Personally it's been a roller coaster year. The lows coming first before the highs. And the ugly somewhere in between. I have learned a few things, unlearn a great many things and re-learn other things.

I have no resolution for the coming year except that I intend to things differently. One thing at a time. To learn, unlearn and re-learn.

Wishing all a Happy New Year, 2009.

Abandon

You do not always have to finish what you start. If the negotiation you have entered is taking you nowhere, abandon. The ability to finish what you started will build you an awesome reputation but it may not always be profitable. A man who is successful in everything he does is a very rare . Most of us do not possess this talent and that is fact we must accept. It is better to be abandon and gather our strength to start anew.

Abandon things that does not work out is not a sign of weakness but strength.

Mental State

Be aware of your mental state. Failing to do so can cause anguish. Failing to do will make you a victim. Failing to do so can lead you to a life you did not choose.

When you are about to act on something, be aware the state of your mind. Do you really need that dress or is the feel good factor you really desire? When you about to give someone an advice-like what I am doing here- is it because you really care or are you just feeding your ego?

Be aware of the state of mind you are in and you save yourself from many pitfalls. Are you angry at the moment? Then, do not decide on anything now. The same applies when you are euphoric.

And don't react without being aware what is going through your mind. Yes, you need to decide fast but that is what you do. You decide.

Have a good day.

You Decide

Yes, that's right. Why must you let someone tell you how far you can go life? Don't ever let anyone tell you that you cannot do this, you cannot do that. Don't get me wrong, I am preaching careless abandon. But making the right choices about your life. And that responsibility is yours.

You decide what you want in your life. You decide what you must today to achieve all your dreams. Don't let your friends, your teachers, your bosses or even your parents run your life. One life, one time- that is what you got. Do it your way.

A Little Selfishness

A little selfishness is good for you. Yes, that's right.They teach us not to be selfish but really, you and I won't be here if our ancestors were not selfish. Throughout evolution, the human body had to endure various challenges and it is built to take care of itself first.

Taking care of the world is good. But take of yourself first. Saving the environment is good. But save yourself first. Whatever good they say about working together may be true, but history teaches that the fittest survives.

Anger

Keep your anger in check. Always.

When the mood during your interaction with others starts to show strain, check yourself. Pause and take a break. Don't let your anger get in the way to whatever you are trying to achieve. If the other person keep going on in an aggressive manner, say something completely different from the matter being discussed to disarm him. Break his line of thought. Keep you peace of mind.

Never get caught in the heat of the moment. Keep telling yourself to be cool. Remember, a moment of madness may lead to lifetime of misery.

One Life

That is all what we have. One Life. Either we make it good or we waste it, we are only given one life. It seems a bit unfair at times right. I mean, we all do mistakes. Wrong turnings every now and then. But unlike playing a video game, we cannot save any particular event in our life and then go back and make it better after being all the wiser going through it the first time. Why worry then? Let us put trust in ourselves and say that, "I make this right, I will give my best and make the best out of this moment. There is no return."

So, if there are things you want to do. Do it now. There is no point in wasting time and contemplating too much. If it meant to be that it will be and if it didn't, it never was. So as we go through life, let us seize the day, everyday. After all we have but One Life.

Inspirational Writings #15

Smile ~ Author Unknown

A smile costs nothing, but gives much-
It takes but a moment, but the memory of it usually lasts forever.
None are so rich that can get along without it-
And none are so poor but that can be made rich by it.

It enriches those who receive, without making poor those who give-
It creates sunshine in the home,
Fosters good will in business,

And is the best antidote for trouble-
And yet it cannot be begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is of no
value
Unless it is given away.

Some people are too busy to give you a smile-
Give them one of yours-
For the good Lord knows that no one needs a smile so badly
As he or she who has no more smiles left to give.

Inspirational Writings #14

The Present - Author Unknown

Imagine there was a bank that credited your very own account each morning with a large sum of money. But, it carried over no balance from day to day. Every evening it deleted whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day. What would you do? Draw out all of it, of course!

Each of us has such a bank. Its name is - Time. Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off, as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose. It carries over no balance. It allows no overdraft.

Each day it makes a new deposit for you. Each night it burns the remains of the day. If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours. There is no going back. There is no drawing against the "tomorrow." You must live in the present on today's deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness, and success!

The clock is running. Make the most of today. And remember that time waits for no one. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. But today is a gift. That's why it's called The Present!

Just Say No

One of life's great lessons is knowing when to refuse. Not only you should know when to refuse others but most importantly you must refuse yourself. There are many trivial things that will seek your attention, sucking away your time from the real important things, refuse them. Keep away from meddling into the affairs of others and keep away others from meddling with yours.

Refuse your friendship to those who you are suspicious of. Refuse the salesman who approaches you in your office. Refuse the desire for immediate gratification.

To refuse one activity frees up time for another. Always give your time to things the matters most to you and always have time for yourself.

Inspirational Writing #13

Michael's Story ~ Author Unknown

Michael is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, would reply, "If I were any
better, I would be twins!" He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Michael was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation. Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Michael and
asked him,"I don't get it! You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?"

Michael replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or ... you can choose to be in a bad mood. I choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or ... I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or... I can point out the positive side of life. I Choose the positive side of life."

"Yeah, right, it's not that easy," I protested.

"Yes, it is," Michael said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live your life."

I reflected on what Michael said. Soon thereafter, I left the Tower Industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it. Several years later, I heard that Michael was involved in a serious accident, falling
some 60 feet from a communications tower. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Michael was released from the hospital with rods placed in his back. I saw Michael about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied.

"If I were anybetter, I'd be twins. Wanna see my scars?"

I declined to see his wounds, but I did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place. "The first thing that went through my mind was the well-being of my soon-to-be-born daughter," Michael replied. "Then, as I lay on the ground, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or ... I could choose to die. I chose to live."


"Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked. Michael continued,

"...the paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read "he's a dead man. I knew I needed to take action."

"What did you do?" I asked.

"Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me," said Michael.
"She asked if I was allergic to anything. 'Yes', I replied. The
doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I
took a deep breath and yelled, 'Gravity.' "

Over their laughter, he said

"I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead."

Michael lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude. I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully. Attitude, after all, is everything.

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each

day has enough trouble of its own." After all today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.

Inspirational Writing #12

21 Suggestions for Success ~ H Jackson Brown

1. Marry the right person. This one decision will determine 90% of your happiness or misery.

2. Work at something you enjoy and that's worthy of your time and talent.

3. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

4. Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.

5. Be forgiving of yourself and others.

6. Be generous.

7. Have a grateful heart.

8. Persistence, persistence, persistence.

9. Discipline yourself to save money on even the most modest salary.

10. Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.

11. Commit yourself to constant improvement.

12. Commit yourself to quality.

13. Understand that happiness is not based on possessions, power or prestige, but on relationships with people you love and respect.

14. Be loyal.

15. Be honest.

16. Be a self starter.

17. Be decisive even if it means you'll sometimes be wrong.

18. Stop blaming others. Take responsibility for every area of your life.

19. Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life, you'll regret the things you didn't do more than the ones you did.

20. Take good care of those you love.

21. Don't do anything that wouldn't make your Mom proud.

Inspirational Writing #11

Doors of Daring ~ Henry Van Dyke

The mountains that inclose the vale
With walls of granite, steep and high,
Invite the fearless foot to scale
Their stairway toward the sky.

The restless, deep, dividing sea
That flows and foams from shore to shore,
Calls to its sunburned chivalry,
"Push out, set sail, explore!"

The bars of life at which we fret,
That seems to prison and control,
Are but doors of daring, set
Ajar before the soul.

Say not, "Too poor," but freely give;
Sigh not, "Too weak," but boldly try;
You can begin to live
Until you dare to die.

Pillars

Just like a building needs pillars to stand, you must build your personality based on pillars that will support you and make you stand tall in this world. Many people will just follow the crowd or the flavour of the month or their favourite star or whatever they read. If you had based your personality on strong pillars then you will not sway.

If you have honesty as one of your pillars then finding a million bucks will not put you in a dilemma. You will know what to do. You will not hesitate to report your findings. Many will call you an idiot for  this but you have shown your character and you have made a stand. You will be better for it.

Look around you and you will notice that those who stand tall are those who have built their characters based on universal pillars of life such as hard work, honesty, service above self, charity and so on.

What are your pillars?

Inspirational Writings #10

It Couldn't Be Done ~ Edgar Guest

Somebody said that it
couldn't be done,
But, he with a chuckle replied
That "maybe it couldn't" but he would be one
Who wouldn't say so till he'd tried.

So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, as he did it.

Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you'll never do that;
At least no one we know has done it";
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,
And the first thing we knew he'd begun it.

With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to you, one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.

But just buckle right in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start to sing as you tackle the thing
That cannot be done, and you'll do it

A Laconic Answer

When Philip Of Macedonia (382-336 BC) wanted to bring the the various cities and states of Greece under his command, he set forth his army and nearly all bowed before him. But Sparta resisted. Living in southern Greece in a place known as Laconia, Spartans are known for their simple habits and bravery. They are also a people of few words. Philip, knowing very well that Sparta must be subdued before claiming all of Greece as his, sent a message to the Spartans.

"If you do not submit at once, I will invade your country. And if I invade, I will pillage and burn everything you hold dear. If I march into Laconia, I will level your great city to the ground."

After a few days, Philip received an answer from the Spartans in a letter. Only one word was written on it.

That word was "IF."

Inspirational Writing #9

IF - Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you.
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat these two impostors just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

Inspirational Writing #8

A person who doubts himself is like a man who enlist in the rank of his enemies and bears arms against himself. He makes his failure certain by himself being the first person to be convinced of it

~ Alexander Dumas

Being Yourself

What I must do is all that concerns me, not what the people think.
This rule, equally arduous in actual and intellectual life, may serve
for the whole distinction between greatness and meanness. It is the
harder, because you will always find those who think they know what is
your duty better than you know it. It is easy in the world to live
after the world's opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our
own; but the great person is one who in the midst of the crowd keeps
with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Do you often find yourself trying to justify everything? Do you try to please everyone? We all face this pressure to confirm to our surroundings. We do not like to be the odd one out. We want to fit in. We do not one to be the one that rocks the boat.
As I grow older, I realise that I dot need to confirm to anything. I realise that I have every right to be think what I want. I have every right to speak my mind and deserve to be heard.

I am what I am and no one has the right to tell me to be anyone else.

Lose Weight in 10 Simple Ways

1. Drink enough water- at least 8-10 glasses everyday

2. Restrict alcohol intake, if possible avoid it

3. Avoid saturated fats

4. Include low fat milk products, i.e yogurt, cottage cheese, skimmed milk- they help cravings for food

5. Take more vegetables, beans, whole grains

6. Include food with Omega 3 fatty acids such as mackerels, salmon and herrings.

7. Eat four or five meals of smaller portions rather then three main meals

8. Take adequate fiber.

9. Add spices such as ginger, mustard, pepper, cinnamon, clove, etc- it helps decrease sugar cravings

10. Avoid food two to three hours before bedtime

What You Imagine May Change Your Perception

A new study by Vanderbilt University have found that imagery can bias future perception by way of short-term memory.

"You might think you need to imagine something 10 times or 100 times
before it has an impact," says Frank Tong, associate professor of
psychology and co-author of the study. "Our results show that even a
single instance of imagery can tilt how you see the world one way or
another, dramatically, if the conditions are right."

Read more here.

14 Scientifically-Proven Ways to Boost Brain Power

This posting appeared in eMedExpert.com

Until just a few years ago, doctors believed that the brain stopped making new neural connections - meaning that the memory began to get irreversibly worse - when the body stopped developing, usually in the early 20s. And doctors knew that, like any other part of the body, neurons weaken as people age. Loss of brain function due to neural breakdown was assumed to be a normal, unavoidable part of aging. It turns out they were wrong.

In the past few years, it has become clear that you can, in fact, make new neurons starting in your 20s and continuing well into old age. You can literally rewire the brain with new parts as the older parts wear out. How?

There are lots of things you can do right now to preserve, protect and enhance your gray matter.

1. Physical exercise

A healthy body really does mean a healthy mind. In the last decade it became clear that regular exercise beneficially affects brain function. Exercise boosts brain power by stimulating formation of new brain cells (neurons), the process known as neurogenesis. Also, exercise strengthens connections between those cells. Researchers have found the areas of the brain that are stimulated through exercise are associated with memory and learning1.

Physical exercise may even help prevent Alzheimer's disease. Several studies have confirmed that regular physical activity reduces the risk of cognitive decline and dementia in old age.

2. Lifelong learning - your brain is a learning machine

For most of us, after we graduate from high school or college, our pursuit of new knowledge bottoms out over time. We may be masters at what we do, but we aren't learning new things. There is clear evidence that education and learning produce favourable changes in the brain. Researchers believe that intellectual activity play a neuroprotective role against dementia. Some studies suggest that having a low level of formal education and poor linguistic skills is a risk factor for cognitive decline in later life.

But if you continue to learn and challenge yourself, your brain continues to grow, literally. Recent research have demonstrated that learning over time enhances memory and the survival of new brain cells. An active brain produces new connections between nerve cells that allow cells to communicate with one another. This helps your brain store and retrieve information more easily, no matter what your age.

How can you challenge yourself? Scientists agree that anything that is new and expands your knowledge will be effective:

• Learning to play a musical instrument
• Switching careers or starting a new one
• Starting a new hobby, such as crafts, painting, biking or bird-watching
• Learning a foreign language. According to the latest study speaking more than one language may slow the aging process in the mind.
• Staying informed about what's going on in the world
• Learning to cook new dish

If you let your brain be idle, it's not going to be in the best health.

3. Mental stimulation

Stimulate your brain. Make sure you're actively problem-solving and having to use your memory. Just as physical activity keeps your body strong, mental activity keeps your mind sharp and agile. The more we think, the better our brains function - regardless of age. Without something to keep us mentally charged, our brains, like unused muscles, can atrophy, leading to a decline in cognitive abilities.

The study, conducted by researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, found that mentally active seniors reduced their risk of dementia by as much as 75 percent, compared to those who do not stimulate their minds. Researchers from the Princeton University found that simple cognitive stimulation such as Bingo can be of great value to the daily management of Alzheimer's patients.

Some good ways to stimulate your mind:

• Travel
• Going to museums
• Reading books, newspapers, or magazines
• Play 'thinking' games like cards, checkers, chess, crosswords, sudoku puzzles
• Scrabble or doing crossword puzzles
• Playing musical instruments
• Dancing
• Crafts such as drawing, painting, and ceramics
• Ditch the calculator once in while and forcing yourself to do the calculation
• Volunteering

4. Social interaction - People are good medicine

"Social interaction" can be measured by how often people talk on the phone with friends, neighbors and relatives, how often they get together with them, how many people they can share their most private feelings and concerns with.

Socializing may have a protective effect on the brain because it's a form of mental exercise. Not only does interacting with people stimulate the brain, but it can also keep you sharp, because dealing with people can be pretty challenging. Strong social ties have been associated with lower blood pressure and longer life expectancies.

And having no social ties is believed to be an independent risk factor for cognitive decline in older persons.

A U.S. team found that talking to another person for 10 minutes a day improves memory and test scores. They found that socializing was just as effective as more traditional kinds of mental exercise in boosting memory and intellectual performance. They also found that the higher the level of social interaction, the better the cognitive functioning. Social interaction included getting together or having phone chats with relatives, friends and neighbors.

In a study of more than 2,800 people ages 65 or older, Harvard researchers found that those with at least five social ties - church groups, social groups, regular visits, or phone calls with family and friends - were less likely to suffer cognitive decline than those with no social ties.

5. Sleep & Nap

Sleep plays a crucial role in brain development and growth.

One of the explanations the science has come up with for the healing power of sleep is that sleep may contribute to neurogenesis, the formation of new nerve cells in the brain. New research in animals provides a clue about how the sleep deprivation harm the brains - reduces the number of new brain cells. Without sufficient sleep, neurons may not have time to repair all the damage, and so could malfunction during the day.

Sleep is necessary for the brain to process and consolidate knowledge and for memories to form. Neuroscientists say that during sleep the hippocampus (where memory is stored) becomes highly active and moves knowledge from short-term memory to long-term memory.

The memories laid down by the sleeping brain are of two kinds. Declarative memory is memory for information - facts, dates, and names. Procedural memory is what allows us to do things like play a musical instrument, ride a bicycle, or add up a bill. Scientists think these two types of memory are influenced by different parts of the sleep cycle. Slow wave sleep benefit mainly the consolidation of declarative memories. In contrast, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep seems to benefit procedural memory20.

A 45-minute midday nap can help boost your memory and remember facts, but only if you learned them well in the first place5.

According to animal studies, when you perform a task, the brain cells fire in a certain sequence. If you then fall asleep, the same cells automatically fire in an identical sequence without being distracted or disrupted by incoming visual stimuli.

There is a consistent pattern: Learn something new during the day, consolidate what you have learned during a good night's sleep, then remember or perform the task better in the morning. However, sleep before learning is also critical in preparing the brain for next-day memory formation.

Even a nap in the middle of the day may benefit some learning, according to a recent study5. Sleep appears to help "set" the declarative memories and make them easier to recall.

6. Stress management

The brain uses 20 percent of our body's oxygen and 20 percent of its blood.

Scientists believe people exposed to chronic stress tend to have elevated levels of cortisol - a hormone produced by the adrenal glands in response to acute and chronic stress. High cortisol levels are dangerous to the brain.

Some of the most impressive effects of the stress on brain are hippocampus atrophy, shrinkage of the hippocampus or prefrontal cortex (the area of the brain unique to humans), and even neural death in some brain regions. The hippocampus, a vital brain region for episodic, spatial, and contextual memory, has many cortisol receptors, which makes it especially susceptible to stress.

Severe stress lasting weeks or months can impair cell communication in the brain's learning and memory region27. Increased stress hormones lead to memory impairment in the elderly and learning difficulties in young adults.

Latest study provides the evidence that short-term stress has the same effect. Researcher from the University of California have found short-term stress lasting as little as a few hours can impair brain-cell communication in areas associated with learning and memory. They found that rather than involving the widely known stress hormone cortisol, which circulates throughout the body, acute stress activated selective molecules called corticotropin releasing hormones, which disrupted the process by which the brain collects and stores memories.

Stress is a constant in our lives and cannot be avoided. So, stress management is the key, not stress elimination. Several ways to help you manage stress in your daily life:

• See problems as opportunities
• Get away from the noise
• Exercise
• Learn relaxation techniques such as yoga and meditation
• Cut down on unnecessary responsibilities and avoid over-scheduling
• Make time for leisure activities
• Get a massage

7. Laugh & Humor

Laughter is the best medicine! We've heard the expression time and again. Medical world has begun to take more serious notice of the healing power of humor and the positive emotions associated with it. By having fun and laughing, your stress levels decrease significantly. Humor stimulates the parts of our brain that use the "feel good" chemical messenger dopamine. Also, researchers found that humor improves memory.

8. Healthy breakfast

It might be the last thing on your morning to-do list, or it might not be on your list at all. However, many studies have shown that having breakfast improves the ability of concentration, reaction time, learning ability, mood and memory, whereas skipping breakfast reduces people's performance at school and at work.

A recent study done at Cardiff University in Wales found that subjects who ate a high-fiber cereal in the morning showed a 10 percent reduction in fatigue, lower incidence of depression, and better cognitive skills. Fiber helps slow down the absorption of food in the stomach, so you have more energy for a longer period of time.

9. Omega-3 fatty acids

High intake of omega-6 rich oils (such as sunflower or grape seed oil) may boost the risk of developing memory problems, say French researchers4.

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for brain health - they provide the physical building blocks necessary for the development and maintenance of the structural and functional integrity of the brain. In fact, one of the omega-3 fatty acids, commonly known as DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), makes up a large portion of the gray matter in the brain and is vital for brain cells function. Adding more DHA to your brain directly influences cell-to-cell communication, affects nerve conduction and neurotransmitter release, and other things that allow brain cells to send messages to each other. One 1999 review of studies on DHA, published in the journal Pharmacological Research, found that the nutrient is essential to normal brain function, and that a diet rich in DHA improves learning, while a lack of DHA causes learning ability to suffer.

French researchers looked at the diets of 8,085 people older than 65 who did not have dementia at the start of the study. Over the following four years, 183 of the participants developed Alzheimer's disease, and 98 developed another form of dementia. People who regularly consumed omega-3 rich oils, such as canola, flaxseed, and walnut oil, were 60 percent less likely to develop dementia than those who did not regularly consume such oils. The study also found that regular consumption of fruits and vegetables lowered dementia risk by 30 percent. People who ate fish at least once a week were 40 percent less likely to develop dementia.

Coldwater fish, such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, and herring are rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids (just be careful to eat this in moderation due to potential contamination with mercury). Dutch studies revealed that high fish consumption may reduce the risk of dementia and cognitive decline.

10. Blueberries

Would you believe that eating this tasty, low-glycemic superfood every day was found by the USDA at Tufts University to slow and even reverse age-related brain decline, as well as improve short-term memory loss and help reverse age-related loss of balance?!

Blueberries are a major source of flavonoids, in particular anthocyanins and flavanols. Although the precise mechanisms by which these plant-derived molecules affect the brain are unknown, they have been shown to cross the blood brain barrier after dietary intake. It is believed that they exert their effects on learning and memory by enhancing existing neuronal connections, improving cellular communications and stimulating neuronal regeneration.

11. Vegetables

Researchers found that eating vegetables appears to help keep the brain young and may slow the mental decline sometimes associated with growing old. Cruciferous and green leafy vegetables including cauliflower, spinach, kale, broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprout and collards appear to be the most beneficial. Researchers say that may be because they contain healthy amounts of vitamin E, an antioxidant that is believed to help fight chemicals produced by the body that can damage cells.

Three B vitamins, folic acid, B6, and B12, can help lower your homocysteine levels. Fortified cereal, other grains, and leafy green vegetables are good sources of B vitamins.

12. Want to drink? Choose red wine!

People who drink to forget bad memories may actually be doing the opposite by reinforcing the neural circuits that control negative emotional memory.

While heavy drinking clearly causes serious problems for many people, drinking in moderation may be good for the brain.

Researchers found, intake of up to three daily servings of wine, unlike other alcohol beverages (liquor, beer), was associated with a lower risk of dementia. This may be due to the ability of red wine polyphenols to protect brain cells against alcohol-induced damage. There is well-documented evidence that resveratrol, a polyphenol found in red wine and red grape skin and seeds, has a significant antioxidant properties and produces neuroprotective effects.

13. Keep health problems under control

Many medical conditions, particularly those identified as risk factors for cardiovascular disease, are also risk factors for cognitive decline and dementia.

High blood pressure in midlife increases the risk of cognitive decline in old age. Use lifestyle modification to lower your blodd pressure.

Diabetes is an important risk factor for dementia. You can improve blood glucose levels by eating healthy diet, exercising regularly, and staying lean. But if your blood sugar stays high, you'll need medication to achieve good control.

High levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol appear to significantly increase the risk of dementia46. Diet, exercise, weight control, and avoiding tobacco will go a long way toward improving your cholesterol levels.

Research has shown that a higher than average blood level of homocysteine - a type of amino acid - is a strong risk factor for the development of Alzheimer disease and dementia47.

14. Neurobics

Created by Lawrence C. Katz, Ph.D., a professor of neurobiology at Duke University Medical Center, neurobics is a unique system of brain exercises using your five physical senses and your emotional sense in unexpected ways that encourage you to shake up your everyday routines. Studies have shown that even small changes in daily patterns cause brain stimulation.

Neurobics can be done anywhere, anytime, in offbeat, fun and easy ways. These exercises can activate underused nerve pathways and connections, helping you achieve a fit and flexible mind:

• Drive to work a different route
• Get dressed with your eyes closed
• Brush your teeth with the other hand
• Unlock the door with your eyes closed
• Use your opposite hand to dial the phone or operate the TV remote
• Listen to music and smell flowers at the same time
• Shop at new grocery store

Research has suggested that using your left hand if you're left handed or your right if you're left handed more often, can help stimulate parts of the brain that you don't normally use.

See the glass as half full

See the glass half full, it may prolong your life as much as 12 years. A study which began in the 1960s and done over 30 years and published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings has concluded that optimists are far more likely to live longer than pessimists. Dr. Toshihiko Maruta, the chief researcher of this study stated, "The important thing is that we've proven the relationship scientifically, and made a correlation between how people see the world when they're young and how they turn out 30 years later."

Read more here

An Ancient Egyptian Civil Service Precept

The following precept was laid down thousands of years ago for the Egyptian civil service:

Be courteous and tactful as well as honest and diligent. All your doings are publicly known, and therefore be beyond complaint or criticism. Be absolutely impartial. Always give a reason for refusing plea; complainants like a kindly hearing even more than a successful plea. Preserve dignity but avoid inspiring fear. Be an artist in words, that you may be strong, for the tongue is a sword.

Successful Intelligence

Robert Sternberg in his book, Successful Intelligence: How Practical and Creative Intelligence Determine Success in Life says that there are three main types of intellectual abilities:

1. Analytical Intelligence
2. Creative Intelligence
3. Practical Intelligence

He goes on to stress that a successfully intelligent person is someone who knows what their strengths are and take steps to improve on their areas of weakness in each of these three abilities. Here are some of his advice:

I. Improving Your Analytical intelligence:

• Recognize Problems before they become problems
• Represent Problems accurately
• Allocate your resources wisely
• Monitor your decisions and make corrections where needed

II. Improving Your Creative Intelligence:

• Don't just follow the crowd, think for yourself
• Question your assumptions, they aren't always true
• Allow yourself to think outside the box
  

III. Improving Your Practical Intelligence:

Practical Intelligence makes use of "tacit knowledge" or knowledge you have about a task that is just difficult to put into words.

• Tacit knowledge grows with experience

Recognising Others

It is often said that being recognized is the deepest craving of human nature. Not only we are who we think we are but we are also a function of what people think we are. It is important that we treat ourselves well. It is equally important that we treat others just as well. After all, we are all fighting the same war.

Here are 10 ways to make others feel important.

1. Give sincere praise. Always be on alert for opportunities to compliment or commend another.

2. Show enthusiasm. Always be enthusiastic when dealing with others.

3. Be supportive. Show your interest in what others are pursuing and encourage them.

4. Be attentive. Find out if others are in need of help.

5. Be appreciative.

6. Be approving.

7. Show affection. Let others know that you care.

8. Be accepting. Don't be judge others. Let them be themselves.

9. Be affirming. Positive affirmative statements does wonders to the human mind.

10. Be a friend. Emerson once said, "To have a friend, you must first be a friend."

10 Recommended Daily Habits

10 Recommended Daily Habits.

1. Read about your job.

2. Spent 15 minutes learning a new skill everyday.Once you've you mastered it. Find something new and repeat.

3. Read at least one inspirational story or poem a day.

4. Exercise for at least 30 minutes.

5. Do at least one daily task - such as brushing your teeth - with your non dominant hand.

6. Smile at a stranger at least once a day.

7. Play a mind stimulating game such as sudoku, crossword or chess.

8. Do one task that you do not like or been avoiding. This can be anything from washing your clothes to calling your mother-in-law.

9. Praise someone.

10. Review your activity at the end of everyday.

Tortoise-Pigeon-Dog

“Keep a quiet heart, sit like a tortoise, walk sprightly like a pigeon and sleep like a dog.” These were the words of advice Li Ching-Yun who was reported in Time Magazine back in 1933 to have buried 23 wives and fostered 180 descendants by the time he died at the age of 256.

Born in the province of Szechwan in China, where he also died in 1933 his diet mostly consisted plenty of herbs and rice wine.By his own admission he was born in 1736 and had lived 197 years. However, in 1930 a professor and dean at Minkuo University by the name of Wu Chung-chien, found records “proving” that Li was born in 1677. Records allegedly showed that the Imperial Chinese Government congratulated him on his 150th and 200th Birthdays.

If this true than, Li Ching-Yun's advice on longevity should be given serious consideration.

10 Goal Setting Principle

Here is a comprehensive list of 10 key goal setting principles as appeared in Dr Walter Doyle Staples' Think Like A Winner.

1. Identify a major goal that is challenging and important, one that is measurable.

2. Have a specific date to reach your goals.

3. Explore all possibilities that will help you to reach your goals.

4. Have definite plan. The actions you must take to (a) acquire the knowledge, (b) develop the skills, (c) meet the people you need to know who will assist you.

5. List all the major obstacles to overcome.

6. List all the benefit you will get when you achieve your goals on time.

7. Prepare a master plan using steps 1 to 6.

8.Read your master plan out loud everyday, after getting up and before to bed.

9. Visualize you have achieved your goals.

10. Act at once, ready or not.

Mind Control by Cell Phone

Two independent studies have established a person's brain waves are disrupted during cell phone use reports Scientific American today. The studies shows that cell phone use seems to increase the alpha waves in the brain. Alpha waves fluctuate at a rate of eight to 12 cycles per second (Hertz). These brainwaves reflect a person's state of arousal and attention. Alpha waves are generally regarded as an indicator of reduced mental effort, "cortical idling" or mind wandering.
Read more here.

Plants' Flavonoids Have Beneficial Effect On Alzheimer's Disease

A study by University of South Florida and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center have found that a set of molecules found in certain plants appears to have a beneficial effect in brain tissue associated with Alzheimer's disease. Researchers administered molecules called flavonoids, which are found
in certain fruits and vegetables, to a mouse model genetically programmed to develop Alzheimer's disease. Using two of these molecules, luteolin and diosmin, they were able to reduce the levels of a protein called amyloid-beta, which forms the sticky deposits that build up in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's.

"These flavonoids are widely available in natural foods and it appears that they may be used in purified form as therapeutic agents. The compounds have few if any side effects and are naturally occurring in citrus fruits. They also can be found as dietary supplements in health food stores," says Terrence Town, Ph.D., one of the lead authors.

Source: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (2008, May 8). Plants' Flavonoids Have Beneficial Effect On Alzheimer's Disease, Study In Mice Suggests.

Inspirational Wrtiting #7

Watch out For Self-Pity ~ Robert H. Schuller

You certainly do not rebuild self-love by indulging in self-pity. Self-pity does not generate self-respect. Self-pity focuses on the unhappy past, keeping alive the very experiences that must be forgotten and left behind. Self-pity focuses on what has happened. while you are concentrating on the unfortunate past, you are in the moment enslaved, controlled and dominated by that self-demoralizing past. When you recall the past, you are at the moment recaptured by it. It may have happened, but don't allow yourself to remain trapped in the experience by self-pity.
"Forgetting these things are behind-I press toward the mark," Paul wrote. If unpleasant things come to pass-by all means let them do so. Why are we so inclined to self-pity? Are we trying to tenderly nurse a wounded self-love? If so, we must see that self-pity only keeps the wounded pride raw and open. In our self-pity we hope to gain the pity of others, mistaking sympathy for respect. We crave to reassure the faltering self that it is worthy after all. If we feel this way, we must understand that pity is not necessarily respect. Sympathy is not necessarily esteem. Or do we indulge in self-pity-trapping ourselves in the past-for fear of moving ahead into a future where we might suffer additional assaults? Is self-pity a deceptive defense mechanism willfully experienced to protect me from the new risks I may encounter if I start thinking of beginning again?

Reflective Mind

The Complete Lawyer published an interesting article today about being reflective. Stephanie West Allen and Jeffrey Schwartz discuss about:

• Banishing The Reactive Mind
• Becoming More Self-Aware
• The Golden Moment Of Choice
• Exercising The Mind

Excerpt ~

If you understand how to skillfully orchestrate your GMCs, your reflective mind will be in command of your reactive brain and you will have much greater life control. Golden Moments of Choice are possible because your brain is always changing (that's called neuroplasticity). The changes are either by default as it interacts with your environment or deliberately as it interacts with your mind. Your brain can either be randomly molded by external circumstances or artistically sculptedby your self-aware mind. Which do you think leads to an intentional-and
self-directed life—letting your brain be rewired by outside forces, or
ensuring that the brain rewire is an inside operation?

Read the entire article here.

Is it always me, me, me?

We are not all that selfish. Psychologists at the Universities of Leicester and Exeter have recently found evidence this heartening news about human nature. The research, funded by the
Economic and Social Research Council, shows that most of us will act in the best interest of our team, often at our own expense.

Lead researcher Professor Andrew Colman, of the University of Leicester School of Psychology, said: "We have shown that, in some circumstances, decision makers cooperate in their collective interests rather than following the purely selfish predictions of orthodox game theory.

The study which was carried out by Professor Andrew Colman and Dr Briony Pulford at
the University of Leicester in collaboration with Dr Jo Rose of the University of Exeter carried out two experiments to test the classical game theory against theories of team reasoning developed in the 1990s by British game theorists.

Professor Colman is delighted with the results. He said: "Team reasoning is a familiar process, but it is inexplicable within the framework of orthodox game theory. Our findings show for the first time that it predicts decision making more powerfully than orthodox game theory in some games."

Retrieved April 28, 2008, from
http://www.sciencedaily.com­
/releases/2008/04/080428094212.htm

Epigenetics- You are what you eat,breathe, feel, etc...

"Our understanding of genetics is currently undergoing a paradigm shift," says Melanie Ehrlich, a molecular biologist at the Tulane Cancer Center. "It is now commonly acknowledged among scientists that it is not enough to look to DNA as the sole determinant of heredity."

Ehrlich is referring to a complicated chemical switchboard known as the epigenome that switches genes on and off. Scientists are learning that looking at DNA alone is not enough to determine heredity as they are now learning that epigenome is highly reactive to its environment.
As more light is shed on epigenetics, scientist are confident that cures for diseases and even an antidote for aging can be found. Read more here.

A Hasidic Predecessor of the Gestalt Prayer

If I am I because I am I
And You are You because You are You
Then I am and You are.

But if I am because You are You
And You are You because I am I

Then I am not and You are not

~ Rabbi Mendel Of Kotzk(1787-1859)

AK-47&The Honda Super Cub

The AK-47 is the most used assault rifle in the world. It is reported that more 70 million of this weapon have been manufactured and it is widely used by armies, rebels, criminals and civilians. It is so popular among African tribes that some people name their newborns Kalash. AK-47 came in as second greatest ever invented after hands and legs in the Discovery Channel’s show “The Greatest Ever”. The same show also rated the Honda Super Cub as the greatest ever motorcycle.

This is what the reviewers had to say about the AK-47 characteristics.

1. Simplicity of operation and maintenance.
2. Extreme ruggedness
3. Unsurpassed reliability

The Honda Super Cub was chosen as the greatest ever motorcycle based on the following attributes:

1. Robust
2. Easy manoeuvring
3. Cheap maintenance and abundance of spare parts
4. All-weather design
5. Regularly achieves very high mileages logged before any breakage or replacement of parts is necessary

Now, let us look at the two lists and see how we can include some these attributes in our professional and personal life. After all we are all tools for someone or something, aren’t we?

1. Simplicity

Do not complicate matters. Strive to make work and life simpler. Clear away clutter and if you are in authority, cut the red tapes.

2. Extreme Ruggedness

Adapt and be hardy. Have great endurance. Get hold of the at hand task and seize the day.

3. Unsurpassed reliability

Do not make promises you cannot keep. Do not keep excuses and always deliver on time.

4. Robust

Be a go-getter. Do not wait to be told. Know what needs to be done and do it.

5. All weather

Be consistent. Do not underperform just because your neighbour’s cat died or there is a zit on your ass.

These five attributes coupled with enthusiasm will go a long way in making you “the greatest ever” worker in your company or as the greatest ever human in your society. Keep the faith people.

The Truth About Life

A friend of mine sent this to my e-mail today. Great piece but I do not know who is the original author.

GREAT TRUTHS THAT LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED:

1) No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats.
2) When your Mum is mad at your Dad, don't let her brush your hair.
3) If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catch the second person.
4) Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato.
5) You can't trust dogs to watch your food.
6) Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair.
7) Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.
8) You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.
9) Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.
10) The best place to be when you're sad is Grandpa's lap.


GREAT TRUTHS THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED:

1) Raising teenagers is like nailing jelly to a tree.
2) Wrinkles don't hurt.
3) Families are like fudge...mostly sweet, with a few nuts.
4) Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.
5) Laughing is good exercise. It's like jogging on the inside.
6) Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fibre, not the toy.


GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT GROWING OLD

1) Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
2) Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.
3) When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you're down there.
4) You're getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster.
5) It's frustrating when you know all the answers but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.
6) Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy beautician.
7) Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.


THE FOUR STAGES OF LIFE:

1) You believe in Santa Claus.
2) You don't believe in Santa Claus.
3) You are Santa Claus.
4) You look like Santa Claus.

SUCCESS:

At age 4 success is . . . not piddling in your pants.
At age 12 success is . . . having friends.
At age 17 success is . . having a drivers license.
At age 35 success is . having money.
At age 50 success is . . . having money.
At age 70 success is . .. . having a drivers license.
At age 75 success is . . having friends.
At age 80 success is . . not piddling in your pants.


Take the time to live!!!
Life is too short. Dance naked.